As per, I don't own anything, Harry Potter belongs to JKR.

The next couple of chapters will focus on certain days or events, but after that there will be some that blitz through the year, to show that slooowwwww burn we all love. Hopefully the pace still works for you!

And thanks so much for the follows, faves, and reviews. You're all beautiful!


"No."

Hermione had been unable to concentrate all day, her focus solely on her request for Snape. She had been absent-minded at breakfast and lunch, toying with her food as she mentally rehearsed her request for Snape. She had barely raised her hand in Charms or Arithmancy, even though it was clear she was the only one who knew the answer. In fact, a few times Ron had had to nudge her so that she could focus on the class. It had only gotten worse when it was time for their potions class. Sitting down in her usual spot she suddenly felt like she was far too close to the front. Had she always sat here? She was half tempted to swap seats with Lavender or Parvati but decided it would just draw more attention to herself. She knew it was completely ridiculous, but every time the potions professor looked her way she felt like he already knew what she was going to ask, even though that was impossible. It seemed as though he was more intimidating than he had ever been, even if his mood had been fairly standard throughout the lesson. It was only a single class, therefore they had concentrated on the theory behind some of the potions they would be brewing this year, and Hermione had occasionally put herself forward to answer some of his questions. Better to come off as acting normal, right? Not that she was selected, obviously. Professor Snape seemed to purposefully ignore her at all times, unless he saw her helping one of Gryffindor boys in class, in which case he would belittle her and mock her attempts to "teach his class for him". It was a small mercy when the class finished, that was until she had approached his desk with a false sense of confidence, ready to present her request.

Standing here now, she had opened her mouth to speak and found she didn't have the words. What did he mean, no? She had put forward a well thought out, polished argument. She had approached it just as she would an exam - she poured over the facts, endlessly, until they were second nature inside her head. She had rehearsed it for days, practicing in the mirror, making sure she gave off the correct facial expressions and mannerisms. This was her first real 'mission', something to prove herself worthy of protecting Harry, and her professor wouldn't even give it a minutes' thought?

"But sir-"

"MISS. Granger. It is clear that you exist only within the confines of your own small bubble, completely oblivious to the lives of those around you. I am the potions master at this school. I would hope that you were aware of what that position entails but in case you have forgotten, it requires me to teach every single one of you dunderheads week in, week out, not to mention mark all of your horrifically worded essays and continue to clean up after you when you repeatedly destroy my classroom and equipment. Outside of that, I am required by the Headmaster to brew all of the potions required to stock the infirmary, as well as requests from St. Mungos. Your life might be particularly dull and void of meaning, but you will find that mine is frustratingly full of it. I do not have the time, nor the interest, to promote your need for a hobby."

It had been a long week and an even longer day, Snape thought to himself, and the last thing he had any time for was the selfish indulgences of a teenage girl. Perhaps his 'dressing down' was too severe, but it was better to shut down this nonsense straight away. The professor knew he was an intimidating man. He cut an imposing figure, well over 6 foot, with long features and piercing eyes. His demeanor and temper allowed him to oversee classes with an iron fist, commanding respect without a second thought. He was well aware that seeing him stride through the corridors or in between the rows of tables in his classroom was enough to make any student freeze, but he hoped seeing him sitting at his desk now was just as fearsome. That Miss Granger had even had the courage to approach his desk after class was infuriating to him. The look in his eyes was one of aggravation, the dark silky orbs flickering with rage. It was bad enough that he had to put up with the insufferable know-it-all in his classes every week, hand consistently in the air ready to put everyone else to shame, but to be expected to voluntarily teach her outside of class? The arrogance of the Gryffindor girl was astronomical.

Hermione furiously wracked her brain for an answer. She had expected her professor to be uncomfortable with the idea, maybe take some time to think it over, but she certainly hadn't expected to be met with such vitriol. Was she really such a difficult student? Think Hermione, think. She was a bright girl, best in her class, and taking no for an answer just wasn't an option. There had to be some way to persuade him, something that he'd find agreeable. She rolled her eyes in her mind, me being out of this room is probably the only thing he'd find agreeable right now, she thought. This was feeling more and more like a foolish venture. She should just go back to Dumbledore and ask for another way. When she thought about it, it wasn't like she needed the help, maybe this whole stupid idea was a mistake, she could probably learn potions on her own anyway.

Then, it came to her. You ARE bright, Hermione. It's time you owned it for once in your life.

"Miss Granger, I have a pile of paperwork that I'd like to mark. I suggest you leave before I lose my temper."

