Chapter Six

"The Book of Love has music in it"

- Peter Gabriel

Severus slowly awoke from the only peaceful world he had right now, sleep. He sat up in his King sized bed and stretched, his joints cracked and popped. He arched his back and heard the pleasing sound of the repetitive popping of his spine. He got out of bed and made his way to the bathroom where he started his morning routine. He pulled his small case of potions from his medicine cabinet and pulled out the ones he needed to take. He always needed to take a potion for his nerves. Years of exposure to the Cruciatus Curse had done a number on his nerve endings. If he didn't take the potion in the morning he'd suffer through horrible body pains and consistent shaking. The rest were for potion making. Salves to keep his hands from being burnt, another to keep them from getting stained from ingredients.

After taking his potions he brushed his teeth and ran a comb through his hair. Most other wizards and witches would just use magic for those things but there was something therapeutic about doing it himself. He checked himself one more time in the mirror and left the bathroom. He removed his sleep pants and changed his boxers. He chose a pair of dark green slacks and a dark blue button up shirt. He adorned his teaching robes and pulled on his dragonhide boots as the clock tower chimed 7 times. He exited his rooms and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.

The Great Hall was buzzing by the time Severus sat down. He looked at his plate as his breakfast of choice popped in front of him. Eggs over easy, bacon, sausage, and an onion bagel with cream cheese. He dug in as conversation went on around him.

"So Severus," He heard from down the table. He looked to his left to see Minerva looking at him, "Are you ready for your new apprentices tonight?" She asked. He could detect no teasing in her voice. Usually Minerva was one of the few staff members who was genuinely nice to him. Her along with Fillius, Poppy, and Hagrid. "Yes, They start their Polyjuice Potions tonight. I have them set up in pairs and they'll turn themselves into each other for a day." He told her. She scoffed, "So you basically just plan on making every other teacher's life hard for the next day?" He smirked at her, "Well I guess I hadn't thought about that." He said as he resumed his breakfast.

As breakfast continued Severus monitored the room as he sipped his tea. He watched Ms. Granger enter the Hall and take her seat next to Potter and Weasly. She seemed relatively frazzled, her normally messy hair was even messier than normal, and one side of her shirt was slightly untucked. If it hadn't been Granger he would have thought she had been snogging someone before breakfast, but he knew that she was far to dedicated to her studies for that. The more likely reason was that she had fallen asleep in the Gryffindor common room and rushed down to breakfast.

He watched the Hall for a little while longer as the students exited and then he made his way down to his classroom for his first class of the day. He had third year Ravenclaws and Slytherins. Two classes he wished he didn't have together. Ravenclaws tended to be snarky and full of themselves and Slytherins expected him to go easy on them because he was their Head of House. He preferred to only have to deal with one at a time but he was shit out of luck today.

He sat behind his desk and waited for the bratty children to enter. He could hear them outside the door but he knew they wouldn't enter until the clock struck 9. Today they'd be doing some practical lessons. The Third Years would be brewing shrinking solutions. As he sat and waited he felt a twinge in left arm, the Dark Lord was summoning someone, which means they would all be summoned soon.

His thoughts were interrupted by the nine loud chimes of the Clock Tower. The doors two his classroom opened and the students filed in. He stood from his desk as they took their seats. He waved his wand at the chalkboard and revealed what they'd be working on.

"Can anyone tell me what shrinking solution is used for?" He asked the room, his baritone voice echoing back at him. Several hands went up, he chose a blonde haired Ravenclaw from the back.

"Yes Ms. Lee?" He asked

"It's used to shrink a creature to its younger self." She said in a very matter-of-fact way

"Yes, and why would that be useful?" He asked the class, again several more hands went up. He chose a young Slytherin boy this time

"Mr. Stax?"

"It could be useful in battle, shrinking your opponent would make them much easier to kill." The boy responded with a horrible gleam in his eyes.

"Yes that's one way." He said. He turned back to the bored and wrote the recipe for the potion on the wall. It was also in the books but some students worked better with it on the board. "You have the rest of class time to brew me an impeccable Shrinking Solution." He told the class. "You may begin."

He stepped away from the bored and started walking around the room, making sure none of them messed up too badly. He gave and took points from both sides of the room. He gave more than he took with the Slytherins because he had an image to upkeep.

Each student slowly finished their work and brought the completed potions vials up to his desk. He cast a tempus and dismissed the students and set aside the vials and prepared for his next class. Seventh years shouldn't be so hard. Oh how he wished to have a glass of whiskey right now. He swore as he remembered that he still had apprenticeships tonight. Maybe many glasses of whiskey would be better.

*~HGxSS~*

Hermione's head just wasn't on right today. First she over slept and was almost was late for breakfast, then she left her Transfiguration essay in her room. Thankfully Professor McGonagall allowed her to bring it by after class, one of the perks of being the teacher's favorite. Hermione was too excited and stressed about tonight. Her first night apprenticing under Madame Pomfrey. She was the only one apprenticing under the healer this year. Most students were with Professor Lupin, understandable with a whole war taking place. If she wasn't so compelled to be a war healer she'd chose Defense as well but with Harry's track record of getting injured she felt that she was needed as a healer.

Her day passed by incredibly slow. She spent lunch and break reading up on healing spells, techniques, and potions. Her last two classes were tortures. She was antsy and couldn't focus on her work. She wanted to be done with them as soon as possible. When the final bell struck 4:30 she sprinted from her class room and ran to Gryffindor tower as fast as possible. She filled her shoulder bag with her books on healing and headed down to the Great Hall for dinner.

She sat down next to Harry and across from Ron, who was already stuffing his face. "So Mione'" Harry started as he filled his plate with pasta, "What do you think Madame Pomfrey will have you do tonight?" He asked. She shrugged and she bit into a buttered roll. "What's Professor Lupin teacher you guys?" She asked him, "Owerfu eilds." Ron said around a mouthful of food. "He teaching you what?" Hermione asked confusedly.

"Shields. Powerful shields." Harry said as he glared at Ron, who just shrugged and went back to shoveling food into his mouth. Hermione nodded and she went back to eating. She poured herself a glass of water and dug into her spaghetti. She was curious as to what Madame Pomfrey would be teaching her. She was incredibly nervous, what if she messed something up, or gave someone the wrong potion. So many things could go wrong. Maybe she wasn't as prepared as she thought.

She was jerked out of her worrying mind by a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw that Harry was looking at her.

"Stop worrying." He said firmly but gently, "You'll be fine."

"How did you know I was worrying?" she asked

"Because you always worry. About everything. Especially about stuff that doesn't need to be worried about." He said teasingly, "You're going to do amazingly."

"Thanks, Harry." She said as she leaned against his shoulder

"No problem Mione'."

Professor Dumbledore announced the time and the six and seventh years headed to their mentors.

A/N Hello lovely readers. Please review if you have the time. I'm trying to do more dialogue but I'm not great at it so I know it sucks.