6.00am
Severus woke early the morning after the ball, and was surprised to see Hermione in his bed, curled up in his arms. He lay still, gently stroking her hair as he thought. He was not a deep sleeper by nature, years of living as a spy had lent him nary a good nights sleep for thirty odd years. So she shouldn't have been able to join him without him waking and noticing. Merely having another presence in his room should have woken him. Briefly he toyed with the idea that he had been too drunk to notice, but dismissed it immediately. He hadn't drunk nearly enough for that to be the reason. Hermione stretched beside him, turner over so her back was to him, but continued to sleep.
Somewhat annoyed that he couldn't work out why he hadn't woken up, Severus carefully disentangled himself from her and sat up, legs on the cold floor. He stayed sat like that for a moment, and his annoyance slid away as he watched Hermione sleep.
It's definitely not just lust like I hoped it was at the beginning. I'm in love with this young woman, despite this being the worst time ever to fall in love. The probability of both of us surviving this war…
He shook his head to clear such morbid thoughts. As he did so, he noticed the picture frame on his bedside locker. He took a moment to study the images, something he hadn't done in front of Draco the night before. In spite of his natural aversion to seeing himself in pictures, he had to admit that he and Hermione made a striking couple, especially dressed in their best, matching in emerald green dancing in the candlelight.
Merlin, I'm in over my head.
Then another thought popped into his head. She's put it in my bedroom, that's practically moving in! The bachelor in him balked at that, before settling down again when he realised that actually, he didn't mind. He washed and dressed swiftly, as he had an order meeting to attend in the morning, before the teachers had to be at Hogwarts to welcome the younger students back from the half term holiday. He penned a short note to Hermione and left it on his pillow, just as she had done. He bent and kissed her gently, then apparated out of his quarters with a quiet pop.
xoxoxoxox
7.00am
He arrived at the Burrow slightly later than he had anticipated and was the last to arrive. Albus gave him an odd look as he took his usual seat at the far end of the table. Severus noted it, but it was not one of the many looks he had come to understand, so he let it go for now until further information presented itself.
He scowled to see that Potter and his cronies had been included in the meeting. Potter began the meeting as usual by outlining his complete lack of progress in the horcrux hunt, and receiving encouraging comments from his fan club. This took some time. Snape curled his lip as the female Weasley stood and gave an impassioned speech about how hard Harry was working, and how other people could be helping him far more than they were. She shot a glance as him as she said that, and he felt it necessary to reply to her unspoken challenge.
He stood suddenly, and revelled in how she fell silent and sat, and all eyes went to him.
"Miss Weasley is perhaps referring to the only member of the order who has not been expressly working on the issue of the horcruxes, namely myself?"
Ginny went red. She had been referring to him obliquely, but hadn't expected him to pick her up on it.
"Perhaps Miss Weasley has forgotten what I have been working on? The potion that will strip Voldemort of his powers giving the 'chosen one'" he spat Harry's nickname with all possible venom, "a chance to defeat him. A task that unlike the horcrux task, has been successful."
Everyone sat up straighter at that. "You mean you have been successful in brewing it?" Asked Dumbledore.
Severus smiled. "No headmaster, I have not been successful."
"But you just said…" Started Harry.
"I have not been successful." Repeated Severus, a little louder. "But Hermione has been." He watched as the younger members faces immediately darkened, and the elder ones went blank, others less adept at hiding their emotions became suspicious.
"With my help of course, but by and large the potion has been her own work, she has worked on it alone while I have been busy with my teaching and spying duties. She is an immensely powerful witch." He smirked as a few people flinched at the reminder that the most powerful witch of the age was no longer completely on their side.
"In spite of her considerable talents, the potion can not be brewed to the same potency as the original from the sixteenth century. She worked out that the key ingredient for permanent power loss no longer exists, the creature needed to procure it now being extinct. However we have managed to get it to last for a maximum of 2 minutes and 15 seconds, no mean feat. It may well give us the margin we need to defeat the dark lord."
"Congratulations Severus." Said Dumbledore after a pause. "We shall of course give Hermione the top grade she requested for brewing the potion for her school project."
Severus bowed, and sat back down. Dumbledore lent forward and continued to speak to him. "On the subject of Miss Granger, I have a few questions I believe you are the best qualified to answer."
