Chapter 2: Surprise Surprise
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and words belong to the brilliant J.K. Rowling and not to me.
A/N: Thank you ever so much to my beta, Moon Revel
The next day, Severus Snape sat at his desk carefully perusing his sample Potions syllabi for each year. At exactly five o'clock he looked up expectantly and was not surprised to hear the rat a tat tat of Hermione's knocking. He emitted a gruff, "Enter."
Hermione came in smiling and looking thoroughly thrilled to be there.
Why is that silly girl grinning so stupidly? People do not generally come into my presence looking so happy without an agenda, Snape thought.
"What is it?" he barked at her.
Her smiled rapidly faded away, and she began to speak cautiously. "Pardon me, sir. I am just so distinctly pleased by the opportunity to learn from one so accomplished and brilliant as you are in the exact art and science that is Potion making."
Snape was momentarily stunned that she remembered the words with which he had once passionately described Potions. Then her words of praise struck him, but he knew better than to believe them. She had to be using flattery so that he would go easier on her. Well, she's got another thing coming, then!
Hermione continued, "I do hope that we can have a truly productive working relationship this year. I am eager to learn from you, and I hope to be a very pleasing apprentice, Severus."
Snape suddenly stood and glared at Hermione. She jumped back a bit, unnerved by his sudden change in demeanor. Slowly, with danger threatening subtly beneath his words, he asked, "How did you just address me, Miss Granger?"
Hermione looked positively aghast at Snape's reaction. "I do apologize, sir," she said. "I just thought that since I am no longer your student—"
"Enough," Snape spat. He looked at Hermione for a moment before continuing. She was not a Hogwarts student anymore, true enough. She was a fellow staff member… but was it not a bit presumptuous to acknowledge the change in their status so quickly? After all, he was still her mentor. Yet, he also could not help admiring her desire to quickly set herself as his equal. Ambitious. Still, it was just simply inappropriate!
"Miss Granger," Snape continued, putting much emphasis on the title he addressed her with, "it is my job to mentor you as you take on this new teaching role. In that regard, I see you still as my student, and therefore I shall watch your progress carefully. When I feel that you are quite capable enough in this endeavor, then I shall take into consideration your status as a fellow staff member."
"Certainly, sir," she replied. "I want to express my gratitude that you are willing to take me on as your apprentice."
"Oh?" Snape said, allowing an expression of curious disbelief to cross his face. "I was under the impression that you hoped to teach Transfiguration. Why is it you are so insufferably excited about taking on Potions instead?"
"Well, sir, while I do love Transfiguration, I had no idea that Potions would be available to teach. Of course, I was very surprised that neither you nor Professor Slughorn had elected to teach it, but it was a pleasant surprise, and I am gratified to have been asked."
Realizing they were both still standing, Snape gestured for her to sit in a chair, and he returned to his desk chair and sat facing her. Hermione's avid interest in pursuing an education in Potions was mystifying to Snape, and he was filled with the insatiable desire to quench his curiosity about the matter. Nodding to her, he asked, "So what do you hope to gain out of a continued education in Potions and from teaching it to others?"
"Well, sir, you may have noticed that I have a certain… fondness for reading books and learning as much as I can," Hermione said as she gestured toward Snape's massive bookshelves with a lusty gleam in her eye.
Crossing his arms and leaning back, Snape snorted in response and muttered, "Know-it-all!" under his breath.
Hermione pretended she didn't hear his retort and went on to say, "Potions is different. It's special. I've already learned what I could about potion making from books, but potion making is an art form as well, isn't it, sir?"
Snape gave her the slightest nod, inwardly smiling at the girl's unpredicted passion.
"Well, if I am to challenge myself and my abilities, I need to go beyond the realm of book learning. I know you are an artist in this form—you can vastly improve even the most well-rounded potions with your inspired, subtle changes."
"Miss Granger!" Snape was startled. No one had ever shown such appreciation for Potions before. All of a sudden he longed to share his mastered secrets with her . . . show her how subtle and beautiful his creations really were. Snape cleared his throat, but found himself uncharacteristically not knowing what to say. "How—?" he began to ask, but he paused again.
Hermione took the silence as permission to continue speaking. "It was the book, sir. Your Advanced Potion Making book…"
"Ah, indeed," said Snape. He knew that the Potter boy had gotten his unworthy hands on it. He looked at Hermione and said, "That reminds me, I must ask Potter to return my book to me. Now tell me more about how this book influenced you, Miss Granger."
"Well, sir, at first I found the book repulsive, and I just utterly hated it."
"Oh?"
