Hermione Granger was the smartest witch of her age according to her teachers, well all except one, to the previously called Potions Master Severus Snape she was an insufferable Know it all that annoyed him. He detested every time she shot her hand up to say a perfect copy of the answer he sought word for word out of her text. Yes he was like that also when he was in Hogwarts however he was bullied relentlessly for it.

Once again Granger's hand had shot up to answer the question of what does non verbal spells mean. He had hoped that on their first lesson and such an easy question also would sprout new hands. No, it seems Granger was the only one who even bothered to open her book.

Stifling a deep sigh he muttered. "Granger, you are obviously the only one here that has the ability to open your book or use your head. Go on."

"Non verbal spells are just that. Non verbal. You say it in your mind instead of out loud. It gives the user a slight advance over their opponent since they can't hear in your thoughts" She said. She paraphraised that very well. What was even better was she didn't spit the text back out at him. 

He grunted his approval. "Its a simple saying the spell in your mind and willing it to work. Try levitating the flower you have in front of you. NONVERBAL." 

'I wonder why he gave us these pretty flowers instead of feathers'. He whipped around to find no one talking. It was a female voice and it sounded remarkably like Granger. 'Perhaps he likes this sort of flower. Come now Hermione he's not like that. Probably hates flowers. No, everyone likes at least one flower. Wingodiam Leviosa!' 

Walking over to stand a few feet behind her desk, he shook his head at Neville. His flower was unmoving and his face was turning red. He must be holding his breath trying to focus. Pitiful. "People, please try to breath once or twice this lesson. Just because you stop breathing wont make it work better. Longbottom let the color resurface your face before attempting again. I'd rather finish this lesson." 

Several gasps could be heard behind him. He glanced at Granger, her flower was levitating. She smiled at Snape and let it fall. Then, once more, levitated the flower. It fluttered twice before staying airborne. "Keep trying Granger, it fluttered. If you think you're brave, try your bookbag." 

"Any other teacher would give my house points, but very well." She said under her breath. Severus heard her and slowly walked to face her. He knelt down where he was inches from her face. "I'm not most teachers Granger, detention tonight, my office here. However, five points to Griffyndor, "he whispered.  

She huffed and sat her bag on the table, squashing the flower. In his mind he heard 'Wingodiam Leviosa!' Her books shot out of the bag and to the ceiling. Very well for her first try. He turned away from her grunting angrily. Typical hormonal teenager unable to keep her temper.

The class went fairly well. Longbottom's face didn't reach that color red any more. No one else's flower, or books, went airborne that lesson to which Severus wasn't at all surprised. As he dismissed the class a voice in his mind again popped in 'I wonder what Snape's beauty is? It obviously isn't gentleness or compassion however it has to be something.' He gawked at Hermione, the only one that lingered in the classroom. She took her time placing her books in her bag, then lifted it over her shoulder. Her purple red rose squashed flat from the amount of books she chose to carry. Why did she care what his "beauty" is? As far as he was concerned, his beauty died when Lily did. Perhaps before, when she stopped talking to him. Clearing his throat he called, "Seven sharp, one second late and you will serve detention tomorrow as well."

All Severus heard was a slight scream of anger and a door slam. Oh how he detested hormonal teenagers. Although why did he keep on hearing her thoughts. Yes, he was a very skilled Occlemence and Legillimence user, however he wasn't trying to read minds. Maybe his personal library would have something. He quickly went up to his office chambers and walked to his bookshelf in long strides.

Potions for Everyday Use, no. Dark Arts and the Defenses, no. Rare Magical Plants and Uses, no. Mind Tricks for Muggles, possibly. Reading Minds for Masters, yes.

He grabbed the book and flipped through it. 'Ligilimense masters are sometimes able to hear thoughts of passing people without their knowing if both parties mind waves are one. Clear and content. However the master would still have to be looking to listen. He wasn't looking to listen though. New learners for the Legillimence skill who don't learn from proper masters sometimes open their minds up too much, drawing in the person they wish to shield their mind from. If that person is a master that is drawn into the mind the results can vary from simple mind reading to full visions. Bingo.

