A/N: Wow I feel so lucky to have soo many followers and people who are enjoying my story. Your reviews keep me writing and inspire me. I never thought I would have so many follows and favorites on my first story but you all have thankfully proven me greatly wrong. I'm so thankful for all of you. You all make taking the extra effort to publish each chapter the long way due to my lack of regular wifi internet well worth it! I Love you all!

The Forbidden Crush

Chapter 9

Hermione's classes went along fairly quick this morning. Before she knew it she was off to meet Pansy to go dress shopping in Hogsmead. They went to a fancy upscale Boutique very few knew about or could afford called Swan Lake Gowns. Needless to say the designer was a muggle born. She specialized in both Wizarding and Muggle Wedding gowns and other occasion gowns. The first and second Floor was all muggle attire as they were in a muggle part of Britain. And the bottom floor was magically enlarged and was all wizarding gowns. Hermione thought it was beautiful.

"I thought you said we were going to Hogsmead. This obviously isn't Hogsmead Pansy."

"Yes I know, We're heading there after this I just didn't want none of the men trying to spy on us while gown shopping which is why I didn't mention to you this place earlier."

Hermione could understand that and cheerfully said "Well then shall we start looking for gowns future Mrs. Weasley?"

Pansy giggles giddily and piped "Let's."

Pansy looked through both the Muggle and Wizarding apparel and surprised Hermione when she chose a muggle gown. It was called Princess Cinderella. It was an Ice Blue with small yet puffy sleeves on the shoulders, a tight fitting bodice with topaz crystals embroidered throughout, and a full length Crenlin Skirt with a moderate length train that sparkled whenever she moved. Since they were all wizards the Owner, Mrs. Ranoliza, brought them downstairs to size it to her with spells for a perfect fit!.

Next it was time for Hermione's Maid of Honor Dress. Hermione insisted that Pansy pick what she wore since it was her wedding. Pansy chose a beautiful ruby half wizard half muggle style gown. The dress had again a tight bodice with thick tanktop like straps and a moderate plunge neck that showed some cleavage but not too much. The skirt suited Hermione also it was a tight fit up to the knees then flaired out . She later found out it was called a mermaid skirt. The dress had a cape like robe that attached on the shoulder straps which was full and flaired out behind her with a short train. Hermione looked into the mirror and had to admit she looked pretty good. Pansy was estatic and said that it was exactly how she pictured Hermione would look on the day of the wedding. Hermione frowned when she looked at the price tag. She whispered to Pansy "I can't afford this dress Pansy. I don't have this amount of money."

Pansy giggled quietly. "You really think I'm going to bring you to a place like this and expect you to pay for it. I have it covered Mione. I refuse for you to be in my wedding with anything less than the best."

Hermione attempted to protest but when she turned to found that she had already paid Mrs. Ranoliza for it. And Pansy giggled as she pointed to a sign that said no returns or refunds and Hermione sighed in defeat then giggled and said "So what are we going to do about the bridesmaids?"

Pansy smiled and showed her which dress she picked out for them it was a simple royal blue muggle gown that had a sweetheart neckline and a straightcut skirt down to the floor. Hermione smiled and though it was perfect for the 3 girls. She was fitted for her dress than they left the store with the dresses paid for and set aside til closer to the wedding to pick them up and continued to flower shop and also picked out center pieces for the tables. Once they were done they went back to the school and continued their classes. That night Hermione was thoroughly exhausted and was out like a light once her head hit the pillow.

(Fast Foward a few months to NEWTs Month)

It was the weekend before NEWTS and Hermione was a nervous wreck.. She had so much to study. She brought her grades back up in Potions after her talk with Professor Snape and she learned to hide her emotions. She did what she was known best for doing, She studied books on how to mask emotions and as usual exceeded in doing what she studied. It was Sunday Night and she was now stuck cramming her studying in because Pansy insisted she needed all of her female wedding party to help her with setting up the Hall she rented for the wedding. Apparently her parents were fabulously wealthy and rented it for the whole month of June so time could be taken setting up everything just right. And of course Hermione got sucked in to help starting decorate as it was her duty as Maid of Honor.

She woke up 7am the next morning after staying up til 2am studying. She had 8 classes which meant 1 exam a day minimum. She groggily put her hand out to her end table and wandlessly accioed her pepper up potion. Once she perked up she showered and got dressed for the day and went down to breakfast. Once she finished she ran out to the main hallway and looked at the lists posted for the NEWTS for each class and house. She found that 6 of her classes were in the first 2 days. 1 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon, and 1 in the early evening. the last 2 were on the third day this week then she would be done. Just to make sure she double checked the list. She then wrote down the dates and times of all her tests. She was thankful her Advanced Potions test was last this week as she had 2 or 3 chapters left still to study.

She flew through all her exams fairly easily and was certain that she passed them all. Now she was up to her last one. It was Weds. Lunch time which meant her Advanced Potions exam was in 1 hour at 1pm. She ate through lunch hurridly then ran to the library to scan through all her notes throughout the year. Finally 10 minutes before her exam she rushed down to the dungeon. She saw him outside the Potions lab and her heart skipped a beat though she kept her face neutral and walked calmely over to the door and said "Morning Professor". He looked down at her with his usual blank stare and gave her a curt nod and she proceeded to her usual desk.

