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The New Life	By : lilith395 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 14590 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Harry Potter and I don't earn anything from these stories.

Chapter List
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A/N: That's it. this is the last one today. We'll be back in England for Christmas tomorrow, and no, I truly have nothing better to do on Christmas eve than updating my fanfic... pathetic isn't it? Well, right... Let's get on with it. For those who do have something better to do at Christmas, Have a lovely Christmas, and to those who don't, I'll see you guys tomorrow...^^ Now, read on...

Anouke's

I set Granger loose inside the shop, and seems to run off in several directions at the same time. Within moments, I have lost sight of her. Good.

I am not really sure why exactly I am about to do this, but I am.

I maneuver my way through the stacks of everything you can think of, the interior of the shop resembling the room of requirement at Hogwarts in an uncanny way, and had Anouke ever attended Hogwarts, I would’ve been sure that’s where she had gotten the idea, and round a few corners. I pass Granger at one of the jewelry displays, her eyes bright and shining and the smile she flashes me brighter still. I pass shelves full of books, piles of clothing, stacks of shoes which I know by experience have their pairs in another stack on the other side of the store, and I know the rest of the day will be spent going through the entire inventory. I don’t mind, I can wait.

I only need one thing. I round another corner and set my sights on the display I want. Searching through my pockets I pull out a vial with practically priceless contents and I can’t believe I am actually doing this. But I am.

I idly wonder whether or not the enchantments on the display case have been changed but as I come closer, I can feel the wards pulling at my magic as they are supposed to do.

I halt inches from the display case holding what once was my most precious belonging, and feel an unfamiliar sense of longing back to when it still was. My life had been so much easier back then.

“You know the rules” A melodious whisper sounds behind my left shoulder, and I marvel once again about how silently the big woman is able to move across her shop. Even though I know the trick, and even placed several of the spells on the shop myself, it’s still a wondrous thing when you see her.

But I only have eyes for the display case in front of me.

“Are you sure they are of equal worth, Severus?” she whispers in her sing-song voice, this time at my right shoulder.

“I am sure I have something more valuable” I state, and with a last breath, hoping to god I am right, I push the hand holding the vial of Fawkes’ last tears through the barrier, snatching up the book written by Salazar Slytherin himself and dropping the vial in its place on the faded blue satin pillow. Pulling my hands hastily out of the barrier, I clutch the book to my chest like a startled first-year, closing my eyes at the feel of the old torn leather and the sound of the soft laughter now in front of me.

Only a moment I let myself stay that way, before schooling my features back into my perfectly constructed mask, not worried about Anouke seeing me that unhinged from my normal persona. She knew me before the mask. And most definitely remembers it.

I open my eyes to see the startlingly beautiful, and huge, woman leaning over the glass display case now holding the vial of phoenix tears, and I grace her with a small smile.

“Anouke,” I nod, holding the book in my hands up a little, “I believe this is mine.”

Anouke smiles back at me, her pearly white teeth almost too bright to look at, and she nods.

“You have found something more valuable to you, and replaced it with something of equal value to me. Those are the rules.” she shrugs as she rounds the case and waits patiently for me to wrap up the valuable book in an old shirt I pluck off one of the shelves around us, and safely stowing it somewhere within the coat I am wearing.

Then she lifts me up into a bone-crushing hug. Which she knows I hate. After she put me down, I quickly glance around to see if Granger is anywhere in sight, and sigh a heavy sigh of relief when I find the isles I can see devoid of any people.

“Do not worry, my dear Severus,” Anouke whispers in my ear, “I would not embarrass you before your colleague.”

Frowning, because I don’t really like the tone in her voice at the word colleague, I let her usher me towards the counter.

“Tea?” she asks, with a stern look that tells me I don’t really have any choice either way. “The girl is busy, and I believe your visit to me has been long overdue.”

Three hours, countless of mugs of tea and several stories about Anouke’s life of the last thirty years later, Hermione Granger emerges from behind the bookshelves behind us. Both Anouke and I have our feet up on the counter before us, lounging back into the chairs she has conjured for us. Anouke closed the shop for us, and the counter around our feet is by now littered with items the incredibly disheveled looking young woman currently frozen behind us has picked out.

It being early, I decide to let the petite thing in on a little secret.

Without looking over my shoulder, I address her.

“Did you get something for everyone?”

“Yes, I think so…” She trailed off, probably going over the endless list of Weasley’s in her head to make sure she hasn’t forgotten anyone. I smirk.

“Good. Now go pick out something for a friend of mine. I am horrid at presents for women.” My smirk grows a few shades nastier, and I am glad I have my back to her. “You must be absolutely delighted to finally be off use to me on this trip.”

Next to me, Anouke waves her hand a little. “Don’t worry girl, you can’t break anything here. Everything is child-proof.” Her smirk matching mine.

I hear Granger huff behind me, and stalking off in the other direction, and I glance over to my long time friend, smiling like an idiot.

She grins back, “I missed you, Severus.”

“I missed you too”

Behind us, we can hear Granger trying to tip over one of the shelves. She’ll be black and blue by the time she’s done.

A/N: and that's it... for today... Until next time, readers, next time! oh, and don't forget to leave a review^^ Thank you.
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The New Life