Leeroy was honest with himself, their little ice cream date hadn't gone as terrible as he thought it would. Harry was happy, Hermione was content, Abagail was happy that the kids were happy, and the ice cream was delicious (they'd all be brushing their teeth when they got home). Still he couldn't help continuously looking at his watch, waiting for quarter to one. He would offer to take Hermione home if the others wanted to stay, he hoped not, but he wouldn't be the wet blanket to Harry's meet up.
Hermione was happy that Sirius was free and that he was happy for Harry. At first she could tell the older wizard had some reserves about her family and Harry living with them instead of with him. Mentioning the blood bonds though had cheered him right back up, and he didn't mention it again. If anything he seemed to support it. Instead he mentioned sleep overs and weekend get togethers.
Abagail was quiet most of the event, letting the children enjoy themselves. They could have come alone, but she didn't want to risk it with the war picking up, albeit slowly. That and she was in agreement with Albus Dumbledore on one thing; Harry should not be out in public alone. Death Eaters wanted him, Voldemort wanted him, and well-wishers were sometimes a tad exuberant. He had to be protected from those who wished him harm and those who wished him a bit too well. Harry sadly had little to no people skills and didn't know how to handle a crowd.
She'd work on that this summer…
However she was listening and did think the male bonding sounded splendid. Something that he needed in his life. He would be able to do some of that with Leeroy, but Sirius seemed as though he'd be able to get Harry to do some physical things, probably learn about a motorcycle, whereas Leeroy would be able to teach him how to chase skirts and manage personal business.
Sirius did seem a bit like a young Leeroy with his smile though… he was probably a bit hit with the ladies in his youth too…
She looked at her the clock waiting, hoping that Harry would be agreeable to going home for Hermione's lesson.
"Hermione, luv, we're going to be leaving soon for your lesson, alright?" Leeroy said, looking at his watch again.
"Yes, Daddy."
"Harry, would you like to come with or stay here with Sirius?" he asked casually.
Harry's eye brightened up at the question. He wasn't given many options when it came to where he was during the summer. He was always watched closely at either the Dursleys or the Weasleys house. He was rarely allowed to leave the property when he was with the Dursleys and not at all at the Weasleys.
He looked over at his new mother knowing that Hermione had to leave since it was her lesson, and she looked extremely bored. She was polite and didn't say anything while they caught up, but drank her ice cream float slowly, playing with the cold glass.
"As much as I would love to stay, I think it would be better if I went with," he said with a smile.
"You don't mind, do you Sirius?" he asked after, looking at his godfather insecurely.
"Not at all, pup. Family is important and I'm sure you want to learn as much as you can about them," he paused for a moment, "Real family is important, and that's what you have here."
He ruffled Harry's already messy hair with a fond look on his face.
The older wizard looked at the royalty sitting across from him.
"Would you like me to escort you home? I don't have training for the next two weeks, then it'll be intense. Malfoy hasn't gotten back to me yet about Cissy helping me with redecorating and to be honest I'm avoiding the place. I would just get a new flat, but Albus asked if we could meet up at my place and it's large enough and well hidden," he explained standing up, "Don't worry about the glasses they're set to go to the kitchen after we leave the parlour."
"That would be lovely, thank you," Abagail said, knowing that Harry and Sirius both wanted to spend more time with each other than anything.
Leeroy stood up before helping Abagail out of her seat. He wanted to say that they didn't need an escort, but both wizards were doing a fine job of not vibrating where they stood. Their excitement was nearly contagious, but Hermione had lessons that would help her survive and that took precedence.
Sirius and Harry were walking a little behind Hermione since she was leading the way, practically giggling together. Hermione on the other hand was subtly wiping her hands on her robes. She was excited and nervous to see her Professor so soon, she didn't even do her meditative exercises before she went to sleep. Hopefully he would accept mind wards as an acceptable occlumency shield.
Severus took a deep breath, having remembered Miss Granger's address in London, he was going to floo to the Leaky and walk the rest of the way. He knew he walked quickly and the house was a mere 5 minute walk for him, most likely 10 for others.
