A/N This next chapter is short, but I really kind of liked it and didn't want to make it longer in case I ruin the way it was written. I will have another chapter up shortly, its lying around my room….somewhere….crammed into a folder so it will be up in the nest few days on second thought it may be longer than that, even now after bruising my back pretty bad (chasing my cat under the deck) I am having trouble sitting up strait to type so it may be longer than thought, before I get this next chapter up.
Oh and thanks toall of my reviewers on that last chapter. I had a whole paragraph thanking just one of my reviewers and then I got online today to upload this chapter and I found 2 more and I just want to let you know it gave me lots of warm and fuzzies, seriously I felt like I was high on happiness or something it was awesome so thank you, it really inspired me to write more and more for all you wonderful reviewers.
Chapter Nine: The Meeting of Apprentices
The entered Dumbledore's office and in a blink of an eye, Severus disappeared into a room off to the side that was barely noticeable. Fawkes chirped, perturbed, and just managed to slip in before Severus enclosed himself in the room. Hearing the prominent cursing from the other side of the door, Fawkes was obviously not welcome.
Albus chuckled, "well you three, those chairs are meant for sitting, take a seat," he pointed the cushioned couches and high-back chairs, "how was your first lesson?"
"Well, after the initial chock of being locked into an unfamiliar room without warning from our professor, we did alright," Harry didn't have to say his 'most-hated professor' because that was a well-known secret.
Professor Dumbledore smiled, "of course, of course, but about your present living situation," he grew more serious, "I know you are not to terribly thrilled about it, but I,"
"Professor," Hermione interrupted gently, "its not so bad after all, there are so many books that would keep our interest for ages," a look of sheer excitement crossed her face and her eyes looked almost dream-like.
"Keep your interest, you mean," Harry smirked.
"Yeah, what about the rest of us who actually have lives?" Ron muttered and smiled teasingly.
Hermoine flushed, whether out of anger or embarrassment, it could be said.
Professor Dumbledore laughed good-naturedly, recognizing the ritual teasing between the trio, "its good to know those old books I gave to Severus aren't going to waste, well onto other things," he readjusted his glances on his nose, "I have been thinking deeply on this matter for quite a while now and I feel that just a few extra lessons with Professor Snape will not train you and make you ready like you need to be, so I would like you to take into deep consideration or becoming….Professor Snape's apprentices ," he raised his hand to stop the protests that he knew would come, "I would like you to think about this, really think about this. Put aside your hate for Professor Snape and use your heads. He is one of our strongest fighters and to learn from him how to defend yourself would be the best so before you deny the offer really think, please, this is coming from some one who really wants to win this war."
He sat there then in silence, a deep thinking silence as he stared at the trio in front of him. Harry and Ron looked angry at even the idea; Hermione on the other hand, though it didn't surprise him, looked thrilled and almost honored.
Then he smiled, "well, I am sure you are all hungry after today's experiences so let's go down to dinner, shall we?"
A smile of annoyance spread on Severus' lips as he listened at the door, Fawkes perching, perfectly relaxed on his should, squawked. Severus through him a backwards glance, "what?" he glared, almost playfully at the Gryffindor colored bird who's head was tilted and an expression its face that could be read as amusement.
He didn't mean to listen at the door, but after charming and locking the doors and putting up wards with Dragon Spells he had nothing to do. After the spells where in place he sat down and in the silence that was once consumed by the hum of magic, he could here the voices coming through.
Dumbledore had already spoken to him about having the three stooges as his apprentices. And much to Dumbledore's surprise he agreed…without an argument.
It was a weak moment, his sinister side argued, but his mind knew the real reason.
Dumbledore didn't trust him, it was plain and simple. Sure, he insisted to others that he did, but deep in the back of his mind there was a suspicion almost a discrimination against him. True, Severus was heard when he realized the truth, but after a while he got over it. He wasn't entirely surprised, after all everyone he knew had a suspicion against him, of course, for a good reason, even with their clamed trust in him. Everyone except one person, but she didn't matter, she has been dead for 15 years.
Severus knew sooner or later the distrust would cause something to happen and they would cast him out just like everyone else does.
He knew, to keep what little trust Dumbledore still had in him solid he would have to do what he was told, even if it meant being stuck with the Boy-Who-Is-STILL-Alive.
End Chapter Nine
Yeah, yeah I know its short, but, has anyone pieced anything together yet. I got some very close guesses from some reviews. Oh someone asked me about how many chapters, to tell ya honestly I have no idea. I just go along at whatever rate, no set chapters because in writing sometimes something just pops up and fits in which will make the story longer or shorter so yeah.
Update as soon as back is up to sitting like this for typing it.
Oh and did ya notice, I actually went a chapter without seeing or hearing from the Demon. double gasp
