A/n: I own nothing but the plot, but be warned i will not restate it in each chapter, not out of disrespect, but because i always forget! plot is mine obv but i do hope you enjoy this story. Please point out any wrong's in a polite manner and leave reviews. If you don't like it then please don't read it. I am trying to self teach myself proper everything and i do appreciate the help! Thanks for giving this story a chance and i hope i don't disappoint!

Prologue

"Miss. Granger, May I have a moment of your time?" Hermione looked to the voice behind her, curiosity getting the best of her. She watched the Headmaster's expression, wondering what he could need minutes before her final NEWTS exam was to begin. "Follow me." With a nod she stood.

"Certainly sir." Hermione followed the tall elder man away from Harry and Ron, who sat beside her outside the Great Hall.

Hermione caught their gazes, mistaking their looks of curiosity, for ones of concern. Instantly she grew worried as to what she was needed for. Knots gripped her stomach as she worried her hands, leaving nothing to the imagination as she felt that something bad was going to happen. Scenarios muddled her mind, causing her to lose focus of her surroundings as she walked straight into the Headmaster.

"Pardon me, Headmaster. I was not minding my steps." Hermione back peddled, looking up into the old man's twinkling eyes.

"Fear not, Miss. Granger. No harm has been done! Why are you so worried, my dear?" His voice soft with merit, Hermione felt the air rush out of her as she contemplated the best way to voice her concerns.

"Headmaster, I fear that I have done something wrong, yet, I do not know what. My NEWT'S cannot possibly be graded yet, for I still have one exam left to do, so in that I know I couldn't have possibly failed, yet. I know of no rules I have broken this year, for the Dark Lord has been vanquished forever. Sir, I fear that you have something terrible to tell me, yet, your eyes and manner tell of a different story. I am sorry to be so frank, sir, but you must know that things of this nature worry me when it comes to my schooling. Is this about my schooling?"

Albus had turned away from the young woman, muttering the password to his gargoyle before motioning her to follow him up the stone steps. He listened to her fret about nothing at all, allowing her to continue on inside as he held the door open for her.

"My dear, you have nothing to fear. I merely summoned you not for myself, but because someone higher up has demanded your presence with the utmost secrecy possible. I simply beg that you consider what he has to say before making a decision."

Hermione stared in confusion. "Higher up? I do not understand, what is the nature of this meeting, Headmaster?"

"All in due time my dear, all in due time. Please have a seat, he will be arriving shortly. May I summon you some tea, or any other refreshments?" Albus had stepped to the side of his office where a tea cart sat. He went to pick up a tea cup and the kettle when he saw that she had shook her head with polite decline.

"No thank you, sir. I dare not drink for it may upset my nerves further."

"Have no fear my dear, Ah! Here he is now. Augusta, my boy, how wonderful it is to see you. Do come in, I have collected Miss. Granger at your request." Albus nodded towards the chair Hermione occupied.

Hermione was startled momentarily when green flames roared to life from the grand fireplace on the other side of the office. As soon as they appeared, the flames disappeared depositing a figure. She took in every detail of the tall man as he began to dust the soot off his person. His hair was dark housing a streak of white old age on the sides by his ears. His face not yet wrinkled but held the taunt of them to come, his nose held quite the character of its own and she could see grey orbs centered within his eye sockets. His clothes were a rich chocolate with green and red earthly tones. His boots were the dragon hid steel toe kind, the ones she had seen Professor Snape strutting about in for years and her curiosity piped at that last bit. 'Maybe it is an offer for a potions job…" she wondered.

Hermione stood, extending her hand out in a respectful greeting. The man's grey eyes zeroed in on the motion, he too, began to inventory the famed Granger and wondered if this was really a good idea. 'She's too famous; the agency must have made a grave mistake! The wizarding world knows who she is, then again she is muggle born and will not be foreign to changing her appearance the muggle way.' Augusta shook her outstretched hand and then gestured for her and the Headmaster to be seated. He let his keen eyes analyze her person, taking note of her polite manners and obviously well upbringings. He took note of her unruly curls and the way that they held different natural shades of browns, gold and red hues. She was average height of 5'6" and a semi-slender figure, nothing a year of training couldn't fix up. Her skin was olive tone and her eyes were what really drew the man in. they were liquid brown that glittered with unbelievable knowledge and secrets. He wondered at her secrets and cast a hushed 'Legilimens' only to be met by a brick wall.

"How interesting…" He mumbled aloud to no one in particular. He knew both pairs of eyes were trained on him and simply disregarded their questioning gazes. Clearing his throat, determined to start the meeting, Augusta began.

Hermione narrowed her eyes, feeling the mental jab that came from the mans way and she was only more on high alert from the rude, but failed intrusion.

