Authors Note:

Ok, so when I first started this story I was so excited I started posting chapter after chapter without giving them the time they deserved because I was just so excited to get more of the story out to you lovely readers. So I posted chapters 1-4 and started chapter 5. Because of school, work, and just life in general there was a bit of a gap between all of the chapters I've posted so far, leading me to go back and review them before posting chapter 5.

I was appalled….

There were more spelling and grammar issues than I could bare, not to mention I had practically no spacing, leaving huge chunks of words together muddling my dialogue.

I'm going to honest with you guys, this story is a beta nightmare. I still don't have a beta reader, so if you are interested please, please PLEASE feel free to message me! I have reached out to A LOT of beta readers in the fanfic community but haven't gotten many replies and still haven't found someone that clicks with the story.

But I love this story and I wanted to fix it, so I have spent the last 48 hours meticulously reading and rereading chapters 1-4, correcting spelling, grammar, and spacing issues. I have taken down the original 4 chapters I had posted and this is the re-release of chapter 1. I have recommitted myself to this story and promise to have at least one new chapter out every month. If you are new to this story this may not make a lot of sense, but if you have been around since chapter one thank you for hanging in there with me!

As always hugs hugs and much love to me readers! 3

(Disclaimer thingy blah blah blah, obviously I do not own Harry Potter. Anything you recognise from the HP univers belongs to Queen Rowling. Long live the Queen!)

Severus rose from bed early that morning, it was still dark out and the clock read 5:23am. He groaned and stretched, feeling cracks and pops erupt from his body. He crossed the room from his large bed into the adjacent bathroom and kept walking straight into the shower. No need to stop and undress, an advantage of sleeping naked. Before shutting the glass doors of the shower he glanced at his bed, rumpled from bouts of fitful sleep and nightmares. He silently cast a spell and the bed went about making itself. Shutting the door, and turning the water up as hot as it would go, Severus braced his arms against the shower walls and leaned forward letting the scalding water hit his back, easing the tight muscles.

Standing drowsily he again pondered his bed, his now made, too big of a bed. If he really gave himself the time to think about it, it wasn't the size of the bed, it was how empty it feels to be alone in it…. Not just in bed but in life. And being alone in the huge bed night after night, plagued by nightmares night after night, was depressing. And although he refused the thought, it was a bit lonely, as well, though he would never admit it.

Stop overthinking things, you old fool, he thought to himself, being left alone is the only thing you really enjoy, so stop whining.

Shaking the thoughts from his head, he quickly finished his shower. He lazily went through the rest of his morning rituals, brushing his hair, clipping his nails, his morning piss, rubbing solvent on his hands in a vain attempt to gentle the coarse skin decades of potions making had caused, shaving, brushing his teeth, staring at the ugly scars that cover his body, partially the one on his neck-

He sighed. The angry bite marks that had healed and faded, but still distorted his otherwise pale, smooth skin. He tried not to think about that night, hated thinking about it, but every morning he had to be reminded, every time he looked in the mirror.

He still couldn't believe he had survived. As an afterthought, after his true loyalties came to light in the final battle, Hermione Granger sent medi witches out to the shrieking shack to "collect the body". Much to their surprise, Severus was still just barely breathing. It took nearing six months to recover completely and three before that for him to come out of the coma his body had induced. He awoke alone, with not a soul in the world to care that he was alive.

He tried to return to his old life but so many things had changed, especially at Hogwarts. Minerva McGonagall had taken over as headmistress, fine with him, he never wanted the title. He was offered the Defense against the Dark Art position, and declined. The war was over, and children should no longer know the things he could teach them. So he returned to Potions, returned to his dungeons, and returned to being the "greasy git" to all his nit wit students.

His life wasn't so bad now, it was far more livable than before. Knowing he had fulfilled his vow to Lilly, thus being able to finally let her go, he could move on. Yes, his life was livable, but empty. Most people still thought of him as a deatheater and a trader, which was fine with him, it meant he was left alone most of the time. Not having to fear for his life anymore, seeing as all of his "old friends" were living out their lives in Azkaban. He had expected the hatred if he lived, so he wasn't shock when people he had known for years turned their backs and severed him from their lives.

But others surprised him. Like Hermione Granger, taking Minerva's place as the new transfiguration professor, and head of Gryffindor, after she made short work of collage, and even shorter work of ending her marriage to the drunken Weasley, Severus considers her a friend. Which he found strange after a life never having one before. Well, a true friend anyway. And Neville Longbottom, who took over for Madam Sprout's post. After a death threat to never set foot near Severus' classroom or potions labs, Severus made his second friend….. Somewhat reluctantly. And of course, there was always Minerva hanging around, mothering him. He had made a nice life for himself, nicer than anything he expected to have, but he still felt lonely. A small price to pay, he thought, for living through not one war, but two. Five years after the final battle and life had finally become easy, and normal, a bit boring, but at least he was living it.

