The Potions Master's Apprentice {Severus Snape x OC}

Chapter One: Meeting the Mentor

The metronomic beat of the old grandfather clock echoed throughout the room, marking yet another minute in silence for the two Professors. The older of the two, calmly sipped his mug of breakfast tea, stroking the white hairs that covered his chin each time the clock chimed, announcing yet another minute passing.
For the second man, however, the much younger of the two, the ticking of the clock was much faster as he listened for each passing second he spent wasting away in the old mans office. He sat stoically, no sign of expression shown in his features. The agitating countdown reverberated through his body, screaming for him to walk right out the door, each agonising second, making his heart beat that bit faster. Finally the nonchalant attitude of his employer broke his controlled facade, showing the true emotion that the old wizard knew bubbled underneath.

"Albus." He breathed, shifting positions uncomfortably in his chair. "Almost twenty minutes we have been sat here waiting on this so called Professor, and yet here we still sit. I suggest we reschedule for a time that is obviously more convenient for them. I will not sit here, wasting my day on account for someone else's carelessness, when I could be preparing for the upcoming school year."

The Headmaster slowly lowered his mug onto the old oak desk that sat between the two men, clasping his hands in front of him, leaning forward to sit in a more professional manner than he had been before.
"They will be here soon enough, Severus." He spoke softly. "Don't you remember the struggle to navigate the castle on your first week here."

Grunting silently the Potions Master sunk back in his chair, showing his obedience to the man who sat before him, thinking back to his much younger self. More than once the boy had been found in a state of panic and confusion having been separated from the group of young Slytherins on their way to class.

Meanwhile on the other side of the castle a similar feeling of panic was growing on the young witches face as she tackled the moving stair cases for the third time in a row, hoping to end up where she needed to be. Before today she had been more than confident in finding her bearings and had told the Headmaster not to bother calling at her quarters to lead the way. It seemed the castle had decided to play tricks on the day she most needed to be punctual. Her once crisply ironed blouse was now sneaking its way out of her body hugging skirt, that had also begun to ride up her thighs. Her cloak had been removed after her second try at the stairs as a she begun to break a sweat.

The clock continued ticking as the woman paced through the corridors, the click of her heels almost matching the pace of the clock.
The clock struck 11:30. It had been a full half an hour after she had expected to arrive but the end was in sight. The large Griffin shaped entrance stood before her, a beacon of hope at the end of her seemingly never lasting journey through the ancient halls of the school.
Aria made her way up the staircase of the Headmaster's tower, hurriedly trying to regain composure. Running her hand through the rats tails she had once called hair, she had entered the now familiar office.
Upon entry the two men stood up, the more anxious of the two spinning on his heel to face her. Not completely paying attention the young Professor inspected herself, looking towards her swollen feet encased in a stiletto heel, as she forced the blouse back into her skirt, throwing on her cloak as she stepped forward to greet her new colleagues.

Severus Snape has been completely taken aback by the entrance of the young woman. Dumbledore had given him virtually no information regarding his new coworker. He hadn't given her much thought either, in all honestly, he didn't plan on spending more than meal times around her and was therefore confounded when the Headmaster had arranged this private meeting. It occurred to him now that Albus had even failed to mention a gender of the new Professor. Even if he had Severus would have immediately assumed her to be an ancient old witch if not a highly strung middle aged matron but She would never had crossed his mind. An attractive young woman in her early twenties was not the usual profile for the members of staff here at Hogwarts.
Despite the small moment of bewilderment, Severus Snape's opinion of the young witch was already tainted due to her lack of preparation and punctuality, and seeing her bedraggled entrance, his judgement on her was confirmed.