Severus raised an eyebrow. "And why would that be headmaster? Perhaps one of her friends would be better suited. Draco perhaps, or young Miss Parkinson."
"They were considered." Replied Dumbledore slowly. "But my intelligence suggests it is you who spends the most time with her, and is also one of her friends." He put a slight emphasis on the word friends, and Severus noted it. What did the old coot know?
"Very well." He replied. "I will answer to the best of my knowledge."
"I am sure you have noticed the immense changes that Miss Granger has undergone in the last term and a half."
"She has become agreeably Slytherin, I will grant you that."
"She's become a total bitch!" Interjected Ginny.
"Ginny! Watch your mouth." Said Molly.
"Well it's true." Muttered Ginny sulkily.
"I was indeed referring," continued Albus, "to her behavioural differences. Not that I would refer to them as Miss Weasley."
"I would say," say Severus, "that all she is done is grow up. It is unrealistic to expect her to be child she was when she first came to Hogwarts. As a young woman, she is asserting herself as an individual, through what she wears and the company she keeps. Friendships at that age do not always last. She told me that she felt, for the last few years, that she was acting the part of a Gryffindor, biting her tongue and acting correctly. Becoming a Slytherin was a great relief for her."
"Is that so?" Said Minerva. "Well you are welcome to her Severus."
Severus kept his face blank. The double meaning had not escaped him.
"It could just be that she is growing up," conceded Dumbledore, "but I fear there may be more to it."
"Oh?"
"Her interest in the witch burnings of the 16th century was the first clue. Why would she question what she'd been taught as a first year? All of us here know the truth of that matter, that those burnt were witches and wizards who bought dark magic into the world in order to take the magical ability of muggle borns, and were punished accordingly. But Hermione seemed to see the events things from their point of view, a most unsettling notion."
Severus mused darkly that Dumbledore's view of those events would certainly have convinced Potter and his cronies. If he hadn't told Hermione the truth, she may have been taken in too.
"When she gave up her line of questioning it was met with relief from all of us. When she chose to brew a potion, we thought her brief flirtation with the dark side was over. But then we learnt it was the very potion those first evil wizards used on the muggle borns. We said nothing at the time, because we recognised the potential of using it against Voldemort, but you can see why would be concerned. Then she joined Slytherin, and became good friends with sons of known death eaters. Can you see where I am going with this Severus?"
Severus could. Dumbledore had obviously put some thought into this, painting Hermione as an up and coming dark witch.
"I don't believe I do headmaster."
Albus sighed. "I believe Hermione is in grave danger of being seduced by the dark arts, and then by Voldemort himself, if she hasn't been already. Over the last few weeks she has disappeared from the castle alone on several occasions, without telling anyone. We know this thanks to the marauders map."
I wonder why Dumbledore hasn't said that I'm often gone at the same time?
"If she is meeting in secret with dark witches and wizards, she may be putting Hogwarts in danger."
"I do not believe Hermione has any interest in becoming a death eater."
"So if we were to examine her, we would find no dark mark tattoo?"
"Certainly not. As a masquerading death eater I would know if she'd been inducted."
"I'm glad to hear it. Next question, does Hermione have an interest in the dark arts?"
Severus opted for the truth. "Yes she does, few Slytherins don't, myself included. They hold a fascination for us. But she has not taken it to undue lengths."
"You would know this would you?"
"I would. Like you yourself said headmaster, I spend some amount of time with her, and she is my friend."
Albus fixed him with a steady gaze. "Have you yourself Severus, ever shown her, taught her, any dark magic."
He knows I have. "I have headmaster."
"SEE." Shouted Harry. "He's been brainwashing her or something."
"Sit down Potter." Said Severus calmly. "Make any more unfounded accusations like that and I will become angry."
"What have you taught her Severus?"
"A range of defensive spells, offensive spells and rather nasty potions."
"Why?"
"So she can help in the final battle. Unlike her old friends, she has realised that Death eaters using unforgivables are unlikely to be beaten by a woman using stunners."
"Have you taught her unforgivables?"
Yes. "No."
"So at this time," said Dumbledore, addressing all of the order. "Hermione has shown an unhealthy interest in the dark arts, which Severus had aided her in. But he has not taught her unforgivables, and is sure that she has no intention of becoming a death eater. She is not, currently at least, a threat. So, Severus have you named your potion?"
