Last time...

"We need to get them to Madam Pomfrey." He hears. Fred? George?

"I vill take Professor. You take Hera, and you take the cup?" Krum was awake? "Vould recommend floating it avay from you. Does not seem like something ve should touch."

He was aware enough to know that his other arm had been draped across the Buglarian's shoulders, as his waist was held, and they began moving.

"Floo is in my office." He managed.

"Vouldn't recommend it vit sludge." Krum countered. And yeah, okay, he can agree that sounded like a bad idea.

"Potter…wandless…whole time?" He asked, looking to one of the Weasley twins.

"Yeah, the whole time." They answered quietly.

"But-"

"We know." They cut him off.

"That shouldn't be-"

"We know, Professor." Fuck it. He's going to call this one Fred. "She doesn't seem to understand how rare it is, and we haven't said anything to alert her. No one talks about it, and no one has said anything to the professors. She's too important."

"That's-"

"We know, Professor."

"Watch…Keep her safe."

"We will, Professor."

That hadn't been what he'd meant to tell them.

Chapter 21

"What the bloody hell were you thinking?" She hears, and groans in protest as she rolls over to hide from the world with the covers over her. "Oh, no you don't."

The covers were suddenly gone, and after a surprised squawk she blearily opened her eyes only to realize that Professor Snape was in the…Where was she? Oh, the hospital wing...again. Hera looked around in uncertainty. Why was Madam Pomfrey allowing this? Any other time it would be different. She's fairly certain that woman would have driven him out by now, so what gives?

"She's stalling the Headmaster, which gives us time to talk." Professor Snape replied, almost as if he'd read her mind, but he said he couldn't do that. "Did you know that would happen?"

"Eh…Sort of?" Hera admitted. "Hadn't really planned on approaching you with it till I did more research, but the opportunity was too perfect to pass up. It worked, right? I was kind of out of it there at the end, so-"

"Why would you think to research it at all?" He demanded with a harsh tone.

"Your magic felt…wrong, but not like Voldesniff or Quirrell; more like it was straining against something else." Hera admitted, sitting back against the propped up pillow at the headboard.

"Why would you help me?" The Professor asked stiffly. "I'm the bat of the dungeons, if anyone asks, and it's no secret how I've treated you."

"You've gone out of your way to make people think you hate me, and to try and make me hate you." She pointed out. "It was weird. Didn't feel right. Uncle Vernon actually hates me, so I know what genuine hatred feels like. Figured you were blowing smoke out of your arse. It didn't help that every detention I have with you is a learning experience. I'm not stupid, you know."

"I've made you clean the foulest cauldrons I have with a tooth brush, and harvest dung beetles" He countered. "during their mating season."

"I've cleaned worse things out from under Aunt Petunia's kitchen sink." She remarked, equally unimpressed. "Why do you think I never complained when you gave me something gross to do? Whatever you've got, whatever you're already planning to try and top it with, she's outdone you."

"If you would consider it, I would offer you an apprenticeship." Professor Snape admitted, much to her surprise. "However, I'm not sure you would accept it."

"Why would you even offer?" Hera asked in confusion.

"Magic like yours needs guidance. You've been mucking about, breaking into the Restricted section at all hours, but there's only so far self study can take you before something backfires, and last night felt like one of those moments that could have backfired if your instincts had been wrong." Professor Snape pointed out.

Rude, but fair. They weren't wrong, she knew that, but they could have been.

"If I apprentice with you, I'll have to transfer to Slytherin." Hera countered, frowning. "I won't be a Gryffindor anymore."

He just arched an eyebrow at her.

"I won't be able to play Quidditch on the House team anymore, and Malfoy and I sort of have this friendly rivalry going on."

He kept the eyebrow arched, and Hera slumped.

"My friends in Gryffindor would hate me."

"Miss Potter, if you think anyone in Gryffindor will hate you after that disgustingly blatant show of school solidarity and international cooperation the other day, then I don't know what to tell you." Professor Snape drawled sardonically. The other day? How long had she been asleep? "When I cautiously broached the subject with your House, I had no less than three requests for a resorting. It is obvious they were willing to follow you, but I have to believe they have a true knack for the House. The entire House of Gryffindor tried to jump ship for you, but alas, not all of them managed it. If they had, then Minerva would have had to forfeit the House Cup to me."

