Chapter 3

Snape glanced at his muggle watch, it was 9:37, both Granger and Wesley were late for their very first class and with him no less. He was genuinely surprised the Granger girl would ever be late to any class, least of all his. His musing was interrupted with a loud "BANG!" announcing the arrival of the two tardy students.

"Well, well, well look what the cat dragged in" Drawled Snape. "10 points from Gryffindor each for being late and disturbing the class. Now sit I was just about to start explaining the potion you will all attempt to re-create"

As Hermione and Ginny took their seats, they heard the snickers from the 7th Slytherins behind them. 'Some things never do change' Hermione thought. Surprisingly, many of the Slytherins student body returned for their last year, most surprising of all was Draco Malfoy, whose parents testified against their former comrades, alleging they were under the imperious curse. Hermione glanced behind her to peek at Draco. He had become a shell of his former self, his hair was lanky and lifeless, his eyes were dull and bloodshot, they held none of the mischievous gleam they once held. His skin was sickly pale and he was incredibly thin, he was obviously going through hell as his family were now outcasts with his father using the last shred of their grand fortune and resources to get them exonerated. Feeling eyes on him Draco looked up and met her gaze, his eyes darkened as he sneered at her. Hermione simply rolled her eyes and turned back to the front, just as professor Snape was starting to give instructions.

"As 7th year students, I expect a certain level of competence from you. I have no reservations to remove you from this class should you prove to be grossly incompetent." At this he paused to add dramatic effect, making his way through the rows of students. "We will be using rare and dangerous ingredients, the potions you will be brewing will be some of the most challenging potions this school has ever seen. As you know, this is no regular potions class, I have only allowed those whom I deem worthy of being here." Having reached the back of the room at this point, professor Snape made his way back to the front of the class in a flurry of robes.

"This is your first test, you will be brewing the antidote for the most venomous magical snake we have ever discovered, the Verotianara. One bite, and the victim has less than 5 minutes to administer the antidote, or they die a most gruesome death by internal hemorrhaging whilst feeling as though they are being cooked alive. Ingredients are on the board, you have until the end of the period to brew."

Hearing his clear dismissal, the class got up and procured their ingredients and got to work. As the class worked, Snape would periodically glance up from his work to look over the classroom. As he was canning his students, his eyes come to rest of miss Granger. She was preparing her ingredients, just not the way he had written on the board. At this he was intrigued, instead of dicing the root she was extracting the plants natural juices. He noted that she also added ginger and other more herbal plants and remedies. Snape was secretly impressed that she would take such a big risk during her first class back by adding her own ingredients and changing the way the potion was to be made. He made a mental note to check back in when the brewing would commence.

As the class went on, Snape would peer at the students, making sure there was no risk of possible injury. He would then glance over at Granger's work and make notes on the changes she would make to the potion. During the final 15 minutes, Snape watched as most students struggled to not only finish their potions but to achieve the desired results. The potion should have been a dark crimson, most were either pink or too bright a red, Granger's was not only the perfect color but she had also completed the potion before the aloted time was up. Snape was conflicted by her success, he was both impressed as well as aggravated that she had forged her own path in making the potion. He had to remind himself that she was the same age he was when he started to experiment with potions by modifying the preperation and the ingredients.

As the students started to bottle up their potions, Hermione was the first to put her potion on his desk. As she was turning to leave and grab her things, an idea occurred to him and before he had time to really think it through the words left his mouth.

"Granger, I'd like a word if you could stay behind a few moments"

"Of course professor Snape" Hermione responded, slightly nervous at what was to come. When Ginny was on her way out the door, she glanced at Hermione and gave her a reassuring smile as the door closed behind her.

When the door finally closed, professor Snape motioned for Hermione to take a seat in the chair in front of his desk. As she sat he grabbed her vial and started closely examining while raising his signature eye brow.

"No one else was able to brew the antidote as...proficiently as you have today Granger. I must confess I am intrigued by how and why you changed the way the potion was to be made. Were my instructions not clear enough for you Granger? Or do you think yourself to be above listening to my instructions?" Drawled Snape as he pointidely looked at her.

At his question Hermione let out an exasperated sigh "No professor Snape your instructions were clear and I do not think myself above listening to your instructions. I just think that for such an advanced class we should be able to use our imaginations a little. I've been reading up on a number of potion magazines which is where I found my inspiration for the changes I made to the preperation of the ingredients as well as adding others. I seem to recall your name popping up periodically...one even mentioned how stuffy and unoriginal potion making has become and that one should think outside the box when mastering the art." Hermione retored while matching his raised eyebrow with her own.

Snape scoffed and looked away amused at how Granger was currently handeling herself. Rarely was he ever challenged. People were either too scared or just too stupid to be able to rise to any challenges he set. Granger was clearly neither of those things. At her lack of fear, Snape finalized his earlier decision.

"I have a proposition for you Granger. I'm currently in need of someone to prepare ingredients, grade the occasional first and second year essays, and assist me in my research. Tell me, are you looking to persue Potions post Hogwarts?"

Stunned, Hermione took a few seconds to compose herself "I am professor, I was hoping to apprentice in either Potions or Defence Against The Dark Arts"

Snape regarded her intensiely for a moment before ansewring "Make no mistake Granger, this will be gruelling work with little to no recognition or thanks. You will be responsible to meet my standards, and as you well know those standards are high. There is little room for mistakes when 1cm is the difference between life and death for some potions. I expect you to also give up most of your freetime as you still need to do six months of schooling before being allowed to take your final exams. Then, you may start your apprentiship full time." As Snape paused he saw the wheels turning in her head "I don't doubt you have a mirade of questions for me, but I must get ready for my next class. Will you be free this evening for us to meet and discuss this in more detail?"

"Yes sir shall I come down after dinner?" Hermione asked as she got up.

"That would be acceptable, seven o'clock sharp Granger, my door shall be open." With this he got up and mentioned to the door, a clear sign of dismissal.

As Hermione walked out of the classroom, she couldn't help but feel extremely excited as well as nervous for the months to come.