The characters are property of JK Rowling and I am writing this for entertainment only. Please read and review.
202020202020202
After breakfast Hermione went to the library to look up the name that Draco gave her. There was only so much time for her to do her research as she had detention with Snape for something she clearly didn't do. At least Snape saved her from Umbridge who would have taken a great deal of joy in her suffering.
Hermione arrived in time to find that all the cauldrons she was to clean were stacked and clean.
"Professor, what will I be doing if all the cauldrons are clean?"
"Take a seat Miss Granger and pay close attention." He motioned to a station that was already set up. She sat down and listened. "Some medical supplies are out of stock and they take time and a focused mind to brew them. Your meals will be provided for you here as this will take all day."
Hermione had mixed feelings as the idea of replenishing the medical supplies filled her with pride but she also wanted to do research on the name. She of course relented and focused on the task at hand as not to give Snape a reason to offer her a snarky response or worse give her another detention.
"All the supplies are provided for you as are the instructions. If you need any further help look in this book before speaking to me." He slapped the book down and then retreated to his desk to correct the volumes of assignments.
She looked at the book, impressed with the care taken to make it so beautiful. Her fingers itched to open the pages but she held back as she had a task to complete. Preparing the ingredients were easy enough but the timing was what was going to be difficult as well as the level of heat. The cooling flame was not as familiar to her as it had only been done a few times in class. The problem she encountered was that cooling was far more difficult as it could not be treated as a hot flame. It was one of the few times that she failed at an in class assignment.
Not wanting to have a repeat of that memory she opened the book to review the technique. The book sent a warm sensation down her arms when she opened it. The spell she was looking for was on the page she opened to. Her mind was reeling from the sensation as she never had a book do that to her before. She was tempted to cast a spell to see if the book was cursed but thought better of it in case Snape took offence or worse thought she was wasting time.
Hermione shoved those thoughts aside and used the cooling flame as the book instructed for the next phase of the brewing process. Meanwhile Snape observed her from his desk, impressed with her skills as she thought out each step in the process. The cooling aspect would give her issues as he remembers it was one of the few times that he watched her have a meltdown in class. As entertaining as that event was he wasn't in the mood for her to have one now.
He watched as the book took its effect on her. For a brief moment her eyes grew green then faded back to their regular colour. The spell was in effect. He watched as she was about to test the book for a curse but decided to attend to the task at hand.
After four hours a plate of food was placed next to her. She didn't notice and continued with her work. It was only when Snape heard her stomach growl from his desk did he say anything. "Miss Granger."
Hermione didn't hear him.
"Miss Granger!"
She looked up but not at Snape who by now was past the point of patience and he stood up to investigate what caught her attention. He noticed that she hadn't been focusing on the potion after all. Though it was stable and despite him standing beside her she went back to shift between the cooling flame and the warming.
The book held her attention and he realized that she was reading the same page over and over again. It wasn't a book cursed to make you read it for the rest of your life. He knew that his potion was modified somehow to ensure that she would become reliant on it but not to absorb all her time.
"Miss Granger put the book down now." He took it from her and slammed it on the table.
She was jolted from her trance and looked up at Snape with embarrassment. "Sorry professor but this book is truly fascinating. The theories and spells in it are…I'll get back to work."
He shoved the plate toward her. "Eat, your stomach is talking louder than Mr. Finnegan after he eats sweets."
Hermione picked up the food and began to eat. She was thankful for the interruption and soon realized that she needed to use the lavatory as the call to nature had to be answered. The potion was stable enough to give her time. Snape didn't question her leaving for a few minutes but he was concerned that she returned to the book again and once again she was reading the same page.
"Professor, I've been reading about the theory that the magical fingerprint could be traced in a potion but only within a few hours of its completion. Is this similar to the magical signatures that are traced with apparating?" Hermione asked hoping that he wouldn't be too annoyed with her.
Snape realized then that she was simply trying to decipher a mystery rather than be ensnared by the words themselves. He acted like what she has read was actually on the page. "Not similar at all but there is a trace in the potions and you have to know said potion master to discover it."
"Is that because the potion master's magic is secondary to the potion itself?"
Cleaver girl. "In a matter of speaking. Why so interested in this subject?"
"I am thinking of proposing the subject as a project if I decide to focus on potions next year."
Snape was surprised to hear that she wanted to focus on potions as she seemed to be leaning toward transfiguration. McGonngal would be crestfallen. He would have to inform the old crone the next staff meeting, Snape inwardly smiled at that thought. "You want to prepare for apprenticeship?"
"Yes I do Professor."
He gave her a quizzical look before speaking. "You do understand that the apprenticeship would be with me?"
"I am aware of that Professor. I heard that some students can gain an apprenticeship a year early."
Part of him was relieved in her interest as it would allow him to keep an eye on her if she was to be ensnared by everything that will happen in this and the following year. "It takes more than high grades to get a space this early."
Hermione was pleased that it wasn't a no she as hearing. "What has to be done?" She asked then attended to the potion and set the flames to a mixture of cooling and heating.
"You have to prepare a thesis and then pass a skills test to ensure that I won't have to reteach you anything. I am not interested in excuses. I will treat you as if you are an adult preparing for university."
Hermione could hear in his tone that he wasn't expecting her to live up to those standards but she only saw it as a challenge.
As if he knew what she as going to ask he answered for her. "Everything you need to know is in that book. But if you want more information you can buy a book in Hogsmeade that will prepare you for an apprenticeship exam. I will give you two months to prepare."
