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The Apprentice	By : Nerys Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Hermione/Voldemort Views: 62961 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J.K. Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros. Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author's note: Thanks for reading, rating and reviewing.

The Apprentice

Chapter three

Staring at the ceiling, Hermione contemplated what to do. How was she ever going to finish that impossible assignment if Dumbledore wouldn't help her? Because her guide – she used the term loosely and with the proper amount of sarcasm – would probably just make her run circles around the needed information. She knew she would have done in his place. The difference between them being that he would smirk while doing so. All Slytherins smirked. Perhaps it was a requirement to get sorted into that house.

He has to guide you. It's not optional.

Yeah, right, because it was impossible to get around a stipulation like that. They sure did everything to see to it there were no loopholes at all.

One more week at Hogwarts, it was all she had. Perhaps she should go to the library and research everything on Controlled Casting straight away. Because once the summer holiday started, she'd have no more access to any new wizarding texts at all. Her parents had a huge amount of books, but nothing on the subjects she needed; and at the Burrow to which she was invited… well, need she say more?

Unless? Unless Professor Dumbledore would grant her permission to go to the Hogwarts library in the summer!

Excited, Hermione jumped up. This could be the answer to everything. Surely, he would not deny her the means to complete her mission? Her spirit back up, she grabbed her books and dumped them in her bag to go to class immediately. A groan escaped her when she realised she had Potions now, and it was already one whole hour into the lesson. She was late for Potions. She'd rather go back and ask Voldemort a question about her assignment instead of disrupting Snape's lesson. It would be less hazardous to her health for sure.

So, feeling somewhat guilty about not going to Potions, Hermione decided to visit Ron until Charms started. When she reached the infirmary, she wasn't sorry about her choice. A smile erupted on Ron's face when he saw her.

'Wow, you look great Hermione! That foreign Healer really knows his stu – Oww!' With a pained expression, Ron tried to pull his arm away from the fast grip of the Hogwarts' nurse.

'Sorry,' Poppy Pomfrey mumbled, applying the last bit of ointment on his arm a bit more carefully before walking away with a brief glance toward Hermione. 'Foreign Healers,' she muttered under her breath. 'Pffftt… I know what they say about fast recoveries. Albus better not come complaining about one of his sugar intoxications, because…'

The door slammed shut behind her and the rest of her muttering was drowned out completely.

Ron grinned as Hermione sat down on his bed and handed him a full bag of chocolate frogs. 'She is been like that ever since Dumbledore told her he had sent you abroad to heal. I think she takes it as a personal insult.'

'Oh.'

'But how are you feeling?'

'I am fine.'

'Really?' Ron nudged her in the ribs.

'Eh!' Hermione objected.

'You are better,' he decided. 'Yesterday you couldn't laugh without supporting your chest with one of your hands. So, who is this super Healer of yours? I could use a consult.'

Hermione blushed. 'I don't know – I didn't get his name.'

Ron raised his eyebrows.

'I couldn't understand a single word he was saying,' Hermione mumbled apologetically.

'Didn't he speak English?'

'He tried,' Hermione said. 'It didn't help.'

Ron roared with laughter. 'That bad, eh.'

'You could say that,' Hermione said, relieved her lame excuse was working.

'Well, I am glad you went. At least now, I will be getting all the attention and candy,' Ron said, grinning in anticipation.

'Yes, I am sure attention and candy weigh up to getting scarred by thoughts any day.'

'Indeed, they do. Tell Neville I am running low on Liquorice Wands, will you? I remember he had a large stack of them in his drawer before we went to London.'

Hermione shook her head. 'I'll try to remember.'

'Speaking of remembering… isn't a Prefect supposed to go to class?' Ron asked, wiggling his eyebrows deviously.

A sudden heat-wave made its way to her face, turning her into the equivalent of a very ripe tomato.

Ron laughed. 'Can't blame you for skipping Snape. I hope I can stay in the infirmary for the remainder of this entire year. That way I never have to see his greasy head again.'

'Potions is an important subject, Ron.'

