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Minerva gasped, then glared at the Potions Master. Snape was as close to gleeful as Hermione had ever seen him. He'd sustained his self satisfied smirk for more than ten seconds, and looked even more pleased with himself when he heard the Headmistress' reaction.
"Severus!" Minerva seemed shocked and hurt by his abrupt announcement. Obviously, Hermione wasn't the only one who didn't know what he'd been planning. "Wha – why? Voldemort's gone, you can –"
"Indeed, Minerva. Very astute. I loathed teaching dunderheads every year so I could maintain my role as a spy for Dumbledore and Voldemort. I sat through years of hell, grading sophomoric papers, written by children who neither know nor care about the importance of Potions outside the classroom. I refuse to sit here for years longer because my retirement might hurt your feelings. I was going to turn in my notice later today, but Miss Granger forced my hand. Good luck filling the position. I will be out of my rooms by tomorrow morning." Severus had rolled his eyes and assumed his lecturing-to-first-year-idiotic-children voice while he recited this. At the end of his announcement, he swooped out of the room and down the stairs before Minerva had a chance to react.
He wasn't stupid. Once Minerva got a hold of herself, she'd be pestering him about staying. She'd probably be joined by the Granger brat, begging for a Master to study under. "Well, too bad," Severus thought with a self-satisfied smirk, "I refuse to put up with the Know-It-All now that You-Know-Who is gone. She'd probably be more torture than he ever was..."
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Minerva still stared at the place Severus had stood while announcing his departure from the staff. The nerve of that man! How dare he insult her by casually announcing his retirement, treating the whole profession of teaching with disdain, and then leave the room before she could respond? Oh, if Minerva knew one thing, it was this: Severus was not going to get away with that quite so easily.
"Hermione, I fully support your ideas and I think you out of anyone I know could probably pull this off. Ignore Severus. He seems to think he can act like a dungeon bat forever. Now, forgive me, dear. I have some contracts to review before our dear Potions Master can leave the castle." Minerva's eyes glinted dangerously.
Hermione did not quite understand Minerva's anger through her own disappointment. After all, Severus had been her one hope through the planning of this venture. No other Potions Master in the world was quite so experienced in defending himself against the Dark Arts; no other of his caliber would have thought of accepting her as a pupil without some outside training. Hermione sighed bitterly. The one time she thought she had the perfect solution, the key ingredient blew up in her face. Damn.
"Thanks Minerva," she mumbled as she rose and left the office.
"Hermione, dear?" she heard her former professor calling after her.
Glancing up, she allowed herself some hope.
"Don't take Severus too personally. He may just need some... persuasion."
Hermione gave Minerva a small grin and walked down the spiral staircase. Never one to leave her future to chance, she decided to research other Potions Masters in the world to see if there were any others suitable to take her on as an apprentice. Now, right after Voldemort's downfall, her name was being circulated around the world as the girl who found out how to defeat the Dark wizard. Surely, just this once, she could use that fame to her advantage?
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Hermione entered the Great Hall for breakfast the next day feeling much more determined than the night before. Severus had sent over Godine's article on the failure of his spell-potions, and she had read it with an ever growing contempt. The man hadn't even put into practice runes theories, or different forms of potions – he'd stuck only to liquid potions that had to be imbibed. She already had ideas, theories and plans that superseded the best of his. She knew that the best option was to put the potion into a form that most resembled the spell itself. Lotion for a shield spell, as it covered the skin and formed a barrier; vapor for the Patronus spell so it could meld in the air to form the protective creature. This was obvious. Godine's approach was laughable, and hardly news-worthy.
"Professor Snape, may I speak to you privately for a moment, please?" she smiled innocently at the Potions professor, who looked like he simply wanted to enjoy his last meal at Hogwarts in peace.
"After breakfast, Granger," he drawled.
"Of course, sir. I'll just wait here for you to finish." Hermione knew that she couldn't take the chance of turning her back on him for a moment, and settled herself into a chair directly in sight of his. After his glee yesterday at refusing her request, she wouldn't put it past him to simply walk away and leave Hogwarts without speaking a word to her.
Severus groaned inwardly. Who did this impudent chit think she was? She only graduated a month ago, she's still sleeping in the student dorms, and yet she thinks she can get away with such outrageous nonsense? "Miss Granger, leave me be. We will speak later."
"I beg your pardon, Professor, but then may we speak now? I have a busy day ahead, and I know you'd hate to miss me before you leave." She was laying it on thick, but she knew she had to speak with him today. It was her only chance to get his attention.
"Fine, go ahead. Speak. What is it you want, girl? I am trying to eat my breakfast." A thought dawned on Severus as he tried to control his irritation at the eighteen-year-old: he should never have made another public appearance at Hogwarts after the scene he pulled with Granger and Minerva yesterday. He should have known they'd find a way to pay him back.
"Godine never fully thought out his experiment. You knew that yesterday but were still unwilling to even consider working with me on this project. Why? You are the one who derides "silly wand-waving." You are the best in your field who is also experienced in the Dark Arts and their defense. I need an instructor who can show me how to combine the two, not one who is just brilliant in Potions. I looked yesterday, sir. There are no other Potions Masters or Mistresses with even close to your level of experience in another field – one hit wonders, if you will. Please, sir. I ask this from the bottom of my heart. Could you spare me a year? Or less? Any time learning from and working with you would allow me to accomplish this idea, I know it! Please, sir?" Hermione trailed off, uncertain. Snape had simply continued eating his eggs and drinking his coffee, not looking at her, while she spoke. "Sir?"
"Oh, was I supposed to dignify your groveling with a response? I told you yesterday: I. Am. Retiring. I will not return to teaching, not even an apprentice, not even a Know-It-All, not even the smartest part of the Golden Trio. I would like some time for myself for a while. It is a luxury I have never had. So while your plea is pathetic, Granger, you think of only yourself in asking. Let me finish my breakfast in peace, now." His voice had grown dangerously quiet, his onyx eyes boring into hers in pure annoyance.
"I am not thinking of myself. You are. I am trying to help people, to make the world better, and all I asked for was some tutoring from you. You selfish bastard!" Hermione screamed. All of the professors who were still at Hogwarts turned their eyes to her. "If you don't want to help me, or anyone else but yourself, then fine. Your efforts as a spy would have all been a waste, and you can live out your pathetic, miserable life alone!" She shrieked the last bit, and stormed out of the hall.
Minerva chuckled. "Severus, you do realize that your contract doesn't run out until a year from now, don't you? You must return a significant portion of your wages if you plan on leaving today..." Her grin was positively feral.
Severus stared, uncomprehending, for just a moment. "WHAT?"