Susan moved around the shop, looking for something to do. She’d stocked the shelves before heading home the day before, and Angelina had taken care of the owl orders earlier in the day. She'd made lists of potions and ingredients they were low on. The floor was swept, the counters cleaned. With Snape gone doing, well, whatever Snape did when he wasn't puttering in his lab, she was at a loss for what to work on next and getting a little bored.

Susan heard the gong sound, and when she turned around she was startled to find Pansy Parkinson sweeping through the door to Hyacinth Elixirs.

Pansy decided that she rather liked that gong, and hoped that it annoyed Snape to no end. She was just about to call his name when she saw a girl that looked rather familiar to her behind the counter. Stopping herself, she looked at the girl with a raised eyebrow.

"Hello."

Susan had not crossed paths with Pansy often during her years at Hogwarts, but she remembered her very well. A bully, following Draco Malfoy around as if he'd hung the moon. She'd been in Slytherin, though, which meant Snape probably thought well of her, and she was a customer in any case. Be pleasant, Susan reminded herself.

"Hello. What can I help you with today?" she replied cheerily.

Oh, dear gods, Pansy thought, trying to ignore her pounding head. One of those. I'm not in the mood today. "Is Severus in?"

Eyebrows rising slightly at Pansy's familiar address - she'd never dare call her employer by his first name - Susan shook her head.

"No, he's stepped out. Is there something I can do for you?"

Pansy looked at her blandly. "I rather doubt it. Did he leave anything for me to pick up? For Parkinson."

"He didn't mention anything. Let me check back in the lab."

She walked into the back, unsure of where Professor Snape might keep a special order for pick-up. After a bit of rummaging, she found a small bag, clearly shrunken, marked 'Miss Parkinson'. Placing it on the counter, she enlarged the package to its full size, finding an unholy number of pain and experimental potions that she didn't recognize.

"Here you are. Is this all you need?"

"No, that is not all I need." She picked up one of the potion bottles and showed it to Susan. "Do you see what's wrong with this?" The girl's smile faded and she looked at Pansy with wide eyes. Pansy exhaled heavily and set the bottle down on the counter. "There are no labels. How, pray tell, am I supposed to take these potions if I do not know how much and how often to take them? Do you want me to die?" Pansy glared at the girl as if daring her to answer.

I wouldn't be heartbroken.

Susan forced the pleasant expression to remain in place, and resisted the urge to gulp. That last question was probably rhetorical.

"Well, that explains why he hadn't told me about them. I'll be glad to owl you when the potions are ready, and I'll let Professor Snape know you stopped in." Please, please, please go now, Miss Bitchypuss.

Pansy narrowed her eyes, and for one horrific moment, Susan thought she had read her mind.

The other girl sighed, tossing her hair behind her shoulder, and her face softened. "He's really not here?" she asked. "I know he hides back there sometimes."

The change in Pansy's demeanor was slight, but it confused Susan. One second she looked as though she'd like nothing more than to pull Susan's heart from her chest and show it to her before she died, the next she could almost pass for nice. Almost.

Susan gave her a tentative smile. "He does, but no, he's really out right now. He didn't say when he'd be back. Most of the time he ignores my existence along with everyone else's."

Pansy smirked. "Ah," she replied. "The trick is to give as good as he does. He can't abide the spineless. Stand up to him, not in a disrespectful way, of course, and you'll see the benefits. And under no circumstances should you let him see that you're afraid. Ever."

"That bit of information would have come in very handy at Hogwarts," Susan said with a laugh. "Thanks." Gesturing to the bag of potions, she asked, "Do you want me to tell him you'll be by for these tomorrow? Or would you rather I just let you know when he gets finished with them?"

Pansy winced. The thought of coming all this way and braving the weeds on the path up to Hyacinth Elixirs tomorrow as well, made her already throbbing head pound even worse. "Could you send them by owl when he's finished? I'd rather not get out again tomorrow. Do you mind?"

"Not at all," Susan assured her. "Running errands is a pain, especially to a place like this, where you're likely to get lost in the shrubbery on the way to the door. It's a testament to Professor Snape's talent that people bother coming in at all. I'll send the potions out as soon as they're ready."

Pansy gave a curt nod. "What is your name? Have we met? Hogwarts, perhaps?"

"Susan Bones. We were in the same year, but different Houses. I was in Hufflepuff."

"Ah," Pansy exhaled, as if that explained everything. "Well, I appreciate your expedience in advance, Susan. Give Severus my regards."

"I will. It was nice to see you again." Part of the time, anyway. Susan waved as Pansy exited the store, unsure what to think about the meeting they'd just had. One thing was certain, it hadn't been boring.

{Summary: Susan meets a new customer, and she doesn't get cursed in the process. It's a good day.}