"Why are you here, Miss Granger?"
Hermione is in a large auditorium at the College of Transfiguration. She stands before a panel of seven wizards, one of which is the Dean.
"I'm here to learn, Professor," Hermione replies easily.
"Why Venice? Why not Oxford?"
Hermione reminds herself not to fidget. She considers her answer for a moment, and then decides to go with the truth. "My face and name are well known to the the British Wizarding community, sir. The best thing for my continuing education is to study elsewhere. The University of Venice is as good or better than Oxford, Professor. My education certainly won't suffer from leaving Great Britain."
The Dean nods at this. "On this we are agreed, Miss Granger." Then he holds up the latest copy of the Daily Prophet. Her heart sinks. Plastered on the front cover is a picture of Severus Kissing her in St Mark's Square. Underneath, the caption reads: SCANDAL IN VENICE Gryffindor Princess Hermione Granger spotted in Venice with pardoned Death Eater Severus Snape.
"It seems your face and name are still very much of interest to Wizarding Britain , Miss Granger. Do you have anything to say about this?"
"I think it is a sad state of affairs, Professor, when a salacious gossip story is on the front page of a national publication. Surely there must be more pressing news in Britain than the fact that a man was seen kissing me in Venice."
"All well and good, Miss Granger, but do you have a response for the accusations made in the article against yourself and Severus Snape?"
"As I haven't read the article in question, Professor, it is impossible for me to have a response. I'm not in the habit of reading anything written by that particular journalist, especially if it is about myself or people I know."
"And why is that Miss Granger?"
"Because she has had a personal vendetta against me ever since I kept her in a glass jar for most of my fourth year at Hogwarts."
This gets the attention of everyone in the room.
"Explain."
"It was the year that Hogwarts hosted the tri-wizard tournament. Rita Skeeter was given access to the champions at Hogwarts and was writing awful lies about me, and other students. I discovered that she was an unregistered animagus, and managed to trap her in a glass jar in her animal form. I kept her in the jar until the end of term. She hasn't been too keen on me since then, I'm afraid, sir."
"I uh, see," says the Dean. "I will just ask you: What is your relationship with Potions Master Severus Snape?"
"Excuse me?" Hermione replies, shocked. "This is an academic admissions interview, sir. With all due respect, I fail to see how my personal life is in any way relevant to these proceedings."
"We are here to determine your character as well as your abilities, Miss Granger."
She gives him a look, carefully keeping her face impassive. "I don't discuss private matters in a public or professional setting, Professor. I'm afraid that is the only answer I can give you."
"Very well," replies the dean, "Let's move on to the practical examination. Professor Moretti?" He motions to a diminutive man in glasses at the end of the long table.
Hermione relaxes a bit. This next part should make up for her refusal to talk about her love life. If they refuse to admit me after this, I'll know that Venice was the wrong choice.
Two grueling hours later, Hermione sits outside the auditorium waiting for them to decide her fate. Severus is waiting for her across the quad in a small Cafe. She wishes he were sitting next to her, but considering- well, she knows it's a bad idea. She sends her otter to him, anyway. 'Just waiting on their decision now. They asked me about my relationship with you! Can you believe it?'
A few minutes later Severus storms into the entrance hall, black robes billowing behind him. "They asked you what?" he says when he is standing over her, furious.
"They asked what my relationship with you was," Hermione says, looking up at him. Furious Snape in his billowing black robes is a bit frightening.
"What was your reply?"
"I refused to answer, naturally," Says Hermione, a little smirk on her face.
His expressions softens just a bit. "Good for you. It's really outrageous that they even asked."
"Agreed," says Hermione, lips pursed.
"They won't refuse you, love. They just wanted to make you sweat a little I expect," he says reassuringly. Hermione is occluding, but she loves the way he still knows what she is thinking in moments like this.
"You think?" she says, and he nods. "Good. I think I'm going to like it here."
The door from the auditorium opens. "Miss Granger, the panel is ready for you."
Hermione stands, then turns to Severus. "Come with me," she says impulsively.
"Are you sure?"
"Fuck 'em," she says, under her breath so that only he can hear.
They walk down the aisle to the front of the auditorium together. When Hermione stands in front of the panel, Severus stands behind her. Slowly, deliberately, he puts a hand on her shoulder. The gesture is reassuring and possessive. Hermione stares across the table at the Dean.