"At least now we know why you really want her as an apprentice, Severus." Professor McGonagall noted with a strained sort of amusement as she strolled into the room. "Has she decided yet?"

"Why do I get the feeling like there's a time crunch I don't know about?" Hera asked, suddenly filled with dread. "Also, you sound supportive of this."

"There is, and I am. As Deputy Head Mistress, I am in charge of helping Albus run the school, but I tend to defer to his judgment even when I know I shouldn't." Professor McGonagall stated, an unspoken apology in her eyes, which Hera nodded to in understanding. She didn't have to like it, but she understood, and forgave the woman that had tried to look out for her regardless. "With what you did, you've freed Professor Snape from his Vows to both He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named as well as Albus, even when none of us knew he was under them in the first place. He hadn't been able to even speak of them before. Now, he could act where I can not, if you agree to be his apprentice."

"We call him Voldesniff or Snort-a-wart." Hera offered. "He was on the back of Quirrell's head and all. Think of the dandruff. What if he had to scratch his nose?"

"Potter, this occasion calls for something of a more serious manner." Professor Snape reminded her.

"You would be okay with me jumping ship?" Hera asked, looking at Professor McGonagall worriedly.

"This is more important than the House Cup." The woman replied. "Your friends in Gryffindor understand."

"I would not be a father to you, Potter, but I would be a guide, if you accept. I will be able to help you make legal decisions, decisions that you will need to make very soon." Professor Snape added, hinting that time was of the essence.

She looked to her professors, wondering just what was going on, when it hit her all at once. Despite having the best alibi the schools could give her, something had gone wrong. They'd known it would, and still they'd done it. Somehow, she was in trouble. If her friends really would understand, then what did she have to lose? Some had already jumped ship, knowing this. Hera was nodding her head before the words were out of her mouth.

"I'll do it. I'll agree to be your apprentice."

Professor Snape quickly grabbed her forearm with the arm she'd freed of the mark, and Professor McGonagall muttered an incantation under her breath as fast as possible as she made the minute wand movements needed.

"We'll have to do the Apprenticeship ceremony later, but the binding is in place, Severus." Professor McGonagall stated quietly.

"Binding? You didn't say anything about binding!" Hera panicked. "You were just free before. Why would you do that to yourself?"

"Potter, both of those choices were made when I thought there were none available to me, when I had backed myself into a corner of bad choices of my own making, through no one's fault but my own." Professor Snape stated as he stood up. "I make this one now, because I am finally free of them; to make a good choice for once."

...

As the last of his words fell, the door to the infirmary opened, and in walked Poppy. She'd done all she could to stall, he could tell, but now his turn had come up. Dumbledore walked in first. Flanked soon after by Karkaroff and Madam Maxime. Ludo Bagman followed after, along with Barty Crouch. The Champions that had been chosen came soon after them; Cedric Diggory for Hogwarts, Victor Krum for Durmstrang, and Fleur Delacour for Beauxbatons.

While all the Champions looked sympathetically at his new charge, the adults did not seem to be, and a part of him wondered if this is how she saw things all the time. Who was he kidding? Of course, she did. It's why her best friend had asked all the kids for help, even from the other schools. Not one adult was asked to help, though several had looked in on them all just to be safe, because they weren't trusted. Over the last three (going on four) years, the adults of this world had consistently proven that they could not or would not protect her, and yes he knew that he was a part of that.

"Hera, I must regrettably inform you that your name came out of the Goblet of Fire during your time in the infirmary…" Albus informed her when he drew close enough, but then he suddenly stopped as if noting something had changed, and then looked to him. "…What have you done?"

"That was me." Potter chirped impishly. Oh, she was going to enjoy this then. "I may or may not have-"

"-accepted my offer of Apprenticeship." Severus interrupted. They'd have to talk about what she did later, and decide if it was information to be shared. For the moment, only Minerva knew that the Dark Mark was gone, and her Occlumency shields were solid.

"I'm sure he'll learn a lot from me." She continued without missing a beat. Minerva looked away to hide her smile. The traitor.

"As I am her Master now, I have legal right to represent her, such as in the matter of her unwilling inclusion into the Tri-Wizard Tournament." Severus reminded them all. "You know what else that means, Albus."

