Greetings my fickle foe! This is my first attempt at a Harry/Snape Fan Fiction. I have no intentions of turning this into a slash fiction rather, it will be more of a guidance tale.

I will do my best to keep it as interesting as I can.

All reviwes are welcome. Whether they be good or bad, I don't mind. Flames will be laughed at .

Please note that this work is nought but Fanfiction. All recognisable characters and situations are the workings of J.K Rowling.

Any character or situation that does not sound familier is more then likely the workings of my own imagintaion.

Snape's Apprentice.

Chapter One: The Letter

Harry Potter sat upon his bed, staring blankly at his wooden study desk. It was your average desk: rectangle in shape, two drawers, a space to place a chair in and some initials carved into the surface. This desk had the honour of being furnished with a small green lamp, a Quidditch book and a magnificent black eagle feather quill. The desk also had the blissful honour of being home to Harry's growing collection of failed homework assignments. Normally, Harry would have enjoyed sitting at his desk skimming through the latest daily prophet, examining it for any hint of a Death Eater movement or otherwise.

Today however was different. Amongst the scattered bits of parchment, Owl pellets and quills, the newest addition to Harry's desk lay threateningly on top of a Transfiguration book. It was a letter. But not just any letter, oh no, this was a Hogwarts letter; sealed with the blood red official waxen insignia of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. It was addressed in emerald-green ink:

Mr H. Potter

The Smallest Bedroom

4 Privet Drive

Little Whinging

Surrey

Harry examined the thick yellow envelope. It was easily recognisable as a Hogwarts letter although slightly thicker then usual. The reason: inside that envelope were Harry's OWL results. He was nervous all right; the clench in his stomach told him that. What if he failed everything? How would he get a job? Snape would surely fail him, Snape hates him. No, he had to have gotten that O in Potions. He worked for it and did his best; of course he'll get it.

"What's the worse that can happen if I don't get an O?" Harry asked himself, a hint of forced laughter mingled in his tone of voce.

Oh, nothing of course, his mind told him nothing more then a crushed dream and a gloating Severus Snape in your face for the next two years.

Harry groaned at himself. His dream as of two years ago was to obtain a high position in the Auror office, if not; he wanted to at least become a member of the elite Auror team. Since his first year at Hogwarts, Harry had shown all the signs of being able to deal with surprise dark wizarding attacks. Having faced Voldemort and Co. on countless occasions, he had firmly decided in his fourth year that the Auror route was the one for him.

Hands trembling, he picked up the envelope. Splitting the ruby insignia sent a chill down his spine.

"Here we go Hedwig," he mumbled. Unfolding the yellowed parchment, Harry read aloud his results.

ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS.

Pass Grade: Outstanding (O) Fail Grade: Poor (P)

Exceeds Expectations (E) Dreadful (D)

Acceptable (A) Troll (T)

HARRY JAMES POTTER HAS ACHIEVED

Astronomy A

Care of Magical Creatures E

Charms E

Defence against the Dark Arts O

Divination P

Herbology E

History of Magic D

Potions E

Transfiguration E

A soaring sensation of pride rooted within his chest and for a moment, Harry didn't care that he was stuck at the Dursley's for another 4 weeks. Seven OWL's he had received. He couldn't have been happier. Yet again, scanning the tiny letters inked in black, his eyes lay to rest upon the small dark E printed next to Potions. Professor Snape demanded that an Outstanding must be achieved in the OWL's exam if one wanted to take NEWT Potions. Harry hadn't achieved an Outstanding so therefore he wouldn't be sitting Potions in his finals. Consequently, he wouldn't become an Auror. Although he was feeling slightly disappointed with not getting an Outstanding in Potions, Harry couldn't help but feel that a back door entrance would make itself available.

Sighing down at the parchment, he tossed it to one side. Nothing unusual about the remaining letters: one was a list of books he needed, another was a set of rules and the last was a note of congratulations from the Head examiner, Cerebella Marks.

Dear Mr Potter

Congratulations on achieving an outstanding OWL report. Best wishes and good fortunes for the further two years study ahead of you. Looking forward to examining you in two years time.

Yours sincerely

Cerebella Marks.