"Miss Hermione Jean Granger," he says formally, "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to the University of Venice as a student of the college of Transfiguration."
"Thank you, sirs and madam," Hermione says the the panel. "I am humbled by the opportunity to continue my education here in Venice."
"You are most welcome, Miss Granger," says the Dean. "And welcome Professor Snape. We have heard a rumor you will be teaching at the college of potions next term. Is there any truth to it?"
"News travels fast here, I see," Snape says, managing to sound bored and a bit disdainful all at once. "I have only just now left the office of the Dean, but yes, I will be teaching a course on the development and brewing of the wolfsbane potion."
The Dean nods to Snape and turns back to Hermione. "Term starts September the first, see the registrar no later than August 30th."
"Thank you, sir," she says again.
"What courses should I take?" Hermione asks Severus when they are seated in a little Cafe for lunch.
Severus hesitates, and the waiter shows up with a lovely bottle of prosecco. When the waiter leaves, Hermione looks at him pointedly, waiting for a reply.
"That is entirely up to you," he demures.
Hermione sighs. She reaches across the table and takes his hand. "I get it, Severus, I do. I know you want me to decide for myself, and I will. But you are my teacher and my mentor and I trust you and respect your opinion. I know you have one. Why not give it to me?"
Severus frowns. "It's complicated." He pauses. She sees that he has more to say and sips her wine patiently. He continues. "I am loathe to tell you what to do in any aspect of your life, Hermione."
"Why? You're brilliant and experienced and you love me and have my best interests at heart. Who better to give me advice?" Hermione is truly perplexed by him.
"Because if you give me an inch I'll take a mile, Miss Granger," he says softly. He reaches into his robes, and she feels him cast muffliato. "My instinct, my drive, my darkest desire will always be to control you. If you let me, or if I let myself, I would control every aspect of your life. It is in my nature, it is who I am. And you are far too susceptible to my influence. You gave me complete control of your life this year at Hogwarts. I'm a sick bastard, Hermione, believe me- I got off on it." He takes a sip of his prosecco and studies the menu, giving her some time to absorb what he has said.
"You did nothing but help me this year at school, Severus," she says.
"Whether I helped you or not is irrelevant. The point is I got off on controlling you. The fact that you let me was one of the plethora of things that attracted me to you."
The waiter arrives and they order lunch. All the while Hermione is ruminating of what Severus just said to her. It feels important; she wants to understand what is important to him.
"That I 'let you,'" she repeats, emphasizing his words. "Would it turn you on to simply force me to do your bidding?"
His face goes perfectly blank, and she knows she has struck a nerve. She is beginning to realize he does that when he is being careful to master his emotions.
"No," he says.
Hermione mulls this over, drinking her wine slowly. It really is lovely, a perfect compliment to the seafood dish she has ordered. She nods, looking back up at him. "You've given me a lot to think about. Can we continue this later?"
Severus smiles. She is learning to be thoughtful and cautious. "Of course, sweetheart. And I'll give you some general advice for the term if you like."
"Please," she says.
"Take your time and look over the syllabi of all the colleges. Find what interests you, and then look at the prerequisites for those courses. For your first few terms, try to get most of those prerequisites out of your way. They will be fairly easy. Also-" he stops here, as their food has arrived.
"Also?" Hermione says as soon as the waiter leaves.
Severus raises an eyebrow at her and looks pointedly at her lunch. She picks up a fork and rolls her eyes at him.
"I am aware of the irony, Miss Granger. Eat your food. Also- if you are interested in gaining access to the Count's library you may want to consider taking a position as my assistant. The salary is generous, and I promise I won't be too demanding on your time."
Hermione smiles at him. "I was really hoping you would ask me. Of course I want to work with you, Severus."
"I'd like you to assist with my course as well, you know the wolfsbane potion better than anyone save myself."
"Is that going to raise some eyebrows?"
Severus shrugs. "What else is new? You're my ex student, my current student, my protégé, my employee, and my lover. I don't think we could be any more inappropriate if we tried. People will talk, but you are brilliant and you will soon be raising eyebrows for more than just loving your ugly old professor." He smiles to soften the comment. "As I said, they will soon find out that I am the least interesting thing about you. From there on out I think it will be relatively smooth sailing for us."
"I'm excited to work with you," Hermione says. "I just have one request."
"What is that?"
"Will you have an office at the college?"
He nods.
"Promise me you'll fuck me on your desk."
"I promise."