"We will talk about this later, Severus, though I wish you had come to me before offering such a false hope to the girl. I'm afraid that it can not be allowed to stand. As her legal guardian-"

"-A fact being contested by the Goblin Nation." Potter muttered behind him.

"-I can not allow this to continue." Albus insisted.

"They consulted me, and I agreed on your behalf, Albus. There is nothing further to discuss." Minerva spoke up. "This gives her the best representation while giving you impartiality in these matters. As she was in Gryffindor, I should have become her temporary guardian, as I do for Muggleborn in legal matters. Surely, you know this. You trust me to make these sorts of decisions on a student's behalf, after all, and Miss Potter is no different."

Severus could see by the stubborn tilt of Albus' jaw that they had won for now, but it wouldn't stand without argument later.

"What is important now is that Hogwarts has a second Champion!" Karkaroff snapped, bringing them back to point while being a complete imbecile. "I demand all my students get to submit their names!"

"Can I back out?" Hera asks. "That'd be great, considering I didn't enter. I have proof coming out of my ears, witnesses from every school who can pinpoint me at any given time, and Pomfrey for when they can't. I have photographic evidence from Colin for most of that time, and I think even Dennis helped out with his own camera when his brother couldn't be there."

"You would be forfeiting your magic!" Crouch Sr declared, but was stopped from continuing when Potter held up her hands like the scales of Justice.

"Eleven years of living as a Muggle verses three years of magic. I can survive without magic. I've kept up with my Muggle schooling. That doesn't scare me." She replied nonchalantly. "What else have you got?"

No one seemed to have an answer for that. Only Karkaroff had been angry that her name had come out of the Goblet, like she'd meant for it to happen. The others were just perplexed that their students' plans hadn't worked, though Albus looked subtly fit to be tied over the fact that his custody of Potter had been circumvented by Severus and Minerva. The students were hovering around the girl now. It needed to be said, he knew, but he didn't want to be the one to say it.

"There's no guarantee, but…It could kill you." He informed her, keeping his voice low. "If you don't compete, the backlash from the Goblet of Fire could kill you, and you might just as easily die from the tournament anyway."

"Great. Just great." She mutters. "Someone trying to kill me, year four. Perfect."

"It eez as we feared." Fleur sighed, patting her on the shoulder. "We will 'elp you."

"No. You can't, or else your magic might get taken too." Potter objected stubbornly. "How many of you can say you could live without magic with the level of certainty that I just did?"

"But it's not-" Cedric began.

"-What? Fair? Who says life is fair? Where is that written?"* She interrupted, sternly. "I can't accept your help. You're Champions."

"She's right. Ve can not help, not that I think she vill need it." Krum agreed. "She is formidable in her own right."

"She eez only a child!" Fleur objected now.

"She's The Girl Who Lived." Krum countered sternly, and turned to girl still sitting on the infirmary bed, giving her a slight bow. "I vill be doing my best. I suggest you do the same."

"As if I would give anything less." Potter replied with a slight smile, returning the bow as best as she could from her spot in the bed, though it ended up looking like a slight nod. Krum smiled and left, being fussed over by Karkaroff. "Fleur, I'll be fine. This is my normal. I'm not even surprised. You don't have to worry about me."

"Zeen I too will give my best." Fleur vowed as well, and left with Madam Maxime.

"It would still be a Hogwarts win if we helped each other." Cedric insisted, hopeful.

"And how is that fair to the other schools?" Potter shot him down, causing the boy's shoulders to slump. "You had better come at me with everything you've got, Diggory, because you can bet I'll be doing the same, and I'll be a lot more ruthless about it than you."

"You would do that?" Cedric asked, puzzled.

"Cedric, I am two or three years younger than you. I'm already going to be fighting an uphill battle. You'll be fighting for the school, which is great, but I'll be fighting for my life. Which of those things do you think is more motivating?" She countered, and understanding dawned in his eyes. "So give it your best, yeah? When I kick your arse, I want to know it's because I'm the best, not because you took it easy on the kid."

Despite himself, it caused Cedric to laugh, and give a slight bow. "Then my best you shall have, my lady."

