Three

Chapter 3

It took a week before Hermione figured out what to do. She'd been organizing the shelves and dusting the vials when the idea came to her.

"Oh, I can't believe I didn't think of that sooner!"

She hurried over to the desk and grabbed some parchment and a quill.

"It was right there all along! I don't know why I didn't remember him! I need to take a day off or something because it seems that all of this stress with the paper is becoming too much for me."

The curtain opened, and Severus poked his head through it. "Who are you talking to?" he asked.

Hermione looked up with wild eyes. "Oh! No one! Sometimes when I get a good idea, I talk to myself. Sorry!"

Severus eyed her curiously. "What good idea are you blabbering on about?"

"It's just something for Ginny. Don't mind me!" She laughed nervously and waved him away with her hand. "Really, boring stuff. You wouldn't want to know the inner workings of her relationship with Harry, now, would you?"

Severus cringed. "No, no, I wouldn't. Ahem, carry on then." He quickly disappeared back to his lab.

Hermione sighed in relief. "Good going, Granger," she said to herself quietly. "A little secrecy is definitely in order."

She penned a quick note, which for Hermione was only two feet of parchment. Bounding up, she grabbed a shipping box and went to the shelves, selecting twenty different potions and placing them in the box. Packing and sealing it carefully, she attached her message to it and took it to the delivery owl. Grabbing two treats, she fed the owl.

"I'm not sure how far you go to some of your deliveries, but this one will take you some time, as it's quite a bit away. Please deliver this to Viktor Krum, Bulgaria."

The owl hooted at her, took the string-wrapped parcel in its talons and flew off. Hermione watched the owl soar into the sky.

"I hope this works," she mused to herself. She smiled, turned, and made her way back into the lab.

"Severus, would you like some lunch?" she asked.

Severus looked up quickly. His eyes narrowed at her. "Why are you smiling like that? You are hiding something."

"Who, me?" Hermione protested, making a mental note to look more serious. "I'm not hiding anything. I just wanted to know if you were hungry."

Severus cleared his throat and looked down into his cauldron. After a minute he answered her. "I am not."

Hermione giggled. "It took you that long to figure that out?"

Severus didn't look up. "I will take my lunch later. Thank you for the offer."

She became serious then. "Are you upset with me?"

"No! I'm... I'm just very busy."

Tilting her head a little, she regarded him thoughtfully. "Oh. Ok, then. Well, I'm going to grab a quick lunch. I'll be back soon, ok? Are you sure you don't want me to pick something up for you for later?"

"I'm fine," Severus replied in a clipped tone.

Sighing, she turned to leave. "All right, then," she said over her shoulder as she left the room. Her eyebrows knit together as she grabbed her purse and left the store. Severus was acting oddly. He'd been a bit aloof all week. She'd brought breakfast for them every day, and he'd accepted gracefully, but had always been reserved and quiet while they ate. Every offer for lunch had been rebuffed just like this one. She was at a loss. His behavior was typical of the Severus Snape most people knew, but Hermione had found him to be much more open with her because of their past working relationship.

She'd learned to see beyond his gruff exterior into the man that he truly was. They'd been friends now since before she'd married Ron. Hermione had been shocked that the harsh man who had insulted her so often in her youth had become one of her closest friends. She'd learned to read his moods, and his approach to his dealings with her had softened considerably. His current turn back to Mr. Unapproachable frustrated her.

As she made her way to Diagon Alley and some lunch, Hermione hoped that he would get over whatever was bothering him. She missed the talks they always had.

Turning the corner, she found herself back in civilization. An elderly witch eyed her as she emerged from Knockturn Alley. The look on the witch's face told Hermione that the old woman thought she'd been up to no good. She sighed. What did she expect, coming from Knockturn Alley? Anyone emerging from there would be looked at in an equally harsh light. Unfortunately, things went pear-shaped from there. The woman pointed at her and cried aloud to anyone who would hear her.

"There she is! The Hussy of Gryffindor! She's a dark witch, I tell you!"

Hermione looked at the woman with wide eyes and began to shake her head, but it was too late. Everyone in the vicinity rushed over to her and began to yell.

"Liar!"

"Spoiled brat!"

"Black heart!"

