AN: I don't own Harry Potter and don't make any profit.
Severus leaned back in his chair and wiped his mouth, smiling satisfied.
"That was delicious. I forgot how good the food is here at Hogwarts," Hermione said.
"Except for the chips," Severus replied pouring her some more wine.
She chuckled, "I didn't know you could take your meals in your quarters as a teacher."
He raised an eyebrow at her, "Where did you think we were, when we weren't at the head table at meal times?"
"I don't know, I would have thought you were busy."
"Sometimes, but not always."
"Do you wanna make yourself comfortable on the couch, I'll just get Elena ready for bed," he said, picking up Elena who was on a blanket on the floor.
"May I help please?" she shyly asked.
"Please be my guest. I need to give her a bath today. Come on! You can do that if you want. Let me just quickly heat up the bathroom, so she won't be cold."
Severus was instructing Hermione how to bath Elena, when they heard a voice from the living room, "May I come through Severus?"
"Yes Minerva, we are in the bathroom," he hollered.
A moment later Minerva appeared at the bathroom door, "Well hello! Hermione I didn't expect you to be here."
"Good evening," Hermione smiled at her former head of house, while holding Elena steadily in the small tub.
"I hope you feel yourself honoured, Hermione. He doesn't let anyone else give her a bath or even change her nappies," Minerva smiled.
"Is that all you came for?" Severus asked annoyed impatiently tapping his foot.
Minerva reached out and slightly pinched Severus earlobe saying, "No that's not all, cheeky Mister."
Hermione watching them burst into laughter, Elena shaking in her arms, water splashing over the brim of the tub.
"Oh great now she is drowning my child because of you," he said sarcastically, but his eyes were smiling, like Minerva had hardly ever seen it.
"I actually wanted to talk to you Severus, but that can wait. It's perfect you're here Hermione, I was about to go to the owlery to send you this," Minerva showed Hermione a scroll of parchment.
"What is it?"
"I need a new Potions Professor and I thought of you…"
"What about Horace?" Severus interrupted.
"Well … um … he had a family emergency and he won't be coming back. So I need someone to fill that position."
"I've no higher education whatsoever."
"Well I thought you could be Severus' apprentice at potions and you can split up the lessons of Defence against the Dark Arts and Potions between the two of you, Hermione teaching the younger ones and you the older ones. I would need you starting on Tuesday at the latest. I know you have a job ..."
"And when did you want to tell me that?" Severus asked his voice becoming dangerously low and his eyes flashing with anger.
"Now. That's why I came," Minerva said calmly.
"I think she is clean now," came Hermione's shy voice.
"What? Oh right, you gently take her out and place her on the prepared towel and wrap her. Then dry her off, put a nappy on her and rub some lotion on her. Her pyjamas are hanging in front of the fire in the living room," Severus said as calmly as he could muster.
"Minerva what do you want me to say now. You just waltz in here and drop that bomb on me, on us actually. I think it's time for you to leave. We will think about it," he gestured her towards the fire place.
When Minerva had left, Severus sealed the floo with a quick wave of his wand.
"Can't have that old meddler come here any time again soon," he mumbled to himself.
Hermione came in with Elena wrapped in her towel, saying "So I just need to put her into her pyjamas." "
Thanks Hermione, that's very sweet of you," he smiled.
"Can I offer you anything. Some more wine, some Odgen's?"
"Just a cuddle with Elena and the rest of my wine. But you might wanna pour yourself a glass of Odgen's," she suggested, watching him pacing infuriated. Hermione settled on the couch with Elena on her lap and watched Severus pacing and mumbling incoherently to himself for five minutes.
Hermione sighed and said "Accio whisky glass! Accio Odgen's!" and both requested items soared into her hand.
"Severus please sit down, drink some firewhisky and tell me what's bothering you." Severus stopped pacing looked at Hermione, dragged his feet towards her and slumped down on the couch. He poured himself a fair amount of the amber liquid and swirled it around in his glass, before taking a gulp.
"I don't know what she is thinking. It's a bit short notice, don't you think? She didn't even ask if you wanted to apprentice with me, or if you wanted to teach Defence classes. And when I left in the morning there was nothing about Horace and a family emergency. Would you even be willing to apprentice with me?" he asked.
"I don't know if I would be good enough," she said not daring to look at him.
"Excuse me. That's just ridiculous. I couldn't imagine a better one for the job."
"Thanks," she mumbled shyly.
"I mean it would be an opportunity for me to get to know new people and make some friends. I love Hogwarts. I'm just not sure how good I would be at teaching. I'm only 21, I'm wondering if they would take me seriously."
"You are a hero, I'm sure they would."
"Would you even take me as an apprentice?" she looked at him hopefully.
"I would be honoured, Hermione," he gave her a warm smile.
"How would you want to divide the lessons up?"
"I don't know but, thinking of it, with your experience you could easily teach up to the fourth year Defence and up to third year Potions and I would take the rest."
"Can you maybe get me something to write? I can't get up, she has fallen asleep," Hermione smiled looking down on the baby in her arms. Severus gathered a piece of parchment from his desk.
"Okay, actually you have to write for me too, because I've no free hand."
"What am I writing?" he asked curiously.
"To-do-list: 1. pack things for Hogwarts, 2. buy appropriate clothing, 3. prepare first Defence lessons, 4. prepare first Potion lessons, 5. arrange meeting with Master Snape…"
Severus raised an eyebrow being addressed as Master Snape, but didn't say anything.
"6. Write to Harry and Ron, 7. Buy an owl. I think that's all for now. Thanks!"
"How fast is your brain working? I knew it would go to waste at that bloody bookstore. And Master Snape? What's that about?"
"How should I address you?"
"Severus? What else? You saw me when I was at my most vulnerable and we are friends. Everything else would just be stupid."
"Oh! Oh! Oh!"
"What? What? What?" He replied amused.
"You need to give me your timetable and Professor Slughorn's timetable. So I know when I'm teaching which class," she said somewhat excitedly, a hint of that old sparkle back in her eyes.
"Can you hold her for a bit I need to…", she placed Elena in Severus' arms a bit hastily, prompting the girl to grumble in her sleep and went over to his desk.
"May I?" she asked and not waiting for an answer she snatched a piece of parchment and started scribbling feverishly.
"And there it goes our relaxed evening Elena," he whispered, kissing his daughter's head and carried he to her cot. When he came back he laid down on the couch, one hand behind his head, the other one holding the glass of Odgen's.
"We should probably inform the headmistress," he said.
Still writing Hermione said and not looking up, "Or we shouldn't say anything until tomorrow evening. Keep her a bit dangling."
"I'm intrigued by this thought. Very Slytherin of you," he grinned mischievously.
"What are you writing anyway?"
"I'm just making plans for my lessons. Can you tell me what you already covered in your Defence classes?" she looked at him expectantly.
"See those red notebooks over there? You will find everything in there," he answered. She took one of the notebooks.
"You really allow me to look through your notes?" she looked at him unsure.
He smiled, "Certainly, that's just my notes on the curriculum. I keep my notes on the students somewhere else and I wouldn't show them to anyone."
"You are very organised," she stated.
"Being a spy I had to be, so I wouldn't miss or forget anything. It just became a habit."
AN: I promise I won't abandon this story, so please don't abandon me with your reviews. Thanks!