Hermione was slightly horrified that she hadn't thought through those words before she'd said them aloud. Nevertheless, she decided to continue voicing her concerns about working with him from the start.
"Don't get me wrong, Professor. I would love the opportunity to work with you and to learn from you. But it seems as if you are only doing this to avoid teaching younger students who don't appreciate potions. If that is the case, I'm not sure you'd be putting much effort into teaching the Know-It-All. I'd prefer a teacher who wasn't coerced into teaching me."
Snape surprised her then. He chuckled. There might have even been a small smile on his face after she said that.
"Touché, Miss Granger. I see that your brain hasn't gone soft after all. Humor me. Tell me about your experiments in a little bit more detail; tell me about your requirements in a teacher; tell me about those you've come across in your research. In return, I promise that I won't offer again to take you on as an apprentice if I can't put myself fully into your teaching. Agreed?"
Hermione decided this sounded fair, and explained a bit about the research she'd done on the process of turning spells into potions, the lack of insight various researchers had previously showed on the subject, the potential for working fields together into a potion that could be used by all to enhance or improve magical skills. Snape said nothing while she spoke, only nodding or frowning thoughtfully when an idea or criticism came to him. He wrote a couple of notes down, but mainly sat quietly without critiquing her. Hermione realized that he was truly trying to take her seriously, albeit to save himself from teaching younger, less experienced students, and gave him credit for the attempt.
Finally, she handed him the list of names she'd come up with earlier in the day. He chuckled again as he was reading, startling her once more.
"You and Minerva apparently think alike, Miss Granger. James MacDonald is being contacted about the permanent teaching position here at Hogwarts, should I choose to teach you privately instead. That would work out in your favor; you could learn from two Masters instead of one," he paused. "Do you want to hear what I know of these others?"
"Please. Any advice you can offer would be appreciated." Hermione realized that he was finally treating her with some respect for her ideas, and hoped that he'd be forthcoming about information with the others she was considering.
"I knew Henri when I was younger and was surprised he chose Potions as a field of study. He's very flamboyant, loud and... demands attention. That's why he calls himself "Matisse": he thinks of Potions in the same way one thinks of art, and proceeds accordingly. He doesn't mind if his potions have no realistic use – they are a piece of art. He is dangerous because he doesn't think about what failure in a potion could mean: explosion, deadly fumes, melted cauldrons. He simply thinks that failed potions are like failed artwork: decidedly not good, but not dangerous.
"Amanda I do not know personally, but I do know that she covered up a bit of trouble a few years back involving a potion she claimed could make people fly – it was nothing more than Armadillo bile with a few muggle hallucinogens thrown in to give the appearance of flying. She'd jump at the chance to take you as an apprentice, though." He handed the list back to her. "And as for the 'dungeon bat,' Miss Granger," Hermione cringed, remembering that she hadn't edited that part out of her personal list, "I do believe that I could help you with this idea of yours. Should MacDonald take my position as Potions Master at Hogwarts, we could potentially work out a dual-apprenticeship, if you're interested."
Hermione was stunned with this information. She thought about what Snape had just told her, considered the process she'd have to go through to find anyone else willing to take her on as an apprentice. She also registered the fact that Snape may be portraying these people in a negative light in order to encourage her to take an apprenticeship with him. With all of these thoughts running through her head, she finally decided on what she needed to do.
"Professor Snape, do you mind if I take some time to think about all of this, and send you an owl tonight or tomorrow about my decision? I should think that a dual-apprenticeship with you and Mr. MacDonald would benefit me greatly, but I need to speak to Minerva about the likelihood of him coming to Hogwarts. I also, no offense, need to think about your sincerity in your offer. I do think you're trying to respect my research, but an offer because of blackmail is a hard offer to accept, you see."
Again, Snape laughed.
"Indeed. Thank Merlin you're using your head. Maybe you won't be such a pain to teach, after all. If I may take the liberty, Hermione, I'll write to James myself and see if he'd be willing to work with us on this. I'll let you know when I hear back from him."