"Miss. Granger, it is an honor to finally meet you. I am sorry to take you away, but I promise I shan't take up to much of your time. I am Augusta Lexington Fowler from the National Gallery, being muggle born I am sure you know it? Tell me Miss. Granger, have you ever heard of the muggle MI-5 and CIA from the content?"

"Y-y-yes, but what does the National Gallery have to do with the spy business?" She looked on with knitted brows.

"Well, Miss. Granger, how would you like to know that the National Gallery is simply a ruse and is a cover for our main operation. See we magic folk have the same branch of security and law enforcement. Though our goal is the same as the Aurors, we are a different branch and we simply do not cater to them at all. We, for lack of a better phrase, do our own things."

"So you are a branch of spies?" Hermione was still unsure on why this information was being passed onto her. "Mr. Fowler, how does this information pertain to me? I mean that's great, for the greater good and all, but the war is over Mr. Fowler. We have nothing to fear any longer."

"Miss. Granger, the war is thankfully over but there are new threats every day. There are threats of decades past that still continue today. You are the brightest witch of the century and that is why we need your brains out there in the field." Augusta fixed her with a serious stare and he jumped slightly from his chair at the sound of her twinkling laugh.

Hermione couldn't help but wipe tears from the corner of her eyes as her body rippled with laughter. "Headmaster, I'm sorry, did Ron and Harry set you up to this? You really had me going for a second."

"Miss. Granger, I daresay this is not some practical joke that Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley have created. You are being offered a position as a spy with the most prestige branch of spies in the world that will even rival your Severus Snape from the Order. I am sorry, Headmaster, to abuse your loyal subject so, but you could be greater than him!"

"You expect me to believe that a magical co-operatives or spy or whatever you call yourselves, wants me to work around the whole world doing basically what Professor Snape has done during the war? To top that, you are also asking me, one of the universally know best friend of Harry James Potter, the boy-who-lived-twice, to be a part of this team? Pardon, but you must have gone off your rocker!"

"Miss. Granger, I admit that this is quite the shock for you, but you are absolutely the best candidate and I will explain to you why. You are a muggle-born witch who has had very in dept experience with the muggle world for the first 11 years of your life. You know the trades of their world and how to act but, you are also a very bright and skilled witch topping your class and every other student that has ever set foot into this school. You excel the greatest wizards and witches, Pardon Albus, that our world has ever laid witness to. I must say that if Voldemort and anyone else had cared to pay attention to you, they would have found your powers to be unique. I daresay they would have fought to win you over to their side, if they knew your potential. Though the prophecy stated that Potter had to be the one to vanquish the lord, you my dear, could have destroyed him at any chance you had. For being the famous friend of Harry Potter, it is inevitable for you would have gained fame through some other way without even realizing it. You are powerful and could glamour yourself in any way to hid your true identity, but we much prefer at the agency to do it the muggle way. It ensures a reliable way from anyone seeing past even the most complex of glamour's. Miss. Granger by taking this job, we offer a reliable cover story for your ever day life and access to anything and everything to make your everyday life comfortable. This is a dangerous job and there are no guaranties but you will have the best training before you ever set foot out onto the field. So what do you say Miss. Granger? Would you like to join our team?" Augusta's grey eyes were boring into her liquid brown ones and he felt as if he was being transported somewhere else. He could see the labyrinth of emotions and he tried to grasp on to anything that would hint towards an answer, but it seemed to be difficult. "I also would like to stress , you are perfect for this job, you past the first test."

"What was the first test?" she stood shock.

"I tried to enter your mind, Miss. Granger and it is like a steel wall. What say you then?"

"I shall think about it, Mr. Fowler. Please excuse me Headmaster; my final exam is in two minutes. Mr. Fowler, I am sorry and I would like to give you an answer right away, but ,sir, right now I cannot marvel at such an offer at this moment in time. Do you have a card?"

"Yes, Miss. Granger, I am sorry to have taken your focus away from the exam and I wish you the best of luck. Please, please I beg of you to really consider this offer because you are the best fit and we would like to add you to the team. I will await your response. Good day Albus, Miss. Granger." With that Augusta shook hands with the pair and fished out a muggle business card for Hermione to take before taking his leave. Hermione stared after him with bewilderment.

Speaking absentmindedly, "Did that just happen?" she was startled slightly when she heard the Headmaster speak.

"I know it to be your life to choose and I should not be one to talk, but you are destined for great things, my dear. No one holds a candle next to you, your talents and intelligence outweighs even mine and I think you should really consider his offer. It is dangerous and I would never wish for you to take upon yourself a dangerous career for I see you, like Harry, as one of my own. Child, you are bright and know what you wish out of life, but I will not deny that you will grow tired of this world and its mundaneness and you will always wish for something more. May you find your calling my dear, but I do believe it has found you." At those words, Hermione left the office, trekking down to her final exam. A hurricane of thoughts ripping her to shreds.

