Severus allowed a ghost of a smile to grace his lips. It didn't take a genius to know that she appreciated the praise more from him than she did from other professors. He waved his hand and muttered, "Muffliato."

"Miss Granger, I feel I must let you know that between us I will be as candid as I can. This relationship is as new to me as it is to you, but teaching dunderheads and having been in your shoes I have an idea. In public I will remain the same, it won't do to have the populous of Hogwarts blow themselves up due to their carelessness."

Hermione laughed under her breath understanding where he was coming from. The majority of her classmates didn't take their education seriously unless they liked the subject. There was a difference between having an affinity for a certain branch of magic and merely being ignorant. She knew that even if you didn't have an affinity for a specific branch of magic it was better to have the knowledge and skill of others to be a well-rounded individual.

"I will be fair to you in public, you will mostly be an extension of myself, so I will be aware of you peripherally. I hope I don't need to inform you that I will no longer be able to give you points nor take them away. All detentions, should you obtain any, will be with me. Any discrepancies will be directed towards me, despite you being an adult. Of course that doesn't include legal matters."

Hermione nodded, knowing that if he gave her points it would appear as though he was playing favoritism and taking them away would simply be redundant since she wouldn't be able to earn them back. The detentions made sense since he had a higher authority on her now that he was her master.

"Until you pass all of your OWLs you may remain in your current dormitory, unless asked. After that you will be given a room in my personal quarters. We will set ground rules when that happens. You will continue to attend your classes per normal, and I will review with you. Should I feel that you can do more or better, I will see that you do. I will essentially personalize your lessons to your abilities and merely expand what your professors are teaching you in class."

The young witch grinned brightly at him, excited to learn above what was taught in class. She knew the professors had to cater to the general level and understanding of the whole class. They usually praised her and then left her to own devices unless it was a group assignment. It was quite boring, so she'd perform the spell a few more times until she perfected it. Depending on the lesson she'd add extra details or flair to the assignment.

"Honestly, that was one thing I was disappointed with when I started Hogwarts," she said.

"How do you mean?" he asked, honestly curious.

Hermione decided to be frank with her master. He promised her that he would be authentic, she decided that she would like to reciprocate. She had vowed to confidence in him and dispense with distrust. She would be herself with him, fully. She had to confide to give confidences.

'You're a Gryffindor, Hermione. Grab your courage. He is your master, this is your leap of faith.'

"Well when Professor McGonagall came to give me my letter, mum was unsurprised that a professor came to our house. I was already taking high school, or secondary school which ever term you prefer, level courses and I had a private tutor to give me accelerated work. I was only in school to socialize with others around my age. It was recommended," she said mulishly with an eye roll, "not that it mattered. When I got my letter my parents agreed that it would be a good idea for me to get my GCSE before I started Hogwarts. A backup in case things didn't go swimmingly I wouldn't be without if I decided to just live in the muggle world. So when there was mention of professors, in general, at Hogwarts I was under the impression that there would be people like… like me and we would be given accelerated work. Not a primary, secondary, and university school rolled into one."

Severus was impressed, he knew she was bright, brilliant with magic, but to be advanced in muggle school as well was something he hadn't wagered on. He was able to understand her disappointment under such circumstances. Usually muggleborn students had the benefit of attending public or neighborhood schools, rarely private institutes. They didn't get farther than primary school. It would also explain her infamous epic papers.

"Not many people know this, but I'm a half-blood, so I am familiar with the muggle world. Not as up to date since I've made my mark on our world, but you may be pleased to know that I did obtain a chemistry Ph.D," he quirked his lip up at the spark in her eye.

"Normally when taking on an apprentice a master teaches all they know about the magical world. Even other half-blood masters tend to stick strictly to teaching about our world. It is quite difficult teaching a pureblood about muggle things, as I'm sure you've noticed."

Hermione snorted in response. It was practically sad watching purebloods either turn their noses up at muggle things or not understanding at all, even when interested. Mr. Weasley was considered one of the most knowledgeable purebloods when it came to muggle things, which was quite sad.

"Which is why we don't bother. You however have knowledge and the ability to grasp the concepts, so if you'd like I'd also share my muggle knowledge with you. I can't pull rank in the muggle world of course, but I know that it's possible to do self-paced courses if you'd like."

The curly haired witch's eyes softened. It was something that she had wanted, but had planned on doing after she graduated Hogwarts. Here was her master unknowingly offering to help her accomplish post Hogwarts goals.

"I would love that, Master Snape. I had planned on attending Uni after Hogwarts, but to do self-paced courses would be immensely better for me," she said softly.

"That will be something we will focus on during your seventh year, should I survive that long," he said with finality.

Hermione's heart clenched painfully at the idea of his death and let it show in her eyes.

"What about NEWTs?" she asked instead.

"Why, Hermione, you should know that I plan on having you take your NEWTs early. At the end of your sixth year if possible, if not then that summer most definitely," he drawled in sophisticated tones.

