AN; Sadly I won't be able to upload tomorrow. Hopefully this tides everyone over in the meantime!
Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
Severus' scowl was a warning that he was itching to take his frustrations out on the world. All he needed was for someone to commit a minor indiscretion. Best that Ricardo keep his mouth shut and focus upon leaving the store in one piece.
For a brief moment, Ricardo wondered if he should send a message to Hermione asking if she could talk to his boss before there was an incident which scared away half his customers. Ricardo had never met Hermione. He was always working when she came in, and her store had already opened by the time he left. It may be time to remedy that situation. If anyone could prevent Severus from yelling at an unsuspecting shopper, it would be her. A few words from her would make Severus' day tolerable, or if Ricardo was lucky, good.
Then, he considered that Hermione was the reason for Severus' foul mood. It was possible that they had argued over their new partners, and Severus was less than pleased that she was not in his arms. For the first time since moving to Vegas, Hermione's presence may do more harm than good.
"Is there a reason you are staring at me as if I'm a sexually frustrated rattlesnake?" Severus growled.
Ricardo twisted his lips. From that metaphor alone, it was clear what was frustrating Severus, or rather who.
"Are you not going to say anything?" Severus raised his voice.
"How was your weekend?" Ricardo's expression was impassive.
"It was fine," Severus grumbled.
Ricardo glanced at his shirt pocket. He wasn't sure how wise it was to give Severus Helen's letter.
The bell above the door chimed, interrupting his train of thought.
"We do not open for another ten minutes," Severus snapped.
"And here I thought you were always open for me."
Severus' expression didn't soften in the slightest. "Hello Draco."
"Hello Uncle Severus," Draco strolled to the counter, unaware that his godfather's eyes were fixed upon the window. "I was wondering how you were faring today."
"As well as one can in the middle of one of the worst heatwaves in decades."
"That great huh," Draco wiped his brow.
"Indeed, this heat is unbearable."
"In more ways than one," Ricardo muttered.
From the corner of Ricardo's eyes, he saw a bushy haired woman approach the store across the street. She looked into Severus' window, her eyes meeting his.
Magic crackled from Severus' body, setting his eyes ablaze. He was staring at Hermione like he was a starving man in front of a four course meal. Her expression was just as intense. She was staring at Severus like she was a dehydrated woman at an oasis. She took a step towards Severus' store, only to pause. After biting her lower lip, she gave him a genuine smile. With a small wave, she undid the wards to her store and stepped inside.
"What was that all about?" Draco asked.
"What was what about?" Severus kept his eyes on Hermione's shop.
"You staring at her like that."
"I want to ensure she makes it into her store safely," Severus answered. "I do it every day."
"I know you do it every day, but that look you two gave each other was odd."
"What was odd about it?"
"You were looking at her like you wanted nothing more than to apparate her to your bedroom and pretend the rest of the world didn't exist."
Severus blinked before his scowl returned. "That is a ludicrous assertion."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
"Is that why you still won't stop looking into her shop?"
Severus gripped the edge of his counter.
"I think what Draco meant to say is that you seem very interested in Hermione today," Ricardo cut in.
"Of course I am because I need to protect her," Severus huffed. "Those reporters are bound to return. The last thing I need is for them to clog up my streets or to hear her crying, both of which would result in a loss of customers."
"Is it because of that, or is it because you can't bear the thought of her in any kind of distress?"
"I cannot stand the idea of a woman as wonderful as her in any kind of distress," Severus admitted. "A woman like her shouldn't be subjected to scrutiny for her past actions or weep because some dunderhead is slandering her name in public. She deserves to live her life free of scrutiny."
"I take it you don't want to know who is being interviewed this week."
Severus turned to Ricardo. "I don't want to know, but I need to know."
"Are you certain?"
"I am positive. Who is being interviewed?"
"Headmistress McGonagall is being interviewed today for a teacher's perspective on Dumbledore's Army, Cho Chang is on the docket for Wednesday, and Lavender Brown is set to speak on Friday."
"Great," Severus growled. "Hermione gets to hear from Cho about what a harpy she was as Harry's best friend, and Lavender will spill every secret Hermione ever told her. It's the last thing Hermione needs."
