A/N: short chapter, sorry.
Saturday was blissful for four young people, actually, it was blissful for Snape and Josslyn as well, but we won't get into that.
"I must leave tomorrow princess." He said quietly
They were sitting in a lounge chair in the back yard watching the sunset. She was sitting in between his legs leaning back into his chest; his strong arms surrounding her.
She sighed, "I know."
He kissed her shoulder and let his lips rest there for a moment.
"Viktor?" she asked hesitantly.
"hmmmm?" he murmured loving the smell of her.
"Can I talk to you about something?"
Her tone was quiet and apprehensive, which put Viktor on alert, "anything princess." He said hoping she wasn't going to tell him to never return.
She sighed and spun around slowly and smiled when he groaned slightly in disappointment that her body was no longer pressed against his.
A cool breeze blew softly and he sat up.
"It's not me." She said quickly putting his mind at ease and then continued, "I don't trust Dumbledore." She said and held her breath waiting for the scolding she knew was coming.
"I don't either." He replied.
Her eyes lit up and then narrowed almost as quickly, "Why don't you?" she asked.
He smirked, it was just like her to question his motives after she had declared the same thing not a moment before, "scheming. He likes power. It puts me on edge."
She nodded, apparently satisfied with his answer, "Yes, I agree. He seems very manipulative. I don't like it. What can we do?" she asked and he knew she was asking him for his honest opinion.
"Stop the dark lord before he gets a chance to manipulate the event."
He wasn't expecting her to throw her arms around him so thoroughly, but she did and they lost balance and toppled the short way to the ground laughing.
"ahem." The dark wizard at the door had to fight the urge to smile at the young lovers.
"Dad… ummmm we were just…"
He held his hand up, "Please; spare me. I have a message for you." He said.
She frowned, "Harry?" she asked wondering why he didn't just visit.
"No. I suspect from your …new cause." He said referring to the Slytherins she helped.
Viktor smirked and she smiled, "Thank you."
Granger,
Thank you… for everything. This may come as a surprise, but we want to help… you. We don't trust Dumbledore, but want to trust you. This is hard.
Is there a way for us to help without getting killed in the process? Is there a way for us to help without the ones we love getting killed in the process?
Is there a way to meet you without having your brute of a boyfriend killing or maiming us?
Potion worked – no night sweats, no twitching. If you have a reply can you get it to us without being blatantly obvious – Gryffindor isn't known for their covert expressions. Haha.
Here's to taking a leap of faith,
The Five Musketeers.
She gave the letter to Severus (Viktor was reading over her shoulder), he looked at her with one of his don't-lie-to-me looks and asked the question; "Do you trust him?"
"No." she said and then wanted to explain, "I see what he makes you do and what he goads Harry into doing. He is much too manipulative and I just don't feel right. Can we stop you know who without letting headmaster pull the strings?"
"Possibly. We'll need all the help we can get. Invite your … five ? musketeers over then." He said and handed her a quill and parchment.
She gave the finished letter to Severus who would leave it where either Blaise or Draco would find it.
"Can you stay until we meet?" she asked
"Da. I vill… for you princess." He replied.
She smiled, "…and because you don't trust them?" she said knowing that there was an ulterior motive.
His shoulders shook from his chuckles at being caught, "Da and because I no trust them."
***
"Look what I found." Blaise told Draco the following day holding a rolled parchment.
Draco raised an eyebrow, "Where?"
"Inside my potions book." He said
Draco snorted, "Well? What does it say?"
"Shouldn't we read it with the others?" Blaise asked.
Draco pouted, "ok. Pansy?" he called.
She looked up at him, "Let's go."
Ten minutes later they were all sitting in Marcus' living room staring at the note.
"Are you sure we can trust her?" Pansy asked not having been present the other day.
"I think so." Draco replied surprising them.
"She brewed that potion from memory. The only thing she was looking for in those books was one ingredient. That's just scary…" Pucey added.
He picked up the parchment and read it again.
Dear Five Musketeers,
Cute muggle reference, but there were three not five musketeers; however, you get kudos for trying.
You're opinion of Dumbledore is shared by many here, primarily your head of house and me. There are more; you'll meet them later.
