I own nothing of Harry Potter. Please read and review.
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The sunlight woke him up and he pulled the pillow closer to him. His head was killing him and the sun he loved to wake up to in the morning wasn't helping him. With a start he opened his eyes. He wasn't home and he jumped up ready for a fight only to find he didn't have his wand.
"Myra Gray." Draco muttered when he saw the woman from the café staring at him with her wand pointed at him.
"Yes, it is and you will have to excuse me but I had to make sure that you are not followed. Did you like the package I sent you a while back?"
Draco said nothing and waited for more information to be given.
She was aware the game he was playing. "You passed the test. You didn't let anyone know about the contents nor did you mention that you were potentially speaking with me. I wonder why. Well no matter you are here with me now and can ask all the questions you want."
"The booklet."
"Things are changing and your father's master is unaware of what is happening. His breed of evil genius is really going out of style. Your way of life is going out of style. It's cute like a movie or how people lived in a museum. I and those like me are not here to change anything but to give opportunity to those that are shut out of the higher circles." She stood up.
Draco noticed that she had changed her outfit. She was wearing a pale blue tank top and black jeans. Her hair was tied up in a messy knot. It was a very relaxed look compared to her business outfit. He had to admit that he liked it. He turned his head away not wanting to blush while looking at her.
"Come on you must be hungry or at least in a mood for some coffee." She stood and walked toward the kitchen and Draco despite everything he stood and followed her.
It was so strange to not be around things that were not filled with some form of magic. "This is your home?"
"Nope, the owners are on vacation in Hawaii. They won a trip that they don't remember applying for and were more than happy to get away for a while. Now I know you are not interested in the home, come on then ask what you want to."
"What is your real name?"
"There we go, I knew you wouldn't disappoint." He placed some freshly ground coffee into a filter and hit the button. "My real name is Tammie Lee. Myra Gray is just a cover name."
"Why go through all this trouble to speak with me?"
She laughed at him. "Really? You have an ego. You sought me out. Though to be fair you were an interesting search. Son of a high ranking Death Eater who has no interest in becoming another pawn in a psycho's army."
"What makes you say that?" Draco said defensively.
"You are still here aren't you? Also you have no interest in being a Death Eater."
He stood back with his arms crossed. "So you have been watching me."
"We've been watching a lot of people." The coffee started to percolate and the smell of fresh coffee began to fill the air. "There are many from all over the world that we have been watching. I come from a family of wealthy merchants who are very traditional and wanted me to follow their traditions. They are supporters of you know who and well...I don't want that life."
Draco wanted to say something and she beat him to it. "You want to defend your way of life. I get it. Have your own spot selected just for you and your family that is above others right? Draco those days are coming to an end. Then I was shown how good things could be and I never looked back."
"That way of life doesn't exist and need to take my place or be placed at the bottom of the heap."
The coffee finished its brewing as the final gurgle of water filtered through the grinds. Tammy handed him a cup of coffee and got creamer out of the ridge. "You take sugar?"
Draco nodded and added the cream and sugar. He sipped it and was disappointed by the taste. Why does it never taste the same as the shops?
Tammy poured herself a cup and sat across from him. "If I show you then you can't go back to your way of life. It doesn't work that way."
"What makes you think I want to go back?"
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Hermione was surprised to find Snape and Mafloy in the potions classroom. She sat at her desk until she was addressed. She heard that Malfoy was now acting Headmaster of the school to replace Dumbledore.
She noticed a small table was set up with a cauldron and some robes put aside. She suspected that this was a ceremony for her apprenticeship. Of course she would be bound to keep Snape's secrets for the duration of her apprenticeship.
"Miss Granger please approach the table. There is a formality that must be attended to." Snape motioned for her to approach.
Hermione stood where she was instructed and looked at Snape and Malfoy for further instruction.
"Miss Granger you have no idea what an honor it is to be witness to this ceremony. Only a handful of non-potion masters ever witness it."
She was surprised by his genuine appreciation and looked upon the situation with as much interest and curiosity as she currently experiencing.
