Tea & Books

Summary: Hermione returns to Hogwarts to apprentice under Minerva, how will Severus react?

AN: This has been in the works for some time now. When I started it, my mind wasn't in its normally happy place. However, since then, I have bounced back and was curious if I could finish what I started and this is the final product! :) Thanks for checking it out and hope everyone is doing well. Love to you all! Stay safe and sane! :)

Disclaimer: I make no monies with this.

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Hermione laid her head against the window's pane as she allowed her eyes to wonder over the grounds below and beyond her. She wasn't sure what she should feel anymore; she wasn't sure what the right way to feel was, if there was one. On one hand, she was elated to be alive but on the other, she was depressed by the loss of so much life. She wasn't sure if she knew what was right or wrong anymore. Of course, she knew what was right or wrong but not when it came to her feelings. She was tired of the constant pull of her mind, body and soul in so many directions. She knew she wasn't the only one but it sure as hell felt like she was.

The Final Battle had happened a year ago and wizarding Britain was methodically piecing everything back together. Hogwarts had been the first of the reconstruction efforts. Everyone wanted the school put back to rights, not only so it could open in time, but because it was such a cornerstone in everyone's minds that if Hogwarts was whole then everything else would fall in line and they had been right. Everyone, no matter their status, "rolled up their sleeves" and fell upon Hogwarts with the sole intention of repairing it. It was wonderful to see and almost otherworldly to experience.

Hermione never thought she would be side by side with some she had been. The Malfoys had been one of the first pureblood families to volunteer to help with rebuilding because, as old as their family was; they understood that it would take the majority of the community to put the school back to rights. It wasn't just putting the stones, glass, wood and all the other materials back into the proper places; no, it would take serious concentration and power to put the magic back into the hallowed halls of the beloved school. No single person could do it all. It would take many wands helping and then it would be a push to have it done by September 1st. Fortunately there were those who came from other schools to lend a hand or wand, depending on their strengths.

She had taken her N.E.W.T.s over the summer. She knew there was no way she could ever come back as a student. She had seen too much and been through enough to know that she would not consider herself a student again. There would be no way she could ever don a uniform and follow the rules laid down for a student. It just wasn't possible. She knew she wasn't the only one to feel this way either. All of her "year" had chosen to sit their final exams at the Ministry instead of returning to school. They all felt Hogwarts couldn't help them anymore; real life had filled in the majority of gaps in their education the harshest way possible.

Hermione and her fellow survivors almost envied the lower years. Anyone of the current fifth year and below had not been allowed to fight in the Final Battle, therefore they had missed out on all the horrors it entailed. Yes, they had unpleasant, harsh or even traumatizing memories of the year Severus Snape had been forced to be Headmaster but they had been too young to know how to defend themselves or others so they had missed the horrific scene that was the Final Battle. One of the many unknown truths about her former professor was that he had figured out a way to have all the fourth years and lower out of the castle when the fighting had begun. No one truly knew the number of innocents the dour man had saved from that one action; don't get her started on everything before that moment.

Hermione couldn't stop the soft smile from forming when she thought of her former professor. Severus Snape had given so much during his time as a spy. Once she had learned even a fraction of what the man had been through, the razor sharp edge he walked upon for two decades, she had been gobsmacked. She couldn't help but admire the man even more. She had always admired him, even when he had been a right snarky bastard towards them. His quick reflexes and sharp eye had prevented so many mistakes in his potions classes that it amazed her. She had learned just how tight the stoic wizard kept the reins in his classes when Horace Slughorn had taken over. She remembered with a shudder just how many blown cauldrons had happened that year. However, she also loved how much they were able to learn in DADA because he had been the teacher. He took no prisoners and showed no mercy and, later, she had been so very grateful for it. She honestly didn't want to think how their year on the run would have turned out if he had been as the previous professors had been. Remus Lupin had been the only other teacher to have wanted to truly teach them how to defend themselves against the darkest of magics. However, his time had been cut short due to prejudices, sad really.

Warmth filled her chest when she thought of the gentle werewolf. He had managed to survive the war by the skin of his teeth. Hermione was fairly certain that if he hadn't been part wolf, he would not have survived. The fact that he had and had saved his wife while doing so only endured him more to the witch. Remus had taken several hexes and curses when he stepped in front of Tonks to protect her. They had both been badly injured by the time the Battle had finished but were given immediate medical attention to stabilize them before Poppy Pomfrey sent them to St. Mungo's for continued healing via a portkey. Her amazing skills had saved them both so they were now alive and raising their son together. Hermione felt a chill down her spine when she remembered how close they came to dying.

