**Two updates in one night! I couldn't help myself I had to keep going! I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far! Thank you for your reviews, I read them all and appreciate every single one of them! I'm sorry I can't always reply, I read a lot of them on my phone and my phone doesn't always let me do what my computer will! Anyway, we still have aways to go! This is a SS/HG pairing, I promise it's just going to take some time to get there, remember right now it's 1972 so HG hasn't been born yet! :) Thank again!**

It was a week into the summer holiday, and much to Severus' disappointment Lily was yet to write him. Sybil on the other hand, had kept her promise and wrote every day. He was grateful for the letters, but woe to read about how her mother had ruined dinner one night, she thought a tree had come to life and pulled her hair another day and her next door neighbors son had begun to refer to her as 'dribble Sybil' after she spilled a drink down the front of her shirt mid-sip.

Dragging his feet he walked the grounds. He had already read three books from his mother's crate. He didn't fully understand them, however they were interesting. But after a week with his eyes glued to the pages of the books he felt he had to get out or his brain may implode.

Severus collapsed down onto a patch of grass and cast his eyes out onto the lake. At least it was peaceful. He watched birds flying through the sky, the giant squid seemed to either be playing or hunting as he watched the tentacles come up and break the surface a few times.

"There you are, my boy!" Professor Dumbledore called out. Severus turned and looked over his shoulder at the headmaster who was wearing an odd shade of sea foam green. "I went to your rooms and found them empty."

"I needed some air." Severus replied as he turned back to watch nature.

"Ah, yes. Fresh air is excellent, especially for a growing boy." Professor Dumbledore mused happily.

"Did you need me for something, sir?" Severus asked as he brushed his hair from his eyes.

"I did," The headmaster nodded as he too turned his eyes to look out onto the lake. "Tell me, have you given any thought to your future?"

"Not really." Severus shrugged.

"I was thinking, now that you are a ward of Hogwarts and shall be spending your holidays here that perhaps you could apprentice one of the professors and learn their skills. It may come in handy after you sit your N.E.W.T.S. you would be eligible for mastery. I daresay you would be the youngest in history if you chose to do so." Professor Dumbledore turned and looked down at Severus' face, smiling at him as his blue eyes twinkled over his spectacles.

"That would be neat." Severus gave him a half-smile.

"Very well. Now, all that we need to do is narrow down your interests!" Professor Dumbledore lifted the hem of his robe and sat down on the grass beside the boy.

"I like a few subjects." Severus furrowed his brow as he thought over his likes and dislikes.

"Professor Slughorn believes you would make an apt Potions Master." Professor Dumbledore reached into his pocket and pulled out a box of Bertie and Botts every flavor jelly beans and popped one into his mouth. He mmm'd while Severus picked at his thumbnail.

"I like potions just fine, sir." Severus nodded. "I had been thinking though, after school I would work for the Ministry of Magic."

"Oh?" Professor Dumbledore seemed surprised. "What would you like to do there?"

"I was thinking maybe an auror or a curse breaker…maybe an unspeakable." Severus shrugged. "I want to help people."

"Ah, then you would do well to Master in two abilities then." Professor Dumbledore nodded slowly. "I would recommend, should that be your true desire to accept Professor Slughorn's offer to apprentice under him in Potions, as well as apprentice under Professor Herman in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"I haven't taken Defense Against the Dark Arts yet. I can't take it until third year." Severus shook his head confused.

"Ah, yes that may be true but you are special. You are exceedingly bright. You also have my permission, and as you are my charge that is all you need." Professor Dumbledore chuckled.

"Really?"

"Yes," Professor Dumbledore nodded. "So, do you need some time to consider…"

"No, I'll do it!" Severus replied eagerly a huge smile plastered across his face.

"Very well, I shall speak to both Professor Dumbledore and Professor Herman and get everything set in motion. Severus, I do ask one thing of you though." The headmaster stopped chuckling.

"What?" Severus asked his heart racing a bit.

"I ask you speak of this to no one. It isn't that you are doing anything wrong, my boy. It's more to do with giving you opportunities that your classmates are not being given." Professor Dumbledore explained. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, of course. You don't want to make my classmates jealous." He shrugged.

"Yes, something like that." Professor Dumbledore nodded.


Two days later Professor Dumbledore called him to his office where he found the headmaster speaking with Professor Slughorn and Professor Herman. The atmosphere was a bit intimidating.

"Severus, be a good lad and come sit!" Professor Slughorn called out with an open arm pointing at him. Severus swallowed his nerves and obeyed. "I was thrilled to hear you have accepted my offer!"

"I will admit I was surprised you have an interest in Defense Against the Dark Arts." Professor Herman raised an eyebrow. He was a terribly ugly man, but his voice wasn't as intimidating as his face, which brought some comfort to the boy.

"I-I-uhh…I just want to help people." Severus stammered a bit as he looked to the headmaster who was watching the conversation with great interest.

"Very well." Professor Herman nodded and took a seat.

"You shall meet with Professor Herman in the mornings and Professor Slughorn in the afternoons." Professor Dumbledore explained. "They have each brought some reading materials for you, and your apprenticeships shall begin in one week."

"Thank you." Severus said timidly.

"Oh, don't thank us quite yet, son. You may find this is a greater challenge than you had believed it to be." Professor Slughorn laughed.

"Did you explain to the boy how crucial it is that he speaks of his apprenticeships to no one?" Professor Herman narrowed his gray eyes as he addressed the headmaster.

"Yes, Herman, I did." Professor Dumbledore nodded.

"Very good. If that is all I have some prior commitments I am rather late to." Professor Herman stood up and gave a slight bow to the headmaster who dismissed him with a nod.

"Wait up old chap, I'll walk with you!" Professor Slughorn followed behind his colleague. The door closed with a loud thud.

"Your reading material is on the table, just there." Professor Dumbledore pointed across the room to a small mountain of books. Severus' eyes went wide as soon as he saw what he was expected to read in a week. "I suppose you would like to get straight to it then?"

"I guess I better." Severus replied as he pulled his wand out and began to shrink the books to fit in his pocket. When he was finished he turned back and looked at the headmaster who was playing with a candle snuffer. "Thank you, sir."

"It's nothing my boy." He replied not pulling his eyes from the shiny brass object in his hands. Severus turned and began to make his way to the door before Professor Dumbledore stopped him. "Severus?"

"Yes, sir?" Severus turned to look back at him again, his hand frozen upon the doorknob.

"To answer your question, Professor Herman's first name is Herman as well." Professor Dumbledore smiled.

"Herman Herman?" Severus smirked.

"Indeed," The headmaster nodded and stroked his beard. "Just refrain from laughing at him, he hates it."

"Alright." Severus laughed as he left the headmasters office and made his way back to his rooms to start preparing for his future.