A/N: Sorry it has been so long. I had my baby 9 weeks ago and she has taken up so much of my time! You can check on my Livejournal for updates on our progress My name there is Scotlandsgirl. Anyway, here's the next chappie of this story, I'll also update Hermione's makeover today too!

They all herded out of the room, having not learned from their traumatic arrival and squashed into the spiral staircase.

Dumbledore spotted the hem of Snape's black velvet robe whipping out of site at the bottom of the staircase.

"SEVERUS!!!" He hollered, making everyone cover their ears.

"Who knew he could yell that loud?" Ron muttered scowling and rubbing his ears.

They reached the bottom and Dumbledore squeezed his way out and hurried after Snape, followed by the rest of the Order.

Dumbledore threw out an arm and scooped Snape around, effectively changing his direction to now head toward the grand staircase.

"We've decided to go eat first! We'll have the great hall to ourselves for an hour, given that the rest of the school are all in class!" Dumbledore announced to him happily as the rest of the group huddled around Snape, pushing him and sweeping him along with the rest of them chattering loudly.

"Must I come?" Snape moaned, feeling like he had been kidnapped by a herd of noisy, obnoxious and badly dressed sheep.

"Yes!" Dumbledore replied happily. "You are in the Order, you go where we go when we are all assembled!"

"I feel I'm part of a herd of cattle!" Snape said reproachfully.

"United as one team, exactly! Now you are catching on!" Dumbledore said nodding and apparently not listening to a word Snape had said.

Snape's stomach gave another and rather alarmingly loud growl as the smell of food wafted from the great hall.

"See, your stomach wants to join us!" Dumbledore chuckled giving Snape an affectionate shake with the arm around his shoulders and prodding his stomach with the other.

Tonks jostled Snape from behind. "C'mon Sev, I'm starved! Pick up the pace will you!? UGH!!! You're so SLOW!!! You walk like Merlin!"

"Merlin's dead." Snape sniffed flatly.

"Exactly, but he moves faster dead than you do alive!" Tonks replied irritably "PICK UP THE DAMN PACE SEV!!!"

"Alright, I'll pick up the pace…pick up the pace of my hand throttling you!" Snape snapped "Stop pushing me! I have a reputation to maintain! I will not have you-"

"Oh shut up Sev!" Tonks said dismissively waving his words away carelessly as they entered the great hall which had a vast array of food prepared for them.

"FOOD!" Tonks wooped, herding them all forward.

Once more however, Snape skidded to a halt at the door, digging his heels into the stone floor like a stubborn mule.

"WAIT!" he yelled above the protests. "More of that confounded mistletoe!" he declared pointing at the mistletoe in the doorway.

"It's just Mistletoe!" Draco said impatiently "I'd have thought you would be happy about it seeing as it's gotten you more kisses than you've ever had in your life!"

"What?? Who's snogged Sev??? Dish the dirt Draco!" Tonks gasped, practically drooling at this tasty morsel of gossip!

Draco smiled secretly.

"Mistltoephobic, that's what he is!" Moody commented knowingly.

"There's no such thing!" Snape snapped. "I just…don't like it. It's a stupid plant with no potion qualities what-so-ever and therefore is utterly useless and worthless in my opinion. All it has ever done has caused me grief!"

"Like I said, you're a mistletoephobic!" Moody said nodding.

"Moody…I'm going to hex your ball-" Snape snarled but was thrust suddenly forward into the great hall by Dumbledore.

"There you see? If you just take care to walk beneath it alone, it does nothing to you!" Dumbledore said chuckling.

"Now get out of the way, you're blocking the path to food!" Tonks said rushing forward.

Everyone took care to go through one at a time however, each of them secretly thinking that Snape had a good point. This kissing thing was getting old.

Draco and Hermione were last to go, Draco bowing Hermione through first.

"Thank you Draco!" She said, impressed by his gentlemanly manner.

She was just beneath the Mistletoe when Draco stepped forward, grinning evilly.

"DRACO!" Hermione wailed "You did that on purpose!"

"Oh for Merlin's sake!" Snape snapped turning away in annoyance.

"I think it's cute!" Tonks said fondly watching Draco kiss Hermione into oblivion.

Molly and Tonks put their heads together and gave a collective "Awww!"

By now, Snape was sitting in his seat at the head table, selecting the food he wanted. The rest of the order was quick to join him while Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco sat at the Gryffindor table nearest the top table.

"Chow down!" Tonks cried gleefully. "Pass the gravy sev!"