'Not for those of us who are dropping it.' Ron dreamily stared at the ceiling, envisioning next year's happy Snapeless school-life.

'You can't become an Auror without Potions.'

'Give it a rest, Hermione. You and I both know I'll never get an O for my Potions' O.W.L., so there is no point in pretending the option is still there.'

Hermione fell silent, knowing he was right. It would cause Snape personal injury to give her an O. He wasn't bound to make exceptions on his N.E.W.T.-rule for others – especially not for Gryffindors befriended with Harry Potter.

'But eh, I am sure you have two more Snape-filled years ahead of you!' Ron added teasingly. 'That's the price you pay for being an overachiever: extra hours with the bat.'

'Ron, he is on our-'

'Did you see they moved Umbridge to the back of the infirmary?' Ron interrupted Hermione before she could finish her reprimand.

Hermione swung her head around, surprised. 'Why?'

Ron leaned forward. 'She was getting sicker suddenly. Apparently, she received a fake letter from someone posing as the minister this morning and when she tried to reply to it by using the quill that was sent along with it, she broke out in hysterics.'

Hermione stretched out her neck to see if she could look beyond the closed curtains in the back.

'I don't know what is wrong with her though. Poppy won't say,' Ron said, disappointed. 'And they have no idea who sent the quill, so I can't hero-worship him or her either.'

'Whatever it is she has, I hope it hurts like hell,' Hermione added vengefully.

'From the fit she was having, I'd say it did.'

They both relished on that thought silently, while eating another chocolate frog.

'Have you seen Harry this morning?' asked Hermione.

'Yes, briefly before breakfast.'

'And?' Hermione insisted.

'Still the same, not talking and taking ALL the blame. But he'll get around, just give him time.'

'He needs to talk about Sirius.'

'When he is ready. You can't force it out of him,' Ron said, unwrapping another box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.

'Can't I?' Hermione's jaw was set.

'No, Hermione, please don't ask him about Sirius. Trust me; it will not do you or him any good.'

Hermione looked out the window. 'I've got to go to Charms.'

'Already?' asked Ron, trying to hide his disappointment.

'I wish you could come too,' said Hermione, feeling guilty.

'Not me,' said Ron, pretending to be brave. 'I've Owled Fred and George for some stuff, so I can stretch this till the end-of-term leaving feast.'

Hermione smiled and shook her head. 'You are relentless. See you, Ron.'

'Bye!' Ron waved cheerfully; but as Hermione left the infirmary in perfect health, he looked rather sad at the empty infirmary and his still scarred arms.

xxx

All the Gryffindors swarmed around her in the Charms' classroom, asking questions and admiring Hermione's speedy recovery. She ditched them rather easily by starting a very lengthy explanation about the foreign Healer's research, making them regret asking her quickly. None of them could follow a word she was saying and when she was finished, they all nodded as if they understood; glad the lecture was done with. Draco made a disparaging comment across the room, which made Hermione smile rather evilly. As everyone took their seats upon Flitwick's arrival, Hermione casually walked past Draco's table. It was an opportunity too good to miss.

'I'll have to make sure to pass the comment along, ferret,' she whispered. 'I wonder how the Healer,' she paused there, tilting her head ever so slightly in amusement, 'in question will feel about it.'

She walked on rather pleased with herself, even more so when she saw the look Draco was giving her. He suddenly seemed unnerved.

She smirked at him. Perhaps the trade was contagious.

Draco turned back towards Flitwick abruptly, shaking his head. No way, no way. However, the Keepers did seem to have a somewhat sadistic sense of humour; they had placed him in Dumbledore's care after all. That was turning out to be every bit of the disaster as he had envisioned it to be when he saw Dumbledore apparate at his meeting point.

Draco's face darkened. All the lectures and stupid remarks that made no sense at all. The man couldn't stay on topic for a second. It was driving him crazy already, and he'd only been to one meeting. He groaned and banged his head on the table.

Still, if Granger had Him… He snorted and turned around to glance at her gleefully.

Hermione gave him a gleeful smile back.

