A/N:Hermione finds out what she will be working on! Reviews please! To all of my fabulous YouTuber's … my fans I love you! I don't own anything you recognize … sadly that is all Jo Rowling's. Drink up me hearties … yo ho!
Chp 13
The next day Hermione spoke the password to the gargoyle guarding the Headmistress's office. She found Minerva sitting at her desk with her spectacles perched at the end of her nose poring over papers.
"Minerva you wanted to see me?" she asked walking in and taking a seat.
"Yes dear, I will be just a moment," she said without looking up. Suddenly the door opened behind Hermione, she craned her neck around as Minerva looked up from her parchment.
"Severus! I am glad you came. Please, sit down." She gestured to the empty seat next to Hermione. He seemed uncomfortable and declined, instead insisting he preferred to stand.
"Very well. I was just telling Hermione I would be a minute more." All three of them sat in awkward silence in the room. Minerva didn't seem to notice, but Severus and Hermione both did. She looked up at the Potions Master and gave him a small smile. He narrowed his eyes at her and pursed his lips. What have I gotten myself into, he thought. I can't be around her for this long! I nearly came apart when I saw her in the Great Hall that first day!
"Now to business!" Minerva took her glasses off and set them down along with her quill.
"Hermione I understand that you have chosen under whom you would like to apprentice?" she asked the young brunette nervously playing with her hands.
"Yes, Minerva. I have decided that becoming a Potions Mistress would be the best course for me,' she said giving the older woman a smile.
"Very well then, I think that is an excellent choice! There isn't anyone better to teach you than Professor Snape either."
"Yes, I agree," Hermione said very softly. It did not go unnoticed by Severus. Did she just pay him a compliment?
"Now then with the verbal agreement out of the way let's move on to paperwork."
What seemed like a lifetime later Hermione and Severus were finally finished signing papers - they had signed two very large stacks. Everything had to be processed for both the Board of Governors and the Ministry of Magic.
"Now then Hermione, we have one last thing. I probably should have mentioned it before, but it seems to have slipped my forgetful mind." Minerva smiled tightly at Hermione. Severus quirked his brow – What is the woman playing at?
"As you know an apprenticeship is not something we take lightly. There hasn't been one at Hogwarts in a long time and for good reason. We will pay you a small stipend once every two weeks and you will be allowed Hogsmeade trips as long as they are approved ahead of time either by Professor Snape or myself." The younger witch nodded in agreement. "Furthermore, I must ask you to take an oath. We can't have precious time wasted. I need you to take an oath promising your allegiance to finish the apprenticeship and that you will consider Hogwarts as your first choice of employment after you complete it. That is the point after all – for you to teach here."
"What will happen if I break the oath?" she asked out of curiosity more than anything.
"I am afraid I cannot answer that question Hermione … it has never been an issue before." The old woman looked concerned.
"I'll do it," Hermione stuck her right hand out. She expected McGonagall to take it, but in her place stepped Severus. He grabbed her hand and she instantly felt comforted by the warmth of his palm on her skin, much like when they danced. She must have been staring because he cleared his throat bringing her back to the present. Minerva moved in place beside them.
"Do you Hermione Jean Granger hereby solemnly swear to the best of your abilities to complete an entire apprenticeship under the instruction of one Severus Tobias Snape for the duration of two years?"
"I do."
"Do you also acknowledge the fact that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be the first place you seek employment once said apprenticeship is complete?'
"I do."
"And do you Severus Tobias Snape vow to teach Hermione Jean Granger the full range of your knowledge to allow her to become a competent Potions Mistress? "
"I ... do." He drawled.
When his words were finished, the light blue bands of light disappeared from around their wrists. Hermione was sad to let go.
"Congratulations Hermione! Oh I am so thrilled for you! I can't wait for February!" Minerva pulled her into a hug.
"Me either." At those words Hermione looked into Severus's eyes where she saw confusion.
The next month flew by. Hermione had taken the time to prepare a study time schedule and was sticking to it diligently. She spent the majority of her time studying in the library so that she had access to books she needed. She was quite the sight really- If you knew where to look you could find the petite brunette sitting at a table in the corner with only the very top of her head visible amongst the piles of books strewn around her.
