Warning: This fiction will eventually include strong violent scenes and is not for the faint of heart. I will detail further warnings as particular content is released.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything that links back to the J.K. Rowling Universe.
Over the next couple of weeks, Severus had to admit that Miss Granger had indeed been holding back. While they had yet to meet for her assigned task, as Harry had yet to be notified of his part, she had started to elucidate quite eloquently with her essays. Reading her work quickly became the highlight of his week, and he relished the challenge of finding even the smallest error in her work. What's more, Miss Granger rose to meet his increasingly strident level of criticism. He would save her essays for last, taking the time to check her references and finding his own which would discount her theories.
In class, however, she was just as insufferable and demanding as always, never once indicating any familiarity with him. He was, reluctantly, impressed with how well she was able to act in his presence and that of her classmates. Thus at the beginning of October Severus decided that it was time to begin their 'work.' She had already set the groundwork, approaching him several times, only to be turned down bitingly when she requested extra lessons to prepare for a mastery. Those who witnessed their interactions would assume Miss Granger was a desperate masochist with a desire for a potions mastery above all else, and so it was with this knowledge that he asked her to stay behind after class Friday, October 4th.
"Miss Granger, I believe it is time we begin working on your task. Would tonight at 8 p.m. suffice?" he purred, leaning against his desk as she approached him.
"That would be fine, sir. When are we to tell Harry of his role in this?" she asked politely, stopping within a couple meters of where her professor stood.
"Tonight, Albus is going to request a meeting with Mr. Potter, and we will floo from my office at the prescribed time. Remember, you cannot let your dunderheaded friends know you have prior knowledge of his meeting, as I will supposedly bring you up to speed at the same time Albus is speaking with Potter." He sneered further as he explained. "Our hope is that he will have as little interaction with me as is necessary, and that you will 'agree' to the scheme without consulting him. That way he cannot object when you are already on board."
"That is probably best," Hermione responded blandly. Then, as if watching the sun come out from behind the clouds, she smiled. Bouncing on the balls of her feet, Hermione beamed at him. "Well then, I guess I should break the good news to my friends. Thank you, sir!" and with that she turned and gathered her things, nearly bolting from the door in excitement.
Severus merely shook his head at her antics. Her acting skills were to be lauded, but he couldn't help but wonder what made her so effective. Why she seemed more Slytherin than Gryffindor at times... Mentally shaking himself, Severus strode through the door at the back of his classroom in order to enter his office. He had time before dinner, and Hermione's paper was calling his name…
"Oh my god guys you won't believe it! Professor Snape agreed to teach me extra lessons to prepare for a mastery in potions!" Hermione squealed as she sat across from Harry and Ron for dinner.
"Blimey 'Mione, someone would think you'd gotten a prize or something," Ron muttered around a bite of food.
"Oh, but this is just so exciting! I'll get almost a full year more training before I begin my apprenticeship, and you can never be too prepared," she countered, watching her friends roll their eyes, exacerbated by her response.
"But it's Snape!" Harry retorted vehemently.
"Professor Snape," Hermione corrected automatically, "and he's a Potions Master, one of the preeminent masters in this century!"
"It's still Snape though." Harry's voice was annoyed now.
Hermione scowled at him, unwittingly emulating the very man they were discussing. "Harry, how many times do I have to tell you-"
"I know, I know. He's a professor, he deserves our respect, he's saved our lives I get it, but I just don't trust him! You don't become a Death Eater over tea and biscuits you know!"
Hermione sighed dramatically, her eyes pleading with Harry. "Can't you just be happy that this is what I want?" she whispered desperately.
Harry looked at her, resentment clear as day on his face, but under the assault of her glistening brown eyes begging for his support, he capitulated. "Yeah, I suppose. Doesn't mean I trust him. But I am glad you got what you want 'Mione."
"Thanks, Harry. You don't know what your support means to me," said Hermione, smiling brightly. They continued to talk over dinner, Hermione keeping her thoughts regarding the extra lessons to herself to the relief of her friends. When the treacle tart appeared, Hermione noticed an owl appear through the gap at the top of the Great Hall, an owl that seemed to make a bee line for their section of the table. It landed in front of Harry and offered the missive with a twinkle eerily like the man who most likely sent it. "Are you expecting something from snuffles?" Hermione asked, assuming the excitable girl both Ron and Harry had learned to trust all these years.
"No, oh it's from Dumbledore," Harry whispered. He opened the scroll quickly and scanned the note. "He wants to meet me tonight about something, doesn't say why." He passed the note to Ron who, after reading it, passed it to Hermione.
