Author's Note: First let me thank everyone who had reviewed, alerted, or put this story on their favorites it means a lot to me.
I know it's a little shorter than normal, but the next seemed to carry on and on and I wanted stop where it seemed natural.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Do I really need to say that I don't own them? I'm just playing with someone else's toys and do return them in the same shape I have found them (well that may not always be the case).
Once she had the tea severed she sat back on the sofa as Minerva asked,
"So what is it that you want to surprise Severus with?"
"I'm ready to come back to the wizarding world, I'm wondering about an apprenticeship."
Hermione had watched as the older woman's face lit up, it struck her in the moment that she had been missed in that world.
"I think that's a wonderful idea, and since they have raised the age limit for apprenticeships you are still eligible. What subject would you like to study?"
"Honestly potions, but…."
"Yes I think Severus would be resistant to an apprentice. Though if we work together we might be able to persuade him."
"Wouldn't our… relationship interfere with it?"
"Not that I can see. You don't realize how many couples out there were master apprentices first. It's not frowned on as you would think, especially after the war."
"I'm not comfortable with deceiving Severus."
"No, of course not. I'll present the idea of an apprentice tomorrow in the staff meeting, either niggle it out of him or tell him you overheard me talking about and if he considered it. You want to spend more time with him correct?"
"Well yes."
"Then tell him it's a good idea, a way for the two of you to have more time together. It's not a lie, if he takes you on as an apprentice then you will be spending quite a bit more time together."
"I'll think about it." Hermione really wasn't comfortable with lying to Severus, not after their past. She would figure something out.
Minerva stayed for about an hour talking about others she could apprentice under, when she left Hermione smiled. This is what she should have done when she finished her NEWTs, instead of trying to work for the ministry. Then being a freelance research assistant, she would love to teach children. Now that she wasn't going to be having any.
~~^~~SSHG~~^~~
Severus sat in his rooms that night, he missed her being here. His hand went to the chain around his neck, he took it from around his head holding them in front of him looking at the rings.
He was so close to getting her back with him, every conversation took them closer to that end. There were times when he would see a shadow cross her face and he would ask, she'd snap then they would calm and talk about it. It really was so much better than the huge fights that had them both hurting.
He looked over when the hearth glowed green, he placed the chain back before going over to talk to Hermione.
"Severus."
He knelt placing his head into the fireplace.
"Hermione, how are you feeling?"
Hermione sighed, she was quickly tiring of that question.
"Fine, how was your day?"
"I was teaching, how do you think it is?"
"Is it not getting better, you've been there three years. Surely you have undid some of the damage done."
"I suppose your right, even the seventh years are not as incompetent as the first year I taught here again. It's a wonder any of them passed their NEWTs."
"Your seventh years were fifth years when you started there again, I'm sure your advanced potions now only has very few students."
"Six, and I question my judgment about three of them."
"But they obtained O's on their OWLs."
"Yes they did, but I don't want to talk about them."
"You sound tired, why don't you try and get some sleep."
"I suppose I should, though I don't know how well I'll sleep knowing your alone in that house."
"I'm perfectly safe, you set the wards yourself."
"That's not what I meant." He said quietly.
"Severus, you'll be here tomorrow night."
"I know, get some rest Hermione."
"I will, you do the same."
Severus ended the call going to his room stripping before lying in bed, sleep did come quickly but his dreams that night were strange. He dreamed of the boathouse, but the terror that usually accompanied the dream was not there. Hermione was there, going through his pockets finally finding what she was looking for and giving him the potions. He woke suddenly sitting up in bed, that seemed so real it unnerved him.
Looking at the clock it was just half past four, he knew he should try to sleep some more but the images from the dream kept haunting him. Hermione kneeling beside him, her hand on his chest begging him to live. Finally he rose going to the shower, if he wasn't going to be going back to sleep he might as well start his day.
By the time his first class started the dream was a memory, forgotten as just one of the many others he carried with him.
Author's Note: Comments really do make me smile and brighten my day.
Also I wanted to let you know that I have a couple of Severus/Hermione videos on youtube, the link is in my profile.