Author's note: I decided to continue this story. I'll hopefully be posting again soon. If you couldn't tell from the first chapter, I myself am vegan, and I really enjoy writing about it in the context of Harry Potter. For anyone who is interested, Evanna Lynch (the actress who played Luna Lovegood) has a podcast called the Chickpeeps on which she discusses veganism. There is even an episode about veganism and Harry Potter, which inspired me to write this fic. Please read and review!
Hermione had taken Professor Snape's words to heart. It seemed highly unlikely she would be able to do much for the house elves now. Perhaps in the future she could write for the Ministry in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures (though that name alone did not bode well). For now, though, she figured she'd focus on her private potion lessons. She started considering brewing potions as a career; if she found alternatives to other potions while only using plant-based ingredients, she could make at least a slight impact.
Despite putting S.P.E.W. efforts on hold, Hermione was not eating in the Great Hall, aside from raw fruits and vegetables; she didn't know the ingredients in the food prepared, and when she went down to the kitchens to inquire, the house elves were reluctant to acknowledge her.
Instead, she requested a kitchen be added to her room; since there weren't many from her year who returned to finish their 7th year, each student got their own room, and they were able to modified if need be. She planned to assist Hagrid with his creatures in exchange for some of his vegetables and to go to Hogsmeade for whatever else she needed.
…
On Saturday morning at 7, Hermione knocked on Professor Snape's office door.
"Yes, come in," he called and she walked in. There was only one cauldron set up at the front of the room, a few tables away from Professor Snape's desk, at which he was yet again grading papers.
He paused for a moment and looked up at Hermione, who had already set her bag down at the station he prepared for her. "The instructions are on that paper there, when you're done just let me know and I'll come over and evaluate it. If you have any questions… well, I'm sure you're competent enough to figure it out for yourself. Do try not to disturb me." Again, a veiled compliment.
Without the distractions of other students brewing, careless and clumsy, Hermione found herself immersed in the process. She hardly noticed when Professor Snape would pause from grading and observe her for a minute. At first he was offended that he couldn't shake her concentration with a glare as he was able to with practically anyone else, then he had to admit he was impressed. He knew he made the right choice offering her private lessons.
After two hours (plant-based potions were typically more time consuming than the standard potionsstudents brewed), Hermione made a noise, "Professor Snape, my potion is finished."
Snape took his time, making her wait a few moments before standing up and walking over to her station. Just from looking at it, he knew it was perfectly brewed. However, he would not tell her that, "It's adequate. Please bottle it up and bring it to my desk. After that you can go."
Hermione nodded and silently bottled her potion. Though he said her potion was only adequate, Hermione was satisfied that he hadn't had anything negative to say about it. She brought it up to his desk then retrieved her bag and turned back to look at her professor, feeling slightly awkward without the formal dismissal. "Have a nice day, sir."
As she moved to leave he responded, "I noticed you are still not eating in the Great Hall. I hope you're not being stupid."
Did he care? Hermione wondered. She shook her head, "No, sir. I have a small kitchen in my room and I'm planning to cook for myself from here on out. I'll be taking care of Hagrid's animals on the weekends in exchange for vegetables and I'll go to Hogsmeade when I can to pick up anything else."
Snape nodded his head forward a fraction. "Good," he grunted his approval. He then added, "I take it you'll be at Hagrid's today?"
"Yes."
"If you're still down there this evening you can assist me in collecting ingredients from the forbidden forest," he added, "consider it part of your lessons if you wish."
"Yes, sir. Thank you. I'll be there." Hermione scurried away before he could change his mind.
"Of course you'll be there," Severus said to the empty room, "When has the know-it-all ever rejected extra work?"
…
Hermione enjoyed her day at Hagrid's. She got to check in on the bowtruckles and count how many were living in the vines on Hagrid's Hut, and she even got to see a kneazle give birth to a litter of eight kittens. As the sun set, Hermione noticed one of the kittens was having difficulty nursing. So, Hagrid allowed her to bottle feed kneazle kitten while he checked on the plimpies.
