Author's Note: Thank you for over 50 follows after one chapter! Thanks especially to Padma G. and Silver Orbed Lioness for reviewing.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.


"But why you Hermione? Why is Dumbledore forcing you to work with the dungeon bat?"

Hermione was becoming increasingly aggravated. She had had this conversation with the boys continuously over the last three days.

"Harry, because Professor Snape needs help with potion making. Lately, he is being summoned by Voldemort constantly", she whispered in the common room, "only four Hogwarts students know about the Order – us and Ginny – and I'm the best at potion making."

"But why can't Slughorn do it?" Harry interrupted.

"We've been through this!" Hermione was shouting at this point, "a lot of the brewing is for the Order, and Slughorn is not a member. Also, Slughorn refuses to do the brewing for the infirmary because he only agreed to teach as a favour to the Headmaster. He will not brew for the school as well."

Hermione cast a tempus charm to see the time. It was a quarter to eight.

"Enough with this inane conversation Harry. I have to meet Professor Snape now for our first brewing session. Don't wait up for me." Hermione stalked out of the portrait hole before Harry could argue anymore.

Hermione headed straight to the Headmaster's office and gave the password to the gargoyle. It sprung out of the way, revealing the staircase. As she ascended the stairs, she heard raised voices.

"Albus! Severus! How could you think this is a good idea? Initiating Hermione Granger tonight? She has been of age for all of three days."

"Minerva, I have already made my feelings on the matter clear", drawled the Potions Master, "unfortunately I have no choice."

"Miss Granger has agreed to it, Minerva. Severus will train her, and I would ask you to be on hand for any emotional support she may need as she may not discuss Order business with her friends. She will be invaluable to the greater good."

"This conversation is not over Albus!"

Hermione sighed. 'Great, neither of her Professors supported her membership into the Order' she thought. Didn't they understand that she had sworn to protect Harry at any cost to herself? She would see him to the end of his mission. As a muggle-born witch, she found herself even more compelled to fight, to save her new world. Voldemort was foolish to think he could conquer all of Muggle Britain. 58 million muggles in the United Kingdom against 50,000 wizards, and after he kills or imprisons all of the Muggle-borns and blood traitors, that leaves about 40,000. Voldemort was short-sighted, like most megalomaniacs. His armies may have magic, but Muggles had bombs. She had to do her part to protect her friends and loved ones.

Hermione knocked on the door loudly to make her presence known to the three professors.

"This conversation is over Minerva," Dumbledore said sternly. He then lightened his tone and called Hermione in.

"Good evening Miss Granger! I am glad to see you have not changed your mind."

"No sir, I have not. I am still committed to protecting and aiding Harry until Voldemort is defeated."

Professor McGonagall glared at the Headmaster at these words.

"Excellent, well let's be on our way. After you Minerva."

Professor McGonagall threw floo powder into the fireplace, stepped in and called "12 Grimmauld Place." Professor Dumbledore followed. Soon Hermione was left alone in the Headmaster's office alone with the Potions Master.

"After you Miss Granger", he purred.

Hermione blushed. "Sir… I heard the Professors arguing. I know you do not want to be my instructor and sponsor. Thank you for agreeing to teach me."

"I did not agree to anything Miss Granger. The Headmaster employs me, and I am a member of the Order. I do many things I do not wish to. My masters rarely require my consent", he sneered, "now, step into the floo. We are late."

Hermione stepped out of the floo at 12 Grimmauld Place. She banished the soot from her robes and scurried over to stand next to Professor McGonagall before Professor Snape came through. She looked around the room and laid eyes on Kingsley Shacklebolt, Alastor Moody, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Fleur Delacour and Bill Weasley, Fred and George Weasley, and Mr and Mrs Weasley staring at her confusedly.

"Hermione dear, it is wonderful to see you, but what on earth are you doing here?" questioned Mrs Weasley. She looked from Hermione to Professor Dumbledore.

"Molly, we have some important business to attend to this evening that involves Hermione", Dumbledore said, "Now, if we could all sit down. We have much to discuss."

Hermione sat down between Professors Snape and McGonagall. Dumbledore sat at the head of the table, Kingsley Shacklebolt at the foot. All of the Weasleys were on one side, Tonks, Mad-Eye and Remus sat with the Professors and Hermione. Hermione was so tense, she sat ramrod straight between her teachers and stared straight ahead at the twins, who winked with huge grins on their faces and wished her a Happy Belated Birthday.

"Birthday?" said Tonks confusedly, followed by a dawning realisation on her face. "Bloody excellent!" she exclaimed. "We need more women around here to fight in combat, right Fleur?"

Fleur nodded in agreement. The two women could not be more different but had struck up a close friendship. They were both strong, independent women that Hermione could look up to and learn from. Fleur was a curse breaker at Gringotts, while Tonks was an Auror. They both had dangerous jobs and were seasoned duellers. They were only a handful of women in the Order, and Tonks and Fleur were the only ones under the age of thirty. Hermione adored Tonks but had not gotten to know Fleur well over the summer since Ginny and Mrs Weasley seemed to despise her. Maybe things would change now that they were all in the Order together.

"Fight in combat?!" shrieked Mrs Weasley. Albus, Hermione is a child! What are you thinking bringing her here?"

"Molly", rebuked Dumbledore, "Hermione is an adult witch now. She has agreed to become a member of the Order and my hope is that tonight she will be inducted."

"Excellent!" said Fred and George in unison.

"About bloody time", growled Mad-Eye Moody "Who will be training her?"

"We will!" insisted Tonks "Remus and I can find the time to come to Hogwarts, and we could meet early before meetings."

"I could also assist Tonks", said Shacklebolt.

