Chapter 27

Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this fiction belong to JK Rowling, her heirs, and her assignees, except for those who belong to me.

Author's Notes: Kudos to noybate for stepping in as beta for this story. This chapter has been Britpicked by the incomparable SlytherinsHeirx, but any mistakes are my own.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Severus Snape Not in Violation of Parole

by Barnabas Cuffe

Editor, Daily Prophet

It was erroneously speculated in this newspaper the other day that Severus Snape, Order of the Phoenix spy and reformed Death Eater, had violated his parole and appeared in Diagon Alley under the guise of a Glamour charm. This has now been proven to be false.

Kingsley Shacklebolt, the current Minister for Magic, has verified that the Headmistress and teachers at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry have testified, under Veritaserum, that Severus Snape never left the school that day. When questioned as to who, then, was purchasing potion ingredients, Minister Shacklebolt would only state, "There are two Potions masters at Hogwarts these days."

It is, therefore, the thoughts of the editor of this newspaper that perhaps Professor Hermione Granger felt she needed a Glamour charm in order to avoid creating crowded conditions during her visit to the apothecary (see sidebar, page 4). As a heroine of the War, Professor Granger is no doubt used to being in the public limelight with Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, although it has been noted that she has refused many perfect opportunities to be interviewed by this newspapers' reporters.

It is the custom of this newspaper to print only the facts and to offer apologies when those facts are in error. Therefore, the management of this paper would like to apologize to Professor Severus Snape for the assumption that he would break his parole in such a blatant manner.

* * *

"Hmph," Minerva said, reading the Daily Prophet at the breakfast table. "A not-so-subtle insult veiled within an inadequate apology."

"And placed below the advertisement for 'Mrs Scower's Magical Mess Remover'," Filius pointed out.

"Naturally," Severus said sourly. "Why place an apology where anyone could actually read it? And I'm on probation, not parole. Perhaps someone should point out the difference."

"Now, Severus," Minerva said, trying to soothe the irate wizard, "just think of the fact that in four and a half months, you won't have to stay on the grounds anymore. And," she pointed out, "your salary will be returned to what it should have been in the first place."

"Hurrah," Severus said drily. "Winning my wager with Lucius has given me my entire salary plus another ten percent. I'll lose Galleons come January."

"At least you've got your health," Poppy said cheerfully.

"Bah!"

* * *

"I received a letter from Lucius today," Severus said, leaning up against the door to his office with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Hmm?" Hermione replied absent-mindedly while she placed the last of her filled vials of Blood Replenishing Potion into the proper boxes and cast cushioning charms. "Oh, yes?" she said as she turned to look at him.

"Yes, he said to thank you and Poppy for the books," Severus said.

"Oh, he's welcome." Hermione turned to clean her work area. Casting Wingardium Leviosa sent the cauldrons and her other tools to the sink area for a magical scrubbing. An Evanesco cleaned the work tables of the spills inevitable to any brewing project. "What did he think of them?" she asked, walking over to the sink to supervise the clean-up there.

"He enjoyed the Anthony and the Pratchett," Severus said, grinning, "but didn't understand one word in three of the Clancy. What exactly did you give him?"

Hermione looked over her shoulder at the Potions professor. Merlin! she thought. He's really good-looking when he smiles. Who'd have thought it?

"Hermione?"

"Hmm? Oh! Poppy and I suggested some books to Narcissa that we thought Lucius might enjoy when we were in Flourish and Blotts last week."

"Yes. I recognized the names Pratchett and Clancy, but wasn't sure about Anthony?"

"Piers Anthony."

Severus looked scandalised. "He writes science fiction."

"Also this amazingly funny series about a magical land called Xanth."

"Zanth?"

"No, Xanth with an 'X'. They're full of puns and improbable situations and incredibly well written." She moved out of the way as the cauldrons, now clean, swept out of the sink and starting stacking themselves on the shelves. The knives, stirring rods, and other tools placed themselves neatly in the cupboard drawers.

"Yes, well, Lucius said he enjoyed Pratchett's wizards, but didn't understand much about what Clancy was talking about. You recommended a techno-thriller to Narcissa for Lucius?"

"It was The Hunt for Red October," Hermione explained. "It's a classic. I thought he might enjoy the defecting Russian submarine captain."

She finished her clean-up and turned to the boxes of potion vials. Casting a levitating charm on the packed boxes, she led the way out of the classroom and up the stairs. Severus followed behind the boxes to make sure they didn't glance off the walls along the way and spill.

"So you and Poppy spent part of your day in Flourish and Blotts. Why am I not surprised?" he smirked. "Did you buy very much, or is that a rhetorical question?"

"Actually, I bought quite a few books," Hermione said in confirmation. "So did Poppy. I didn't know Flourish and Blotts carried a line of Muggle books until she told me. Narcissa overheard us talking in the café, and we invited her to join us for lunch."

"Lunch does not equate to Anthony, Pratchett, and Clancy." Severus reached over and nudged a box back into line.

"Well, no, but Narcissa was curious about Muggle literature, so we asked her to join us," she explained. Starting up the main flight of stairs, she felt like she was leading a line of wayward ducklings as the boxes floated awkwardly into the turn

"Once Poppy and I started exclaiming over all the authors and books that were available, she asked us to give her some recommendations for herself." Hermione giggled. "By the time the three of us were finished, she had almost as many books as Poppy and I. It was fun."

