Harry and Hermione were looking at their schedules, and noted they were to go to the Prince Class Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. They thought they would deal with it later, and went to their morning classes. At lunch, Harry stopped by Slytherin, seeing Chastity and Darla eating with the other first year Snakes. He walked up to the two, "Good afternoon, ladies. How are you two enjoying Hogwarts?"
Chastity rolled her eyes, while Darla blushed and giggled looking at Harry. Chas slapped Darla on the arm, "Stop that! It's just my brother!" Turning to Harry, she replied with a grin and a snooty voice, "It's passably tolerable, my good man. What about with you?"
Harry replied, with a confused look, "Well we will have to go to the Prince Class. I'm not sure what—" Harry stopped talking and looked around, when sudden whispers broke out up and down the table.
Darla with a surprised look on her face, blurted out, "That's Master Snape's apprenticeship! I didn't know he took second years! My brother's in there!"
Harry looked confused. He shrugged and replied "Oh, well. Thanks for the heads up, we better eat quickly so as to not be late. Bye, you two!" Harry with Hermione went to their table to eat quickly.
After lunch they wondered what they should do. They had no idea where the class was. While they were still figuring out what they were going to do, the Weasley Twins after grabbing Cedric, came over, and stopped in front of them, grinning.
Forge joked, "So…we hear there are two second years joining us in the Prince class. Have you ever heard of such a thing, Gred?"
Gred replied with an over-the-top look of confusion, "Why Forge, I never have. But when you realize one of them is the Black Swallow and the Other is the smartest witch of her generation-"
Hermione interrupted, "Smartest witch?"
Greg with an even bigger grin replied, "Why yes. Didn't you know you were named the smartest witch of your generation? It was in the article. You know…the one where you bared everything…on the front page?" both replied together with a big grin bouncing their eyebrows up and down.
Cedric shook his head, "Leave off guys. Besides, if we are late, we will feel Snape's cane. Not the way I want to start off the year."
Fred with an indifferent shrug, replied "Well you are a prefect, so-"
And Cedric cut him off, "Exactly, which means he will just hit me twice as hard, twice as many times. Let's go." Waving the group into motion.
Hermione, followed Cedric's lead for a minute to get out of the great hall. She then asked, looking nervous, "I thought only your head could paddle you. You said Snape caned you…"
Cedric looked embarrassed, and started explaining as he led them to a classroom deep in the castle on the fourth floor, "This class isn't a class at all. It's a college, or a separate school within Hogwarts. Master Snape is head of the Snape College of Potioners. When you enter here you are not a Hufflepuff, you are a Snape Apprentice."
Leading then down a little used hall, he continued, "In order to join, he will become your master and you will join us as one of his apprentices. Ordinarily, he makes the offer to third years, or at least all the ones I know have been. You two are the first second years I have ever heard of. Master Snape is the youngest potions master in the history of Europe, and has trained seven masters already. No one who finishes his training has failed to achieve a potion's mastery since he started this eleven years ago. The current senior students are 5th year Apprentice, Steward Ackerley the seventh year Ravenclaw prefect, and 4th year apprentice, Elanor Brinstone a sixth year Ravenclaw prefect. He usually grabs two each year, but often one or both fail out in the first three years. Don't ask who has failed out, it is forbidden to discuss them in the school, or among ourselves. However, with the two of you he hasn't named a third year this year, so I guess it's just you two this time."
By this time Cedric had led them to a large iron door, which was down a little used hall way on the fourth floor. Cedric went to the door and placed his hand on the door opening it. He turned back to Harry and Hermione and said "Don't try to open this door until you have accepted your apprenticeship. You will be shocked on your bum. Come in."
Cedric opened the door to a hallway with a series of doors on both sides. Cedric walked into the hall and pointed out each door, alternating down the hallway. Each was a heavy wooden door with a bronze plaque on the front identifying the room therein. As he pointed them out, "The first door is our classroom, the second is the lab, the third is the library, the fourth is the advanced lab. Do not attempt to enter the advanced lab until you have earned the privilege. I'm hoping to gain mine, this year. Advanced apprentices only. The fifth is a ritual room, the sixth is the dueling room, and the seventh is Master Snape's private office and suite. Finally, the eighth is a break room for eating. Don't bring food into the other rooms…ever. Tuesday starts in the classroom; Friday starts in the lab. Now, get in the classroom, and go to the front tables. The newest students are always at the front."
