A/N: Thanks again to the generous folk who have left comments and feedback. I love them. It's what makes writing fun for me. I hope you enjoyed this fic. DSx

Hermione flipped over the paper on her desk just as Severus entered, moving with his usual disconcerting expeditiousness.

He sat without being invited and placed a roll of parchment on the desk in front of her. She had to suppress the smile at his refusal to conform with Galladdon convention.

Wiping a hand across her mouth as though stifling a yawn, she reached out and unrolled the parchment.

"So this is everything we need, is it?"

"For now. I'll ask the house-elves to owl this order through to the Apothecary suppliers. And Pomona informed me that she will send the batch from Hogwarts when she returns tomorrow."

"How did she manage to arrange that so quickly?"

"Turns out Hagrid has sorted it. Seems he is desperate to get in her good books after propping open the greenhouse so that the Venomous Tentacula could take a wee stroll."

"Oh Merlin! So Hagrid was responsible for the attack on the first years?"

"Not for the first time. Nor probably the last," Severus mused.

It was true. Hagrid's soft spot for dangerous creatures had gotten him into a spot of bother on more than one occasion.

"Still, it's excellent that he's helping us," she said brightly. "At this rate, it won't be long before we have one of the most impressive collections of plants and potion ingredients in the world."

"Did you expect anything less?" Severus raised a dark eyebrow.

Hermione's bottom lip slipped between her teeth as she considered him. She had too much to discuss with him to get drawn into a battle of innuendos; though plenty did readily leap to mind.

"I actually have some news that might impress you," she said instead.

"Really?" She didn't miss the drawl. "I'm not easily impressed."

There it was again, another morsel, a titbit of bait to hook her up and reel her in. She wasn't biting. Yet.

"Calder and Jaeger are coming back."

His head jerked a little in surprise. "Together?"

"Separately. For now."

Both eyebrows rose this time. It appeared that she had impressed him.

"I thought they deserved a second chance." She watched him carefully.

"As does everyone." He inclined his head, keeping his eyes locked on hers.

"How's Shaun going with the path to the Glade?"

Severus have a snorting laugh. "I offered to help him. The rocks could be levitated up there in a fraction of the time but he's determined to do it all by hand."

Hermione leaned back in her seat and twisted a little to look out her window. She could just see the bottom of the beautifully crafted path as it curled up the hill. "He's certainly a glutton for punishment."

"Perhaps you should rephrase that."

Hermione caught herself and instantly felt guilty.

"After all, he's not the only glutton for punishment . . . around . . . here." Severus rubbed his thumb delicately against his middle finger as his gaze penetrated hers and Hermione only just stopped herself from squirming.

"Well," she responded breathily. "He does seem much happier for it."

"He certainly sleeps well," Severus muttered. "Snores like a giant Kneazle."

"Is that why you spend so little time sleeping there?" she asked, widening her brown eyes innocently.

She could see a smirk threatening to capture his features but he made a valiant effort to rein it in.

"And what of Master Creevey?" He changed the topic.

"He's heading home with Sarah tomorrow. Apparently they're going to be flatmates."

Severus laughed, a deep rumble rolling from his chest. "They'll be good for each other."

"I think so too. And there was no way Sarah was going to return to her family. I'm confident that it was her father who was responsible for her mutism in the first place. She seems much more grounded, at peace with herself now."

She watched Severus' expression and it didn't change. She suspected that he had no lasting attachment to Sarah beyond his goodwill toward her.

"And Miss Lovegood is staying on?"

"Yes, she and Shaun will be here for at least the next six weeks. They'll both be re-evaluated after that. Although, I have a sneaking suspicion that we might be seeing quite a bit of her, regardless. I heard her talking to George and Lynch about doing a counselling course by owl."

Severus nodded. "She'd be very good."

Hermione breathed in deeply. He was right, Luna would make an excellent counsellor; she dearly hoped she would stay, for all of their sakes, particularly George's.

"So did you manage to talk to Ellory?" Hermione asked. "In your latest 'therapy' session."

Severus peered down his nose at her. "Tut, tut, Dr Granger, what did I say to you about controlling your jealousy?"

"I don't remember, Professor Snape," she responded. "Although I do recall something about 'ownership' on your part."

He sighed. "Do you want to know or not?"

"Yes," she replied quickly.

"It turns out . . . and I expect you not to use this against her in any way," he added, frowning at Hermione sternly until she huffed and nodded, "that Ellory's partner had presented her with an ultimatum. She had to choose. Her relationship or her job. Ellory said she'd done a pretty good job of fucking up both, having little success here and spending no time at home. Anyway, lately she said she's been feeling better. Like she's making a difference. And I noted that she has exactly twenty-five sunflowers in her room."

Hermione smirked. "I wondered why she was looking so tanned."

"I believe she enjoys their healing properties."

"Vanity can be very healing for some," replied Hermione. "Only joking," she interrupted as Severus opened his mouth to respond.

"Maybe we should invite her partner here for a visit while Lynch is on leave?"

Severus gave a small thoughtful nod.

"Male or female?"

"Who?"

"Is Ellory's partner a male or a female?" Hermione repeated.

"Male, I'm guessing."

"Why?"

Severus shrugged. "Because she seems to like men."

"That's it?"

"She did spend an inordinately long time on my 'groin tension'."

"Perhaps you have an inordinately high degree of tension in your groin." Hermione leaned forward, exposing her cleavage in the new low-cut shirt she'd transfigured for herself.

This time he couldn't prevent it, the smirk alighting his features fleetingly before he schooled them into a frown.

"She might be bisexual," Hermione continued. "Or trisexual."

He raised a hand. "You're right. Point taken. I shouldn't have made any such assumptions."

Hermione leaned back in satisfaction at finally being able to catch him out in sexual judgement. But her pleased smirk was short-lived as he suddenly lunged forward and snatched the paper from where it had lain protectively under her palm.

"Now let's see what you've been trying to hide from me this whole time."

He frowned at the sheet, then turned it sideways, trying to make sense of it.

"If I'm not mistaken, Dr Granger, these are images of two figures in a variety of . . . positions."

Hermione placed the end of her pen between her teeth as her cheeks flushed. "I was just . . . They were just a few ideas that I . . . "

"I'm assuming that you are the stick figure tied to the tree?"

"Oh . . . um . . . yes."

"And why am I fat with a pointy head?"

Hermione burst out laughing. "Because I always draw you as a . . . starfish."

Severus sighed. "How many times have I asked you not to call me that?"

"I just like it too much." She stood and sauntered around the desk until she was standing in front of him. Then she leaned back and spread her legs so that her feet were on either side of his. "And deep down I think you do too."

He tossed the paper aside. "I think you know what I like . . . deep . . . down." His voice, alone, was enough to oil her to the core.

"I believe I do." Her eyes roved over him, lingering on his crotch. "But I can always use a little more teaching."

"What would you call that?" He reached out and took her by the wrist. "On the job training?"

"I prefer to call it continuous professional development." She put on her most Doctorish voice. "At least no one can accuse me of not wanting to be good at my job."

He raised one eyebrow, his lips pouting slightly in what she had come to know as his 'come fuck me' look.

With a lighting fast yank, he pulled her onto his ironclad erection.

"Show me just how good you are," he murmured into her cleavage.

She smiled down at him. "Yes, sir."