The rest of the day went by quickly enough as she spent a lot of her time reading but careful not to make any mistakes with the potion. Snape had to remind her to eat her dinner but he let her go after she ate and bottled up the potion. It wasn't made to his perfection but it would more than do for the purposes of healing a few scrapes and scratches.
Hermione left and headed straight to the library to research the name with only a half hour to spare before curfew. Nothing could be found with historical figures, deaths, curses or even discoveries. Myra Gray was a complete mystery to her. Part of her began to wonder if Draco was playing a prank on her but his demeanor spoke differently.
She realized how tired she was and decided that a second night past curfew was simply pushing her luck.
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"Hermione. Wake up!"
Hermione woke up suddenly by Ginny who stood above her dressed out of uniform. "What is it Ginny? Seriously I don't normally sleep in but surely I am allowed at least one morning to."
"How could you forget? Hogsmeade is opening up a new shop. Half the school went yesterday and the other half is going today along with those that already went. There is a really good selection of stuff there."
Yes, how could she forget? She was the one talking about it for almost a month. "I missed breakfast?"
"Yes, and never mind we will eat at the village." Ginny threw some clothes at Hermione. "I'll meet you in the common room in five minutes."
Hermione got up and dressed as quickly as she could. There were books there that she wanted to order along with a few supplies. They would take a week or two to get to her but they would be well worth the wait. Some things she would need to prepare her for the early apprenticeship exam.
Harry and Ron had already left as Ginny told them she would wait for Hermione. There was a buzz about the shop that Hermione missed as she was in detention for the whole day.
The air was very cold as winter was starting to settle in. She was never a fan of winter and hoped that she wouldn't catch a cold. She pushed those thoughts aside as she made her way to Hogsmede. Packs of students were travelling down the path. Ginny's description of things was rather accurate.
"How did Umbridge not cancel this? I would have thought for sure that she would ban anyone having some fun." Ginny said as she looked at everyone on the path.
"I am sure the shopkeepers would have a few things to say and of course students have to get their supplies somehow." Hermione was trying to be logical about it. Hermione felt a little pressure behind her eyes. The cold was starting to get to her. "I should have brought another scarf."
There wasn't one shop but four new ones. "Four? I thought there was only one."
"So did everyone. I guess it was a surprise."
Hermione felt the pressure increase to a headache. Ginny looked at her with concern. "Let's get you something to eat."
"Sounds like a good idea. I must be coming down with something."
"You do look a little pale." Ginny said with some concern.
They met up with Harry and Ron at one of the new shops that had a café style feel to it. It was a muggle idea that was catching on in popularity though it still ensured that the service was more magic than muggle.
Ron was already into his second helping of food while Harry was trying a new type of shake that had every colour imagined in it.
Hermione and Ginny sat next to them and they ordered. "This place is great. I am surprised there are seats available."
"Most ate breakfast so it won't get crazy busy here until the afternoon." Harry said between sips of his drink.
Looking at the menu that was comprised of floating words on the table she ordered something simple. A toasted tomato sandwich and soup. The headache wasn't going away and when the food arrived she only ate half the sandwich but managed to eat most of the soup. She was definitely not feeling well but she wasn't going to ruin things for her friends by having them worry for her.
They chatted and soon her stomach was fighting with her and she made her way to the loo to deal with her stomach. She was thankful no one was there as she threw up all the contents in her stomach. She would have to head back but not before she made her order for supplies at the new shop and have it sent to the school.
Before she could return to her friends she was stopped by Draco and his goons. "Enjoy your time here while you can. This weekend of freedom will only be for those that truly deserve it."
"I'm not in the mood Malfoy. I'm just here to order some supplies then I'm heading back."
Draco didn't back down. "Even so there are a few rules that will be in place. Also if anyone here is acting out of order we get to place their name on the list to ensure that their freedom here is restricted."
"Fine, whatever you say Malfoy now please I am actually ill and need to get back." She shoved her way through Malfoy who took hold of her arm in a painful grip. No one was around to witness this save for the currently company that was enjoying her torment.
"I meant everything I said Granger." He made sure he had eye contact with her as he said each word then let her go.
She gave him one last cursory look before returning to the table. Ginny asked how she was feeling. "I'm not feeling the best. I will just make an order at the new shop then return. I'll be fine. Go on and have fun."
Hermione noticed that Harry and Ron had already left. Ginny gave her a shrug then met up with a few other friends. Luckily the shop she wanted to go to was only across the street and she had her list ready. There were a few things she wanted to add.
The store was new and she wished that she was well enough to take a better look at the items. Some of the things were in stock and could be sent to the school by this evening. Some would take a couple of weeks.
Now she was getting dizzy and it really was time to get back but she was determined to order a few more books now rather than wait until next weekend.
The new bookshop was pretty standard but still very new as the smell of paint was still in the air. She spotted the owner who was busy but made time to speak with her. "How can I help you Miss?"
"Do you have any books on potions apprenticeship or how to prepare for one?"
"My, my I think we have something. Let me take a look for you." The man was in his thirties and has the spring in his step of someone who just hit success after a lot of work.
There were so many books and she was so upset that she was not able to look over them while here. The man came back and showed her an older, well used book.
"I know it has seen better days but it is one of the top books in this subject or it was twenty years ago. Everything in there that is to be expected unless things have changed. Did you want me to order something in for you?"
Hermione looked at the book and shook her head. In all honesty she forgot what other books she was supposed to look at. She just wanted the dizziness to stop.
"No, just this one thank you."
She paid for it and started her walk back to the castle. As she made her way back she realized that she was slowly getting better. The dizziness was going away but the heavy nausea was still there. She would make sure to get some rest when she returned.