She persistently worked away until she realized she had almost missed lunch. Packing up her belongings and returning the books to their rightful place, she hurried down to the Great Hall. The majority of the students had cleared out at the late hour, but she didn't mind. At the front of the hall sat Hagrid, Neville, and … Professor Snape.
"Hello Hagrid," the beaming girl said as she sat down next to the giant. She leaned across to wave to Neville at the same time.
"Hi, Hermione are you having a good day?" Neville asked from the seat to the left of Hagrid.
"Yes I am, but I am so busy! I must admit I am looking forward to N.E.W.T.s being over with so that I can slow down a bit!"
"Tha's our 'Mione, that is! Always workin' hard ain' ya?" Hagrid said with a mug full of Butterbeer in his hand. Hermione blushed.
"Yes… Yes it seems I am always working hard." She honestly couldn't remember the last time she played a game of exploding snap for fun or just read a book at leisure. I will definitely need to remedy that soon, she thought.
The person next to her had been suspiciously quiet and without commentary until she made her last comment. "Yes I believe Granger's overachieving will pay off in the end." Severus took a sip of his tea and then got up to leave. As he was pushing his chair in he looked down at Hermione and said "Granger if you would be so kind to meet me in my office in 10 minutes I have something to discuss with you."
"Yes sir, I will be down shortly." She watched him leave the Great Hall still mulling over what he had said. She hadn't been able to tell if he had been sarcastic and scathing or completely serious. She was losing it.
"'Mione would ya like ter come down to my hut fer some tea? You too Neville. Won' quite be the same as old times, but close!" He looked both left and right to give them pleading looks.
"Why yes Hagird, I would love too. Neville?"
"Sure I can delay duties at home for a while. I'll send Hannah a note and let her know I'll be a little bit late."
"Well I had better be going to see what Professor Snape wanted. Hagrid I will come down in a bit."
"See yer then!" Hagrid replied jovially as Hermione waved goodbye as she walked out of the Great Hall.
Hermione entered the dungeons to see Severus sitting at his desk writing furiously. He then ceased writing, placed his letter in an envelope, and set it to the side obviously ready to owl later.
"Take a seat Miss Granger." He gestured to a seat in front of his desk. "I called you down here today to discuss your first task as an apprentice. I realize you will not be starting for over a month, but I felt the need to discuss it now so that if you have any free time you may prepare. It will be of importance that you keep anything discussed in these meetings or pertaining to this work quiet. I can't have my research exposed."
Hermione was very excited- her first dose of work! "Of course sir, what is it?" she asked with enthusiasm in her voice.
He paused before he began to speak, almost as if he were reluctant to share the information. Finally he began. "When I awoke in St. Mungos I was to say the very least … shocked. Although I had taken semi-adequate preparations before meeting the Dark Lord I could not have anticipated his every move … and certainly not his final choice." Hermione was astonished at how candid he was being. "Quite frankly I didn't expect to live – I shouldn't have lived in all practical terms." Hermione lowered her head. Did he think he deserved to die? No one deserves that. "The bezoar played a role in counteracting the poison but I was unsure at the time if it would work; it was a gamble. Fortunately it paid off, but I had nothing to deal with the blood loss." Hermione winced, she now had the vivid memory of him on the floor. "I have been researching for some time if there was a potion that could be ingested to counteract the venom and prevent the blood loss from happening. After tedious research I discovered that no such potion exists." Hermione's eyes went wide- she knew where this was headed.
"Oh Professor! That would be … revolutionary!" She was almost giddy now.
"Please, calm down. As exciting as the prospect is I have hit more than a few setbacks along the way. It is ultimately why I decided to take on an apprentice. I feel it is beneficial to bring in outside help and you are someone I know that won't double cross me." He looked at her with a small frown.
"Finally a good reason to know a Gryffindor … sir." She tacked on that last title to try and recover.
"Yes one of the few I can think of," he replied with sarcasm, but no malice. "Furthermore I will need your assistance if I am to gather some ingredients I will need for my next test. We will need to head into the forbidden forest on March 19th."
She looked at him a bit puzzled. "Sir, why March 19th?"
"Have you since forgotten everything you learned in Astronomy Granger?" he asked with his eyebrows raised and his head tilted down.