"I doubt Headmistress McGonagall will be any kinder to you," Draco noted.
"I couldn't care less about what she says about me. People will say what they want about me. There's nothing I can do to stop them. Hermione though," his voice softened, "she doesn't deserve any of this. She deserves to live life on her own terms, not have dunderheads reminding her of every mistake she's ever made and splattering it all over Britain."
"You really care for Hermione, don't you?" Draco noted.
"Of course I do," Severus' eyes hardened. "She's my best friend. What kind of dunderhead doesn't care for his best friend? Isn't the whole point of a best friend to care for them?"
"I don't know," Draco answered. "i just thought with Helen Belle as your girlfriend, you would feel somewhat conflicted about Hermione's role in your life."
"Why would I feel conflicted about Hermione's role in my life? She is my first priority. That hasn't changed."
"Even though you have a girlfriend?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
Severus glowered at his godson.
Undeterred, Draco continued, "The more time you spend with Helen, the less time you will have for Hermione. It may be difficult to balance both relationships."
"I'll always have time for Hermione," Severus argued. "Any man who has Hermione in his life would make time for her. He'd be a fool not to."
"Ginny and I enjoy Hermione's presence too, but we don't play poker with her almost every evening," Draco flipped his hair out of his eyes.
"Indeed, that is one of the drawbacks of living a hemisphere away from someone."
"It's just interesting to see you care for someone so much given how much you valued your solitude when you moved here."
"What is the point of this interrogation?" Severus demanded. "You already know I care for Hermione. Why question me about my sentiments towards her?"
"I'm trying to figure out how serious you are about Helen."
Severus swallowed before he fidgeted.
"I've been wondering the same thing too," Ricardo interjected. "You make it clear every day how much you value your relationship with Hermione. It's rare that you mention Helen though. It almost makes me wonder if things are going well between you and her."
"Things between Helen and I are great," Severus relaxed. "She is an amazing woman who is intelligent, witty, and kind. I am fortunate to know her."
"Great. Has Hermione ever met her?"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "What would Hermione need to meet Helen?"
"Hermione and you are best friends. It makes sense that at some point you would want to introduce your best friend to your girlfriend."
"I'm not at a place in my relationship with Helen where I should be introducing anyone else in my life," A bead of sweat trickled formed on Severus' brow.
"Why?"
"Everything with Helen is so new, hardly the time to be introducing her to everyone."
"Are you afraid that Hermione and Helen won't get along?" Ricardo asked.
"No," Severus cleared his throat, "I think they would get along quite well. They are very similar in personality, and both enjoy academic pursuits. There is no reason they would have any animosity towards each other."
"What if they saw each other as a threat for your affections? Hermione may be insecure because she is only your friend, whereas Helen is more."
Severus lowered his voice. "Nobody is a threat to Hermione."
"Is Hermione a threat to Helen?"
"I swear to God Ricardo if this is another one of your attempts to push me towards Hermione when any romantic sentiments I hold towards her that exist only in your head…"
"I am just making a few observations," Ricardo held up his hands. "You seem to care more for Hermione than Helen."
"I would tell you where to shove your observations, but you've made it clear you will not take such abuse from me," Severus argued.
"You know me well," Ricardo smiled.
"I think it might be fun to invite you, Helen, Hermione, and her boyfriend to a dinner sometime," Draco interjected.
Now Severus' face was white as a chalk powder. "I do not believe that would be advisable."
"Why?"
"Because, I just," Severus shifted his foot before his eyes hardened. "Because I do not think any good would come of it."
"Why?"
"Because Hermione doesn't need to meet Helen."
"Why? Don't you want Hermione to meet the woman you are dating?" There was a spark in Draco's eye.
Severus wrung his hands together.
"Don't you want to meet the man in Hermione's life?"
"NO!"
Ricardo's muscles tightened and he braced himself for the inevitable tirade.
"I want nothing to do with that dunderhead!" Severus shouted. "I don't want to know him, meet, him, listen to his inane ideas, or be associated with him in any way! I want nothing to do with him!"
