Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Universe is not owned by me but by the lovely J.K Rowling. I wish I was as brilliant as her. In that regards, this fanfic is 100% original and something that I dreamt one night. I just added onto it as I went along.

AN: Hope you are all enjoying. I would love to see more reviews, questions, and comments! It keeps me focused, motivated, and humbled by all your encouraging words. I am adding a bit of filler info in this chapter to make the apprenticeship seem more real, so it is one of my shorter chapters. I also don't really think that enough info is in the main books about potions, what they do, how to brew them, different effects, etc. It took a lot of research and planning to (hopefully) get it all right! I hope you enjoy! Also, I apologize for the long wait. I have been rearranging my home, doing a little spring cleaning, taking care of my (almost) 9-month-old son, and being the only person in my 5 person household not working, I've been doing everyone's laundry and dishes and taking care of animals that aren't mine. I have been a bit overwhelmed. This chapter has been written for months now and in my doc manager for just as long. I have just been a little cluster fucked and forget what day is what. Time flies when you're busy. Anywhoozers! I'm sorry guys. I will try to do better, but you all know how life gets! Happy reading!

Dedicated: Today's chapter is dedicated to victoria cullen35, Wzoiee, Reclamer4theB-of-B, Ladymoonscar, Moon-night-ninja, Welsummer, shadows-in-hell , Stargazer1010, Astaruthsqueiroz, Lady Jensen. For being the next 10 followers of the story. I love the number of followers going up, it is definitely encouraging and I appreciate you all so much.

Chapter 8

Natalia landed in her kitchen with a 'pop'. Her feline familiar Freya instantly started weaving her body in between her legs meowing pathetically. "Yes, Freya, I'll fill your dish," Natalia laughed. After giving Freya her favorite food, Natalia plopped down at the kitchen table and began summoning her potions books toward her.

One by one, the books flew to her and landed in a neat pile on top of the table. Beginning with Potions Through The Ages, continuing on with Potions 101, The Uses and Effects Of Household Potions and ending with Common Misunderstandings Of Advanced Potions. Everything she would need to complete her essay assigned to her by Master Snape.

Summoning her favorite eagle feathered quill, black ink pot, and parchment, she got to work. Stopping only to count her paragraphs and reread her essay to make sure she included enough. Once she was happy with how much she had written she reread it one last time.

The polyjuice potion is effective anywhere from only ten minutes all the way up to 12 hours depending on the quality of ingredients and the skill of the brewer. It is not suggested to use animal hair in lieu of human hair as the transformation does not complete correctly and the effects of the human to animal transformation do not wear off in the allotted time frame. Effectively, one could be stuck in part animal form longer than intended without medical help, and even then one could very well be stuck that way forever. The taste and color of polyjuice potion vary with each use as it all depends on the hair of the person being transformed into. It has been reported that flavors could vary between tasting of fruit to vomit flavored.

Once she had completed her essay, which had managed to become fifteen paragraphs instead of ten, she laid her quill down and vanished everything on her table back to their places with a circular wave of her wand. She rolled up the parchment and tied a red string around it just to be cheeky. She sighed with relief as her essay was now finished.

Looking around and realizing that the sun had disappeared and she was feeling lazy, Natalia decided to order food in. She ordered her favorite breakfast as dinner. An American recipe called bird-in-a-bush and a butterbeer to go with it. Once her food was delivered and she had eaten, Natalia decided it was time to get ready for bed. After taking a quick shower, brushing her teeth and putting on her favorite pajamas; a comfy tank top that had a frog jumping out of a cauldron on it and matching shorts, she climbed into bed. Freya joined her to snuggle and they quickly fell asleep.

After waking up in the middle of the night due to a very intriguing dream of Master Snape and herself, she decided on a cup of warm cocoa. She padded to the kitchen and absent-mindedly made a brew. She was trying to remember the dream she had had. However, it was a bit hazy and all she could really remember was that she had been happy watching Master Snape laughing and chasing a child through a house. She shook her head trying to clear her thoughts and poured her cocoa into her cup.

Sitting down at the kitchen table she drank her cocoa with small sighs of happiness escaping her lips every once in a while. When she was done she put her cup in the sink, she would wash it tomorrow and go back to sleep.

When her alarm went off at 7:00 am the next morning she arose feeling groggy and still tired. She grumpily went to the bathroom to perform her daily routine. Once that was finished she had to pick out what to wear. She settled on an army green shirt and a pair of jeans. She quickly threw her robes on over her clothes and apparated to the Three Broomsticks where she had breakfast and a cuppa tea.

Around 8:45 am she made the trek to the castle and down to the dungeons. She knocked on her master's door and waited. "Come in, Ms. Rook," was the answer. She walked up to Severus' desk and presented him with her essay and waited to be told what they would be doing today.

Severus untied his cheeky apprentice's parchment looking amused and started reading her essay, mumbling to himself every now and again. He looked up from the parchment once he was finished and said, "Well done, Ms. Rook. A little over the paragraph meter I gave you, but nonetheless an excellent essay. Very in depth about the effects of the animal to human transformation."

