Hermione Granger sat fidgeting with her skirt as she waited patiently for the Headmaster to finish pouring both of them a cup of tea. Albus Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Miss Granger, I'm sure you're curious as to why I've asked you here this evening." He smiled knowingly.
She nodded. "Yes sir. I wasn't quiet sure what to expect when I received your owl this morning." She confessed.
"Before we get into that I first must ask something of you Miss Granger. You, of course, may decline my offer and head back to your common room and put this conversation behind us. I will hold no ill will towards you. It will be as if it never happened."
Hermione was growing nervous once again. What could the Headmaster want with her? Harry was the one that Headmaster Dumbledore always asked to speak with. Never her. She had never even been to his office before tonight.
"Did you head me?" Albus asked with a chuckle.
Hermione cleared her throat, a little embarrassed. "Yes sir, I was just thinking. What is it you need of me?" She questioned.
"A vow." He stated simply.
What kind of vow could she possibly make to him? A wizard's oath to always do her best to keep Harry safe? She would gladly accept. An oath to do her best in school? Obviously she always tried her hardest. Perhaps the Headmaster thought that she could be doing better. Maybe if she cut down on her free time on the weekends then she could have a few more hours to study.
"A vow to induct you into The Order of the Phoenix." Albus had finally put her racing mind to rest. He smiled at her astonished face.
"The Order? I won't be of age for another 2 months sir." She confessed.
"I'm well aware of your age. It is, well some might as a little unheard of for a student to join. However, given the situation we're in with a war looming over our heads, I think we can bend the rules a little." He winked.
"Will Harry and Ron join as well? The question seemed to slip out/
"No Miss Granger. Only you. If you decide to join, I will of course tell you why we need you specifically, I ask that you not share any information with Mr. Potter nor Mr. Weasley." Albus lifted his eyebrow in a questioning manner.
"Of course not! I would never Headmaster. I would never share anything unless you told me beforehand that it was okay to share!" She swore. And before the elderly wizard could respond, Hermione blurted out "I want to join!"
The Vow lasted no more than a minute before Albus grabbed the witch's hand. A white ribbon snaked it's way around their combined hands, tying them to their secret. With three words spoken, Hermione was an official Order member. "I swear it."
"Now, onto more exciting things." Dumbledore clapped his hands together. "Your role in the Order will be quiet simple until you gradate from Hogwarts, as you won't have time for missions. You will become our second in Potions. I feel it is the utmost importance that we have a backup for such an important role."
"Headmaster I am honored. It's such an honor that my name would even come up in such discussions. However, given how Professor Snape, um, feels about me, would it be wise?"
she was downplaying it. The man despised her and her friends. She's pretty sure that she had caught the wizard staring at her so hard in Potions, that he clearly had been trying to make her spontaneously combust. There was no way the Severus would ever agree to this.
"I daresay child, it might be the most wise decision I've ever made."
Severus Snape sat behind his oak desk grading 3rd year papers when the roar of the fire pulled his attention away.
"Severus? Are you there?"
A groan was his only reply.
"Excellent! Do come to my office when you get a moment" And the roaring fire sizzled out.
Severus had known Dumbledore long enough to know that a simple invitation to his office was never an invitation at all. It was always a demand. None the less, the younger wizard grabbed a handful of floo powder and called for the Headmaster's office.
"Ah, Severus, I'm so glad you could join us so quickly." Albus greeted.
Us? It took Severus a moment to notice someone else sitting in the room A closer look revealed Miss Granger. A sneer instantly fell on his face. Oh how he despised this girl. Her constant need to remind others of her smarts, the brown nosing with teachers, and the damned rants she would go on over the smallest of things. It all got on his nerves.
The girl seemed smart enough tonight to not make eye contact nor feel the need to greet the Potion's master. For that, he was thankful.
"I was just congratulating Miss Granger here." Ablus waved a hand towards the witch in question.
"You needed me here for that?" Severus drawled. "I'm sure you did a wonderful job of patting her head and telling her what a traffic girl she is." The sneer seemed to ooze from his voice.
Hermione bit her lip to keep from snapping at the foul man who was openly making fun of her.
"Severus" Albus' voice held a certain threat.
With a roll of his eyes, Severus took the only empty chair in the office. As fate would have it, it just so happened to be next to the bookworm in question.
"I know you're not one for idle chatter Severus, so I'll get straight to the point. I've asked Miss Granger to join The Order. She has, thankfully, agreed." The Headmaster beamed.
Delightful. Not only would be have to see the know-it-all at school, but he would see her at every meeting as well.
Severus only hummed in agreement. He knew he had nothing Albus would consider polite to say, so he kept quiet.
"She will be your apprentice."
Hell hath no fury like Severus Snape when something upset him. This, this was beyond upsetting.
"You think a child could do my job better than I do?" He hissed.
"Of course not. That's why you will be teaching her Severus. She's not replacing you, she's helping you. Surely an extra set of hands would make your work load lighter." Damn Albus and his manipulative ways.
"My work load is just fine. I teach, I spy, and still manage to brew all the potions needed to The Order and for the school's infirmary." Severus fired back.
At that Hermione gasped. She had never expected her Professor to be a spy. A spy for what? Was Harry correct assuming that Professor Snape was a Death Eater? Was the man in front of her truly working for the darkest wizard?
"Oh, look, something the know-it-all doesn't already know." Severus snapped. "Well since you're Order member now you can hear all the details. About how I lie, torture, and kill daily just to gather information on The Dark Lord."
He was please that for the first time, the girl didn't have anything to say.
"Still want the job Miss Granger?" Severus leaned over the side of his chair, bringing his face close to hers. "Knowing that you'll be spending all of your free time with a Death Eater?" He purred.
"Severus that is quiet enough!" Albus demanded. "There is no need to be cruel. The decision was mine, not hers."
"She could have refused!" Severus roared.
Hermione sat there awkwardly as the two wizards seemed to have a silent discussion with just their eyes.
Maybe this was a bad idea. Now that she knew for certain that the potions professor didn't want her there, it was obvious that he would make her time as unenjoyable as possible.
"There will be no more talk of it Severus. I've made my decision." And with that, the conversation was over.
"Miss Granger, you will report to Professor Snape's office at exactly 7 pm sharp every evening. If he gets called away by Tom, then you will come directly to my office. I have a bit of a side project for you that I have just thought of." The headmaster's eyes help a certain bit of mirth.
Hermione made her way down the spiral staircase after the Headmaster had bid both of them a good evening. She was on the bottom step when a hand shot out and grabbed her upper arm. She knew who's long fingers were currently cutting into her skin without even having to turn and look into his onyx eyes.
Severus slipped in front of the witch and drug her along behind him. Only once they were safely tucked into a hidden alcove, did he speak.
"What is the meaning of this? Why did Albus ask you to become my apprentice? He's never worried of my work load before."
"I, I'm not sure" Hermione choked out.
"What is the side project he spoke of?" He questioned.
"He didn't mention it beforehand." She answered thruthfully.
"Do. Not. Lie. To. Me." He whispered dangerously.
In that moment Hermione understood fully that Severus Snape was a dangerous wizard. She saw just a hint of the Death Eater that he played the part of.
She didn't answer his threat.
"Be in my office tomorrow evening Miss Granger." And with that, she was left alone in the dark.