Chapter Three
The Think-over
Good morning. It's a beautiful morning, isn't it? Shall we enjoy the continuation of my story outside on this gorgeous morning? Good. I know the perfect spot.
...
Yes, right over there.
...
Ahh. Here we go. Now - oh, here, let me help you with that.
All settled? ... Good. Now, where was I?
Ah yes. Just after asking Professor Snape what my grade was. Well, I suppose I'll start a bit after that.
* * *
Hermione walked into the Gryffindor common room, and plopped down onto one of the comfy chairs beside the fireplace. Harry leaned forward from his seat on the couch just beside her.
"Hermione? Hermione, what's wrong?" He asked her. She looked over at him with half closed eyes. She slowly blinked before answering him.
"I'm just a bit tired, Harry." Was all she said.
"What did Professor Snape have to say about that test?" Harry pressed.
"I got an 'O' on it."
"Big surprise. Miss Smarty-pants Hermione Granger always gets good grades. I don't know why you were worried." Ron said, coming into the common room from Dinner.
"Where were you most of the day, anyway?" Harry asked. "I couldn't find you anywhere."
"Probably in the Library." Ron told him.
"I looked there." Harry reminded Ron.
"I was just ... walking." Hermione said, blankly gazing into the fireplace.
The truth was, Hermione had been wondering about everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. She still hadn't gotten it all sorted out in her head. She stood up to go to bed with a heavy sigh – she knew tonight would not be a great night for sleeping.
~*~*~
Hermione woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. She grabbed her robe and left the tower for a night walk to cool her off.
While she walked around the dark, empty castle, her mind wondered back to everything that had happened to her.
I was called from my studies Friday afternoon, to go see the headmaster. I followed Professor McGonagall to his office, only to notice that she wasn't leaving, and Professor Snape was there aswell. I had no idea what was going on, but I sat there anyway, waiting to see what would happen. Little did I know, everything would change.
I was offered the chance to skip this year of school, and graduate a year early. If I did, I would become Professor Snape's apprentice, and learn the ways of potion making.
The whole reason why he needed an apprentice? Professor Dumbledore was retiring after the next school year. He was handing the title over to Professor Snape. If professor Snape was to become Headmaster, he needed someone to take over as the potions teacher.
So that leads to the question - why me?That question was answered almost immediately. Professor Snape saw me as his best student. Of ALL his classes, of ALL this students in ALL years. He chose the know-it-all, book-worm, Mudblood, Gryffindor Granger over ALL of his other students. He told me I was his best. That blew me for a loop. Professor Snape. Severus Snape, complimented a Gryffindor!! A mudblood Gryffindor. A Gryffindor whose his hatred for was only topped by his hatred for the son of his worst enemy.
In order to be allowed to graduate early (I think this was only for the benefit of the Ministry), I had to take nine tests: Divination, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creations, Muggle Studies, Herbology, Charms, Transfiguration, and of course, Potions.
Potions was the only test that was not administered to me by Professor Dumbledore. Professor Snape came in an gave me the test himself. It was also the only test that had a practical part to it.
This morning ... yesterday morning, according to my watch …I was … rudely woken up by Ginny. Embarrassed myself in front of at least half of the Gryffindor Boys, ran upstairs, only to find out I had to skip my shower to race to the Headmaster's office to find out the results of my tests,
Professor Dumbledore told me the results of seven of the tests: Divination: 'E' ; Arithmancy: 'O' ; Ancient Runes: 'O' ; Care of Magical Creatures: 'E' ; Muggle Studies: 'O' ; Herbology: 'O' ; Charms: 'O'.
Professor McGonagall told me that my Transfiguration test was an Outstanding as well. That's when Professor Snape told me that I started my new classes on Monday, and that he expected me to be prepared.
Then he left. He left! Of all the nerve! He wouldn't even tell me my grade!! Hermione stomped her foot in frustration.
"OW!" She hissed through her teeth. She looked at the offending item, and had to stoop to pick it up, to get a better look at it.
It was a black ball. Was a black ball is more correct. It was now flashing red.
"Rooeeewwww." Hermione cursed under her breath. Now she remembered what it was.
~*~*~
Flashback
~*~*~
"Mr. Filch has asked me to announce tonight that he will be placing 'Student finders' around the castle. They will be activated at night, and will be hidden away during the day. The purpose of these 'finders' is to identify when a student is out of bed after curfew. They will only activate when a student who should not be out of bed comes into contact with them." Professor Dumbledore announced at dinner.
~*~*~
Present
~*~*~
Hermione cursed again, dropped the ball and ran, as fast as she could back down the corridor, through a tapestry to a hidden passage, up the passage, down another corridor, through a fake mirror, down another passage, and out into the pitch black dungeons. She stopped, gasping for breath.
"Reoow!!!" Hermione heard Mr. Filch's cat again.
"Damn cat could probably find a needle in a hay stack the first try." Hermione muttered before running through the web of dungeons. She ran for what felt like hours.
Finally she stopped when she realized she had no clue where she was. She leaned against the wall, catching her breath. After she had stabilized her breathing, she stood up, and worked her way through the pitch black dungeon.
So he left, I asked Professor Dumbledore if I may leave. When I did, I ran down the corridors, heading towards the dungeons when I was stopped by Harry and Ron. They asked what was up. I couldn't really tell them everything, so I just said I needed to find him for the test results of a test – which wasn't a lie. Harry then told me that Professor Snape had gone out onto the grounds. I then ran down and followed him to a secluded part of the lake. When I found him – he found you, Hermione – he came out from behind a tree without his billowy robes on.
He looks really good too. The way that shirt rippled over his chest…and his pants looked good too…I didn't know he wore trainers though. I mean, I don't know what kind of shoes I thought he wore, but…wow…
HERMIONE!! KNOCK IT OFF!!! FOR GOD'S SAKE!!! Hermione scolded herself as she walked down the pitch black hall.
* * *
And that is where I shall leave you for now. I shall continue this when we meet again.
Shall we convene at lunch today? My treat.
Good. I shall see you then.