Harry leaned back into the pillows of his rickety bed, folding his arms behind his head of scruffy hair. Thoughts of Ron and Hermione floated through his mind. He instantly knew that Hermione would have gotten nine OWL's, and he would put all his money in Gringotts on a wager that Ron got about 6. He wondered if Ron had gotten an O in Potions, but then he quickly changed his mind. There wasn't a hope in all of Hogwarts that Severus Snape would give a Weasley an O in Potions. Even Fred and George hadn't obtained an O and they were the chief student brewers in Hogwarts, forever mixing ingredients in the hope of inventing a new prank that would somehow turn McGonagall's hair blue. Harry was a keen supporter of this on going movement, as he too was fond of a blue haired headmistress.

"Hey Hedwig, are you up for a bit of a journey?" Harry asked, shifting his head to stare up at his snowy owl.

A responsive hoot declared the bird was up for the journey. She hadn't been out of her cage in two days as the Dursley's neighbours had complained about a mysterious bombarded of bird excrement on their bedroom windows. Harry had received a thump to the shoulder and was ordered to sweep the driveway four times until Uncle Vernon was satisfied.

Ron,

The summer here is slowly ticking by as usual and I haven't had any word of excitement. I just received my OWL result and was sort of surprised to see that I actually got seven OWL's. Only problem is that I didn't get an O in Potions, so I guess I won't be training as an Auror. I'm not too peeved about really, I 'm sure I'll get a good enough job that involves Dark Wizard busting. Good luck with your results. I hope you do well.

Harry.

He copied the same words onto another piece of parchment and sent it out to Hermione. Leaning against the open window, Harry watched Hedwig's silhouette against the full moon. He admired her freedom and for a moment longed to sprout a set of wings and soar after her, just for the thrill of being different to others. He was about to shut the window when a second outline presented itself, rising against the midnight wind and coming from the east. It moved with a fast pace, gracefully descending with a silent soar. He shrugged off, soon realising that he wasn't the only person of magical knowledge in the area. There was also Mrs Figg, the batty old lady Harry had once dreaded coming into contact with, but recently had grown fond of. She had helped Harry with his whale of a cousin last summer after dementors had attacked them.

The owl suddenly made a sharp left and darted through Harry's open window, landing with slicing silence onto his bedpost. Stunned at the birds' accuracy, Harry examined the specimen before him. It was larger then an owl, probably a Hawk Owl, and was coated in a magnificent russet flurry of feathers. It was perched proudly with a letter clamped in its beak. Harry grinned. The owl was obviously from a person of importance. There were two types of owls, domestic owls and scavenger owls. This bird was clearly domestic; it held the letter firmly in its beak and not in its claws. Scavenger owls held packages in their claws, so as to swoop upon un-expecting prey while on a job. Domestic owls, however, where trained to be elegant and precise with no between job meals.

"Well, who owns such a well kept bird as you?" Harry mumbled, gently stroking the owls' wings and plucking the letter from its beak. "Of course, Dumbledore," he added, after seeing the emerald-green ink. The owl hooted and made a presentable exit, rustling the bedroom curtains in its leave.

Harry quickly opened the letter. Maybe there was a mistake made while processing his OWL results, and Dumbledore was writing to let him know that he had got an O in Potions.

Dear Harry,

If it is convenient to you, I shall be calling to number 4 Privet Drive within the next two to three days. I am hoping with great enthusiasm that you will be prepared for an early leave. If it is of any interest to you, we will not be making a stop at the Burrow but, will proceed on to the residence of a staff member. There is no need to reply, I am certain you will accept what awaits you.

Professor A. Dumbledore

P.S Congratulations on receiving seven OWL's. Your parents would have been proud.

Harry beamed with pride. Seven OWL's and he was leaving the Dursly's with four weeks of summer holidays left. But what could Dumbledore want? And why were they heading for a member of staffs' house? Was there something wrong? Had Voldemort made an attack and hurt a member of staff? What had he got to do with it? Glancing once more at the hand written letter, Harry flopped onto his bed, an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Unexpected letters from Albus Dumbledore were never good news.

And that is the very first chapter of this tale. I really do hope you enjoyed it.

Please, Read and Review. I will make sure to personally thank you in the further chapters. I shall be posting chapter two as soon as I have written it.

-The Apprentice-