"Why?" Draco was calm amidst the outburst.
"Because I don't want to watch Hermione give her heart away to another dunderhead!"
"Why?"
"Because I don't want her to be hurt!"
"Is that the only reason?"
"I mean," Severus snarled, "I just don't want to meet him!"
"You just don't?" Draco's grin indicated he was enjoying this more than he should.
"No, I just don't want to be associated with him in any way!" Severus' face was redder than Ricardo had ever seen it. "Really, why would I need to be associated with him? There's no reason for us to ever interact!"
"He's her boyfriend. At some point she may want you to meet him."
"That would be inadvisable! I don't want to know him! He needs to be away from me!"
"In other words, you want to remain in your own little world where you have both Helen and Hermione at your beck and call."
"No! I want Hermione to give her heart to someone who deserves it!"
"Why do you think he doesn't deserve her heart?" Draco was impassive.
"I just," Severus' eyes widened as his voice softened. "I don't know."
"Perhaps you're just over-protective of her," Ricardo offered.
"Of course I am," Severus snapped. "Hermione has been hurt by one dunderheaded man already. I never want her to suffer that fate again."
"It's sweet that you are so protective of her," Draco noted.
"There's nothing sweet about it. Things are just," Severus' eyes widened. "That's what this is all about, isn't it?"
"What is all this about?" Draco asked.
"You don't think Hermione's boyfriend deserves her either." Severus smirked.
"Excuse me?" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Severus pointed to him. "You want me to meet this man because like me you fear that he is unworthy of Hermione."
Draco stared at Severus before his lips curled upwards. "Indeed I do. I know nothing about this man. Since you and Ginevra care so much about Hermione though, I want you to meet him and figure out what he's like."
"I can arrange for some type of meeting," Severus' expression was that of a basilisk which had just devoured a mischief of rats. "I would quite enjoy meeting this man and spending some quality time with him."
"Perhaps you don't need to arrange anything," Ricardo approached the counter. "Perhaps you can walk across the street, ask Hermione out to dinner at an actual restaurant, express your concerns to her while you're there, and before you leave, you can kiss her already."
Severus glared at him.
"I mean it. The thought of her with another man is enough to send you into a rage. Why don't you go over there, invite her to a nice restaurant for dinner, discuss your feelings for her like a grown ass man, and take us all out of our misery by kissing her already?"
"I am not miserable," Severus growled. "I have no desire to kiss Hermione either."
Ricardo threw up his hands.
"I am perfectly fine with my relationship with Hermione," Severus retorted. "I just want to ensure Hermione is well."
"And if her boyfriend proves worthy of her love?" Draco asked.
Vulnerability seeped through his eyes, "then I'll be happy with the relationship Hermione and I have. I will wish her well and enjoy the time she sets aside for me."
"That's a positive attitude to have," Ricardo reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a letter. "This is for you."
"Who's it from?" Draco asked.
"Nobody you should be concerned with," Severus received the letter from Ricardo.
Draco leaned over and got a glimpse of the signature, "Helen?"
Severus ignored Draco in favor of unfurling the parchment.
"Is this from Helen?" Draco grabbed it and stared at the handwriting.
"It is," Severus yanked the parchment away from his godson.
"She is quite the eloquent writer."
"Her writing is legible, and her poetry is sublime," Severus' lips curled up. "I quite enjoy reading her letters."
"So you do," Draco mused aloud.
"Do you need any antenatal vitamins?" Severus didn't look up from the letter.
"Yes."
He pointed to his left, "It's three aisles down on your right, Aisle 14."
"Thank you," Draco stepped away.
Ricardo took note of how distracted Severus was with his letter. Convinced he wasn't about to look up, Ricardo pulled Draco aside and whispered in his ear, "send me an owl telling me when you're free. We need a more in-depth discussion of this matter."
Draco glanced at Severus. "Indeed we do."
Ricardo watched Draco shift through the vitamins before staring at Severus reading the letter. While there was a gleam in his eye, they weren't the fireworks show they had been with Hermione.
When all was said and done, Ricardo was going to need a tall, stiff drink, and a nice long cuddle with Joseph.