"Effing nature," Draco snapped as he made his way to Snape's shop, kicking one of the creepy plants out of his path.

It certainly wasn't the most inviting place he'd ever seen, but it was so Snape. It had a very dungeon feel to it. Draco felt right at home. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he entered the place. He didn't see anyone, but he hadn't really expected to. Draco was certain, however, Snape knew he was there.

"You know... most shop owners want to attract patrons, but no, not you," he called out. "You want to make them work for it. So typical."

Severus had been finishing up cleaning the lab when he heard his shop door open, and a familiar voice call out to him. Smirking, he continued what he was doing, and called back, "What is the point of getting the best potions with no effort?" Finishing up, he strode to the front of the shop, his robes billowing, to see Draco Malfoy perusing his shelves.

"The prodigal son returns. Your mother would have liked word, I'm sure, while you were gone." A smirk traced across the older man's face. "Welcome home. I trust there was some dramatic ending to your prolonged vacation?" He quirked an eyebrow and waited for Draco to state his business.

This was the problem with running into people who knew you almost as well, if not better, than you knew yourself. Draco looked at the floor, smirking. "My traveling companion tried to set me on fire... and not in a good figurative way. She got in a bit of a snit and lit the bed with me asleep in it."

Draco looked up. "But I'd rather not talk about that. I'm honestly surprised Mother didn't hex me. She's been talking... oddly though."

"Don't most women," Snape smiled, glad to see Draco safely home. "Is this a visit for the sake of a visit? Or should we take care of your potion needs before I invite you to the back for a cup of tea?" He had always liked Draco, there was a certain bluntness about the boy that was nearly refreshing. Yet he was so very subtle at the same time. Severus couldn't be more proud of the young man if he'd been his own son. "And if you need, you may speak of your mother's odd speech patterns."

This was more than passing odd to him. Out of all the people Draco should have felt uncomfortable around, Snape was not one of them. This should be tense. It should be awkward as arse with no hope of ever relaxing, but it just so happened to be the most at ease Draco had felt since being back.

"I could do with some Dreamless Draught, but I can handle the nightmares. Nothing else I think you can help with. Then again, I don't suspect I have the right to be asking you for any favors. Ever. This is mostly a visit for the sake of a visit. Tea would be nice, but I doubt you want me to go on about Mother's mutterings. Might frighten even you."

"Takes a lot to frighten me, Draco." Severus grabbed a couple of Dreamless Draughts off the shelves and handed them to Draco, waving the younger man off when he went to pull out his money. "No, Draco, consider it a 'Welcome Home' gift." He led them to his lab and prepared the tea. Stirring his own tea in the pattern for Dreamless Draught, Severus studied the young man across from him. He had aged well. "You look well for nearly being burned alive," he drawled with a smirk. "What do you think of the shop?"

"I happen to like it, but I don't think we should go by my tastes," Draco said with a smirk, watching how Snape stirred his tea.

It was comforting that the man still did that. Draco was willing to bet those stirs had been the ones required for brewing a Dreamless Draught. He would have thanked Snape for the potion, but Snape wouldn't have liked that. He was feeling better about being back in England now. For the first time Draco felt like coming home had not been such a bad plan after all.

"As for Mother's mutterings... are you certain the idea of my spawning doesn't frighten you a little?" Draco said before taking a sip of his own tea.

Snape looked at the blond man before him, and then chuckled, "Wants grandchildren, does she? I suppose it's a normal sort of thing for a woman whose only son is at the age that he could give her some... brats... children to spoil." He had to stop himself from shuddering slightly. Children were not his favorite form of people, to say the least. He could handle them when they were old enough to realize that he was to be feared, and respected, and not so much when they wanted to test every potion in his shop.

"So how long did you put off this visit, Draco? I could have given you that potion and saved you those nightmares much sooner."

"Couple of days," Draco answered honestly. "Sometimes I think I need my nightmares. They keep me from being wholly stupid again. Because if I don't let myself forget, I'm less likely to repeat mistakes, right?"

Draco shook himself. "Enough of that. I didn't come here to be all maudlin and tiresome. How've you been? And how on earth did you end up opening an apothecary?"

"Well, it was this or lower myself to begging for reinstatement at Hogwarts," Snape said, absentmindedly pouring more tea for himself and taking up his stirring, this time for Calming Draught. "I found this charming shop for sale, and learned of the enchanted path... I thought I might as well do a bit of work to make myself respectable in the community. Most still don't fully trust me," Snape smirked, "But then, their guardedness when they come in brings their thoughts of what they wish to hide so very clearly to the forefront of their minds. A cursory sweep and I am very much able to decide how to go about acting around them. They practically shout their thoughts at me, but at least I know what is going on." He looked at his former student and smiled, "No, Draco, I didn't sweep your mind first. You have learned far too well for me to even consider trying." He settled back in his seat, taking a drink, "I'm actually hiring more people to work here. Have, in fact, hired Miss Daphne Greengrass, and am considering hiring one Angelina Johnson as well. Give me some extra respectability, having a Gryffindor running the front counter." He smirked, recalling the interview with Miss Johnson, "She is amusing, as well. Do you know she told me that she hoped for a job with a 'not completely terrifying work environment'? She went on to say that some terror was alright, so long as it wasn't constant." His eyes lit with mirth as he shared the story with one of the students he had come to have great respect for.