"Sir.. I'm smart." Hermione took a deep breath and locked eyes with her professor. "Everywhere I go I'm either referred to as the 'brightest witch of her age' or an insufferable know-it-all. But either way, I'm smart. Smarter than anyone in my year, and to be honest sir I think I'm probably smarter than a fair number of those students above me. You of all people should know I'm not a student who needs to be supervised. I-" She mentally apologized to her friends for the coming low blow. "I'm not an idiot like Neville. I'm not clumsy like Harry, or Ron. I am not like any of those other dunderheads you are expected to teach day in, day out. I have not once, in my 4 years here, failed to brew a potion. I have not once ruined an ingredient or destroyed a cauldron. I have never scored lower than Exceeds Expectations in any essay or exam you have given us. I did not come here asking you to stand over my shoulder every five minutes to make sure I'm doing it right, I'm not asking to be mollycoddled, or for my hand to be held. All I need is someone to give me instruction, to check my work at the end of the day, and the tools with which to brew. So please, allow me that."

She stopped to catch her breath. Her heart was thumping wildly in her chest, she could feel it battering in her ears. She had subconsciously balled her hands into small fists by her side, having let her book bag fall to the ground long ago. She couldn't confirm, but was fairly sure her face had gone a lush shade of crimson. This was the closest she had ever come to talking back to a professor, and she was now waiting to be belittled and berated for it. But Professor Snape did not bite back. He didn't even move. Instead, his eyes fixated on her, he furrowed his brow ever so slightly. It felt like an eternity standing there, him staring into her soul. Hermione knew she needed to stand her ground, so she didn't look away. She kept her focus locked with Snape, her eyes filled with determination and something close to desperation.

He looked at her. Careful not to show anything other than contempt, he was surprised at the sudden outburst. So much so that he had attempted to probe, lightly, into her mind. What he had been met with was pure emotion, a resolve so strong he had backed out in confusion, instead settling his eyes on the paperwork piled on his desk. She was clearly determined to take these lessons, but the manner in which she had spoken was very much out of character. In the four years she had been his student, he had never known her to own her intelligence in such a way. Although she couldn't help herself but try and answer every question he posed, she had always preferred to demonstrate the depths of her knowledge through the work she was set, letting the results speak for her. He had also never imagined she would put down her other classmates to prove she was the best. And she was, annoyingly. For all that he couldn't stand her insufferable need to answer every question, her pathetic desperation to seek approval and validation from her professors, he could not deny her intellect. It was increasingly rare to find a student who was not only gifted in the art of potion making, but who also actively sought out more knowledge. She was right, she was the brightest witch of her age.

But she was also an insufferable know-it-all who he could barely stand for the duration of their classes, never mind the extra time she was begging him for.

"Miss Granger while I can see you have been dying to boast about how clever you are, not content with your exam scores or simpering praise garnered from the other staff, I really do not have the time to spen-" Hermione did something then that stopped him dead. She put her hand up to silence him. Only one other wizard had been able to silence Snape in such a way, and it disconcerted him that the Granger girl was behaving in the same manner.

"Two hours a week. We can schedule it for when you have papers to grade, so that I'm not taking up your time, and so that you don't have to worry about making conversation or hanging around waiting for me. I won't speak unless I need you to confirm the potion is correct, or if I don't understand an instruction. If I'm finished earlier than the allotted time, I'll go. Please, sir."

"Although I'm sure that all seems fine and dandy to you, it is well known to the staff and headmaster that my workload is almost twice theirs. It is never as simple as just finding the time." Especially now that the Dark Lord had returned, he thought with disgust.

"Actually, I've already asked the Headmaster and he was quite taken with the idea. He felt that bolstering my knowledge in potions could only be a good thing." Snape let out a quiet growl, his eyes narrowing. Of course Dumbledore had agreed to this ridiculous idea. He had probably leapt at the chance to give him more work, more plates to spin, just to see how long he could keep them all going before they crashed down around him. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. His life was already madness, juggling classes, paperwork, and his spying duties. Adding extra tutelage was something he had never considered and with obvious reason, he barely had the energy to perform his current roles. What would happen should he be called away in the middle of their sessions? What if his Occlumency shields failed and he was discovered to be showing favoritism to a muggleborn? He quite enjoyed the nights that were free of the cruciatus curse, thank you very much, and they were few and far between as it was.

A small voice, far in the back of his mind, spoke up. A voice he had kept quiet for years. It would be refreshing to teach a student who cared for once, it said. To see them succeed where most failed. Perhaps you could even use this to your advantage, take the strain off supplying the hospital wing and St. Mungos, maybe even get her brewing Wolfsbane for Lupin..