Natalia blushed a deep red at his compliment. "Thank you, Master" she mumbled. Severus looked at her strangely. The girl was constantly blushing around him.

He shook the thought away and said, "Today we will be gathering the ingredients and readying them for the polyjuice potion. If we have the time after that is finished we will begin the first steps on brewing it."

Natalia knew by we, he actually meant her. She would be brewing the potion while her Master observed, stepping in if needed, as was the way of an apprenticeship. She wanted to make him proud. She hoped that she would not mess this batch up by being so tense around him. She was, however, quite confident in her skills. She had brewed this potion many times in the recent past. While she only made a mistake once or twice, she felt that she had mastered it by that point.

She knew that there was going to be a lot of work today. She was going to have to do all the collecting of ingredients herself. The Fluxweed itself had to be picked under the full moon. While it was conveniently that night, she still had to find a good location where it grows. She would talk to Professor Sprout about that. She also had to get lacewing flies, she could get that from Mr. Mulpepper's Apothecary. She could get a lot of the ingredients there. Even the fluxweed, though it would be dried and fresh was said to always make for a better brew.

"Master Snape, wouldn't it be best to wait a week, start stewing the lacewing flies, then get the fluxweed under the next full moon? It would be more efficient that way as the fluxweed will be freshest then and we won't have to wait three weeks for the flies to stew."

Severus stood there just looking at her for a minute. Immediately after he frowned but nodded. "Very good, Ms. Rook. That would be a better course of action." He went to his desk, opened a drawer and pulled out a small coin purse. He grabbed a small handful of coins and walked back to Natalia.

"Take this and go get the rest of the ingredients. We can still get them ready. Also, I want you to join my seventh years in class to observe and act almost as a professor's assistant. You will help grade papers, assist students, and study when you have time. That way we can keep this apprenticeship as closely on track as possible. The headmaster has taken quite an interest in your success, Ms. Rook. I would hate to disappoint him." He looked down seriously at her as he handed over the coins.

As their fingers touched, Natalia felt a slight shock and she nearly jumped in surprise. Severus flinched back and the coins scattered a bit on the floor. Natalia immediately bent to pick them up just as Severus did the same. They bumped heads and she fell on the floor. She was rubbing her head when she saw a large hand before her. Severus was offering to help her up. She had the grace to blush shyly as she took his hand, feeling that shock again but trying to ignore it this time.

"Sorry profess- erm, master. I must just be clumsy today."

Severus released her hand and waved her apologies away. "No matter, just be more careful next time. Go now and get those items needed for the potion, and return here when you are done. I will be here for the rest of the day grading papers." He turned away and went back to his desk. She took that as a dismissal and turned to leave. She looked back once as she was nearly out the door to see Severus glancing over his shoulder at her. She blushed and hurried out the door.

/

Back at Mr. Mulpepper's apothecary, Natalia was a bit more tense than usual. Normally just walking in the shop brought her a calm sense of peace and belonging. Today, though, her thoughts were just too jumbled up. As she entered the apothecary, Mr. Mulpepper's wasn't at his usual place at the counter so she wouldn't have to pretend to be polite. She hated feeling flustered and having to talk to people. It stressed her out and she was stressed enough.

'What was that shock? Just static? But I felt it again as he helped me up. Did he feel it too? What does it mean?' She was lost in her thoughts as she absent-mindedly collected the ingredients. Leeches, bicorn horn, and more boomslang skin. She would get the rest from Professor Sprout at the school. She collected all that she could before finally checking out. Mr. Mulpepper was at his post at the front desk when she was ready and he smiled at her. She reciprocated as she put her wares on the counter and silently was checked out. She nodded to him before leaving the shop.

Mr. Mulpepper looked worriedly at her and just before she left he asked, "What is bothering you, my girl? Is everything alright?"

Natalia sighed, turning around. Luckily, there was no one behind her in line. "Everything is fine, Mr. Mulpepper. Just a bit flustered today. It's my second day apprenticing under Master Snape, and he is teaching me many things. It's just a bit overwhelming at times is all. I am just trying to calm down." She smiled reassuringly at him and he returned the gesture, if not a bit hesitant, back.

"Alright, if you're sure. Congratulations on the apprenticeship, my dear. You deserve it. You are a hard worker. I have seen the work you have done, so I know you will do great!" Natalia smiled, a bit more brightly at the old man.

"Thank you, sir. I must be on my way. I have a few more things to pick up. Good day!"

Mr. Mulpepper just waved and went back to his book that was on the counter. Natalia felt a bit better from his kind words and going outside, realized how beautiful the day was. Earlier it seemed so gloomy as she was lost in her thoughts, but in reality, the sun was shining, the birds that were still there to brave the cold were singing, and there were younger children in Diagon Alley that were playing and throwing snow at each other. Natalia smiled happily, forgetting her dilemma with her professor.

