First of all. I need to apologise for the 5 month gap in these chapters. I have written upto 16. But without a beta I am lost. So If any of you kind readers would like to beta. Let me know. Anyway read and review.

CHAPTER SEVEN: Ties That Bind

A fire flickered in the hearth casting shadows around the room. The early morning light just started to filter through the windows. Professor Snape stifled a yawn, it had been a long day and it was no where near to being over. He muttered a few words and a steaming mug of coffee appeared in his hands, taking a few sips allowing the caffeine to kick in. But at the same time a questioned begged to be asked.

"Where was Remus Lupin?"

"Ah I wondered when you would ask about that," Albus paused. "When I gave Remus the potion for Hermione, I asked him to go on a mission for me."

The huddled form cowered on the floor. Her mind filled with the inevitability of those last words. But at that moment Hermione's sensible side kicked in. She stood up and started to pace the room. Come on Hermione. Think. As she quickly assessed her situation, what's the last thing I remember ?

Mr Lupin giving me a potion from Dumbledore.

But then what?

Hermione had no recollection of leaving her bed. Everything was back at Headquarters, everything…

Where is my wand?

Frantically she checked her clothing for her missing wand.

When Dumbledore finished speaking, he heard a noise from upstairs. "Ah, it seems Miss Granger is back with us," he glanced at Severus. "Hermione please come down," Albus called upstairs.

Hermione heard her name, left the sanctity of the room and edged down the stairs. She descended into the headmasters office. She noticed Professor Snape sitting calmly on a chair. While Dumbledore sat behind his desk, indicating to a chair in front of his desk.

"Have a seat Miss Granger, we have much to discuss."

She sat down, taking a few calming breaths to ease the confusion in her head. Hermione looked to her hands not wanting see his eyes.

"Please have some tea," Dumbledore indicated to a fresh cup. "You have nothing to fear Hermione."

She took the tea, more out of dread than Dumbledore's concern for her. Professor Snape watched the proceedings from the side. He could see the panic in Hermione's eyes, and he also noted how Dumbledore was skirting round the issue, of what she had obviously heard. It was Dumbledore who broke the silence.

"Remus told us, what happened to you Hermione. How you saw Professor Snape at his meeting,"

Hermione gasped, that's why.

"Because of these actions, you are now a target by Voldemort and his Death eaters…He arranged for you parents death."

Hermione dropped her tea, she watched helpless as it shattered on the floor.

"I should have known."

Professor Snape stared at the young woman in front of him.

"There was nothing that you could have done, Miss Granger. Even I was unaware until I was called to the meeting,".

She had forgotten he was there, nearly jumping as he spoke.

"But it seems that another plan is afoot. Voldemort's aim was to encumber you enough, that you in turn would weaken Harry Potter," She tried to speak but Dumbledore raised his hand to stop her. "He wants you out of the picture and I am entitled enough to give him what he wishes," Dumbledore looked at Hermione, piercing her with his glare.

"But why…My parents, they were innocents in all this. They had no idea, what was going on," tears streaming down her face in frustration.

Snape hoped this would ease her.

"Innocents they were, Hermione. But Voldemort has no cares or concerns for anyone that is caught in the war. He has no desires for them, his only wish is to win,"

"Hermione Granger you or shall I say your name must die," Albus paused. "We will help you create a new life, with your powers, away from Voldemort's glare. But to keep you safe, you will be a Professor here at Hogwarts."

Severus choked on his tea. "May I ask on which subject our new Professor will teach?"

"Ah yes, well I suppose I should reveal my plan," a smile appeared on his face.

"Professor Snape, meet your Potions Mistress."

"What!" both Hermione and Severus exclaimed.

"Calm down both of you. Would you at least let me finish?" Dumbledore pleaded. "As you know Severus, Remus Lupin has accepted the position the DADA teacher, but only on the condition it could be part time. So Severus I would like you help Remus in his teaching. By doing this I could not expect you to teach Potions full time, so Hermione will be helping you."

Any plans for revolt from either of them, were quashed by Dumbledore's words. Both saw the sense in what he said and kept quiet.

"Now Hermione you are more than qualified to teach any subject, as you could have passed your NEWTS a few years ago. But to make this more believable for your new identity, I would ask you to take your NEWTS over the next few weeks. I will oversee you and let you know of the results," Hermione nodded her life once again to be controlled. "The students will be returning home for the summer in the morning."

"Harry, can I see Harry?"

Albus sighed.

"As much as I would like to say yes, I would have to say no. Harry must believe you are dead. If he does not, how will anyone else."

She sat there, tears in her eyes, knowing that Dumbledore was wise in his words. If Harry can be convinced, so can the others. She thought. "What about the others…I mean the other order members. Will they be told of your plan?"

"Again I would have to say no. The only persons aware of this plan are currently in this room. It can be told to no other," Dumbledore spoke with all seriousness.

"I understand headmaster…If I am to be kept here, then where will I stay?" She asked.

