A/N: G'Day! Now, we're getting into some action! Sorry about the late update, it's been a nightmare...
I've had several reviews about inconsistencies in weather/term times/ general calendar details. I can do nothing but apologise and attempt to explain; since my last fic, Transformations, was so dictated by the phases of the moon and the days of the week, I kind of let it all slide on this one. Besides, I haven't the faintest clue of English weather and school timetables. I'm not exactly a native.
Anyway, this chapter should have something for everyone... enjoy!
**
**
He was awake in an instant when he felt the wards trip.
In a burst of reflexes born of necessity and practice, he grabbed his wand and was in a defensive position on the landing within seconds. A quick charm told him that the downstairs hall had been occupied, near the front door.
They had disabled the door alarm- but had missed the second, more subtle line of defence just inside.
Revising the emergency plan in his mind, he ran to the first occupied room- Molly and Arthur's. He woke them quickly, hissed the situation in their ears, and moved to Tonks' room, where she had been bunking since her own house was destroyed by Death Eaters. She almost took his eye out with her startled reaction, but was soon alerted and on the move.
The last room was Hermione's, just as he heard a shout from downstairs- and three distinct Floo exits. That meant the others had already left via the fireplaces... and that the men were now aware of that exit. There was only one other way out.
She was asleep, a look of utter peace on her face. It tore at him somewhere, but he managed to shake her gently to wake her up. She sat bolt upright, at least having the sense to remain silent when he put one hand over her mouth, his hand brushing against the curls of her hair. Her eyes flickered towards the door; he nodded once and let her get up, always on the lookout for the intruders.
She crept up beside him, her eyes showing fear but her jaw set in determination. Together, they glanced into the corridor- it was deserted. He turned to her, risking a low whisper.
"I'll Side-Along you to the safe-house... are you ready?"
She nodded. "Can't we do something?" She said brokenly. "Fight them off, protect the house?"
"If they know we're here, that means we've been betrayed- and that means even more may know about it. We can't take that risk; if the building is compromised, we leave."
He was glad that the lab would appear as a cellar to anyone but the specified Order members, with a strong Repellent Charm to avoid any suspicious Death Eaters poking around.
Realising that they should leave immediately, Snape checked once again that everything he needed was with him, held Hermione close to his side-
A resounding bang of wand-work echoed through the halls, followed by a roaring sound...
Fiendfyre.
"Now!" Snape barked, spinning even as he felt the heat creeping towards them. He firmly fixed the location in his mind- the last stronghold, the one that he had prayed they would never need to use. The wind roared around them as they Apparated; Snape was conscious of Hermione's strong and steady grip on his arm. She would not let go.
They arrived with a thud, a less-than-graceful landing, but acceptable considering the circumstances. They were immediately surrounded by a hustle and bustle, the noise of shouting and running feet around them.
Snape winced. To think that it had come to this...
**
**
Hermione looked around her, relaxing slightly as the familiar faces of Order members filled her vision. They were in a large, majestic marble hall, the slight tinge of sunrise in the horizon outside the grand windows staining the scene pink and orange. Many people were carting supplies back and forth, rushing around with parchment lists and boxes. It appeared as pandemonium, but it would hopefully create a more ordered arrangement.
"Disgraceful." She heard Severus mutter under his breath, and she looked at him in surprise.
"What was that?"
His head jerked around to look at her. He seemed a little lost for words. "Only that this was meant to be organised months ago." His eyes flickered to between them, where Hermione could see that she was still gripping his arm.
She blushed slightly as she untangled herself, feeling slightly cold on that side now that his warm presence was gone. "Where are we?"
"You are not meant to know, Hermione... all of these people arrived by special Portkey or to a Floo address that they didn't recognise and doesn't correlate to the actual location."
"You knew." Hermione said almost accusingly.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "I wouldn't spread that around, if I were you. Now, if you would excuse me... I believe the Weasley clan is near the exit." He bowed to her slightly and moved through the crowd, leaving her with a slack jaw and too many questions.
"Hermione!" The call came from Mrs. Weasley, and she moved to join them with a reassuring smile.
"I'm okay, Mrs. Weasley..."
"Oh, but they blocked the Floo!" She wailed, wiping a tear from her cheek; it was obvious that she'd been rather distressed. "To think that the horrid rules say we should leave friends behind in emergencies- Arthur made us go!"
"It's fine, really." She protested, but the matronly woman had to continue apologising for a while. It was only after a parting hug that Hermione noticed Fred and George standing by, and she went over to greet them with a smile. "It's been a while... what mischief have you been creating, dare I ask?"
Their faces lit up with a familiar grin, and Hermione felt herself relaxing in their presence.
"Only patriotic mischief, we swear!"
