Hermione watched as Severus Snapes's robes billowed around his shapely legs, before seating himself rigidly into a chair. It was nine o'clock pm, to be precise. On a Thursday night, at Grimauld place. The table that Hermione was sitting at, with said sneering potions master, was filled to the brim with parchments and quills. Stray maps and books were scattered about, surrounded by small hovering candles which gave off bright light. A fire was roaring in a stone hearth nearby, making the room warm and cozy.

Not only was the table packed full of objects, but its surrounding perimeter was also jam packed with people. Almost everyone in the Order had shown up at the request of Dumbledore. Minerva Mcgonagall was sitting stoically strait backed in her chair, glaring at her colleague Fillius Flitwick who was twirling his wand and making the candles change colors and emit glittering sparks as they levitated around the table. Snape got his shoulders covered in glitter when one candle became too enthusiastic. With a silent swish and flick of his wand, the candle stopped short in midair and gave way to the floor with a thud. Flitwick glanced up from his wand ministrations and gave Severus an apologetic look. Severus scowled. Minerva rolled her eyes and tried not to laugh.

Remus Lupin sat morosely in the corner, gazing absently at his hands.The only window in the room was beyond him, and the dark night sky framed his melancholy mood. He looked so sad and lost, sitting there in that hard backed wooden chair while snowflakes swirled outside behind him. Hermione caught his eye, and the two gazed at each other for a quick moment. Hermione was the first to blush and then look away. Remus gave her a thoughtful glance and then returned to gazing at his hands.

Nymphadora, who was sitting a few chairs across from Hermione, gave the two a cool stare. Hermione felt the color rise to her face, before she turned her honey colored eyes at the woman. There was a bit of a staring contest before Tonks backed off with a shrug. Inwardly Hermione sighed. These past few months, her and Remus had been working closely together researching the possible locations of Voldermort's hidden Horocruxes. It had been exhausting tedious work, with little hope of success. But Hermione found Remus Lupin a pleasant man to work with.To her delight, she found that his mind worked in a similar way to her own. He was also very kind and considerate, readily giving her praise for her insight and encouraging her when she felt that they were getting nowhere.

Remus was the warmhearted man Hermione knew as a teacher, and she began to treasure their hours together. But this was strictly on a friend bases. Hermione was well aware of the attachment that Tonks had for Remus, and she respected it, even if it seemed a bit one sided. Hermione was no man stealer and would have despised herself knowing that she was the other woman.

"It's time the meeting came to order" Harry called out from his seat, " I believe that everyone is here." Several heads nodded in agreement.

"Dumbledore will not be here tonight. He is called away on other business" Harry explained to the table.

"What business is that?"called out Tonks. Her hair changed colors impatiently. The warm room was stifling to her and the looks that Granger gave Remus annoyed her to no end. She just wanted to be away from this place where she could gather Remus to herself and maybe they could spend some time together...grow closer.She could coax him to eat and bathe. They could talk of pleasant things, not the war. "Its time I got him away from the books" she mused to herself.

"Its his business. You know Dumbledore" Harry shrugged. Tonks tugged on her hair impatiently.

"Fine then lets get on with the meeting, shall we?" Hermione said cheerfully, aware of the tension that was building up. The back of her head was beginning to tingle, a sure sign of a migraine to follow. She rubbed the back of her head wistfully, thinking of the headache potion that lay upstairs in her things. She tended to get migraines a lot these days. With the stress of the war and the pressure of the constant research, everything was getting to her. Normally, Hermione had a lot of emotional restraint, but the stress was wearing her down, and the looks of deadly intent that Tonks kept shooting her way were getting on her last nerve. It wasn't only tonight that Tonks had seemed especially malicious, it was all the weeks following up to this meeting. Ever since she and Remus had increased the hours that they worked together researching the Horocruxes, Tonks had become extremely hostile. She spoke scathingly of Hermione to others when her back was turned. She feigned clumsiness and sent Hermione's books and notes sprawling. Throwing herself into Remus's confused arms, she innocently asked Hermione to forgive her clumsiness. Hermione had looked at her with a bewildered expression and nodded, and then, acting like nothing was wrong, she went to pick up the messes, completely missing Tonks underlying message.

Remus had come to her afterwards with apologies for Tonkse's behavior, but she shrugged him, saying it was fine. She understood. Stress...the war. Everything falling to complete shambles. Complete and utter shambles.

"Severus" Hermione's mind whispered. Hermione shook her head violently.

"Got a tick, Hermione?" Tonks asked sweetly. Everyone at the table was looking at her as the conversation came to a halt. For the life of her, Hermione couldn't say what they were suppose to be dsicussing.Probably something about the dammed war.

"Hmmm...uh yes. I mean no... I don't have a tick. What a silly question!" Hermione tried to laugh it off. Harry and Ron gave her concerned looks. Remus leaned forward in his chair and was giving her a concerned look as well. Severus snorted and looked impassive as always.

