Love For Too Many

Chapter 2

You made your way down the empty corridors that Severus had just walked down minutes before. Albus had given you directions to your new office space before Severus came in. You knew he wasn't going to be happy about the changes but he'd deal.

You smiled down at Wendy, happily content staring at you from your hip. You approach his office and your heart beats pick up. He was not going to be happy to see you here.

Finally you open the door and see boxes lying everywhere. Severus's desk was in the middle of the back wall and bookcases lined the empty space on either side. There was nothing else much in here except for a filing cabinet that matched the black theme of the room. You look to your boxes knowing all the colorful decorations were going to anger him.

You sigh and set Wendy down in one of the two green armchairs you brought with you. Most of your theme was green and white and some black. You were a Slytherin at heart and could never change that fact. Carefully you pull your dark wood wand from your pocket and begin moving furniture around. You shift Severus's desk to be in the middle of the adjacent wall.

You move your desk to face his, leaving four feet between them. Then you position your green chairs to be facing the door in front of his massive bookcases. You smile to yourself at the progress and note Wendy had begun watching your every move.

Before she could lose focus on you and wander off you unpacked your boxes of school supplies into the desk with a flick of the wand and then the small green lamp was placed over by the armchairs. Finally to finish off the room you unrolled the rug and placed it near the doorway.

You absolutely loved it and Wendy gave out a coo of liking as well. The room looked like a comfy lounge but the sound of the door creaking made you lose all confidence in your work.

"What is going on here?" Severus snapped. His eyes surveyed the room and seemed to soften a bit.

"Just unpacking. Is it ok?" You asked gesturing to the newly formed space. He nodded and shrugged. "It's decent. Much more...cramped than I'm used to." You grinned. That's as close to an approval as anything Severus could muster.

"I wasn't sure where to find Minerva so I came here instead. Wendy seems to like it in here!" You laugh wholeheartedly at your toddler who had her foot in her mouth.

Your laugh mesmerized the cold man and he caught himself grinning. He cooled his expression quickly. He did not want nor need an assistant. But at least he found someone tolerable.

"Tolerable?" His head snapped out of the daze he didn't know he was in. He narrowed his eyes at the smiling girl who kneeled over cooing at her daughter.

"Legilimency? Impressive, I've never found someone so skilled that I couldn't feel them entering my head."

To this she chuckled. "Severus, you were on bluetooth mode as the muggles call it. It was loud and clear. I never stepped an inch into your thoughts." You schooled over your thoughts so he couldn't see them if he tried. HIs grunt of frustration proved you correct a minute later.

"Occlumency as well." This time it was a statement not a question. You were having a hard time telling if he was impressed or frustrated if not both. "When did you learn?"

"Seventh year I started lessons with a man my parents went to school with. His son and I took lessons together trying to read each other's thoughts. I only became more skilled than him because I practiced and soon I had mastered it. Only it didn't come to much use as a muggle teacher." You drift away from the conversation remembering all the fun times you had teaching the young kids how to read and write proper sentences. It was one of your passions other than potions.

"Y/n? I asked why you were looking for a job here if you already had one?" He posed the question softly not wanting to upset you.

"Potions was my true love other than writing. But I soon found myself having to find a job far away and that gave me a chance to come back." Wendy had begun to doze off within your conversation. "I need to get her home. I'll see you for class tomorrow professor." You smiled at him and lifted Wendy from the floor, careful not to wake her. You vanished through the door before his eyes and he was left alone with his thoughts.

You felt slightly bad for not letting Minerva meet Wendy but there was always next weekend and photos until then.