The Potions Master's Scholar
Hermione Granger/Professor Snape fic. Hermione has been accepted to an academic contest and needs a professor to sponsor her. Despite the offers of many well-intentioned teachers, she has her eyes set on Snape, and only Snape. She desires his expertise—and affection—in helping her prepare for the contest. Takes place at the beginning of the trio's 6th year. Read and review, thanks!
Rated: T for mild adult themes
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters mentioned in this fic. They are all the creation of the delightfully ingenious mind of J.K. Rowling. I only play in the little world she has created for us. This story and concept is wholly mine and there are some original spells/magical creatures/magical devices/characters, but Hogwarts, Hermione Granger, Snape, etc. are all J.K.'s!
Chapter Three: The Sponsorship
Hermione knocked on Dumbledore's door. It swung open.
"Come on in Miss Granger," Dumbledore called.
She entered the office and took a seat in a cushioned wingback chair. Dumbledore was on his knees with his head up to his shoulders stuck in the fireplace. He shuffled over a bit to make a place for Hermione and beckoned for her to come over and stick her head in the fire.
She kneeled next to him, gathering her robes around her knees. She took a deep breath and plunged her head into the fire. Her head spun around in a rush of warm air. She closed her eyes to fight the nausea overwhelming her. As soon as the spinning started, it stopped and she was nearly cheek to cheek with Dumbledore facing her wide-eyed and nervous mother and father. Her mother clasped her hand to her mouth at the sight of her only child's head suspended in the fireplace of their dental offices.
"Mum!" Hermione cried.
"I've just been telling your parents the wonderful news, Hermione," Dumbledore said.
"Ye-yes. We're ev-ever so p-p-proud of you, darling," her father stammered, wringing his hands.
"Love, we could've sent you to Australia on holiday. No need for you to risk life and limb in some contest," her mother said in a worried tone.
"Mrs. Granger, I assure you that your daughter is in safe hands. This contest will be strictly managed and supervised," Dumbledore stated.
Hermione smiled at her parents, still too shocked by the events of the past hour to really say anything.
Dumbledore turned his head towards Hermione. "We have much to discuss, Miss Granger. Let's head back to my office. Ha…'head back.' Do you get it, Miss Granger?" Dumbledore said, chuckling slightly to himself.
"Ha…ha. Yes, Professor, I get it. Quite clever, that," Hermione said. "Mum, Dad, I'll be owling—oh, I mean mailing—you all the waivers and releases soon! I love you!"
"We love you, too dear," her father cried as she pulled her head out of his fireplace with a loud POP!
Hermione rose from her knees and shook her head slightly to remove the last bits of ash from her hair.
"Have a seat, Miss Granger. We have a lot to talk about," Dumbledore said, removing his half-moon spectacles and wiping his eyes.
Hermione sat slowly in the wingback, struggling to think of something intelligent to say.
"We are incredibly proud of you, Miss Granger. The Ministry has been struggling with whether or not to do this contest for years. They finally decided now was the time and one of our very own 6th years gets in the contest! You are a very worthy representative of Hogwarts!" Dumbledore said with a fatherly smile of pride.
Hermione felt warmth rise to her cheeks. She loved when Dumbledore praised her.
"Thank you so much, Professor. I'm really excited for the opportunity!" she said.
"We can deal with filling out most of the paperwork later, but there is one matter of most pressing urgency. You will need a sponsor who will train you for the contest and also serve as your chaperone in Australia if you win," Dumbledore said. "It can be any one of your teachers here at Hogwarts."
Hermione gave herself a moment to think. "Well, sir, seeing as how the Australia study program and contest are based mainly on potions, wouldn't it make sense for Professor Snape to be my sponsor?" she asked, her stomach clenching a bit at the mention of his name.
"Not necessarily," Dumbledore replied. "Minerva is skilled at the art of potion-making as well as Transfiguration."
Hermione shuddered at the thought of strict Professor McGonagall accompanying her on holiday to Australia, and then quickly composed herself.
"I really think Snape, if he accepts, would be my best choice in sponsors. I'm going to need a monumental potion to win this thing, don't you agree?"
"Yes, Miss Granger. You do have your work cut out for you. If the ministry had limited access to the contest to just London, and therefore just Hogwarts, you'd be a shoe-in, but I'm afraid that you are competing against young witches and wizards as qualified, if not much more qualified than yourself from all over Europe. We're talking Beauxbaton, Durmstrang, Greenbrier, the Irish wizarding school, and Edwards, the German wizarding school. They all submitted contestants and all had some accepted," Dumbledore explained. "But I can't be sure I agree that Snape is your best choice of sponsor."
"If you don't mind me asking, sir, why not?" Hermione questioned, attempting not to be overly eager about gaining Snape as a sponsor.
"Hermione, dear, you know that you, and your small group of friends, have never been Professor Snape's favorite students. You wouldn't want some old grudge to ruin your chances at the contest. It's best to keep these things impersonal," Dumbledore stated, his voice getting very serious. "You should consider Professor Sprout. She knows her magical herbs, which will come in handy in potion-making, and I can't imagine she'd be anything less than fun on a trip to the Outback!"
Hermione cast her eyes down, desperately searching for an excuse to continue pursuing Snape as a sponsor.
"Professor, I really had my heart set on Professor Snape!" she cried out, immediately realizing how terrible this sounded and trying to backtrack. "I mean…I mean…"
"Miss Granger, I know what you mean. Now, it's quite unlikely Severus will want to take on such a heavy burden, but I'll go talk to him now. In the meantime, I believe you are rather late for your N.E.W.T.-level Ancient Runes course. Hurry on now, Miss Granger. I'll tell you Professor Snape's answer after dinner," Dumbledore said.
"Yes, Professor," Hermione replied, gathering her things and standing up from the chair.
She walked to the door of his office when she heard Dumbledore call, "And Hermione?"
She turned quickly to see a familiar twinkle in her headmaster's eyes. "Yes, sir?" she asked.
"You would do well to develop a crush on someone closer to your own age, or, at the very least, someone who can stand to be around you," he stated, smiling despite himself.
Hermione's cheeks flushed red for the second time that day as she quickly exited her intuitive headmaster's office.