It was dinnertime in the great hall and since the students weren't due back for another month, all the Professors were seated at a large round table in the middle of the hall.
Hermione was pushing around the food on her plate staring into space, idly wondering, what strange new course her life was going to take with her newfound abilities.
She would be due to meet the headmaster after dinner up in his office and if she was honest with herself she was feeling a little anxious. She wasn't quiet sure what to expect or what was going to be expected from her, she was logical enough to know that she would require some form of training, or she would at least be supplied with some form of reading material so she could educate herself.
She came out of her revere to look around the table; most of the professors were deep in conversation with one another. Her eyes came to land on Snape, god but that man did infuriate her, she was watching him cut his meal of steak, carrots, beans and baked potato into equal portions, to then place them in an articulate order on his fork before placing it into his mouth.
'Did everything with this man have to be done just so, all the time?' She supposed she liked to have things orderly too, her notes were always organized, her library alphabetised even her wardrobe was colour coded she mused while pursing her lips.
Hermione's eyes came into focus to find the potions master staring straight back into her eyes with a deep scowl planted on his face.
He had obviously felt he was being watched and sort out the culprit miss granger was staring at him as if she was looking straight through him, it was a little disconcerting.
She was obviously deep in thought; probably going over the ways her newfound abilities will benefit her career, 'I guess she'll probably give up on being a medi-witch, with all the opportunities that will be available to her now,' that thought alone made him scowl deeply,' in a way he could admit he was a little jealous.
She had found out about her gift at the right time in her life, though Merlin knew they could have used the extra power on the side of the light when the war was raging.
No it was best she discovered them after, she could have been lured to the other side being able to access and control the amount of power, he had no doubt she would be able to wield given time, she could have been to easily tempted.
As he was in his youth, so arrogant and confident, thinking he was calling the shots and in control of his own destiny, oh how he had been so naïve, all he had longed for was acceptance and respect and it was given to him too, just enough to lure him in, as the muggles would say 'hook, line and sinker'.
Hermione had just noticed her professor was staring back at her with a look of distaste upon his face, ashamed at being caught openly staring, at the snarkyest being she had ever had the unpleasure of meeting, she blushed lightly and averted her eyes.
Gathering her wits together she finished her meal in silence, rose from the table excused herself politely and set off to freshen up before she had to meet the headmaster in his office.
"Ah Hermione, I'm terribly sorry for keeping you waiting."
"Not at all sir, it has only been a few moments." She replied with a small smile.
"Come through dear, there are a few things we need to discuss and I thought my private chambers would be more comfortable."
"Of course sir." Hermione replied heading towards the headmaster with a warm grin.
When Hermione entered the first thing she saw was Hogwarts potions master. He was sitting stiffly in a winged back black leather chair staring intensely into the crackling fire.
She couldn't help but notice his pale features standing out against the black leather and as she surveyed him closer, the only other thing that stood out in stark contrast were his hands and their long digits, if she didn't actually know he was sitting there in his long black voluminous robes, she would swear that there was just a head and set of hands floating promiscuously on the chair.
The headmaster roused her from her musing by clearing his throat softly and motioned for her to sit into a plush comfy looking red chair, he had obviously just conjured for her comfort, a quick thought of how he must have done the same for Snape flashed through her mind, but then again he probably conjured his own.
"Hermione dear, why don't you tell me how you're coping so far?"
Inhaling deeply Hermione took the offered cup of tea from the Headmaster and threw a quick sideways glance at Snape before replying.
"Well sir..." she started before the headmaster politely cut her off by saying.
"Come now Hermione I like to think of us as friends and as such, would implore you to please use my given name, it is only fair is it not? Since you give me such leave to use your own."
"Of course sir... I mean Albus." She replied with a shy smile, before continuing on.
"To tell you the truth, I'm a little anxious. It's not often that I come across a problem or situation that I am unable to research into or cope with on my own."
This statement alone brought a derisive snort form our potions master, which he followed up sarcastically with.
"Oh yes, how could we forget all the ways our resident Gryffindor-Know-It- All, hatched her own plans with research, on how would be the quickest way to almost get killed every year."
Hermione was shooting death glares to rival his own from behind her teacup before she continued on.
"As I was saying Albus, I am eager to learn all about my newly found ability and any information or help you could offer, I would really appreciate."
"Wonderful." The headmaster replied. "It just so happens that I am able to offer you some help, as you know I am very busy with running the school and helping the ministry, but Severus has kindly volunteered to teach and help you with all you will need to know."
The volunteered part earned him his own small snort from the potions master, though he continued on seemingly as if he never heard it or simply ignored it.
Hermione chanced a small look towards the potions master to try and figure out what was going through his mind but his stoic mask was firmly in place. She looked back to Albus, who stared back with the twinklingest eyes you ever did see.
"I believe it would be useful for you Severus if you set up a time with Hermione to be able to go over all the training and information she may require."
Rising from his chair ready to leave, Severus glared lightly at the headmaster before turning a full sneer upon Miss Granger while he stated.
"I expect to see you first thing after breakfast in my office Miss Granger, I will not tolerate you being tardy, as I will be doing this in my own free time."
"Certainly Professor" she replied emphasising his title as if to stress the fact that she found this arrangement just as distasteful as he did.
With a curt nod to Albus and a final sneer towards Hermione, he turned and swept from the private rooms with his cloak billowing around him.