Not what he expected. Why was the Mudblood happy about her guide? He wouldn't have been. It was bad enough the creep was staying at his house. He had no idea how to get through the summer holiday unscathed; and he had to go home. His mother's latest letter was filled with worry about that fact. Apparently, the Dark Lord had insisted upon his presence.

Draco shivered.

'Because we are reaching the holidays and we've covered the obliged curriculum, why don't you tell me what subjects you want to cover during these last lessons,' said Flitwick.

Draco didn't register the question; he was too busy with his problems. He was certain Granger had to be messing with his mind. She didn't have Him. She wouldn't be smiling if she did. No, he was stuck in Hell with Dumbles, while she probably had the best guide in the book. Dumbledore always made sure his Gryffindor favourites were well-taken care of.

'… Controlled Casting?' Draco heard Granger say. His head swivelled up.

'Hmmm… well, er – it is an interesting subject, no doubt,' Flitwick started, 'but a bit too advan-'

'Controlled Casting would be very much appreciated, Sir,' Draco added quickly. Damn, he had to pay attention. Flitwick was bound to be more helpful than the old coot. He could actually explain something rationally.

Silence filled the classroom. Nobody had ever heard Draco Malfoy support anything Hermione Granger suggested. Hermione and Draco both looked at Professor Flitwick rather hopefully.

'Oh, er…I-I,' Flitwick stuttered, glancing between the two, noticing the odd occurrence.

'Come on,' Hermione thought desperately, 'this ought to do it. I need the information.'

Draco kept his fingers crossed. It bugged him that Granger would get the info too, but not enough to let the opportunity slip. Anything to stay away from his guide – and he used the term loosely and with the proper amount of sarcasm.

'I guess, since it is the end of the year.' Flitwick waved his wand and placed the subject on the blackboard.

Draco let out a breath in relief. Thank Merlin; he was going to get the information without having to dance through a million hoops for it.

'What's wrong with you?' whispered Crabbe. 'Agreeing with filth?'

'I have my reasons,' Draco replied smoothly. 'None of which I care to explain to boneheads like you,' he added, upon noticing Crabbe was about to open his mouth again.

Crabbe raised his eyebrows at Goyle, who shrugged back in response.

'Never heard Malfoy agree with you before,' Neville said, stunned.

Hermione shrugged. It bugged her that Malfoy would get the info too, but she had no time to lose. Besides the day she couldn't outshine a Malfoy… She snorted.

Professor Flitwick noted some other subjects on the blackboard, but eventually started his lesson on Controlled Casting. Draco and Hermione bombarded him with questions, making Professor Flitwick more and more enthusiastic about explaining the phenomenon and the rest of the class more and more asleep. Hermione practically jumped in her seat with excitement when Professor Flitwick kept referring to "The Reality of Magic" as a prominent textbook on the matter. Her quill could barely keep up with all the information Flitwick was providing her with.

'But this theory would mean if you cast a charm, there is no way of undoing it,' Draco stated, disappointed.

'Indeed, it is not possible to do such a thing,' Flitwick replied.

'I – er – read somewhere it is possible,' Hermione intervened.

'Yes, well, there is a theory, but no one has ever been able to put it to practise.'

Hermione frowned. No one?

'Whose theory would that be, Sir?' Draco asked.

'McMullen's Theory of Everything; but it's highly speculative and more along the line of Arithmancy than Charms.'

'It is about casting, isn't it?' asked Hermione.

'Yes, but Charms is a part of casting that contains the possible; the alterations of such which exist.'

'Isn't stopping a spell you have cast not a Charm to begin with?' continued Hermione.

'In a matter of speaking,' Flitwick conceded. 'You could support a hypothesis of such.'

'Then it would be a Charm you cast upon your original spell?' Draco said, excited.

'No, Mr Mafoy, one would not have the time. Your original spell would reach its destination and have its impact, because your Charm would carry the same speed.'

'So, if you vary speeds in your casting…,' Hermione trailed off.

'Not possible. Every single individual has a certain degree of power and that degree of power determines the speed of your spell. One cannot influence this, Basic Law of Magic no. three.'

