Apprentice

DISCLAIMER: I am not JKR and I am only borrowing her characters and I will return them unharmed. I am making no profit.

CAUTION there is Character Death in this chapter.


Chapter two

Five months later, November

They were sitting at the head table during breakfast on Saturday morning. “I don’t think that I will ever get completely used to the idea of sitting up here.” She was fitting in with the professors extremely well and was even starting to act like Professor Snape. A fact that did not go unnoticed by her former head of house or her current master.

“It does take some getting used to, Miss Granger, but I do promise you that it will come in time.” Snape replied, without glancing up from the Daily Prophet.

She had come to notice that when he wanted to be he could be quite nice and funny at times. He would not let it show to very many people and even with her it was rare. A beautiful white owl came into the room and headed straight for Hermione. She knew who the owl was from immediately.

“Good morning Hedwig.” she petted the beautiful snow owl before taking the rolled parchment that she offered. She gave her a piece of her toast which Hedwig took while looking at Snape and then flew away.

“I can assume that you know that you don’t have the time for any admirers.” Snape frostily told her. He had looked up and was glaring at her this time.

“Don’t have any.” she looked down on her plate slightly embarrassed. She unrolled the parchment and just stared.

Hermione,

It has been such a long time since I have heard from you. I miss you, but I understand why it might be hard to come and visit. I want you to know that you are more then welcome to come to Hogsmead and visit me whenever you want. The old place could certainly use a feminine touch. It is just me living here after all.
I also hear that a sort of congratulations are in order. Not only did you graduate at the top of your class, but I hear that you are Professor Snape’s new apprentice. And if this is what you truly want then I am happy for you, but if he tries anything or asks you to do anything that you don’t like then don’t hesitate to ask for help. I really wish that you would at least write to me more. I know that it must be hard and I think that we should talk about some things.
I know that Harry and Ron would want me to take care of you. Now I know that you are a strong girl…er…woman now and that you can take care of yourself, but I do want to be apart of your life.
Well I am sure that I have taken up enough of your time, so I will end this letter now. I miss you. Please write to me to let me know that you are well.

Love always

Remus

Hermione could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She looked up and could feel Snape looking at her, not his usual glare, but he had a look of concern. She dropped the letter on the table and rose slowly to leave. She only managed to make it outside the great doors before she started to cry. Holding her robes so she wouldn’t trip over them she ran the rest of the way to the dungeons.

Once she was out of the Great Hall, he picked up the letter and read it slowly. He knew she hadn’t been receiving many owls. He assumed that others became annoyed with her and that is why now he was starting to think that maybe it was she who was avoiding the contact. He slowly rose to his feet and swept out of the room.

By the time that he made it to the dungeons she was already there with her door shut. She was sitting on her bed with Harry and Ron’s wands, along with some pictures that she had of the two of them and of the three of them. She knew that it had been 6 years since they had passed away, but it still felt like it was only yesterday.

KNOCK KNOCK

“Come in.” She knew that it was him and knew that he would have left her alone if she had asked him too.

“Miss Granger, I read the letter and I feel that it is time that I told you what I know of that night.”

She gestured toward the empty chair and he accepted it. “You might as well call me Hermione,” she said softly as she slowly stood up and went to the chair to sit beside him in front of the fire. She brought the picture of the three of them that was taken at the Quidditch World Cup in their fourth year.

“Very well. Potter and Weasley did not know that it was going to be their last night, neither did I for that matter. We all thought that it would be just another detention. They were scrubbing the cauldrons while I was grading homework, when it happened.” He took a calming breath before he continued, “Draco Malfoy walked into the room, but something was different about him. We did not know it at the time, but he was under the Imperious Curse. He raised his wand to Potter, but Weasley jumped in the way of him and was the first to die.” He paused then and looked up at Hermione, who was hugging a picture to her chest. “I took Malfoy’s wand from him with the experilous spell and I stunned him. Potter dropped to his knees next to Weasley and held him tightly. Hermione, Weasley died protecting Potter, so that he could go on to do great things.” Hermione only nodded at this and closed her eyes. “Because of his own power Malfoy did not stay stunned for long. He gained what little control he had of himself. When he saw what he had done he dropped to his knees and begged for forgiveness.” He saw that she wanted to say something but he held up his hand and she remained silent. “He saw that he was not going to get it from either of us and he took out his knife and killed himself.” he saw her wince at this “Potter and I both took Weasley and Draco to Dumbledore which was not the best decision as we both know now. Potter and I both came face to face with Lucious Malfoy. He did not even stop to ask questions, he saw that two people were dead, but that one of them was not the one that he wanted to be dead. He didn’t even care that Draco, his own son had been killed, he only cared that Potter was still alive.” He dropped his head into his hands for a moment before he looked back up and continued with his tale, “He was not the same man that I had grown up with. We began a duel and I yelled for Potter to leave us, but him being him, he stayed. He was struck by a spell that Malfoy had thrown and was thrown against the wall where he received a mortal wound. But before he lost consciousness, he killed Malfoy. When I went to his side, he told me to look after you and to tell you that he loved you. I did that Hermione, I looked after you as much as could during your last year here and I have been keeping tabs on you since you left. But I want you to know that neither one of those boys died in vain. The way Potter died, completely muggle is what killed Voldermort in the end.” He stopped to let it all sink in. She was just sitting there numb when he stood to leave.

“Wait…” it was barely audible, but he turned to look at her, “Thank you for telling me Professor. I know that this hasn’t been easy for you.”

“I just want you to know that they did not die without you in their hearts.” he was sitting back in his chair.

“Why did you let me blame you for all these years?”

“Because it was easier for all those involved to believe that I was the one who was in the wrong. I think that you should go and see Remus, he loves you and I am sure that he would love to talk to you.” He smirked a little as he raised to his feet and was heading to the door and he turned and said, “I am sure that he wants to make sure that I am not slowly poisoning you.”

She stood up and cross the room to stand in front of him. “Why poison me? There are much quicker ways to get rid of me.” she softly laughed as she came to a stop in front of him “Ways that I am sure in the past you have thought of.” She winked at him

“I refuse to answer that.”

She looked up at him with complete seriousness “I can’t do it alone. I haven’t seen him since my Hogwarts graduation…” she looked up at him, “…please come with me.”

“Very well, I will change then.”

They walked in silence to the edge of the grounds then apparated to Remus’s front door.



A/N: Well it is not that long but I wanted Remus to get the attention that he deserves. Please dont hate me for killing Harry and Ron, but I felt that it needed to be done to give Snape and Hermione something to bond over. I am hoping to have Chapter 3 up by Monday night if not sooner.

Thank you so much for the reviews they are making me feel good about it. If you have any suggestions please let me know

Thank you Constance for your wonderful work.

I am hoping to have my next chapter up soon.

Peace and Love