"At least you're able to buy new books," Severus groused. "As you know, the Ministry has blocked me from sending out any letters. That includes orders for books from any and all booksellers or publishers. I haven't had anything new to read since I recovered and came back here." He thought for a moment. "Well, except for the few Potions journals Irma keeps for the library. Oh, and whatever Minerva's managed to pick up for me over the last few years without arousing overt suspicion."

Hermione turned and looked at him. "I'm sorry," she said. "If you had said something, I could've bought some books for you. But didn't you buy some while we were in Auchronie?"

"Yes, and I have read everything at least twice since then," he grumbled. "I didn't have enough Muggle money on me at the time to buy every book I wanted."

Hermione turned into the corridor leading to the Infirmary. "Well, if you want to browse my bookshelves for something to read, you're more than welcome."

"I might just take you up on that, Professor Granger."

* * *

Hermione had just poured herself a glass of elf-made wine and sat down with the newest book by Jessica Bird when there came a knock at her door. Without thinking, she waved her hand to drop the protection spells and called out, "Come in."

She started when Severus stuck his head around the door and glared. "Don't you check to see who's outside your door before inviting them in?" he scolded. "I could have been anybody."

"Anybody who's living in the castle right now," Hermione shot back. "What are you doing here?"

"You told me this afternoon I might come up and browse through your books. Have you changed your mind?"

"Oh! No, of course not," Hermione said, coming to her feet. She set her wine glass down on the side table and walked over to the bookshelves lining most of three walls of her quarters. "Help yourself," she said, waving at the hundreds of books sitting on the shelves. "Would you like some wine?"

"That would be enjoyable," Severus said, starting at one side of the room and moving methodically along the shelves. "You have a great many Muggle romances here."

"Hello," Hermione said, pouring the wine. "Muggle-born here. A lot of these authors are also favourites of my mum's."

"Understandable, then. Ah," Severus said, pulling a paperback from its place on the shelf. "Naked in Death?" He turned the book over to read the blurb on the back. "A futuristic mystery? Is it any good?"

"J. D. Robb?" Hermione was aghast. "You've heard of Tom Clancy and Terry Pratchett, but you've never heard of J. D. Robb?"

"Did I not just say so?" The sarcastic tone was back.

"Sorry. Yes, she's very good. You might enjoy it." Hermione placed the second glass of wine down on her coffee table. "The sofa's quite comfortable."

"Thank you," he said, still perusing the shelves. "I see you have a great many of these In Death novels."

"My mother buys the newest one when it comes out and passes them on to me when she's finished. They're published about every six months. That one you're holding is the very first, and they're shelved in series order."

He walked over to the sofa and sat down with the book still in his hands. "I thought I had a great many books," he said. "But I still probably have more than you do."

"These aren't all of mine," Hermione said, sitting back in her chair. "Most of them are still at my parents' house."

"Indeed," Severus agreed. "I kept the majority of mine at my house in Spinner's End. I can't wait until I can get back there and assess the damage."

"Harry made sure nothing was taken from there after the war," she reassured him. "And he and I cast the tightest protection spells we could find to make sure."

Severus scoffed. "Two teenagers?"

"Who had just survived almost a year on the run without being found by Death Eaters, and we helped to destroy a madman," Hermione reminded him.

"Point taken."

"I set the spells to alert me if anyone tried to enter the house," she continued. "In the last five years, I haven't felt anything, and the spells have been undisturbed every time I've gone to look."

"I thank you for that." He picked up the glass of wine and took a sip. "The wine is good. I'll reserve judgement on the book." He smirked and sat back to read.

Hermione smiled to herself as she picked up her own book. Shortly, the only sounds in the room were the turning of pages and the crackle of the fire.

* * *

"This was quite an interesting book," Severus said a couple of hours later, closing the cover. "Might I borrow the next one to take back to my quarters? I'll return it to you in the morning."

"Certainly," Hermione stood and stretched. She held out her hand for the book he held, then walked over to put it away. "Glory in Death is basically a continuation of the first one. Actually, they all are. Each one advances the story by a few weeks or months. This entire series," she waved her hand over the books, "encompasses probably a little more than two years in fictional time."

"And this woman publishes twice a year?" He was astounded. "She must be a prolific writer."

"She also publishes under the name of Nora Roberts," Hermione told him, pointing at another section of shelves. "At least two books a year come out under that name. I don't think any of her books have ever been out of print since she started being published."

"Astounding." Severus took the next book in the mystery series and bowed towards Hermione. "I thank you for the loan of the book and for a most enjoyable evening."

"You're welcome. I hope you enjoy the book."

"I'm sure I shall."

Author's Notes: For those few who do not know, Nora Roberts and J. D. Robb are one and the same person. When she started writing the In Death novels, Miss Roberts decided to publish them under a pen-name since they were mysteries rather than romances. The initials J. and D. came from the first names of her two sons, according to her J. D. Robb website. When the books turned out to be popular, her publishers convinced her to add "Nora Roberts writing as J. D. Robb" to the book covers.