Harry and Hermione entered the classroom and looked around. Inside was a class room with ten tables, with a stool behind each, in two rows of five, leading up to a desk in the front of the room. There were writing boards all across the front of the room. None of the tables had anything on them. They each sat on the stool behind each of the two front tables. Shortly after they entered, they saw two others, an older boy and girl wearing Ravenclaw robes with prefect badges, join them at the back of the room. Obviously, they were the older students. Directly at the top of the hour, Master Snape entered the room and walked to the front, his black robes billowing.
On reaching the front, Snape started walking back and forth between his desk and the two front student tables. He said, glancing at everyone, "All right everyone, we have two prospective apprentices here today. They were given all the assignments for second year at the beginning of the summer at Miss Granger's request. They both completed them appropriately and succinctly." Glancing at Hermione, who blushed and looked down, and then Harry. "And without any intolerable rambling. I usually wait until third year to make this offer, but considering that they are now third year potion students, I decided to give them the choice."
Continuing to walk back and forth across the front of the classroom, "This is a special college. I graduate the most successful potioners in England, and soon to be, all of Europe. I accomplish this by demanding the best. You give me the best, or you give me pain…your choice. Obviously, if you choose pain too many times…you're OUT! This is not a school for the faint-of-heart or dilettante. This place takes dedication and willful sacrifice."
Stopping and looking at Hermione, "As such, Miss Granger, we don't do paddling, and we don't do pants. Here, the lightest punishment is cane 5 bare. The most is…well more than anyone wants to experience. I intend to teach you to brew glory, bottle fame, even put a stopper in death…but I will not do so if you are not completely engaged, and guarantee not to waste…my time."
Snape then handed both Hermione and Harry a contract. "This is the apprentice contract I use for this class. You will note that unlike the standard contract, it will allow you to study other subjects and because of your ages, among other reasons, I do not use the standard Master/Apprentice bond. Most masters can just order their apprentices to do things, and they are forced by the bond. Since I do not have this, I use my cane to remind you what happens when you fail to carry out my orders successfully."
Looking again, at Hermione, "To convince me you are actually able to survive my class, this coming Friday, if you return with the signed contract, you will both be given cane 3, so you have an idea of my punishments. Do not return if you do not expect to be my apprentices…and feel my cane. Here is your next assignment. Have it completed properly on Friday and be prepared to brew the Whit Sharpening potion. Use the references named. Any failures will be addressed at the end of class…over and above the 3 example strikes you will experience at the beginning. I hope to see you Friday, but only if you are serious about becoming potioners. Get out."
Hermione was sheet white by the end of the speech. Harry just handed her up from her stool, and they both bowed/curtseyed to Master Snape who nodded in response. They left quickly and quietly.
Soon they were walking in the hallway, Hermione was wringing her hands and looking distressed, "Harry, what am I to do?" with tears in her eyes.
Harry tried to show his faith in her, and said calmly, "What do you want to do. I will support you whatever you choose."
Almost whining, Hermione continued, "So much knowledge! And I looked him up! He really is the best! Adeline Bexley was one of his students! She is the top potioner in Paris, maybe all of France, with dozens of groundbreaking discoveries to her name! I can't lose this opportunity."
Harry grabbed Hermione's arm stopping her. Looking Hermione in the eyes, he very seriously reminded her, "Anything worthwhile has a price. If you want it, then pay the price."
Very afraid, Hermione whispered "I don't know if I can."
Harry, then tried very hard to convince her, she could do this, "Master Snape is a cruel man, but not a completely unfair one. I believe he uses pain to harden his students, and test their fortitude. If you can't strip and take the cane, you aren't strong enough to survive his teaching methods, and you don't want it bad enough. Tell you what, let's talk to Ced and the twins and hear what they think. Ced's had two years and the twins one. They will tell us, if we really want to walk down this road."
Since they now had a free afternoon, they first looked over the contract. It stated they were Master Snape's apprentices, but only past the iron door. On the other side of that door, he had complete 'In Loco Parentis' rites any master would possess, including discipline, but no additional rites on this side of the door. It was actually an ingenious way to allow students to be apprentices, and again not, so they could do other things, learn other things. Harry was sending his contract to his mum with the stipulation he was willing to honor and abide it. Hermione wasn't yet convinced.
Changing the subject, they went and visited Professor Babbling about their Runes study, and Professor Vector about Arithmancy. They were given their assignments from both instructors and told they were allowed to visit during office hours for questions as long as it was brief. If they needed more, than the independent study was not likely to work. They were given the first month of assignments and told to return when they were done and a test would be given. If they passed with at least an E, the class would continue with an additional month, and so on.
They then went to professor Flitwick, and he took them to his classroom. He quickly tested them on all the second-year charms. Hermione was able to do each charm perfectly, and was advanced to third year. Harry was a different story.
