Hannah couldn't believe she was doing this. Professor Snape had scared the bejesus out of her in school. She was surprised he hadn't been her boggart too. His shop was certainly dungeon-esque. She smoothed her hands down the skirt of her dress. She didn't see anyone. He needed to trim that path a little. It had taken her a bit to get to the door.

"Hullo? Professor Snape?" she said peering around.

"Miss Abbott."

He was right behind her. Hannah couldn't help it. She screamed and jumped a bit.

Severus chuckled at her screech. "Pleasant form of greeting, Miss Abbott. How you haven't found employment by first impression alone is beyond me," he smirked. It was just too easy to taunt the little Hufflepuff, he could read her fear without even casually brushing her mind, "You're just barely on time. Come to the back, I've made tea, and we will conduct this interview in relative comfort."

Hannah had to force herself to follow him. He was going to hex her and hide the body, she just knew it. She was wringing her hands as she took the seat he gestured to. Hannah was completely rigid with her hands folded in her lap and her legs crossed at the ankles. Just like a lady... who thought she might vomit.

"So, Miss Abbott," Snape drawled, amused at her attempt at composure, "I hardly think that a bright spot of sunshine such as yourself would willingly apply to work here. Why have you applied?" He sneered the word sunshine as though the word disgusted him. He was rather pleased that the girl had applied, it gave him practice at his terrorizing skills. Can't let Miss Johnson down on that count, he smirked to himself.

Hannah straightened her spine a bit more. "Well, I left my fiance at the alter, and I can't very well sponge off of my new roommate. I am in need of employment. The ad said that I must like working with people, and I do like... most people. To be honest it was a hasty decision made in a time of personal crisis because I knew I'd be put out of my flat."

Snape quirked an eyebrow, determined not to allow his amusement shine through. "And what do you know of potions? Have you retained anything I taught you over the years? If I have to be reminding you each day which potion does what thing, I might as well not hire anyone at all. And you shouldn't think, Miss Abbott, that I will be swayed into giving you a position merely because you're in the midst of a personal crisis." His voice was mocking, although he was moved. He knew this job would not be for her though. A girl as delicate as she, well... Madam Puddifoot's would be better.

"Of course I recall potions," Hannah snapped, a bit riled and forgetting she was afraid of the man across from her. "It's like baking. A pinch of this, a dash of that, and you get one thing - add a heap of something else and it's another thing entirely. It's not that difficult a concept. Though with baking the stirring doesn't matter near as much as it does with a potion. But in the same way, either you can or can not do it. And you gave me an E on my Potions OWL. Also, I never melted a cauldron."

Severus smirked, Likes baking, does she?. Rising suddenly he spoke to her, "Stay here." Moving across the shop to his Floo Connection, he threw in some powder and ducked his head. Parts of his conversation drifted back, "I've already hired someone," "She'd be a perfect fit," "Don't make me remind you what you owe me." "Yes, yes, we'll call it even." "I'll send her immediately."

Standing, he brushed off his robes and smirked. "I've found you a job, one that I'm sure will fit you better than here. Come to my Floo, I'm to send you immediately."

Hannah's brow furrowed. He'd... what? "Pardon?" Hannah waved her hands in a fury, cutting off what he might have said. "I should not want to know, but why on earth would you do this? Not that I don't appreciate it, sir. I do. Very much, but why would you help me like this? Did Blaise say something to you?"

Snape scowled, "Blaise Zabini? Why on earth would he care where a Hufflepuff worked?" He waved her aside, "Nevermind, I will find out from him later. Now, I got you this position because you need a job, and because your personality will fit there perfectly. I'm sure you know Madam Puddifoot's?" He quirked an eyebrow at her, waiting for her to reply, or merely leave. "Now go, or I shall tell them you declined their offer. My reasons are my own."

Hannah actually scowled. She didn't want to be in the tea shop the Hogwarts students took their dates to when she had just had to walk out of a relationship.

"They need someone in their bakery."

Hannah blinked. How on earth did Snape know anything about what went on in Madam Puddifoot's? She was probably better off not knowing. She tried to picture Snape there on a date with someone and giggled a bit. Now she was probably annoying him... even though she'd specifically worn her dark green dress.

"Thank you," Hannah said, smiling her thousand suns smile at him. She all but skipped to the floo. Hannah turned at the last minute. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone you were almost nice to me."

"Go ahead, Miss Abbott, they're waiting for you," was all the man said, waving her on. He turned before she left and began walking away.

She was probably courting a hexing with the 'almost nice' comment, so Hannah tossed the Floo powder into the fire and got out of there before he could retract his help and bury her out back after all.

After the fire had flared and she had gone, he allowed himself to release the laughter that had built up and indicated he needed to get her out of there. Being "almost nice" was bad enough. Genuinely laugh at too many of the interviewees, and his reputation would be shot to pieces. What was it she'd thought while he was leading her to the back? She practically shouted the thought at him of how he was probably going to hex her and bury her in the back. Whatever had happened that she left her young man at the altar, she'd be just fine if Blaise actually had taken an interest in her. He would have to owl the boy and find out just what was going on there.


{SUMMARY} Hannah interviews for a job with Snape, and while she does not get hired by him, she does end up with a job.