'If not speed than how?' asked Draco, scratching the suggestion on his parchment.

'Like I said, this is more Arithmancy than Charms; you need to ask Professor Vector about it.'

'Surely, you know,' pushed Draco, 'I mean you are the best teacher we have. You have so much experience.'

'Well,' Professor Flitwick squeaked, pleased. 'I do know that McMullen's theory contains the notion of using the magical power of the individual to stop the spell he or she cast. It's all about reversing the polarity of once magic. But like I said, this is much more Professor Vector's field. She would be able to explain it much better than I can.'

Reversing the polarity. Hermione frowned. How did you know which polarity your magic had to begin with? It sounded a bit like Muggle Physics. Magnets, fields and electricity flooded her mind. She had to check her parents' university books as soon as she got home, and she had to get her hands on the text in which McMullen's theory was written. Preferably before Malfoy got it.

'In what Arithmancy book is McMullen's theory published?' Draco asked.

'The Book of All.'

Hermione groaned. Perhaps the National Museum of Egypt would lend it to a minor. Yeah, right.

'A few obscure Dark Arts texts,' Flitwick continued.

Crap. She hoped none of those would be present in the Malfoy library. She could almost feel Draco smirking at his victory if they were. Great, terrific, obscure Dark Arts texts - perhaps her "guide" had them and would be willing to share. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

'And, of course, "The Reality of Magic" uses an entire chapter to investigate McMullen's theory to the letter,' Flitwick ended, making Hermione's day.

See, living a life of crime does pay off. If she had even an ounce of doubt about her choice to nick the book from Lord Voldemort, this certainly took it all away. She would finish this assignment; she wouldn't need any help; and she would beat Draco Malfoy - all in a day's work.

The bell rang, ending the insightful lesson with Flitwick giving twenty points to Slytherin and Gryffindor. But Hermione couldn't wait for all the lessons of the day to be over with, so she could start reading.

Unfortunately, Snape was substituting for Umbridge in DADA, so the Gryffindor points were gone the moment he saw her. He also gave her a lengthy Potions' assignment, because she missed his "invaluable" lesson and he wouldn't want her to get behind. Sure, Snape the concerned, beneficent teacher.

Professor Snape's taunts didn't phase her one bit this time, because she had The Book, the answers to the Keepers' issue. Yeah, it was a good day. Especially after she spoke privately to Professor Vector after dinner and learned a thing or two more about the Arithmancy aspects of the subject. It was great.

xxx

It was maddening, maddening! After both Professors Flitwick and Vector had boomed about the inherent quality of the wretched book, Hermione could not see it. She read it cover to cover and back again; and still, it made no sense to her.

'Arghh!' she yelled in frustration.

'Hermione, something wrong?' Parvati asked sleepily.

'Everything,' Hermione answered furiously. 'This entire book makes no sense at all.'

'Oh,' Parvati mumbled, 'a book.' She rolled her eyes and turned around on her side to get back to sleep.

'Yeah, a book,' Hermione replied sarcastically, 'or should I say a bunch of non-correlated essays that never take into account anything they stated before.'

'It's four in the morning; it's probably why it isn't making sense. You need to get some sleep.' Parvati yawned.

'It's not lack of sleep. It's lack of coherency.'

'I say,' Lavender whispered, making Parvati giggle.

'Here it goes on and on about the five basic laws of magic, but there is no explanation as to why they are the five basic laws or even why there aren't say four or six. You would not expect an explanation in a Hogwarts text book, since this is higher magic, but this is supposedly the answer to all things magical and they just state it as a given! I want a bloody explanation. And then, if you see these Arithmancy equations…'

'Er… Hermione?' Lavender tried. 'School is almost over.'

'What?' Hermione snapped.

'Some people are trying to sleep,' Parvati hinted.

'Fine, fine! I'll go to the library.' Hermione grabbed her bookbag, stuffed her textbooks and scrolls in it, and paced away.

Parvati and Lavender looked at each other meaningfully. 'She can get really scary,' Lavender said.

