[HERMIONE]

"Evening, Professor." I said as I awkwardly slid into my chair at the small dining table. It was not every day that one was suddenly faced with dining with Hogwarts's most unliked professor, and alone at that.

"Snape."

At my look of confusion, Professor Snape elaborated. "Address me as Snape. This situation is uncomfortable enough. You may forgo the formality during your stay here."

"Right. Pro- , Snape." Before I could further bludgeon my way through this awkward exchange, my stomach decided that now was the perfect moment to unashamedly announce that it required sustenance.

At the painfully obvious growl, Pro - , Snape, smirked, "You need only have asked Miss Granger. I would suggest helping yourself while you are here, there will always be a meal available when you so wish."

"Hermione. Or Granger even."

"Absolutely not."

I stared defiantly at Snape. I watched as annoyance danced across his eyes, followed by, was that competitiveness, stubbornness or maybe both? He matched my stare, steadfastly refusing to blink before me. We stayed locked in a battle of the stare, neither one of us prepared to back down. We were rudely interrupted a short while later by a growl. Not me this time, my stare widened, along with a silly grin that made my cheeks hurt, "You need only have asked Snape. I would suggest you help yourself."

His blink of shock at my impertinence broke the staring match, and he was forced to ungracefully deny defeat as he stood up abruptly and stalked towards the kitchen counter. He came back to his seat, cheeks coloured lightly pink high across his cheekbones… with only one plate. He raised his eyebrow at me as he took his seat once more, as if daring me to say something.

Knowing not to push my luck, I merely went to fetch myself my own modest plate.

We sat in silence for the remainder of the meal. I would catch Snape every now and then studying me intently, as if I were some puzzle. The intensity was overwhelming, as was the frustration I could sense, as if he were trying to solve me but was missing a vital piece. I felt unnerved.

Unable to take it any longer, I eventually interrupted his silent musings. "So, tomorrow…where do you propose we start?"

It took a moment for Snape to register and respond. "I believe", he said slowly, thinking aloud, "it would be prudent to begin at your core. You need to show me how your magic altered with the accelerated magical maturation the time turner use forced. Your elemental magic aside, I believe your magical core may hold some of the missing pieces we need."

"Surely my elemental magic must play a pivotal role, what with it being so rare? Shouldn't we research and connect with others who have similar command of the elements?"

"That can come later once the school year resumes. We have extremely limited time to begin a vast volume of basic training. Defence, healing, control over this, for now, undefined 'magical shield'."

"And you propose to train me in all areas? Forgive me, but you are a Potions Master. How can you possibly be adept in two areas outside of your field of mastery?"

"Do not ask questions you do not want the answers to." He said dismissively. His eyes flashed dangerously, a silent warning.

Ignoring this entirely, I squared my shoulders and pushed further: "I need to trust you, beyond the surface level trust, this tentative alliance. You know almost everything that is important about me, yet what I know about you is laughable. How can I possibly trust you with my life when I-"

"Trust is earned. You entitled, naïve little – "

"Naïve? I have been in this since the day I dared step foot in the magical world!"

"And I've been in this since before you were born!" He roared, glaring at me with flashing eyes. I could almost feel the heat of angry flames in his gaze. The warning behind them clearly stating do not push me.

After a moments silence, I pushed myself away from the table. "Well, I think we should leave it there for tonight before either one of us says something we shouldn't."

Snape's eyes flickered with surprise. Was it really so impossible to believe that a Gryffindor could show restraint? That I could possibly be more mature than he gave me credit for?

"You haven't seen my cat carrier, have you? I'm surprised I haven't heard Crooks howling; he hates that thing."

I saw his eye twitch before he firmly stated, "I had that abomination sent back to Hogwarts to await your return after the holidays."

I opened my mouth and then closed it with a snap, quite literally biting my tongue. Crooks would be just fine at Hogwarts; he would have full run of the place and could chase as many rats as his heart desired.

"Fine. Good night, Snape." I said, albeit, a bit stiffly. I needed to get to bed and clear my head in preparation for what I am sure was to be a gruelling first day of training.