He had not taken a peek into his mind. Draco was pleased to be that respected by someone he respected so much. Usually when he got overly emotional in some way, his eyes betrayed him. He'd been calm so far. Still, Snape had not tried Occlumency on him. Draco could hide when he wanted to. Most of the time he did. It was the people who knew him so well who got inside his head with little effort because he relaxed around them and let his guard down. Hell, Snape probably hadn't needed to go poking around in his brain. Draco's gray eyes had likely told him everything he needed to know.

"You know, I was going to jokingly bring you my resume, but I find your hiring a Gryffindor much more amusing than having me deal with the public." Draco looked down. "Haven't spoken to Daphne... yet." Or Pansy for that matter. "Is... is she well?"

"Quite. Tried to trick me into hiring her by using her feminine wiles. Sound like Daphne?" Severus smirked, "If you're needing an excuse to 'run into' her, she'll be here most days. Those potions won't last forever." He quirked an eyebrow at Draco, "Jokingly bring in your resume, hmm? How much of a joke? You know I'd have hired you... After wondering why you were getting a job in the first place. You no longer think that working is only for us lower classes?" He smirked and conjured a plate of biscuits for them to snack on. Taking one himself, he waited on Draco's reply.

Draco considered how to respond. How did you tell someone who knew the old you so well that a Chinese woman had helped you find a center of balance? Or that he'd slept under that stars with Gypsies? Or that he liked Mexican pubs and tequila that had a worm in the bottom? He was so far from the snob he'd been. A lot of it had been Lindsay with her need to experience everything and her child-like awe and wonder when she was trying something for the first time, but he could credit Mei and Pesha as well. Mei made dents in his walls. Pesh started knocking them down, and Linds finished them off. So by the time he met Sophie, he was so open-minded his brain was falling out. That was the only explanation he could come up with as to why he'd stayed with the French woman so long. Sophie he could credit with some of his nightmares.

"I think it would keep me from becoming bored and thus keep me out of trouble. It's not as if I need to work, but I would like to have a function in the world - don't laugh."

Snape had been nodding and not even close to laughing. Draco's eyes had flickered through so many emotions, and Snape had to hold himself in check to not try and use it to his advantage. He respected this young man, even if he'd been gone for years with nary a word.

"I'm glad to see you have matured, Draco. Tell me, does it feel as though everyone expects you to have been stagnant the whole time you were gone? Does it feel as though the world should have remained stagnant for you while you were?" He sighed, and wished that life had been easier for them all. "Life will not remain and wait for us to be ready. But I get the feeling you have learned that in your travel."

This was why he had always liked Snape, despite his oftentimes abrasive personality. The man had insight. Yes, everything had gone on unexpectedly while he was away, yet everyone expected him to be as he had been at Hogwarts.

"What I learned on my travels could fill at least three more surprise visits. And the most interesting lessons are ones I hardly want to go into when we have not seen one another in years."

But he could talk perhaps. About his father dying right next to him by a hex Draco felt sure had been aimed at him. Meditation, learning to eat with chopsticks, broken bottles, Gypsy dances, hot knives, German beer, frightful Americans, and crazy French women. It was a story. He should write it down. What he wanted to say though, he could never say. Snape would never accept that conversation.

Severus again studied the man before him. That's what he was now, a man. Something drastic had happened to the boy he had known. Something had started shifting back in that boy's sixth year. And now he was a man. He had faced things he should never have had to face, and learned things he shouldn't have been required to learn. Someday, he would be told the whole truth from Snape's own mouth, but now was not the time, nor the place for that to be said. He sighed and put his cup down on the table, clearing the surface instantly with his wand.

"What would you want to go into when we have not seen one another in years, Draco?"

"Certain weaknesses of mine, and do let's leave it at that for now," Draco smiled, setting his tea cup down. "I should probably be off then. Middle of the day like this? You might have a customer find their way in here despite your best efforts to keep them away."

He felt a sudden need to leave. The longer he evaded, the more likely Snape would be to poke around in his mind. Though Aunt Bella had taught him well, Draco was no match for Snape, and he knew this. His self-preservation might not be what it used to be, but it was still there.

Severus smiled as the light of wariness slipped into Draco's eyes.

"Well, Draco, it has, as ever, been a pleasure. Now, however, I must resume brewing some of the potions that have been depleted in my supply. Hang-Over Potion goes like hotcakes. I do hope you'll forgive my rudeness as I go about my business. After all, some of us do have to work to make a living." He smiled, hoping that Draco wouldn't see through him too much in his attempt to make the younger man more at ease. He was gifted in reading people without probing their minds, and Draco had become more upfront while he'd been away. "I do hope you'll surprise me again, and perhaps we can speak of less trivial matters."

"I'd like that," was Draco's only remark before heading out of the shop. Honesty was a new thing for him still. It was difficult, but he didn't have much left to hide. There were still some things though. No one had all of him, and they likely never would.


{SUMMARY} Draco pops in unexpectedly on Snape at Hyacinth Elixirs, and they have a bit of a chat.