AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, it's been *looks at calendar* a minute since I added anything to this story. But here you go! Thank you to everyone who's favorited and followed in my absence. You're all cuties and I love you.
*GENERAL DISCLAIMER AND ALL THAT SUCH AND SUCH*
CHAPTER THREE
I've missed this, Hermione thought. She rested her head on Harry's shoulder and smiled as he shook with laughter at Ron's antics.
"I mean, really, Mione? He's Snape! You're going to work with SNAPE?" The redhead groaned.
"I think it's perfect, Hermione," Harry pressed his cheek onto her hair, "Two insufferable know it alls working together to help the less fortunate. Sure, one is a right git who used to be in love with my mother and the other has an unknown magical disease preventing her from living comfortably, but no, really, I'm sure it'll be a peaceful apprenticeship!"
Ron laughed and poked Hermione's leg with his toes, "Pass me a sandwich, will you?"
Harry crawled over her lap, "I've got it! What kind do you want, mate? The elves went a bit wild with the menu."
"I am not a jungle gym, Harry Potter!"
Harry continued leaning over her and piled a few sandwiches onto a plate before passing it to Ron, who happily claimed the lot. "No, you're just Snape's apprentice," Ron said through a mouthful of bread, "He is definitely going to try to walk all over you and Harry has just shown us that you —"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Ronald Weasley! Master Snape will not climb over me for a sandwich and he will not walk all over me during my apprenticeship. He will teach me. The same as he's been doing our entire lives!" Hermione kicked Ron's feet away and shoved Harry's shoulder when she caught him trying to hide a laugh behind his hand. She sighed, "I want this apprenticeship, you guys. Whatever you may say about his character, Severus Snape is utterly brilliant. Please support me in this."
Ron set aside his now empty plate, "Of course we support you, Mione. And Snape is in for a hell of a time if he doesn't respect our girl, isn't that right Harry?"
"Absolutely right, Auror Weasley! We're proud of you, Hermione. Honest. A dual apprenticeship? What could be more fitting for the brightest witch of her age!"
Hermione smiled and grabbed a sandwich for herself, "Actually, I'm thinking of talking to Filius. Why not add Charms to my ever growing list of masteries? A triple apprenticeship won't kill me, will it?"
The boys looked at her with wide eyes before the three friends collapsed in a fit of laughter. I've really missed this.
You're a fool, Snape. Severus filed away Miss Granger's finished apprenticeship contract with, admittedly, much more force than necessary. Her loopy signature taunted him at the bottom of the page. She's going to be the death of you, man! What were you thinking?
Truthfully, he couldn't say and it made him feel unsteady in his skin. The Granger girl had always been a nuisance. Intelligent, yes. But lacking creativity and, occasionally, common sense. Still her apprenticeship with Poppy had done something…pulled something out of her.
She's acting on the potential you've always seen and never acknowledged. You're jealous that Poppy Pomfrey was the one to polish it.
"Shut up," he hissed at his empty office before slamming his filing cabinet shut and warding it with a flick of his wrist.
Severus Snape had always had good taste. He could tell quality from a mile away, whether it was potion ingredients, or fine black fabrics, or a mind like none other. And Hermione Granger? Her talent and determination were a luxury lost throughout his teaching career. A student like her came perhaps once in a lifetime and he'd been unable to mold her because of the stupid, fucking Dark Lord.
He chuckled to himself and ran his hands through his hair, massaging his neck before tracing the scar tissue gifted to him by Nagini. Damn snake.
A quick tempus charm told him it was 6:48PM. Another wave of his wand and the wards showed Granger lingering outside his office door. He sighed and shook his head.
I've crafted my own personal hell, haven't I? Saved by the girl I've now chained myself to teach.
"Bugger."
Hermione stared at the carving on his office door. How have I never noticed this before? It's just like mine. She reached out and ran her fingertips across the wood grain. The castle hummed in response.
Similar to the scene on her own door, the design was unfinished and fuzzy in certain areas where the magic kept it hidden. She wondered if all the castle staff had a door like this.
Snape's doorframe was embellished with leaves, carved so intricately that Hermione could see the veins in each little piece of foliage. Unlike her own door where the sword of Gryffindor split the design down the middle to create two separate scenes, the Potion Master's door was like a patchwork quilt peppered with scenes from the castle's history.
Curious, she trailed her hand across one of the scenes that had been blurred by magic and received a shock through her skin. She pulled her hand back with a hiss, shaking off the stinging sensation.
A rush of cold air made her step back as Snape opened the door. His dark eyes glared down at her for far too long before he stepped aside and, with a curt nod, invited her into his office.
"Will we be brewing tonight, sir?" Hermione asked, twisting her hair atop her head and waving her hand with a quick charm to keep it in place. If Snape felt any sort of way at her easy display of wandless magic, he gave no indication. "I stopped by the lab but when I saw you weren't there, I figured I'd meet you at your office and we could walk together. I suppose I did stop by rather early, but just to be sure I —"
"Miss Gra — Apprentice Granger, if we are going to work together successfully, it would be best to keep your chatting to a minimum."