Granger was trying to self teach legitimacy and occlemncy. Why would she do that? He tried teaching Potter last year however it was a giant failure. Perhaps to prove that with concentration he could have mastered it. The loud noises of his next class broke him of his thoughts. Setting the book down he put on his beat scoul and boomed out of his office.

Sighing, Severus sat heavily down in his chair. Kids were a nuisance. 'Should I knock now or wait ten minutes? He said seven sharp however never said if I was early what he would do.' He groaned, forgetting about the detention.  He'd let her decide what to do, and simply sat back and listened to her inner monolog be slightly fearful and slightly brave.

A minute later she knocked. "Enter," he said loudly from his chair. She came in with her bag and stood in front of him. Her curls bounced happily as she walked. She was a very nice looking young lady, and if she was just a little older, he would possibly try to ask her out. Her intelligence only rivaled his own, which was something he secretly admired about her. Yet her incessant need to get his approval was irksome.

"Professor, I wanted to say how sorry I am for my tongue in class earlier. I --" He raised his hand to cut her off.

"I don't want an apology, Granger. I'd rather like some answers." He motioned for her to sit in the chair facing him. She nodded as she sat, waiting. "Do you know what Legillmancy is?"

She nodded. "Reading one's mind and occlemncy which is protecting one's mind from the reader."

"Yes, and pray tell, are you trying to teach yourself these skills because Potter was attempted to be taught last year?" Her face went red. "I'll take that as a yes. Miss Granger do you know how difficult it is to teach yourself it not to mention the danger of releasing your mind with the Dark Lord out there targeting Muggle borns.?"

She hung her head for a moment then frowned. 'How did he know?'

He heard it again. Her voice. It was starting to become both annoying and soothing. She didn't voice her thoughts though. "Why are you trying to teach yourself?"

She was quiet for a while, testing his patience. "Because I wanted to." He raised an eyebrow. Because she wanted to. Okay.

Severus didn't respond to that. He nodded and motioned towards her bag. "Start on your homework. No lines tonight, don't test me again Granger." She looked mildly surprised but did as he wished. It didn't seem much like a punishment to her. It was very pleasant, him reading his book since it was the first day of classes, and her scratching of her quill. She found it very soothing and almost wished it to be the normal.

She kept smiling to herself all evening. Severus found himself glancing at her over his book several times. She never got much detention with him, usually he just deducted points, however she compared him to her other teachers. He hated that. It was an odd detention, sort of like a pleasantly quiet visit from a stranger.

'This isn't so bad. Snape is quite pleasant to be around if no one is talking, or annoying him. I'm certainly getting my work done faster in here than anywhere else. Even the library.' Her voice again. She was content amd relaxed, same as him. Their brain waves were on the same tempo. Maybe the only reason he could hear her but she couldn't hear him was his years of shielding his mind.

He opened his mind slightly, letting her hear a single sentence. 'Maybe I should teach her Ligilimency and occlemncy.' He watched as her head shot up and looked around. Her eyed settled on him.

"Was that you?" She asked in a shocked voice.

He rolled his eyes, "What are you talking about Granger? I was enjoying a peaceful evening."

"That voice. I heard it." She trailed off as she saw Snape's angry scoul. 'Head down you fool. He won't let you come back to do your homework if you make a comotion.'

That shocked him. She wanted to come back. Perhaps they could work something out. "Granger I have a proposal for you. You can come back to my office to do work on Saturday's only if you will work with me to teach you legitimacy and occlemncy. And no Potter and Wesley's can't know. No one can."

She nodded violently. "Won't tell a soul, Professor."

He nodded, "Very well, go on. Saturday evenings will be our time for your lessons. I trust you will make something up if people get suspicious. Now go."

Hi, a new book while the old one is finishing. Do you like it?