Hermione stepped back quickly, trying to get around the crowd, however, there was no escape, and they kept getting closer and closer. She was being backed into a corner. Quickly, she tried to Apparate, but everyone was too close. They were grabbing at her and pulling on her clothes, spitting harsh words and epithets at her. Grabbing her wand, she cast a quick Protego spell, repelling the crowd so she could run far enough away to Apparate to the safety of the shop.

"Stupid, asinine, people!" she cursed loudly when she appeared in the apothecary. "Why can't they find something better to do with themselves instead of accosting me?"

Severus emerged quickly from the back lab, concern on his face. "What happened?" he asked quickly.

Hermione looked at him crossly. "Some old woman pointed me out coming from Diagon Alley, and I was mobbed by a group of harpies! Honestly, I don't know how I could be labeled a whore and a frigid ice princess in the same breath!"

"Are you all right?"

She nodded. "Yes, but they surrounded me so quickly, I couldn't Apparate away. I had to use a shield so I could get far enough away to escape."

Severus frowned. "Did they hurt you?"

"Not really, although they were grabbing at me. The nerve of some people, thinking they can put their hands all over you just because they read about you in the paper."

"Yes, that's why I don't go out much."

Hermione looked to Severus. "They still attack you when you go out?"

Severus gave her a quick nod. "It's mostly glares and epithets, and usually only one person at a time, but it certainly becomes tiresome after years of abuse."

"I'm sorry, Severus. I didn't realize it was that hard for you still."

"No matter." Severus went to his desk and pulled out the bottom drawer. He removed a small box and carried it over to Hermione.

"I meant to give this to you the other day, but I forgot," he said as a way of explanation as he extended his hand with the box in it.

"Oh, thank you," Hermione said in puzzlement. She took the box and opened it. Inside was a necklace with a small jade phoenix on it.

"Severus, this is beautiful! Thank you."

"It's a Portkey," he explained. "Not your average Portkey, as it is not made of garbage. It will transport you directly here if you ever are in danger like you were today. You won't have to worry about finding space for Apparition with this."

Hermione's eyes filled with gratitude as she flung her arms around Severus. "Thank you so much! Severus, it's beautiful and practical all in one!"

Severus' arms went around her, and she felt comforted at once. Too soon he was awkwardly pushing her away from him and clearing his throat.

"Very well, then. I have potions to brew. I'll be in the back if you need me."

She watched him sadly as he abruptly turned and, in a swish of robes, billowed back to his work area. She wished she could have a little more of that hug from him. It had felt like home.

Hermione turned as the bell over the door rang. She immediately recognized Draco Malfoy as he gave her an incredulous look.

"Granger! So, this is where you've disappeared to?"

Hermione smiled at him. Draco Malfoy was another surprise in her life. He worked for the Ministry and even though they didn't work for the same department, they'd struck up a friendship. It had started when out of the blue the pompous, proud Malfoy had apologized for treating her so horribly in school. She'd just about fainted. Ron had told her he was up to no good, but Hermione had found that their friendship had benefited the both of them. She cherished it quite dearly.

"Draco! What are you doing here?"

"Do you think these golden locks flow so beautifully on their own?" he asked her with an impish grin as he pointed to his hair.

"Severus makes your hair products?" she cried.

"Of course. I would trust my hair to no one else."

Hermione giggled. "That's kind of funny, considering the state of Severus' hair."

"There is nothing wrong with my hair!" Severus bellowed from behind her.

Hermione turned in mortification. "I... I just meant..."

"Slave over a cauldron night and day and you may, now and then, forget to hit the shower after a long days work."

"I'm sorry, Severus. I was just... Your hair is fine. I just meant before, at school. It was... well, you know..." She looked away, her cheeks red in embarrassment.

"I know... what?"

"Severus," she pleaded.

"No, finish your sentence. This will be good."

"Limp," she said tersely.

"Limp?"

Hermione nodded.

Draco chuckled. "She's a diplomat, Severus. She'd never tell you the full truth. Your hair was a solid mass of grease, and you know it."

Severus moved to within centimeters of Hermione. "All the better to keep the hordes of women away, no?"

Hermione's eyes grew wide. "You... you did that on purpose?"

"Relationships of any kind are a liability when one is a spy. The fewer who got close to me, the safer everyone was. Who would want to get close to an ugly, greasy, slime-ball?"

