A/N: This is my first fan fic in along time, so lets hope it all goes well. I know I don't own any of these characters and I'll try my hardest to keep it to character. However, I am changing a lot. SORRY. Dumbledore is alive, just because he's going to have a big part in the story. Hermione is 17. And if I do anything wrong, please tell me so I can fix it!!! lol. PLEASE RATE!
The Safe House
Hermione Granger felt a sudden rush of air enter her lungs. She could breathe again. The sudden race of air made her drop to her knees. Once she gained enough oxygen in her system to see clearly, she stood up and observed her surroundings. There were trees everywhere and nothing could be heard. It was peaceful, and quiet. Hermione never experienced such tranquility, besides a library.
"Where are we?" she finally spoke.
"A few miles away from Newquay." Severus Snape answered, "Our safe house is just a mile away from this location. I suggest we start walking."
Severus began to walk, and shortly after Hermione began to follow.
Hermione's mind was racing. She couldn't believe what was happening. Only a matter of hours ago, she was sitting at number 12 Grimmauld Place filling out an application for a place at the Witchery University in London, and now here she was, walking through a forest in a place she barely knows following Severus Snape!
"What the hell was I thinking?" she thought to herself.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Earlier that day...
Hermione sat at a desk looking out her window with a sigh. It was a beautiful day today, and Hermione was sitting indoors, with tons of papers laying in front of her. Although Hermione never minded paperwork, something about today was really making her procrastinate. Summertime tended to do that to most people, even Hermione Granger.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang and at her door. Hermione turned around with a shock and saw Remus Lupin standing before her, short of breath.
"Ever heard of knocking?!" she exclaimed. She didn't mean the attitude, but she was already in a bad mood.
"Hermione, come down now!" Lupin yelled, "We're having an emergency meeting, its important, please-"
Hermione dropped her things and followed Lupin down the stairs. Everyone was rushing into the kitchen. Hermione heard people discussing what this meeting was all about, but it seemed to be that nobody had the slightest clue.
Hermione finally found a place to sit between Dumbledore and Ginny at one end of the long table. Ginny was busy talking to Tonks about different hairstyles Ginny should try and how she could get rid of her freckles. Hermione looked over at Dumbledore, nothing seemed different about him, he didn't even seem the least bit nervous like everyone else in the room was. That's one thing Hermione, as well as everyone else, liked about Dumbledore, he could stay calm in any situation.
Hermione suddenly saw Dumbledore rise from his chair and rose his hands for everyone to settle down. Everyone shut their mouths, you could hear a feather fall.
"Thank you members of The Order for attending this emergency meeting, I'm deeply sorry if it has interrupted any of your plans on this beautiful day."
Everyone was waiting eagerly, Dumbledore continued, "It has come to my attention, that Death Eaters have discovered our secret location of Grimmauld Place, and are to arrive shortly."
The once quiet kitchen suddenly turned to chaos. Everyone was yelling at one another in disbelief and fear. Hermione looked across the table with an eyebrow raised as she noticed Mrs. Weasley started to randomly grab pots and pans from the wall and yelling at everyone to, "grab what they can".
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore roared. Everyone froze in their place and listened to the beared man. "Only Dumbledore can silence a whole room in pandemonium." Hermione thought.
"Thank you," he said, "Now please do not lose your heads. We all just need to evacuate Grimmauld Place within the next few hours, and I can assure you we are all going to be fine."
"And where exactly are we suppose to go?" asked Ron angrily, "We can't just go home, they'll find us immediately. This is our only safe place-"
"On the contrary, Mr. Weasley," Dubledore interrupted with a twinkle in his eye, "I, along with other members of The Order, have arranged four other safe houses in case of such an event happening."
"How do we know which house to go to, sir?" Ginny asked.
"Well, you see," Dubledore said, "As you all know, Voldemort and his Death Eaters are all after Harry Potter and even his closest friends, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Ginny Weasley. Because of this, I have decided to separate each of you to a safe house and have one member from The Order to watch over you."
"What? Why do you need to separate us?" Harry spoke up.
"For safety reasons, Harry. It would be much easier for only one member of The Order to watch one of you, then have all of The Order watch all of you. That and if you are all seperated, and one of the Death Eaters just happens to find you, the others are at least safe and we can find you quickly."
"What about the rest of The Order?" Ron asked, "Where would you all be?"
"Don't worry about us, Ronald," Dumbledore assured, "We will be in Hogwarts."
"Well then why can't we all just go there?" Ron argued, "You said it yourself, Hogwarts is one of the safest places we could be."
"Indeed it is, but it would be a very obvious hiding spot, don't you agree, Ronald?"
Ron opened his mouth to say something, then shut it again. Dumbledore got him.
"I know you all want to spend your summer together, but your safety is all at stake, and I'm not willing to risk that for you all."
"Who will be our chaperons?" Hermione finally asked.
