"Ginny!" George yelled. "Don't be late for your own party, you crazy mess."

I smiled as I heard Mum smack the back of his head.

"Ow!" he cried. "Come on Mum, have a sense of humor for a change. Me holey head, me holy brother, and even me wolfy brother highly recommend it. OW!" Another smack.

"George Weasley, I will take you over my knee – I don't care how old you are!"

"Then do it, woman! Show Angelina just how I like it – OW!"

"I'll teach you both a thing or two you little …"

I could hear Mum yelling, her voice getting louder with each word. I put up my Little Bag and shrugged back into my robes before I opened the door. She was standing right in front of me.

"There you are, dear. Ready for some dinner?" she said sweetly. Her false cheer from before was replaced with the real thing, since we were all together with her. But the fear – I could still feel it as vividly as I could hear the ghoul clanging about upstairs.

"Yes," I said, my voice now a little rusty from having spoken so little today. I cleared it. "Yes, Mummy."

She put an arm around my waist and led me out. Everyone was there at the table, except for Charlie, who never seemed to get out of Romania much anymore now that the War was completely over. I didn't participate much in the conversation; I didn't want to because I knew they were watching me as much as I was watching them. Even George, who smacked my shoulder from time to time and told me to "Speak up, sis!" and called me his "Little cookie cutter" while evading our mother's quick hands, was looking worriedly at me out of the corner of his eyes when he thought I wasn't paying attention.

"Have you thought about a job?" asked Percy. "Dad and I could probably find you an entry level positon at the Ministry, with your NEWT scores as good as they were."

I shook my head. Even if Percy and Daddy had gone right back into the corrupted system with the attitude of fixing what had been left so broken by the War, I was not qualified to fix anything.

"Get real, Perce, she's going to work at the shop with me and Ron," said George, putting a lazy arm around me. I almost could feel Fred's arm on the other side, and I stiffened against both of them.

I shook my head again. Too many people – strangers every day – mixed with people I knew and most assuredly did not want to see.

"What do you want to do, Ginny?" asked Bill. He was always so gentle with me, my biggest big brother with his scarred face, who always knew how to handle his odd man out little sister. "You said once that you wanted to teach. Have you thought of taking an apprenticeship while you get back on your feet?"

This time I frowned and shook my head because I hadn't thought about that even being an option, now that I had the word "crazy" marked on my forehead.

I looked at Bill. His blue eyes were so like mine used to be, alive and vibrant like a turbulent sea. I wanted that back. "I think that sounds great, Bill, but who would want me?" I asked. Mum shoved some tea in my direction when the last words croaked out of my throat.

"Gin, it's not like you completely went off the deep end," said Ron. "You were just a little … sad. And rightfully so."

"Sad," I repeated. I rubbed my arms, letting my hands glide over the proof of just how 'sad' I'd been.

Dad spoke this time. "I'll make some calls tomorrow, see who needs an apprentice. It's the right time of year to apply, since they term right along with the school year."

This time I really tried to smile. An apprenticeship. Maybe it would be what I needed.

Dad gave me the list the next day when he got home from work.

There were five Masters looking for an apprentice. The first was for Arithmancy with a Professor at Beauxbatons. I quickly marked that one out before I looked at the description. Not Arithmancy, not France - especially not right now.

The second was for Charms at the Salem Academy.

America.

The description looked promising. Two years, one studying and one student teaching. Doable.

The next two were as hopeless as the one for Beauxbatons – both at Durmstrang.

Then, I saw the school before I saw any another detail. Hogwarts.

Home.

My heart sang until I read everything the entire description.

Two year Apprenticeship with Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master, Former Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Order of Merlin First Class. First year will include instruction and brewing of highest level potions, as well as working as a teaching assistant. Will brew OWL and NEWT level potions for the school as well as for Ministry use. Second year will be focused on independent instruction for all grade levels as well as continued brewing of the most advanced potions. Both years will include intensive training on the process of creating new potions and compounds.