The potions master dressed muggle, hoping he wouldn't stand out as much as he usually did. He wore black dress pants, his black dragon hide boots, a white button up shirt, and a breathable black jacket. It was close enough in style to his normal robes that he was comfortable leaving his house in it. He was going on business and was of firm belief that it was best to dress for the occasion.
He grabbed a book on occlumency in case Miss Granger needed it, or at least to provide evidence she could show to Albus that they were proceeding the lessons as suggested. He placed it securely in his jacket's inner pocket, before making his way to the floo.
Once they made it to the house Abagail offered to give Sirius a tour of the house, which he declined saying he'd have to take a rain check. He had to go buy an owl since he was sure that the family owl was either dead or had been released. Either way, he needed an owl of his own, explaining how much of a pain it was to have to use the Post's owls.
Harry and Abagail were in the door seeing him off when Severus turned the corner, walking swiftly towards the house. He caught sight of the hound and had to take a deep breath. He refused to ram into Miss Granger's mind angrily as it could hurt her physically, which would be detrimental to making her amendable to his proposal.
Sirius turned and came face to face with Severus and his nose twitched up, obviously wanting to form into a sneer. However managed to control himself and instead nodded in a steely fashion to the acerbic man.
"Snape."
"Black."
Sirius turned around slowly, knowing how much his godson hated the professor, "Don't worry, Harry. Snape is one of the best occlumens in Britain. Hermione is learning from the best, she'll be fine."
Harry ran his hand through his hair obviously agitated, but nodded reluctantly at Sirius's reassurance. Hermione was the smartest witch he knew, so it would only be fit that she would learn from the best. She taught herself amazing magic alone, learning from one of the best would only help her, and make her happy. His sister and the twins were the only ones who respected him even when he wasn't around, although Hermione was a more stern about it. So he supposed she would be fine….
"Professor," Harry nodded.
"Mr. Potter," Severus nodded back.
With that Harry left to do something else in the house, away from Snape.
"Professor Snape, come in please," Abagail said with a pleasant smile, "Hermione is waiting for you in the living room. Hermione, Professor Snape is here!"
Severus could barely hear her steps, so the room was obviously carpeted. The witch poked her head, curls bouncing with the movement, looking at him with a smile.
"This way, Professor," she said, sounding as she usually did.
Severus made his was seeing that his student had made herself comfortable on a couch, her legs daintily tucked to the side. He was mildly surprised to see her wearing robes, but continued, taking a seat across from the witch.
"Miss Granger, as you're aware the Headmaster wanted me to teach you occlumency this summer. He made it clear that since it would be the first time we were meeting for lessons alone, that it may be a tad uncomfortable around you. Yet we both know that's not true. Your shields obviously did a job well done, or else he would have said something else. We agreed our previous lessons would be private, and you managed to keep it secret even from him. So I must applaud you Miss Granger."
"Thank you, sir. I feel I must let you know that he did that after the incident in the graveyard… my front shields weren't as strong as they normally were, but my backup as you call it was still firmly in place. The events of the night however, were there for him to see. I didn't have the energy to pull it in," she admitted.
Severus raised an eyebrow knowing what she was referring to. It must have been a light touch that allowed him to feel her emotions and see part of what happened.
"It seems that, that worked out in our favor, Miss Granger. I did bring you a book should the Headmaster actually remember that he wanted to 'check' your progress. So you have something physical you may show him that we have been following his suggestions."
Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Aside from that Miss Granger, I didn't come here just to give you a book. A book which I know you'll treat with respect and give it back in the same condition," "Of course, sir." "I came to make you a proposition."
Hermione shifted curiously in her seat.
"The Headmaster has already asked you to be my potions 'assistant'," he spoke slowly.
Hermione nodded, knowing he would take his time. She loved the way he spoke, his voice was sinful and the way he annunciated words when he spoke was music to her ears.
