Hermione hovered at her desk at the end of potions, a roll of parchment held tightly in her hand.

" Granger," barked Snape. He still had a temper, even after Pomfrey had saved his life with anti venom. "Is there any reason you are skulking around my classroom?"

Hermione gulped, fear driving through her. But then she raised herself, standing straighter, shoulders back, head up.

" Actually Sir, I was wondering, could you have a look at this?"

Handing him the scroll, she waited for his fathomless eyes to scan the parchment.

" Albus, Minerva and Remus all want me to accept you as an apprentice?" He said, more to himself than to her.

" Miss Granger, I shall think about it. After the end of them feast, I will find you and tell you. Now leave."

Hermione exited the room, a joyful smile playing on her lips. Perhaps she wasn't really leaving Hogwarts. She knew she had the right NEWTs for almost every subject, except History Of a Magic, but who cared about Bloodshot the Third's final battle? All she had to do now was find Lupin and Mcgonnagal and tell them.

o0o

She knocked twice on Remus' wooden door.

" Come in," a bright voice welcomed from inside

Opening the door, she was met with the sight of Remus Lupin, looking tired as always, a at his desk with a mug of hot chocolate.

" How'd it go, 'Mione?"

" He said he'd think about it, Professor."

Remus chuckled.

" Call me Remus outside of class, please."

Remus was not killed by the death eater, as the curse narrowly missed him, Tonks, however, was dead, leaving Remus to cope with full moon AND looking after a young child. Harry, Ron and Hermione helped of course, but they had classes most of the day.

" So, you may not be leaving Hogwarts for good then. I've always said you are the brightest witch of your age!"

Hermione blushed at his praise.

O0O

The end of term feast was different to any other feast at Hogwarts. The teachers sat with the students at their house tables, so Hermione ended up in between Remus and Ginny, and across from Dumbledore and Ron. The four house banners hung all over the Great Hall, and a shower of rubies, emeralds, topazes and sapphires rained down on them, but did not hit the ground. Everyone exchanged conversations over what jobs in the wizarding world they wanted.

" I want to play for the Holyhead Harpies" said Ginny. No one was surprised; Ginny was a fantastic chaser.

" Well..." Began Neville, trailing off.

" Go on, Neville, " encouraged Dumbledore.

" Sprout wants me to assist her with the first, second, third and fourth year Herbology." He beamed with pride as everyone smiled and nodded their head.

Hermione looked down at her plate of chocolate cake, and began picking at it with her spoon.

" 'Mione, is there something you're not telling us?" Asked Harry curiously.

" I might be Snape's apprentice." She whispered.

"Come again?" Said Ron.

" I might be Snape's apprentice." She said slowly and clearly.

Ron looked like a child who's hand was caught in the chocolate tin. His mouth gaped in shock.

" Snape... Apprentice, you?"

" Oh, thanks, Ronald!" Said Hermione sarcastically.

" Close your mouth, Ron, you'll catch flies," said Ginny, smirking.

Just then, a tall dark, hard to miss character swooped over from the Slytherin table, over to the Gryffindor's.

" Granger, I wish to speak to you."

Ron opened his mouth to protest, but then winced in pain; Ginny had kicked him under the table.

Together, the Slytherin Bat and the Gryffindor Girl exited the hall, leaving several students looking flabbergasted.

Snape lead her into his dungeon.

" Thank Merlin!" Hermione exclaimed.

" Miss Granger, I haven't opened my mouth."

" you, Professor, are a saviour! Ron was about to yell and make a scene!"

Snape muttered something that sounded like " Typical Weasley."

" Miss Granger, I have looked over your OWL and NEWT results, your previous work on potions, and some of your potion essays. I have sorted for you to help work with the younger student, that is those under fourth year, and be my apprentice. If you follow me, I shall show you your private quarters, until the castle sprouts something new."

o0o

Hermione could hardly contain her excitement. She wanted to jump up and down, and sing various Muggle songs. She couldn't do this, as Snape would think her irresponsible

" Your quarters will be shared with mine."

Snape's deep voice snapped Hermione out of her giddiness.

He lead her down a winding passageway, and into a large room. The walls were covered from top to bottom in books. Two large leather chairs stood in front of a roaring fire, separated by a sleek, oak table.

" This is the living area. If you wish to read any of the books, feel free. You are of age."

The next room was smaller than the first. A dining room and kitchenette. The surfaces were all black, obviously.

" If you have work to do, or do not feel like going to the hall, come here for something."

The next room was black and green tiles.

" this is the laboratory. You are not allowed in here without my explicit permission , understood?"

" Understood, sir."

He took her back into the living area, and into a large room. The room had a large desk, perfect for spreading notes on, a four poster, much like the one in her dormitory, a shelf as long as a wall, and a door on the opposite side.

" your bathroom it's through that door. My room is next door. Again, you are not allowed to enter without my explicit permission, but if I am ill, or in danger of any form, the barrier will lift. Also, because you are now a teacher, you will have all the necessary passwords. The Gryffindor Tower is Hippogriff. The Hufflepuff's is Mandrake. The Ravenclaw answer is a circle, and the Slytherin dungeon is Salazar."

o0o.

Hermione couldn't believe it. She wasn't leaving Hogwarts. She would teach.