"A bit of humorous espionage, really..."
"Keep that from mum, she still thinks we're jokers."
"Anyway... been keeping busy?"
Hermione considered that, wondering how much she could actually say. "You know me..." She said finally, "A workaholic, through and through."
**
**
She coughed as the dust swirled around her, but a quick cleaning spell later and the room was habitable- barely. How long had it been since anyone had lived there? Tens, hundreds of years? Hermione was one of the lucky ones; she got a room to herself, even if it was small and dimly lit. She looked around once more, appraising the space; it seemed to be shoved between two other rooms, as it was irregular and the window high above her seemed to be an afterthought. On her tiptoes, she moved over to it. The view took her breath away; a sloping green lawn, a deep blue lake sparking in the morning rays of sunlight... beautiful.
She yawned suddenly, realising that she hadn't slept in quite a while... yes, that was why Dumbledore had sent her to bed. She looked over at it, and her eyelids became heavy at the sight of it. She didn't even bother to take off her dirty robes before collapsing on top of the covers, asleep within moments.
**
**
No diary entry that night; not that Snape expected one, with all that was going on. He felt like tossing it aside, but thought better of it. Just because he was aggravated didn't mean he could take it out on her.
He glanced around the- his- room, the one place that he had never wanted to return to. He loathed the ostentatious furniture, hangings, and the marble and cold stone. It had never suited him, and he didn't think it ever would.
Had she made the connection yet?
Jupitus hooted at him from his perch besides the window, sensing his master's unease. Snape walked over and stroked the bird's feathers absently, wondering how much more he could take.
**
**
A quick meeting the next day confirmed their suspicions: Grimmauld Place had been compromised and several key Order locations ransacked simultaneously, leaving them with little choice but to remain in the Castle- wherever that was.
It had been brought up by several members that they should at least know where they were, if not whose house they were in- but Dumbledore was surprisingly stern. The owner would like their anonymous nature preserved, and if anyone had a problem with that, they should approach Dumbledore. Many grumbled at that, but there was no alternative.
The absence of Shacklebolt was noted with concern, as no one had seen him for at least a day. Hermione silently hope that he wouldn't become yet another wizard 'missing in action'.
Hermione sat in her customary seat, near the back of the meeting; she didn't see herself as prominent in any sense of the word, especially now that the Chosen One wasn't there to voice his overzealous opinion and bring his friends into it. She was content to watch and listen, mostly; one thing she found especially interesting was what she affectionately called "Snape-spying"; she'd found that she could interpret most of his facial expressions, actions, and words and translate them into his distinctive language. His unique perspective on the enemy allowed him a position near the front of the meeting, an ideal spot for her to watch him in.
McGonagall had moved onto the next item. "Now, some distressing news... the Ministry is trying to find Lucius Malfoy, concerned that he has been killed or captured by the Death Eaters." Some sceptical chatter began, but she continued. "Of course, there are alternative things to consider- he's often cited as the Dark Lord's right hand man, and having him out of the public eye is worrying to say the least."
"Not really, Minerva." Snape cut through the acidic discussions around the room, having the instant attention of everyone. "Lucius would only drop his guise, his family, and his titles for one thing- assurance from the Dark Lord of something better. Since he has not, in fact, won this war, we can assume that option to be impossible. To put your mind at ease, I can say with confidence that Malfoy is no longer an issue."
"In what way?" One witch said cautiously. "Do you mean..."
Snape arched one eyebrow at the congregation, and Hermione knew that he was secretly enjoying the tension. "I mean that Lucius Malfoy is dead."
"Dead?" Moody spat. "Impossible!"
"We at least need some evidence before this is settled, Severus." Minerva said at last. "We can't make plans without certainly."
"Has anyone seen him recently?" Snape asked sarcastically. "You want evidence? I was the last man to see him alive, and the first to see him dead. Is that sufficient?" He spat, bitterness returning as he steadfastly ignored the looks between Order members. "Knock on the door of Malfoy Manor to hear it from Draco Malfoy's mouth, or drag the bottom of the Channel. Either action will confirm his death."
Hermione winced. He was direct, if nothing else. The room was silent as the grave for a moment, before Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Let's continue... Minerva, if you would?"
She swallowed once, and then started on the remainder of the meeting. Hermione drifted out again, her eyes still on Snape. The last man to see him alive, and the first to see him dead. Drag the bottom of the Channel. It was plain to her that Severus had killed the senior Malfoy, but she found that she didn't mind at all.
At some point during the discussion, she saw him tense noticeably. She listened to what Moody was saying. "...who could be, in all probability, a Death Eater trying to get us all in one place to massacre us!"
He was talking about the owner of the castle! What a ridiculous statement...
