A/N: Sorry for the lull, I had some stuff to do around the farm and finally some nice weather to do it in.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.

Hermione tightened her grip slightly as he transported them to a hidden spot just up the road from number 12 Grimmauld Place. It was already growing dark and they walked together, arm in arm, up the street towards the imposing home. To an onlooker they were simply a young couple, out for an evening stroll. They crossed the street and Severus opened the door, stepping through and holding it for her. She gave him a smile as he closed it behind him. As ever, they kept very quiet to avoid drawing the attention of Sirius' mother on the wall. She really wished he'd do something about that Harpy.

They walked quietly to the kitchen, removing their jackets as they walked.

"Hermione dear, come and sit down…I'll get you a cup of tea. Professor Snape, would you care for some as well?" Molly asked, taking immediate charge of them. "You're some of the first to arrive." She said.

"Tea would be lovely Molly." Severus said and took his usual seat at the end of the table…surprised when Hermione chose to sit beside him.

"What's all this I've been reading in the papers about you being a Blishwick?" Molly asked, bring over a plate of scones.

"Apparently my grandmother was a squib." She said softly. "It's been a lot to take in."

"Not just apparently." Sirius said as he came into the room with Remus close behind him. "The ring on your finger clears up the matter rather definitively." He smiled. "How are you? Well I hope?" He was rather fond of the young witch he found himself owing a life-debt to. A little part of him hoped that she and Harry would make a go of it one day.

"Very well, thank you Sirius. Congratulations on your trial." She said with a smile. "I meant to write, but things have been so busy."

"Thank you, it's good to be a free man again." He sat down. "Snape."

"Black." Severus responded just as coolly. He did not like the man's familiar manner with Hermione, but then he'd always been like that. He'd always treated women like possessions, or amusements. If the man ever laid a finger on his witch he would end him, once and for all.

"Hello Professor Lupin." Hermione said to Remus, hoping to diffuse the tension that suddenly seemed to exist in the room.

"It's just Remus now, Miss Granger. I'm no longer your Professor." He said simply and sat down. "Severus, I'm sorry for the intrusion, but Albus was adamant you be summoned." He looked weary.

"He's simply lucky we were not in a delicate situation. We very nearly were." Severus said evenly, it was not the first time the Order had interrupted his work. One day it was going to get him killed.

Remus nodded. "Again, you have my apologies."

Severus merely nodded, and said a polite thank you to Molly as she served up tea.

"It's good to see you as part of the Order, hopefully Harry and Ron will be joining you soon." Sirius said, giving Hermione a dashing smile.

"They're all too young, it's not the sort of business for a young witch to be involved in either." Molly clucked disapprovingly.

"Unfortunately the Dark Lord's followers involved her. Better she be forearmed in this fight, as they marked her as a target Molly." Severus said quietly.

"What do you mean?" Molly frowned.

"Dolohov had been sending me cursed letters, and Sev…Professor Snape learned that he'd been granted permission to come after me once they escape Azkaban." She said softly. "The Professor felt I deserved to be more involved since I was of age and had a vested interest so to speak."

Remus' eyes narrowed at the small slip. "What kind of curse?"

"It was a compulsion curse." Severus said. "A particularly nasty one. The letters themselves were disturbing, and the curse amplified their effect on Miss Granger to the point where she was having sleep disturbances and not eating." He watched the girl just stare deeply into her tea cup while he spoke. He knew it still bothered her, it was plain to him.

Remus nodded quietly, understanding just how terrible a curse like that could become. He also suspected there was more to the story, but it was not his secret to pry into. "I'm glad you caught it Severus."

"As am I." He agreed, the mood in the room growing quite somber.

Hermione merely sat quietly as others started arriving, Mad-Eye, a young Auror with electric blue hair named Tonks, and Kingsley. Albus was the last to arrive and a hooded figure was following him in. Hermione sat up, something about the posture and bearing of the man familiar to her.