She thought on it a moment, smiling as she remembered "Of course! It's the full moon. sir, what will be collecting then?"
"We will be heading into the Forbidden Forest to collect Moonseed. That is why I told you ahead of time so that you may prepare. You will need to bring along a satchel, a warm cloak, outdoor accessories, a sheath knife, and a black bag in which you are sure that no light can enter. " She was scribbling down these notes with fury.
"Professor I don't understand – a bag that doesn't allow light?" she asked with a very confused look on her face.
"Yes Granger. I assume you know what Moonseed looks like and that it is the berries that are poisonous?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well as it happens the Moonseed that I need is not the typical plant. The normal Moonseed plant is native to North America and often grows in forests. The Moonseed that grows in the Forbidden Forest is not the same that grows in North America. It is very special and very rare. I have been doing research and I have concluded that Wizarding Moonseed is the closest poison I can hope to acquire in order to replicate Nagini's venom. The plant blooms and the berries are at full growth on the full moon of March. You can tell that the berries are ready because they glow a pale green." Her eyes went wide. "They are most potent when harvested in the moonlight while glowing and they lose their potency if they are exposed to light that is unnatural. I have been anticipating this for some time." Hermione was very excited. This could be huge! "I also understand that you comprehend Golpalott's Third Law?"
"Yes, sir. The antidote for a blended poison - that is, a poison created by mixing several other poisons together - cannot simply be created by finding the antidotes to each separate poison in the blended whole and mixing them together. The Potioneer must find that single ingredient which, when added to the blended antidotes, transforms them near-alchemically into a combined whole which will counteract the entire blended poison." Hermione had been proud of herself when she had understood that law in Slughorn's class.
"Yes Granger I am well aware of the law, I didn't need it spat back to me. I asked because that is where I am having a problem. Nagini's venom has the natural ability to cause one to bleed to death. The poison stops the wound from healing. When Arthur Weasley was bitten the healer at St. Mungo even resorted to Muggle methods to try and close his wound: stitches. They however were dissolved very quickly by the poison and unsuccessful. I am attempting to find the ingredients that can successfully counter the poison and stop bleeding. Since I am trying to recreate the poison and the damaging effects, I have yet to be successful. Nagini was a rare snake – I am unsure how the Dark Lord acquired her. I searched for that particular venom from some suspicious vendors, but came up empty. I also have no desire to go looking for another creature like her."
"Understandably so!" Hermione added, she couldn't imagine he would want to go anywhere near snakes again in his life – which was most unfortunate and ironic since he was the Head of Slytherin.
"That is what you will be assisting me with during your apprenticeship Granger. You will help me find the pieces to the puzzle."
Hermione was so excited, this could mean big things for her! Just imagine - if they were successful she had the potential to be published, recognised by peers as an equal! And they say women and Muggleborns aren't superior, she thought rather smugly.
"Well sir I am very much looking forward to starting the research with you. I feel like this is an opportunity of a lifetime." She couldn't wait to owl her family and friends to let them know. Almost as if he were reading his mind he said, "I must remind you in your excitement that you must keep all details of this project secret. All of the information I have shared with you has taken me some time to research and I would be very disappointed if it got into the wrong hands." He was scowling at her. "You must be vague and use the utmost discretion." Hermione sighed. She would be working on potentially the most amazing discovery of her career (however short it may be) and she wouldn't be allowed to share information. Typical.
"Yes, Professor Snape I understand completely." She started to pack her quill and notepad away.
"That is all Granger. I will see you Friday for your lesson." Severus had already returned to his desk and was beginning to look through a book. Hermione grabbed her things and headed for the door. The owls could wait – she had a date with Hagrid.
A/N: Longest chapter yet! I hope it wasn't too boring. I went for 2 years because in the U.S. it takes that long for someone to get a Master's degree. It was also why I chose to give her a 'project' to work on while learning everything else since typically you write a thesis and do research while earning a master's. As for the rest, I really needed to get the information and groundwork laid out. Moonseed is in fact a plant. Nagini's bite really did cause wounds to stay open and Arthur did in fact get stitches! I love Harry Potter Wiki lol It will pick up again in the next chapter or two so just stick with me! REVIEW!