Since this is new, maybe we should meet at a neutral location? Somewhere out of the way…not magical perhaps? (Stop rolling your eyes)
My parents owned a small summer home (picture enclosed) in Portugal. It's unplottable now, but in three days time at midnight the wards will drop and we will meet you there.
You will be able to apperate directly into the living room.
I know your hesitation and I am unsure as to how to put your minds at ease. I hope to see you there.
Hermione.
P.S. How's that for covert?
***
It was a tearful good bye when Raya and Anna left that Sunday. Viktor and Sergei stayed to extreme delight of both Ginny and Hermione. Severus and Josslyn were unseen for most of the day, but when they emerged Josslyn was wearing a curiously sparkly ring on an important finger.
With hugs and kisses and promises to call if needed Josslyn, Raya and Anna port-keyed back to Bulgaria.
Monday morning proved to be both strange and eventful.
Breakfast was tense with Ron back glaring daggers towards Ginny, Hermione and Harry.
Across the hall Draco and Blaise were exchanging furtive glances with aforementioned trio at the Gryffindor table.
Severus missed all of this as his thoughts were with his recently acquired fiancée.
"Oi Granger?" came a shout from the Slytherin table.
It was Crabbe.
"Where's your boyfriend?" he yelled.
The hall went quiet and Draco and Blaise were powerless at the moment to do anything about his yelling.
She didn't say anything.
"Cat got your tongue mudblood?" he asked with a sneer.
Of course that riled her up enough to stand suddenly, which had a domino effect causing both houses to stand in aggression.
He kept at it, "oh… was that offensive… mudblood?"
Suddenly, very suddenly a gust of wind shot across the hall with enough force to throw him across his table scattering food, plates and students in his wake.
He landed with a thud, dirty with the morning's breakfast.
That's when she spoke, "Oi Crabbe? Got the wind knocked out of you?"
"THAT IS ENOUGH!" Dumbledore stood and yelled. He turned and focused his angry features at, surprisingly, the Gryffindor table, "Miss Granger in my office NOW!"
He said nothing to Crabbe.
***
"What the hell just happened?" Pansy whispered to Blaise.
"Crabbe got his ass kicked by Granger." He whispered back
"…and Dumbledore yelled at her and not Crabbe." Goyle added.
"Holy Shite." Malfoy said.
"My sentiments exactly." Blaise responded with a nodding Goyle and Parkinson.
Together they looked over at the stunned faces of Harry, Ginny and even Ron.
***
Hermione had already stormed out of the hall and the three had to run to follow her.
They arrived at the statue, "kit kat." She said and it jumped aside revealing the winding staircase.
The door opened to his office and he looked up as the four of them walked in, "ah you brought reinforcements." He said
"I… they… surprised." She couldn't form words it was all so strange.
"Miss Granger I realize you've been through much, but I can't let this action go unpunished."
"He started it. You didn't say anything when he called me names!"
"Petty name-calling Miss Granger. It's childish and you are above such behavior." He admonished.
"Calling her a moron or a swot is petty name-calling, what he said was offensive in adult conversation as well." Harry defended surprising Hermione and Ginny.
They smiled with pride.
Dumbledore looked at them all, "I see." He said and tried another track, "you're power is great Miss Granger and we can't waste it on silly games. Not in school and not to confirm Tom's suspicions. It's dangerous and with your little stunt you put us all at risk as well as increased your value to Tom."
He had a point as annoying to Hermione as it was; just then Severus and Remus came through the door looking harried.
"Are you alright Hermione?" Remus asked.
She nodded almost in tears.
"Is Crabbe?" she asked in a small voice.
Severus rolled his eyes, "yes fine. I suspect he won't be trying that again."
Dumbledore cleared his throat and attention focused on him, "Detention Miss Granger, for a week. In the dungeons. You may go."
***
"An elemental, you say?" he asked
"Yes My Lord. She's been trained as well. Her focus was spot on." Crabbe Sr. confirmed.
"We could use an elemental in our midst. Shall we extend an invitation to her then?" he mused.
"Yes My Lord, but how?"
"Malfoy!"
"Yes My Lord." Lucius answered with a bow.
Bring me Granger." The dark lord told the tall wizard.
"Yes My Lord." He stood and with a glanced to his wife he walked out.