When Flitwick ask Harry to cast a charm, he popped his wand and with minimal, precise wand motion, cast the charm in parsel. The charm was always a very powerful version of the spell requested. Flitwick, then started rattling off spells and Harry cast them. Flitwick started asking for spells very quickly in spell chains and was including all OWL spells. If was readily apparent Harry could case all OWL spells…in parsel. If was only when Flitwick started on NEWT spells that Harry pled weakness, being unable to appropriately power them.
Flitwick said with some indecision, "Well, that creates a problem. You already know your OWL spells, yet you cast them in PARSEL and are near point-casting level. I have never seen the like."
"Lord Black was irritated with me when I was moping about Hermione. He took me to his house and trained me from before sun-up to long after sun-down…every day. He expected perfection, and he made sure I provided it. He told me we had to wait until my second maturation before casting NEWT and beyond because of power requirements, but I was still required to learn them."
Flitwick obviously impressed, "I knew Lord Black when he was younger. I have never seen a more skilled Charms or Dueling Master. He taught you well." Then making a decision, "We will review your OWL spells this year and see if we can't get you to point casting and silent. You will take your OWLS this year, if you can get the written material down."
Harry just bowed, "It will be as you require, Dueling Master Flitwick. I also request a boon. I need to be tested nightly to push myself. I am hoping you and Master Snape can duel me at 9pm on alternating nights, so I can continue to improve. I haven't discussed this with Master Snape yet so would appreciate you doing it until he joins us…if willing. Don't worry about the damage, I heal by 10pm. Something left over from Dumbledore's tortures I expect."
Looking slightly disapproving, Flitwick answered with a frown, "I understand the origin of your disrespect, but if you say such things with witnesses, I will be required to respond to it."
Harry bowed his acceptance of that statement.
Flitwick with a goblin grin that foretold much pain, "I am intrigued at a wizard willing to undergo something akin to goblin training. I will see you tonight. We will see what you can endure."
Harry just smiled back at him.
That night Flitwick was impressed when Harry never gave up. He kept fighting until he was drained of magic and his body was broken, unable to get back up. Flitwick stayed and watched, not entirely believing that Harry would just 'reset'. Worst case scenario, he would take Harry to St. Mungoes. This was way beyond what Master Pomfrey could heal in a simple infirmary. She would need resources for some of these injuries.
Suddenly in the blink of an eye, Harry was fine. One moment he was broken, the next he was not. Harry took a deep breath, wiping the blood from his eyes. His right eye had been ruptured, and now wasn't. Harry sat up, turned, and looked at Flitwick.
"You stayed, verifying I am not delusional. It's appreciated. So many have never cared what happened to me." said Harry with such indifference, it gave Flitwick pause. To be that indifferent, meant he had lost all hope and expectation, must less need, for adult nurturing or support. This was not a child.
Flitwick came over pulled Harry to his feet and clasped forearms as one warrior to another. "I will see you tomorrow night." he promised.
"It's appreciated, Dueling Master Flitwick." Harry replied still holding the clasp.
The next day Harry with Hermione cornered Cedric about his apprenticeship. Hermione asked obviously still scared, and concerned, "How often did Master Snape cane you and how much?"
Cedric looked confused by the questions, "Why? It happens when I make a mistake, or he feels the need. The pain reminds me to not do it again…and I don't. Master Snape is teaching me to be a world class potioner. I have already learned so much. When I hear kids talk about their potion's classes, I realize they know nothing, and I'm talking about NEWT students. I'm taking my potion's NEWT this year…and it will be easy. I received an O+ on my OWL last year, and it was a waste of my time. I am more worried about learning for my mastery over the next three years. About 1 in 3 of his students past their mastery the first time! Do you know how rare that is! The rest have all passed in the second!"
Cedric looked at Hermione with great disappointment and disgust, he growled out "He could cane me because it pleased him, every week in the great hall. He could continue until I was a bloody mess, lying bare on the floor, and it would still be worth it! There is nothing to compare to his teaching. If you are afraid of flashing your pussy or feeling some pain, then maybe you don't get just how rare and special this opportunity really is. I will be disappointed if you are not there Friday afternoon. You better get your priorities right!" and Cedric stormed off.
Harry looked at Hermione, and said assertively "What he said." Hermione with tears falling from her eyes ran up to her room. Harry let her think the rest of the day, hoping she would reach the right choice. The one she was much less likely to regret, once made.
That evening, Hermine came to Harry who was working on his potion homework before a dueling session with Master Flitwick. "Harry, I need your help." Hermione asked, desperately.