Hermione was nearly in tears of joy holding the small kitten in her arms. She muttered soothingly to it, talking about Crookshanks, her own half-kneazle, when she heard footsteps approaching. It was Professor Snape. She hoped he would remain quiet so as not to startle the small bundle in her arms. She somehow knew she wouldn't have to worry about that; Snape was always quiet, always careful.
When Professor Snape was close enough, Hermione explained quietly, "It's a kneazle kitten. She wasn't nursing so I'm bottle-feeding her. She should be done in a moment, I would give her to Hagrid, but I'm not too sure where he is at the moment," Hermione knew she was rambling, but she couldn't help it.
Snape just eyed her, not necessarily in a glare, but more exasperated, "I suppose she's safer in your hands anyways; she's so small I'd expect Hagrid could accidentally crush her."
Hermione could tell there was no malice in his voice, and grinned slightly. She could, at times, appreciate his dry sense of humor. As much as he had changed since the war, it was comforting to know that didn't change.
When the bottle was empty and the kitten was asleep a few minutes later, Hermione set it down gently next to it's siblings, all curled around their mother. She stood up and looked expectantly at Professor Snape. "What will we be collecting?"
"Dittany leaves," Snape responded.
Hermione's eyes widened. She had to save so many galleons to get her bottle of essence of dittany she took on the run with the boys. "I wasn't aware dittany grew in the forest."
Professor Snape led the way into the forest, with his wand lit. "Yes, well it's not common knowledge. It's well hidden; dittany usually grows in the presence of devil's snare and venomous tentacula. That's why it's so potent; it's resistance to those plants gives it healing properties." He looked at her doubtfully, "I trust you won't be sharing this information or using it for yourself? This dittany plant is only to be used to supply potions to the Hospital Wing. That's why it was originally planted out here."
Hermione nodded, "Of course, sir. I would never break your trust like that or steal such an invaluable ingredient."
"Unless it's to make polyjuice potion, correct?" Snape said. Hermione's heart sank. He did know about her making polyjuice in hr second year. Hermione opened her mouth to start apologizing, but Snape held up a hand to silence her, "It's alright, Granger. Believe me, I would have punished you back then, but I think your, um, transformation was punishment enough," he smirked. "And honestly, I was too impressed that you were able to brew such a complex potion that I couldn't scold you." When Hermione grinned slightly, Snape added, "I was furious though, don't get me wrong."
"Yes, sir," Hermione said quietly, wanting to end the discussion. After about a few minutes in silence, Hermione heard Snape sigh, clearly irritated. Hermione followed his eyes to see none other than Luna Lovegood's silvery-blonde hair, her back turned to them as she fed a thestral.
Without looking, she said, "Good evening, Professor Snape."
"Miss Lovegood," Snape acknowledged her and then continued to walk. Hermione trailed behind, confused. Students were not supposed to be in the forbidden forest unsupervised. And especially after dark; at this point, she shouldn't even be outside of the castle.
Hermione couldn't help but ask, "Is Luna out here often?" Snape nodded but gave no information. Hermione continued, "Is someone aware that's she's out here? I mean, she could be in danger…"
"Thestrals are hardly dangerous," Snape rolled his eyes.
"Well, obviously," Hermione said, "I guess I'm just surprised you're ok with a student being in the forbidden forest."
Professor Snape shrugged, "If she finds peace out here, who am I to take that away?"
"Wow, that's very ki-"
"And honestly, the less I have to converse with Miss Lovegood, the better. I can only handle so much nonsense in a day."
There's the Professor Snape I know, Hermione thought with a small smile. She was glad her expression was hidden in the darkness. She wanted to ask him so many questions, hear more from the man she knew for so long, who was still such a mystery, but she kept her mouth shut.
When they reached a small clearing with one lone tree in the middle, Snape put on heavy gloves. Hermione noticed the devil's snare growing around the base of the tree, forming almost a cage around it.
"Is the dittany in there?"
"Yes," Snape answered, "I know you are familiar with devil's snare. Just remain calm, don't be stupid. Once we are past the devil's snare, you'll assist me. I will be picking the dittany leaves, and you will be keeping the venomous tentacula out of the way. Put these on," he shoved a pair of gloves into her hands and walked towards the devil's snare, leaning into it, allowing it to cover him.
Hermione breathed, putting on her gloves, and followed him.
I hope you enjoyed!