Disclaimer: I only wish it belonged to me.

Author's Note: At the end.

"Father."

It was only the one word, and yet Severus managed to put a world of loathing, contempt, anger, and moral indignation into the greeting. IN an odd, somewhat twisted way, it made him proud of his son.

"To what do I owe this... pleasure, Severus?" Agentes was smiling as he turned to look at his son.

"Don't look so pleased with yourself, Father. You haven't won yet," Severus paused for a moment to study the older man. "You know that I am here about the contract. Did you think that it would force my hand to your will? You haven't taken into account the fact that I can disown you if I must, and take the responsibility onto myself, have you? Yet, I will do neither. Where is Mother this morning?"

"What, exactly, will you do then?" Agentes was taking the measure of his son, not sure exactly how much of his speech could be believed.

Severus sneered at the man as he responded, "Father, you underestimate me. I will do nothing. Is Mother in the parlour? Her sitting room? The library? Or is she in the kitchens with the house elves, hiding from you again?"

This last little bit of goading struck Agentes anger and ignited it, "Do not take me for a fool, Severus. What have you done?"

Severus turned sharply to face Agentes, "I have and will do nothing. Miss Granger, on the other hand, has received eleven petitions, including yours. One was acceptable to her, as far as I know. He is her own age, she knows him well, and he does not want her dead. All in all, quite a bargain for her. Now if you will excuse me, Mother would never forgive me if I came to visit and didn't seek her out. I will go and search for her myself."

"There will be no need for that, Severus. I am right here, after all." Both men spun and faced the doorway, where Isabelle Snape stood. In Severus' opinion, his father's only redeeming quality was the love he had for his mother. Even then, it was only grudgingly he admitted to the idea that Agentes might have redeeming qualities. When she had their full attention, she turned to her son and murmured, "And perhaps you should come and have a look at the family jewellery before you go, Sev."

Honestly, if he didn't know better, he might have said his mother was enjoying this.

"Hermione, could I have a word?" Remus was poking his head into the library, looking just a bit anxious.

Hermione looked up from the various parchments strewn in some semblance of organised chaos across the desk and smiled at Remus.

"Dumbledore has sent an owl. He wants to see you tonight about the options you have over the contracts," Remus looked, if possible, more uncomfortable than he had when he had first entered the room.

"And may I ask who else has been invited to this little meeting?" Hermione asked in the softest of tones.

"Ron. As well as Sev- as well as Professor Snape," he returned.

"I see," she murmured. "When, tonight?"

Remus once again looked very uncomfortable, "After the Order meeting."

Hermione nodded and returned to frowning over what Remus could now see were her contracts. He felt oddly as though he had been dismissed, and by a school-girl at that. He glanced back, and as he left the room, Remus chuckled. Yes, a school-girl who had seen just as much as any of the Order, acted twice her age, and was taking on the burdens of an adult all at once. Dismissed, yes, but certainly, the Ministry wasn't trying to run his life.

The Order meeting that evening was unusually brief, and it wasn't long before she found herself sitting in front of the Headmaster.

Ron was the last to enter the drawing room, and the door was locked behind him as he took his seat beside Hermione.

Dumbledore was quietly surveying the three people before him. Hermione had not once looked at Severus, but he was, in his turn, studying her closely. Severus already knew what Albus wanted, that was certain. So the only person in the room who wasn't aware of what would be suggested was Ronald Weasley, who was studying Hermione as well, though not as closely.

Severus had gone to visit his mother earlier that day, but if anything, that only made his decision harder to read. His youngest professor was betraying no signs of his choice.

Hermione, while she was not looking at any of them, was studying her Potions Master carefully, trying to read his reaction to what had been done. She had a fair idea of why the three of them were in this room, and she had found the tactic morally repugnant. For his part, the Headmaster seemed in no hurry to begin the meeting he had called. Hermione inwardly scowled, she didn't like this situation at all.

"Headmaster, this is obviously about the Law, and my situation in relation to it. What were your suggestions, if I might ask?" she broke the silence, suddenly.

Ron had turned in his chair to look at her, wondering why she had made that move. Hermione felt a pang as she noticed his shift, she would always know his next move, always know what to expect from him, he would always be an open book to her in that he would not challenge her to achieve higher. The pang intensified with each acknowledgement she made. This, she thought, was the price one paid for safety.

"You are quite right, Miss Granger. Normally I would have waited for a more appropriate time, but such is not a luxury with which are currently blessed. Among your contracts, there were only two accept able choices, I believe?" she nodded, and he began to continue, but found himself interrupted by Ron.

"Excuse me, Professor, but there was only one 'acceptable choice' among her contracts. Mine."

"Mr. Weasley, the second acceptable choice was Professor Snape. As a member of the Order-" Dumbledore was cut off a second time.

"You cannot expect me to believe that he," Ron made a sharp gesture over his shoulder at the Professor, "is considered acceptable! He is twice her age, and our teacher. The idea that he should-" This time, it was Ron who found himself cut off.

"Ron! Please, let the Headmaster finish what he has to say," Hermione's voice was quite sharp as she spoke the words. Ron silenced as the Headmaster began to speak again.

"Miss Granger, your knowledge of the Order of the Phoenix, grouped with your high magical manifestation and your friendship with Mister Potter, makes it unacceptable to allow you to be weakened in any way, or leave you less than perfectly protected." Hermione nodded silently again, but to herself she was thinking, 'Because of course, I would be less valuable and worth protecting without all of that!'

"You must understand; these suggestions are for your own good. While I have every faith that Mister Weasley will do his best to provide for your protection, I do not believe that he will be able to withstand the attempts of the Death Eaters to separate you from him."

"Wait just a moment!" Ron interjected suddenly, "What exactly makes you think that I couldn't protect her? Haven't I held my own against the Death Eaters more than once? Haven't we both battled them, time and time again, and won? Isn't Bellatrix Lestrange quite out of your way? You think that by putting Hermione closer to the Death Eaters, you would be protecting her more than by keeping her at my side, where we can take care of each other?"

"Mister Weasley, that speech is the very reason that you could not protect her," Severus had spoken for the first time since they had all entered the drawing room. He exchanged a quick look with the Headmaster, before Ron spoke again.

"And of course, you think she is better protected by you? A Death Eater who could turn at any moment back to his cause and lose her or hurt her in the process!" he spit out at the Professor.

"Mister Weasley! I assure you that in the seventeen years Severus has been in my employment and my counsel, he has been tempted many times to that end, and he has never yet been swayed," Dumbledore raised his hand to prevent further interruptions as he addressed himself to Hermione, "Miss Granger, I would very strongly urge you to consider Professor Snape as the more ideal candidate with whom to entrust your safety. You and anyone you engage yourself to will be in danger immediately from the moment you sign and accept them. It would be unwise to place yourself or anyone else in that position."

Hermione looked at the Headmaster squarely. "Professor Dumbledore, with all due respect, I must insist that this decision is mine and mine alone. You may offer me your concerns and suggestions and advise me against the risks, but I would ask that you keep your 'urges' to yourself, and make no further attempts to influence my decision. This meeting is over." Hermione turned and let herself out of the drawing room without another word, leaving Ron to follow behind, and the two professors to look after her and wonder at her decision.

Author's Note: I wish I could say that I write without any real motivation, but I can't say that honestly. There's only one full chapter written and edited and beta read after this one, because I just haven't heard from anyone how they feel about it, and I've lost my drive.

I'm sorry. Read & Review please.