He ignored the pain in her eyes, but was humbled that she cared for him in a way that let him know that should he die, she would miss him. The witch however nodded listening to his academic plans for her, even if she was internally frazzled at technically skipping a year and consequently having to take her NEWTs early.

He took a deep breath preparing himself to speak about another hard subject.

"I am aware that you are going to be joining the Order soon to be Potter's official bodyguard. As your master you must know that I am a spy for both sides. I walk a fine line, but he's been pleased with how I've conducted myself in his absence, so I've been instructed to continue as I have been. I will have to continue to publicly be rude and whatnot to your brother, he cannot know so that his reactions are genuine."

She nodded sadly, knowing that Harry was pants at acting. He could barely pretend not to know something he shouldn't. Professor Barty Crouch. had told her about his double agent position in the war.

At her lack of reaction to his position in the Order he raised an eyebrow curiously, "You aren't surprised."

"No, sir," she said as she remembered her vow; 'Only tell those on a need to know basis.'

"I was taking private lessons with Professor Barty Crouch and Alastor Moody. I was aware before everyone else… they were working together. No one was supposed to know. I took an unbreakable vow. The knowledge was to be kept to myself and only tell those on a need to know basis. You're my master, and I feel that you need to know," she finished with a shrug.

Severus's breath caught in his throat.

"My parents also knew, they came over to our chateau during Easter hols, to work more on my training. They said I have the makings of a wards mistress," she said quietly, even knowing that they probably couldn't be overheard.

"Mad-eye and Barty were working together? Miss Granger I don't know if you're aware of the state that Moody was found in at the bottom of his trunk," he said incredulously, he had already known about her ability to play with wards.

Hermione sighed and looked down at her hands playing with her fingers, "It was a ruse. Overall Professor Moody was kept relatively comfortable, if bored. It wasn't until the day of the final task they faked abuse. You can ask mum and dad, they stayed with us after all. They were… quite the duo," she said with a ghost of a smile, "they were slave drivers. It was like being in a boot camp. They did all they could for me, they taught me as much as they could in the short time we had together," she stilled her fingers, "I loved it."

Severus looked over his apprentice, she seemed genuine, and given the nature of their new relationship he knew she had to be telling the truth. She spoke of them with a soft fondness, as though they were lost to her forever. He knew they took Barty Crouch away and he was awaiting his own trial. As a Death Eater he knew that Barty played a crucial part in the Dark Lord's resurrection.

"Alastor Moody is a member of the Order, so you may see him at the meetings," he offered.

"I know, he said as much. It just won't be the same without Professor Crouch. Honestly I'll miss him as much as I'll miss Professor Moody. They did a lot for me, taught me a lot of things, told me important things…"

"Like what?"

"They told me about the war before it started. They told me about the final task. About you. The Headmaster… How to avoid being killed by Dolohov and Yaxley. Regulus Black. About … the Dark Lord's… horcruxes," she said word hushed.

An unpleasant shiver went up Severus's spine, one that he was well acquainted with when it came to the Dark Lord.

"I must apologize, I don't know what that is in detail, but I've heard it in passing."

The hazel eyed witch looked at him uncomfortably, "It's a dark object containing a fragment of a dark wizard or witch's soul. It helps give them a false immortality. So when they die, they can be brought back to life because a piece of their soul hasn't been killed. I'd rather not know how they're created, but I know it's horrible… he… he made more than one."

Severus took a moment to let the dread fill his stomach, shocked but unsurprised at the knowledge.

'Of course he would. The Dark Lord can never do anything that would be so simple.'

"You've spent a lot of time with them then?" he asked carefully.

Hermione smiled sadly, "Not enough time. I spent most of the year learning from them though. Professor Moody taught me what he thought would help me survive. As paranoid as he is I'm sure I was given a quick version of the auror's program," she chuckled to herself.

The potions master couldn't help but agree with her assessment. Alastor had a tendency to go overboard on everything when it came to safety. However he was one of the best aurors they had in Great Britain. The strength of his disillusionment was admirable.

"Did he teach you how to disillusion yourself?" he asked curiously.

Hermione smiled at her master before disappearing before his eyes, only the indent in the couch gave her away. There wasn't even a shimmer that was a usual tell-tale sign that someone was disillusioned. He took careful notice that she performed the spell silently and wandlessly.

"Wave your hand, let me see if I can see it," he said.

The witch did so and Severus was impressed still.

"Don't forget master, I was disillusioned the whole final task and the Dark Lord's resurrection. No one saw or heard me enter," she said as she dispelled the charm.

"Indeed," he said, not having been aware of those details, "I supposed you know a great amount of Defense concerning the Dark Arts, then?"

His apprentice shrugged as though she wasn't sure, lifting her hand up while making a face. It was a novel experience for him since he was so used to her knowing the answer, whether he wanted her to or not.

