Hi all! Long time no see. Excited to get this next chapter out - it's Hermione's first lesson with Professor Snape! I really loved creating this new version of Severus and I'm excited to develop him further. I loved it so much, in fact, that I think I might write an unrelated Hermione/Severus one shot (just to get it out of my system lol) If I do, I'll be sure to let y'all know in case you want to check it out!

Anyways, here's Chapter 7. As always, please feel free to review, rate, ask questions, send in criticisms or recommendations or ideas or concerns or anything! I would love to hear from you all! Happy reading!


The next few days went by without event - Hermione and Viktor spent all of their time outside of her lessons together, either in the library, out by the black lake, or in the Durmstrang common room. She traded off eating meals with her Gryffindor friends and with Viktor and his brothers, although she was beginning to prefer the latter. When Harry, Ron, and Hermione were together, they boys spent all of their energy asking her questions about Viktor. At first she answered them, seeing their curiosity as innocent interest in her friend, but it began to exhaust her quite quickly. She loved her friends dearly, but also felt their connection starting to falter.

When Thursday rolled around, Hermione woke early and chose her most pristine Hogwarts robes for the day. Today was her first private lesson with Professor Snape and she wanted to make a good impression. She left Gryffindor tower early in order to have enough time for breakfast and to stop at the library. She wanted to pick up a few last potions books to bring with her, although she was sure Snape would have them. She liked feeling prepared.

The day went by quickly for the girl, filled with lessons and notes and studying in her spare time. She was grateful for lunch with Viktor and Petra - the boys spent their meal time distracting Hermione from her creeping nerves by telling her stories and making her laugh. Time with the boys was easy and comfortable, and she found herself feeling wildly less nervous after their meal together. As seven o'clock grew nearer, Hermione gathered her things from her table in the back of the library and made her way to the dungeons. She stood awkwardly in the hallway outside of Professor Snape's door, waiting to knock until she heard the Hogwarts clock ring in the hour. When the bell began to toll, she smoothed out her skirt and took a deep breath before rapping on the door softly. Within moments, the door was opened and Professor Snape appeared, back lit by flickering candles, his hair tucked back behind his ears and curling out slightly. His normal robes were foregone and he was instead wearing dark pants and a black turtleneck sweater, the sleeves cuffed and rolled up on his forearms. She took in the man, really noticing him for the first time, before catching herself and blushing profusely, hoping he hadn't noticed her noticing him…

"Miss Granger, I am pleased to see you. Come." He stepped to the side and Hermione scurried in, stopping just inside the doorway and turning back to face the man as he closed the door behind them. He walked past her and she followed silently as he led her through a doorway and into the most immaculate potions lab she had ever seen (not that she had seen very many, mind you.) "This is where we will spend most of our time. You will have access to my materials and stores, and should you need anything, just request it and I will send for it as soon as I can. You may keep anything here," he gestured to a dark wardrobe in the corner, "as long as it does not impede on our space or work." He looked at her then, but Hermione didn't see - her eyes were roving over the space as she tried to take it all in. The walls were lined with shelves filled with ingredients in stopper bottles and jars and boxes. Everything was labeled beautifully in Professor Snape's heavy script. In the center of the room was a large work table with a few cauldrons set atop flames, their contents bubbling and steaming. The light was warm and comfortable, and although it was a bit dark, she was still able to see the space perfectly without any effort. Ornate rugs covered the floor, and Hermione imagined that they were charmed to repel even the most vile of potions or ingredients. She was in awe, and told him so.

"Professor Snape, this is beautiful. I have never seen a space so, well, it's just so perfect." She looked at him then, and the combination of his casual dress and comfortable demeanor relaxed her in a way she hadn't expected. He tucked his hair behind his ear, a bit of a nervous tick, before clearing his throat and standing up straighter.

"Miss. Granger…"

"Hermione. You should call me Hermione, Professor."

He stared at her blankly for a moment before continuing. "Hermione…" The word sounded foreign coming from his lips. "We will start with a simple catalogue. We will go through each ingredient in my stores to ensure we are well stocked. This will serve two purposes - the obvious, the necessary chore of refilling materials, and the less obvious, allowing you to become familiar with the space. It might take more than one evening, but I am sure it will be beneficial in the long run." She nodded and turned, moving to put her bag into the aforementioned cabinet before pulling her hair into a messy bun and moving back towards the wizard. He looked down at her, a look of determination plastered across her face, before smiling slightly to himself and guiding her to the shelf closest to the door where, alphabetically, the list began.

