Chapter 6 - Mercury's Wings

All canon characters belong to JKR. This story is based on The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.

Thank you to June for her help and for being my beta.

Chapter 6 – Mercury's Wings

Hermione spent the weekend thinking on Severus' words. He didn't show himself to her for the rest of the weekend, and she thought that perhaps he wanted to be alone. She kept herself busy by reading over a few things in the book that she had made notes to herself to go back to. Every so often, she would hear Viktoria in her room, talking to her dolls. She had taken to giving them tea parties as of late.

Monday morning, she dressed Viktoria warmly and dropped her off at Harry and Ginny's. She knew that her book would never make sense to Muggle readers, so she decided to peddle her and Severus' combined efforts to wizarding society. There were three publishing houses that seemed to be the most open to new writers, so she thought it would be best to approach those to begin with. At the first house, she waited in a small room with several other would-be authors; she left after waiting over two hours. Hermione decided to try her luck with another firm just down the street, where she waited three hours. Hoping that the third time would be a charm, she Apparated to the last firm on her list, which was just a ways down the street from the Three Broomsticks.

Mercury's Wings was a small publishing firm. It was located in a building that looked as though a weak wind could blow it down to the ground. Hermione walked into the building, and found a balding chubby man sitting behind a very old desk, reading that day's copy of The Quibbler.

"Do you have an appointment?" he asked gruffly, not even bothering to look up from his paper.

"No, sir. I don't." She looked around the small room and saw that she was the only person there other than him. "Do I need one?"

The man looked over to her and set the paper down. Just then, another man walked through the door. He looked at Hermione and tipped his hat. He reminded her of Bill Weasley, except he had dark brown hair instead of red.

"Good afternoon," he said as he smiled.

Hermione smiled, and then heard the man behind the desk clearing his throat.

"You can't be seen without an appointment," he said.

"Can I make one now?" she asked.

The man rolled his eyes and opened up a wired book that had been closed. He took his quill and dipped it in ink.

Hermione looked down at the book and noticed that there were no appointments made for the entire day.

"Fine, for when," asked the gruff man impatiently.

"I would like an appointment for December eighteenth at two o'clock."

The man frowned and looked up from his writing.

"That's five minutes from now."

"Yes, it is," she agreed.

"You can't make an appointment for five minutes from now."

"Wilfred, stop giving this lovely young lady such a difficult time. Just have a look at what she has. It isn't as though you have anything better to do," said the man behind Hermione.

"You stay out of this, Reg. It's enough I have to deal with you hanging about; the last thing I need is more no-talent dimwits waltzing in here, thinking they have written the next Merlin's Chronicles," huffed Wilfred.

Hermione narrowed her brow and stepped forward.

"How dare you say that. You haven't even given me a chance to show you what I have."

"At least allow the lady to show you her work." The younger man took a step forward and looked at Hermione. "I must apologize for old Wilfred here. As you can see, he's in a rather nasty mood today. I gather he's lost last week's profits after the Chudley Cannons' loss yesterday." Wilfred crossed his arms and pursed his lips. "My name is Reginald Warren, aspiring best selling author," he said as he bowed slightly and took Hermione's hand. He then motioned to the chubby man. "And that cranky old coot is Wilfred Mercury.

Wilfred mumbled beneath his breath, "All I need, another bloody romance novel."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Warren. I'm Hermione Krum."

Wilfred's face then brightened suddenly.

"Krum? Were you related to the Quidditch player, Viktor Krum?" he asked.

"Why, yes, he was my husband," said Hermione quietly.

"Well, perhaps I can have a look at what you have," said Wilfred.

"Really?" said Hermione, excitedly.

"Oh, now you're interested," shot Reginald.

Wilfred ignored the other man and reached out for Hermione's manuscript.

"Just what sort of book is this?" Wilfred asked, hoping it really wasn't another sickeningly sweet romance novel. He turned it to face him, and his eyes opened wide as he read the cover. "Death Eaters?"

Hermione smiled. She knew that was the last thing he expected to see.

"You wrote a book about Death Eaters?" asked Reginald.

"Not just any old Death Eaters. This is about Severus Snape."

Wilfred looked up at Hermione, like a child opening up a Christmas present. "Wait! You used to be Hermione Granger."

"I still am. I'm not dead, sir," she said, still standing but now with her hands on her hips.

"I mean, you also fought in the war. You knew him? You know Harry Potter?" Wilfred asked excitedly.

"Yes, I knew Professor Snape. And I do know Harry Potter."

Wilfred moved the book closer to him and read the title fully.

"From the title, I gather this is a tell-all book, but Severus Snape has been dead for years. He died in the war. Where did you get the information for this book?" he inquired.

"I have recently purchased a home he once lived in. I found several journals and notes written on parchments. I arranged them all by date and began to write this book. Everything in there is documented in his own writing," answered Hermione hopefully. She could see the man becoming more interested by the minute. For a brief moment she considered taking him to meet Severus but pushed the thought from her mind. Severus was not an ordinary ghost like the ones at Hogwarts. He made it clear to her from the beginning that he wanted to be left alone. He would appear only to Hermione.

"Those journals must be something," said Reginald.

"They are quite fascinating, actually. Professor Snape was a brilliant man. There is so much about him that is misunderstood, and many unwarranted rumors," answered Hermione, smiling.

"All right, Mrs. Krum. I'll have a read. Come back Wednesday afternoon."

"Do you think it's something you can sell? Would people be interested in reading something like this?"

"Are you kidding me? Next to nothing is known about what true Death Eaters were all about. All other Death Eaters are dead or were given the Dementor's Kiss. If this book is what I think it is, then you have yourself a goldmine here, Mrs. Krum ... a goldmine."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione stepped out of the building with an extra spring in her step. She couldn't wait to get home to tell Severus that Mr. Mercury was incredibly interested in the book. She felt a drop of rain and looked up into the sky. At that very moment, there began a torrential downpour. As she was going to turn back into the building, she bumped into Reginald, who had just opened a rather large umbrella.

"I'm sorry, I was going to go inside and cast a rain repellant charm."

Reginald laughed.

"But umbrellas are much more fun, don't you think?" he smiled, then realized he had his arm around her waist.

Hermione realized it too, and moved away from him slightly, yet kept herself under the umbrella.

"And may I ask where you procured this very Muggle item?" She thought it interesting to see an umbrella being used in Hogesmead, only ever seeing wizards and witches keeping the rain off of themselves by way of charms.

"My mother is a Muggle. She gave this to me several years ago for Christmas. Would you like to accompany me for some tea? I would love to hear about your book."

Hermione was flattered to be asked to tea. She never dated much as a teenager, and only had a brief relationship with Ron; Viktor was the only other man she had dated. She also felt a slight tinge of guilt. What would Severus say if he knew she was having tea with some strange man? Why would Severus think anything? He would probably be pleased a nice man had shown interest in her. Still, she hesitated.

"I really should be getting back home. I have to pick up my daughter. I left her with some friends of mine, and I don't want to get home too late."

"Oh, please, I promise I'll only keep you a short time. I really would love to hear about your book."

She thought back on the stories Severus told her. But she could certainly not live her life wondering if every man that approached her was out to attack her. She smiled and nodded.

"All right. One cup of tea, then."

They walked down the street together under the umbrella.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll try to have more some time this week. Thanks to all of you who have read so far. I'm very happy you are enjoying it.