Dear Mr. Potter,
Please come by my office tonight at 8 p.m. Do not worry; you are not in any trouble.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
"Do you think he knows what we're planning on doing?" Harry asked nervously as Hermione finished reading the note.
"It's hard to say," Hermione commented hesitantly. "He did make sure you knew you're not in any trouble. I doubt he'd let you go through with it if he knew."
"Well I guess I'll find out one way or another tonight," Harry responded.
"Do you want to study until then, keep your mind off things?" Hermione asked.
"Ron and I had planned on going out to fly for a bit after dinner," Harry said apologetically. "Do you want to come with us?"
"No, I got to get ready for my own meeting with Professor Snape. He asked me to go to his office at the same time as your meeting with the headmaster."
"What? I'll be all alone while both of you are off on your important meetings?" Ron asked, an edge of jealousy to his voice.
"Just think, you'll have that much more time to practice for Quidditch, Ronald," Hermione said exacerbated. "Invite Ginny to go with you so you'll have someone to practice with once Harry's gone."
"You know, I'll do just that," and with that, Ron hoisted himself out of his seat and went in search of Ginny.
"Now, Miss Granger, it is imperative that Harry have no inkling of your prior knowledge of anything beside the Occlumency lessons. If Harry suspects, the Dark Lord could very well be listening in to his thoughts, do you understand?" Severus asked darkly, staring down at the not-so-insufferable know-it-all.
"Perfectly."
"Good, now when you throw in the floo powder, say 'Headmaster Dumbledore's office' clearly in order to go to the right location."
Hermione nodded decisively and then grabbed a pinch of floo before stepping into the fireplace. She was whisked away once she threw the powder and spoke the destination. She stumbled out the other side, dusting herself off as she made way for her potions professor. Looking toward the desk which commanded the far end of the room, Hermione gave her friend a tentative smile, relieved when he returned it. Seconds later, Professor Snape had joined those assembled.
"Welcome, please come and have a seat," Albus stood while conjuring a third chair in order to give everyone space to sit. "Lemon drop, tea?" he asked.
No thank you's were expressed and Albus sat back in his chair, satisfied that the niceties had been dealt with. "Mr. Potter, as I was explaining, while the connection you have with Tom is unique, there is a way to cut off access to the link. Professor Snape and I are both versed in such techniques, and in order to protect your mind, you will need to be taught how."
He hasn't even gotten to the plan? My god how long does it take to explain the situation! Both Hermione and Severus were thinking the same thing as they sat there, neither showing their irritation over Albus's long-winded nature.
"How can I block my mind from Voldemort," Harry asked, noticing once again how Snape would flinch at the man's name.
"In order to protect your mind, you will need to learn Occlumency. The problem, and the reason I have had to avoid you since Tom's return is that he can perform Legillimency, mind-reading, using the connection you share. I have far too many secrets to protect that would likely end up laid bare to Tom should he access my thoughts."
"What secrets?" Harry asked at once.
"The headmaster is not inclined to tell you, idiot boy, while your mind is so easily accessible," Snape cut in scathingly.
"So if I learn Occlumency you'll tell me what secrets you're keeping from me?" Harry pressed, never taking his eyes off of Dumbledore, who looked at some point over Harry's head to protect his mind.
"Harry, you must understand, I do not wish to keep secrets from you, but like Severus said, I cannot divulge things that could prove useful to Tom until I am assured that he will not gain access to your memories. And keep in mind, just because you'll be taught how to perform Occlumency doesn't mean you'll be able to perform Occlumency. It is a difficult art that only a few people are capable of performing with any level of success. In order to keep secret that which could turn the tide of this war, you must excel at it. Is that understood?"
Harry's eyes were round as saucers as he thought of all this, and he nodded, "Yes, sir."
"Good." Dumbledore clasped his hands together, eyes twinkling like mad. "Originally, I asked Severus to teach you Occlumency, since I cannot without jeopardizing our position against Tom. However, he explained to me that he felt it would prove difficult for him since…what is it you said, ah yes, since you cannot seem to follow the simplest of instructions." Harry looked like he would likely faint when Professor Snape had been mentioned, and so it was that he barely registered the aspersion against his character. "Editorialization aside, I thought it would be prudent to include an intermediary. Miss Granger, did Professor Snape explain to you the situation before coming here?"
"Yes, sir, and I agreed to the plan," Hermione responded simply, flashing an encouraging smile to her friend when he looked at her in confusion.
