Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Severus stood outside of Hermione's bookstore the next day. He shook his head. He had Apparated to London two days in a row. His life was becoming a circus. He reached for the door and opened it as a small bell rang to announce his presence.

Hermione looked up to see a tall man enter the shop. She was surprised to recognize Severus Snape entering her little bookstore, fully incognito. He had on sunglasses and his black hair was tied behind his neck. He wore dark grey pants and a navy blue shirt. Hermione gave him a quick smile.

"Good morning, Severus. I thought we were going to meet later on today," Hermione gushed nervously as Severus approached the counter.

"I have a personal request, Hermione, that I didn't want to interfere with our search later," Severus said darkly.

Hermione looked at him expectantly.

"Hermione, have you ever heard of the book Incantations for Potions?" he asked finally.

Hermione's eyebrows knit together as she considered Severus' inquiry.

"The title sounds familiar, but I can't place it."

"Ages ago, Potioneers would combine wand work with their potions. Incantations for Potions is a book that was written about five hundred years ago. It's supposed to have detailed instructions on how to combine spells and potions."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at this. "Do you have the book in your possession?" she asked Severus.

"I do not. I want you to find it for me."

Hermione sat back in her chair and folded her arms, deep in thought. "I could do some searching at the Ministry for you if you'd like."

Severus nodded. "It's probably nothing worthwhile. I sincerely doubt there is much to the theory. It's probably just a book of foolish wand waving."

He looked up suddenly, as Hermione had said the last three words in unison with him. He frowned at her. How could she know he was going to say such a thing? Hermione blushed crimson at his glare.

"Nonetheless," he went on, "I would be interested to see if there is any credence to the subject. I have found that much of the old ways of doing things have been lost in our time."

Hermione nodded in agreement.

"What is your price for such a search?" Severus asked her.

Hermione scoffed. "Severus, you can consider it payment for helping me with Potions of our Time. I would be glad to do anything you ask for your help."

Severus scowled. "Hermione, I can pay you whatever your fee is."

"Nonsense, it will be my pleasure to help you find it, if it still exists. One thing I do tell all of my clients is that it's highly likely that books that are older than three hundred years have been destroyed. But if it still exists, I will find it."

Severus looked at her for a while, debating whether to take her offer or not. Finally, he nodded his agreement, and he left her shop without another word to her.

oooOOOooo

That night had been productive. They had gone through a small part of the diary where almost every page had needed to be copied for further study. The next evening, they had gathered once again at Severus' cottage. They were going to tackle the next part of the diary. The book was incredibly extensive. It seemed to go on forever. Hermione knew it would take them many days just to get through the entire book. But her mind wasn't on the diary just yet. She had some news for Severus. Hermione looked at Severus excitedly before they began.

"I found a reference to Incantations for Potions today at the Ministry Library!" she said animatedly.

Severus arched an eyebrow at her.

"I wasn't expecting you to find anything so quickly."

Hermione gave him a smile. "Some things are easier to find than others," she divulged.

"That may be, but I'm sure the fact that you are very good at what you do might have had something to do with it," Severus said dryly.

"Did you just pay me a compliment?" Hermione asked in shock.

The slightest tilt of the left side of Severus' mouth was the only answer to her. Hermione thought that was a smirk, but even her keen eye had to question whether she had seen anything at all. She decided to plod on with what she had found.

"There's a record of the book being located in the Wizarding section of the University of Leeds Library."

"There's a Wizarding section at the University of Leeds Library?"

"Oh, yes. Haven't you been there?"

"I am a recluse, remember?" Severus answered sarcastically.

Hermione's cheeks flushed. "I realize that, but you weren't always a recluse."

"I have never had the privilege to visit Leeds for any reason, let alone to explore an unknown library."

"Well, it's small," Hermione admitted, "but it has a nice collection of Wizarding literature. I was planning on heading up there tomorrow."

Hermione sat deep in thought for a moment. She looked over at Severus eagerly.

"You should come with me!"

"Hermione, I will not."

"Why not?"

"What if I'm seen?" he growled.

"We are going to Leeds, not downtown London, for heaven's sake. We can Apparate from here directly to the outside of the library. You'll be seen by maybe two or three people in total, none of which will be wizards in all probability. Even if there is a witch or wizard in the library, they probably will have never heard of you."

"I thought everyone had heard of me," Severus said snidely. "I'm a household name."

"Okay, maybe they'll have heard of you, but most wouldn't recognize you from Batman."

Severus narrowed his eyes at her bat reference.

"Oh, lighten up; he's a bloody Muggle movie character, for Merlin's sake."

"I am aware of the identity of Batman, Hermione," Severus said caustically.

"Well, then you'll understand the reference," Hermione said in a clipped tone.

"I also understand the underlying reference to my former teaching appearance."

"Whatever are you talking about?" Hermione asked innocently.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"Severus, to be honest with you, that reference didn't cross my mind until you brought it up!"

"Of course it didn't," Severus huffed.

Hermione decided to let the Batman matter drop. "Come on, Severus, come with me. We can search more efficiently if there are two of us!"

Severus mulled it over, all the while scowling at her. He found it hard to believe that she hadn't thought of the Bat of the Dungeons reference, as she had said. Who wouldn't? It was his alter ego after all. But she had seemed sincere, and he had no real reason to doubt her. He decided to let that matter drop.

But what about accompanying her? Maybe she was right, and no one would recognize him. What if she was wrong, though? He didn't want all of the papers plastered with his name. Snape appears in Leeds! He could just see them now. They would probably make all sorts of accusations. They would no doubt accuse him of going to Leeds to kill someone or to get potions ingredients for some sordid potion that would poison the world.

Severus shook his head. He was jumping to conclusions. He supposed that was part of being a recluse, one became paranoid. Being a spy for most of his life certainly didn't help either. Hermione was right and he was being foolish. In all probability, no one would see him, and if they did, why would they recognize him, especially if he didn't look like himself? He finally came to a decision.

"Alright, but we will go right there and come right back. No walking in the square, no window shopping sprees. Just there and back," he ordered.

"Why would I want to go window shopping in Leeds? All of the designer shops are right here in London. Everyone knows if you don't get your clothes here, there's no reason to even wear them," Hermione said flatly with a roll of her eyes.

Severus looked at her incredulously. He knew she had fine taste in clothes, but he had no idea she was so vain.

Hermione saw the look on Severus' face and burst out laughing. "I had you going there for a minute, didn't I?"

Severus huffed and turned back to the diary, trying to ignore the giggling going on beside him.

"Severus, I may have a great interest in nice clothes, but I'm not obsessed with buying them, and I don't window shop wherever I go, you insolent git."

Severus kept his eyes on the diary, waiting for the chit of a woman to stop laughing at him. He had never met anyone so infuriating in his life.

A/N: Next up: The hunt for Severus' book.

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