"Thank you all for coming with such lack of notice. Firstly, I am here to share some news. One of the Dark Lord's inner Circle contacted me some time ago, about a possible switching of allegiance. I have discussed terms, and we finally reached an agreement. I trust most of you know him already." The Headmaster nodded to the figure beside him.

The hooded figure pushed back his cowl and stood there, looking arrogant and completely unashamed. Lucius Malfoy nodded to Severus, a hint of a smirk on his lips. "Many years ago, before the end of the first war, the Dark Lord asked my father to safe guard certain objects. After his death, the guardianship of those items fell to me. After the incident with the Diary, I began to suspect that these items were somewhat less innocuous than I had been led to believe." He explained. "After casting some diagnostic spells, I discovered two more items in my vault that were suspect. I have given these items to Dumbledore. My family and I will be leaving Britain tonight."

"Turning tail and running…" Moody snorted.

"I have a wife and son to protect Moody." Lucius said, a feral smile on his lips. "They have always been my priority."

"That is enough Alastor." Albus said smoothly. "Please have a seat." He said to Lucius who chose to lean elegantly against the back wall nearest Severus. "Now, these objects are essential to defeating Tom once and for all, and retrieving them from a vault would be next to impossible. Lord Malfoy and his family are now considered friends of the Order." He said firmly. "The Dark Lord has managed to return through the use of a particularly vile piece of magic, called a Horcrux." He said. "A Horcrux is an object in which a wizard has hidden a piece of his soul. In history there were only ever instances of this being done once. Tom has made several, which would account for his altered appearance and frankly his mental instability since his return."

"So unless we destroy all of these Horcurxes…we can't actually kill him." Hermione said, the true horror of it hitting her.

"That is correct Miss Granger. Several have now been located, and destroyed. However the exact number remaining is questionable. I have my suspicions but at the moment that is all they are." Albus said. "Once the Ministry falls, the primary focus of the Order will be locating and destroying the Horcruxes."

Hermione shuddered as he continued to talk about the disappearances that had been occurring with greater frequency. She mostly tuned it out, still trying to deal with the aftereffects of feeding the wards at Bathhampton House. She nearly jumped when Severus touched her hand, bringing her back to herself. She realized that Albus was finishing his long-winded talk.

"Now, if you'd all give me the room, I need to speak to Severus for a moment alone." Albus said loftily and everyone stood.

Hermione gave Severus a look and he just inclined his head, reassuring her that he would be fine. Hermione was the last one out the door and she could almost feel the privacy spell fall behind them. She headed towards the sitting room where she could hear the others, when Lucius Malfoy stepped from the shadows in front of her, blocking the hallway.

"Excuse me." She said politely, going to pass him, but he didn't move.

"I suppose congratulations are in order…Lady Blishwick." Lucius said, grey eyes intent on her.

"I'm still a Granger." She said, jaw tightening.

"For the moment." Lucius said. "I do hope you enjoyed your letters…." He said silkily.

Hermione's eyes narrowed and before she even knew what she was doing she punched him, HARD. "You bastard." She hissed at him.

Lucius let the blow rock him, raising a hand to his now bloody lip. "I can see why Severus is so fond of you." He smirked, rubbing the blood between his fingers. She had quite the temper.

"Get out of my way." She said quietly, eyes narrowed.

"Of course…my Lady." He gave a bit of a mocking bow and moved out of her way as she escaped to join the others.

ooOoo

Severus looked at Albus impassively, unsure of what the man wanted…or worse what he knew. Having Lucius appear tonight had been an unwelcome surprise. It made him mentally scramble wondering what his friend knew, and what he'd shared with the Headmaster. Damn it but he hated unknowns.

"Lucius shared some disturbing knowledge with me tonight, and I was wondering the truth of it." Albus finally said, observing Severus over the rims of his half-moon spectacles.

"What knowledge?" Severus said, appearing bored.

"He claims that Tom has told them that Miss Granger is off limits, and that if anyone touches her their lives will be forfeit…to you." Albus said. "Why would he say such a thing Severus?"

