AN: I hope you like the new chapter.
I don't own Harry Potter and don't make any profit.
On Tuesday morning Hermione came down from her quarters at Hogwarts, wearing a set of brand new charcoal coloured robes, which fitted her perfectly, making her look a bit more mature and highlighting her perfect female frame. She was about to enter the teacher's room, when she heard Minerva talking to someone in there.
"… the owner of the bookstore at Ottery St. Catchpole still owed me a favour. So he agreed with me to fire Hermione and since Horace was bugging me for ages that he wanted to retire, I thought that would be the perfect solution …"
She was interrupted by Severus, "Do you really think that was a good idea, doing it the sneaky way around her back. As I know Hermione she values honesty, just like me."
"Of all people, I would have thought you would appreciate it. You let her bath Elena, for Merlin's sake, nobody else is allowed to do that," came Minerva's angry voice.
"She felt down and depressed, so I thought that might cheer her up,…" Hermione had heard enough, she stormed into the room opening the door with a big bang, making everybody jump.
"You…," she pointed at Minerva, "…had me fired. I was perfectly happy. I don't know why the headmasters of this school always, always have to meddle. Is that part of you contract? And you…" she pointed to Severus, "...you pity me. I thought we were friends?" she asked disappointed and with a spectacular slamming of the door she left the room.
"See what you did?" Severus gave Minerva a nasty stare and left the teacher's room, slamming the door just as spectacular.
By lunchtime, you could have cut the tension in the castle with a knife. Several first years were in tears, that being Hermione's doing, who felt humiliated by Minerva and Severus and couldn't cope with stupid questions, one exploded and one melted cauldron. Whereas the older students were muttering all the possibilities of slow and painful deaths they could think of for their Defence teacher dying, who seemed to be tamer, since he came back the beginning of September but obviously was not this Tuesday.
"Did you have a good first morning Miss Granger," somebody, obviously totally oblivious of the tension, asked her at lunch time. When she turned her head, Hermione stared into the pair of bluest eyes she had ever seen.
"Hello I'm Lucas Jones. But everyone just calls me Luke. I'm the Transfiguration teacher," he smiled at her.
"Hi … I'm Hermione Granger," she stammered.
He laughed carefree a strand of his blond hair falling over his face, "I know, you are famous, were I come from."
"Where do you come from?"
"The States."
"So did you attend the Salem Wizard's Institute?" she asked curiously.
"I did. Although now the call it 'Institute for Witch's and Wizard's Salem', they had to unite the schools due to financial reasons."
"I didn't know that."
"It's a quite recent development," he smiled at her.
"May I say, you look beautiful in your robes? The colour really suits you," he said, looking deep into Hermione's eyes and gently tucking a stray curl behind her ear.
Hermione blushed and mumbled, "Thank you!"
Severus watching them felt some jealousy bubbling up, surprised and overwhelmed by that feeling went over there and touching Hermione's shoulder he said harshly, "Hermione we really need to get going. I'm sorry to interrupt Professor Jones, but I need my apprentice for a meeting in the afternoon."
"No Problem. Please call me Luke," he looked at up at his colleague.
"Sorry, but I don't think we know each other well enough for that," Severus replied stiffly.
"Yeah Luke. And don't expect that to happen any time soon. Severus over here is a really private person," she said sarcastically.
"Well you seem to know him better," Luke said.
"Only because he pities me. Let's go Severus," she pulled Severus by his arm and said, "It was nice to get to know you Luke," over her shoulder.
"I don't pity you, Hermione," Severus said quietly, while they were walking through the Great Hall.
"Oh please, don't be ridiculous," she huffed.
"Do you really want to discuss that in front of all these people," he whispered. No response.
"That's what I thought," he grumbled and they walked in silence to his office.
Once the door was closed behind them Severus demanded, "Why would you think I pity you?"
"Because of what you said to Minerva."
"I just said that, because honestly it's none of her business, who is allowed to give my daughter a bath. And I know you have a special bond with Elena, you have known her since she was two weeks old and because I trust you with her. That's why I let you bath her, when you asked me, not because I pity you. And just for the record I didn't have anything to do with you getting fired. Can we be civil now?"
She grumbled but nodded.
"Look I need you to brew two potions for me this afternoon. I will be teaching two classes while you are in the lab. So if you need any help or have a question, just ask me. It's two different calming draughts and I need you two read these two books over the next two weeks and there, this article on Potion Monthly, I want you to read. You should really subscribe Potion Monthly if you doing the apprenticeship with me."
"I already have," she said with a smirk. He looked at her with appreciation.
"I thought we could discuss the article over dinner in the evening in my quarters," he smiled at her.
"I thought of having dinner in the Great Hall tonight," she said.
"Ah I see the American golden boy has caught your eye," Severus commented in a nasty tone.
"No he hasn't. It was you, who suggested I should make new friends. So that's what I'm doing," Hermione said trying to hide a blush.