'She needs a boyfriend,' Parvati muttered.

'Yeah, that's likely to happen.'

Both of them snorted.

Meanwhile Hermione opened the library with a flick of her wand, raced to the nearest table and spread out her books. 'I wonder,' she muttered.

She opened her Arithmancy textbook along with "The Reality of Magic" and began computing the equations herself. It was around seven a.m. when she looked up triumphantly from her scroll that had got so lengthy it took up several feet of library floor space.

'I knew it! I was right; it is rubbish. There is no way a single person can possibly draw that much power. Ten times the average is needed to undo a spell after casting.' Hermione snorted. 'You can barely add two if you gain the precise wand.' She looked disgruntled at the book. 'The Reality of Magic is soooo important; it contains nothing but superstitions, statements without proof, dualistic hypotheses, and contradictory statements.'

'Hermione Jean Granger?' Madam Pince shrieked, shocked someone was in here.

'Madam Pince! I didn't hear you come in.'

'Obviously,' the librarian grumbled. 'Have you been here all night, illegally?'

'I just had to check some theories. I didn't disturb anything,' Hermione added hastily. 'I used my own books.'

'And here I thought you were one of the few responsible enough. Now I have to make a report to Mr Filch about you being in here after hours. Let me see those books on your table, young lady.'

Madam Pince inspected them page to page for the signs of ownership of the Hogwarts library. In the end she gave them back irritably. 'Have you even had breakfast already?'

'No, I-,' Hermione, suddenly, realised her stomach was growling, 'I forgot the time.'

'Well, hurry along then, before you are too late,' snapped Madam Pince, shooing her out, before she started checking the rest of her precious books and protective spells on them. Who knew what one wayward student would have done to them, the horror.

'Thank you, madam,' said Hermione, as she packed her stuff quickly and made her way to the Great Hall.

Neville greeted her cheerfully as she sat down between him and Harry at the breakfast table. 'You are just in time,' Ginny stated across the table. 'We were about the start a search and rescue mission.'

Hermione stared at her open-eyed, and everyone at the table turned quiet, glancing and trying not to look at Harry's reaction. Ginny started stuttering. 'I-I d-didn't mean…'

Harry was very busy with his breakfast.

'Did you see Luna's new hat?' Neville asked, diverting the attention away.

'No,' Hermione said, raising her head to look at the Ravenclaw table. 'Oh wow, she reached new heights with that design.'

'Yeah,' giggled Parvati, 'Padma said she was so entranced in creating it that she almost went out of her dormitory dressed in just the hat.'

'I'd loved to have seen that,' Dean stated.

Ginny glared at him.

'Well, I-I,' Dean tried, and he looked around desperately for help.

'Give it up mate, you're screwed now,' Seamus whispered underneath his breath. 'Mail! I hope my mother sent me those biscuits I have asked her about.'

'You just ate three full plates,' Parvati commented.

'So?'

Hermione placed her pile of letters next to her plate. She would read them after she finished eating.

'Geezzz Seamus, how can you eat those cookies now? You still have Jell-O.'

'Want some?' Seamus held out the box, while he teased Parvati by stuffing his mouth full with Jell-O, too.

'Oh, you are making me sick.'

'Thanks,' said Neville, who took a cookie gratefully. 'His mum makes the best biscuits,' he explained apologetically to some of the disgusted faces around.

'You know it is great to finally get mail again that isn't screened by the Ministry,' Ginny said, accepting one of Seamus's cookies.

Harry ignored Seamus's offer, making Hermione and Ginny share concerned looks. Hermione turned and was about to say something to Harry when Ginny interrupted. 'Think your parents sent you anything that Umbridge would have disagreed upon?' Ginny asked, pleading with her eyes for Hermione to not ask Harry how he was doing.

'Yeah, Hermione,' Neville agreed, picking up Hermione's envelopes and weighing them in his hand. 'You have quite a stack there. Umbridge must have halted your mail for months.'

'She got the paper every day,' Parvati disagreed.

