The Return of Severus Snape – Chapter 2

"A free man Sir?" Hermione usually understood any question that was directed towards her but what exactly was Professor Snape asking.

"Yes Miss Granger. For almost as long as I can remember I have been in servitude to someone, first the Dark Lord and then Dumbledore. For once I am my own man, which leaves me with the great uncertainty of what to do next." Severus looked down on the young woman and hoped that she could provide him with an answer because his own mind was clouded and foggy.

"You do not wish to stay here Sir?" Hermione was hoping she could stay at Hogwarts and apprentice under one of the professors, she was secretly hoping that the professor would be Snape. Even before she started having these confusing feeling about him, she had appreciated his knowledge and commanding presence.

"In case you haven't noticed I'm not very fond of children."

"That almost sounded like humor Professor. If your not careful people might begin to think you're human," She was being surprisingly forward with him, what was happening to her. These strange feelings were persisting and getting worse the longer she stayed in his presence.

"I think coming back from the dead has secured my status as inhuman. Now I believe that could be seen as humor Miss Granger." Severus never thought that a conversation with miss know-it-all-and-then-some would almost be enjoyable. "If a reason to stay should present itself I would welcome it, but that doesn't appear to be likely."

Hermione would need to give him a reason; her education depended on it. "I was hoping you would be staying on. I'm looking for a professor to apprentice under and I was hoping to continue my study of potions."

Severus thought that she had matured substantially over the last year, she was much different from the girl whole stole from his stores and snuck out after curfew. She might actually be able to provide him with some stimulating conversation, which has been sorely lacking at the staff table as of late.

"Well I wouldn't want your education to suffer. Letting just any dunderhead teach our generations most brilliant witch could be disastrous. But do not expect this to be some walk in the park, I will be much harder on you as an apprentice then I ever was when you were a student," After he said this he watched as her eyes lit up, another surprising development of the evening; a Gryffindor excited to be taught by him.

"Thank you very much Professor, you won't regret this decision," Hermione now had a plan; no more wandering around aimlessly she had direction.

"I had better not Miss Granger, now I think it is time you went back to your common room. I will speak with you tomorrow. Goodnight." Severus turned on his heel and disappeared down a corridor before Hermione even had a chance to say goodnight.

Hermione quickly went back to the common room; she didn't want to give Professor

Snape any reason to take away her apprenticeship. She walked over to one of the couches and laid down, today had been the longest day of her life. So many people had been lost but so much had been gained for the future. She pulled a blanket over herself and let herself give in to the emotions that plagued her but one emotion she was not ready for was the one directed at a certain potions master.

Severus went back to his rooms in the dungeons and one thought, well person, raided his mind. It didn't take occlumency to know what Granger was thinking, the problem became what was he going to do about it. The intelligent thing to do would be to put a stop to this nonsense immediately. Severus was usually an intelligent man but since his death he looked at life and people differently.

"What harm could come of just letting things work themselves out? This is probably some momentary infatuation and soon it will pass. But if it persists I will have to deal with it eventually, but in what way?"

Severus walked into his bedroom and couldn't be bothered with getting changed. He was dead tired and just wanted to lay his head on his pillow. Dead tired…Granger was right he was developing a sense of humor, which could spell the end of a certain potion master's image. His thoughts never got past this point because he feel into a deep sleep filled with dreams of a certain Gryffindor.

Morning came quickly for Hermione, after months of running through the wilderness and the final battle that followed, a week of sleep would have seemed to short. She quickly cleaned herself up and hurried down to the Great Hall for breakfast, another thing she sorely missed during her travels.

Just after she sat down and began to eat Professor Snape walked through the giant doors. As he walked by it almost looked like he smiled at her, but this was Professor Snape, she must be imagining things. He quickly marched to his seat at the head table next to Headmistress McGonagall and began to speak with her in hushed tones.

Hermione assumed this had to do with her apprenticeship and quietly finished her breakfast. She wondered whether the Headmistress would disapprove of her decision. After slowly eat her food for what seemed like forever Hermione left the Great Hall and began to make her way towards the library. She had a lot of catching up to do if she wanted to be ready for this fall and she really wanted to impress the professor.

"Where are you off to now Miss Granger?" came a low masculine voice from behind her.

Hermione felt her stomach jump into her throat and she fought to get her words out. Standing their staring was not about to gain her any favors with the professor.

"I'm actually on my way to the library. I have a lot of catching up to do."

"I spoke with the Headmistress about your apprenticeship and she approves of your decision to remain here. She feels you could learn a lot more from one on one teaching."

Severus was impressed that she was willing to go study rather then to the many parties that would surely be taking place today. Well if she wanted to learn he was going to give her the opportunity.

"The library doesn't have a wide enough selection for you if you plan on being my apprentice. Come with me." Severus was going to take her to the one place where he knew she could learn everything she would ever need to know about potion making.

Hermione had to run to keep up to the potions master as he quickly made his way through the halls of Hogwarts. As they walked through the many passageways Hermione noticed they were heading towards the dungeons. What place would have a better selection for the library? Professor Snape's private library.

It would be the only other place in the school where she could find a wider selection. She didn't know where his library was while she was a student but she did know it had somewhere within the school.

Severus walked the familiar path back to his private rooms, deep within the dungeons in a little used corner of the school. He stopped at a damp stonewall, raised his wand and whispered the password under his breath.

Hermione watched in awe as an ornate wooden door appeared out of what seemed like thin air. Of course she knew this was not the case, but there was really no other way to describe what had happened. Professor Snape opened the door and stepped through holding it open for her to follow him in.

Severus watched as the witch's eyes grew wide with astonishment as she beheld his pride and joy. Floor to ceiling book shelves filled with all the knowledge a potion master could ever dream of possessing. She tentatively walked to the closest shelf and reached for one of the books but before she would touch it she looked at him with a questioning look.

"Of course you may look at them Miss Granger, that is after all why I brought you here. You are welcome here any time and any book here is yours to borrow." He watched as she reached out a delicately selected one of the volumes. She held onto it as if it were a small child as she made her way around the room.

Hermione couldn't believe what she was seeing. This was the most amazing collection of literature she had ever had the pleasure of viewing. Some of the titles were extremely rare and she never could have dreamed of holding them in her hands. As she made her way around the room her eyes fell on a door way hidden in the corner of the library. She didn't want to look like she was snooping but her curiosity often got the best of her. She walked over and appeared to be looking at one of the books but was actually looking into the open doorway.

What she seen in their almost made her drop the book she was carrying, it was a large four-poster bed dressed in Slytherin green and silver. She thought back to what he had said to her: "You are welcome here any time." At that thought she had to smile.