Tears filled her eyes as she looked out the window while remembering how close the Weasley family had come to losing Fred. Hermione shook her head to clear her vision, reminding herself that the twins were alive and healthy, running their store and bringing laughter back into the world. If ever wizarding Britain needed laughter, it was now. She had never been so happy to follow her instincts as she had when she had pushed Ron, Harry and herself towards where the giants were headed. Due to her changing their route mid-run, the three of them had been there to keep the large wall pieces from killing anyone near them.

Thinking of those that were almost lost, Hermione's thoughts circled back to Severus. He had almost lost his life when Nagini had been ordered to kill him. It had been an accident on their part that had had Voldemort leaving quicker than he might have. They had been pressed against the wall that their professor had slid down and it had shocked them. Their reactions had them bumping into each other unexpectedly and Harry had shot a spell off on instinct. It had been sheer dumb luck that Voldemort hadn't come to investigate. Fortunately, he had called his snake to his side quickly, allowing only a single bite to happen which Hermione was able to tend to while Harry took the tears Severus had told him to go view.

When Harry stood to head to the Headmaster's office, he had paused to look to her and Ron before looking back to their professor. Hermione had told Harry to go on and take Ron with him and she would tend to Snape's wounds. When they had finally left, Hermione had knelt by her former professor and immediately started treating his wounds. It just so happened that she had what was needed to keep the man alive. Just before Severus had lost consciousness, he had told Hermione that she should be able to apparate them to the hall outside of the Medical Wing since the wards had been destroyed when she had muttered something about levitating him through a war zone; she had promptly cast a stasis spell on Severus and grasped his body as well as she could so neither would get splinched and apparated them.

When they landed, Hermione had then levitated him into the Ward and laid him on a bed. The medi-witch had hurried over to her and Hermione had stood protectively in front of Severus until Poppy had explained that she knew Severus was a good man and had done his best to obey two masters. Hermione had thanked her before darting out the doors to find Harry and Ron and get back into the fighting. The last thing she thought she would have to deal with was Harry saying what she feared was correct, that he had to die in order to defeat the snaky bastard. She had hugged him fiercely before allowing him to walk to his death. She had had no clue if she would ever see him again after that. It had almost debilitated her until Ron had slung his arm around her shoulders and nudged her forward.

Hermione shook her head to clear the depressing thoughts away. Harry had survived and the War had finally been brought to an end with the death of Tom Marvolo Riddle. It was strange to think back on all her and her two best friends had been through and survived. Merlin only knew how they had managed to survive each year. Wrapping her arms around her waist, Hermione shivered. Too many had paid the ultimate cost for some despot's twisted view of how their world should be. It was a bloody shame, in more ways than one.

Shaking off her emotions, Hermione leaned away from the window. She had spent enough time wallowing and needed to get to her quarters. She would start her apprenticeship with Minerva the next morning. She was looking forward to it, she really was. The only thing, well, current thing worrying her was how Severus would act towards her. She had yet to see him after he was healed. He had disappeared while the rebuilding was going on; she had heard that he had taken a sabbatical to heal from his wounds and his years of servitude. She knew he planned to return to teach Potions but no one had seen or heard from him in a year. She supposed she would find out the next day if he truly returned or not. No one would blame the wizard if he chose to disappear permanently, he had sacrificed enough. His name had been cleared and he had received the Medal of Merlin, First Class for all he had done the same as her, Harry and Ron along with a few others. However, Hermione couldn't help but feel she wasn't deserving of the honor. It seemed wrong but she had accepted the award graciously just as her parents had taught her to do.

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Severus stood in the shadows as he watched Hermione Granger stare out the window. He wondered what thoughts were passing through her brilliant mind. What caused the many varying emotions to cross her beautiful face? He knew, if he looked into her eyes, she was reliving the War; knew she was thinking about everything that had happened, probably from her first year on. As he studied the fierce witch, he couldn't help but admire her. She had been through more than most and still she held her head high. She could still smile warmly at those close to her. It amazed him, she amazed him.

He knew life had been hard for the petite witch before she came to Hogwarts and only got harder afterwards. Severus marveled at the strength Hermione Granger possessed. It was while he was convalescing that he learned more about her from Potter. He had learned that she had been bullied from the time she could go to muggle school due to her intelligence then her magical mishaps had only increased her ostracization. Of course, Severus understood the pain that caused all too well. He had been through it himself. However, instead of becoming bitter and power hungry, she had learned to stand her ground fairly, to prove she belonged no matter what anyone said. She had embraced the challenge and rose above the pettiness of blood purity; that didn't mean she hadn't taken action but it was usually as a last option. The young witch was what every witch should be: loyal, fierce, strong, intelligent and not afraid to hold her own even when the odds were not in her favor. Many through the years had underestimated her, as well as Potter, and more times than not, it was their downfall.

