He waited three weeks after the start of term to summon the girl. He knew he should have contacted her earlier. Especially considering that Granger was apparently honoring her promise and had ceased helping Longbottom in class. Since he'd also not managed to kill anyone yet was proof that she had started to tutor the boy. While he couldn't say the idiot had improved, he did seem far less dangerous.
He knew that the witch was getting worried. She had started lingering at the end of class in the hopes he'd speak with her. Still, he wasn't ready to face her. He had been too angry to address the subject with any sort of composure. He knew he couldn't hide from her any longer. She was becoming bolder in her attempts to speak with him, and he'd rather not cause a scene in class.
As always, she was punctual. He motioned for the girl to close the door and to sit in the chair opposite his desk. Once she was seated he started. "Miss Granger, I'm afraid there has been a change of plans," he started. "The headmaster has decided to delay Mr. Potter's occlumency lessons. He believes it may be to our advantage to have a window into the Dark Lord's mind."
"What?!" Hermione jumped to her feet. "But, sir! That's dangerous! Harry can't control when he sees something. Even if there could be an advantage, it's so unreliable as to make it useless," she ranted, starting to pace in front of the desk. "Plus, if you-know-who should discover the connection, it could be catastrophic!"
"Miss Granger," Snape attempted to draw her attention with little effect.
"He could be pulling Order secrets from his head as we speak!" Hermione exclaimed, her pacing becoming more frantic.
"Miss Granger!" Snape bellowed. The witch stopped midstride. "I am well aware of the situation."
Hermione sheepishly sat back down in her seat. "Sorry, sir," she said softly.
"Now, that you have graced me with your attention once more, we have other matters we must attend to." He eyed the girl suspiciously, waiting to see if her silence would hold. She nodded to him, so he continued. "Since Potter will not be starting his lessons until the next semester at the earliest, the Headmaster has decided that your lessons are no longer necessary. He believes that your knowledge will be sufficient to help Harry when the time comes and does not believe it a good use of my time for our lessons to continue."
Hermione looked startled once again and opened her mouth. Severus put a hand up to stop her from descending into another rant. "But, the headmaster isn't in control of my free time. I wouldn't be able to meet during the school day or during office hours. Although, if you were sincere about your offer to meet at any time, then perhaps we can discuss continuing your study of occlumency."
"I was, sir!" the girl hurriedly answered. "I am! Whenever, sir. I want to learn. "
"In that case, we can meet on Monday nights, after supper, 8 pm to 10 pm. Is that acceptable?" he asked.
"Yes, of course! I'll make it work," she said earnestly.
"Good, then we will meet Monday evenings in my quarters." He declared.
The young witch seemed surprised by that request. "Your quarters, sir?"
"Yes, Miss Granger, my quarters. These lessons must be in my spare time in my own personal space," he explained. He wanted to ensure that Albus kept his nose out of the lessons. The old man was already upset with him for teaching Hermione without his prior authorization. The girl though, still seemed shocked. Taking advantage of the situation, he slipped into her mind with a silent Legilimens. "For Merlin's sake, girl! Do you not think me human? No, I do not sleep hanging upside-down in the back of my potions cupboard!"
Hermione's face went red when she realized that he made it in and out of her head without her knowledge. Her blush deepened when she also realized exactly what he saw in her mind. She put her hands over her face and doubled over in embarrassment. Severus smirked down at her. Cheeky girl, he thought and almost laughed at the absurd picture he'd plucked from her mind.
"Sorry, sir" she groaned.
"As well you should be. We've been at this for months now, and you didn't even notice my presence. No, this just shows that you have much more to learn. So, are you amenable to this arrangement?" Snape asked the girl who was still doubled over and refused to look up.
"Yes, sir," she mumbled.
Severus rolled his eyes at the theatrics. Why, oh why did he just volunteer to continue helping her, when he had been given such an easy way out? He knew why he stayed. Because this knowledge, in the hands of this girl may very well help tilt this war in their favor. He saw the Dark Lord's plans. They needed every advantage they could get, and couldn't afford to waste such opportunities.
"Very well," Severus stood. "Come along, then. No time to waste."
This got the girl to look up. "What, now?" she asked.
"Of course, now or would you rather go back to your playmates?" he sneered.
The witch sprung to her feet, grabbing her bag. "No, sir! I'm ready."
Snape didn't bother to respond; he simply turned with a dramatic swish of his cloak and strode towards the door in the back of his office. Hermione quickly followed. "This is the teacher entrance to my quarters," he explained when he reached the door. "You will come here and knock twice and only twice, then wait to be admitted. If you knock more than that, I will ignore you. Is that understood?"
The witch nodded so he brought out his wand and lowered the wards for her to enter. He opened the door and waved her through. Once inside, he reestablished his wards. The girl beside him looked nervously around the dark room. With a quick wave of his hand, the room was illuminated. The walls were lined with bookshelves. On one side of the room, two chairs sat in front of a large fireplace with flames dancing merrily inside. A small writing desk was nestled into a small nook between the bookcases on the opposite side of the room. Two doors sat along the far wall.
"This is my sitting room. We will conduct our lessons here. Through that door," he pointed to the door on the left. "is the lavatory and through the other is my sleeping chambers. You will never enter them. I will not put up with any adolescent nonsense. No whining and absolutely no snooping! We may not be in a classroom, but you are still my student. I expect you to behave appropriately. Is that clear?" Again, the young witch only nodded.
"Then be seated." He gestured to one of the chairs by the fireplace. The girl dutifully sat as he lowered himself into his own well-worn chair.
"What reading materials do you have with you?" Snape enquired.
Hermione frowned. "Um…I have my potions and astronomy texts with me. Oh, and I also have this fascinating book I found on charm creation."
"That will work. You may read the charms book." Severus responded.
"Out loud?" Hermione asked.
"No, of course, not aloud." The wizard sneered. "This evening, I was able to enter your mind, pluck out the information I wanted and retreat, all without your notice. Not every wizard will announce themselves when invading a mind. You need to recognize even the slightest and gentlest of attempts. Tonight, you will read your book, to yourself, and I will periodically enter your mind. If you notice it, inform me. If you don't, I will retreat and advise you of the failure. You are not to offer any resistance or bring up your shields. We are only focusing on recognizing the feel of an intruder. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir, I do." The girl replied.
"Then we shall begin." Snape watched as the witch bent over her book and began to read. He waved his hand and summoned a book of his own.
*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*
At the end of the evening, Severus had invaded her mind 32 times. Hermione only noticed 7 of them. He shuffled the girl out before curfew despite, her desire to stay longer to try "just one more time". He reminded her that he would not tolerate such nonsense and sent her on her way.
He wasn't entirely certain that he had made the right decision by continuing her training. Oh, he was sure that it would be of benefit in the war. That wasn't the issue. No, the issue was Albus. He would not be pleased when he learned of his disobedience, and he would find out. Very little happened in this castle without the Headmaster's knowledge. Severus sighed. He'd just have to deal with that complication if and most assuredly when it happened.