She spent the next two hours in quiet concentration, Hermione opening and inspecting every ingredient on Professor Snape's shelves while he stood over a particularly smokey mixture in the middle of the room. When something looked low, she would ask him for a second opinion by silently showing him what remained in the container. He would either nod or shake his head, letting her know if the ingredient did indeed need to be replenished. Some ingredients were so rare, or so expensive, or so infrequently used that having a small amount reserved was more than adequate. She would take note of what needed to be ordered and asked questions about unfamiliar materials. He answered each question with patience and detail, while ensuring her that they would indeed learn more about each of them later in their time together.

His attitude was so different from what she was used to and it allowed her to see the man in a new light. His passion was potions, and his home was Hogwarts, but teaching large groups of students about the basics of his craft must have been draining on his spirit. But now, in his own space and working on something he truly enjoyed, he was a very pleasant man to be around.

When the Hogwarts bell tolled nine o'clock, Professor Snape dusted his hands off on his trousers and walked towards Hermione, inspecting her progress. "I only made it to N, Professor." The witch said, and he responded kindly, letting her know that being meticulous was better than being quick.

"Going slow will help us all in the long run. Not to worry, Miss. Granger. Hermione." Was that a hint of a smile she saw? He stepped away before she could really look at him and he dismissed her, thanking her for her hard work and wishing her a good night before hovering back over his potions. She grabbed her bag out of the cabinet and moved towards the door. "Out just the way we came, Hermione. No need to be uneasy. The door will lock behind you." She was surprised that he answered her unasked question and made her way out through his private quarters and into the dark dungeon corridor. As she closed his door, she felt a tingle in the back of her mind, almost as if Professor Snape were standing right behind her and chuckling. She turned quickly, a bit unnerved by the dungeons at night, only to find the space empty. She hurried down the hallway and up into the belly of Hogwarts, stopping in the Entrance Hall. It was late, but perhaps Viktor was still awake? She promised to tell him all about her first meeting with Professor Snape, and although she was sure it could wait until the morning, Hermione was eager to share this with someone. And, being as it was, Viktor and his brothers were the only ones who knew of her apprenticeship at all! She shrugged her book bag up higher onto her shoulder and made her way out into the cool evening air, trudging across the grounds down to the Durmstrang ship.

She made her way down to the twinkling lights and crossed over onto the wooden ship, walking down into the cabin. Music was playing and she spotted Viktor quickly - he was sitting with Petra and Dimi in their normal chairs, his back to her as she made her way across the space. "Oh, our little witch has come to join us!" Petra said when he saw her, standing and greeting her with a toothy smile. "Come, come, tell us everything!" Viktor stood as well, turning to see Hermione walking towards him and lighting up at the sight. He took a few steps towards her, meeting her before she made it to the group, and took her into a tight bear hug, his hand pressing against the back of her neck as he squeezed.

"My little witch…" he murmured into her hair before pulling away and smiling down at her. She returned the gesture and, without even thinking, rose up onto her tippy toes and planted a kiss on his cheek. She landed back down on her heels and put her hands on Viktor's chest to steady herself when she felt a growl in his chest. Hermione looked back up at the boy and saw his eyes were dark and swirling like they had been the night before…

"Alright you big lug, let her go so she can sit! I want to hear about her first lesson with the Dungeon Master." Hollered Dimitri. Viktor chuckled and turned towards the boys, pressing Hermione in front of him and guiding her to their chairs.

"He's the Potions Master, Dimi, not the Dun…"

"I know, I know, now get on with it. Was it awful?!" He asked, grinning at her and learning forward in his chair, his chin settling onto his fists as he sat expectantly. Hermione sat on the loveseat Viktor had been occupying, scooting close to him as he sat and wrapped his arm around the back of the chair. After her evening in the dungeons, his warmth was euphoric. She told the boys all about her first night with Professor Snape, although as she began to update them she realized just how little she had done. She left out all of her thoughts about Professor Snape and his newly-displayed visage, feeling like the details wouldn't mean much to the boys - Viktor was the only one who had truly met him after all. Dimitri asked her detailed questions about the state of his workroom and a few interesting ingredients she had mentioned, but that was the majority of the conversation. Still, Viktor congratulated her on her first official Apprenticeship lesson and kissed the top of her head lovingly.

They chatted late into the evening, Alexander joining them after some time. Although she felt like she should have been studying or working, Hermione was content to be spending time with Viktor and his friends. No, Viktor and her friends.

When she had received her Hogwarts letter at age eleven, Hermione was sure that it was her ticket to belonging. She was eager to find a place where she felt valued and appreciated, where her quirks and talents didn't cause divisions between her and other children. Before meeting Ron and Harry, she was disappointed - even at Hogwarts, she was an outcast. That changed a bit upon their acquaintance, and she truly loved her Gryffindor friends, but for the first time in her life, Hermione was beginning to feel like she truly belonged.