Harry put down his quill, "Anything" he said, completely seriously.
Wringing her hands, she almost shook in fear, Hermione cried, "I can't get over my fear of being bare. I have been naked at the Tonks, I have even been paddled bare by Mum Tonks, but that was family and I trust them. When I went to the Mediterranean, the men were paying attention to more adult, more beautiful women and barely spared me a glance. Their attention wasn't centered on me. I will have to strip down in front of Master Snape and let him Cane me. I don't think I can do that."
Harry tried to calmly explain, "Hermione, that is your choice."
"What about you? Does it bother you?" Hermione challenged, not understanding his ambivalence.
Harry remembering bad times, replied with a wince, "Yes, it used to bother me. Truthfully, it still does, somewhat. No one wants to be vulnerable in front of people they don't inherently trust. I just don't let it stop me."
"How?" Hermione asked desperately.
Harry looked at her for a couple seconds, "Do you know how magic works?"
Hermione rattled off, "Power, imagery, and belief assisted by mnemonic triggers and devices like Runes and Wands."
"Yes, but do you understand it?" Harry pressed.
Hermione looked at him confused, not sure where he was going, and said nothing.
Harry asked further, "Hermione, do you remember Ohm's law?"
"Yes…" looking slightly confused, not knowing where Harry was going with this.
Harry them explained, "Magic essentially follows the principles of Ohm's law. Ohms or the magic effect you are trying to achieve is your goal, say lighting a fire. Your inherent magic is the power or Volts, and your belief, or in this case lack of belief is, the resistance. Things like your wand, the number of times successfully casting the spell in the past, the mnemonic trigger of incantation and wand movements, help decrease the resistance." Shifting a bit he continued, "This is the reason the professors start with such ridiculously easy spells. Our belief that we can't do it, because we never have, makes the resistance so high, the spell is almost impossible. In fact, for most students, it is. For regular students, the professor 'cheats' and does it for them a few times, so they start believing they can."
Hermione looks disbelievingly at Harry. Harry then continued saying, "No, it's true. Only sorcerers and magus have so much power they can overcome their complete lack of belief and do the spell themselves. The professors watch for this as they are the students who need to be watched very carefully. Didn't you ever wonder why accidental magic is so powerful? It's not because you have more power as a toddler or young child, but because when using your imagination or emotion at that age, you know you will succeed. You believe, and resistance falls to nothing." Harry replied with absolute faith.
Hermione, confused about this subject, "OK, that's a really brilliant explanation, Harry, but what does that have to do with my problem being bare?"
Patiently, Harry further explained, "Muggles understand the power of belief. Their athletes and fighters use mental control, belief, to ignore pain, and push themselves past limits of strength and exhaustion. This works, not as well as magic, but does work amazingly well, especially for those areas which are completely mental."
Harry sat Hermione down next to him, and continued with another example, "Did you know being ticklish is a personal choice? You do it because someone has invaded your personal space and is touching you in a way that shows you are vulnerable. It is a reason why you are more ticklish, the closer you get to your intimate or vulnerable areas." Harry said with slight embarrassment and blushed while Hermione blushed furiously. "Anyway, you can simply choose to tolerate the invasion of privacy and ignore it. Suddenly you are not ticklish."
Hermione denying this explanation could possibly be correct, replied "It can't be that easy!"
Harry continuing the lecture, "It is…and it isn't. It is, in that all you have to do is believe, it isn't in that believing means changing what you previously believed. I know because I'm not ticklish…at least until you start handling my genitals. So even for me, my belief hasn't fully matured…probably because I have no experience with another handling me down there." And glancing at Hermione, he blushed furiously causing her to blush when she realized what he was likely thinking.
"Now getting back to your problem being bare. You need to choose, not to care. Most of the fear comes from two areas. One, you fear that being seen with your sex on display will lead to unwanted sexual advances. You need to convince yourself the risk is negligible in the current situation. Remember, there have been no professor under-age student sexual encounters of any kind in hundreds of years. The wards stop any 3rd maturation from touching a 2nd maturation with intent, much less a 1st maturation. The reason there are two professors during such punishments is more to protect the professors reputations, than the student's virtue. It is so the student can't claim otherwise, forcing an unpleasant situation for all involved."
Hermione looked fearful, but nodded her head. Harry continued, "Two, you are a normal adolescent female. As such, you are pretty much guaranteed to believe that some part of you is ugly, malformed, or underdeveloped. Your hips are too big, your breasts are uneven and butt is too small…." Hermione started looking betrayed and horrified.
