Chapter 6: Her Seclusion
Hermione's day was going terribly and it seemed that it would only get worse at the rate it was at. She had woken up late and had been late for Charms people snickering at her as she found the only seat left in the far corner. She did her spells proficiently but the teacher did not give her any extra points like they use to for being the first to do the spells. Even the teachers were upset with her. Staying after class she had time to speak with Professor Flitwick.
"Yes Ms. Granger what can I do for you?"
"I was wonder professor due to my apprenticeship with Professor Snape if there were any extra assignments I can do so that I do not have to worry about missing class if Professor Snape is of need of me?" Hermione asked crossing her fingers for luck as she saw his brain thinking of her question.
"I know of the seclusion that is given to you Hermione and I know that being in class if only for three hours once a week is harsh punishment for something you did not do so yes I will get a large stack of papers for you for next class, you will only have to come and see me for an hour each week and perform each spell and do a small exam for me and I will mark you on that Ms. Granger."
A smile spilled from Hermione," thank you so much Professor I can't thank you enough for what you are doing for me."
"Do not worry about it Ms. Granger now off to your other class."
Hermione had thought her day was going to be unbelievably terrible but she was wrong it was looking up great. Even in Herbology Professor Sprouts agreed to the same thing but large essays and assignments for no class participation and once a week a tiny exam she had to take. With a skip in her step, she returned to her rooms.
Just a few short steps from her rooms she ran into three people she wished she did not have to face. Ginny, Harry and Ron all stood by the entrance to her rooms glaring at her as she slowly walked towards them.
"Why Hermione," Harry spoke up as they blocked her path into her rooms. Hermione looked up into those familiar green eyes of Harry's unsure of what to say she knew there was no point in defending herself anymore.
"I have already told you I did not do what I am accused of doing," she stated as she moved to pass them only to have Ron step in front of her.
"You're a slag; I can't believe you would do this to me, to us. I thought we were best friends I thought that after all the bad things that Malfoy has done to all of us that you would never turn your back on us like that," Ron spat at her," but I guess I was wrong you worthless slut."
All three pushed past her as Ron rammed her up against the wall so hard she bit out a scream of pain. Before she could even pick herself up a demanding voice came over them.
"Fifty points each from Gryffindor and detentions the whole week with me," Snape said as he rushed to Hermione's side. The three turned in anger at their punishment.
"That's a bunch of bull we get punished for teaching her a lesson and she just gets to walk around a dirty traitor after the things she has done," Ginny chirped.
"You have no right to hand out punishments another ten points each for arguing with an authority figure."
"For all we know she is probably fucking you to she has a thing for Death Eaters it seems maybe she is carrying your love child and not Malfoy's," Harry yelled.
"I will be talking to your head of house today and it will be another week of detention unless you leave right now and how dare you accuse a teacher of a relationship like this, NOW LEAVE!"
With that, the three left in a huff. Turning his gaze to Hermione who was in tears and what seemed like pain as he helped her up off the floor. No sob broke from her as she stood there her head down not daring to look up at the man who had come to her rescue. Hermione felt as if everything was holding from a thread. All day she had tried her best to keep her emotions under wraps but now as the man, whom she had fallen for so long ago stood before her and had been so kind to her all she wanted was to fall into his arms in an embrace and forget all the things that were happening.
"Ms. Granger please come to my rooms for tea," he cleared his throat as he continued;" I would like to discuss some things with you about your apprenticeship and also the events of the past two days if you will?"
All Hermione could do was nod as he quickly turned and started walking away from her and like a faithful dog she followed closely behind. Quickly turning into the portrait that had swung open suddenly at his approach she entered and was welcomed by the smell of pine and spearmint. Picking up her head, Snape was standing by the fire in the far side of his rooms staring right at her as she took a deep smell of the room sighing.
"Please come and sit," he directed to one of the two chairs that were before the fireplace. Suddenly Hermione looked around as she realized that his living room was in reality a huge library as her head swivelled around to look at the bookshelves that reached the ceiling and that covered ever inch of wall. Her mouth open in amazement she wished to search through the books to learn to read. Snape cleared his throat as her concentration on the books was broken and she focused it on him.
"I am very fond of these books as well, this is my favourite room but if you will," he stated as he sat in the chair to the right. Taking her direction, she sat in the other chair and looked at him. Soon with a crack, Dobby appeared with a tray of tea, which he placed on the little table between the two chairs and left with a very large smile for Hermione.
"Sir, any milk or sugar?"
"No thank you just black," Snape stated as he took the teacup from her and watched as she did the same to her own. A woman who did not need sugar or anything else to ruin a perfectly good cup of tea. He waited until she had drunk a bit from her teacup to begin what he wanted to talk about from the beginning.
"Ms. Granger I have prepared your schedule and I must let you know now that this job will be very demanding and from what your professors have told me you no longer have classes on Monday but only require two hours a week of class time so it shall be Wednesday when you shall do this," he stated as he stared at the young woman who so earnestly was peering at him," when you help me on complicated potions you will be paid for your time and if you work incredibly hard this entire year and this summer you will be more than a year ahead in a usual apprenticeship."
"Thank you so much Sir," Hermione smiled, this man in front of her could bring her back from the brink of wanting to die with the hope that he gave her.
"Then starting next fall it will be just as busy, it will only take you another year or two after this year to get your Potions Master Degree but you must be diligent."
"There are no worries about that professor this is what I want most in life is to be a Potions Professor and I will stop at nothing to become one," Hermione stated.
"That is good, you start tomorrow so you will have to be at my classroom at 9am to start, but now that business is out of the way... how are you feeling?"
"I don't think I understand what you mean sir?" Hermione asked as her eyebrow quirked in question.
"Since the happenings of last night I would like for you to tell me how you are feeling, I am not stupid Ms. Granger I know of how you are being treated and it is simple amazement that Dumbeldore would do something like that and I am concocting some plans to prove your innocence."
"Thank you for your help Professor, but why do you care so much of my innocence?"
"You are one to become one of the most smartest witches in existence and I believe it to be a waste if you were to be unable to get jobs because what has happened to you, there is so much potential in you and I do not want it to go to waste," Snape stated his voice full of concern.
"I feel terribly alone sir," Hermione started but was interrupted as Dumbeldore suddenly appeared through the fire looking from Snape to her to Snape again.
"Severus I need to have a meeting with you," Dumbeldore demanded, as he returned through the fire most likely to his office.
"Ms. Granger I am sorry to cut this short but take this book from me and read the first five potions in it because tomorrow you will be brewing them by yourself and I expect them to be perfect," Snape directed as Hermione nodded taking the book from his hand and hugging it to her chest. With a nod from him, he disappeared through the fire as she conducted herself out and made a quick run to her rooms just in case anyone was there to attack her again. Once safe inside her room she stripped down and jumped on her bed to begin her readings beyond excited for the day to come.
I know it seems like the story is going rather slowly but do not worry it is going to speed up soon. Whenever I start a story I like to make the beginning rather long of the first couple days or so because I think the beginning is a big part of the story whenever I am lost in the middle of the story I can go back to the beginning and search through things there to give me ideas if I am stuck.
The hits are awesome and thanks to everyone that reviewed and added this story on their alerts. Hope everyone is enjoying summer.
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StephanieBlack