All this rushed his mind as he stared at the ugly scar on his neck, shaking himself out of thought he quickly donned his high collared black robes. He looked back to the mirror, his clothes sill swallowed him up making him appear larger than he ever could be. Laying in a coma he lost all fat and muscle tone whatsoever, waking up a pile of skin and bones. So much that each rib was painfully outlined and his stomach was nearly concave, his cheekbones had been hollowed and the dark circles under his eyes nearly black. He woke up unable to believe he had survived.

Minerva and Hermione soon explained how close he had been to dying, and how many people weren't so lucky. He took his second chance on life as a gift, and soon began to appreciate it. Starting with bettering himself, taking to an exercise routine and shoveling in as much food as possible to maintain a healthy weight, adding in his now mandatory weekly run with Hermione and he was healthier than he had ever been, and was rewarded with quite a few muscles for his effort and even the barest hint of some abs. Not that anybody could tell by the way he drowned in clothing, but he couldn't be bothered to shop for new. Merlin knew he could afford a hundred new wardrobes from his life of saving instead of spending, residuals from the potions he'd created over the years, and all the inheritance left to him by Dumbledore. He was simply too busy… some would say stubborn.

Checking the clock he figured he could have an early breakfast and have a stroll around the lake before heading to his meeting with Minerva.

"Excuse me. I have to what?" It was said statically, but Minerva could tell he was quietly simmering.

She would need to tread carefully now or he would boil over. He was still Severus Snape after all, Hermione's little makeovers could never change that winning personality of his.

He had eased up in some aspects, she accounted, like in way of his teaching. He now allowed wands out in his more advanced classes, and even brought the 7th years out in the forest on occasion to collect ingredients. He still took points far too often, but more equally, slytherin was no longer favored…. So bluntly.

However, one thing that was never going to change was his personal bounties. Yes, he had friends now, but always kept neatly at arm's length. Nobody would ever get close to the real Severus. He had too many secretes, was far too guarded even still, and had been hurt to many times. But this was about his physical boundaries, his obsession with germs and massive OCD. Beyond that his deep driven need for absolute privacy coming from decades of being a spy.

Which brought them to the issue at hand, nobody invaded Severus's personal space or touched his things. No one. Ever.

But Hogwarts hadn't taken on a potion apprentice in over 20 years. Around the time Severus took post…. Consequence? All other crafts took one on every few years or so, they were overdue, and would soon be penalized for not utilizing their Potion's Master. To be honest with herself, even if none of this were the case, Minerva knew she would move mountains for this particular apprentice, the witch needed to be here.

Minerva realized she had been lost in thought for several moments with Severus glowering at her. He had ask something hadn't he?

"I'm sorry Severus, what was your question?" she offered innocently.

He looked unamused, and studied her a moment before going on. "I was merely questioning how you honestly expect me to offer up and share not only my classroom, my personal lab and stores, but also my private living quarters, to house some young, doe-eyed, nit wit for an entire year?"

She looked at him with an exhausted expression. She had already explained that he would need to take on an apprentice or have one thrust upon him, he ignored her year after year, so now it was time to thrust… so to speak.

"Severus you knew this was coming. Why must you be difficult?"

Sighing heavily, he sat up straighter and addressed her bitterly, "I am a private person, and I do not share my space, especially with what could only be a Gryffindor alumni brat of yours. I do not have time or patience for such a hassle. With all the incompetence I'd have to endure you would be lucky if I would be able to function. Let alone continue with my private research"

Minerva was getting pissed off. "Private lab, private stores, private rooms, private this and that. Severus I'm forcing you to let the girl sleep in your guest room not your bed. You are in no way being violated or inconvenienced, because this is part of your job, it is in your contract, and when dealing with school matters you listen to me."

She was building fire rapidly. Severus could clearly see the flush in her cheeks and the anger in her eyes. "So listen up," she continued, "the girl will be your apprentice, she will stay with you and assist in your research as well as your teaching, and you will be a gracious and welcoming host. Do not get any ideas, mister, there is no way you are getting out of this."

Severus looked stricken, he had never seen her yell like that, not even when she would scold him as a troubled, misbehaved adolescent. He was about to abject when a thought occurred to him, this is a women Albus Dumbledore took orders from. He composed himself and gave the barest of nods.

Minerva gave a brilliant smile at Severus's defeat. "Well good, she will be arriving after lunch. I said I would fetch her and give her a tour, but something has come up."

Severus eyed her unhappily knowing where this was headed.

Minerva ignored him and continued, "So you will see to greeting her and showing her around. Remember, right after lunch, in the main hall, don't be late."

Sighing heavily Severus glancing up at the picture of Albus above Minerva's desk, gritted his teeth, then replied, ''Very well. Who is the new pain in my ass? What is her name?"

Minerva avoided eye contact and looked away mumbling something.

"I'm sorry, who was that?"

Minerva sighed, "Artimis Rennay Dumbledore"