"But you're not ugly," Hermione said softly.

Severus arched an eyebrow. "You're not going to argue about being a greasy, slime-ball?"

Hermione stood her ground. She'd learned long ago not to be intimidated by Severus. "Heavens no! That was definitely an accurate description of you during our school days. Wasn't it, Draco?"

Draco bent low with laughter. "Oh, she's got you there, Severus."

Severus straightened. "Yes, I find Miss Granger gives as well as she gets nowadays. Much better than she was as a student, always waving her hand in the air, crying to be noticed."

"I'd watch her if I were you. She's got a strong right hook," Draco advised.

"Does she, now?" Severus arched an eyebrow at her. "I've got your products in the back, Draco. I'll just go retrieve them."

As he disappeared, Hermione turned to Draco. "How have you been?" she asked.

Draco shrugged. "Oh, you know. About the same. Flocked by the women, hated by the men. What can an Adonis like me do?"

Hermione giggled. She knew Draco was only half joking. He was the envy of most men because of his good looks. He never lacked a lady on his arm. He also never made promises he couldn't keep, unlike her ex-husband who also never had the same woman on his arm as of late.

Draco looked at her seriously. "I was sorry to hear you'd resigned your position. Now I have no one to torment."

Hermione shook her head. "You're terrible, Draco."

"Are you ok, though?" Draco asked with concern. He reached out and took her arm in comfort.

She nodded, looking up at him and smiling. "I'm tough. A few harsh words aren't going to send me into hiding."

"You could have fooled me."

"I'm just trying to keep a low profile."

"I'm here if you need me."

At that point, Severus returned. The look he gave Draco was utterly mutinous as he held out the small bag to him with his hair products. His eye lingered on Draco's hand which was still on Hermione's arm before he glared at the younger man once again.

"Here you go," Severus said, shoving the bag into Draco's chest. "Best be on your way. You wouldn't want those lovely blonde tresses to go limp, now, would you?"

Draco caught the bag with both hands and looked curiously at Severus. "No," he said in puzzlement. "I suppose I wouldn't." With a nod to Hermione, he turned and left the small shop.

Hermione turned to Severus. "You were a bit short with Draco, weren't you?"

Severus sneered at her. "Don't you have work to do?" he demanded before stalking back to his lab.

Hermione gaped after him. She wasn't quite sure what to think of his actions just now. She'd never seen him be rude to Draco before. He'd been acting strangely all week, though. Pursing her lips, she decided to find out just what was wrong with him. Marching back to his lab, she was surprised to see him sitting on a bench next to his cauldron, his head in his hands. She went over to him and sat down next to him.

"Care to tell me what that was all about?" she asked without preamble.

"Leave it, Hermione."

"I will not," she said indignantly. "You have been a bear all week, and I've never seen you act so rudely to Draco. Whatever has gotten into you? Have I done something that has upset you?"

Severus removed his hands from his face and stared down at the floor for a long time. Hermione waited, letting him sort his words.

"You're right," he stated finally. "I was short with Draco. I have had little sleep this week. My mind will not stop racing whenever I lie down, and then I have... disturbing dreams."

Hermione placed an arm on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. You should have said something. I have bad dreams a lot, too."

Severus nodded, but didn't look at her. "You have done nothing, Hermione. I didn't mean to make you feel as if you had."

"These dreams, what are they about?"

"I'd rather not discuss them. Suffice it to say that they have me waking up and not being able to get back to sleep."

"Have you tried Dreamless Sleep?"

He gave a quick nod. "Only when I need a full night's sleep. I don't like taking sleep aids."

Hermione rubbed his shoulder absentmindedly. "I do the same. I know it's not supposed to be addicting, but I don't want to become dependent on something to make me sleep."

Abruptly Severus stood, disengaging her hand. "I should get back to work. I have already ruined this draught by letting it simmer too long."

Hermione eyed Severus in amazement. "Wow," she commented.

"Wow what?" he asked grumpily.

"I'm surprised. I thought you never made mistakes in the lab."

"Everyone makes mistakes, Hermione."

"I know, but you are so skilled at what you do. I just assumed you never let things like that happen."

Severus smirked then. "Sorry to make you realize I am human."

Hermione shrugged. "You'll always be Superman to me." She left him staring after her, an amazed look on his face.