Hermione spends the weekend mostly as Snape has instructed. When she tries to sneak in a little studying, she is dismayed to hear her conscience sounding a lot like Snape's voice. 'You already know this stuff, Hermione, why are you going over it again?'
'To make myself feel better,' Hermione replies to her conscience. But she is beginning to realize the futility of the exercise. She sets aside her charms textbook and instead, starts in on the imaginary schedule that Snape has assigned her.
On Monday, her practical exam in Defense is ridiculously easy. Her shields are stronger than they have been since she used them dueling death eaters in the war. She is smiling to herself as she makes her way down to the dining hall after class. She is turning so many new ideas around in her head, she hardly notices when the food appears in the serving dishes in front of her. She is thinking hard about the ramifications of her new revelations.
The Gryfinndors around her are busy loading their plates with food while Hermione is lost in thought. Suddenly, her plate is loaded with chicken and potatoes and pudding, although she has made no attempt to serve herself. She glances instinctively up at Snape. He is glaring at her. When she catches his gaze, he motions to her to eat. Hermione blushes and turns away, but she picks up her fork. When she allows herself to glance back up from her food, Ginny is looking back and forth between her and Snape, looking thoughtful.
Hermione finds Snape at his desk after dinner. "Good evening, professor," she says as he motions for her to sit down.
"Good evening Miss Granger. I trust you enjoyed your dinner?" He smirks at her. Hermione is floored. Snape is actually smirking at her.
"I did, thank you, sir."
"And you followed my instructions this weekend." The way he says it is not a question. Can he really tell just by looking, Hermione wonders. "Yes, I can Miss Granger. You are looking much better. Almost human, in fact." His writing on Occlumency can really not come too soon for her.
"I agree, Miss Granger. It appears you are rested and fed. You did well in your practical exam today, which means your magical core is recovering from the abuse you have inflicted on it. You are caught up on your class work. Interesting how getting caught up didn't actually require you to do any work, merely shift your perspective, eh?" Snape raises an eyebrow at Hermione. She blushes and looks down. "Eyes up, Miss Granger." She forces herself to return his penetrating gaze. "Did you complete my assignment?" Hermione nods and gives him her make believe schedule.
He spends several minutes reading it in its entirety. "Star gazing with centaurs? Unicorn taming with Hagrid? Portkey to Cambridge for molecular biology and organic chemistry? And why in names of all the gods would you want to take FOUR courses from me? Potions, Occlumency, Defense, and Alchemy? And how do you suppose I know anything about Alchemy?"
"A hunch," Hermione says, shifting uneasily in her seat. She had almost put 'Dumbledore's ghost' down for that, but had put Snape's name down just to gage his reaction. It had worked beautifully.
Snape chuckles. Hermione gapes at him. "Nicely done, Miss Granger. I am truly impressed. Twenty points to Gryfinndor for showing Slytherin-like qualities."
"Thank you, sir."
He snaps her fantasy schedule shut. "Now," he says, "We need to talk about your real schedule. First, why are you taking divination? What career or apprenticeship would possibly require it?"
"None, sir, it's just that I won't get the opportunity to study with a Centaur again. Firenze is starting to answer questions about Centaur history, and as you know, they don't have any written histories. Also," she adds quickly, "his lessons are really relaxing. We lay in the grass and look up at the stars. And he never assigns homework or gives us exams."
Snape nods, apparently satisfied. "I can't argue with the usefulness of the rest of your studies Miss Granger, especially when you obviously haven't decided what exactly it is you are going to do after school." He says this as a statement of fact, so she doesn't reply, but Hermione is increasingly unnerved by Snape's knowledge of the inner workings of her mind.
"However," he says, drawing her out of her thoughts again, "I don't think your time is best spent sitting in all these classes. It is my opinion that you should continue to attend Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts, and continue to study the rest of your subjects independently. If any of your other professors balk at this, send them to me. All though, they can't keep you from sitting the NEWTs merely because you didn't attend their classes."
"You don't think I should attend your classes, Professor?" asks Hermione, horrified.
"No, Miss Granger, I don't. My classes are for dunderheads and idiots. You are neither. Use your spare time to study effectively instead of obsessively, grade papers and potions for me, and I will instruct you in private. We can cover a lot more material that way, hmm?"
Hermione is stunned into silence. She opens and closes her mouth a few times.
"You will, however, have to find a way to get over your ridiculous fear of me. It won't do you any good if spending time in close proximity to me drains your core."
Hermione frowns slightly at this. "You've spent seven years terrorizing me, Professor, my fear of you is pretty ingrained."
Snape waves a hand at this, dismissing it outright. "Wrong, Miss Granger, I have spent seven years being myself around you. Which is to say I have been vicious and surly. It isn't personal, I assure you. And while I have been careful in my handling of you for the past week, if we are to work together over the coming terms I have no doubt I will continue to be vicious and surly. If you want to learn from me you must be able to endure me."
Hermione takes a moment to consider, although she swears she can feel his impatience with her for an answer. 'He must despise grading papers even more than he despises me,' she thought to herself. Snape snorts aloud at this, but makes no comment. He waits for her answer.
"Will you teach me Occlumency?" she says, after a long pause.
"I will give you access to all of my personal writings and research on the subject, and answer any and all of your questions. I cannot, however, give you practical instruction. I am confident that you will be able to stop broadcasting your thoughts to me. And I can give you a promise never to invade your privacy by using legilimency on you unless your safety at risk."
It is a good offer, but Hermione is profoundly disappointed. Especially because she knows that Harry got first hand instruction from Snape, although that, admittedly, had been an utter disaster. She wonders, errantly, if she can find another expert to give her the practical instruction she needs to master the subject correctly.
Snape hears this, and the thought of Hermione letting another wizard root around in her head terrifies him. He almost breaks down and promises her the practical instruction. Instead, he tries to explain himself. "Miss Granger, you are an adult and as such you have every right to seek out instruction from whomever your please. But I implore you do not let another wizard or witch root around in your head. The results could be disastrous." His expression is very frank, his flinty black eyes almost pleading with her. "I cannot give you practical instruction in the arts of the mind while you are still my student. It would be inappropriate for me to go digging around in your head. You aren't stupid, I'm sure you've given this some thought, especially in light of what happened with Potter. The fact that you are still willing to let me violate your mind like that is, frankly, unsettling. I understand your thirst for knowledge, Miss Granger, I really do. But now that the war is over you might want to consider not taking unnecessary risks." He looks at her with his stern professor expression.
Hermione blushes under his gaze. But she doesn't back down. "While I am your student?"
Snape sighs and shakes his head, clearly exasperated. "You have my permission to ask for my instruction again after you have taken your NEWTs."
Hermione nods. She knows better than to push any farther. "I accept your offer. I'll schedule appointments with the rest of my professors to explain why I am withdrawing from their classes. Now, can I get started on your papers? The sooner I complete the work, the sooner I can ask for your writing on Occlumency."
Snape has to remind himself not to smile at this. He rises out of his chair and motions for her to take his place. "I forbid you to stay after ten o'clock Miss Granger. If you need anything, send that revoltingly cheerful otter of yours."
Hermione is grinning as she sits down at Snape's desk.