I am back with a new chapter, and I am so sorry for the delay! In November I started a new story, Hermione's Mission, and this story hit the backburner as I had some writers block on how to continue. Then, January hit and the first four months of the year are my busiest season. I've worked 190 overtime hours at my job since January so writing hours have been few and far between, but I took my first full weekend off since January, and I was inspired! I also have Chapter 9 outlined so maybe early May that will go up once the work deadlines are filed. Thank you for reading!

Chapter 8 - Hermione Advice

That evening Severus sat behind his desk in the Headmaster's office. Pomona, Minerva, Filius and Horace had joined him for their weekly Head of House meetings and if he was being honest with himself, he wasn't paying attention to any of them. Horace was droning on and on about needing to find a replacement and being unable to keep up with his workload in his advanced age. Severus had listened to this consistently since he'd left St. Mungo's, so he'd just taken to tuning Horace out. All he could think of was Hermione. Everything seemed to be right between them now, but he still had this strange feeling in the pit of his stomach like it could all go tits up. He kept replaying the night before in his head and it dawned on him. 'Oh fuck…' he thought, 'I invaded her mind without her consent, not even that, I directly disobeyed her wishes. She screamed at me to stop and I just did it anyway. What the fuck is wrong with me?' Severus thought to three years ago when Harry Potter accidentally saw his memories while trying to throw him off in their private lessons. That had been a complete accident and a defense mechanism. Severus had been furious, he thought he could have killed the boy with his bare hands that night he was so angry and embarrassed. Then he did it to Hermione by choice, against her protests. 'Fuck fuck fuck. I didn't even apologize! I just fucked her against the wall of my office.' Suddenly he let out a loud groan.

Minerva stared at him with a quizzical look. "Something to add Severus dear?"

"Ummm", he paused, "Just that I've heard this all before Horace! I told you to hire an apprentice before the term began. Now you've lost your opportunity for the year. Find a qualified 7th or 8th-year student to be your assistant for Merlin's sake."

Horace stared at him and launched into more complaints. 'Oh thank gods. I was right.' Severus thought.

"And when was I supposed to hire an apprentice Severus? Between the school rebuilding and the stress of the war and final battle…"

Severus rolled his eyes. "You weren't even here to help rebuild Horace! I gave you the entire summer to 'relax' while Draco and Hermione took over for your work. May I remind you that I found time to wake up from a month long coma, recover from being attacked by a poisonous snake, rebuild the castle, and run the school? Find a student."

"Fine. I want Harry Potter."

Severus barked out laughing. "Harry Potter is passable at Potions, but you do not want him as your assistant. There are far more qualified candidates."

"He did brilliantly two years ago…"

"Horace, he stole MY book, which was sitting in an empty cupboard. I revised every single potion in that book. I was the youngest potions master in Europe for a reason you know. I've taken my book back anyhow, so you will see a marked difference in Potter's performance. However, it is no matter, I've taken Potter on as my D.A.D.A. assistant. He's much more suited to that job."

Severus noticed that he received a look of shock from Filius and Pomona while Minerva burst into a smile and nodded approvingly. 'Well, at least by getting along with Potter I'm making the Gryffindor women in my life happy.'

"Fine", huffed Horace, "I want Miss Granger."

"You will have to talk to Miss Granger then Horace. Her schedule is quite full of Head Girl duties, and ... mischief with her peers, and if I recall from her OWL year, she is a nightmare when it comes to studying for standardised tests. However, if she says yes that should be fine."

Severus knew that Hermione was the best at potions so that wouldn't be a problem, but he also knew she didn't respect Slughorn and everything about her schedule was true. He was also a bit selfish. He did not want to miss his time with her. But, he was learning his lesson after last night. He would not interfere. If she wanted to do it, it was her choice to make.

"Anything else to discuss this evening, or are we finally finished?", drawled Severus.

When no one replied, he shot them a look, and they all suddenly stood up to take their leave. Severus sighed in relief, bade goodnight to Albus' portrait and climbed the stairs to his rooms. He shrugged off his robes, loosened his cravat, and unbuttoned his frock coat and waistcoat. He poured two fingers of firewhiskey and sank into his favourite wingback chair in front of the fireplace. He had a lot of apologising to do to Hermione the following evening; he just wasn't sure how to go about it.

The next thing he knew, Severus was sending his patronus to Potter and Malfoy. 'Gods I must be desperate', he thought to himself.

15 minutes later, the two boys arrived at the Headmaster's office looking thoroughly confused. "Uncle? What did we do?" inquired Draco.

Severus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Nothing! I need your help, both of you."

Harry broke out into a shit eating grin and elbowed Draco. "I told you. He needs Hermione advice."

Severus scowled. "I swear to Merlin Potter if you breathe a word of this to anyone I'll hex you into the new millennium."

"Soooooo" drawled Draco, "What did you do Uncle? Hermione seemed happy this morning. She said everything between you too was fine."

"That's private!" snarled Snape, "Just help me. How do you beg Hermione Granger for forgiveness?"

