Disclaimer(s): are a waste of space? so witout further ado..

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'I'm sure I'm capable of handling Miss Granger.' Smirked Snape sounding bored.

Tonks glared at him,

'Well I'm not! How on earth do you intend to pass for her best friend?! I think it's a terrible idea; you'll be discovered in a moment and well… even if you're not it's deceitful and should be quite simply unthinkable! I don't believe I'm the only one arguing against this! Has anyone even stopped to consider Hermione as an actual human being with thoughts and feelings?'

She raged, then pursed her lips, folded her arms and glared in turn at Snape, Lupin, Kingsley and McGonagall who were all looking worn and small seated at the rich oak table one of the only furnishings in the dining room of headquarters.

Voices and tempers were beginning to rise. Each was being more stubborn than the last, sure that their proposal was the only one that should be followed.

'Tonks your over ruled on this one, I'm sorry, but I really cant think of a better opportunity for ensuring Severus' safety, and this way we can keep spirits up a little, another death isn't what people need right now.'

'Nobody ever needs a loved one to die Remus! But pretending is worse; it's disrespectful to Ron and I…'

She hung her head and her shoulders drooped as she let out a defeated sigh.

'I'm sorry my dear, I just can't think of a better way' whispered Remus, as he reached for he hand under the table.

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And so later that evening Snape stood head bent, shoulders hunched and hands resting on the kitchen worktop of his new home, at least for the time being, he glanced out of the window in front of him, the dark night sky acted as a mirror reflecting his face, blue eyes stared back at him and he raised his hand to his head, tussling his unfamiliar flaming hair. Then a movement behind him caught his eye in the glass, and as he listened he heard soft footfalls and casually reached for his wand. But before he had time to react two gentle arms wrapped around him from behind tickling his ribs as they passed; he jumped slightly in shock.

'Made you jump' a tender voice chuckled softly

'Miss Gr…' He began before remembering his position, and then the horrid realisation of his situation hit him. "Stay calm Severus you can do this saty calm" he thought over and over determinedly.

'You… You did nothing of the sort' he insisted, replying quite belatedly and somewhat sharply.

'Well if you're going to be touchy I shan't press the point, but you lie Mr Weasley'

Snape's whole body was tense his lips pursed and his glare aimed past his reflection out of the window.

Hermione watched his reflection and laughed aloud mistaking his posture for Weasley stubbornness.

'Fine, be like that' she smiled with mock attitude in her voice, she then rested her head on his back and lifted the hem of his jumper sliding her cold hands on to his flat stomach.

Severus' eye's widened in shock and a somewhat shrill note left his mouth as he span around quickly flinching away from the first human contact he had received for sometime. His reaction was intensified by, but not entirely due to her frozen hands; her touch on his bare skin had been more than enough to jolt his nervous system. And as he struggled to gain the composure he very rarely lost Hermione simply laughed, blew him a kiss, then turned away headed upstairs for a shower she informed him a little too casually, over her shoulder. Then she was gone leaving Severus in a complete state of bewilderment, not entirely sure if he'd been invited to join her, or indeed of anything else. Either way he decided to ignore the invitation and call another order meeting as promptly as possible, in which he intended to argue alongside Tonks.

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So there you have it, owt to say? well you know what to do... if you're left speachless i'll interpret that as the ultimate gesture of praise.