"For now, you will live in rooms just off this office, you will be kept safe. Until we can arrange something more suited. You will find all your things including Crookshanks awaiting you," he pointed to a door at the back of his office. She got up to leave. "Before you retire, I would have you think on what I have told you. You will need a new Identity Hermione, for your own name will not be safe now. I need you to create your new life. I will ensure that anything left over from you old one is wrapped up, while your new one opened for anyone who wishes to look. Is there anything that needs to be completed?"

"Yes headmaster," she handed him a crumpled letter from her pocket. "Monies left over from the sale of my parents' house and business need to be transferred to Gringotts. I had only just managed to open a vault in my name. I would appreciate if you ensure that those monies are transferred to a new vault in my new name."

"Which would be?"

Severus leaned forward interested to hear what name she had chosen. The name is everything he thought.

She thought about her response. "Elizabeth Olwyn shall be my name, for those that wish to find me," she walked out of the room, her head held high.

Severus stifled a laugh. Elizabeth Olwyn, what an unusual choice.

"Well with that matter concluded I suggest we both go to bed," Dumbledore stood up from his chair Professor Snape also made to stand. "Severus, I trust that you have everything in order for your lessons?"

"Yes Albus, everything is in order for Miss Olwyn's lessons,"

"Goodnight Albus."

He bowed and left the room, walking swiftly down the staircase towards his private chambers. What is he up to this time? He wondered.

Hermione entered her temporary rooms. As soon as the door closed behind her, she sunk to the floor in tears. Releasing all the pain, anger and resentment she had managed to keep bottled up. Time soon passed and the tears stopped flowing. Her face stained and puffy with tears, but feeling much better she stood up. Deciding now was the time to investigate her rooms.

She was greeted by a four poster bed, of which Crookshanks had made his home, her school trunk at the base of the bed. Along one side was a comfortable looking leather sofa sitting next to a fireplace. A doorway led to a modest bathroom with another door leading to the toilet. After a few minutes getting use to her surrounding, Hermione sat down on the bed, she absently stroked Crookshanks's fur, he purred in reply. Hermione opened her trunk and her bags looking for her nightclothes. Realising who ever packed them had done a thoroughly good job; she suddenly stopped in fear, oh gods I hope he didn't pack these. That would mean he would have gone through my…She shook her head, clearing the thought. She unpacked her clothes, hanging up all the items that would crease, folding the smaller ones, her nightclothes were at the bottom. She pulled them out. Well it's not much, but as Dumbledore said, only until something else can be arranged. It took only ten minutes to unpack everything, when she rifled through her trunk, removing her school uniform, as it would not be required any longer. Now she remembered that shopping had been very useful indeed. Her school texts sat at the bottom of the trunk, flicking through them she found her favourite text, Most Potent Potions by Severus Snape all the others were put back in the trunk. If I am going to be teaching his class I had better brush up on the subject. With a smile on her face she went back in to the bathroom and ran a bath, pouring in various oils, within minutes the tub was full of bubbles, a heady scent enticed her and in moments her clothes were on the side and she had slipped into the hot bath.

Sliding in even further.

"Aaaaaahhhhhh."

It seemed that in no time, the water had started to cool, the bubbles had all but disappeared. Only then did she comprehend, that she had no idea where the towels were. Oh bugger. She thought. You should have planned for this before you got in. Now you have a choice, you can make a run for it, while hoping to find a towel and dripping water everywhere or you can just hope that the towels just magically appear. As she prepared for the mad dash, she noticed a pair of fluffy towels on the chair. They weren't there before. She shook her head. I am obviously losing it. I just didn't notice them.

With in two steps Hermione was wrapped in those towels, one round the head and the other round her body, walking back into the bedroom, she collapsed on the bed picking up the book she chosen earlier, Hermione settled down to read. It wasn't until a few hours later that she drifted to sleep.

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Severus had been sitting in his chair admiring the fire, a large brandy in both hands. His mind was thinking again to her, how she murmured his name when he touched her. A shiver travelled down his spine. In the weeks since he had originally looked after to her, his thoughts of her had grown. It was tormenting him, but after years of being a Death eater, this was nothing new. At least that is what he told himself.

When he thought back to the last meeting, the sinister laughter from Voldemort and his companions echoed through his mind. He finished the last of his brandy and went to get the Pensieve, there was something he needed to check. Coming back a few moments later, he placed the Pensieve on the table. With the memories at the forefront of his mind, he touched his wand to his head, pulling away the familiar silvery strand, which he touched to the Pensieve. Snape repeated this a few more times, until all relevant thoughts were now contained. Then he entered the memory.

Everything was so clear, especially from a different perspective. He watched, as the other him went through the motions, watched as he was questioned by the Dark Lord and then the torment began. Moving to the other side he looked round. It wasn't until the screams of pain he saw what he was looking for. Through the line of trees, he saw a figure, partially hidden by a tree that was watching the proceedings. Her face was that of horror. He stood there transfixed, as Hermione watched from the other side of the tree line, but she quickly moved away, fading from sight. Severus sighed. If she saw this in a dream, but was actually there. We have bigger problems than I thought.