I do not own the characters - the delightful J.K. Rowling has that honor.
Please R&R! Here we go!
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The Meeting
Hermione sat at the window of the Gryffindor common room watching the first snowfall of the season. She always loved the silence that accompanied snowy nights; so peaceful and relaxing. She knew she shouldn't be up there – she wasn't a student anymore. But this tower seemed like home.
Movement on the grounds caught her attention. A dark figure was slowly making its way toward the entrance to the castle. The doors of the castle opened and Hermione watched as Minerva welcomed Snape into the warmth of the school. She wondered where he had been – then she saw the mask. A meeting? But Voldemort was dead! Wasn't he? Harry killed him – she was there. As her mind ran through the events of the last battle, she drifted into an uneasy sleep…
Snape was lying here covered in his own blood, bite marks on his neck. It felt like she was moving in slow motion as she raced toward the shrieking shack – toward him. How could she not have seen it before? Naigini's poison paralyzed it's victims before it killed them. Her venom was similar to the Draught of the Living Dead. If she could only get to him fast enough…
"Mione?" Ginny looked quite shocked to see her friend curled up in an armchair by the window, "Mione what are you doing here?"
"Ginny? Merlin! What time is it?" Hermione rushed to gather her things and headed toward the portrait.
"It's five in the morning, and you didn't answer my question. Why are you here?" Ginny still hadn't moved from the foot of the girl's dormitory staircase. "It Harry ok? Ron? Mum – "
"Everyone's fine Gin," The redhead visibly relaxed. "I'm here to see Professor Snape."
"Snape? Severus Snape – Miserable bat from Hades – Severus Snape? Why come to see him?"
"He is not a bat from hades, though I can't really argue the miserable part, but that's not the point. I'm here to see him about an apprenticeship."
"You want to be Snape's apprentice? Wasn't seven years of the bat enough?"
Hermione sighed in exasperation, "I do not feel like getting into this with you too, Ginny. I've already gotten Ron's and Harry's negative input on the subject, but my mind is made up. He is the best Potions Master in Europe and with the war over, he's bound to be more pleasant. What, with not having to behave like an arse so that the Slytherins didn't run home to their death eater parents and tattle… And since the… last battle – well the poison had some lasting effects…" Hermione wished she hadn't said the last part. She braced herself for Ginny's lecture.
"And you feel guilty you didn't get there faster – is that it?!?" Hermione turned to walk away. "Merlin, Mione! We've been through this! The man is ALIVE because of you!"
"BUT I SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT FASTER!" Hermione shouted as she slammed her way through the Portrait hole.
As it was only a quarter of five in the morning, it wasn't exactly polite to knock on the professor's door. Hermione decided to head back to her guest quarters and freshen up. It wouldn't do to have a hair out of place if she wanted any chance at Snape taking her seriously. She chose her powder blue dress robes. The neckline was a bit too low to be considered professional, so she transfigured a sock into a matching tank top to wear under her robes. She twisted her hair into a low bun; a few stray curls framing her pale face. With one last look at her appearance in the mirror, she headed to the Great Hall for breakfast. As she stepped into the hall she was face with the dilemma of where to sit. Then Headmistress McGonagall waved Hermione up to the head table. She waved politely to Ginny on her way past Gryffindor table and sat down next to Minerva.
"Good morning Hermione. I trust you slept well," Minerva said while buttering a biscuit.
"Yes, Headmistress, thank you."Hermione sipped her pumpkin juice feeling slightly uncomfortable. The Headmistress was giving the impression that she knew something Hermione did not.
"After breakfast, would you stop by my office? I have a proposition for you." Minerva whispered the last part, leaning toward Hermione with the pretense of reaching for the sugar.
"Actually, I am going to see Professor Snape. Could it wait until this afternoon?"
Minerva stopped stirring her tea and glanced up and down the table to make sure that no one was paying attention to their conversation, leaned in and whispered once again, "Apprenticeship in Potions?"
Hermione was stunned – she'd only told Harry, Ron and Ginny. How did Minerva know? It must be something about the Headmasters and Mistresses of Hogwarts – Dumbledore had always known more or less what was going on in the castle.
"Come see me first – we have some things to discuss." The Headmistress wink at Hermione then rose from her seat and left the hall.
Hermione finished her breakfast and headed for Minerva's office. She stopped in front of the stone gargoyle realizing she didn't know the password. Then she saw a dark figure prowling toward her reading a book and she ducked into the shadows. Severus Snape lowered his book. "Honor." The gargoyle sprang to life and out of the professor's way.
Why would the Headmistress call Snape in at the same time as Hermione? Hermione approached the gargoyle once more and repeated the extremely Gryfindor password, and climbed the spiral staircase. The door to the office was open, but she hesitated on the threshold. Snape and Minerva were already conversing.
"Miss Granger is more than qualified, Severus, and you know it! She is the best witch this school has seen in years, and her N.E.W.T. scored rivaled your own."
"Headmistress, do you not comprehend the effects last night will have on me? On the Wizarding World?" Snape crossed his arms impatiently.
At that moment, Hermione could not stop a sneeze. Snape whipped around with an accusatory glare. The Headmistress smiled kindly and motioned for her to come into the office. Snape lowered himself into one of the chairs facing the Headmistress obviously furious about something. He turned to look at Hermione again and she saw something flash in his eyes, but she could not place the emotion. Then he sneered, "Miss Granger, how… nice of you to join us."
"Severus stop being a prat," then the Headmistress addressed Hermione. "Miss Granger, I would like to offer you the position of Muggle Studies professor starting in the fall."
Hermione sat in stunned silence. Had Minerva just offered her a teaching position? Did she not remember their earlier conversation where the Headmistress guessed that Hermione was here to approach Snape about an apprenticeship?
Seeing Hermione's reaction, Minerva continued, "This would, of course, serve as a cover for your apprenticeship with Severus."
"I'm confused," Hermione admitted after another moment of silence. "Why would I need a cover to apprentice for Professor Snape?"
"Because of the events that took place last night," growled Snape. "And, Minerva, I have yet to agree to taking on an apprentice."
"Last night? The mask," Hermione exclaimed.
"And just how do you know about last night," Snape demanded.
"I don't really." At the questioning glances of her former professors, she continued, "I saw you coming back into the castle with the death eater mask in your hand. But I still do not understand why – Voldemort is dead, right?"
The Headmistress smiled reassuringly. "Yes, Miss Granger, Voldemort is dead. Sadly, the same cannot be said of all of his supporters, including Lucius Malfoy."
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This is my first Fanfic and ALL feedback is welcome. Thanks! The next chapter will be posted soon.