Part One, Day Seven

Many thanks to my beta, Dacian Goddess.

Need I to remind you that I don't make any money out of this?

A breakfast for four was waiting for the occupants of the Granger household on the kitchen table on this Sunday morning.

"Mum, this is perfect," Hermione exclaimed at the sight of toast, tea, marmalade, bacon, etc.

"Mrs and Mr Granger, I don't know how to thank you for your hospitality," Severus began as soon as he was installed at the table.

"No, no, it's quite natural," Josephine protested. "In fact, after everything you've told us, we're honoured to have you under our roof." She was very sincere, and Severus felt warmed by her kind words, which were reflected in her husband's eyes. They wouldn't be that bad as in-laws, indeed; and, being Muggles, they wouldn't be able to intrude in our life too much. Yes, the more he knew about Hermione, the more he found her desirable. He might never love her as he had loved Lily, but he could grow feelings for her nonetheless.

When breakfast was finished, Hermione and Severus exchanged a significant glance, which the Grangers did not miss. Josephine cleared the table, and William decided the lawn needed to be mowed. Hermione led Severus into the lounge.

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

"Do you still want a personal aide?"

He looked at her intently. "Absolutely."

"I'm willing to take the job, but I have some questions before."

"Of course." He settled comfortably into a deep-brown armchair, his posture an invitation for discussion.

"First, what would my duties be, exactly?"

"Essentially, to be with me all day and available on short notice at night. You would have to help me take care of any muscle incidents with discretion and efficiency, especially if I'm in public. The rest of the time, you could help me with the school paperwork, take notes during meetings, advise me on how to handle certain situations with the Ministry, the governors, the teachers, etc. You would be a confidante of sort."

Wow. Hermione's eyes widened at his last words. He really trusts me. Maybe we're friends after all. She smiled at the idea. "I'd like to have my Sundays off to see my family and friends."

"Naturally. Sundays are quieter days as it is. I can avoid interactions with others more easily that day." There was no way he would face a muscle incident, especially one of the humiliating species, alone; he would not be able to act quickly enough to avoid it being noticed. "You will have your Sundays from six a.m. to eight p.m. free."

"No Saturday night?"

"If necessary, and on condition that I have an early notice. You will have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day off as well." He did not want to alienate her by preventing her from having time with her loved ones on such important holidays.

She looked at him both slyly and shyly. How did she manage it? "Actually, I'd like to ask a favour of you."

A bargain? How interesting. "Do tell."

"Would you accept to teach me more on Potions, Defence, Charms... Anything you know."

Knowledge. She wanted knowledge. That, I have in spades, so much more than Weasley. I am confident now that she will be mine. I only need to bide my time and suffer to see her with that not-as-bright-as-he seems boy.

"I accept." He gifted her with a genuine smile. It was not much, just a slight opening of his mouth and a small curling of his lips, but she saw it, and her beam nearly blinded him. Yes, I am sure that I will care for her a great deal with time.

"Where will I have my quarters?"

"I'll arrange something for you as soon as I'll get back to Hogwarts. You won't sleep in Gryffindor Tower. It'd be too far from my own quarters." 'Too far from me' was implied. "Do you have other questions about your position?"

"No, I don't think so, sir."

"Very well. I think it's time I go back to Hogwarts. Today is Sunday, so your day is free." He was teasing her. "I'd like you to start your job tomorrow morning. We could have breakfast in my quarters, since you like the view so much. Then you'll help me to finish the preparations for Sinan's arrival a little before noon."

She was radiant. "I'll be there at eight a.m., if it isn't too late."

"Perfect."

They both felt relieved after that conversation. Hermione's acceptance of Severus's personal aide position helped her to assuage her guilt at abandoning Severus in the Shrieking Shack and gave her a job with the possibility to expand her knowledge and the time to think of a future career. Severus would keep his pride intact and be unburdened of some of the most tedious tasks that fell to a Hogwarts headmaster while giving him a twenty-four hour opportunity to woo a potential bride. Both knew that he could have done without a personal aide in reality, but if they were questioned about it, they would deny it fiercely.

