"Kingsley, it's so nice to see you again!" Hermione beamed, as she greeted the now, most regular dinner guest from the Order. It had been only a week since Hermione had arrived at the Burrow, and while she was missing Severus dearly, she was glad to be surrounded by her wizarding family.
"Hello Hermione." Kingsley said walking over to her and sitting down next to her on the couch. Hermione had been reading by the fire while the rest of the Weasley's were outside playing Quidditch.
"Oh, is that you Kingsley?" Mrs Weasley called from the kitchen.
"Yes Molly, I hope you don't mind." Kingsley called back to her.
"Not at all deary, not at all!"
Hermione smirked at the new name Mrs Weasley had given him. Hermione didn't know how old Kingsley was, but she was sure that he and Molly were somewhat close in age, and the idea of her calling him deary made her smile. "Think that's funny do you?" Kingsley said with a quirk of his eyebrow.
"Yes, I do in fact." Hermione said giggling.
Kingsley was about to respond when the door to the backyard opened, "Kingsley! I didn't know you were here!" Fred said, a grin across his face, wiping the windswept hair out of his eyes.
"I only just flooed in a moment ago."
"Hey maybe you can convince Hermione here to get on a broom and play with us." Fred said his eyebrows wagging mischievously as he looked over at Hermione.
"I don't think anyone can convince Hermione to do anything she doesn't want to do." Kingsley answered.
"Too true," Fred muttered, more to himself than the two of them.
"Is that what you came in for? To get me on a broom?" Hermione asked.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot! I came to tell you that Loon- I mean Luna is here." Fred said quickly correcting himself. Only the day before Hermione had sent a stinging jinx his way after calling Luna, Looney one too many times. Hermione still hadn't forgotten her goal to see Ron and Luna together, and the prospect of teasing from his brother's was not the best way to encourage him.
"I thought she was going on a trip with her father to east Africa?" Hermione queried, getting up and making her way over to the door.
"Suppose her plans must've changed," Fred said shrugging his shoulders, holding the door open for Hermione.
"Hello Luna!" Hermione called as she went to embrace the fair haired Ravenclaw.
"Hello Hermione." Luna replied looking over Ron and Ginny's shoulders.
"I thought you'd left for Africa already."
"Well... we were supposed to but Daddy got word of a big story. So..." Luna said with a sad sigh, "we had to delay our trip."
"What was the big story?" Ron asked.
"It's quite sad really. The Muggle Studies teacher, Professor Burbage has gone missing. Daddy heard from one of his sources that a few Death Eaters cornered her while she was on holiday." Hermione and Ginny gasped while Ron's eyes went wide. Hermione had always liked Professor Burbage, even if she had only taken her class for a year. Many times after class she would ask Hermione to stay and go over lesson plans, always wanting to make sure that her information was up to date.
"Does the Ministry know?" Hermione asked, looking over at Luna.
"I suppose, though I can't be sure." Luna responded.
"Hermione, go ask Kingsley," Ginny urged, "he'll know if any thing's being done to try and rescue her."
"I don't think he would tell me even if he did know. Surly information like that would be a secret."
"Just try, all right?" Ron added.
"Fine," Hermione relented, making her way back into the house. Luckily Kingsley hadn't left the living room and was sitting alone by the fire, reading the book that Hermione had abandoned upon Luna's arrival. He looked up then and smiled at her as she walked over to sit next to him on the couch, his face fell slightly at seeing her expression.
"What's wrong?"
"Luna told me that Professor Burbage was captured by the Death Eaters. Is it true?"
Kingsley looked grim at hearing the question, "I'm afraid it is."
"What's being done to rescue her?" Hermione asked folding her legs underneath herself.
"We followed her and her captors as far as Ipswich, the trail went cold there unfortunately. At the moment there's nothing else we can do, we're not sure where they went from there. Although I believe them to have taken her to Malfoy Manner."
"Why?"