"Hermione has named her potion Sine Nomine."
"Marvellous. I disband this meeting at 11.15 am. Business closed." Everyone stood to leave, and Severus nodded at Dumbledore, letting him know he was on his way to a death eater meeting. Dumbledore watched him leave.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
12.45am
Back at Hogwarts, the junior members of the Order of the Phoenix met in the room of requirement to discuss their next steps.
"So Snape called her Hermione, not Miss Granger?" Asked Neville.
"That's right. And he kept saying how she had grown up, calling her a young woman and stuff. Which is interesting because he always calls us children in that nasty way of his." Replied Ginny.
"Did Dumbledore ask him about when he leaves the castle at the same time as her Harry?"
"No. He decided to keep that information to himself for now. I wish I knew how they got out. One minute they're in his classroom or his private study, the next minute they've gone. There's no passage out of that area in the dungeons."
None of the D.A knew about the secret Slytherin study, as the headmaster didn't know either. When Hermione and Severus were in there, it showed them as not being in the castle.
"I bet they're going to death eater meetings." Moaned Ron. "But how can we prove it?"
"By getting Hermione in here." Said Harry. "Last time we tried Veritaserum, Snape showed up and threatened us, if we were in here, he wouldn't be able to get in until we came out with the truth."
"So we grab her again."
"Exactly. If she's a death eater, we'll find her tattoo wherever she's hidden in. And if she's not, we'll find out what's going on in her head anyway."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox
1pm
In the kitchens of Hogwarts, Dobby was addressing a large crowd of elves.
"Those of you who want to come and speak with my friend Hapsad," he squeaked, "may stay. Those who still believe elves should be slaves, beaten and insulted, you go right now!!"
It was a credit to Dobby and Hermione's hard work that only a few elves hurried off to work the laundry. Dobby disappeared with a crack, and then reappeared with Hapsad, who was dressed in clothes like Dobby, but had got them right. She was wearing a simple white blouse and a modest blue skirt. Her hair was neatly brushed with a blue clip keeping it off her face.
"Good morning fellow elves." She said. "My name is Hapsad, and I am here to tell you some of the most amazing things you have ever heard."
Hapsad recounted her life as a house elf, bought up by humans as an equal, before finding that her innate urge to serve could be satisfied as an employee. She then explained that when Dobby came to her with S.A.D, she had been amazed that other elves felt the way she did. She was not a freak; she was on the crest of the new wave of elves.
"I am proud to count myself amongst those elves who are committed to fighting for a fairer, safer, brighter future."
Hapsad realised she was crying with emotion. But then, so was Dobby, so was Winky, so was little Middy, who had been so happy to meet Hermione at her talk last week. So were most of the elves in the gargantuan kitchen.
"Fellow elves," cried Hapsad through her tears, "the wizards you serve are taking advantage of you. They choose not to see our capacity to be our own persons! They would have us be slaves forever. Even the supposedly wise and kind Albus Dumbledore had made no effort to fight this speciesism. But are those few who believe in us, believe in our cause."
"Miss Hermione!" Shouted Middy.
"Yes! Hermione was the first human other than my own family who I have ever met who saw our pain. And she has brought all of us together. She has taken our cause to humans, many human children are supporting us, making a better future possible."
"But she is only one." Said Winky sadly.
"But she is not alone." Said Dobby. "She has made friends with men and women who have power to change society."
Dobby then took over from Hapsad, and explained about the Shadows to every single elf present. Tom had chosen to take a gamble with the house elves. He knew he could help them, but to garner their help in the final battle, it was only fair they knew who and what they were fighting for. If any of them chose to bail, Hapsad had received permission to obliviate them. Too many humans knowing at this stage was dangerous, but the elves were trustworthy.
The elves listened attentively to Dobby without interrupting. Dobby explained about the division between the light, the dark, and those who used both to benefit everyone. By the time he had finished explaining, the elves tears had dried. They were wound up like a spring, ready to move into action on the side of the shadows. Dobby produced a document, which they all signed, it was a list of elves who wanted pay and holiday, which Dobby planned to give to Dumbledore.
Hapsad then called for silence.
