Chapter 6-Apprenticeship and Teaching
Professor Severus Snape,
It is my pleasure to congratulate you on receiving your first apprentice! From now on, Miss Hermione Granger will take over your first year class and be in the potions classroom at eight o'clock every evening to assist you in your research. She shows excellent inclinations in the direction of potions and I am sure you will find her a pleasure to work with. (She did tie with your O.W.L. score in potions.)
You are also mandated to escort her back to the Head Boy's rooms every night if someone else cannot do so. This is of utmost importance. Miss Granger will, at some time in the near future, be in more danger than ever. She must not be alone.
You will also be required to sit in on her first class and both of you will report to me directly following the conclusion of said class. In addition to this, you will observe her class at least once every six weeks.
Failure to accomplish any of the above tasks will result in unfortunate circumstances. Again, congratulations and have another fantastic year as Potions Master.
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
P.S.-Miss Granger happens to share some of your interests. I fully encourage both of you to pursue if not a friendship with one another, to at least be civil at all times. This does include all of the young people who have chosen to be Miss Granger's friend.
Snape started shaking violently as he read the letter and gave the Headmaster his most evil glare. "I. Will. Not. Allow that slip of a girl take over my first years! Over. My. Dead. Body. I have never taken an apprentice and I do not plan on changing that enjoyable tradition." Snape threw the letter into the fire and began pacing wildly around his private chambers while Dumbledore was watching him in amusement.
"As much as some would like to arrange that for you, I'm afraid that I need you alive, Severus. Close your mouth, son. You will take Miss Granger on as an apprentice and you will supervise the classes she teaches from time to time. Nothing else will be satisfactory. Do we understand each other now?" Dumbledore lifted his right eyebrow to emphasize his point.
Severus stopped pacing. Bloody old codger! Meddling, insufferable, fool! He sighed. Severus had never won an argument with Albus and for some strange reason he didn't think that today would be his lucky day. "As you wish, Headmaster." Severus said tightly. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have some brandy that is positively screaming my name." Severus stalked toward the fireplace and gestured to it. A not so subtle hint for a thick-skulled Gryffindor.
"As long as you're sobered up by classes on Monday. I'll see you at breakfast in the Great Hall bright and early then." Dumbledore rose and tossed a pinch of floo powder into the fireplace. "Headmaster's Office." And with that, he was gone.
Severus groaned and collapsed into his chair in front of the fireplace, absently accio'd his brandy, and knocked it back without even bothering to pour some into a glass.
Severus just managed to sober up before he was required to show up at breakfast in the Great Hall. Fun, fun. Monday was the worst day of the week, Severus thought as he ferociously pulled on his robes. He stormed into the Great Hall and took his place at the Staff Table without making eye contact with anyone.
Without warning, Albus stood up and the Hall fell silent. "Good morning everyone. I have some splendid news. One of your own has managed to become the first apprentice Professor Snape has ever accepted. Please, give your congratulations to Miss Hermione Granger." And with that, Albus sat down and resumed eating.
Everyone's dismayed gaze was on Hermione. She fought hard not to wilt. This was not how she had hoped the news would be spread. All around her, once they managed to recover their voices, were a few faint congratulations. Those well wishes were nearly drowned out by many 'it was nice knowing you' and 'what kind of music do you wish to have at her funeral' kind of comments. She slyly smiled and shot a look toward Professor Snape. He wasn't happy with the way Headmaster Dumbledore announced this either. At least the Headmaster hadn't announced her teaching this morning. She rose and headed back for her room. She knew exactly how she was going to teach her first class.
The first years were slightly confused when they walked into the potions classroom to see a Siberian Tiger prowling in-between the desks and Professor Snape sitting at the back of the classroom. They were in for it. The Gryffindors automatically separated from the Slytherins, the Gryffindors on the left and the Slytherins on the right.
It was time for class to start and Professor Snape was still sitting calmly at the back of the room with a scowl etched on his face. Whispered conversation began all over the room. The classroom abruptly fell silent as the tiger jumped into the air and Miss Granger appeared in its place.
Hermione cleared her throat. All eyes were focused on her, including a pair of obsidian eyes that pierced her. She gathered her Gryffindor courage around her and sneered. This would be one class they never forgot. Watch and learn Professor, she sent to him silently, watch and learn.
"As Professor Snape so eloquently puts it, you are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making." Her voice was soft, dangerous. The students looked around nervously, then refocused on Hermione as she stepped toward them. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through the human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses…I can even teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death."
The class started to relax, Hermione's speech had a hypnotic flow. Most students started to giggle excitedly…they wouldn't have to be taught by Snape!
"My little serpents," she hissed, shocking the class into silence once more, "if you think for one instant that you can slither past me, you are wrong. It would bode well for your health if you remembered who I associate with outside of the classroom." The Gryffindors began sniggering at this, it was common knowledge that Miss Granger was involved with Draco Malfoy.
Hermione's head whipped around. "And my precious little lions," she said mockingly, "just because I am in your house does not, under any circumstances, give you special privileges. I will be referred to as Miss Granger or Apprentice Granger at all times." She stalked up to the front of the classroom, spun around with her robes floating eerily in her wake, and glared at each student individually. "If any of you step one toe over the line," her voice was growing softer by the minute, "you will wish that Professor Snape was in charge of your class. One mistake in this class can either injure you slightly or be the cause of your death. It would be sad to write home to your parents with this message: 'we regret to inform you that your child/children is/are dead because they were stupid!' You should recall that my Animagus takes on the form of a Siberian tiger. There are reasons for this. It would not be smart to find out those reasons personally." Hermione concluded her speech with a smirk worth of Lucius himself.
"Now since that is settled, the instructions for today are on the chalkboard. Break up into groups of two: one Gryffindor and one Slytherin." The first years were still frozen in their seats. "NOW!" she thundered. They scrambled to obey and immediately went to work.
Severus was stunned. Class was over. Not only had no one managed to explode any cauldrons, there were no injuries, even between lab partners. And her speech, she had recalled his infamous speech word for bloody word and she had remembered to give him credit. Stunned was too mild a word for what Severus was feeling at that precise moment. Pride, triumph, and a million other things floated by, whirled, and vanished as he dismissed them. I would have never expected Miss Granger to have such a commanding presence in her nor for her to have such a formidable Animagus form, Severus thought. But right now, he had to report to Dumbledore to inform him of Miss Granger's success. He would track Draco down later and talk to him…this was definitely a side of Hermione he had not seen and it intrigued him. He scowled. Damn, old boy, have you forgotten? She and Draco are bonded! She is your godson's girlfriend and a student to boot…only address her as Miss Granger.
Hermione had completely forgotten that Professor Snape was present and began to dance around the room. She reached up and allowed her hair down. Laughing as it spun out wildly with her movements. Her first class had been a complete success! No injures! No bad-mouthing little prats! Only respectful complacent students remained. Wow, this was an incredible feeling! She had done it!
"Miss Granger." Severus winced at his tone, he didn't mean to be that harsh. He could remember how it felt after the first class he taught successfully.
Hermione stopped, looking much like a deer caught in headlights. Bugger and bloody hell! How could she act so much like a kid in front of Professor Snape? She was supposed to be professional. She flushed scarlet and mumbled, "I'm sorry Professor. I forgot that no joy was allowed in the potions classroom."
Severus looked at her strangely for a minute. Hermione realized what she had said and tried to move past him. He grabbed her arm and growled. "Have you also forgotten that Dumbledore requested our presence in his office following your first class?" He paused. "I thought not." And with that, he forcibly escorted Hermione to the Headmaster's office.