"Yes, well, I was not willing to believe that the book's scribbled deviations from the original instructions could be better. How could anything be better than the standardized methods? Yet, time and time again, Harry produced the better results, and I admit that it had me feeling just a little bit incensed."
Snape smirked, feeling rueful, but keeping his outward composure as detached and cold as usual. "So Miss-Know-It-All finally gets outdone. I knew Potter was good for something." She glared at him, looking as if she were barely constraining an angry retort. Snape just nodded and said, "Do continue, Miss Granger."
Hermione took in a deep breath and bit her bottom lip, composing herself. Then she went on, "Well, it's not only that the potion making methods were better; I also did not trust the anonymous author."
"A wise judgment on the whole," Snape said. "So then what did you do when you learned the identity of the Half-Blood Prince?"
"Well, I was really torn, sir. It was a relief to find out it was you, actually, and it all made sense, but…" her voice faltered, but the look on Snape's face urged her to continue, "but you had just killed… you know—"
"Yes, yes, I do know," Snape spat rather irritably. "I see where you are going. Skip ahead and tell me how your revulsion and appalled incredulity turned into admiration of my potion-making skills."
Hermione sighed and then said, "Although I had always secretly admired the genius mind who created the alterations to the potions and invented all those spells, I finally allowed myself to fully appreciate it when I knew you had not really betrayed us."
Snape inwardly thrilled at Hermione essentially referring to him as a genius. "I see. So, you are ready to expand your knowledge beyond the realm of books. How admirable. I am surprised you did not go in for a Divination apprenticeship!" he said with a quirky smile.
Hermione nearly choked at his expression, at the teasing inflection of his voice, but the absurdity of his suggestion was enough to make her overlook it for now and come back with a retort, "I said I wanted to expand my knowledge, sir. I did not say I wanted to throw knowledge out a tower window and strut around acting All-Knowing."
Snape's mouth twitched, and he let out a chuckle. It was a brief chuckle because he managed to regain control of himself, feeling appalled that he had let that slip. Damn that witch, Snape thought. I have been impressed against my will, I have been flattered to the point of nearly blushing, and she has me cracking smiles and chuckling!
Hermione noticed Snape's face went from showing amused emotion to being shadowed and looking cross once again. "Sir?" she inquired.
"Miss Granger, I think we've talked quite enough for today. If it should be convenient for you, I wish for you to return tomorrow at the same time so we may begin discussing your course outline."
"Certainly, Professor," Hermione said.
"Good. I also have been given an extensive task—making new potions for a Ministry project. I shall wish to have your assistance with it as it will be quite laborious work, especially given the many extra responsibilities I have already this year."
Hermione's eyes widened, and she responded, "Certainly, sir. I would be glad to help. I would help you any way I could so that it is not so much of a burden for you to mentor me."
Snape only said, "Hmmmph," and then, "well, you are excused, Miss Granger."
Hermione stood and headed for the door, turning around to say, "Goodnight, Professor."
She paused, apparently awaiting his reply. Snape looked down at the parchment in front of him, his brow furrowed. Hermione sighed then turned to leave, and Snape looked up. "Goodnight, Miss Granger."
Later that night, Hermione lay in her bed in her bedroom at the flat she was renting for the summer. Harry and Ron had left a little while ago. They had come over with a batch of Ogden's Old Firewhisky, which they all drank to celebrate the beginning of their new careers. Hermione felt a little light-headed, so she lay down to get some rest.
Before long, Hermione was drifting in that place between waking and sleeping. Half-conscious, half-dreaming, images came unbidden to her mind. She saw Severus Snape inspecting the finished result of a complicated potion she had brewed. Severus turned to Hermione and offered her his congratulations. Then, before she knew it, he had swept down and kissed her—passionately.
The shocking image stirred Hermione to consciousness. "I must be more intoxicated than I thought," she mumbled to herself. Sighing, she finally drifted off into a deep sleep, not remembering any of her dreams the following morning.
Severus Snape had elected to remain living in his quarters at Hogwarts castle for the summer. He had too much work to do, and he needed to be close to the Potions lab. After his meeting with Miss Granger, he lounged in a comfy armchair next to his fireplace, his mind lost in thought. Never had anyone caught him so off guard like she did. After all his years of diligent spy work, he was shocked that anyone could break his carefully controlled barrier and discover the emotions underneath. She was certainly a passionate witch! I wonder what else she could be passionate about? Snape thought wryly. Suddenly overwhelmed by his thoughts, Snape threw back a shot of Ogden's Old Firewhisky and threw himself on his midnight blue-blanketed bed, not caring that he had not yet changed into his black, silk pajama pants. He willed sleep to come, and finally it did.