"We are resolved then? We fight on the side of the Shadows in the final battle, in the knowledge that when they win, all magical creature will be treated equally with humans."
The assembled elves nodded solemnly.
"We will take our first day of holiday tomorrow." Said Dobby. "Then we will go to the Shadow headquarters and you can be formally inducted like I have." Dobby and Hapsad rolled up the sleeves on their clothes, and showed the shadow tattoo on their upper arms.
Xoxoxoxoxoxo
3pm
Hermione woke up, rolled over, and went back to sleep.
xoxoxoxoxox
3.30pm
"I'm not completely happy about this Albus." Said Aberforth. "Are you certain we can't defeat them in any other way?"
"It must be a final, decisive battle I'm afraid brother. There is no other way."
The two Dumbledore brothers were sat in Albus' office, discussing how they would end the war.
"But the prophecy says that one of us has to kill the other, and I don't particularly want to die."
"You forget brother, the prophecy speaks of Tom Riddle, not of you."
"But Harry doesn't know Voldemort and Tom are different people, and Tom is hardly going to arrive on the battlefield dressed up like Voldemort is he? And I, who will be dressed as Voldemort, will be there. I can't tell the death eaters I'm too chicken to face Harry."
"It will be fine. Tom will turn up, I'm sure of it. I'm almost certain he has a group of like-minded individuals with him, the battle will be the perfect opportunity for them to take out both the order and the death eaters, leaving the way clear for them to start culling muggle-borns left right and centre. We can find him, transfigure him into Voldemort, give him Miss Granger's potion somehow and then Harry can kill him. Easy. You can lead the attack, and then disappear in the general confusion. We can get rid of Severus and Miss Granger during the battle as well, I don't trust those two. I know Severus is loyal to me, but he keeps disappearing with Miss Granger, and she's been acting very strangely."
"I still think they're having an affair. It makes sense. She goes all Slytherin to impress him, and he sneaks her out of the castle for some alone time."
"Perhaps. But Severus? He is not the type to take advantage of a girl. He's an embittered man, with no heart. I manipulated his whole life to ensure he'd be the way he is, no sane person, capable of love would be prepared to do what he does. No, I doubt he's in love, or even in lust, with her."
"You manipulated his whole life?"
Albus gave his brother a look. "Aberforth, you know I've planned this war for years. I saw a youngster of eleven, broken from an unhappy childhood, and ensured his teenage years were no happier. The marauders bullying was no accident. He hates himself, so takes on suicidal mission. I'm surprised he hasn't died yet. That's why Miss Granger can mean nothing to him. If you can't love yourself, how can you love others?"
"Anyway this attack."
"Of course, well Harry needs more training, he'll be ready by the end of the last term of this school year. Plus, I want him to get good N.E.W.T's, can't have the chosen one doing badly in school. And a final battle before then would mess up his revision…"
Xoxoxoxoxoxo
4.02pm
The meeting of the D.A had taken longer than Harry had thought, and he was annoyed. Deciding Hermione needed to be interrogated had been easy enough, but choosing when to do it, how to get the Veritaserum, how to kidnap her without Snape knowing and what to do if she was a death eater had been a long process. Plus the elves for some reason had taken forever getting them lunch.
But, by and large, things are going my way. Thought Harry.
He turned a corner and saw Draco walking down the corridor towards him. And he was alone for once.
"Oi, Ferret! Long time no see."
He watched Draco slow down, and felt his ire rise as the poncy Slytherin dared to ignore him.
"Hey dumb blonde, I'm talking to you."
Malfoy acknowledged him. "Potter. Returning to finish your education? I doubt it somehow."
"Actually Malfoy, I'm tutored elsewhere. I have more important things to do that waste my free time on quidditch like you."
"That's fighting talk Potter. Actually dismissing the sport that was your sole reason for living not so long ago? I'm shocked."
"Not as shocked as you will be."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean plans are in motion Malfoy. You and your family are going to get it. I almost pity Hermione, she picked the losing side."
Draco just smirked, which angered Harry further.
"Actually Potter, Hermione made an inspired choice. Don't go thinking you are the only one to have given thought to the future. Hermione is happier than she has been for years, with true friends around her."
"I wouldn't call her customers friends. But I suppose if she's not paid for servicing you and Snape, she has to call you something."
