"Granger I will throw you over my shoulder if you do not keep up." Professor Snape threatened as he stopped hiking waiting for his apprentice to join him.

"It's not my fault your strides are twice the normal length and speed" Hermione snapped back, struggling to get over the jagged rocks that had appeared midway through their hike that morning.

"Sir" Hermione added in a slightly sarcastic tone as she passed him before having to catch her breath and lean on a nearby tree.

"We need to work on your endurance this is pitiful Miss Granger," Professor Snape said leaning on the tree opposite Hermione. As Hermione caught her breath, she glared at her Potion Master only to receive his trademark eyebrow quirk in response.

"I thought being a potion master was a sedentary position, nowhere did it say it would be required to climb a fucking mountain."

Professor Snape simply smirked before continuing on toward the top. As they continued climbing, snow started appearing, making their trek that much harder. Before losing hope, Hermione saw something blue in the corner of her eye. Nestled in between a few rocks with the perfect perch sat the flower, in full bloom and almost beckoning her to pick it up. Hermione felt a strange pull to touch the petals before an arm yanked her out of the way causing her to fall flat on her backside.

"Granger! Did you not read the report? Stupid girl, the petals are incredibly venomous, one touch and you would have gone into shock." Glaring at her, Professor Snape went back to his task, he carefully picked up the flower by the stem before placing it head first into a magically sealed bag.

Hermione's cheeks reddened, clearly embarrassed by the very obvious mistake she had made. Professor Snape strode over and gave her his hand, she gratefully took it and stood up. Professor Snape looked at her with an intense look in his eyes.

"Granger this is serious, you could have died from this seemingly small mistake. Some of the most innocent-looking plants are the most dangerous. If you are to continue being my apprentice you cannot make another mistake of this magnitude."

"I feel so foolish, I really did read the report sir, but the pull was just too strong I truly felt like there was nothing else in the world more important than to touch its petals," Hermione said while twisting her hands unable to look her Potion Master in the eye.

"Yes that is its only defense, magical plants have an acute awareness in comparison to ordinary plants. They sense danger and protect themselves much like the Mandrake plants can and will kill if not handled properly."

"I understand thank you Professor," Hermione said feeling properly chastised and foolish.

"Now, let's get off this fucking mountain as you said."

Hermione smirked before her eyes went wide and she went pale, realizing they would once again be flying.

Professor Snape secretly smiled at her reaction as he turned his back to her to retrieve the broom, as he stood up he had an idea he knew she would absolutely hate, which made him smile once more.

As he approached her, she saw he almost looked giddy, which made her stomach drop.

"You need to be taught a lesson, in more ways than one but in this case, the lesson will be about flying. I have no interest in throwing up my breakfast because of your iron-clad grip on my person and so, you will be flying the broom Granger."

"Professor I beg you I am so sorry about the plant I-"

"Nonsense girl, this was always the plan. I will be behind you but you will be guiding the broom. I repeat we will not fall, I will not die at the hands of a teenage girl unable to do what a first year is capable of."

"First of all, I am nearly twenty because of the time turner, second of all….fuck! I can't do it Professor I resign from my apprenticeship effective immediately"

Professor Snape rolled his eyes, "Typical Gryffindor dramatics, I do not accept your resignation now climb on."

Hermione looked around frantically trying to find any other solution but was unable to. Closing her eyes for a second Hermione focused on her breathing, finding a steady rhythm before opening her eyes to find Professor Snape staring at her clearly amused by her hysterics. Hermione huffed before climbing onto the broom in front of her Professor. As he wrapped his arms around her middle, she couldn't help but think back to their morning encounter. Her knuckles were instantly white with how strongly she was gripping the broom, and her mind was back to the task at hand. As they shakily took off, she made sure they were never too far from the ground, coming too close to a few trees.

"You need to go up Granger or we might hit a tree, and that is more dangerous than falling I assure you," Professor Snape told her from behind.

Groaning, Hermione had the broom go up a few feet before panicking as she looked below. Sensing her panic, Professor Snape reached one hand to grip where her hands were holding the broom.

"Listen to me Miss Granger, I will give you some pointers on why you seem unsteady, scooch back, you need to arch your back ever so slightly and place your hands more in front of you, you're far too rigid."

Hermione took a breath before doing as she was told, she immediately felt the difference and felt slightly less panicked. As a consequence of her shifting her body, her backside was now directly onto him making him slightly flustered at their proximity, once again remembering their encounter that morning. As they continued flying, Hermione felt her confidence peak, she finally felt somewhat comfortable on a broom, with Professor Snape as her passenger no less. As they reached camp, she decided to do exactly what he had done to her when they landed. She dipped her broom straight to the ground with no warning but panicked and lost control of the broom entirely. Hermione fell off the broom only to have Professor Snape jump after her, grab her, and start to fly.

"Granger you really are an idiot, maybe I got it all wrong about your little trio, maybe you were the reckless one all along"

Hermione cocked her eyebrow at him "Perhaps…"

Professor Snape rolled his eyes before dropping her roughly on her behind and gracefully landing on his feet in front of her.

"Ass" Hermione muttered as she got up by herself.

"Pack up the campsite Granger we are going home, I want this cleared in half an hour."

Hermione dusted herself off before making her way to their campsite, making sure to pack carefully, every so often Professor Snape would come and help then set off into the woods. Hermione grew curious but knew better than to follow the dour man, especially after her little performance. She had to admit, ever since finding out he had a sense of humor she had grown to enjoy his company. Ron was so easily offended by her humor, thinking she was personally attacking him with every quip she would throw at him. For a man who grew up with that many siblings Hermione was surprised how little Ron could take a joke. She couldn't imagine who he would have been had he grown up to be an only child. The more she thought about it, the more she saw how her and Ron were just incompatible as partners…even as friends. She shook the thoughts off not wanting to think about it too much and went back to her task. Once she had finished she made her way into the woods where she had last seen Professor Snape.

"Professor!"

"Over here Mis Granger" Hermione heard off into the distance

As she approached she saw her Professor Standing over what appeared to be a small circle of mushrooms.

"Do you believe in fairies Miss Granger?" Professor Snape asked, not taking his eyes off the notebook he was furiously scribbling notes in.

"At this point from what I've seen, which has been entirely too much…I would be a fool to say no" Replied Hermione, eying the mushrooms skeptically.

Professor Snape simply hummed in agreement before snapping his notebook closed.

"Are you done packing everything?" Professor Snape said as he started walking back to where their campsite had been.

"Yes, we can leave whenever you deem fit" Hermione said, somewhat sarcastically.

"Good." Snape replied simply.

As they got back to their campsite, Professor Snape grabbed their bags and pulled out what looked to be an old shoe.

"Grab on Miss Granger we are going home."

Hermione felt relieved they would no longer be flying or walking for that matter, and gratefully placed her hand on the shoe before being sucked into the portkey.