"Thank you, Professor. That sounds reasonable." She stood to leave. "I appreciate your help, and even though Minerva is interfering, I do appreciate the fact that you're willing to think about this apprenticeship." She closed the door behind her as she left.
Severus tapped his finger thoughtfully on his desk after she walked out of his office. Interfering indeed. However, it was beginning to look like this apprenticeship idea wasn't terrible, after all.
--
Hermione stood in the corridor, catching her breath for a moment. She had supposed that Snape was inviting her down so that he could pawn her off to another Potions Master. She hadn't considered the fact that he might offer to take her on himself. He seemed genuine enough; not happy, mind, but genuine enough that he wasn't completely being forced into this offer. The added bonus of MacDonald maybe coming to teach at Hogwarts as well was an idea that Hermione could not refuse. Perhaps she could speak to Minerva about splitting time between the two professors, gaining insight into both Defense and Charms in conjunction with Potions... She smiled. Hopefully Severus' news about Mr. MacDonald would be favorable.
She returned to her room and sent an owl off to Kingsley with an update, explaining that she wouldn't need to meet with him until after Severus had heard from James MacDonald. She'd continue to update him on her situation, though, and hoped that maybe they could go out to dinner at some point once everything was settled to talk about Ministry funding for her ideas.
She sent owls off to both Harry and Ron before she fell asleep, telling them about all of the exciting things that had happened in the last two days since they'd left. They were just short notes, but she hoped she'd have a chance to write to them again later.
Exhausted, Hermione crawled into bed and passed out. Her dreams that night, though she didn't remember them, involved strong arms wrapping around hers, showing her precisely the best way to chop Mandarin roots for a complex potion.
--
Brendon arrived the next morning, ready to help Hermione put her library in order. He explained that once the library was charmed to organize itself according to Hermione's wishes, it wouldn't matter if the books were relocated (Hermione had expressed concern over the organizing system not working once she moved into her own flat).
"Of course," he added coyly when she said this, "I'm always willing to come over to your flat and help you reorganize, if something goes wrong."
Hermione smiled at him in thanks, and they got down to work. They had to cast reading charms, categorizing charms, self-updating charms, recognition charms, and thought-sensing charms on every one of Hermione's numerous books. When they were done, however, Hermione waved her wand and thought of which subjects she wanted readily available, and the books all shifted and reorganized according to her request. She was delighted.
"Brendon, thank you so much! This is going to be wonderfully helpful when I start my apprenticeship!" Hermione was gushing, but she didn't really care. After all, it's not every day someone comes along and gives you a research tool that pulls exactly the books you need from a vast library. In fact, she was thinking about offering this kind of update to the Hogwarts library. Madam Pince would be grateful to only have to wave her wand and think of a subject, idea, or spell when a student asked for help locating research materials.
"It was a pleasure!" He beamed at her unexpected praise. "Can I take you out to dinner later, maybe, to celebrate your new and improved library?" He looked so nervous, so sincere, that Hermione couldn't say no. They agreed to meet in Hogsmeade around six.
After Brendon had left, an owl appeared at Hermione's window. She didn't recognize the owl or the handwriting, and eagerly tore the letter open to find that it was from James MacDonald.
Miss Granger,
I just received a floo call from your old professor, Severus Snape. He offered me his position at Hogwarts as Potions Master, should I come out of me hiding here in Scotland. He says that you're an exceptionally bright student looking to study Potions in tandem with other fields of study. Severus seemed to think that he could sit on his fanny, teaching you part time, me teaching you part time and teaching all seven years of students on top of that. I abused him of this idea most readily.
Hermione's heart fell, but she kept reading on.
I did have another suggestion that seemed to appeal to Severus, though you'll have to ask him what he thinks. I told him that he could teach the upper years, fifth through seventh, and I could teach the younguns. Then we'd both teach you half time. He says you have some interesting ideas that might prove to change potions as we know it. He doesn't say things like that much, lassie, so I'm willing to take a chance on you. Talk to Severus when you get this. See what he thought about my idea, and we'll go from there. I can be at Hogwarts next week to start your training, if this works for you.
J. MacDonald