"Who are the members of the inner circle?"
"Bellatrix Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy, Anthony Dolohov, Rudolphus Lestrange, Severus Snape and Peter Pettigrew. Lucius Malfoy has fallen from grace, while you have taken his place."
"Indeed. Who are the most dangerous?"
"Bellatrix, Lucius and Pettigrew, not to mention you."
"What are their areas of expertise?"
"Bellatrix, although insane, has a keen sense of people, she doesn't trust you still." He nodded for her to continue, "She is an excellent manipulator of spells, especially for torture. She is also immune to Imperius.
"Lucius has no agenda but his own, but he is a shrewd strategist, currently desperate to get back in the Dark Lord's favour. He will stop at nothing to get his way. He is also immune to the Imperius.
"Pettigrew, coward though he is, has a very advantageous Animagus form. He is also currently your houseguest, and cunning worthy of a fox."
"Correct, and me?"
"Highly capable Occlumens and extremely powerful dueller; not to be trifled with. Best kept secret as a Strategist. Wandless magic comes easily to you."
He smirked and added "The Dark Lord's Potions Master." She rolled her eyes.
"All except Pettigrew are accomplished Occlumens. Best defence is Occlumency with tailored memories and wordless spells."
"What are their tipping points?"
"Bellatrix, insult to you-know-who; Lucius insult him, his family or ancestry; Pettigrew fears being trapped, best to not allow him to transform. All of them will be agitated when constantly heckled and associated with muggles."
"Adequate. You missed out on me."
"I…"
"Severus Snape, Ms. Granger; what is his tipping point?"
"Being accused of cowardice."
He didn't say anything, but nodded tightly.
"Who comprise the second tier?"
"Fenrir Greyback, Crabbe and Goyle Sr., Dolohov and Rudolphus Lestrange. Only Fenrir is the greatest threat. Lestrange is not very smart, but he is a capable wizard. Crabbe and Goyle are easy."
"They are not easy," he snapped, "just lesser skilled. The Dark Lord does his pruning well, Ms. Granger."
"I'll take your word on it."
"You'd better. I will not have you slacking off because some Death Eaters seem stupid. Look where it landed the Potters."
She nodded. "Good," he said and went to the front of the classroom.
"You have to understand that the second and lower orders will be what you face first."
"Of course; the infantry before the cavalry, and the cavalry before the archers and last of all the generals, if at all."
"True. The order will be able to help you clear those fairly quickly if it comes to it. Potter will be required to face the inner circle and the Dark Lord in parallel. That is where I will be able to help you, not before."
"They'll turn on you if you try anything!"
"Indeed, that is what I am aiming for."
"You are going to divert partial attention so Harry, Ron and I can have an advantage! No wonder you have no hope of living!"
"Oh ye of little faith," he smirked. She was not amused.
"Severus," she sighed, "is there no other way?"
"Care to come up with one?" he asked coldly, "Shall I poison the Dark Lord and see?"
"No!" she said childishly, "We'll think of another way."
"You," he snapped, "will concentrate on your studies and this. I will take care of the rest."
"But," she started, only to be cut off by him.
"It is not your duty to think with selfish intent," he snarled, and she recoiled as if slapped, "I am no longer your concern in this war. Potter is!"
"Fine!" she snapped back, "see if I care when you go and get yourself killed!"
"I have been playing this game since before you were born, girl," he rose to his full height, "do not presume to think you can best me at it!"
"I wasn't thinking of besting you! I was thinking of helping you!"
"You cannot help me."
They glared at each other for the longest time. She turned away from him, sad and displeased.
"Getting back to the topic at hind," he drawled, "Most of the lower tiers are comprised of people under the Imperius."
She looked at him curiously, "Mass Imperius?"
"Indeed," he said softly, "Imperius is easy for the Dark Lord and the inner circle. Each Death Eater, and the Dark Lord himself, take up casting the curse when needed."
"Do you have to participate?"
"I am a good little Death Eater, Ms. Granger," he sneered.
"Stop," she sighed, and smoothed the fabric over his chest, "we all do what we have to do, remember?"
He nodded and let her play with the buttons on his frock coat. A minute later, he gently disentangled her hand from his coat and stepped back. She sighed again.
"Luckily for me," he continued, "the new form of the Dark mark, though invariant in design, had more than a locator spell on it. It allows the Dark Lord to control all those with that type of mark, through his own.
"Apparently, He had enough time in between forms to understand that adding this factor to the new mark would ensure that he would never again have to endure the isolation and the company of Wormtail, if it comes to that. He can choose to control the new ones and come back immediately."
Hermione shuddered. Voldemort truly didn't want to die. It was terrifying to think of him popping up every time Harry defeated him; IF Harry defeated him.
"I will warn you, Hermione, The Dark Lord is not as naive as Dumbledore portrays him, nor is he overly arrogant or confident. He is afraid of Potter, as he rightly should be. Dumbledore has a way of over-simplifying the situation. It is, as we have argued many times, not a prudent form.
"I am in charge of you, as he is in charge of Potter as you know. I choose to not take chances, even if it means unpleasant lessons to impart," he turned away and she shushed him.
"You don't have to explain it to me."
"I felt it necessary to tell you; you have to be careful. Potter has to remain untainted, and Weasley cannot substitute. It leaves you," he breathed out, "sometimes I wish you had never been friends with him."
Warmth bloomed in Hermione's chest, and she couldn't help the teary smile that grew on her face. She walked up to him, and embraced Snape from behind.
Snape froze momentarily, and then closed his hands over hers, resting on his stomach.
"What will I do with you," he spoke softly, but didn't move away.
"We can hug, can't we? Just as friends?"
"Perhaps, but we must keep our distance."
She sighed into his coat, and he shivered. Letting go of her hands, he gently stepped out of her arms.
His body suffered the loss, and he stamped out any feeling, whatsoever.
"Alright, not unless absolutely necessary," Hermione said with more conviction that she felt.
Briskly speaking, lest his traitorous heart overcome his mind, he returned to the lesson.
"I want a detailed case study of every Death Eater; everything you know about them, and what is the best way to handle them in battle. Start with Lucius, he is the easiest."
Drawing a deep breath, Hermione started detailing everything she could remember from personal experience and what Snape had taught her.
Snape was relentless; snapping at her mistakes and barely acknowledging her successful ideas. Hermione understood that there was a shortage of time that he wasn't telling her about. Christmas was upon them, and he had already started assigning her work for over the break.
It was going to be a long year ahead.