The Arrangement

Snape stumbled out of the fireplace at the Three Broomsticks. He'd always been adept at Floo arrivals, but trying to keep his balance while holding what was basically a floppy doll was disconcerting.

He looked into Carly's eyes. Sorry about that, little one, he thought. The rest of the trip home should be much easier. He saw the glimmer of understanding in her eyes and smirked, pleased that he could communicate so clearly with a child this young.

Straightening himself up, he brushed the soot from his cloak. Suddenly, he became aware of several pairs of eyes staring at him. "What are you all looking at?" he scowled. The patrons of the bar returned to their drinks and gossip (though Severus had no doubt that they were all gossiping about him now). Only Miss Larouche, the second-year who had been taken in by Madam Rosmerta, still gaped at him.

"I will not grade your essays any less harshly, despite the fact that I have a child," he snarled at her. Nodding timidly, she went back to drying glasses. Her antagonist stalked out of the bar, not looking where he was going.

As he strolled out of the pub, he was so busy looking at his new daughter that he nearly collided with a young witch pushing a pram.

"Oh! Professor...umm, Mr. Snape! Excuse me!"

He looked up to see Hermione Granger. Or was she a Weasley now? There had been a rash of Weasley weddings following the final battle with Voldemort; he hadn't kept track of who married whom.

"Miss Granger." She didn't correct him, so obviously she was not a Weasley. Not yet. "And it's Professor Snape again, I'm afraid." Glancing down, he connected with Carly, making sure that she hadn't been shaken up too badly by the sudden stop.

As he prepared to walk away, a thought hit him suddenly. "Miss Granger, you did take that position at Slug and Jiggers, didn't you?"

"No. I was going to," she said quietly, "but I ended up canceling the apprenticeship, sir. Once Stephen came along, I could hardly...well, anyway, I have a more flexible position now."

"What job did you take, then?"

With a satisfied smirk, Hermione explained, "I am an independent researcher."

Severus stared at her slack-jawed. "An...an...an..." It had been his dream for years. He'd saved for his independence from the time he started his apprenticeship.

"An independent researcher," Hermione confirmed. Her voice quieted as she continued, "My parents both had life insurance...quite a lot, actually. And I sold the big house in Sussex and bought a small cottage instead...and I sold their practice, too. I get just enough income off the principal to squeeze by. But it's better than wasting years in apprenticeships."

The dark man straightened up, full of hope. He saw an opportunity, and he would not be able to call himself a Slytherin if he didn't exploit it to its fullest. "Miss Granger, my congratulations. You have achieved a dream that many hope for but never attain. But--Miss Granger, are you sure you have enough income to purchase rare potions ingredients?"

"No," she admitted. "but I can do most of the theoretical work the first few years, while I have Stephen home full time. I'll only be able to squeeze a few hours of work in each day, anyway."

Snape looked at her with what he hoped was his most amiable expression. "You see, I, too, find myself in a predicament. I am in need of child care for a few hours each day, but I don't have much money to pay for it. I do, however, have access to quite a few potions ingredients... available at an educational discount, of course... and I do happen to have rather an extensive library of rare potions texts which I could make available to you."

Hermione Granger's face lit up. "Oh, sir!" she exclaimed happily. "I think we might be able to reach an agreement that we both find acceptable!

Severus smirked contentedly. "Would you care for lunch, Miss Granger? We should discuss arrangements. We could eat here, if you like, or at Hogwarts...the house-elves do rather miss having all the children during the summer..."

"Hogwarts, please," said Hermione shyly. "It feels like home, and I miss it."

They walked along in silence for a bit before Severus spoke up. "Miss Granger, have you ever heard of Minocre's disease?"

"Yes, sir! It's what Muggles would call an autoimmune disorder. The immune system goes haywire and attacks the muscles. It only appears in children with latent magic, but it can't be fixed until adulthood, because their magic would be affected. Children with Minocre's are basically invalids. They can't move their limbs at all, only autonomic muscles..." She broke off suddenly. "Oh. It's what she has, isn't it?"

He nodded, unsure of what to say.

"I haven't read much...I mean, I don't know...I mean, can she talk at all?"

"No," he admitted. "But I can communicate with her."

"Of course! You're a Legilimens. That's handy!"

He nodded again, not feeling it necessary to disclose Carly's natural aptitude for the subject.

"But then...how will I..."

He glared at her. "Everyone knows of your natural brilliance and creativity, Miss Granger. If you cannot find a way, no one can."

Over lunch they discussed scheduling and fees. Snape was struck by how quiet Hermione's new son--Stephen, if he remembered correctly--stayed throughout the ordeal. Then he noticed the stack of books in the pram. Though his face remained coldly impersonal, in his mind, he smiled. It appeared that he was not the only one who had found a child after his own heart.