"It makes the most sense, if there's one place that the Order cannot infiltrate, it's Malfoy Manor. That's where I thought they'd brought you, originally." Kingsley said staring into the fire, as if hypnotized by the flames.
"So there's nothing we can do?" Hermione asked hopelessly.
"Not for the moment, as soon as we hear of any activity we will devise a plan, but until then we have to be smart, keep our heads low, and listen." Hermione nodded at this, he was right. They couldn't afford to act rashly, everything had to be well planned out.
"Do you mind if I tell them," Hermione said nodding her head in the direction of the backyard. "They're all quite worried."
"As long as they keep it a secret, I don't think there's any reason to keep it from them."
"Thanks Kingsley," Hermione said smiling as she went to go tell the others.
…...
An hour later they were all sitting around the dinner table talking about Professor Burbage. "It's a shame that we won't be seeing you again until next week Kingsley, please do come by if you have the chance! It's always nice seeing you." Mrs Weasley smiled warmly.
"You won't be back for a week?" Hermione asked looking over at Kingsley surprised.
"Yes, I start my new job in the muggle world tomorrow." Kingsley said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Really? What job?" Hermione asked curiously.
"I will be the head of security to the muggle Prime Minister. He needs our protection more than ever, with You-Know-Who gaining power." Hermione nodded in understanding.
"It's going to be a right bore at dinner without you Kings'!" George said, slapping him on the back. Kingsley chuckled at the sentiment before taking another bite of roast potatoes.
"Do you think anyone besides the Prime Minister will be in danger, I have a friend working in the ministry." Hermione said thinking of Tess and her family.
"All muggles are in some danger of course, but for the moment at least they should be relatively safe." Kingsley reassured her.
"Who do you know working at the ministry?" Ron chimed in.
"A family friend, Charlie met her actually." Hermione said looking over at the second eldest Weasley. "The day you came to my house."
"Mhmm." Charlie said nodding, unable to reply, his mouth full of food.
Hermione sighed thinking about Tess, excited for her summer internship not knowing how much danger she and all of her co-workers were in.
…...
Now was the best chance he would get, the Dark Lord hadn't been in this good of a mood since Dumbledore's death. Knowing that this would be his last chance for awhile, what with Potter's birthday coming up in a week. Severus chose to stay behind after the revel, remaining in his seat as he watched the rest of the Death Eaters file out, avoiding Lucius' gaze as he did so. "What is it that you want to discuss Severus?" the Dark Lord hissed as the last Death Eater closed the door.
"My Lord, as we get closer to your impending take over of the Ministry, our earlier conversation becomes more relevant," Severus said, expression passive.
"Do not fret, I haven't forgotten your request to be Headmaster," the Dark Lord cut in.
"I thank you my Lord." Severus said bowing his head.
"But surely this is not what you came to discuss," the Dark Lord deduced.
"You are correct my Lord. The Malfoy's came to me, begging me to take their son on as an apprentice, to groom him to be a Potions Master."
"I see," the Dark Lord said, his anger apparent.
"At first hearing the desperate pleas, I was inclined to reject them. They are weak, and have acted foolishly in recent years." Severus paused, letting this information sink in. "However pathetic Lucius' motives are, that doesn't mean that it couldn't benefit you as well my Lord."
"Go on."
"I have been teaching Draco potions since his first year, this last year excluded. While he was not the best, he has the potential to be with a rigorus training schedule. In four years time you would have two Potions Masters at your disposal. Also if I am to be Headmaster, having an apprentice would surely be a benefit. I won't lie that there is also the benefit of separating him from his foolish excuses for parents. I believe with the proper environment, Draco could come to be one of your most valuable assets." Severus finished, perhaps a little to grandly, but all the same it seemed to have worked.
"You have made some good points, it certainly would be beneficial to have two Potions Masters at hand. I shall think about it. I certainly agree that the boy needs to be separated from those people." Severus breathed a sigh of relief internally, his plan was working. "You may go now." Severus bowed his head once more and turned to leave. "Oh Severus, do ask Lucius and Narcissa to join me on your way out," the Dark Lord said silkily. Severus knew that tone, it meant that the meeting with the Malfoy's would be a painful one. He knew he had done the right thing, letting the Dark Lord know what the Malfoy's had done. This way he was more inclined to believe Severus, and agree to let the boy become his apprentice.