Moments later the Potions Master came in with his billowing robes slamming the door behind him. He proceeded to the front of the room and stopped scanning over the students. "For this exam I will be changing the seating." With a silent flick of his wand the room enlarged and the students found themselves spread out around the enlarged roomwith at least 2-3 feet between them each direction. After he gave them a moment to adjust to the movement he continued "This is to ensure that you cannot cheat verbally. And to ensure you cannot cheat via paper you will feel wards around each of you that makes whatever you write down invisible to other students. You will have 2 hours to complete the written exam portion. For the last hour I will give each of you a different potion to brew and that potion will be 50% of your overall grade. Good Luck". And with another flick of the wand papers flew onto each students desks and he boomed out "START".

Hermione managed to finish after only an hour and a half into the test. She sat there quietly and looked around the room and saw everyone else still working. Snape looked up and saw her staring around and walked over to her and spoke "I hope you are not still trying to cheat Miss Granger."

Hermione looked shocked and spoke up at him with a cold expression and stated "No Professor I am already done. I was simply curious to see if anybody else was done yet."

Professor snape was impressed and gave a slight quirk of his lip hinting a smile and said "Very well Miss Granger" he took her paper and from what he glanced through and saw he knew she probably passed. "I will allow you to look at the potions lists and directions I've given you so far and will give you your potion when everyone else has finished their written."

"Thank you Professor for that." She said gratefully and pulled out her binder and read all she had so far while she waited. He graded her paper while he waited for the rest to finish and found she had gotten all 50 questions perfectly right. He was shocked. She is the first student to get a perfect score on the written since...well...me he thought to himself quietly. If she manages to match his grade in Potions with an equally perfect score in the brewing section he would offer her an apprenticeship. He has never offered anybody one before because nobody ever grasped everything like he could and with potions everything must be perfect.

He looked up and saw everyone was done. With a flick of his wand he collected all the papers into a neat pile on his desk. He then picked up a pile of papers with potion names and ingredients on each paper. each paper had a name as well. He used his wand to levitate each one to it's correct student then once again spoke to the students and found himself looking at the Granger girl as he did so. "You know where everything is so please go get your ingredients in a calm fashion and get your cauldrons and ingredients. Any of you break anything I will deduct points on the brew portion of your grade." With that he tore his eyes from her and sat back at his desk continuing to mark their written tests.

Hermione walked up and got all her ingredients filling a bit silly and embarrased although she didn't let it show. Ugh he had to give me the Amortentia Potion for my brew. He has to be doing this on purpose. He is either trying to embaress me or make me fail. Well either way it won't work I'm going to make this potion perfect and pass this NEWT. She went back to her desk and spent the next 45 minutes brewing her potion and finally finished it. She then bottled up her finished potion and with a flick of her wand vanished everything on her desk with the spell he gave them in the beginning of the year to clean up their tables quicker. She sat the bottled potion in the Vial holder at the front of her desk and sat down and waited. When he finally came over and retrieved it and told her he could go she let out a sigh of relief and left the classroom quietly.

Miss Granger,

Please come to my office at 11am on Friday to discuss your NEWT grade please.

~Professor Snape

This must have been the 10th time she read the note since the owl brought it to her yesterday morning. It was now Friday 10:58am and she was standing outside his door and she tucked the paper into her school bag. She pulled up all the courage she had in her and knocked on the door. She was afraid that she may have overestimated herself and possibly failed the test. Finally he opened the door from his desk and told her to enter. She walked over to his desk and sat in the seat in front of him and set her bag next the the chair and looked up at him nervously.

"Miss Granger I assume you remember why I asked you to meet me in the note" He said calmly as he leaned back in his chair.

"Yes professor, You said it was about my grade on my NEWT Sir." She looked down.

He decided he left her hanging long enough as he sent it to her yesterday. "Miss Granger you scored a perfect Grade on your Advanced Potions NEWT. You received an O+!"

Hermione looked up at him schocked. "I what?" She said not believing what she just heard.

"You got every written question correct and the brewed potion was perfect. I have a propsition for you Miss Granger."

"What is that Sir?"

"I would like to offer you the oppportunity to be my Apprentice. I've been waiting a very long time to find somebody who could match my end of school grades."

Hermione was flabbergasted. He wants me to be his apprentice. I can't believe this. She sat there staring at him in complete confussion.

"I also wanted to know where you are with your feelings, If you still had that crush we spoke about a few months ago."

So that's why he gave me the Amortentia Potion as my final brew. She thought to herself then smiled softly. "Yes I do still have those feelings Professor. Is that why you gave me the Amortentia Potion?"

"I was hoping to jar something in your brain a little bit." He admitted with a slight smirk.

"Oh I remembered that one very well Professor."

"I have been able to see the rest of your grades. You seem to have gotten O's in everything. I'm sure you will have every professor jumping on you for an apprenticeship."

She giggled "Well you don't have to worry about their jumping Professor because I accept your offer." Her heart was pounding with excitement. She couldn't believe this was happening.

"Thank you Miss Granger. I shall speak with the Headmistress about this and will set up a meeting for after your graduation but before you leave. Would next Friday due for you?"

"Yes that is fine with me."

He schooled his feature back to his usual look and said to her "I am sorry to cut this short but Lunch will be starting in about 30 minutes and I have 2 more end of term exams to administer."

"Yes Sir I understand. Thenk you again Sir." She grabbed her bag and ran to the door looking back once more and gave him a big genuine smile and said "Goodbye Sir, See you Friday."

A/N: Sorry for the fast foward. I felt it unnecessary to drag out the story by trying to fill the year with stuff. So we just skipped to June. I have a surprise for you all in store in the next chapter. ;) Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Now I'm gonna go get to work on the next chapter. :D