A/N- Yay! More reviews! And I suppose I can't help it really, I can't seem to write much without the more natural humor of things work through. But don't worry; there will be more 'angst' in future chapters. And I will also try to get a longer chapter in here… Someday…
Disclaimer- dons the famous eyeglass-with-mustache disguise and whistles inconspicuously
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Chapter 6- Orientation Begins
A single pair of footsteps could be heard throughout the corridor. He frowned; she was far too noisy for her own good. He decided to make a mental note that he would train her also in the art of SILENCE, a very good thing to learn, really. He stared at the girl in front of him. She currently had on her Gryffindor uniform. That would definitely have to change. That, and that bloody hair of hers simply had to go. Frizzing out everywhere, ever since he had ever laid eyes on her. He had once thought she might actually have knotted it herself to attain that effect. Whatever happened to gentle curls? And if he ever heard anyone describe her hair as extremely curly one more time, he would hex them. It was NOT curly; it was like watching a chia-pet with legs. He had confiscated one once about a year ago from a student, and decided to watch it grow. It was actually a bit fascinating, really…
Snape swore at himself inwardly. He honestly should gain a better restraint upon his thoughts, especially when he needed to focus on other, more important things. Things like what in the bloody hell he was to do with Granger when breakfast was over, and not over the chia-pet that was still currently located atop his dresser. He would obviously give her a tour of his personal library, study and lab, a fact that he was not honestly looking forward to. He had never allowed anyone within those rooms before, not even Albus, and allowing a girl that he had loathed for a near seven years, entrance to his private rooms, was a rather disturbing thought to him.
Not that he could back down now, the girl had already signed the contract. And he couldn't murder her entirely on her very first day; it was simply unethical. So that settled it, no potion making this day. Besides, it looked as if she hadn't slept yet, and he wasn't about to have his lab blown up because he was foolish enough to allow it. No, he would simply have to come up with something else.
They finally arrived after what seemed an eternity in silence. At least, that was what Hermione thought. She smiled at the fact that the hall was empty except for them at the moment. She sighed, and started to head to her usual place when she heard Snape clear his throat from behind her. She stopped and whirled around on the balls of her feet. "Yes, Professor?"
He crossed his arms. "Two things, Miss Granger. The first, you are no longer a student here, so if you sit with the students for the next seven years, there would be a problem. You are to sit at the head table, next to me. Second, I am now your Master, so you shall now address me, as the title should indicate. Is this understood?"
"Y-yes Pr…Master Snape, I understand." She bit her lip as he narrowed his eyes at her, and then followed him when he started to move again. It would be strange, calling him by a different title, really. She had been so used to calling him 'Professor', she didn't think that she would be able to keep it straight at first. When he took his seat, she stood, looking like him like a fish out of water.
He raised a brow at her. "Is there something wrong, Miss Granger, that you must insistently hover over my shoulder?"
"Which side?" She must be looking like the fool…
"Pardon?"
"Which side should I sit in? I thought most of the seats were spoken for."
"They usually are." He hadn't thought of that. It would figure that she would actually ask where to bloody well sit. She had to ask questions about everything else after all, so why would this be any different? If he told her to his right, he would be sandwiched between McGonagall and Granger. But it must be, he wasn't about to let Minerva see directly the 'aftereffects' of what he had started to plan for the girl. No, it was best that way. He moved his arm towards his right. "You may sit there, Miss Granger."
She quickly took her seat, and not really wanting to annoy Snape any further, proceeded to stare at the table in front of her. And continued to stare, even after people had started to arrive.
She was annoying him. It had not even been a full day, and she was already starting to get on his nerves. Yes, it would definitely be a very long four years. The stupid girl was staring at the table for the past ten minutes, for crying out loud. And if he was correct, she hadn't blinked for at least five. Either the fact that she had not slept in well over a day was starting to take a toll on her, or she was deliberately trying to drive him mad. And if he knew her, it was more than likely both. Damn her.
It had to stop. He leaned over. "Miss Granger, is there a particularly interesting grain within the table that seems to have caught your interest? I do believe you have been staring at that same spot for at least ten minutes. And may I remind you that we are currently in public, and it seems that you are being stared at in current?"
She suddenly blinked, and looked up, half dazed. "Oh... I… What?" Ok, she definitely needed sleep.
Just as he was about to reply, he heard a gasp come from behind him. "Hermione Granger, what might I owe this pleasant surprise?"
"Good morning, Professor McGonagall."
"It seems, Minerva, that your perfect protégée has decided to take an apprenticeship, with myself."
Minerva's eyes went wide with shock, and she put her hand up to her mouth momentarily. "But Severus, you never cleared it with-"
"It isn't needed, Minerva. Albus has given us all express permission to take on apprentices at our own discretion. Besides, I myself only found out yesterday. It is not like I hunted her down with the contract and forced her to sign it, after all."
She turned her shocked gaze to Hermione, who gave her a tired smile. "You have already signed it then, Miss Granger?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes, early this morning."
Minerva gave her a thin, wary smile. "I see. Then I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor. You obviously want this badly, considering." She let her eyes pass by Snape for a moment before continuing quietly, "I just want you to remember that every Master of a craft teaches as their Master before them, Miss Granger. Perhaps you should have been more-" She was interrupted.
"I do believe that breakfast is about to be served, Minerva. You should take your seat." He let the words pass out of his mouth in a quiet hiss, and narrowed his eyes at her. It was far too soon to let her know the extent of what the contract entailed.
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As soon as breakfast was over, he ushered her out of the dining hall before Minerva decided to finish her earlier conversation with Granger. There was no doubt in his mind she would eventually find out about his own tutelage, but now was simply NOT the time for it. Besides, he was not in the mood for pity, nor extreme fear at the moment.
So instead, he directed her to his private library. "Pay close attention Miss Granger, you will need the sequence memorized if you want to study, and I will only demonstrate this once." She nodded, so he continued. "Tap the third brick here" he tapped it "Three times, and then say 'A mari parere vedera de descoperire', and the doorway shall appear. For the simple fact that I wish to know that you were actually paying attention, I desire you to do the action."
"Yes sir." She promptly took out her wand and repeated what he had told her, tapping the brick three times. "A mari parere vedera de descoperire." The bricks suddenly moved about in a fashion similar to the way they did at the entrance to Diagon Alley. How peculiar.
He sneered at her. "Congratulations, Miss Granger, you actually said it correctly on your first try. Now get in."
And as she entered, she gasped. This was no simple personal library at all. It was more than likely comparable to the fabled Alexandrian library, it was so magnificent. She could not tell how long she actually stood there admiring the gothic cathedral architecture of the large room, before she felt hot breath near her ear.
"Do close your mouth Miss Granger, you are beginning to remind me of a fish."
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A/N- Just in case you want to know, a mari parere vedera de descoperire means 'expand the mind's sight for discovery' in Romanian. The grammar may be a bit bad though, as I am not exactly fluent in Romanian. Anyways, thank you for reading, and as always, please review. I will try and get the next chapter up soon.