"Whatever. As Minerva caught me by surprise with her suggestion of your apprenticeship, I'm not done yet with your curriculum for the next four years. I let you know as soon as I'm done, so we can discuss it. I'm guessing that will be by the end of the week. Please meet me in my quarters after dinner, so we can discuss the article. That will be all. You can start with the potions," Severus said, while the first students were arriving at the classroom.
While Hermione prepared the ingredients for the potions, she could hear Severus talk to his students.
"As my apprentice Professor Granger is currently brewing some potions in the lab, we are in the Potions Classroom for today, although it's a Defence Against the Dark Arts Class. Last week we started with the Unforgiveable Curses. We have covered the Imperius Curse so far. Miss Grey can you please repeat."
The girl started explaining the Imperius Curse, its effects, its symptoms, who used it and why it was one of the Unforgiveable's.
"Thank you Miss Grey. Ten points for Gryffindor."
Hermione smiled to herself and started brewing one of the calming draughts.
"Today I will teach you everything about the Cruciatus Curse," Severus said, while Hermione had to steady herself, since she nearly tripped, hearing Severus would teach them about the Cruciatus Curse. While Hermione quietly brewed the Calming draught, she silently wished she could drink some instead of brewing it.
"So are there any question?" Severus asked about an hour later.
"Is it really that painfully?" a boy asked.
"It's unbearable," Hermione said quietly, standing in the doorframe. The whole class gasped.
"I just wanted to tell you one of the Potions is ready Professor Snape, I already bottled it."
"Thanks, I'll have a look in a minute. Are you alright?" Severus asked worrying about Hermione who was standing there as pale as a ghost. She just nodded and turned around.
"Miss Granger, have you been tortured?" A Slytherin boy asked.
"It's Professor Granger! And she is not here to answer your questions Mulciber," Severus barked at the boy.
"It's okay Severus they have to learn. Yes I have been tortured repeatedly by Bellatrix Lestrange. It's a pain I don't wish my worst enemy to endure."
"And just so you know, Professor Granger did not only hold up under torture and the threat of her life, she even fed her tormentors false information." Severus explained.
The Gryffindors stared at her in admiration, while most of the Slytherins looked quite sceptical.
"Does the Cruciatus Curse leave any marks?" The Head Boy John Bell asked.
Severus sighed and slowly rolled up the sleeve of his right arm, exposing his forearm, which held a major scar. Hermione had to blink away a tear.
"It sometimes leaves physical scars, depending on how strong it is. But it always, always leaves mental scars."
"Professor Granger! Have you got any scars from the Cruciatus Curse?" somebody asked.
"Not from the Curse, but from being tortured otherwise," Hermione said and rolled up her sleeve exposing the word 'Mudblood' carved on her forearm. Severus inhaled sharply.
There was some snickering heard from the last row, prompting Severus to roar, "MULCIBER, ROWLE, JUGSON, TRAVERS, YOU JUST EARNED YOURSELF A MONTH WORTH OF DETENTION. EVERY DAY FOR THREE HOURS."
Severus looked at these four Slytherin boys with cold fury in his eyes. The class gaped at their professor. They had never heard him raise his voice once before.
"From the whole class I want an essay on the Cruciatus Curse. You decide how long it's going to be and what you find worth mentioning. And if I'm not satisfied with your essay you'll write it again until I give my approval. Class dismissed."
The class left half an hour earlier than usually. When the last students had left Neville Longbottom appeared in the classroom.
"Professor Snape, Pomona sends me to ask if everything is alright. We … we heard you over in the green-house," he said.
Hermione gave a weak grin.
"Everything is fine. Sometimes I'm just ashamed I'm the Head of Slytherin," Severus replied.
"Hello Hermione! I' m sorry I didn't have a chance to catch up with you. We've been really busy in the green-house the last couple of days," Neville shook her hand.
"Are you always that formal? She might need a hug," Severus said dryly.
"You do still make me nervous a bit, " Neville confessed before he pulled Hermione into a bear hug.
"Hi Neville," she said quietly.
"What the hell happened, you are really pale?"
"Today's lesson was on the Cruciatus Curse and unfortunately Hermione overheard it, while brewing in the lab," Severus said.
Neville slightly stumbled and went as pale as Hermione.
"You two sit down, I will fetch you a glass of water," Severus said. When he came back Hermione had her head leaned against Neville's shoulder, who had an arm around her.
"Here you go," Severus said handing each of them a glass of water.
"Mister Longbottom will you be able to make your way back to the green-house alright?"
"Certainly, you just caught me off guard," Neville said, colour returning to his cheeks.
"I'll see you later Hermione," he quickly pecked her on the cheek and left the classroom.
"Are you alright Hermione?"
She nodded, "I should just brew the other potion," she said quietly and made her way to the lab.
Severus followed her examining the calming draught she brewed.
"You've done a wonderful job. And have now the honour to be the first one to take some of your self-brewed potion.
The other phials go up to Poppy," he smiled handing her one of the tiny bottles and with a flick of his wand the other phials vanished.