"Granger is fine. Can we please get on with it?" Severus drawled, tapping his long slender fingers on the table. Hermione straightened up in her chair and told her mind to shut up and listen. For the sake of the Gods and her sanity.

"As I was saying...according to the research, we may have found one of the Horocruxes. Its hidden in a cave, much like the one where Dumbledore and I found the fake locket of Slytherin. The wards protecting this place are very powerful, set by Voldermort himself. The magic is believed to be very personal and identity locked. It seems that Voldermort entrusted that this particular Horocrux would remain untouched for all time. He never wanted it disturbed. " Harry looked around the table as he let this last part sink in. "I am going on another separate mission and we need people, two preferably to see if there is indeed a Horocrux and retrieve it so that it may be destroyed. If it weren't for my mission I would be tempted to go, but even Dumbledore is not sure that being what the magic is...how it would respond to me."

"How dangerous is this mission?" Minerva asked.

"Extremely dangerous. Therefore I am giving you all till tomorrow to decide if you are willing to go.Its probably best though if two Aurors went. You may be up to defending yourself against dark creatures who may be guarding the cave. That leaves us Ron, myself, Shaklebolt, Moody, Tonks and Hermione of course. This is a fiercely dangerous mission and I recommend only those with DADA training attempt this."

"Constant vigilance!" Mad-eye Moody croaked knowingly. Harry nodded grimly.

"Exactly."

Hermione cradled her head in her hands. The migraine was building momentum. Soon the nausea and room spinning would begin. She grimaced. Severus watched her with narrowed eyes.

"I think this meeting is finished Potter" Severus sneered, "Unless you have more enlightening news you wish to share. No? Then gives us the pleasure of thinking over your well thought suggestions and leave it for tomorrow." Harry glared at Snape.

"Right everyone. Tomorrow we will decide who is going to go. I can't stress enough how dangerous this mission is." Harry looked around the room one last time before wearily adjourning the meeting. Soon there were sounds of wood scarping the floor as chairs were pushed back and people exited the room. Tonks trotted over to where Remus still sat. She kissed him on the cheek and asked him some questions in a low voice. Remus shook his head wearily and Tonks looked disappointed and as she walked away from him and out the door. She gave him one last lingering look and then left, slamming the door hard on her way out.

Hermione gave a start and a small groan and she uncradled her hands from her forehead.

"All right, Hermione?" Remus asked kindly.

"Fine" Hermione managed in a hollow voice. The pain was beginning to get to her. "I think I will turn in. Good night Remus" she said as she got up unsteadily from her chair and began to blindly walk upstairs to her room. The pain in her head was affecting her vision and Hermione saw flashes of orange light swirl before her. She could barely make out any shapes in front her, but Hermione knew the house like the back of her hand and was assured in her ability to reach her room in a blind state. Just as she was about to head up the stair case, a hand shot out of nowhere and pulled her.

"We need to talk" Severus hissed.

"Can't this wait, Severus?" Hermione asked tiredly. Severus didn't answer her as he dragged a blind Hermione to the kitchen. With a deft flick of his wand he warded the door and placed a silencing ward on the room.

"Your impudence never ceases to surprise me Miss Granger" he snarled into her face. Hermione inwardly sighed and resisted the urge to knock his lights out the good old fashioned muggle way. "Hardly do we separate then you endear yourself to that mangy animal! I see the sincerity in the affection that you claimed you held only for me. I see now that my initial estimation of you was right. You are just a sniveling school girl."

"I am not a sniveling school girl" Hermione told him in a calm even tone. Severus looked at her and then there was a long pause.

"I see. Is that the best you can do or say? Really Miss Granger, I expected better" Severus sneered, lowering himself into a chair.

"I have a headache" Hermione told him. "And this is not the time. You had your chance Severus. I presented you with the golden opportunity to have your say. Its been months now, you do realize that?

"Tell me that you don't miss me! Go on say it Granger, tell me that you don't want to be with me!" Severus's pale color grew paler with emotion.

"I would be lying if I said I didn't want to be with you. But we both know thats impossible. You were the one that pushed me away first Severus. You said it was too dangerous.. You said I was a burden."

"I never said that!" Severus hissed. "But don't you see if the Dark Lord knew, or even knows now of you and the role that you play in my life..."

"We are all in danger Severus. Do not forget that I am Harry Potter's best friend and thus a prime target for Death Eater attacks. Do you think our little romantic interlude would tip the scales all that much?"

"Of course it would you silly twit!" Severus said with a grimace.

"Then whey are you here?" Hermione asked wearily, a tear catching in her eye, "Why do you torment me Severus?"

"You know that I would never willingly cause you pain Hermione" Severus pleaded, jumping up from his chair and rushing to comfort Hermione.

"I can't do this" Hermione whispered as Severus cradled her against him. "You can't toy with me anymore Severus. Its not fair for both of us..."

"I understand" Severus said, stroking one of Hermione's honey colored locks.

"Then..." for a moment Hermione's pain lifted and she felt a surge of joy go through her heart, "You will stay and we can be together?"

"No"

Hermione jumped away from him. "What?" she gasped.