She eyes went wide as the penny dropped. She jerked her head back over to stare at Severus, and instantly knew that it was true. It all made sense!
This is his castle!
That's how he knew where to Apparate to when no on else did... that's why he was so reluctant to discuss it earlier... and she already knew that he was rich.
Just not this rich.
She looked around the hall once more, this time admiring the tapestries and craftsmanship of the soaring buttresses. It was his home... the Snape ancestral home, most likely.
He shifted in his seat before suddenly turning to survey the crowd- and looking directly into her stunned eyes.
She didn't look away, knowing that the blush rising on her cheeks would give her away in any case. His eyes met hers once- he nodded slightly, barely an inclination of the chin, and turned back to the proceedings.
In that moment, they had both understood.
It was their secret.
Had Hermione been told a year ago that she would share so much of her own life with Severus, and that he would give her some in return, she would have declared them insane. Yet there she was, and she didn't regret a single decision that had brought her to that point.
**
**
To Hermione's surprise, the next time she saw Snape was at her shift of dinner, with the populace on a rotation to avoid overcrowding. He'd never been to any of the communal meals, as far as she knew, so this marked a rare appearance.
To Hermione's secret joy, the only space was next to either her or the chatty, elderly witch a few tables over. His eyes flickered in that direction once, a slight frown appearing, and then he resumed his course for her table.
The Weasley twins and a few other members Hermione didn't recognise were sitting at the same one, and the two red-heads were more than happy to let her take the fall and sit next to their menacing former Professor. They exchanged one partly sympathetic glance with her before the Potions master sat smoothly, his black-clad limbs brushing against Hermione as he filled up his plate.
"I trust you have been well." He murmured to her as way of greeting.
"Yes, thank you... a bit fatigued, but well overall." She replied honestly. He glanced at her, saw that she was telling the truth, and nodded in satisfaction.
They passed most of the meal in silence, their normally relaxed dynamic shattered by the presence of so many people.
He brushed against her once more as he left the table, his fingers lingering on her shoulder. "I hope we can find the time to brew again, once all the dust has settled. There are a few potions that I would like to try."
"Certainly." She agreed with a slight smile. "Whenever you see fit."
He left in his normal dramatic fashion, and Hermione was going to return to her meal when she heard a choked sound from beside her.
It was Fred, and to a lesser extent George, laughing into their hands and trying (unsuccessfully) to mask it as a cough. "Well?" Hermione said coolly, picking up her fork in nonchalance.
"What happened, Hermione? You were- civil! And he was... friendly!"
"Merlin forbid, Fred- mean old Snape, being friendly!" George snorted. "Never."
"Please! Must you be so thoughtless? He is, as surprised as you may be, human." She snapped, her forced calm shattered by their comments. "He's done more for this Order than you could ever imagine, and this is how you treat him?"
George blinked. "Blimey, Hermione, we were just..."
"Just nothing." She sighed, her anger dying down slightly. "I'm sorry, but I'm on a short fuse these days... and after Harry and Ron left, he essentially kept me from going mad by keeping me useful to the cause. So, if you don't mind, keep the insults to yourselves."
The matter was dropped; Hermione didn't hold it against them, but afterwards she felt sadness that no one else would know, or appreciate, him like she did.
**
**
I feel so useless here. At least in Grimmauld Place helping Severus was a way to keep the feeling away... but now, he's distant. I find that I miss having him around, someone to share a comfortable silence with or fill it with intellectual discussions on the relative merits of oak roots. I keep hoping that things will settle, that we could find a way to regain that easy living... but the Castle remains a prison, to both of us. Bound by duty, I quietly go about my small business in a small way and basically live according to the whims of whatever Order member I happen to be serving. It's not too bad, in case you're wondering (or you're one of them); some of the research I've been asked to do is very interesting, as well as in finding out how the Order actually works. Dumbledore always finds something stimulating for me to do, for which I am grateful; we've been here for a few weeks now, most of the members coming and going. As far as I can tell, only a few people actually live here- me, Severus, and a few recent temporary refugees without a family or friend to stay with. Even the Weasleys and Dumbledore go home for the nights. I have to admit that I've been offered a place at the Weasleys if I so desire, but it'll feel empty there; with no Ron, and Ginny off with Charlie, it won't be the same... and I can't leave him alone. He loathes this place, I can tell, and if I can alleviate that for a minute then I'll never leave.
He blinked and looked over those last few words with disbelief. "Then I'll never leave..."
