Hello everyone! It has been a little while since my last post. I haven't done a chapter story in quite awhile so I'm excited to start. I hope you all enjoy it, and reviews and suggestions are always appreciated. Thank you!

All characters are property of the J.K Rowling.

Simple as Cake

Too often had he been lonely. Too often had he been stepped on. And too often had he not done the things he loved in favor of fulfilling someone else's wishes.

The smell wafting up from the table was intoxicating. Spiced tea with honey and lemon, a warm buttered croissant, a bowl of brightly colored fruit and countless cookies and other sweets were all spread on the dark oak table before Severus Snape, and he would be damned if he let it all go to waste.

This is what he wanted. Too often had he denied himself the sinful pleasure of sugar and butter in favor of going hungry or squandering meals. Of eating tasteless stew at Order meetings and not eating at all during Voldermort's councils for fear of being poisoned, or the suspicion that the meat laid before him was not in fact beef, but wizard. Since his near death experience, he had vowed to never deny himself the pleasure of good food again.

Sighing, he raised the hot, black teacup to his lips. His liking of tea was only a recent occurrence, and he had tried countless blends to find the proper one : Darjeeling, Oolongs, Green, Herbal, White, Fruit blends… and none of them were to his taste. Being a potions master, he then decided to craft his own. A large pinch of peppermint, a few drops of vanilla, crushed rose petals and lavender, pumpkin extract and countless other ingredients all carefully weighed, strained and then sipped with a delicate revelry and calm. Nothing could ruin this time.

The series of knocks that fell upon the old wooden door at Spinners End were followed by a familiar, female call "Hullo! Professor Snape!"

Except that.

Hermione Granger's chirpiness still, on occasion, grated down his back like a Hippogriff with a bad itch. Although since graduating two years previously and becoming his apprentice six months ago she had become far more tolerable. Except of course in the instances when he actually wanted to be alone. With his treats.

"Enter." He called out, and the lock unlatched.

Hermione bustled through his home at Spinners End, smiling from ear to ear, "Good afternoon!"

"Miss Granger." He responded coolly, taking a long sip of his tea. He tried very hard not to stare at her these days. Hermione's once awkward features had grown into something quite classic and beautiful; large brown eyes, full pink lips, long legs, small waist and an amazing billow of curly honey brown hair that looked almost good enough to eat…

"I apologize for the intrusion…" Hermione trailed off as she took in the sights of the table, "I, uh…"

"For Merlin's sake woman, spit it out. Can you not see I am busy?" his voice came out much snappier than he intended. During the past several months since she had worked for him, it had been increasingly hard to get a hold of his thoughts, and worse, his body. Never before had he felt so clouded or conflicted. As a student, Miss Granger had been his buck-toothed, know-it-all nightmare. When she had first applied for the position of potions apprentice out of his home lab he had almost turned her away just on principle. But when she had brewed several masters' level potions without batting an eye, and somehow managed to keep him engaged in a surprisingly interesting conversation concerning the expansion of the Ministry of Magic into the muggle world while doing so, he knew he had no choice. She had proven herself to be quite an asset as his sales had tripled within the first two months of her employment, and he felt needed somehow. She needed him if only for a job. It felt good, if not a little selfish.

"Oh! Right! So sorry, um, I brought the receipts you requested for the ingredients I purchased for storage the other day," she awkwardly placed a large stack of papers on the already overflowing table, "What are you doing? Are you expecting company?"

Inhaling through his nose, he placed the cup and saucer back on the table, "Why yes I am as a matter of fact. I invited the whole Gryffindor Quidditch team to come and 'chew the fat,' as the expression goes. And then after they raid my food pantry we're going to grunt, beat our chests and fling feces at passersby out the window. Would you care to join?"

Hermione laughed quietly and shook her head, "How you manage to say things like that and keep a straight face is beyond me."

"Talent." He replied stiffly, "Good day Miss Granger."

"Good day Professor," she smiled and turned to leave before adding, "And, for the record, if you ever want company, I happen to make a delicious chocolate torte with raspberry filling. Just so you know."

The door closed, the lock clicked, and Severus went back to his tea. He had the sudden craving for chocolate torte.