Severus had often thought of retiring from teaching while he was healing but then he learned Hermione would be apprenticing under Minerva and his decision was made. He would return to teach so he could see her every day. So he could finally encourage her learning and possibly help her any way he could. He knew he owed her a life debt but she had never mentioned it to him in any form; not that she had seen him since leaving him in Poppy's tender care but she could have owled demanding payment in some form. However, it wasn't her style and Severus knew in his heart that she would never bring up the debt. She had most likely already dismissed such a thing but he wouldn't. He had been conflicted when she had been able to save him, so sure he would die he had accepted that fate but she hadn't. If it hadn't been for her quick ministrations then he would have passed away in that bloody shack. Instead, he was now able to have a life free of any masters and he owed it all to an extraordinary witch.

As he continued to watch the witch, Severus couldn't help the small smile that crossed his face. She was so much more than most saw. Hermione Granger was a witch with no others coming close. When Potter had visited him during his recovery, they had spoken about much. For one, Severus never had a clue that Potter's "family" had abused him so horribly. Although looking back he could see all the signs clearly. He had apologized to the young wizard for not seeing more than James Potter's spawn during his school years. Amazingly, Potter had graciously accepted his apology and had forgiven him saying he saw what he was meant to see and nothing more. Dumbledore had made sure of that and Severus couldn't agree more. They had had several long talks during the past year and had helped each other to start healing properly. Potter, no Harry, had shared his life story with Severus who had returned the gesture, much to both of their surprise. It would seem Harry and he had much in common and Severus found that oddly comforting, sad as it was.

It was also during these talks that Harry would drop little things about Hermione, the sister of his heart as he described her. She was bossy enough, Harry would chuckle and Severus had to agree. If there was someone who had perfect big sister material it was Hermione Granger. She was the only reason Harry and Weasley passed their tests and survived to finish the dark bastard's evil reign and Harry knew it. Severus was impressed with the young man's willingness to admit such things and it gave him hope for the future. If Harry Potter could admit he was a royal prat most of the time who got away with way too much, then maybe some of the others would learn from their past as well; nah, that would be asking too much.

When Hermione pushed away from the window, Severus caught the look of determination that filled the witch's eyes and features. She was done with whatever reminiscing she had been doing and was attempting to let go of the painful memories. She walked towards her quarters and Severus knew she was hyper-aware of her surroundings. Most wouldn't really notice the tightness in her shoulders or the way her gait glided, ready for an ambush at any moment but he did. He knew the feeling all too well, it was how he was for over two decades. He supposed he always would be to some extent, the same as her and the others who were on the front line.

Severus kept to the shadows until the witch was well out of view. He hadn't meant to intrude upon her quiet moment but hadn't been able to turn away once there. Her body language was one of someone feeling lost, adrift in the sea of normalcy that none of them knew how to navigate. Perhaps he could invite her to tea and loan her one of his personal books; he could judge how she was without coming across creepy or nosy. He wasn't sure if she would welcome his concern or not and until he could decipher her willingness, he would have to be Slytherin about it.

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Hermione was in her quarters going over the information Minerva, her Master, had given her to prepare for the arrival of students. She would be shadowing her for the first month, just observing how things happened behind the scenes then she would start her working apprenticeship. It wasn't as if she was going to have a "free ride" during her first month. She would be helping Minerva grade papers and tests, setting up the classroom for each class and helping with detentions but her actual training wouldn't happen until the month was up. She looked forward to seeing what happened when students weren't around. How much time and effort went into teaching the next generations.

She was just straightening up the stack of parchments when an origami rose floated down to her desk. When she picked it up, it unfolded to show a message from Severus.

I would like your company for afternoon tea if you are free. I have a few books to loan you, if you wish.

Severus

Hermione grinned when the rose folded back up and began to change colors. As she watched, the rose went through the colors of the rainbow and then some. She set it in a small vase she had on her desk; giving it one last look, she stood to freshen up before her tea with Severus. The man knew how to guarantee her attendance, of course he had her at tea but, the promise of a few books from his library was icing on the proverbial cake. Maybe this year would be better than she anticipated, she could only hope.

~Fin~