Hermione stayed a little longer chatting idly with the headmaster, before retiring to her own rooms, for the restful slumber she would surely need to deal with Snape tomorrow. Severus was feeling extremely put out while walking back to his rooms, 'volunteered indeed' he thought snorting once again, this time to himself.
Earlier that day the headmaster had all but demanded that he take on the instruction of the Granger girls' tuition. He hadn't ordered it perse, but he might as well have saying.
"Come now Severus, don't you remember how hard it was for you to exert control over such an overwhelming ability, I have my plate completely full at the moment otherwise I would take it upon myself."
Oh yes, Severus remembered how hard it was to exert control over his abilities, 'it still is' he thought with a sneer. It only took a little slip of his inner focus for his wealth of power and self-control to fly straight out of the dungeon window and that little chit pushed his self- control to the very edge a lot of the time, what with her excessive questioning and know-it-all attitude, sometimes he would just like to blast the silly little girl to kingdom come and be done with it. These sessions were going to be some of the most painful experiences of his life and he had taken his fair share of curucio curses.
Resigned to his fate he readied himself for bed and drifted of into sweet dreams of blowing Albus bloody twinkling Dumbledore apart. At breakfast the next morning there was a flurry of excited owls, gingerly delivering their letters, papers and parcels to eagerly awaiting professors.
Pomina Sprout the Herbology professor had received some long awaited rare seedlings. Selene Vector the Arithmacy professor received the latest mathematical journals. Little Filius Flitwick received an ancient book on charms and to everybody's delightful surprise. Hermione received a long white box, with a thick red ribbon wrapped around it and a huge bow.
Slightly puzzled over who would be sending her a package? For she most certainly hadn't ordered anything and the owl that delivered it looked like an ordinary species, commonly owned by shopkeepers in Diagon Alley for purchase deliveries. So that in it's self gave no clues.
Hermione hadn't notice that her and her package were holding the interest of the whole tables occupants, until Minerva Mcgonagal her ex Transfigurations professor and old head of house for Gryffindor piped up and said.
"Come on Hermione dear, let us see what you've gotten?"
She chanced a quick glance around the table and noticed that she did indeed have the attention of the entire table; even Snape was watching her out the corner of his eye with mild interest.
Being the know-it-all that she was and possessing a fair amount of common sense, she cast the necessary charms to detect a jinx or nasty hex. While busy trying to detect foul play, she missed the fleeting unusual look of approval that past the potion masters features, but not Albus Dumbledore, true it was a brief change in expression, but Albus had learnt to read his young professor well over the years and hadn't missed a thing.
Seeing that there was no intension to harm within the package, Hermione pocketed her wand, pulled of the bow and undid the ribbon. When she pulled of the lid she gasped softly, while she ran her hand gently over the rare orchids that lay in box, Pomina Sprout had joined her in a flurry by her side.
"Oh" she cooed excitedly. "Hermione you simply must let me take cuttings from these exquisite orchids, they're so rare and extremely difficult to grow, why they must have cost a fortune!"
"Oh, oh of course you can professor." Hermione supplied.
"Please dear call me Pomina."
"Who sent them Hermione? Is there a card?" Mcgonagal cut in.
Hermione gently moved the orchids around, as not to disturb or damage them too much and came across an envelope, which looked like it held a short letter.
"Oh wonderful dear do tell us who their from." Pomina said
"Yes do tell Miss Granger which third of the golden trio has sent you this extravagant display of affection?" Snape cut in using his most sarcastic tone.
Glaring at Snape she opened the envelope, she widened her eyes in interest, then her face wore a look of light surprise, before it turned to utter confusion and then went blank. She let the parchment slip from her fingers back into the box and landed with a small 'plonk' upon her chair staring off into space.
All the professors noting the odd reaction looked to one another to see if they could decipher what had taken place, not coming up with anything Minerva picked up the parchment, to see what had caused such a reaction from her ex-star pupil, she proceeded to read aloud.
Dear Hermione,
I hope this parcel finds you well. I would like for you to except it as a token of apology for all the years that I have caused you unnecessary stress.
I have been contemplating my past indiscretions, which were no-doubt hurtful and belittling towards your person.
I would like if you would give to me the chance to make it up to you and get to know you as the intelligent individual you have no-doubt become and hopefully in spending some time together, you too will come to see that I am indeed a changed person that you would enjoy spending your time with.
If it is convenient for I would like to escort you to dinner this evening to the 'Highlight 33' if this is agreeable there is no need to respond for I shall be at Hogwarts to pick you up at 8:00pm.
If this is disagreeable to you for any reason please send word by return owl but I sincerely hope that you will find it in your heart to give me a chance.
Yours truly
Draco Octavious Malfoy
There was an absolute stunned silence when Minerva had finished reading. Dumbledore's eyes weren't twinkling, Minerva wore a flabbergasted expression, Filius wasn't even meeting Hermione's eyes and Pomina was casting a wary look towards the orchids.
Hermione chanced a look towards Snape, to see if she could read an instruction of what to do about his ex-charge, but the potions master looked just as confused as everybody else.
"Well Hermione." Professor Vector cut into the silence.
"Do you think you will give him a chance? He is rather intelligent you know. Came in second under you for everything I do believe. Isn't that right Headmaster?"
"Well yes, yes that's right Selene, I do believe he is within par of Hermione's intelligence, I suppose if he truly does wish to redeem himself of past indiscretions, it would only be fair to give him that chance. What do you think Hermione?"
"I, I, I guess so." She stammered.