Serious applicants only, please.

I looked up and met the eyes of my father. They were watery and red, and he couldn't hide his sniffle.

"You were happy there, Ginny. Maybe it will make you happy again," he mumbled as he wiped his face with his red and gold handkerchief.

"I was happy because of Harry, Dad," I said as I set the list down.

"Ginny, stop it," he said, his voice pleading. "I know you think having a clean start somewhere will fix everything. But think about it. I know Severus can be difficult-"

I snorted and pulled a face. Dad looked at me imploringly, and I acquiesced.

"But, he saved your brother's life. Not to mention he's the most respected Potioneer in our world. And you were a real crack with Potions. Didn't you have the highest OWL and NEWT scores in the school history?"

"Second highest," I said smugly, remembering the look on Hermione's face when she realized I'd beaten her at something academic. "Professor Snape's scores are the highest in school history."

"See?" he said. He gave me the official application and the one from Salem, along with a quill and ink set.

I sighed. But, I filled them out in the end. And when Xavier held out his leg for me to give him the mail, I gave him both.

Now you can feel again. You're done. Back up the stairs.

I complied.

I never heard back from Salem.

A week later, Xavier returned with a letter addressed to me in a narrow, spikey scroll that was so familiar I probably could have forged it myself from memory.

Miss Weasley,

I am surprised to have received your application to be my Apprentice. Most apply within a year of their NEWTs if not before, on promise of completion. You are now two years out from your exams and applying well outside the respectable time frame.

Nevertheless, I will graciously grant you an interview tomorrow at eleven o'clock. Meet me in Dungeon Five. Mr. Filch will let you in the main gate and will take you to the castle at no later than ten forty-five.

Professor S Snape

I smelled the letter, recognizing the scent of the Potions classroom – smoke from the lit burners and an unknowable combination of herbs and other ingredients.

"Mum?" I called.

"What is it Ginny?" she said. She came out from her study and looked at me expectantly. I still saw the fear there, but she was learning to control it better.

"I have in interview at Hogwarts tomorrow."

"Oh, darling!" she said as she flung her arms around my stiff body. "I'll do your hair for you if you want. And you can wear my best robes. I'm so proud of you." She was really beaming now, and even the grimness under the surface of her skin was almost invisible. "Let's Floo your father, okay?"

I nodded and walked with her to the fireplace.

She fussed over me the next morning, curling and primping my hair like she did when I was little. When I looked in the mirror I almost saw myself in it, except for my eyes. Her bright orange robes were overlong on my petite body, but they hid my arms and legs better than any spell.

I'd learned in the previous week that my wand would no longer perform Concealing charms thanks to my Healers at St. Mungo's, so I had to be more careful now. Especially since I had some new marks to heal.

I Apparated by myself for the first time since my accident, arriving outside of the Hogwarts main gates. Filch was there at the gate as promised.

"Mornin' Miss Weasley," Filch said as he helped me into the carriage waiting next to him. He sat down in the seat next to me, and the Thestral took off into a trot. "You look different," he said.

"I imagine I do," I replied, looking out into the forest.

"No ring on your finger," he said, looking at my hands.

I shoved them in the pockets of my robes. "That ring went to another girl instead of me."

Filch regarded me for a long time before he replied, "Then Potter's a bigger fool than we thought."

I stared at him with shock, but he said nothing else.

Then I saw it. The castle peaks rose over the tops of the forest in the distance, then the balustrades and towers came into view. My heart began to pound, and I felt a smile spread across my face.

Home.

"It does that to me too, every time I come back from holiday," said Filch. We rode to the bridge, and stopped there. Being a real gentleman today, Filch helped me out of the carriage.

"You remember where Dungeon Five is?"

I nodded.

"Good luck," he said. I looked back at him and saw him dry his eyes with a dirty handkerchief. "Been too long without a Weasley in this school."

