Chapter 30

Disclaimer: All belongs to JKR except that which does not. No Galleons have changed hands in the writing of this fiction.

Author's Note: All hail noybate for her work as a beta. Any mistakes are mine.

Chapter Thirty

"Never again," Hermione moaned as she kicked off her shoes, stretched out on a sofa in the staff lounge, and closed her eyes, her beaded bag hitting the floor more or less at the same time.

"Problems in London?" Poppy asked, looking up from her latest thriller. She looked around quizzically. "Where's Sheila?"

"About now? Probably being pampered by her husband and three children," Hermione snarled. "My mother and Narcissa Malfoy are Power Shoppers." She groaned as she stretched her feet and wiggled her toes. "I don't want to go shopping with both of them together ever again."

She moaned as someone sat down on the sofa, picked up her feet, and started massaging them. "I'll give you to forever to stop that," she said, opening her eyes.

Severus smirked. "Now you know why Lucius so often refuses to go shopping with Cissy. She has the stamina of a Hippogriff." He rubbed the sole of one of her feet with his thumb to work out the kinks, while her other foot twitched with anticipation. "Call this a down payment for purchasing my books."

"Oh, Merlin," Hermione moaned. "You are so welcome." She closed her eyes again and slid further down into the sofa as her entire body relaxed. "I wasn't able to get everything on your list, but the assistant manager at Flourish and Blotts assured me the rest of the books should arrive by owl sometime this week."

Severus quirked an eyebrow at her. "You didn't tell them the books were for me, did you?"

"Of course not." One brown eye cracked open. "At least being a Potions master gives me an excuse for purchasing the books you wanted. I'll want to read them too, just so you know. Consider it part of my payment."

"Indeed." He picked up the other foot and started rubbing as she moaned her pleasure. "Just what do I owe you in Galleons for the purchase price?"

"Hmmm. Oh! The receipt's in my bag with your books. The cost of shipping the other books is included," she said sleepily. "Oh my, but you are good with your hands."

"If you think a foot rub feels good, you should try one of my back rubs," he said evenly.

Hermione sat up so fast she almost kicked a sensitive part of his anatomy. "Severus Snape, are you flirting with me?"

Poppy started laughing, interest in her book forgotten in observing the much more interesting interaction going on across the room. "My dear, I haven't heard Severus offer anyone else a back rub since he came on staff. You are the lucky witch."

Severus smirked at Poppy. "Considering how everyone thinks of me as a greasy git..."

"I do not!" Hermione interrupted. "I've always respected you, even when you were mean to us."

"Respect does not mean stealing from my private stores," Severus scolded with a knowing smirk.

Hermione shrank back into the corner of the couch and tucked her feet up under her, making herself as small as possible. "You knew that was me?" she asked faintly.

"Indeed," Severus sneered. "But it wasn't until you turned halfway into a cat that I realized who my thief might have been." He smiled at her...a most alarming prospect. "Being a cat for a few weeks was, I felt, proper retribution. And I gave you an Acceptable for the potion."

* * *

Owl post was always a welcome part of breakfast for the denizens of the castle. This morning, when a large parcel was brought to Hermione, she offered the two owls who delivered it the rest of the sausage on her plate as thanks. In addition to the package, the owl post also brought her the latest issues of The Practical Potioneer and Transfiguration Today, as well as her copies of the latest Muggle science periodicals forwarded by her parents. Without a thought, she pushed the science and potion journals towards Severus while she picked up the Daily Prophet.

"Why I read this rag, I'll never know," she muttered.

"For the entertainment value, of course," Severus replied as he opened The Practical Potioneer and began reading.

"Well, there certainly can't be any other reason," Hermione said, unfolding the paper to the front page. "And it's just not that entertaining. Especially when the only news that seems to be worth printing is a sighting of my mother and Narcissa shopping together in Diagon Alley."

"A most unlikely friendship," Severus said absently, scanning the first article to see if it was one he wanted to read in depth at a later time.

"And they said it would never last," Hermione said with a laugh.

"Indeed."

* * *

Herms,

Did you read in the Daily Prophet last week where Skeeter made a noise about our mothers shopping together? You'd think the Dark Lord had risen again. If she's not careful, she'll lose her job over this. People are trying to forget the War ever happened.

Ferret

* * *

Ferret,

Yes, I read it. Severus and I both commented on what an unlikely friendship they have. The thing is, they're more alike than they are different. Both only had one child, both have been married more than twenty years to the man they first married, and...the most important part...they're both Power Shoppers.

I made the mistake of inviting them to go shopping with the new Muggle Studies professor and myself to Blackwell's a couple of weeks ago. They then proceeded, after lunch, to shop the feet off Sheila and me. Just because my mum's a Muggle and yours is a pure-blood doesn't mean they can't be friends.

Herms

* * *

Hermione,

Molly

* * *

"Oh, bloody hell."

"Professor Granger, really. There are children present." Minerva was aghast to hear her Transfiguration professor swearing over the morning mail.

"Sorry, Minerva, but this is too much," Hermione said, handing the Headmistress the letter she'd been reading.

Minerva scanned it quickly and then put it down, her lips pinched. "You're forgiven, Hermione. The nerve of that woman..."

"What woman?" Severus looked up from the new book he'd brought to the table to read.

Hermione handed him the letter. "Molly Weasley is a spiteful busybody who isn't exactly one to talk about friendship. The problem is... how do I tell her to bugger off without jeopardizing my friendship with the rest of the family?"

"Let your mother do it?" he suggested.

"She can't defend herself if Molly decides to hex first and ask questions later."

"A valid point. Any ideas, Minerva?"

"I might try to think of something." Minerva mused. "Molly is a witch who holds a grudge rather than letting it go."

"Speaking of grudges..." Filius said, looking at the front page of the Daily Prophet. "I think you'd better read this." He handed the paper to Severus.

* * *

Severus Snape Violating Parole

Abetted by Hermione Granger

by Rita Skeeter

Correspondent, Daily Prophet

It has been learned by this reporter that Severus Snape, former Death Eater and currently professor of Potions at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has been violating his parole, ably abetted by Hermione Granger, also a professor at Hogwarts and supposed friend to Harry Potter, the Man Who Lived Twice.

Professor Granger has apparently been seen giving Professor Snape copies of various magazines as well as other books to read. It is the understanding of this reporter that Severus Snape has been banned from receiving any books and/or periodicals for the duration of his parole. For Professor Granger to disregard this ruling is tantamount to saying she does not care about the wizarding world's fate should Severus Snape decide to resume his illegal activities.

It has also been suggested Severus Snape is brewing the potions used in the Infirmary at the school, also a direct violation of his parole as prescribed by the Wizengamot. It is the opinion of this reporter that such actions should be investigated immediately and, if necessary, the perpetrators punished to the full extent of the law.

* * *