"Well, no extravagant gifts for starters. Flowers are ok," said Harry. "Don't buy her books either. She loves them, but not as an act of contrition. She doesn't like to feel like that all anyone thinks of her is that she's a know-it-all with her nose stuck in a book."

"The key thing is just to apologise and mean it. Hermione doesn't want you to beg. She wants you to be sincere. Oh and she loves to hug" Draco rolled his eyes "I know that may be a struggle for you, but we put aside seven years of hatred with an apology and a hug. That's it. We don't talk about the past at all."

"I know what you need!" declared Harry "Ginny made me read this Muggle book about relationships. I thought it was going to be stupid, but it was really helpful."

Severus raised his eyebrow at the boy who lived "You want me to read a book Ginevra made you read? Written by muggles? Where did Ginevra get a muggle book?" he asked incredulously.

Harry rolled his eyes. "She and Hermione spend a lot of time in Muggle London. Ginny loves it. To be fair, its always seemed ridiculous to me that wizards closet themselves off. Now that Ginny's discovered Oxford Street let's say they venture out quite regularly. Anyway… the book. It's about love languages. Every person gives and receives love differently. There's quality time, words of affirmation, physical touch, acts of service, and receiving gifts. 'Mione responds to love through quality time and words of affirmation. So spend time with her, and tell her how much and why you care about her. Buying her things are nice, but she won't feel like you love her more because of it."

Severus stared at Harry confusedly. Was this some muggle psychology? It sounded like absolute idiotic nonsense to him, but he was a 38-year-old man, who had never been in a committed relationship before, soliciting the advice of two eighteen-year-olds with more romantic experience than he had, so he resigned himself to taking Potter's advice. Beggars couldn't be choosers after all.

"Fine. That is very helpful. Owl me the book. Don't let anyone see you sending it to me. Draco, you are dismissed, I need to speak to Mr Potter about something."

Draco's eyebrows shot to his hairline, and he rose, turning his back to his godfather and mouthed to Harry "what the fuck did you do now boy wonder?"

Harry shrugged, as stumped as Draco, his mind whirling as he tried to discern what Snape could want with him besides help with Hermione.

"Pot- Harry, I have been aware of your desire to become an auror ever since Delores Umbridge shrieked in the staffroom that you'd work for the Ministry over her dead body. That odious toad of a woman may not be dead, but she has been sacked by Shacklebolt, so it's a start."

"Yes sir, I do still wish to become an auror, but how does that impact you?"

Severus sneered at this "Well Harry, I am your headmaster and your Defense Professor, who else would you come to for career advice in the aurory but me?" he said sarcastically. "I have realised quite quickly that I am in need of assistance and you are in want of training. I cannot run this school with all of its odious administrative duties and teach an entire course load. I know you are only taking the five courses required to join the aurory, so I would like to offer you a position as my Assistant Professor. You could teach the lower level courses by yourself when it suits your schedule and assist me in the advanced courses."

Harry was gobsmacked. Snape, Potter hating, the bat of the dungeons, greasy git Severus Snape had just asked him, Harry James Potter, the Boy who Lived, son of his arch-rival, to be his assistance professor. Sure, they had been cordial to one another since Snape revealed his true allegiances during the Battle of Hogwarts, but he had never expected the man to mentor him willingly. Hermione was right; Snape had changed.

Harry made to speak and stopped himself several times before finally stuttering out, "I would be honoured, sir. Thank you for this opportunity and privilege."

"You're welcome, Potter. Your aptitude for the subject is outstanding, and I can admit you are the second best Defense teacher this school has had in over a decade."

"Second best sir?"

"After myself of course," the dark man smirked.

"Oh, I thought you meant Professor Lupin sir" Harry bit back a grin, his mirth shining in his eyes. 'Wait. Am I bantering with Snape for the second time in as many days?' thought Harry.

Snape cuffed Harry on the back of the head. "You will do well to remember that I am the Professor and Headmaster and you are my assistant. Don't question my superior skills until you can beat me in a duel Potter. I will not disparage a dead man. I will say that Lupin was an adequate teacher; however, even he did not get the results out of his students that you did."

"Thank you, sir."

"One more thing, It has been brought to my attention by our mutual friend..." Harry rolled his eyes at the reference to 'Mione. "That while you have been regaled with stories and anecdotes about your father and his friends for years, you know very little about your mother's childhood or formative years at Hogwarts. I would like to rectify this. I know your mother and I had a falling out in our fifth year, but from the age of seven to sixteen, she was my best friend. I would like to share more of my memories of her with you if you are amenable."

If Harry thought he had been shocked by the offer of mentorship and assistance professorship, this offer had him genuinely stunned. 'did 'Mione imperious him or something? What the hell happened to scowling, closed off, Snape?' Harry gave his former nemesis a watery smile and nodded emphatically.

Severus replied with a curt nod. "Very well. I will be in touch to arrange a new class schedule for you and to discuss my lesson plans. You can go now. Good evening."

Harry cleared the lump in his throat and willed his unshed tears away. "Good evening Headmaster Snape. Thank you for your kind offers this evening. I hope Draco and I were of use to you. Let us know how it goes with 'Mione." Then the boy who continued to be a pain in his ass winked at him and strode out the door.