The next morning at around six and six-thirty Snape was at his office desk, had a mug full of black coffee, and was reading Hermione's diary. It had been awhile since she had written anything, but today she had written.

Dear Diary,

I thought that yesterday was going to be the worst day of my life. Nevertheless, between having lost my grandfather two good things had happened.

I got to hex Malfoy, which was pretty fun and then Professor Snape himself gave me an Apprenticeship to Potions! I cannot remember any time in my life where I have felt this happy.

I have got go now. It is getting close to seven and I do not want to be late.

Hermione

Severus had set the journal down and thought about its contents for a minute. Putting it away, he started to reflect on why he had given her the apprenticeship. He knew from reading from the beginning of the journal, that she had started it in her first year; she had written that Potions was her favorite class and it truly amazed him as to why. It was because he wasn't like all the other teachers, praising her for her knowledge, but because he was tough, he made her work, and hard for the grades she got and she respected him for that and also started that he was her favorite teacher, next to Minerva. However, that was not the reason why he had picked her, it wasn't even close, he would never subject himself like that to flattery no matter what it said. He picked her so that she might open up a bit and tell him what exactly was wrong with her grandmother, that way he could "accidentally" have her make the potion she needed to help her heal them. He was planning on helping her with both of her grandparent's, but as it turned out her grandfather died before he could do anything to prevent it from happening.

Severus snapped out of his thoughts when there was a knock on his door.

"Enter." he said in his usual curt voice. Hermione Granger came through the door and up to his desk. He looked at her nervous features and then got to the point.

"This morning you and I will go down to the Great Hall together and then the Headmaster will make the announcement. The classes you will supervise we will talk about after breakfast, all your other teaches have agreed that I could take you from their classes today." as he said the last part he had gotten up and had motioned for Hermione to as well.

"Now, with that settled, breakfast?" he walked out the door and Hermione was right behind him. When they entered the Great Hall, everyone had looked her way and then gasped as she had sat down next to Snape at the Staff Table. Dumbledore looked around merrily at the student body and then got up. Before he started speaking, he looked at the Slytheryn table.

"I have an announcement to make," said Dumbledore. He waited until everyone was quiet before he continued with his little speech.

"Miss Hermione Granger has taken the job of being Professor Snape's very first Potions Apprentice. We, the Staff, wish her the best of luck and hope that everyone here at Hogwarts will do the same and be supportive." with that said he sat back down as the Great Hall erupted with chatter. Snape just sat back in his chair with a satisfied smirk on his face.

Hermione was a bit nervous as she took her seat and was even more so when Dumbledore got up and made his little speech. However, the longer she was there and chatted with the teachers the more she felt at home. She could get used to this she thought to herself as she started to relax.

She was talking to Professor McGonagall and never noticed the pair of black eyes that watched her.