A/N: Here is the next chapter! There really isn't any Snape and Hermione interaction in this one. It's purely so I can set the stage for the rest of the story. I promise the next chapter will have plenty of Snape and Hermione interaction. As always please read and review. I hope you like it.
Ron watched in horror as his mother's voice yelled from the howler.
HOW DARE YOU TREAT YOUR FRIEND THIS WAY! YOUR FATHER AND I DID NOT RAISE YOU TO ACT THIS WAY! I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED BY YOUR BEHAVIOR! HERMIONE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT GREAT TO YOU SINCE YOU BECAME FRIENDS AND YOU TREAT HER LIKE THIS! RONALD, SHE IS ENTITLED TO DO WHATEVER SHE LIKES WITH HER LIFE! IT IS NOT UP TO YOU TO DICTATE HER CAREER OR FUTURE! IF I HEAR ANYMORE ABOUT THIS BEHAVIOR, YOU WILL NOT LIVE TO SEE AUROR TRAINING! I CANNOT MAKE MYSELF MORE CLEAR! Oh and Hermione, congratulations on getting an apprenticeship. I know it's what you've wanted. You have mine and Arthur's full support.
The howler ripped itself up. Everyone in the Great Hall sat in silence for a moment waiting for the red head's reaction. His face had a look of absolute horror on it. Hermione looked to Draco. "I wonder how his mother found out. I never said a word." Draco nodded in agreement until he glanced up to the head table catching a smirk on his godfather's face. Snape noticed his godson's stare and put his finger to his lips. Draco nodded. "You know, Granger, maybe Mrs. Weasley really is all-knowing. I wouldn't put it past her." Hermione giggled.
Up at the head table, Minerva leaned over to Snape with a smirk. "You wouldn't have anything to do with this would you, Severus?"
Snape looked at Minerva with mock offense. "Why, Minerva, I wouldn't dream of getting mixed up in the drama of a couple of Gryffindors. What do you take me for?"
Ron Weasley sat in silence for the rest of dinner. The embarrassment rivaled that of the Howler he received in his second year. The stares and whispers were almost too much for him to take. He wanted to know who went to his mother about him. Was it Harry, Hermione, or maybe even Malfoy? Hermione and Malfoy had been buddies recently. He wouldn't put it past him to go to his mother. Ron was mad. Why could no one understand that they needed to all stay together? They were strongest together. Once they broke apart, they were no longer the strong unit that defeated the Dark Lord. Didn't Hermione understand? She needed them. He vowed to make her understand.
Snape watched the manner in which Weasley left the Great Hall with slight concern. He did not look properly chastised like he should after being screamed at by the Weasley matriarch in front of everyone. His years as a spy made him notice the signs of anger in the mannerisms of Mr. Weasley. While everyone else saw him stalking out in embarrassment, he saw a potential revenge plot brewing. Snape stood and made his way to the Slytherin table. "Mr. Malfoy, please accompany Miss Granger to her rooms and meet me in my office as soon as possible." With a flourish of his robes, he was gliding out of the Great Hall.
Hermione looked to Draco. "I wonder what that's all about. He seems upset about something."
"It's Severus Snape, he always looks upset about something. I'm sure its nothing serious." Draco stood and offered his arm. "Now, have you ever been escorted back to your dorm by a Slytherin gentleman?"
Hermione thought for a moment. "No, I don't think I have." She looked around dramatically. "Who do you recommend?"
Draco put a hand to his heart. "You wound me, Granger! I can be a proper gentleman when I want to be."
Hermione giggled. "Will your father be hearing about this?" She and Draco laughed as they left the Great Hall arm in arm. Draco proving that he could be the best escort ever.
Once Draco dropped Hermione off at the Fat Lady portrait and made sure she got in alright, he made his way down to the dungeons to meet with his godfather. Despite what he told Hermione, there was something going on that could potentially mean danger to Granger. His godfather had noticed something. He was sure of it. He approached the door to Snape's office and knocked. He was granted entry and was greeted by Snape sitting at his desk with tea prepared. "Sit down, Draco. We have something to discuss." He poured the tea and took a sip before continuing. "As you figured out, I informed Mrs. Weasley of her son's horrendous actions. I assumed it would be enough to change his tune, but Mr. Weasley has developed a stubborn quality about him. I have reason to believe that he might attempt to retaliate and as a result do something damaging to Miss Granger. I want you to keep an eye on her. You two seem to be good pals now so she shouldn't see anything strange in spending time with you. Inform me immediately if Weasley shows any behavior that is indicative of an attack or confrontation."
"Yes, Sir. I'll keep the Weasel away from her. It would be my pleasure." Draco replied, sipping his tea.