"I have decided that I would rather you be..." he paused, his stomach clench in anticipation at the words that were about to come out of his mouth "… my apprentice. If you are amendable?"
The curly haired witch felt a fluttering above her pubic area, forgetting to breathe for a second.
'An apprentice? Me? This is a dream, it has to be. I'm a muggleborn, I'm not respectable enough to be an apprentice. But here he is, offering to be my master. He's so brilliant and he wouldn't teach me just potions. The youngest master in a century and he wants to apprentice me!'
Hermione tried to take a low calm breath in an attempt to ease the feeling in her lower stomach, it didn't work.
"I would be honored to call you master, sir," she said breathlessly, her cheeks were flush as her eyes were lit with passion.
Severus felt a spike of smug pleasure knowing that it was him that made her breathless. The young professor also felt a twinge of something more primal looking into the same eyes that haunted his dreams and the way she said 'master'. At the same time he felt a huge amount of relief flow through him at her acceptance.
Thinking quick on his feet he responded, "The honor is mine to call you apprentice, Miss Granger. We can perform the ceremony here, by ourselves or we can call Professor McGonagall to aid us, should you like."
"Which would you prefer, sir?" she said, her eyes still burning and lighting his skin on fire everywhere she looked at him.
"We do need a witness, but I'm sure your mother would be willing. The only other thing we would need that I can't transfigure is elven wine, but I can get some."
"I may have some here, I can check. Just give me a moment," she said, quickly standing up and making her way to the kitchen.
"Thimi," she said lowly.
She felt the familiar hand touch, the system they worked out at Hogwarts worked just as nice at home.
"Do we have any elven wine?"
Thimi took her mistress's hand leading her to a cabinet so it didn't look suspicious if Thimi opened the cabinet herself disillusioned.
Hermione opened the cabinet and leaned over hovering over Thimi as the house-elf reached in and grabbed the bottle she was looking for. Thimi handed it to Hermione carefully in a way that it was easy to think that she grabbed it herself. The witch lightly caressed the house-elf's hand in a silent thank you.
Since talking wasn't always an option they were able to say small things with light touches, and as Hermione insisted using her manners, Thimi had accepted it as one of her mistress's quirks.
Hermione was about to go to the living room when she remembered her mother would be needed as a witness. She didn't have to go far, her mother was walking down the stairs.
"Mum, Professor Snape just asked me to be his apprentice, and I accepted," she whispered excitedly, "Would you be our witness? Please?"
Abagail's eyes sparkled happily, "I would love to, dear. I see you got the elf wine," she said to her daughter, grabbing her by the arm and escorting her as though on her wedding.
They returned to the living room with the bottle in Hermione's hands, walking gracefully alongside her mother.
Severus looked over and saw his apprentice-to-be blushing beside her mother, who looked as excited as he felt. The bottle was quite large, but he knew they wouldn't need more than a half a goblet.
Abagail released her daughter, shooting a dazzling smile towards the dark wizard in her living room.
"Oh! I should get the silver tray, it'll be better for the ceremony. Unless you have a silver goblet on you, Professor?" Abagail asked curiously.
Severus shook his head, "The silver tray would be sufficient."
The Duchess nodded and disappeared for a moment, her steps were quick and hurried.
"Your mother is familiar with bonding ceremonies I take it?" he asked, his eyebrow arched looking at Miss Granger curiously.
Hermione shrugged half-heartedly, "She read as much as she could to understand the wizarding world. I'm not surprised she knows as much as she does."
"Hn."
Abagail hurried back into the living room holding the silver tray with both hands, her eyes sparkling as bright as the tray in her hands.
"Here y'go, Professor," Abagail said, unable to keep the grin off her face as she handed the tray to the Professor.
She was beyond pleased that the wizard had given her request serious thought and regardless of his reasons decided it was worth it. Her little girl was going to be given a prestige in her world all on her own merit, she couldn't be happier. The protection of course was the main reason why she wanted it, but the way he went about it she knew it was most likely scholarly reasons. Hermione didn't know that she asked him to consider it, and it was clear that he didn't mention it to her either.