Hermione felt her face flush but held her chin high as she half-ran to keep up with his brisk pace. "If we're going to work together successfully, Master Snape, it would be best if I weren't running after you. Your legs are longer, you know."
He slowed his pace and scoffed, "The war heroine Granger a bit out of shape, is she? Not so golden anymore?"
A pulse of magic sparked the ends of her curls. She grumbled under her breath, "You'd have trouble too if a cursed scar were slowly eating away at you. Oof!" She bumped into Snape's arm as he abruptly turned to face her.
His mouth was an angry line. Hermione felt her heart pounding against her ribcage like a frightened bird desperate to escape. What did I say? She could feel the fear and anxiety of battle clawing through her veins. Her wand hand twitched as Snape took a menacing step toward her.
The movement must have caught his eye because his thunderous expression softened for the briefest moment before he furrowed his brow and turned to continue walking. "We'll be using my private labs," he said, "I have already keyed the wards to your magical signature so you may enter as you like. However, should you need it, the password is Ego Nunc Libero. The door is just here."
His change in demeanor left Hermione shaken. Her heart still raced inside her chest and her palms were sweating. But she listened intently as he spoke. Nagini's bite left his deep voice with the slightest rasp. Still, the timbre soothed her. Even her magic seemed to settle as he guided her into the large room, explaining the layout and offering a small bit of history about the private lab for Hogwarts' resident Potions Master.
"We're brewing for the Hospital Wing tonight," Snape said, "The work offers little challenge, but I would like to analyze your technical foundations before moving onto more complex potioneering."
Hermione wiped her sweaty palms against her skirt, "Yes, sir."
He began pulling jars from shelves, opting to use his hands rather than magic, and continued, "Dreamless Sleep, Pain Relief, and Skele-Gro. I trust you need no instruction?"
Hermione nodded, "That's correct."
Snape set the jars on the workspace in front of Hermione, "Cauldrons and brewing supplies are in the corner. I have a variety of knives you may choose from according to the potion's specifications. Gold, silver, iron, etcetera all at different weights. I suggest starting with a lighter weight blade and scaling up to see what suits you best."
The anxiety dissipated and was quickly replaced with giddy butterflies. He's teaching! Not a single insult, no snark, just plain facts. Merlin, Harry's going to have a fit when I tell him! Don't smile too much, Hermione. Don't want to scare him off. She bit her lip to keep her grin at bay.
"Thank you, sir. I'll just get started then, shall I?"
And so she did.
The night passed in a blissful haze of academic excellence. Never in her wildest dreams would Hermione have imagined her new apprenticeship with Snape to surpass her experience with Madam Pomfrey. Not once did he praise her! No, what he offered was critique! True, in-depth, critique from a Master with years upon years of experience, education, and natural, intuitive, awe-inspiring talent!
Angle the blade this way, not that.
Support your wrist, Granger. Keep your elbow up. Don't stir so fast, Granger.
Give the ingredients room, Granger. Use your brain, Granger. You tell me, Granger.
It was bloody brilliant!
"This is the last one, Master Snape." Hermione wiped a bead of sweat from her brow as she corked the final bottle of Dreamless Sleep.
Snape simply nodded as he continued stirring his own brew.
"I suppose…I'll go now?"
He held up a hand, "Ten more stirs. Then a stasis charm."
Hermione's feet ached and jaw was sore from clenching it in concentration. She sighed and tentatively stepped over to his workspace to watch. His black robes had long been discarded, leaving him in only a white button up shirt, black pants, suspenders, and heavy dragonhide boots. His sleeves were folded up to his elbows and silver cufflinks sparkled on the desk across the room.
With a wave of his wand he cast the stasis charm. He scribbled a few notes on a piece of parchment as he spoke, "I will deliver the potions to the Hospital Wing tomorrow morning. I expect to see you tomorrow evening at the same time…"
"Yes, sir."
Hermione stood awkwardly as Snape put away the jars of ingredients. It was clear she wasn't dismissed…but why?
"I —" Snape cut himself off as he set a jar down just a bit too loudly. Hermione jumped at the noise. "You would do well to remember that I — damn it, Granger! — why would you not seek help? Have you forgotten that I've carried His mark on my arm nearly as long as you've been alive! Of all people, Granger, I understand a dark curse. A damned scar eating away at your very soul! I —" he spun around and Hermione nearly tumbled backward at the intensity in his eyes.
The stared at one another. Both of them predator and both of them prey. Two terrifying and equally terrified souls. They could feel their magic expanding like air in a balloon about to pop. And then Snape looked away.
The moment ended.
Hermione could breathe again.
"Goodnight, Apprentice Granger."
She grabbed her bag and ran.