"I will teach you the Dark Arts, I will keep you from falling to its seductive pull, if only to teach you how to better perform counter curses and come up with cures. There are a few elite Death Eaters that have created dark spells and only they know the counter curse. Some of curses though don't leave enough time to counter, the blood boiling curse is one of them. You'd have mere seconds before it would kill you."

Her face was grim, but she nodded without blanching. It was a testament to the training Barty and Mad-Eye had run her through. They helped him a great deal, teaching her some of the most frustrating aspects of magic. Still he knew that Alastor wasn't the best at ancient runes and Barty was bollucks at arithmancy. Regardless they were teaching her defense, how to stay alive, not so much the other fields of magic that a witch or wizard would need at least an O for their NEWTs to be an auror which consisted of potions, transfiguration, herbology, charms, and defense against the dark arts.

"Aside from that the Dark Arts are ever changing, as though they have a life of their own. There is more than one way to counter a curse. The more you understand them, the easier it is to defend yourself against them. It is one thing that Alastor never understood," he said carefully.

The witch tilted her head, nodding as his words made sense. The grizzled wizard was stubborn so it would only seem right that he was firm in his beliefs. He was one of the only wizards in the first war who refused to use unforgivable even though aurors had been given the go ahead to use them. The old wizard simply refused, but he admitted to her that for her part in the war it would be different and she would be most likely be grey.

"Is there anything else I should know?" he asked the witch who seemed to throw him for a spin.

"We're going to be in France for the majority of the summer. As my master you are of course welcome to visit, but I did plan on traveling back here to at least maintain the façade that we are staying here. We don't want people knowing where we are. I have a house-elf, her name is Thimi, and she's a wonderful part of our family. Harry hasn't been told or met her yet though. You may formerly know her as Winky though. That is also staying secret. Also," Hermione fidgeted in her seat, "I … I have Rita Skeeter in my room."

Snape looked at her, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Come again?"

"I have Rita Skeeter in my room."

"Why would you have that blasted journalist –"

"She's in a jar!" she said quickly.

"I'm sorry?" he said in a confused manner.

"She's an illegal animagus, and I have her in a jar in my room. I plan on keeping her in there until I feel she's learned her lesson," she said with a large blush across her cheeks, not looking at her master.

Severus looked at his apprentice shrewdly. It appeared as though she did have a dark side as she technically had a human being in a jar. Not just any human being, a fellow witch in her illegal animagus form, until further notice.

"Hermione," he paused, "I think this is the beginning of a wonderful relationship," he finished with a purr.

The witch blushed furiously.

"The Headmaster can't know of anything that I told you, I took an unbreakable vow, and it was need to know basis. As my master I trust you and I feel that you need to know. Some of the information was given to me under the vow explicitly to be kept from the Headmaster. Before our lessons you as well, but that was a bridge we crossed when it came."

Severus nodded, "I will take what you give me and not abuse it, Hermione. I will keep this information safe from both the Headmaster and the Dark Lord."

"Thank you, master."

"You are most welcome," he waved his hand taking down the muffling spell, "I feel that is enough enlightenment for the day, apprentice. Will you be in public tomorrow around one?"

"Most likely not, master."

"Then wait for my patronus and I will see if I can come to you. Should something come up, I will let you know."

"Thimi can come get you, sir. She was going to bring me back and forth for our lessons; but we can switch it up if you'd like. Some days here and some days there," she suggested lowly.

"That is a sound idea, apprentice. I will send my patronus tomorrow," he said standing up.

Hermione rose with him and led him to the front door.

"Until tomorrow," he nodded his head and took his leave.

"Until tomorrow," she whispered at his back.

Hermione shut the door when her master had officially left the property. She turned around to see her mother grinning from ear to ear.

"I'm so proud of you! I've already told your father. After we get off the plane we're going to go out to celebrate at that restaurant in Nimes. We'll tell Harry when we get there," she said excitedly.

"Harry, luv, I hope you haven't unpacked your trunk! We're leaving for a plane now!" Abagail yelled up the stairs.

Leeroy walked out of the kitchen swinging the car keys on his fingers.

"Don't worry, luv. You're already packed and ready to go," he said placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Congratulations, Hermione. You deserve it."

"Thanks, Daddy."

They briefly explained in the car that they were going to spend some time on holiday in France. Harry was quite excited as he had never been out of the country before for holiday. Abagail had assured him that she already took care of his passport with the help of their lawyer. For his photo they explained that they simply copied one from Hermione's school album and froze it for to finish the passport.

Once they boarded the plane Harry was a bit disappointed as it was nothing like flying on a broom. So he sadly looked out the window watching the clouds. They had agreed that Harry should get the window seat as it was his first time on a plane. Hermione brought a book of course, as did Abagail, and Leeroy decided to watch the shitty movie the plane was playing.

When they landed they would explain most of what was going on to Harry. Nothing about the war, as Hermione didn't want him to know about her part in it. Abagail wanted to tell him, but agreed that it wouldn't be smart as he had a bad habit of going to face danger half-cocked. There was only one Harry, they didn't want to lose him to his own stupidity.