I nodded and walked across the bridge and through the front door. The castle was the same as I left it after the rebuild. It was the same school, yet it was not the same school of my memory. Some things, like the doors and bricks, were still too shiny. The patina of history and age had not returned to it, nor would it for some time yet. But, as I smiled at the portraits in passing and saw many wave back with recognition, it was still home.

I looked at my watch and saw I had just two minutes to spare as I descended the stairs into the lower levels of the castle. I picked up my robes and ran to Dungeon Five. The door was closed, and when I knocked I tried not to notice that my hand was trembling.

"Enter," said a deep voice I knew better than my own.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and walked in.

Professor Snape was sitting behind his desk in the back of the hazy room. He looked the same really, but not the same. He was like the castle was now - same old Snape, but shiny with the new additions. His hair was now clean, I thought derisively, and streaked with silver around his temples. He had cut it, and though it was still much longer than what was fashionable, it no longer hung in his eyes like raven colored curtains.

He had not taught my 7th year while he recovered from Nagini's attack, but I'd seen him at enough events that I knew he had slowly put on some much needed weight. His face had filled out, and he no longer had the appearance of a wraith. He almost looked a little handsome. If you let your eyes go a little out of focus.

When he sneered at me and looked pointedly at his pocket watch before saying, "You are a minute late, Miss Weasley. Tell me, why should I even consider interviewing you at this point?" I knew he hadn't really hadn't changed very much at all.

"You only gave me fifteen minutes to get here," I said, not moving from the door.

"I told you Mr. Filch would be there no later than ten forty-five. You could have met him earlier."

"I didn't read your response like that," I admitted, before putting my hand back on the door to leave. Feeling dejected, I mumbled, "I'll just go home."

"Not so fast," he said, waving his arm at me to come closer. "Let this be a lesson. When you read instructions, sometimes you have to read between the lines."

I nodded and walked to his desk, sitting down in the chair that had been placed opposite to him.

"Now," he said as he templed his long fingers under his chin. "Why do you want to be my apprentice?"

I looked at a spot over his shoulder, not wanting to meet his eyes just yet. "I want to learn potions. I had very high marks on my OWLs and NEWTs –"

"Second only to mine," he said.

I nodded and swallowed. My voice was getting tired at being used so much. "I figured this would be the best use of my skills."

He stared at me. "You do realize this is rather boring and tedious work, compared to the excitement of being in the Ministry right now. You could go wherever you want with your NEWT scores and your father and brother's nudging."

I grimaced as I thought about how much the idea of excitement, or the prospect of running into Harry or Hermione at the Ministry, made me nauseated.

"I don't want the excitement of the Ministry," I said, clearing my throat a little. "And I loved making potions. You know my work, and you know my work ethic. Surely it speaks for itself."

He nodded. "I do. I remember," he said, his own voice sounding rough and tired. He reached into his robe and pulled out two small vials. He took one for himself and gave me the other. I frowned at him as I examined the light blue liquid in the light.

He drank his, never taking his eyes off me. "I call it 'Throat Repair'. I developed it for the moments when my voice goes out. Some of my wounds haven't healed completely." He put the vial in a small container on his desk.

I nodded and drank the potion in one gulp. My throat warmed and relaxed as the sweet tasting liquid tickled down my throat. I looked at the Professor in surprise.

He gave me a small, stilted smile. "More tolerable than Pepper-up, and the effects last longer. During your Apprenticeship, you will learn how to develop your own potions. I encourage at least three during your first year, and five the second, but the number is up to you, depending on if research and development, brewing, or teaching is you interest. Which is it for you?"

"Teaching," I said, with a stronger voice than I'd used in months.

"Out for my job?" he asked mockingly, standing up from his desk. He leaned against the wall behind him.

"No, sir," I said. "But teaching interests me the most. But I'd like to complete the highest level of course work so that I'll have all options available when my Apprenticeship is completed."