Severus took the tray from her carefully before taking out his wand and transfiguring it into the desired goblet shape and size. He could tell from the weight that the tray was real silver instead of nickel plated silver. Since it was something that was going to be special to the Granger family, he decided to keep true to the tray's original damask designs and made sure that it showed on the goblet's handles and base.
"Miss Granger, every apprenticeship is different, so just as your bond with Potter, your responses must be natural. Now hold the goblet and I'm going to fill it."
"Yes, sir," she replied, giving him the elf wine, and taking the goblet from him marveling at the small details.
'Silly wand waving indeed,' she thought admiring his craftsmanship.
Uncorking the bottle Severus took a breath through his nose before releasing it through his mouth. After this they would be sacredly bonded for the rest of their lives.
"Hermione Granger, I would take you as my apprentice. I will bestow my knowledge unto you, who I think worthy of such effort."
"I would accept you, Severus Snape, as my master to enlighten me of all your knowledge. I will give in return my loyalty and trust."
Severus took the wine and filled the goblet halfway. Abagail discreetly took the bottle from him.
"I will take what you give and will not abuse it. Our bond is to be ours and will not be affected by outside forces."
"I will be happy in the ways that you guide me. Our bond will be resilient and unyielding."
The wizard took the goblet and drank half of its contents.
"Under my tutelage I will see you prosper."
He handed it back to the young witch. Hermione drank the rest of the wine, making sure there was nothing left. Abagail swiftly took the goblet from her daughter; neither witch nor wizard took much notice.
"Under your aegis I will heed your sagacity and share with you my passion."
Severus blushed lightly before he grabbed her face carefully, staring deeply into her hazel eyes flecked with gold coloring that he knew were once a warm chocolate brown.
"Under the eyes of a witness our bond shall be sanctioned as pristine and true. I shall dispense of my falsities with you and be authentic in all ways."
"Our bond genuine and intuitive, I shall dispense of distrust and gift you full confidence."
He tilted the crown of her head towards him and lightly kissed her. His magic passed through his lips and gently shrouded her, appearing as a silver waterfall.
"Master," she sighed happily, closing her eyes, his magic tenderly caressed her giving her a feeling of coming home.
"Apprentice," he said lowly, his voice sending delightful shivers down her spine from the top of her head.
Slowly he allowed her to straighten and removed his hands from her. Abagail was standing there, her bottom lip quivering. The bond and their vows were so beautiful, it was such a wondrous occasion.
"Congratulations. It was beautiful," she sniffed lightly, "Will you be picking up the official apprentice badge now or before term starts?"
"I believe it would be prudent to pick up the badge when I bring her to the Ministry to take her potions OWL," he said, his eyes softer than Hermione had ever seen.
Abagail nodded.
"Speaking of my OWL prof- master, would we be able to create potions away from Hogwarts or no because of ingredients?"
"I have my own storeroom, apprentice Granger. You will be able to brew the necessary potions I know will be on your exam until I'm satisfied with the outcome."
Without knowing she was tense, Hermione felt her body relax. Abagail smiled again and left them to their 'shop' talk.
"In private master, you can call me Hermione or Miss Granger if you prefer," she said with a smile, somehow knowing he would appreciate it.
He nodded, a smile hidden in his eyes.
"I feel today has been productive, however I think there's just enough time to go over some textbook answers. I'm sure you've already read the advanced texts, but I will provide other books for you to pursue next lesson."
The young witch beamed at him.
"What do you add to a halcyon canis potion after you'd added the powdered lavender?" he asked calmly.
"Daffodil pollen," she retorted.
"How much?"
"A dash," she quipped.
They went on for another 15 minutes, Severus asking questions that would be on her exam and questions that would eventually be on her NEWTs.
"Very good, Hermione. You'll do excellent on the written," he said lowly.
The curly haired witch blushed at the praise that she had wanted as long as she had been at Hogwarts.
"Thank you, master," she said softly.