"Go be sickening with Chang." Potter snorted, waving him off. The boy blushed, but laughed as he walked off.

Now only Albus, Minerva and himself was left with her.

"Albus, if you'll excuse me, I've got to get Potter situated in her new room, along with a few other converts." Severus supplied smoothly, bringing her to his side. "We'll have quite the busy day, I'm sure."

...

It slowly began to dawn on her just how bad this was going to get as he took her down into the dungeons again. She walked with him in a daze. If anyone said anything to her, she didn't notice. It wasn't until she's camped out on a settee with a tin of biscuits and a cup of tea in front of her, that she comes back to herself. She felt out of it, even so.

"Potter, if you need a minute to yourself…" Professor Snape began.

"No. No, if I have a minute to myself right now, I'll curl up into a ball and never come out again." Hera shook her head. "Best to get the decision making started now. I can cry later."

"The Contract the Ministry came up with in regard to the Goblet of Fire, backed by Goblins, so no loop holes I'm afraid. Feel free to check it yourself." Professor Snape informed her, handing over the contract, not expecting her to suddenly brighten at that.

"Every contract has loopholes if you know where to look. The fact that it's backed by Goblins makes it all the better, because they'll ruthlessly hold you to them." Hera remarked as she started reading. "They're going to love this."

"May I ask why?" Snape asked, from his seat across the coffee table.

"Goblins are all about wording in a contract, and though they could have nailed Dumbledore for dropping the ball where I'm concerned, the wizarding world would have refused to acknowledge the suit, because the wizarding world at large thinks the sun rises and sets in that man's arse. It's why the goblins have been drawing things out with their charges against him, getting Dumbledore as much bad press as they can manage." Hera explained, as she hastily read further into the contract. The professor stilled as he watched the shark like grin that began to slowly cross her face, much like that of a Goblin's but without the sharp teeth. "There you are."

"Dare I even ask?" Snape inquired warily.

"Almost at the beginning of the contract. I'd actually skipped over it initially. Only an Of Age Witch or Wizard." Hera replied smugly, but when she looked up it appeared he didn't yet understand. "The Ministry wrote in the stipulation that anyone who competes must be an Of Age Witch or Wizard, yet they are demanding I compete or lose my magic and possibly my life, despite knowing that I am not. By Right of Magic, if I agree to compete, they are acknowledging me as an Of Age Witch. If the Goblins agree, then there's nothing the Ministry or Dumbledore can do when they get their knickers in a twist about it, because by their own behest, they'll have to acknowledge me as a fully fledged adult with all the power and responsibilities that entails, which means titles, holdings, and-"

"Properties, which would certainly solve your living situation. Many such places will have wards stronger than anything that the Ministry would approve of, and the Goblins will be only too happy to add to them." Snape realized. "Well done, but might I suggest a trip to Gringotts in the near future? If there are any surprises in the woodwork, you should know about them now. You'll need to be fully emancipated, regardless of what magic says, possibly because magic says it."

"I need my beaded bag. It has everything I'll need in it." Hera insisted.

"We will gather your things soon." Snape replied. "In the meantime, we should go over what the Apprenticeship will entail. Apart from helping you prepare for the Tournament, you are no longer allowed to throw your potions grade, as I will be holding you to a higher standard than I do even that of Miss Granger. (He gives her a pointed look here) By the time your Apprenticeship is over, you will be a Master in as many subjects as I can train you in, which means that your classes will change into something more…robust. Filius and Minerva have both suggested ramping up your studies. Sybil has already been secretly training you far past what Hogwarts has on offer."

"And DADA?" She inquired.

"By the time we're done, you'll be able to nail that Auror to the wall, should you choose." Snape promised. "Or at the very least, sit for your OWL's and NEWT's early."

"I was thinking about taking him up on that duel he's so keen for." Hera admitted.

"We can train for that too." He agreed.

"And the billowing robes?" Hera asked, cracking a grin now. "Can I learn that too?"

"I must be allowed some secrets, Potter." Snape replied pointedly, but she just did her level best Snape's brow impression, and he sighed. "Very well. If you can successfully brew Polyjuice Potion to such a degree that even your voice sounds like your intended addition, I'll teach you how to get a proper billow to your robes."

* Quote from Princess Bride