'Sure,' Ginny said, 'Umbridge would have known Hermione would notice if suddenly her daily paper didn't show up anymore.'

'Maybe she is afraid of dentists,' Dean suggested, making everybody laugh.

'If only…,' Hermione mused, grinning, and she snatched her mail back from Neville.

'You dropped one; here,' Neville bent over and picked up a thick envelope made of almost yellow parchment. 'Wow, this one is different; expensive, no return address, just your name.' He looked at it back to front.

'Do you mind?' Hermione said, now annoyed.

'Sorry,' Neville said, handing it back to her.

Hermione looked at her name. Probably more shit from The Keepers of whatever; it was their style.

'Aren't you going to open it?' Ginny asked.

Hermione looked up and saw everyone looking at her curiously. Everyone, except for Harry, who seemed to stare into thin air. She cursed the Keepers for not choosing a more inconspicuous method of communicating with her. Now, she had to make up some elaborate story to satisfy everyone. Not that she had not done so before, but they could try to be more discrete. It was almost like they did it on purpose. She used her knife to open the letter and pulled out the thick parchment.

'Definitely wizarding origin,' Neville commented.

The others seemed to agree.

Hermione opened the parchment. As her eyes began reading the fine script, the letters flew from the pages in a blinding green flash and struck her dead on in the chest.

'Hermione!'

People were shouting her name as her body flew through the air and collided with the solid wall behind her. She felt numb, dazed. The world was swirling. A pair of green eyes swirled into focus, briefly.

'Hermione, Hermione!' yelled Harry, as he shook her. 'Stay with us. Hermione, don't…'

She had no idea what Harry didn't want her to do. Footsteps – lots of them – echoed in the dark.

'What happened!' a boy shouted from the far end of the Great Hall.

'Did you see that?' a girl's voice.

'Everybody back; stand back, Harry,' she vaguely heard Dumbledore say. 'Hermione?'

She couldn't open her eyes. It was impossible. Everything was too heavy.

'Miss Granger?'

Who was this Miss Granger? Had she done something? She had no idea what was going on. She needed to rest. She was tired, so tired. Sleep, sleep sounded great. Then she had to find it. Yeah, she knew that much, find the answer. But what was the question again? Darkness flooded her vision. She had to remember. It was vital. She had to…

Neville reached for the parchment. A hand pulled him back by his collar and threw him into his seat. Neville turned pale when he saw Snape's dark glare directed at him. 'There is no need to prove to the world again and again that you are able to reach new levels of daftness, Longbottom; we are all blatantly aware of your continuing incompetence.'

Snape cast a couple of spells at the parchment, before he finally picked it up. His face turned dark. 'Headmaster,' he said gravely. He turned the parchment and revealed the swirling snake that was leaving the skull's head to everyone.

'No,' whispered Harry, horrified, 'no, not Hermione.'

'Albus?' McGonagall asked, looking from the parchment to the unconscious Hermione worriedly.

'Warn Poppy we are coming, Minerva,' said Dumbledore, whipping his wand around. A purple bubble surrounded Hermione and lifted her of the ground, while McGonagall hurried away to the infirmary.

'Severus, I need you,' Dumbledore said over his shoulder.

'Potter, you all stay here,' Snape barked, as a parade of Gryffindors wanted to follow Dumbledore and Hermione.

'I am coming,' Harry said; his jaw locked in determination. 'She is my friend.'

Several Gryffindors murmured in agreement. They were all going.

Dumbledore turned in the doorway and said, 'Harry, Ginny and Neville, your presence is required in the infirmary.' A funny, huge hat jumped up and down on his right. 'And Miss Lovegood is welcome too, of course.'

They all moved quickly after Dumbledore. The noise in the Great Hall was deafening. No one noticed a pale Draco Malfoy was burning his unopened letters underneath the Slytherin table.

'The rest of you get back in your seats or I will withdraw what little points your pathetic Houses have left,' Snape sneered, quieting the voices of the other students instantaneously. As he swooped out the door last, all that remained were silent whispers of speculation concerning to what had just happened.
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The Apprentice