"Of course my Lord." Severus answered. He might have felt more remorse if it was not for the fact that he had witnessed the Malfoy's treating muggles the very same countless times, and enjoying it.
…...
"So what exactly am I supposed to do all summer? Go for drinks with the muggle boy down the street?" Draco sneered, three days later.
"Didn't your parents explain anything to you?" Severus asked frustratedly.
"Unfortunately , they are under the weather at the moment," Draco said referring to the harsh beating they had taken from the Dark Lord the other day, "It was that slimy excuse for a rodent, Wormtail who told me to come here, to this shack." Draco finished as he looked around the shabby looking library. There were books lining all four walls, all covered in dust. This was the house that Severus frequented the least, therefore he only left his least favourite books here. "Have you been living here all summer?" Draco said, his distaste for the place apparent.
"Don't be stupid, I've been in hiding, I only arrived at Spinner's End this morning. And as for what you'll be doing this summer, I'm sorry to say that you will be too busy to go drinking with the muggle boy down the street." Severus replied, "You will be working for me."
"What sort of work?" Draco almost winged.
"Today we will be cleaning the house."
"That shouldn't take long, a house elf would feel cramped in a place like this." Draco sneered.
"Not all of us have Daddy's wealthier than the country we live in boy. And while you are living under my roof you will respect me. Stop believing everything your Auntie Bellatrix has been feeding your brain. She is a bitter woman that does not like rejection. If you cannot abide by those simple rules I will send you back, where I'm sure that the Dark Lord will welcome you back with open arms." This seemed to have the desired effect, for Draco seemed to realize for the first time that he was out from under the Dark Lord's hands.
"Because Severus spent a few weeks out of the summer at Spinner's End, the house was in pretty good condition, simply in need of a good dusting charm. By the end of the day he and Draco were able to clean the whole house, top to bottom.
"So do you intend to have me be your personal house elf all summer?" Draco asked that evening, setting his utensils down, they had just finished their steak and kidney pie that Severus had had wrapped up from Hawthorne Cottage, luckily Draco didn't ask where it had come from.
"If that were the case I would have requested the Dark Lord to get me a house elf, Merlin knows they'd do a better job than you."
"Come of it, tell me why I'm here." Draco asked.
"With the Dark Lord in power he will be making some staff changes at Hogwarts. For one I will now become Headmaster." Draco's eyes widened at this revelation. "Naturally I will not have as much time as I usually do to brew the schools potions supply, and I don't trust any outside sources. Therefore, I will need to train someone to be my assistant, I want to train you to become a Potions Master." Severus finished.
"Why me?" Draco asked.
"You are the only one I trust. To become a Potions Master takes time and a mutual trust between Master and apprentice. And at the risk of sounding much too Gryffindor I am your godfather, and you becoming a Potions Master is the safest path that I can see for you."
"Thank you." Draco whispered. It had been unexpected to say the least, but Severus found it was much appreciated.
A few days later found Severus and Draco working in the lab at Spinners End. They had spent the last few days working on simple healing potions that Draco would be responsible for brewing during the school year. They had now moved on to poisons that the Dark Lord had requested. Though Severus made sure not to explain every step to his godson, not until he knew that Draco could be trusted with such secrets.
"So, where have you been all this time?" Draco asked, while waiting for his potion to come to a boil. Draco had seemed to calm down, realizing that Severus really had been looking out for him all along. Severus however wasn't one to reveal all of his secrets.
"I've told you already, I was in hiding." Severus answered, grinding his scarab beetles.
"But where were you?" Draco reiterated.
"Have you ever known me to be a fool Draco?" Severus said his eyes turning to slits, getting annoyed with the boy.
"No, but-" Draco tried to protest but was interrupted by Severus almost instantly.