**
**
As time drew on, Hermione could safely make a few assumptions- firstly, the Order was in shambles. They didn't have a plan, they didn't have Harry Potter, and they didn't have a spy on the inside. Dumbledore was able to keep them together through loyalty, but until they had a goal, an air of despair was settling over the group. Secondly, Severus was working himself to an early grave. He was the first up in the morning, and she had never seen him retire to his room for more than a few hours at a time. And thirdly, Hogwarts was not going to be reopened for quite a while. She could see the pain in Dumbledore's eyes as he related the problems to her and the other members of student age, and wished that she could make it better. But no one could; well, maybe a certain messy-haired individual.
It couldn't be long now...
**
**
She had been setting up an extra room for a visitor when she heard a rustling at the door. She whipped around, wand at the ready- only to find Severus, looking slightly amused at her reaction.
"Glad to see you're on your guard." He said, half seriously. "Are you content with this work, or are you ready for something more challenging?"
She glanced back at the sheets she had been laying on the bed. "I think there's no contest there; any more of this, and I may just wither away from boredom. I'll finish this, and then meet you..." She left it hanging, unsure of their meeting place.
"In my laboratory. Past the kitchens, down the left flight of stairs, last door on the right." He directed curtly, inclining his head slightly in farewell as he vanished from the archway. Hermione could hear his steady footsteps recede as she finished up, glancing once more around the room. She wouldn't be sorry to leave the domesticity behind, that was for sure; she felt like a maid, and considering there were no House Elves around, she surmised that she was taking their place instead.
She quickly visited Molly Weasley to say that she was working on something else for a while, and left before she could be roped into any last minute chores. Severus would be waiting for her, and he didn't like being kept waiting.
She would usually get into her work clothes, but almost everything had been left at Grimmauld Place. The only things she had picked up on her exit was Hyperion's cloak to wear, his birthday gift, and her wand. Everything else was in the hands of the enemy now.
She followed Severus' directions, finding the dark wooden door easily enough. She knocked once before entering.
She was blown away by the room beyond. It was, by far, the biggest laboratory that she had ever seen, and the best appointed; she could see dozens of ingredients cupboards, at least fourteen different cauldrons in a neat row against the stone wall, numerous shiny benches and an advanced ventilation system.
She whistled softly in appreciation before grinning at Severus, who was already sitting beside a bubbling cauldron well into the room. He smirked back with a knowing glint in his eye. "I trust you find it more than adequate, Hermione. It has taken the best part of my life to assemble this space."
"It's brilliant." She said breathlessly, already itching to explore as she took her seat beside him.
"Curb your curiosity for the moment. We need to find an adequate substitute for the griffin claw, as we have none in these stores..."
Hermione got into the debate quickly, eventually hammering out a possible alternative with Severus. They added it with bated breath, and both relaxed in relief when the Potion behaved as it should. There was a moment of silence as they both watched it simmering.
"This is a magnificent Castle." Hermione said suddenly, unsure of why she was bringing the topic up.
"It is of no consequence." Severus replied bluntly. "I have never found it practical; in many cases, it has been a burden."
"How is it that no one knew? Not even Dumbledore, in the beginning..."
"No one is even slightly interested, Hermione, and that's the way I prefer it." His tone was harsh, but Hermione pushed onwards.
"What-"
"Why do you bother, Hermione?" He interrupted her suddenly, facing her from across the small space between them. "You remain behind when your friends go on their epic quest; you are willing to be down here instead of in the thick of it..."
Hermione thought carefully before replying. "I enjoy it, for one thing. More than I had ever anticipated... and you can't do this alone."
He shook his head. "If this is out of some misplaced Gryffindor charity, I want nothing of it."
"It's not." She was quick to assert. "I... I want to be here. With you."
For a moment, she wondered with horror if she had gone too far. Severus had frozen, no cutting reply coming to his lips.
Hermione felt like she had stopped breathing, and she was suddenly conscious of her hands trembling slightly in her lap. When she glanced up at him again, his eyes were fully on her face.
"I'm exceedingly glad that it is so, Hermione... I couldn't have found-"
He was interrupted by a massive clanging sound, the bell calling for a general meeting. Hermione felt a flash of irrational anger at the damn thing, and she thought she saw a similarly frustrated expression on his face.
They remained where they were, even as the bell tolled again in the final call. Severus was the first to move, standing slowly with a rustle of his robes. "We should go." He said unnecessarily. He held out his arm, as a gentleman waiting for the lady.
Hermione nodded slowly, and took the proffered arm with slow deliberate movements. They were standing closer than was strictly necessary, and a thrill went up Hermione's spine at the contact.
Not another word was spoken as they walked out of the lab, up the stone stairs, and towards the hall. They let go of each other at the threshold, and Snape looked at her once more before entering. He looked as though he would say something, but he swept past her without giving voice to his thoughts.
Hermione blinked once as he went in, and then followed his lead, her head spinning and her thoughts confused. What had just happened?
What had she wanted to happen?
**
**