They parted soon after. They were very much looking forward to the next day.

Severus proceeded to the Hospital Wing straight after his arrival at Hogwarts, where he found the nurse cleaning the now empty beds. All the casualties had either been transferred to St Mungo's or had received clearance to leave.

"Madam Pomfrey, I have a favour to ask of you," he told her without preamble.

"What would it be, Headmaster?"

He looked around him and cast a silent Muffliato. "As you know exactly what the after effects of the presence of the venom in my body are, I would like you to stay by my side all day to help me face certain situations that I can't deal with alone."

"But, Headmaster," the nurse objected, "your condition isn't so dire as to..."

"Most of the time, you're right, Madam Pomfrey." Severus was affronted by her disputing his request. "But I have yet to learn to live with my predicament and to adapt how to react accordingly without it being a fuss. As the Headmaster of this school, I have an image to maintain."

She conceded at last. "All right. But I won't be able to be with you at all times every day. Surely you can see that."

"Don't worry about later. I've hired a personal aide. I'll only need you on Sundays, and only if I need to be in public those days."

Madam Pomfrey waited for Severus to elaborate, but he did not. He would tell her in time who that aide was. "There will be a staff meeting in half an hour. Be there," he ordered her. As he was leaving the Hospital Wing, his left arm went slack. He reached into his left pocket with his right hand to take a phial of Muscle-Controlling Potion out and drank it under the nurse's attentive eyes. She then understood why he had insisted on being accompanied by a competent aide: he had checked if nobody was in sight before taking the potion. He did not want people to know precisely what his handicap was. She had an inkling of what kind of situations he had alluded to by "need help" and a suspicion about the identity of the "aide". She would bet her Gringotts vault that Miss Granger would be back soon.

The teachers filed into the staff room, a bit puzzled at being dragged away from their occupations on such short notice. Severus was already seated with Madam Pomfrey on his left and McGonagall on his right. They all expressed, with more or less sincerity, their best wishes for his recovery.

"My dear colleagues," Severus said once they were all installed around the table, "thank you for answering promptly to this summons, but I could not wait till tomorrow to inform you of certain developments about the school."

Anxious wrinkles and frowns appeared on the teachers' faces.

"First of all, Minar Sinan has agreed to supervise the restoration and reconstruction of the castle." Joyful exclamations punctuated this announcement. "I have personally visited his main realisation in Sydney, and I must say that it bodes well for the school. He will be here tomorrow a little before noon. Minerva," he turned to his Deputy, "can you arrange some quarters to be ready for him?"

"Certainly, Severus," she answered, smiling.

"Another person will join the staff tomorrow morning." Now, curiosity etched itself on the staff's visages. Had Severus already found a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, or a Muggle Studies teacher? "I am suffering from certain lasting effects from my injuries and have decided to hire a personal aide." He surveyed his colleagues' expressions, daring them to comment on the disclosure of him being an invalid. "Miss Granger has accepted to fill in the position. She is no nurse, but she knows what I am suffering from. I must say that she has been of great assistance to me while I was in Australia, and she wishes to grasp the opportunity to further her education while helping me." Well, that was news: Severus Snape publicly praising a Gryffindor, even hiring her to work closely with him? Any reticence that might have lingered among the staff about his person evaporated...mainly. Other decisions were made, like advertising in the Prophet for the positions of Defence and Muggle Studies teachers, and arranging with Minerva for Hermione's quarters to be near the headmaster's.

Severus spent the rest of his day writing to the governors and the Ministry, reading, chasing away Slughorn, who had insisted on sharing a glass of Ogden with him, and personally supervising the arrangements for Hermione's quarters. He could not wait to see her reactions when she would set foot into them, so much so that he dreamt of it that night. When at last she would be there the next morning, he would start his seduction of Hermione Granger.

