A/N: This story was recently posted under the same name but under a different username. My old account (gilmoregirl16) was terminated. This story is pretty much the same except I am rereading and editing a little before posting. I plan on reposting my other stories also so if you're a fan of those don't be disappointed. This story is rated M just to be safe.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter related. The characters and main story lines belong to my idol, the wonderful J.K. Rowling. I just borrow them for a while and play with them for my own sick twisted fun.

Hermione Granger was a 7th year student at Hogwarts School of Witch-craft and Wizardry. This year she was Head Girl .Everyone had expected her to be. She was, after all, the smartest witch of her age. She was one third of the Golden Trio as they were known around the school. Her two best friends were Ron Weasley, a very tall red-head with a not so rich extremely large family, and Harry Potter, 'the boy who lived'. Harry had survived an attack from the most evil wizard of their time, Lord Voldemort. Voldemort had killed Harry's parents in attempt to kill him, but Harry managed to survive with only a lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead, while Voldemort was reduced to almost nothing. After Harry 'defeated' the 'Dark Lord' as Voldemort was known, when he was just a child, there wasn't a witch or wizard of any age that didn't know who he was. Now he had really defeated Voldemort and had lived…again. Harry was the famous one (whether he liked it or not), Ron was the outgoing one, and Hermione was just the shy smart girl. She didn't mind being called the smart girl because she enjoyed reading and learning much more than playing Quidditch or chasing boys as most of the girls her age were doing. She liked that her life was calm (when Harry and Ron weren't up to something), but little did she know that this year, her whole life would change drastically.

Severus Snape was the Potions master at Hogwarts. He was also the Head of Slytherin House and an ex Death Eater. Most students feared him. He had always disliked students, but there was one in particular that thoroughly annoyed him, Hermione Granger. He had noticed how intelligent she was the first day she walked into his class six years ago. 'If only she didn't have to be so…so Gryffindor-ish. If only she was in Slytherin, then I would praise her for her intellect,' he often thought. As much as he hated to admit it, he found that they had more in common than he wanted. They both had a thirst for learning. She was extremely skilled in everything she did, but, he hated to admit this too, she excelled at potions. Most students found him a greasy git, but unknown to him, Hermione actually admired him greatly. He too was about to have a life changing experience.

Hermione was sitting in an empty train cart reading a book on The Hogwarts Express, the train that transported students to and from Hogwarts. She heard some noise outside. Then the door to her cart opened and her two best friends entered. "Hey Hermione, how was your summer?" asked Harry. His hair was just as unruly as ever. She could tell Ron had grown due to the inch or so of sock she could see under his pant legs.

"It was good. How about you two?"

"Boring as usual. You should have come over. Ginny missed you. Mum wouldn't have minded. It would have been better than being the tester for Fred and George's new products for the shop," Ron said sitting across from her.

"Mine sucked. The Dursley's actually get worse every year. This Aunt Petunia made me do all Dudley's summer school work. Then she thought I did everything wrong so she made Uncle Vernon do it over. So I see a certain someone is the new Head Girl. I'm not surprised that it was you. You totally deserve it. You're like the smartest girl I know."

"Well thank you Harry. I'm sorry to hear that your vacations were so horrible. I've got to head to the Head Student's cart in a little while, but what's new?"

Snape was in his rooms. He heard the sound of horses arriving outside the castle. He looked at the clock. It said 5:45. I suppose I should head up to the Great Hall. The feast will be starting soon, and if I know Albus, he will not let me miss this dinner just as I haven't been able to get out of any of the feasts. With that thought he got up and headed out of his rooms. He walked the long corridor of the dungeons and up the stairs. He walked into the Great Hall and took his place at the Head's table as the other teacher's started filing in. "Good evening Severus," said Dumbledore. "Good evening Albus," Snape said almost mumbling. As the students piled in Snape's attention was suddenly drawn to something, or more like someone. His gaze had suddenly been averted to Hermione Granger. She sure has grown up over the summer. Wow she looks amazing. Severus what are you saying? She's a student. Dumbledore must have noticed that he had drifted off because he said, "Well I'll leave you to your daydreaming Severus." Dumbledore winked at Snape and Snape saw his eyes twinkle. Oh no. Was he listening to my thoughts? He knows legilimency. He didn't look upset though so maybe he was just being his crazy self.

Hermione sat down across from Harry and Ron. She was glad to be back to school. This was her home. Of course she had a real home, but she always felt at home here with her friends and school work. She couldn't wait to get up to her room and prepare for her first day of school tomorrow. It made her sad to think that this would be her last year of school at Hogwarts. Fortunately for her she had been offered to stay at Hogwarts to work as an apprentice. She still wasn't sure what exactly she would apprentice in but she was glad to be staying anyways. She really enjoyed potions but highly doubted that Professor Snape would let her be his apprentice. She was thinking about ways to try and persuade him to allow her this opportunity.

Snape, who was tired of staring at his food to avoid conversation, noticed Hermione daydreaming and decide that he would us legilimency to find out what she was thinking about. She was thinking about him ironically. She wanted to be his apprentice. He sure could use someone with her intelligence to help him with his work.

Miss Granger.

Hermione jumped about a foot in the air. She swore she heard someone say her name but when she looked around no one was talking to her. Miss Granger up here. Hermione looked up at the Head's table and almost jumped again when Snape was staring at her. "Snape?" she whispered.

"What?" asked Harry. "Oh nothing," said Hermione.

Yes Miss Granger it's me. And you don't need to speak out loud. I can hear your thoughts.

What? You performed legilimency on me? Why you son of a…

Ah ah ah Miss Granger, Remember I am still your teacher and you must be respectful to me.

Fine. Is there any particular reason you decided to invade my personal privacy?

Just the mere fact that I was bored and you looked mildly interesting. I noticed that you were thinking about becoming my apprentice.

There was no point in hiding it now. Yes Professor I was. But knowing you, you will just laugh at the thought.

Now Miss Granger, I am hurt that you think of me as an insufferable bastard.

Well you have never proven yourself other wise.

It just so happens that I was considering allowing you to be my apprentice, but if you don't want to then…

No. I'm sorry. I would love to assist you. I'm just surprised that you would let an annoying little know-it-all help you. And I don't think you're an insufferable bastard. Snape was surprised to hear her say these words.

I should let you get back to your meal. And I don't think of you as an annoying little know-it-all. All though you are very intelligent. And with that he was gone from her head. Hermione couldn't stop thinking whether Snape had actually just given her a compliment or not. Snape was shocked that Hermione didn't hate him. Hermione looked up at Snape but was surprised to find that she was disappointed that he had turned away.