Severus' jaw tightened, and he mentally cursed his friend. "Because he offered her to me, as a reward for my 'services'. He believes she can replace Lily." He said simply. "I didn't reject the 'gift' simply because it affords her protection that she will have need of next year."

Albus' blue eyes searched Severus' dark ones for a long time, feeling there was more to it. "Is that the only reason?"

"It is the only reason I will allow, Albus. She is my student. Anything else does not exist, cannot exist." Severus said quietly. "There are many things I will do Albus, but there are some lines I will not cross. Not for anyone." He said quietly, clinging hard to his own moral code even as it was pulled out of his grasp.

"You are perfectly aware that providing both parties are of age, there is no prohibition on relationships between staff and students. Godric's own wife started as one of his students if you recall." Albus said softly. "You're an honourable man Severus, I have every confidence you will do the right thing. Why did you not tell me what he had ordered?"

"Because I was ashamed." He snapped. "All our efforts to protect her are just dragging her deeper in. I don't know how to stop it." He whispered. It was a frightening thing to admit that he was afraid for the girl, knowing just how deep the water was and worse what was lurking beneath.

"Then stop trying. Fate has a way of working her will, and the harder you fight the faster it comes to pass." Albus said and touched Severus' shoulder. "What will be, will be my boy. No matter what comes, you will do the right thing. In the end you always have."

Severus closed his eyes and nodded.

"Besides, having Miss Granger working on both sides would offer even more opportunities for intelligence as well." He added.

Severus just nodded. "I should return Miss Granger to the school." He said and straightened, pulling away. The moment of comfort lost in the cold reality that it was just Albus giving him permission to do as the Dark Lord had demanded, because it would benefit the Order. It disgusted him. Miss Granger was not some favour to be handed out.

"Yes, of course." Albus said and let him draw away.

Severus cancelled the privacy spell and went out into the hall and saw Lucius there, his lip swollen and a little bloody. He drew his wand and backed his friend into an empty room. "Stay away from her Lucius. Do you understand me?" His tone was quiet and calm, and he could see that his friend understood just how dangerous he was tonight.

Lucius inclined his head. "I understand you, very well." He said, keeping quite still. "I'm leaving to join my family tonight Severus, you will not see me again until this is over."

"Keep them safe, Lucius." Severus said softly and lowered his wand, his weariness sitting on his shoulders.

"I plan to." He said softly. "Take care of yourself as well. I want you still around to share a drink with me when it's done with."

"I have no plans of lying down and dying just yet." He said quietly. "There are too many people depending on me."

Lucius nodded and went over, gripping his shoulder. "Don't deny yourself a little comfort Severus, take it where it's offered. There will be little of it on offer until this is all over."

He gave Lucius a withering look.

"Just a suggestion." He winked at his friend and left the room. "Watch your back, old friend."

Severus closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was grateful, eternally so, that Lucius and his family would be safe. Aiding them before things really turned nasty was a calculated move as well. Lucius was just as adept as he was when it came to playing both sides against the middle. This was a decisive choice against the Dark Lord, and he sensed Narcissa's hand behind it. She had never been as ardent a supporter as her sister, and at the end of the day her first priority was her son. She would do whatever it took to protect Draco.

"Severus?" Hermione's voice came to him from the doorway.

"Miss Granger…Hermione." He corrected himself. "I was just taking my leave of Lucius."

"Had he healed his lip yet?" She smirked.

"No. I'm assuming it was well deserved?" He chuckled at the completely unrepentant look on her face. She wouldn't be the first one who'd wanted to strike the smug look off Lucius face, though he imagined she was one of the very few that had ever dared.

"Quite." Was her succinct reply.

"We should return to Hogwarts. You'll need to change and get back to your dormitory before curfew." He said and headed over.

"As nice as it is to see Sirius and Remus, I think it's time to go." She said. Sitting in a room with the two men was a bit much when they were trying oh so hard to pretend they were not impatient for her to go. She could see how much they meant to one another, and she doubted it was entirely platonic.