"This ceremony is binding Miss Granger and there are dangers involved in being a potions apprentice. If you would." Snape motioned to Malfoy who opened a small well used book and began.
"Once bound the apprentice is incapable of speaking out of turn about or to their potions master without consequence. Also any discipline required of the apprentice will be the sole responsibility of the potions master and such discipline must be carried out by the apprentice.
"All lessons and secrets taught by the potions master are to be kept as such until the apprenticeship is over.
"If the potions master were to die before the apprenticeship is complete the apprentice may be bound to another potions master until completion of their studies."
Hermione listened with interest and realized what she was truly getting herself into.
"The potions master will have full control over their apprentice to ensure safety for both parties. Also if the potions master were to ever be convicted of any serious crimes the apprentice will suffer the consequences unless they are released from their apprenticeship by the potions master."
Malfoy looked at Hermione with genuine interest. She was essentially agreeing to be a slave and party to more than a few indecent acts. "Do you understand what is being asked of you Miss Granger?"
"Yes I do Mr….yes Headmaster."
"Then let us begin." He handed her a wine red gown. It resembled what Snape wore but with slightly more billowing allowance if that was possible. Snape was handed the same gown only brown with white sleeves with a thin golden stripe on the edge of the sleeves.
"Take off your current gowns…Miss Granger please remove your jacket and sweater and Professor please remove your gown and jacket and dress in the robes provided."
They did as instructed and Hermione was surprised to see Snape in anything other than black. This would take getting used to. She donned her gown as well and awaited further instructions. Once again, noticing Mafloy's genuine interest in the whole affair.
Malfoy said a few words over the cauldron as he added the already prepared ingredients. A potion formed that was lavender in color and gave off a rather spicy smell. Two small cups were filled with the liquid and were handed to both Hermione and Snape. They both drank and placed the cups on the table.
"Potions Master Severus Snape do you take on the responsibilities to ensure that your apprentice is given the proper instruction in all things related to potions and the profession of potion making?"
"I do."
Malfoy turned to Hermione. "Miss Hermione Granger do you take on all the responsibilities as a potions apprentice and to do all that is required of you for your potions apprenticeship?"
"I do."
With her words her wrists became very warm. She looked down and a braided band tattoo formed around her wrists. Looking up she saw that Snape had a matching band around his wrist.
Malfoy watched with interest and kept giving Hermione an odd look. "It seems you two will be spending a lot of time together. Arrangements have been made to ensure that Miss Granger has quarters convenient to her studies."
"Proff…Master?" Hermione wanted to address Snape as she did before but the binding forced her to address her him by his title. It felt very strange on her tongue.
"Yes my apprentice." It seemed that Snape also had to adjust to the title change though he covered his surprise.
"I wasn't aware that I will have a change of quarters."
"It's tradition to have Master and Apprentice living close to one another. Your schedule is based on brewing times and my lessons. Starting today you best not think of yourself as a Hogwarts student and you are to wear the robes provided in place of the school uniform. You will not have to wear such a bulky robe during the lessons. These are for public and ceremonial consumption."
It was so surreal and it was times like this Hermione felt out of place in the wizarding world. "I understand Master."
Malfoy looked on with keen interest as if waiting for something.
"Along with following my instructions you are never to question Headmaster Malfoy or divulge to any of your friends any events you see to anyone unless I give express permission."
A coldness crept into her stomach and she looked at Malfoy who was beginning to form a classic Mafloy smirk.
"I understand Master." Though she held confusion on her face.
"Well go on then Severus you are not finished yet."
Hermione stepped back knowing she was not going to like what she is going to hear.
"As of right now you will be in service to the Dark Lord through me. Don't think running from the school will do you any good as you will pass out shortly after leaving the grounds."
It all made sense now. Every time she left the school grounds she fell very ill. What was it? What cursed her? She looked at her bag and pulled out the book she found so much information. It looked the same but the pages inside were blank.
