Uncontrolled (Remus Lupin x oc)

2. Opportunies

After finishing with his work, Severus got up from his work desk and headed up through the Hogwarts halls. "Sherbert Lemon," he said, coming to the gargoyle.

It let him through and to the top. After being invited in, he joined Dumbledore and said, "I have found a most suitable candidate for the new potioneer position you spoke to me about."

With a nod of his head, Dumbledore prompted, "Proceed."

"Willow Ollivander," Severus explained. "She very recently acquired her potioneering licence and was my apprentice during her years studying. She is the most gifted witch I have ever taught."

"Tell me more about her. I vaguely recall the name."

"She was raised by her grandfather, Ollivander the wandmaker," Severus replied. "I have no idea why. I never asked and she never told me. She was raised learning the art of wand making. She also graduated from Hogwarts with all O's in every O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. she ever took. She quickly went into studies to be a potioneer after graduation. She also is a licenced Magical Creatures Specialist and would be more than delighted to assist Hagrid with the creatures in the forest and the ones he will be using for class. Frankly, she could easily make a career as most anything, but most particularly a wand maker, potioneer, or anything having to do with magical creatures."

"You like her then?" Dumbledore replied with a knowing smile.

"I've known her for over ten years," Severus replied. "It is hard not to. She'll be here tomorrow for some testing. You can reacquaint yourself with her then."

"I thought you came to me because she already has the job," Dumbledore replied.

Cracking the smallest fraction of a smile, he said, "Oh, she does, but Willow loves nothing more than a challenge and I'm low on several of my stores of potions. It will save me the work."

"She's passionate then," Dumbledore remarked.

"More than I can say," Severus said irritably, although both knew he felt nothing of the sort for the woman.

Attempting to recall, Dumbledore asked, "What house was she in?"

"Ravenclaw," Severus replied. "I began teaching a year prior to her first year." Dumbledore fell silent as he thought.

Finally, he admitted, "It would be good to have a dual potioneer and Magical Creature Specialist this year, I think."

"Any particular reason?" Severus asked.

"I've hired the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," Dumbledore admitted. "It's Remus Lupin."

His eyes widening, Snape countered, "You can not be serious. Of all the times to hire him you chose now?"

"I do not believe Remus would help Sirius Black into the school," Dumbledore replied. "And now with the invention of the Wolfsbane Potion, his condition is more manageable than ever before. Willow can help with that." Severus huffed but chose to say no more on the matter.

"She will be here from eight to eight," Severus said. "I'd recommend coming at the beginning. She won't engage with you while she working. Well," he smirked, "not in a way you would deem respectful."

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Willow walked down the grounds with a smile on her face. She had always loved the Hogwarts grounds and never passed up a chance to walk in them. Once she got to Hogsmeade, she turned on her heels, apparating from sight and appearing in Diagon Alley. Opening the door to the shop, she called, "I'm home, Papi!"

"In here," he replied. Smiling, she headed over, the familiar scent of her grandfather's cooking reaching her nose.

"Is that pasta I smell?" she asked, coming into the kitchen and setting aside her bag. He nodded, not looking up from where he was working. Grabbing a spoon from a drawer, she got a bit of the white sauce and carefully blew on it so it could cool before she tried it. Closing her eyes, she let out a sigh. "It tastes like home," she said fondly. Her grandfather smiled, setting down the spoon he was stirring with to get out the noodles. Willow instantly began stirring the sauce while grabbing a pot and wandlessly both filling it with water and igniting a fire beneath it.

It was soon boiling and Ollivander quickly put in the noodles so they could cook. He took the stirring spoon from Willow as she got out the strainer and set it up in the sink. By the time she had come back, the quick-cooking noodles were ready so she doused the flames and poured out the steaming water, leaving just the noodles. Dumping them back in the pot, she also stopped the flames under the sauce. Pouring out the sauce over the noodles, she stirred them together and dished out two plates while her grandfather got silverware to set on the table.

"Thank you, Willa," he said as she set his portion in front of him. As they began to eat, he said, "It's good to have you back."

"I'm glad to be back, Papi," she replied with a smile. "How are you doing?"

"Just fine, just fine," he replied.

"I'm glad," she replied. "I think I found myself a job, by the way."

"Oh? Where?" he asked.

"Hogwarts," Willow explained. "Apparently Dumbledore wants to hire a potioneer to help Madam Pomfrey. She's worried that after last year something will come up that she can't handle."

"Ah," Ollivander replied.

"And besides, it was quite the workload on her and Severus to brew all those potions all the time," she added. "But, it would mean I was gone all the time again."

"Willa," Ollivander said. "Don't let me hold you back, my dear. You have such a gift. I know you wouldn't be happy here working with me."

"Papi-" she began.

"Don't lie to me, Willa," he interrupted. "I know you appreciate the art of wand making, but it is not your passion. Potions and your magical creatures are your passion so go after them, my dear."

"Are you sure?" Willow asked hesitantly.

"Yes," he promised. "If I need anything, I can always get Nate to come back home." Willow sighed.

"Okay, Papi," she said. "I have a test tomorrow to make sure I'm fit for the job, but it's really just a formality. I'll write to Nate tonight and let him know what's going on." As she was finished, she got up, kissing her grandfather's cheek and taking his empty plate from him. "Goodnight, Papi. I love you."

"I love you too, Willa."