To his frustration, the jibe that would once have had Draco leap to Hermione's defence made no impact.
"The whore joke. Ah yes. Still witty Potter, well done." Draco passed by him, and was out of sight when Harry heard him call back.
"At least my girlfriend hasn't had half the school. You should have stayed Potter, that Ginny's a firecracker without your supervision."
Harry turned and roared in anger, but Draco was sensibly long gone, chuckling to himself.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
10.43pm
Dear Diary,
The castle has been so tense today. Half the teachers were gone this morning, and so were loads of the Gryffindors. Draco reckons it was an order meeting. Hermione's not been around all day either; I haven't seen her since the ball. But Draco says she said she was going to sleep all day, so that's eased my mind a bit.
I wish I could do more to help her. She's got so much on her plate, at least the potions done. I mean, Severus is as smart as her, Draco's as adventurous. I'm not much of a help at all. I mean, I gave her some muscle soothers when her legs hurt from all that running, but that's not much. If she got really hurt she'd go to Pomfrey I'd expect. What's the use of spending my time boning up on medical stuff or Healer training next year when no one needs my help, even during a war! But I'm being selfish. I don't want her to get hurt. If I was older I could be of some use. But Draco and Hermione have early birthdays, mine isn't until June. What if the wars over by June!
Draco had a run in with Potter earlier. He makes my blood boil! I thought Gryffindors were supposed to be courageous and loyal, but that's not how he's acted at all recently. Look at Hermione for example! I know Slytherins are meant to be cunning and wily, but that's just a stereotype. And what's wrong with looking out for number one anyway? It's just honest. Just like we're honest about how cool the dark arts are. And we get a reputation for being evil! But I've ranted about that enough times lol. Whining again won't change things.
The house elves were acting strange again today. It was supposed to be an extra special meal, as all the younger years came back today, but they'd done lots of simple dishes. I mean they were still really yummy and expertly done, just not the extravagant things they like to show off with normally. And then dessert was late, we sat for ten minutes waiting! I don't know what's got into them! Even Dumbledore looked a bit confused. But Professor Snape was smirking, so I guess that's ok.
He was in a horrible mood earlier though. About 7pm he came into the common room and ranted in that very cold and quiet voice that Slytherin had to win the house cup this year. I mean we are! Well nearly. We're winning the quidditch anyway. The Gryffindor seeker is hopeless, Draco runs rings around her! But yeah, so I was glad he felt better during dinner. I don't envy Hermione I can tell you, he wouldn't be an easy man to live with!
Goodnight Diary.
Pansy
xoxoxoxoxo
Hermione was sat up reading when Severus came in. She'd slept all day like she'd threatened to, but Middy the house elf had bought her dinner. The little thing had seemed almost star struck, and Hermione had found it necessary to calm her down a bit. Somewhat refreshed, she's sat and read in the evening, waiting for Severus. She knew he'd been to several meetings that day, and wanted to hear the news.
He flopped down beside her on the sofa, and sat back with his eyes closed. He kicked off his boots and rested his feet on the coffee table.
"So what happened today?" Asked Hermione warily. He looked tired, and might not appreciate questioning.
"I went to the order meeting. No progress on Horcruxes, they're chuffed with the potion, Dumbledore was asking me questions about you, how far into the dark arts you were and whether you'd join the death eaters etc.
Then I went to a death eaters meeting. Aberforth kept us waiting for some time. Lucius and I talked, whilst the others 'played'. She was about 14. Then Aberforth arrived, and told us the final battle would take place at the end of the school year.
Then Lucius and I went on to a Shadow meeting and told Tom about the Death eaters meeting and the Order meeting. He is mulling things over; the house elves are planning to swear allegiance tomorrow. Then I came back here, vented in the Slytherin common room and ate dinner."
He opened one eye and looked at her. "Have you eaten?"
"Uh, yes. And slept. My day hasn't been as productive as yours I'm afraid."
"Good. You were looking tired." Severus closed his eye and settled back further into the sofa. Hermione prodded him.
"You are not going to sleep fully dressed on the sofa. Get up and go to bed."
"First you monopolize my beside cabinet, now you're nagging me." Severus sat up and sighed. "What am I doing?"
Hermione laughed. "Introducing, the old ball and chain."