"Come here my brave Hermione," Severus said and pulled her into a hug. Hermione buried her face in his chest and sighed.
"You were really brave," he mumbled in her hair, "I didn't know about your forearm."
"I wasn't brave. I was scared," she simply said.
Releasing her Severus said, "You don't have to brew the Potion today. Poppy will be fine getting it tomorrow."
"No I feel better now, after taking the calming draught, but I would ask you to cast a Silencing charm, so I don't hear what's going on."
"No problem."
After taking a shower Hermione came down for dinner a couple of minutes late. When she entered the Great Hall the whole of Gryffindor table exploded in cheers and applause.
She went over there and simply said, "Thank you!"
After that she strode over to the Slytherin table and it became dead silent.
Hermione stopped in front of the four troublemakers from earlier and said, "You know being tortured didn't break me, like it was intended. It actually made me stronger. And I'm proud of being a mudblood."
The whole hall gasped, except for Severus who got up and started clapping, carrying the whole of Gryffindor table along. Hermione turned around looked at him and smiled.
When she got up to the teacher's table Severus gently squeezed her hand and whispered, "I'm proud of you."
"Well done Hermione," Neville smiled at her.
"What happened? I was up in the astronomy tower, when I heard you yelling," Aurora Sinistra said.
"Did you use a Sonorous?" Minerva asked.
"No. Was I really that loud?" Severus asked astonished.
"You must have lost the control over your magic," Minerva stated matter-of-factly. Severus told them the story and when he got to the part about Hermione's forearm they all gasped and Hermione had to roll up her sleeve again.
Luke winced at the sight and Minerva kissed her cheek and said "My brave Gryffindor. Can I just say something? I'm really sorry I wasn't truthful to you and I hope you can forgive me."
Hermione's brow furrowed and she grumbled, "It's okay. I think I like being back at Hogwarts. I just wish you had asked me before and didn't meddle behind my back."
"Sorry Hermione. It won't happen again."
Hermione turned back to the others and finished telling the story and when she told them about the four boys snickering, Hagrid said "No wonder you lost it."
"Can we eat now? I'm starving," Hermione said, pulling out the Potion Monthly journal and started reading and eating at the same time.
After a couple of minutes she turned to Severus and said, "That article is total bollocks. I read it twice now. I don't know why you want to discuss it with me?"
"And that was the discussion. It was a test for you and you passed it one hundred percent. So you have earned yourself an evening off tonight."
He winked at her, making her laugh.
When she left the table, Luke got up and followed her.
"Hermione wait!"
She turned around and smiled.
"I was wondering if you would like to go out to dinner with me on Saturday?" he asked.
A couple of girls, who overheard their conversation, sent Hermione jealous looks.
"I would love to," she answered.
When Hermione arrived in her quarters she quickly changed into something more comfortable and wrote a short letter to Ginny. Feeling a bit lonely after that she decided to go and visit Severus and Elena.
When she knocked on his door, she heard him call, "Come in!"
"Oh, hi! I thought I told you could have an evening off."
"I know but I felt a bit lonely, so I thought I come and visit you two."
"Just in time for Elena's bath. Do you want to help me?" She nodded and started rolling up her sleeve. When Severus looked at her forearm he sighed and looked at his left forearm where the faded dark mark was visible. He pulled Hermione gently closer by her neck and resting his forehead against hers he said looking into her eyes, "I'm sorry what we did to you?"
"It's not your fault. You didn't do anything to me except for being really nice."
He suddenly felt something he couldn't quite place.
After Elena was tucked into bed, Hermione and Severus were sitting on the couch, drinking some hot chocolate.
"I didn't know you like hot chocolate," she grinned.
"I do, unfortunately I was out of marshmallows. So tell me, how was your first day?" he asked, while summoning a blanket and covering them both.
"I heard you reduced a couple of first years to tears. I'm so proud of you. You're truly my apprentice."
"Oh shut up. I feel really embarrassed by how I behaved, but in my defence they are couple of dunderheads, especially the girls."
Severus laughed.
"It all just happened because I was so annoyed by Minerva's meddling. But otherwise I enjoyed my first day. How do you think I was doing, Master Snape," she winked at him.
"First of all I have to say you looked fabulous in those robes, stylish, grown-up, very …" he didn't dare finish the sentence.
"What?"
"Very, very attractive," he mumbled a slight blush creeping over his face.
"Thank you Severus," she smiled warmly at him, when suddenly it dawned on him, what that feeling was he couldn't place earlier.
He was falling for her!
Trying to ignore the feeling he continued, "Secondly I think you did a brilliant job with those Slytherins. You brewed two perfect potions, passed my test and don't worry about the First Years. It's always better to be strict in the beginning and then become softer, because it's hardly possible the other way around. I would say you had the perfect first day. Well done Professor Granger!"
"Thanks Severus! I love having you as a friend."
Hearing these words Severus' heart was about to burst with happiness.
AN: Please, please, please review! It somehow helps me keep up my writing.