Anger coursed through her veins realizing the deceit and how completely trapped she was. She was enslaved even without the binding. If there was ever an attack she would never be able to leave the castle ensuring that she would be used against Harry.
She looked at Malfoy who smiled like a cat who knew the mouse was cornered and underneath its paw.
"I think you understand now Mudblood." Malfoy sneered and spat with mixed delight allowing his mask of indifference to fall.
Snape turned to him. "Watch how you speak of my charge. Miss Granger is now my apprentice and any slight you say against her will also be directed toward me. I take this apprenticeship seriously and you will respect that."
Malfoy laughed at Snape's defense. "Fine, fine I'll make sure to keep my honest comments out of your range of hearing if you feel so strongly about it."
The sarcasm was ignored and Snape approached Hermione who stood her ground even though she was filled with fear and anger. "So easily manipulated. Let's hope you learn your lessons quick as most of them will not come from a book."
"It would be wise to keep her isolated from her friends for a while." Malfoy commented as he walked towards the door.
Hermione remained silent only casting angry and very confused glances at Snape. He warded the room and locked the classroom door. "You are a casualty of this war my apprentice and the Dark Lord has taken an interest in you. Had I not taken you on you would have been at his mercy when the castle gets attacked. Do you think Malfoy would turn you away from his bed because you are considered dirt in his eyes?"
"And do you have…?" Hermione stopped as the bond prevented her from speaking out of turn.
"Go ahead I am giving permission for you to speak honestly."
"Did you curse the book so I would have those feelings for you?"
Snape scoffed. "If I wanted to bed a student I would have taken a dozen from my house. They are a hive of teenage hormones that are attracted to brooding dark wizards and would have been only too thrilled to have a teacher teach things that are outside the curriculum. The feelings you felt were your own that were increased due to a combination of the book's curse and a fascination reversal potion that was given to you as your symptoms seemed to reflect ingestion of a fascination potion. Also some of the fumes from the revealing potion may have affected things."
He stepped closer to her with an annoyed half smirk. "Your feelings about me are entirely your own. Professors at this school are the only adults most of the students see during their school year. It is a mix of hormones and growing up. Feeling embarrassed for being young is a waste of time."
Hermione's face flushed with embarrassment and would rather be bent over in pain in the hospital wing if it would spare her this situation she was in.
"Now put your childish feelings aside as you have a lot of work ahead of you. I'll take you to your new room now. Follow me."
Hermione was taken to what she knew as the wing where most of the instructors lived. Snape was of course closer to the dungeons and she was only a few doors down.
She was surprised that she had such a large room with a separate study. It was well furnished and a lot brighter than she had imagined for a room in the dungeons.
"This is my room?"
"You will be spending a lot of time here so might as well be comfortable."
Everything was set up and she realized that this was a comfortable prison. The books on the bookshelf were new and held a high price that she wasn't sure that Snape was able to afford. The knowledge that surrounded her made her light headed with a realization.
"He, paid for all of this correct?"
Snape nodded and crossed his arms. She was surprised that brown and white could look as intimidating as it did. "And what my apprentice will you do with that information."
"I suppose take advantage and see where this river leads."
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"What do you mean Draco hasn't returned?!" Malfoy spat at the man who was one of his many spies in the ministry.
"He was last seen at the Muggle coffee shop. I left as he was going to make a scene but planned on returning later to retrieve him. When I came back he was gone." The man was nervous knowing that he failed in his mission.
"Come with me. We will search through Draco's things. I'm sure he has hidden things from me."
He entered the Slytherin dormitories and looked through what would be considered private articles and papers. Malfoy caught a sight of a package with a note with it.
'Open the package only when the walls are up. Changes are coming soon with or without fate's permission.'
Malfoy tore at the paper only to find that the layer repaired itself just as quickly as it was torn. "Who have you been speaking with Draco?" Malfoy knew that his son was searching for this mysterious Myra Gray. He remembered that Draco tried to speak with Ms. Granger about it and he would need to speak with her about his son.