He nodded. "I took the same path exactly. Be forewarned, you will need to learn to use your voice again," he said slowly. "I expect my Apprentices to come out of their second year with a solid mastery of Potions, and you can't have that without having a solid voice of your own."

"Does this mean you'll take me?" I asked him cautiously.

He nodded.

"Why?" I asked before I could help myself.

"Two reasons," he said. "One, you are the most qualified applicant I could ask for, even overqualified, despite your lapse in applying" he said. "And two," he said, looking straight at me when he added, "You were the only person brave enough to apply."

"So it's me or nothing?" I asked.

He shrugged. "I could do with nothing. I haven't taken on an apprentice since before Potter attended school." I stiffened at the mentioned of his name. Snape frowned when he saw my reaction. "Be that as it may, I like the help. And I like to teach, especially people who aren't entirely idiots. So," he said, "I chose you."

"Then I accept," I said. We shook hands over the table.

"I'll warn you, Miss Weasley. The Wars may be over and my days as a spy are definitely complete, but I am still not an easy man to work with. I spent six months in St. Mungo's recovering from my physical injuries …" he paused as though he was uncertain how to continue before he finished, "and another six while they tried to rebuild my mind." He looked at me and saw my shock at his candour.

I looked at his eyes for the first time since the start of our interview when he said this. They were the same dark eyes, black and deep as jet. But now they were flat, when they used to glitter.

Just like mine. Dull as river stones. Seeing those dead eyes stirred something within me. Without reason other than that, I decided that I could trust him, because he was just like me somehow. In his eyes, I saw my own self reflected back.

He shifted uncomfortably before he continued. "I'll never be a cheerful man, nor pleasant to look at or converse with. I like to be in control more than I care to admit. But I will teach you everything I know, to the best of my abilities. If you can put up with me."

"I survived the Carrows, Sir," I said in a very even voice. "I survived a year with you in the top job that you did not want, and I survived the last battle on these very grounds, even when my older brother did not." I suppressed the memory of seeing Fred's dead in the Great Hall - crying during this interview was not an option. "I can manage two years with you."

With that, he showed me to the office that would soon be mine. It was just next to his, and was in fact connected to it by a small in-between door. My office led to my quarters. They were modest but cozy. I'd have a small sitting room, a bedroom three times as large as my little cupboard at home, and a bathroom. After sleeping in the same room with seven other girls my entire teenage life and living in my family's home that offered little to no privacy, it looked like heaven in three rooms.

"School starts in a month," he said. "But I would like you back in two days so you can start brewing again. You have to get back up to speed before the dunderheads know you've been behind."

I nodded, and he walked me back out of the castle.

"We didn't discuss pay," he said, taking a sheet of parchment out of his pocket and looking at the number.

"You'll be fair," I said, walking back across the bridge.

"Miss Weasley?" he called.

I looked back.

"No later than ten forty-five, this Thursday. Two days from now," he said.

I nodded and walked to the waiting carriage. When I looked back, I looked at the castle instead of Professor Snape.

I would be coming home in two days.

It didn't seem like soon enough.

I Apparated back home and saw my mother de-gnoming the garden. I joined her, though she didn't notice me until I'd already thrown three over the fence.

"Oh Merlin, Ginny, you gave me a fright," she said, throwing the one in her hand over the gate before it bit her. "How did it go?"

"I got the job," I said, and gave her the biggest smile I could muster.

"Oh, my sweet girl," she said. She flung her arms around me and held my body so tight I felt I would break.

"You're smothering me," I said, my voice muffled in her robes. She'd mashed my head against her shoulder.

"Sorry, dear," she said. She wiped her eyes. "We'll have a special dinner tonight. Would you like to go to Diagon Alley and pick up some new robes? We never did do that for you after you got home. Sound okay?"

I kept smiling and nodded.

Just keep smiling until you can get back to your room. Just a little longer. Don't rush back.