Harry looked shocked and waved his hands in denial, exclaimed, "NO! Those are the fears of every girl! I think you look wonderful!" and he grabbed her hands, whispering, "Absolutely beautiful, and I wish I could make you believe, just how much." Harry was looking in her eyes so intensely, that she did start to believe he meant it.
Harry, calmed down when Hermione calmed down, "Once you believe you will not be molested. Once you realize the professors have seen girls of every development stage and will not ridicule, or even note any lack of beauty or sexual maturity. You can learn to just ignore it."
Harry then paused, and started another example, "Do you even know why they do serious punishments bare, all the time?"
"To embarrass and humiliate us." She said with hostility and disgust.
Harry sighed, realizing he needed to explain this a different way, "Again yes and no, but even the yes, is not quite, for the reasons you suggest. You are correct in that being bare drops your defenses, and decreases your ability to maintain the mental fortitude to resist the pain. This allows the punisher to get the same response from you with less strong hits, ergo causing less physical damage. After all the goal is pain, not physical damage."
Hermione interrupted still adversarial, "Then why don't they just use pain spells? They cause extreme pain with little damage."
Harry frowned wondering where she heard such nonsense, "That's not true. The pain spells, of which CRUCIO is the strongest, cause inflammation to the nerves, and damage to the magical channels. This can cripple you magically, especially for the higher arts. Beating someone is actually much safer for a witch or wizard as it will not damage your magic. That's why those who punish with spells, use physical spells like sting hexes which actually mimic the effect of a bee sting, or other effects. There is even a spanking spell for those lazy individuals who don't actually teach their kids to present themselves for discipline."
Hermione sassed Harry, "So they use humiliation to break down our mental fortitude so it hurts more, what else!" with a challenge in her eyes.
Harry just looked at Hermione intently, and reminded her "We are now betrothed. Are you asking your future Lord to show you what else, miss?" with more than a touch of the DAD 'go get the strap' in his voice.
Realizing she pushed too far, and not wanting a paddling, Hermione said contritely, "I'm sorry, my Lord. I'm…just so scared."
Harry released his anger and hugged Hermione, "I know. I do understand, Hermione, as I spent much of my childhood in pain and terrified…until I chose not to be." He paused to make sure she has calmed down.
Once Hermione had calmed down, "To continue, the humiliation and sense of vulnerability is helpful...Why does a muggle doctor strip you bare to examine you?" Harry asked.
Hermione looked a little exasperated at Harry's continued need to switch topics, but played along, "It's standard policy. It allows them to see if there are any injuries or conditions which you did not mention….", and with a dawning sense of horror she stopped.
Harry nodded, "go on…"
Hermione exclaimed, "Are you saying they want us bare to watch for injury?" incredulous that there may be a benign reason to strip students for punishment.
Harry patiently replied, "Clothes cover everything. Your modesty, and your injuries. Is it so hard to imagine they need you bare to gauge the level of harm and moderate their punishment to minimize the chance of significant damage?"
Hermione still unwilling to give up the argument, countered, "What about Snape? He was leering at me as I was paddled!"
Harry nodded, acknowledging her point, "Professor Snape skirts a line. I have heard that he regularly 'allows' the 7th years who are 18 and 3rd maturation adults to seduce him. However, he has never shown any inclination of sexual desire to those under age, and has never run afoul of the wards. What you witnessed, was his enjoyment of your pain, not your sex. He is admittedly, a sadist, who enjoys pain and fear…at least in others."
Harry continued, "Fortunately for you, you are brilliant, and he enjoys teaching fellow brilliant academics, more than just punishing them. Don't forget he is more than willing to accomplish both…as he has warned you."
Harry then looked in her eyes, "Now do you see that your fear has little justification? And, if you don't want to be afraid, believe you are not!"
Hermione said quietly, "But It hurts…"
Harry said with some exasperation and more than a little irritation, "Life is pain! Embrace it, endure it, get used to it, and overcome it! Pay the price and move on. Don't let the pain of life interfere with the joy and happiness, life brings." Looking even deeper in her eyes, "The pain I endure, just makes the hugs you give me all the sweeter. I can only imagine how it will feel when we are ready to do more than hug."
Hermione looked at Harry, and saw such joy in his eyes when he looked at her, that it took her breath away. "I will try."
Harry shook his head no, "Do not try, DO…or DO NOT…there is no try."
Hermione snorted, and embarrassed at the sound, exclaimed "YODA?!"
Harry looking not at all apologetic, replied with aplomb, "Hey, the classics are classics for a reason...still true though."
Hermione nodded her acceptance and cuddled into him, admitting "You really are a fantastic teacher."
Harry said nothing, just taking pleasure from holding her.