After Severus departed for Hogwarts, Hermione spent some time with her parents, trying to catch up a little more on all the time she had not spent with them in the past. She told them about her new job. They were not thrilled about it, thinking that she should have earned a better profession, but kept their counsel about it; their only daughter was an adult, and they did not relish the prospect of being on bad terms with her. However, they were somewhat reassured when they learnt that she intended to carry on her education while working at Hogwarts.

The three of them ate a late lunch at home, but around four, Hermione left them for the Burrow. She needed to tell her friends about her choice.

When she arrived at the Burrow, she found the whole family in the courtyard. She discerned Harry, Ginny, Ron and George playing two-a-side Quidditch in the orchard while the older Weasleys, Bill and Fleur included, were sipping tea under a sun umbrella. Mrs Weasley was the first to spot her and rushed to her. "Hermione! You're back!" Her loud exclamation drew the attention of the others, and she was soon surrounded by well-meaning Weasleys. She hugged them tightly, pouring her affection for them into the tightness of her embraces. From afar, the Quidditch players noticed the animation in the courtyard and the bushy brown hair amidst the red, Fleur and her silvery hair watching the scene from aside. They dismounted their brooms rapidly and sprinted to the courtyard to greet their friend. They hugged her in turn, Ron being the last and keeping his arm around her shoulders under the approving eyes of his parents.

"A cup of tea, dear?" Mrs Weasley proposed.

"Sure," Hermione answered. Her tea was served with a slice of cake, and they all settled around the table.

"So, how was Australia?" Mr Weasley asked.

"We went to Sydney only, but I liked it very much. That city is full of history, but so modern at the same time. And I got to meet Minar Sinan," Hermione began excitedly. The Weasleys were all ears and listened to the account of her trip with pleasure. She remained circumspect about her interactions with Severus so as to not raise too many questions she could not answer, and the others did not seem to care much about that part of her sojourn.

"I'd be delighted to reacquaint myself with your parents, Hermione," Mr Weasley said. "Are you staying with them?"

"No, I won't be." She was going to tell them about the job she had accepted, and she was a bit apprehensive of their reaction. She did not want them to think ill of her because her professional choice would appear beneath her. She bit her lower lip with anxiety. "Actually, I will be at Hogwarts."

"Great," Ginny cried. "I will have a friend in my dormitory." Ron did not look that enthusiastic.

"I won't go back as a student. I will be Headmaster Snape's personal aide."

Of course, several exclamations at different noise levels followed her announcement. She patiently waited for them to die down before explaining what the job entailed. Mostly, the Weasleys and Harry expressed disbelief, confusion, and a conviction that it was far beneath her abilities and that she was squandering her future. Once more, she had to justify her choice. If it was normal for an Auror or a Healer to have several years of training before being fully qualified, she did not see why she could not seize the chance she was offered to expand her knowledge while being paid, and thus increase the probability of having very good job offers a couple of years later.

"You realise you'll be at his beck and call," Harry insisted. "Are you sure?" He was worried for her.

"Yes, I'm sure. And I have all my Sundays free. It's not as if I'll be a recluse, you know. I can speak to the other teachers, too."

Hermione could see that the others were not completely convinced, but she was determined not to let anyone dictate her career's choices. Ever.

Later that evening, she and Ron managed to steal some alone time behind the cover of a thicket of trees. They snogged a lot and spoke a little.

"I'm not sure I like you working so close with Snape," Ron said to her. "I hope he won't be too hard on you, but if he is, you know where to find me...." He smiled and kissed with so much tenderness... Hermione could not get enough of it. "We can't here," he whispered regretfully. "Too much risk that Mum will find us."

When they got back to the house, Hermione went to sleep with Ginny, whereas Harry returned to Grimmauld Place, which was improving day by day thanks to Kreacher's care, and Ron left with George for the flat they shared above the joke shop.

At eight o'clock the next morning, Hermione started her new life at Hogwarts under the very close watch of Severus Snape.