"Well then, in that case, Miss Granger has agreed to learn Occlumency. Once she gets to a certain level, she will begin to teach you, Mister Potter." The headmaster kept his eyes on the boy now as Harry looked between Hermione and Severus. "This will be in addition to her extra potion's training, so as to keep the information between us, and of course Mister Weasley."
"Why must you allow them to inform the unfortunate boy," Severus nearly whined.
"If you think we're going to keep this a secret from our friend," Harry began quite loudly.
"Mister Potter," Albus bellowed. Gaining his attention once more he continued. "I would not wish for you to keep secrets from your friends. And in this case, it would seem nearly impossible to keep Mister Weasley ignorant once Miss Granger begins to teach you. I imagine if given the opportunity, this could be something the three of you could do together."
Severus noted Miss Granger's scowl at the suggestion, and smirked at the applied disapproval in teaching the dense Weasley boy anything…let alone something as delicate as Occlumency.
Taking pity on her, he spoke up. "Headmaster, if Miss Granger is unable to make any progress with the Weasley boy as distraction, may she have the option to drop him from the lessons in order to further Potter's chances at success?"
"I suppose so, seeing as how it is Mister Potter's mind we must protect the most," Albus responded, not unkindly. Facing his Order members, he continued. "Now, I understand you two still have other potion related topics to discuss. Unless there is anything else, you may go."
"Thank you, sir," Hermione intoned quietly, nodding to Professor Snape to precede her. "Harry, don't worry about this, okay. You know how I am with something new to learn. Should be exciting!"
"Thanks, 'Mione, and I understand," Harry rolled his eyes at the veracity of her statement. Winking at him, she grabbed a pinch of floo powder and then was gone.
Back in Professor Snape's office, she was directed to sit in the chair in front of his desk as he paced the length of his office for several minutes. She got out a sheaf of parchment and a quill and began to scribble equations that were meaningless, wondering how long it would take her professor to notice. About half way down the page, he stopped abruptly, facing her profile as she bent over her work.
"What are you working on?" he asked irritatedly.
"Just an equation to predict how long you would pace in silence," Hermione answered offhandedly, looking up to gauge his response.
"Meddlesome Gryffindors," Severus muttered under his breath as he resumed his pacing. Shaking her head, Hermione got up and stepped into his path to stop the restless action.
Palms up, she said, "You're absolutely right on that score, sir, but unless you wish for me to stay here indefinitely, you need to tell me what the plan is."
Scowling, Severus nodded once. "We'll meet once a week until the matrix is operational. Then, I will allow you time in the lab in order to keep up the pretense. Should more information need to be added, I will let you know in advance."
"What day and at what time, sir?" she asked succinctly.
"Saturdays at 8 a.m. That will give us ample time to work so I can get you out of my hair sooner," Severus responded, unable to help the accerbic caveat.
"Lovely," Hermione smiled, ignoring his tone. "Now as for our interactions, when in your presense as an Order member, I would appreciate it if you wouldn't deduct points or assign detention, as we are colleagues in this. I hope that I won't do something to attract your ire, however, since you're always a simmering cauldron about to explode, I want to make sure that I can speak my mind without hurting my house."
Severus's eyes were glittering as he answered curtly. "Fine."
"And I want your word that you won't detract points from or assign detention to me or my friends for issues that may arise during official Order business. Infractions made in your class or as a student at Hogwarts are of course, open season," she added.
"I had hoped you wouldn't think to ask for that, but since you were intelligent enough to do so, I will accept your terms." Her professor smirked evilly, no doubt cooking up ways in which to catch her friends out of bounds.
"A compliment, what is this world coming to?" Hermione retorted, swooning in fake astonishment.
"You are exceedingly annoying and too smug for your own good. Has the universe righted itself yet?" he murmored.
"Oh yes, that's much better. Thank you, sir." Hermione's lip tipped up infinitesimally, matching the potions master's smirk.
Rolling his eyes, he flicked his hand toward the door. "Off with you, impertinent witch!"
A/N: Thank you all for sticking with me. I am enjoying this story so well I went ahead and posted the third chapter on the same day as the second. Of course, this means you all will need to wait for me to write the fourth chapter, but it's coming along.
As for the reviews I've received, I thought to answer one person's unstated question. The Arithmantic matrix Hermione is building in this story is not a new concept. I am using it as the foundation for future interaction with her acerbic professor, but it is mearly a jumping off point.
Also, If you do not enjoy an eventual relationship with Hermione and Severus, then this may not be the story for you. I understand as there are pairings that I do not enjoy as well. Hopefully this will be the longest A/N you'll be forced to read, I hate them myself.
Love and review!