"So don't expect me to answer your prying questions. I suggest that you get back to your cauldron as it's about to overflow." Draco's eyes widened as he looked over to see that Severus was right and that if he didn't lower the flame in the next thirty seconds he would have to start all over again.
That night after a full days work in the lab Severus sat down in the library by the fire. Usually this was the time that he spent with Hermione, talking or reading, it was the only time that he let his guard down, even if only a little. His thoughts were interrupted then, by the creek of the door, announcing Draco's entrance into the room. Severus didn't look over or acknowledge him in any way, but kept his gaze on the fire. He tried not to cringe as the boy sat down in what had always been to Severus, "Hermione's Chair". It was almost laughable at the contrast between the two. Hermione always so comfortable and kind, curling her feet underneath her, a smile always on her face. Draco on the other hand, was sitting uncomfortably on the edge of the chair, a passive look upon his face, an expression he had learned from his father no doubt.
"Why did you do it?" Draco finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"You'll have to be more specific." Severus said, still staring at the dancing flames in the hearth.
"Why did you make the Unbreakable Vow with my mother?" Draco clarified.
Severus looked up at him then. He hadn't been expecting that to be the question. Severus read his face more closely now, he could only read genuine curiosity on his face. Satisfied with what he saw he answered, "I had two reasons for making that Vow to your mother. One, because I knew if I didn't Bellatrix would deem me a traitor and report me to the Dark Lord. Two, because you are my godson, and if you'd gone through with what you had been assigned, I feared that you would end up as mad as your father, or worse even."
"You think my father mad?" Draco replied.
"Not mad, more a lesser version of his original self. You do not remember him how I do. From our days at Hogwarts, he used to have honour, he used to have his priorities straight. It seems that not all of his priorities have changed though, you are still the most important thing in his life. I believe that if it was not for you, your father would have been lost completely." He hoped he hadn't crossed any lines with Draco. By the expression on the boys face, he seemed to understand what Severus had been trying to say.
…...
It was a quiet morning at the Burrow on the twenty-seventh of July, the most trusted members of the Order were scheduled to arrive that evening around seven. The atmosphere in the kitchen was tense, a thrum of energy coursing through everyone, knowing that there was a chance that one of them might not be there for dinner. Mrs Weasley had been cooking non stop for the past three days, worrying herself to bits.
"Mum, I'm sorry, but I don't think I can eat anymore," Ron said with a groan, leaning back and clutching his stomach. Everyone looked over at him in shock. Not very often did Ron claim a full stomach. Mrs Weasley stopped, ladle mid scoop. She had made potato soup the night before and had been forcing the leftovers onto everyone, claiming that they needed their strength.
"All right then." she said sniffling. "I'll just go wash up then shall I?"
"Don't worry about the dishes Mum, Fred and I'll do them," George offered, giving her a sympathetic look.
"Yeah Mum we'll do them," Fred said beginning to stand up.
"No, no it's all right. It keeps my hands busy," Mrs Weasley said as she began to do the dishes without magic.
"I don't know how much more of this I can handle," Fred muttered.
"I don't know how much more my stomach can handle. I've had five meals a day the past three days." Ron hissed, still clutching at his stomach.
"You do have the ability to refuse Ronald," Hermione scolded.
"I just did didn't I? And look what it's done!" he whispered furiously gesturing over to the shaky Mrs Weasley washing dishes.
"There are only a few more hours to go, why don't we go play Quidditch, burn some of that food off." Ginny suggessted, getting up.
"Sounds like a plan little sis!" George said getting up, and was soon followed by Ron and Fred.
"Hermione, are you coming?" Ron said turning around to look at her, at the look on her face, he added, "I know you won't play, but you could at least sit outside or something."
"I think I'll just go to my room for a bit." Hermione answered evasively.
"All right then."
Hermione hadn't had more than a chance to skim the horcrux books she had summoned from Dumbledore's office at the end of term. What with spending the last three weeks with Severus, she hadn't wanted to risk him walking in on her.