She apparated back to the grounds right outside of Hogwarts, stepped through the Muggle repulsion shield and walked up the grand hill to the castle. Instead of going inside this time, she followed a path that went past the Whomping Willow and led to the Greenhouses. She waltzed pleasantly passed the grumpy deciduous plant and waited patiently as her former Head of House taught the last few minutes of her class. When the class was finally dismissed, Natalia snuck inside and stood by the door smiling kindly to the students that passed her by.

"Have you checked the clue of the egg? It has been weeks, Harry! You have to figure out what it says."

"Well Hermione, every time I try, it screams at me. So unless you know of a way to get it to speak English, I'm not sure what else I can do besides get a headache!"

Natalia frowned at these words but shrugged. She had always wanted to meet the famous Harry Potter, but she had a mission and she would not be distracted. She walked up to Professor Sprout and smiled. "Hello, Professor. It is good to see you again."

"Natalia, my dear! Welcome, welcome! How are you? How is the apprenticeship with Professor Snape going?" When Natalia seemed to look surprised, Pomona laughed. "Oh, dear girl. You should have known that that sort of news wouldn't stay quiet long. Professor Snape hasn't taken an apprentice a single time in all his years. You would be his first, and what a first you will be! I have heard of your accomplishments since leaving school. And Mr. Mulpepper has to order quite a lot of things from my greenhouses in order to keep up with you!"

Natalia had the grace to blush prettily, "Thank you, Professor Sprout."

Pomona waved her words away. "Now, now silly girl. You are no longer a student here. Call me Pomona. Now, I take it you being here isn't just for a social call. What can I do for you?" she asked, smiling.

"My apprenticeship is going great! I've only had two sessions with Master Snape, so far, so there's not a lot I can tell you, though I did come to discuss an ingredient location with you. I figured you would be the best person to ask where one might find fluxweed growing." Natalia told her.

"Hmmm, the best place to find fluxweed would be…" Pomona drifted off in deep thought for a moment. "Oh yes, fluxweed commonly grows on the hills. It's a common weed but the fact that it needs to be picked under a full moon is what gives fluxweed its magical properties. I would think that the grand hill in the direction of the Forbidden Forest would be a great place for fluxweed to grow," Pomona stated happily.

Natalia thanked Professor Sprout, chatted with her a bit more about how the students were doing in herbology and Natalia's apprenticeship before leaving. Natalia was deep in thought. She hadn't been aware that she was Severus' first apprentice. She briefly wondered why he had agreed to let her apprentice under him when he hadn't taken on anyone before. She doubted that it was only because Poppy had asked him to, after all, he had yet to do something he didn't want to do.

Natalia remembered she was supposed to return to Master Snape after she was done collecting the ingredients. She would collect the Fluxweed on the next night when the moon was full. She turned to head back to Master Snape's office when she overheard a conversation between Harry Potter and the Hufflepuff champion; Cedric Diggory she believed his name was. Cedric was telling Harry to take a bath with his egg. He even gave him the prefect bathroom password.

'How strange,' Natalia thought. 'Why would you take a bath with a screeching egg. Wouldn't it just intensify the volume of the egg with the echo in the bathroom?' She shook her head, She had enough to think about without putting the champions oddities in her thoughts as well.

She continued heading back to Master Snape. He was waiting for her when she arrived. Natalia handed the change she had left from the coins he had given her and their hands brushed in the exchange and she felt the electric jolt go through her yet again. She just shook it off this time, though, trying to play it down. She smiled hesitantly at Severus and he just nodded.

"Did you find all that you needed, Ms. Rook?" he asked. She nodded.

"Yes, sir. Professor Sprout even told me the best place to get some fluxweed when we are ready to do so. It isn't far either. A much better source then the dried fluxweed you can get at the apothecaries. I think that it will be very beneficial to have it fresh. I haven't been able to find any, or I just overlooked it as a regular weed. An oversight on my part that won't happen again, sir."

Severus nodded his approval and motioned toward his desk. While she had been gone, he either summoned a smaller desk beside his or transfigured something to become a desk. Either way, she looked at it curiously.

Severus began to explain. "For you to help grade essays, homework, and the likes, Ms. Rook. As my apprentice, you will be getting the experience of other people's views on the subject of potions. It can help broaden your own opinions, as well as jump-start different ideas. You would be surprised what things finished a hypothesis of mine just from a little opinion from another person. Something that I, myself hadn't thought of before."

Natalia nodded. "When will I start the grading, Master?" she asked.

"Tomorrow. I will save you some work, then give you the answer keys that I made up before. If you run out of papers to grade let me know and I will find more for you. Being the only potions teacher at this school, I teach all years. You being here is to alleviate some of that work. It is one of the perks for masters having apprentices," he said with a slight smirk. Natalia smiled.

"I will be glad to assist you, master. I will be back in the morning. If there is nothing else?" Severus just shook his head. She took that as a dismissal and turned on her heel. Within moments she was out the door and out of his sights.