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Master of the Senses	By : shsa0702 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 29786 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 11
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the affiliated characters. No money is being made and no copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter List
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Hermione felt an awkward sense of familiarity as she closed the lid on her trunk. It was bittersweet to be leaving her dormitory at the Potions Apothecary and Trade School; she had made so many fond memories here. Even though this school allowed her more freedoms than Hogwarts had supplied, she still found a sense of family in her small class.
Since she was going directly from the trade school to her practicum, there wasn’t any need to find housing in between. This was a relief to her since many of her fellow classmates had a span of time before beginning their internship; one of them even had to wait until the next calendar year to begin the continuation of his study. Looking back on the circumstances Hermione considered herself very fortunate, even though her designated instructor was not one many would have agreed to work with.
Upon hearing that she had accepted the apprenticeship, Headmistress McGonagall informed her that she was more than welcome to stay at the school, and even found her rooms in the dungeons to ensure close proximity to her area of study.
For this Hermione was grateful, but she wasn’t quite sure how to handle the nervous swoop she felt in her stomach every time she thought about the fact that her rooms would be directly down the hall from Snape’s. Even more unsettling was that she was even more uncertain about whether this feeling was from excitement or fear. Giving her room one last glance, she let out a sigh as she turned to apparate; she was leaving behind this chapter of her life to begin a new one.
~~~
As Hermione opened her eyes, she set them upon the familiar sight of Hogwarts looming in the distance. Even though her apprenticeship did not begin until Monday, she wanted some time to settle in and become familiar with the grounds once more. Since today was Thursday, that gave her nearly four days to reacquaint herself with the layout of the castle, and she found herself wistfully thinking that perhaps she should have asked Harry to borrow the Maurader’s Map.
Levitating her trunk alongside her, Hermione began to walk up the path. Even though summer had just begun for the students the air was still heavy with mist, and she wrapped her traveling cloak tightly around her as she made her way towards the castle.

It was the strangest feeling to see the things that she had once known so well; the Forbidden Forest looming in the distance, Hagrid's hut near the lake, the Whomping Willow thick with leaves. She spied the greenhouses of Professor Sprout, overgrown with a variety of plants. Hermione was struck with the odd thought that now, as acting Potions Master, she would most likely use these greenhouses as a supplier for many of the ingredients for her personal stores.

As the full castle came into view she stopped suddenly along the path as the vision of Hogwarts bloomed before her, this time not simply as a school, but as her home. Hermione couldn't help the grin that spread across her face, and she resumed her walking with a renewed sense of enthusiasm.

It wasn't long before she reached the entrance, and before she could help herself she had made her way to the Great Hall. She knew that she was schedule to meet with the Headmistress, but Hermione's feet seemed to have a mind of their own. It was eerily silent as she entered, so unexpected after all of the conversations and laughter she remembered in this great room.

The hall appeared quite large without all of the students and staff she was so used to filling its walls. The hourglasses that held the shimmering rubies of each Hogwarts House stood in the corner, usually largely unnoticed, they now seemed to draw her forward. She ran her fingers along the outside of the jar filled with the gleaming red stones, marveling that she would now have the power to add and subtract the totals.

Being unable to resist herself and filled with a mounting sense of excitement she murmured "Ten Points from Gryffindor", giggling with relief as the stones remained as they were. She hadn't expected them to work yet; the school year had just ended and she was not yet a designated Professor anyhow.

Glancing off to the side she could almost see herself from years past, seated with Ron and Harry at their usual spot at the Gryffindor table. The hall seemed to echo with their laughter, almost as if her memories painted a picture that refused to fade away.  She forced her eyes from the familiar sight, looking instead to a table she now viewed in a new light.

The Head Table stood at the front of the room, as imposing as ever. She walked up to it, her footsteps echoing quietly in the large open space. Standing opposite the table, she placed herself three seats down from the chair of the Headmistress, the place where both Slughorn and Snape had occupied in years prior.

She reached out, running her hand along the table top as she tried to envision herself seated up here, closing her eyes as she pictured the start of term.

"Interesting place to take up residence, don't you agree?"

Hermione jumped, ripping her hand away from the table as if she had been burned. She knew that voice anywhere, and regardless of volume the deep baritone echoed through the hall. She whirled around, trying to keep the blush from spreading across her face at being caught doing something so foolish.

In the middle of the hall, between two of the house tables staring back at her was none other than Severus Snape. Hermione couldn’t fathom how he had managed to make his way into the hall so silently; even her breathing seemed audible as stepped away from the Head Table and made her way towards the imposing man.

“I-I…was on my way to visit the Headmistress, and I got a bit side tracked.”

Hermione winced internally as her embarrassment filtered through her voice, making her sound young and like she had been caught doing something wrong.

Snape simply raised an eyebrow, staring down at her as Hermione approached. Trying to appear unfazed, she walked right up to him as she stood her ground.

Had he always been this tall?

“That much, Miss Granger, is obvious. Unless of course it is your intention to take up permanent residency in the Great Hall?”

At that, Snape gave a slight sideways nod towards her trunk that was now sitting idling off to the side, seemingly forgotten.

Hermione felt the heat creeping upwards once more into her face, realizing how foolish she must have looked. She was suddenly very aware that they were the only two in the Great Hall, and she realized just how close their proximity was. She took a step back, attempting to keep the trembling out of her voice.

“Of course not. It was my assumption that the Headmistress would show me to my new quarters after our meeting.”

Snape’s mouth upturned slightly at the corner, giving him the faintest of smirks. “Let’s hope for the sake of your abilities to keep along the path that she does.”

Why does he make me feel like an errant teenager all over again?

Hermione cast her eyes downward, unable to articulate any response that wouldn’t make her appear any more foolish than she already felt.

“Minerva has already informed me of the location. Coincidentally, I myself am currently headed down to the dungeons. In the best interest of not having you leave your things lying about the castle like this is your own personal residence,”   Here, Snape glanced pointedly again at her trunk, “I will see to it that your belongings are dropped off in your new living quarters.”

Hermione’s head shot up in surprise, but Snape had already turned on his heel to exit the Great Hall. Wandlessly, her trunk began to follow his departure.

Just as he was about to turn the corner out of the Great Hall, he spun around ever so slightly to face her.

“Miss Granger, it would do you well to remember that you are not yet staff within this establishment. As such, you are responsible for all actions prior to and thereafter your potential employment.”

Snape arched one elegant eyebrow, and with a hint of arrogant amusement in his voice said, “It would hardly be appropriate to utilize reprimands from your years prior, especially something so trivial as perhaps ten points from Gryffindor.”

Hermione’s face burned scarlet, realizing that Snape must’ve witnessed her little encounter with the hourglasses. He gave her one last smug look, and with that he left the Great Hall.
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Master of the Senses