He was aware he was speaking only after the words had begun to tumble out of his mouth. "Two hours. You will arrive here, 6.45 sharp on Friday evenings after you have eaten, and will be ready to work at exactly 7pm. I will inform you of what you will be brewing prior to this each week, to give you time to research and prepare. I expect you to arrive at each lesson already armed with a basic idea of how you will complete the work. Do you understand?"

Hermione's eyes widened. "Of- of course sir! I'll make sure I'm well prepared for whatever you decide to teach to me. Thank you so much-"

"6.45 sharp on Friday. We will be brewing Pepper-Up potion for Madame Pomfrey, it seems her store cupboards are already looking bare. Now leave." Snape didn't take his eyes off the stack of paperwork in front of him, scared that the look on his face would betray the stern voice he had used.

Hermione gathered her book bag, hastily slinging it over her shoulder as she jogged out of the classroom. Once she was out the door, she turned back to face him again.

"Professor, the headmaster requested you visit him.. If you agreed. He felt you would have things to discuss."

The only reply she was offered came in the form of a door slamming forcefully in front of her, and the sound of a lock clicking into place.


"In future, Albus, I would appreciate it if you would run changes to my already packed schedule by me first, without accepting any extra workload on my behalf!" Snape was pacing furiously in the golden office as Albus watched him from his desk, a small grin playing around his lips as the dour potions master stalked around in front of him.

"My dear boy, it seems that in your old age you are forgetting the magic of nurturing a student's growth. This, after all, is why we signed up to teach, is it not?" Snape snapped his head round to stare down Dumbledore, a wild rage blazing in his eyes.

"This is merely an indulgence on your behalf, you old fool. The Granger girl will continue to press for lessons, more knowledge, more time, she will take and take until she has learned every damn potion known to man! Not to mention how dangerous this is! You seem to be forgetting all the other 'extra-curricular activities' you signed me up for, and a certain other master I have been forced to serve all these years! What is to happen if I am summoned during one of her little study sessions, hrm? I cannot merely waltz out of the castle with her still brewing in my classroom."

Dumbledore shifted his head forward, peering over his round spectacles at the wizard. "Miss Granger has already been made aware of your.. unique.. position within the Order, Severus. You would merely need to excuse yourself." With this, Snape slammed his fists down onto Albus' desk, almost shaking from the anger he was exuding.

"WHAT?! You madman! You fool! What on earth possessed-" Albus raised a hand at this, and despite the burning desire to hex Dumbledore into next week Snape paused momentarily, thinking back to his run-in with Miss Granger earlier in the day. His voice quietened, but his anger did not lessen. "And pray, tell me, did you stop to consider what would happen should the Dark Lord become aware of these sessions? Did you think for a SECOND, what might happen should he realize his right-hand man was busying himself tutoring HARRY POTTER'S BEST FRIEND?!"

"ENOUGH!" Snape's breathing did not slow, nor did the visible tremble of fury in his hands diminish, but on the sudden outburst from the elderly wizard, he allowed the headmaster to speak.

"It would do you well to remember that I am not without plans, Severus. This is not mere folly. Are you suggesting I should doubt your exceptional Occlumens abilities? Am I placing my trust in the wrong man?" Dumbledore's icy blue eyes pierced Snape's inky black, a coldness rarely seen from the headmaster. "Miss Granger approached the subject of tutoring with you, and I made it clear to her the stipulations that came with doing so. It seems our little Gryffindor was already aware of your presence within the Order, which tells me you were less than perfect at concealing yourself from her." Snape growled at this, opening his mouth to retaliate. "Not now, Severus. I would rather she found out your role from me, rather than risk her continued snooping at Grimmauld Place and potentially learning of more sensitive information." He sighed, a sadness reaching his eyes.

"We both know the child won't live in blissful ignorance for much longer. Let her have the freedom to imagine a bright future, if only for a little while."

Snape was still furious, but he could see that Albus would not be swayed on this. As with most discussions that took place within the headmaster's office, he was fighting a losing battle. Restraining himself from finding something to break, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room, cloak billowing behind him.

"Severus? It would do you well to focus on someone else's brilliance, for once. You might find our Miss Granger can even hold a torch to her, if given the right environment."

With that, Snape slammed the door violently behind him, causing the many trinkets within the office to wobble and shake, and the whirring to temporarily increase. Albus grinned and helped himself to a lemon drop. First step, complete.