A few days had passed and Hermione fished out the business card. She knew what was expected for a spy, the dangers it held, but she was unsure of her choice and at a crossroads. So when Hermione was at a crossroads, she researched and dug up all the facts before deciding upon anything. She was going to pay a visit to Hogwarts very own retired ex-spy, Severus Snape.

No book would be able to tell her the true dangers one would endure. The life altering world she would soon enter into next. These were her reasons in seeking this predator out, she had questions and he would be the only one to answer them. That is, if he was willing to.

Moments later found her in the dungeons, hand raised ready to knock on the office door. The dark wood stood imposing like the master who sat behind it, the silver plaque hung at eye level reading 'Severus Snape' in black script. As the knuckle of her hand was ready to make contact, she drew back when the door flung open suddenly. She took note of the ugly sneer playing across his mouth as he stood in the doorway.

Severus took great pleasure in causing his vistor mild distress. The slight look of fear flashing across her face like an open book.

Hermione's pulse raced and her palms grew clammy as she stared into his knowing eyes. It reminded her of Dumbledore, minus the twinkling blue gaze, it was the type of look that could stare into ones very soul and unravel every well hidden secret.

"What do you want?" His voice was low and seemed to vibrate through her, gooseflesh erupted along Hermione's exposed arms. She couldn't seem to tare her gaze away and felt rooted to the spot.

"Answer me, now!" He seemed to growl.

She jumped lightly at the demand and sucked in a breath to fill her empty lungs.

"Sir, I have a few questions I wish to ask. That is, if I may?"

Severus stared down his nose at her, a clear disgusted look playing across his features as he looked on. He snorted with disdain at her simple request.

"When will you not have some questions?" He prickled. He watched as the girl suckled in another breath before finding the courage to utter, 'private matter' and his eyes narrowed.

"Then I strongly suggest you call for an audience with your Head of House." He watched again as she shook her head, taking note the way her hair slightly moved with the motion and the scrunching of her nose in answer.

"She would not be able to help me with this matter. Sir, it is a delicate matter, one pertaining to your previous role in the war."

Severus grabbed the girl roughly around the shoulder and threw her into his office. He checked down both sides of the hallway before stepping back into his office, slamming the door shut behind him. Hermione was paralyzed with fear from his manhandling and when he literally shoved her into the room, she tripped over her person sliding forward.

"What do you know about my role?" Hermione looked up with wide eyes, watching as he rounded on her. She was petrified with what was happening.

"I-I-I me-merely wanted you to know what it was…" She trailed off.

"To know what, Miss. Granger? To know what it was like to be a spy?"

"Yes!" Her body seemed to thrum with adrenaline at the mere word.

"That will be one thing you will never know, Miss. Granger." He barked, hoping that she would shrink away and leave him be.

"Please sir, I have to know!" She pleaded

"Have to know? That's rich! Why would you have to know? Oh, I see! Does the great Miss. Granger plan on taking up a little game of spying? Do not insult my intelligence." He snorted only to be stricken with acknowledgment that she did indeed.

"Let me get this through you thick skull you little twit. You think because you have fought the Dark Lord and have paraded around these halls for the last 7 years, believing you were above all and any rules, that you could be a spy? You are like an open book and you are as subtle as a cow bell, Miss. Granger. You would never make a passable spy. Spying is no little game between you and your dimwitted friends, Miss. Granger. You will do well to remember that your place is next to Weasley birthing an army of more dimwitted children. Now get out of my sight, you foolish child!"

Through Severus' speech, he had grabbed two handfuls of her school robes and pulled her roughly up until she was eye level with his tall person. Hermione's feet dangled in the air as sobs tore through her. When Severus had finished he threw her down again and tore the door open for her to get out.

Hermione shot to her feet and ran like she never had before, not stopping until she had reached the owlery on the other side of the grounds. She reached the top of the tower, banging the door open and scaring a fleet of lounging owls. She leaned against the door jam, taking in big gulps of air only to start choking from the smell of too many owls within one place.

'Breath.' she chided herself.

When she could finally compose herself completely, she dug around the pockets of her robes, producing the white business card, a piece of parchment and quill. Scribbling down a message and signaling Hedwig to her. With a final read though, she tied it to the owl's leg and watched as it disappeared into the sky.

Hours later found Augusta behind his desk with a wide grin. He tucked the letter into a file that had a recent candid picture of the said girl and began prep work on drawing up paper work and contracts. He was happy to add another great gem to the gallery and knew that she would out shine them all.

-Mr. Fowler,

I am pleased to inform you that I will graciously accept the honor of joining your team. I would like to meet with you to begin drawing up a remarkable contract and my starting date at the National Gallery. Thank you for considering me for such a position and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

-H.J. Granger