"You are not to give Hermione any reason to think you are suspicious of anything or protecting her from serious harm. She is to remain oblivious. A punch to the face or a shove would not be frowned upon, but she is to be kept in the dark about our real intentions. Do you understand?" Snape said, leaving no room for argument. Hermione did not need to burden herself with a potential friend turning on her. She had enough to worry about with her upcoming NEWTS and apprenticeship.
Draco leaned back with a smirk. "So you like her then?"
"What are you talking about, Draco?" Snape asked, his tone bored.
"Oh, you know, personal security detail, protecting her from finding out what's going on, oh, and you just called her Hermione instead of Miss Granger."
"She is a student. It is my duty to protect students in my care. Miss Granger meets all of that criteria." Snape replied. "Stop reading into it. Perhaps you should put that much observation into your studies rather than this train of thought you've got yourself on."
"Sure, Uncle Sev. So I won't be finding out that I have a new Auntie?" Draco asked with that blasted Malfoy smug look that drove Severus crazy.
"Get. Out. Draco. If you value your life you will leave now and do what I said." Snape picked up a quill and began grading papers, signaling the end of the conversation.
Draco stood. "Understood. If you need me I'll just be bonding with Auntie Hermione." He ran out the door, narrowly missing a hex from his godfather.
Snape sat in thought for a moment. Was he forming an attachment to the little know-it-all? Sure, he had offered her an apprenticeship when, as a rule, he didn't do that kind of thing. He had gone to bat for her by contacting Weasley's mother. He did just task Draco with protecting her from a potential threat which he had to admit he wouldn't do for just any student. And he did just call her Hermione in front of Draco. It made sense that Draco reached the conclusion that he did, but that didn't mean it was true. Snape chalked it up to his feeling a sense of duty to protect her considering she saved his life. Yep, that's it. He reasoned with himself. Besides, she would never find out, so there was no point in dwelling on it. He was twice her age at least. Why would she even look twice at him anyway? In her eyes he would always be her potions professor. Snape shook those thoughts out of his head. "Where did those thoughts come from?" He stood and grabbed his bottle of Firewhisky, downing a glass to clear his head. Miss Granger was going to be the death of him.
Meanwhile, in the Gryffindor common room, Hermione and Harry were reviewing for NEWTS. They had found a table in the corner to study at and were currently reviewing potions for Harry's sake.
"Harry, have you studied at all for this exam?" Hermione huffed at his negative response. "You want to become an Auror. At least a basic knowledge of potions is required. How do you expect to have that if you don't study?"
"Well, you see, I have this friend who aspires to be a Potions Mistress and has constantly excelled in potions for the last seven years…" Harry said with a smile.
"Harry!" Hermione smacked him with her potions book. "Focus! I have one week to make you passable in potions. Whatever will you do without me?"
"Floo call you for help?" Harry teased.
Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled. "Yeah because I'll have time for that while I'm at the beck and call of my Potions Master at all hours of the day."
The ease of conversation and teasing with Harry was calming to Hermione. After all the drama with Ron, it was nice to feel some normalcy returning. Once NEWTS and graduation were over in two weeks, everything would change. At least she still had Harry at her back.
"So," Harry leaned forward. "How is Malfoy as a friend? I need all the gossip."
"He's honestly really great now that the whole pureblood stuff is no longer drilled into his head. Slytherin house has actually been really nice to me which is crazy, I know. I think now that all the division stuff is gone and the war is over, they are more open to others."
"Oh Merlin, I've lost my Gryffindor housemate to Slytherin. Do you think Snape has told his house to be nice to you under threat of scrubbing cauldrons for the rest of their lives?" Harry joked.
"Why on earth would he threaten them?" Hermione asked.
"I mean, you can't deny that Snape's been a bit more attentive to you since your apprenticeship was offered. Not so outright that everyone would talk about it, but to the trained observer, he is a bit nicer to you." Harry replied.
"Hmm. I guess I just haven't noticed it." Hermione said. "It's probably a Master and Apprentice thing."
"Perhaps. Anyway, you've given me enough study material to ruminate over for a week already. I think I'm going to go to bed and let my brain recover from this barrage of new information." Harry gave her a lopsided grin.
"Well, if you would periodically study, it wouldn't be new information. Goodnight, Harry." Hermione made her way to her room and got ready for bed. She began thinking about what Harry had said. Professor Snape had been nicer to her lately. Even before she received an apprenticeship offer. The conversation by the lake, the offer for apprenticeship, the book in the library, the way he had tended to her hand when she cut it. He had been giving her more attention. Her mind wandered to the way her skin felt when he had touched it while cleaning her wound. It had felt strange, yet pleasant. She drifted off to sleep wondering what this could mean.