"That," Dumbledore said breathlessly, "is exactly why we are having this meeting. We need volunteers on who will be taking care of you. I will be taking Harry myself, but I will also need someone else to watch him while I'm away at Hogwarts."
"I'll do it, sir." Lupin spoke.
"Thank you, Remus."
Suddenly, Tonks rose from her seat, "I'll take Ginny." That was no surprise, those two were tighter than Gillyweed Glue. They began to giggle like little school girls.
"Okay then," Dumbledore said, "Anyone else?"
"I will watch over Mr. Weasley," Kingsley said.
"Thank you, Kingsley," Dumbledore said, "Now that just leaves our Ms. Granger."
The room fell silent. For a moment it seemed like nobody wanted to take her. She began to frown.
Then suddenly, a dark, sleek voice arose, "I will take Ms. Granger."
Everyone's heads turned to the other end of the table, there sitting was Severus Snape. Everyone's eyes widened. Hermione blushed. She looked at Snape, but he never looked over at her.
"Please don't do this to me, Severus"
"Are you mad?" Mrs. Weasley spoke, "An older man with a younger lady?! Thats completely inappropriate!"
"I agree," said Tonks, "Surely there's someone else that can do the job."
"Dumbledore, please!" Mrs. Weasley spoke, "You can't just let this happen."
"As it seems to be the case, ladies," Dumbledore said, "I have no control over this."
"And why ever not?!"
"Hermione is of age. She is legally allowed to choose whether or not she would like to stay with Professor Snape or not."
Everyone had their eyes on Hermione now. Hermione was never used to being the center of attention. She could feel her heart begin to race. She didn't want to make this kind of decision, not now.
"Hermione," Dumbledore started, "Its up to you."
She looked at Snape from across the table. This time, he was already looking at her. He looked as unpleasant as ever. But as she looked into his dark eyes, she could see something more. Something she only saw once, over a year ago. Something she will never forget...
Suddenly, Snape spoke and took Hermione out of her trance, "I can assure you, Ms. Granger. I will not harm you in any form what so ever. I can promise you that."
The kitchen was silent again. Hermione was staring at her feet, thinking. Then she finally looked up at Dumbledore, and nodded.
"WHAT?!" half the room shouted. Everyone started yelling at either Hermione, Dumbledore, or Snape at what a stupid idea this was.
"She has decided," Dumbledore said calmly, "That is that."
The room decided not to argue anymore.
"Now," he continued, "We need to hurry and pack and get out of here. The Death Eaters can come here at anytime and we all need to make sure we are all out and safe within the next hour."
Everyone quickly rose from the table and ran upstairs to pack. Hermione went to her room with Ginny and began to pack with her. All was silent, until Ginny decided to break the ice.
"Why would you say yes to that slimy git?" she asked disgusted.
Hermione didn't want to deal with this, not now, "Ginny, I didn't want to sit there and have people try to decided me a chaperone. For bloody sake, Death Eaters are on their way over here as we speck, and you want me to keep you all sitting there deciding who's going to take care of me?!"
Ginny looked at Hermione with a sad look, she didn't think about it that way, "I'm sorry, Hermione. Forgive me?"
"For thinking I would actually want to stay with an ugly man like Snape," Hermione said, "Maybe." They shared a laugh and continued to pack.
Hermione didn't like to lie, however, this was necessary.
An hour goes by, and Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Ginny are walking down the stairs with luggage. They all stand around the bottom of the staircase exchanging hugs and, when it came to Harry and Ginny, kisses. Hermione couldn't help but feel horrible about leaving her friends. This will be her first summer in a long time she will have to spend her summer without them.
She slowly walked over to the livingroom where Snape was standing, observing an old Black's painting. Hermione coughed to get his attention. He turned to look at her, "You have everything you need?"
"I think so." Hermione said.
"Good," He said approaching her, "There's not too much at the safe house we're leaving to."
"How are we getting there?" she asked.
"Apparition" he answered bluntly, "I'm sure you've heard of it, haven't you?"
"Yes," she said.
"Very well," he said, "Shrink your luggage."
She put her luggage on the floor and took out her wand and shrunk them just enough for them to fit in her jean pocket.
"Good, now come over here." he ordered.
She didn't move.
"Please Ms. Granger, I don't bite." he said sternly.
She finally moved closer to him, he grabbed her hand and moved her close enough so he could hold her against his chest. She stood there, startled for a moment. She could hear his heartbeat, it was rather faster than it should be. Then an aroma reached her nose. He smelled like cinnamon.
"Ready?"he asked
She came back to, "Yes."
He then rose his wand in the air and before Hermione knew it, she was traveling to who knows where with infamous Severus Snape.
A/N: I know I know, I went really fast here. But that was kinda the point. And I know it is out of Snape's character to pick Hermione. But you'll soon understand that these too have a history, ;]. Anyways...RATE&REVIEW!