He offered her his arm. "Allow me then. I would ask that you refrain from casting any complex magic for the next day or so. You need to allow yourself to recover."

"I'll do my best." She smiled and took his arm, letting him apparate them back to the school. She paused a moment and looked up at him. She bit her bottom lip and then after a heartbeat's deliberation, she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for today." She whispered and moved back, cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Severus was gobsmacked and blinked at the blushing witch. "It was my pleasure." He said quietly. "I'll wait out here while you change." He said, guiding her towards the cabin and trying to process the chaste kiss. He'd never for a moment considered that she might see him as anything other than a mentor, but that look on her face as she moved back from him had been telling. He touched his cheek, still able to feel the ghostly caress of soft lips there. The smallest of smiles curved up the corner of his mouth as he waited out in the darkening woods for her to rejoin him.

They did not speak as they walked back into the castle through the tunnels and he watched her head off towards Gryffindor Tower. It was early enough in the night that no one would think much of her leaving the dungeons from the direction of the potions labs. She was usually down there several nights a week. He headed towards his office, unsurprised to find Theodore Nott there, waiting for him.

"Mr. Nott, I was unaware that we had an appointment." He said, raising an eyebrow.

"We didn't Sir, but there is a situation in the dorms I believe you need to be appraised of." He said.

"Very well, come in." He gestured the boy into his office.

"Draco's missing. He missed his last class this afternoon and when I went to check the dorm room, all of his things were gone." He said, obviously worried.

"Mr. Malfoy will be gone for the foreseeable future. In consideration of that, I would ask that you assume his Prefect duties." He said. "You noticed something amiss, and responded swiftly and appropriately."

Theo looked surprised but nodded. "I'd be honoured Sir." He said respectfully. "I'll inform everyone there's nothing to be alarmed about. Good evening Sir."

"I'll have a Prefect's badge for you tomorrow at breakfast Mr. Nott." Severus said by way of dismissal and once he was gone he sank into his chair, mentally and magically exhausted for the night.

ooOoo

Hermione was sitting in the common room a few days later, studying her charms notes when Harry came down. It was late and pretty much everyone else was asleep. He came over and sat beside her. "Hey Harry." She smiled.

"I was wondering if we could talk a little?" He asked her.

"Sure, what's on your mind?" She asked and set her notes aside.

"I know there's something going on with you this year, and I just want you to know that you can talk to me. Even if it's something Ron won't understand…I'll try to." He said, something clearly bothering him.

"What's this all about Harry?" She asked, cutting to the chase.

"I saw you on the Marauder's map the other night. With Snape." He said, looking guilty.

"Harry James Potter! Were you spying on me?" She raised her eyebrows and gave him a reproachful glare. She'd known something like this was going to happen.

"I was worried. You came in the other night just exhausted after he said he'd needed you for the Headmaster, and then I couldn't find you anywhere. You'd just disappeared off the map entirely, and so had they." Harry said.

"Look there are things that I can't tell you Harry." She reached over and took his hand. "The war's going to really start soon, and the Headmaster knows it. We all have things we have to do now in order to prepare. You have your lessons with the Headmaster, and Professor Snape is helping me with some things too. The other night…it was a family thing. The Professor was just kind enough to escort me. Everything was fine, but it was a bit of a scare." She explained, keeping it vauge.

Harry nodded. "It's going to get bad isn't it?" He squeezed her hand tightly.

"Yeah, I think so." She said. "Listen, no matter what happens…or what I might have to say or do, I will always have your back. Ok?" She met his eyes, willing him to understand.

Harry nodded. "Be careful 'Mione…" He said softly and just sat with her. He could feel that she was mixed up in something big, something dangerous. He also knew that she was the smartest person he had ever known, and if she needed his help she'd ask for it. The fiasco at the Department of Mysteries had been a sobering experience for him. He'd learned the costs of being impulsive. War wasn't coming, it was here and he needed to grow up.