Disclaimer: JKR's of
course. I'm just borrowing it.
A/N: This
plot
bunny was birthed by zelgadisgreywood.
The title is from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 120, which I think
fits the two
pairings (HP/DM & HG/SS) rather well.
For those who do not know it, it is written out at the end
of the first
chapter. The introductory quote in this
chapter is from Ambrose Bierce.
Ransom Me
Chapter Two
“EDUCATION, n. That which
discloses to the wise and
disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding.”
Two weeks
before the students were due to arrive at Hogwarts a flock of owls left
the
castle. They carried letters explaining
a new apprenticeship program to the incoming sixth years.
The eligibility of students would be based
upon their OWL scores, and they were welcome to apply to both
professors at
Hogwarts and professionals in the village
of Hogsmeade.
The owls found the Golden Trio sitting
together behind the Burrow watching Bill and Remus in a friendly duel.
“Is that
the apprenticeship application that Albus was talking about?” Remus
asked as
Bill was busy returning his hair to its proper colour.
It was a rather blinding shade of neon blue.
“Yeah. Not
like we don’t already have enough to do, eh?” Ron said.
“What are
you going to apply for?” Bill asked, sitting down with the threesome.
“I
dunno. How about you, Harry?” Ron said,
turning towards his friend. Harry had
become quiet and withdrawn. He was no
longer the angry young man that had appeared at Grimmauld
Place a year before. Unfortunately,
the person that had appeared
instead had everyone around him wishing for that explosive anger. It seemed almost as if this new Harry
couldn’t feel anything at all.
“Defense,
of course,” Harry answered softly. “It
is what I’ve been created for, after all.”
“Oh,
Harry…” Hermione sighed.
“Well, just
give that application to me, Harry. No
need
to send it all the way to the castle,” Remus said, smiling softly.
“You’re
teaching again, Professor?” Hermione asked, visibly excited.
“Yes. Albus asked me to
return, and Severus
promised to play nice,” Remus said, chuckling. “You never told us who
you want
to apprentice with. I’m certain a young
witch of your abilities would be accepted anywhere.”
“I could do
Transfiguration, I suppose. It would
certainly be easier, but…” Hermione trailed off.
“But what?”
Ron asked.
“I really
do love Potions. I just don’t think
Professor Snape would accept me.”
Remus shook
his head. “Apply for Potions,
Hermione. Severus may just surprise
you.”
The owl
arrived at Snape’s house just as he and Draco stepped out of the
fireplace. Snape took the letter from it
and set it down on a nearby desk. Then he took Draco’s trunk from his
pocket,
enlarged it, and banished it to the room he’d prepared for Draco.
“No magic
here, Draco,” he said. “The wards won’t
hide it as they did at the Manor. The
ministry would know in an instant.”
“Yes, sir.”
“There are
no house-elves here. I expect you to
keep your room clean. A young woman
comes by every few days for the wash.
I’ll do the cooking.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You have a
letter from Hogwarts,” Severus indicated the envelope on the table. “I expect it’s about that silly
apprenticeship nonsense that Dumbledore came up with.
Let me know who you wish to apprentice with,
and I shall see to it that you are accepted.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And Mr.
Malfoy,” Snape continued, “I would greatly appreciate it if you did not
continue to answer every statement in such a manner.”
“Yes, sir,” Draco answered.
Snape smiled.
The small upturn at the corner of Draco’s mouth was a mere
shadow of the
smirk the boy usually wore, but at least it had finally reappeared.
That night
the two sat at the small table in Snape’s small kitchen.
Both were concentrating on their reading more
than the food before them. When Severus
noticed that Draco had the apprenticeship letter in hand, he put down
the
potion recipe he was editing and looked up at the boy expectantly.
“Professor,
do you know who the new Defense teacher will be?” Draco asked.
“The
werewolf, if I’m not mistaken. You wish
to study with him?”
“Not if…I
mean…” Draco said, unsure. “What do you think I should study,
Professor?”
“Mr.
Malfoy, you must learn to make your own decisions,” Severus said,
studying the
boy. “If you wish to study Defense,
there is no better teacher than Remus Lupin.
Do not allow my prejudices to colour your own judgment.”
Draco’s
forehead wrinkled for a moment, but then he appeared to come to a
decision as
he began to fill out the parchment before him.
Upon seeing this, Severus retreated to his study to
fire-call Lupin and
convince him to take the boy. No doubt
Potter has already secured a place, but with the limit of two
apprentices per
professor, Severus would have to get to Lupin before he also promised a
spot to
the Weasley brat.
Unfortunately,
Lupin had something he wanted as well.
In exchange for taking Draco, the werewolf had insisted
that Snape take
on the Granger girl. He had no choice,
and now he would be forced to spend several hours each day with that
know-it-all and her endless questions.
She would be assisting him in his lower level classes! Assisting!
She’d probably be so soft that she’d let the idiots blow
up the entire
castle!
He really,
really hoped Draco appreciated this.