Severus Snape cleared his throat and silenced the room. "How touching. Everyone wants to train the Gryffindor Princess. However, as I am the current Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts, and the only legilimens in the room, besides the Headmaster. I will be instructing Miss Granger."

Tonks started to cut off her former professor when he continued, "Would it not be suspicious for aurors and a wolf to be found traipsing through Hogwarts to meet with a student? When her peers, especially Potter and Weasley, are supposed to have no idea she is in the Order?" he sneered.

Mrs Weasley stood up shouting "This is foolishness! Hermione. Is. A. Child. Ron and Harry are not Order members and neither will Hermione. She is still in school. She has two full years to complete at Hogwarts. She should be focusing on her N.E.W.T.s not training for war with a Death Eater of all people!"

Suddenly many voices were shouting and yelling at each other. Dumbledore, Hermione and Professor McGonagall stayed seated.

"There is your true opinion of me Molly Weasley! Am I not to be trusted with your precious Hermione Granger? I have only instructed her for the last five years! In fact, I have instructed all of your red-headed spawn and all but one are competent in my subjects." hissed Snape.

"Molly dear, if Dumbledore trusts…" reassured Arthur Weasley

"Mum. Just sit down. Please. Let Dumbledore finish," begged Bill Weasley.

"I agree with Molly. Hermione should have nothing to do with the Order until Harry and Ron can also join her" said Remus.

"Remus! Of all the sexist things," screamed Tonks.

"She iz smarter than Ron or 'Arry combined" started Fleur.

"We need to train them all up!" shouted Moody. "Potter and Weasley could still train at school, even if they are not of age yet."

"Harry and Ron are far too impulsive Alastor. If we let them join now, they would break the underage magic rules, like they did last summer at the Ministry." Reasoned Kingsley.

Fred and George were grinning ear to ear listening to everyone, shouting unhelpful things like:

"Hermione is a warrior!"

"She's nutters. She wants to die fighting!"

"Forge, did Snape just call us competent?"

"I believe he did Gred!"

"Most brilliant witch of her age! Let her join!"

"The Gryffindor Princess wants to vanquish the Dark Lord beside the Boy Who Lived!"

Finally, Dumbledore stood up and slammed his hands on the table and shouted "SILENCE!" Everyone stared at him, mouths gaping. All murmuring apologies as they sat down.

Severus was glaring daggers at Molly, while Molly was scoffing under her breath.

"Now, this is not up for discussion", rebuked Dumbledore, "I have vetted Hermione, and she has accepted my offer to join the Order. Severus will train Hermione under the guise that she will be his Potions assistant this year. Once Severus and I have deemed her ready, she will be available for missions, most likely with him for protection. I will remind you all," he shot a look of warning at Molly Weasley, "that Severus is not a death eater, he is a spy, he is loyal to the Order of the Phoenix, and nothing circumspect will happen to Hermione under his tutelage."

Everyone was silent as Dumbledore continued "Now. Hermione, Severus, are you ready to begin the ceremony?"

Remus stood at this. "Severus is to be Hermione's sponsor as well? Surely Minerva, Dora or Fleur would be more suitable?"

Tonks put her hand on Remus' arm and pulled him down. "Mad-Eye was my sponsor. I was his trainee at the time. It's a similar situation." She then whispered to him, "Stop interrupting Dumbledore. You're only making things worse."

Dumbledore stood up and beckoned Hermione and Severus to him.

"Who presents Hermione Jean Granger for membership to the Order of the Phoenix?"

"I, her sponsor, Severus Tobias Snape."

"Hermione Jean Granger, do you pledge your loyalty to the Order of the Phoenix and all its members? Do you swear to fight for the Light until darkness is defeated?"

"I do."

Dumbledore pulled out his wand and beckoned Hermione to do the same. Their wands glowed a bright white light. He brought the wands together, sealing the oath.

"Severus Tobias Snape, do you vow to teach and protect Hermione Jean Granger to the best of your abilities. To train and guide her as a warrior for the greater good."

"I swear it."

'I swear it. God… why does it feel like I'm marrying Professor Snape.' She blushed at her roots at her thoughts. 'Oh my god. I'm bonding myself to Professor Snape. He is vowing to protect and teach me. He is being forced to do this by Dumbledore. This is awful. What was I thinking.'

"Hermione Jean Granger, do you vow, to the best of your abilities, to learn the skills taught to you by Severus Tobias Snape? To use these skills only for the light and the protection and safeguarding of the Wizarding World?"

"I swear it."

Dumbledore then had master and student turn to face each other. They grasped each other's left arms by the elbows. She felt a spark flow through her at his touch. Hermione's amber eyes stared into the endless obsidian eyes of Professor Snape. Hermione felt her cheeks redden once more as if he was staring directly into her soul. Based on how Harry had described the experience last year, she did not believe he was using legilimency on her, but it still felt as if he could see the depths of her thoughts and emotions. She looked away quickly.

Dumbledore lifted his wand and began an incantation in a language Hermione did not recognise. As he did, blue light entwined Severus and Hermione's arms like rope, binding them together.

"We are all links in the chain of Light. Hermione, by binding yourself to Severus you are connected to every other person in the chain through our combined magic. By pledging loyalty to the Order and to Severus, you have pledge loyalty to us all. To break the chain would have dire consequences." Dumbledore warned.

Hermione nodded her understanding and looked back to her Potions teacher. As the light faded neither pulled away or dropped the other's arm. Then, she felt the faintest touch in the crook of her arm as his long, slender fingertips lightly grazed the inside of her arm. She pulled away as if he had burned her. He was gazing at her impassively as if he did not care about this ritual or had not noticed her reaction to his light touch. Hermione stared back at him in confusion, still not quite sure what she had gotten herself into.