Dumbledore raised his goblet of wine "To a victory well won!"

"Hear Hear!" came the chorus of replies.

It was a merry feast, joyful and excited, and once the main course had been consumed and dessert was served, they were content.

"So, Dumbledore, tell us more about this mischevious Mistletoe!" Mr Weasley said leaning around Molly to speak with the Headmaster.

"It's quite simple really…I just charmed it to imprison all who walk beneath it!" Dumbledore replied giving a chuckle. "And I must say, it has improved a lot of interhouse relations…as I had hoped it would! Why just the other day I spotted Blaize Zabini of Slytherin holding hands with Lavender Brown of Gryffindor!"

"What?" Ron said, his head snapping around so fast, his fellow diners heard the crack of his neck.

"Well well, that is progress!" Mr Weasley affirmed in admiration.

"Not to mention young Draco and Hermione here!" Dumbledore added, his eyes twinkling.

"Yeah, but if his father knew about it, he'd flip out!" Tonks pointed out.

"He already knows!" Draco piped up casually.

"Oh?" Dumbledore said with deep interest, peering over at Draco curiously. "And how did it go?"

"As predicted…he didn't much care for the idea. His only comfort in it was that Hermione was to be married to Professor Snape and that I therefore would have no way to persue it further. I expect he had hopes that I would give up on the notion and find a nice pureblood to fall in love with instead."

There was a collective gasp and the clatter of a fork as Snape dropped the utensil onto his plate and sat staring at Draco with wide eyes.

"Wow, didn't see that one coming!" Tonks said with a giggle. "You go ahead Draco, let it all hang out!"

"You love her?" Harry said, blinking in shock.

"Yes." Draco said shrugging. "Is that a problem?"

"Well…well…" Ron huffed, his face red.

Hermione was staring at Draco, shocked but a shy smile crept onto her face.

"Oh you poor thing!" Molly said suddenly, tears springing to her eyes.

Draco looked at her, wondering what she was talking about.

"Watching Hermione being forced to marry your godfather while all the time you were in love with her!" Molly continued, the tears spilling down her cheeks.

"There there dear." Arthur said handing his wife a napkin.

"It's just so…so sad!" Molly wailed "The poor, poor little dear!"

Snape rolled his eyes, shaking his head before leaning around to address Tonks. "You see Nymphadora, this," he gestured at the wailing Mrs Weasley, "is why I never married, or took an interest in girls…they are too emotional…it's rather embarrassing to be in the company of a hysterical woman!"

"It's Tonks…and it's your loss Sev. Women have a lot to offer you know! Love, food, se-"
"I've heard enough!" Snape said turning from her, not allowing her to say that awful word.

Harry and Ron shifted uncomfortably as Mrs Weasley bewailed Draco's broken heart.

"It's alright Mrs Weasley!" Draco piped up, confused at the woman's emotion on his behalf. He wasn't accustomed to people considering his feelings. "Hermione isn't married to Professor Snape!"

"Yes…I know but…Oh you poor thing!" Mrs Weasley blubbered standing and rushing at Draco with her arms open.

"Mum!" Ron said burning with embarrassment.

"Come here dear, you need a hug!" Molly wailed scooping Draco up and hugging him tight.

Snape winced as he watched his godson get squashed against Molly's large chest, the boy's face bright red from lack of oxygen.

"Umm…Mrs Weasley, really it's alright…you don't have to…" Draco said in a muffled voice as his head was crushed to her chest, her upper arm covering his nose and mouth.

"Kill me now Harry!" Ron moaned.

Harry patted Ron on the shoulder sympathetically.

Hermione watched with amusement as Draco turned purple.

"Dear, he needs air!" Arthur said gently, easing Draco out of his wife's hug.

Draco stood panting and straightening his robes, trying to maintain what dignity he had left.

"Sorry Draco dear." Molly said wiping her tears away and smiling at him fondly, pinching his cheek.

Draco rubbed his sore cheek and smiled warily as Arthur led his wife back to the table, casting an apologetic look over his shoulder at him.

Draco sat back down and stared at Ron. "You have to endure that all the time?"

"Not all the time, only when she feels sorry for us!" Ron replied, still beetroot red that his mum had hugged Draco Malfoy.

"She's lethal!" Draco whispered "A very effective weapon. She should hug some death eaters and wipe out half of them by air deprivation alone…no magic needed! We'll call her 'The Death Hugger'

Harry and Hermione burst out laughing, while Ron's face fell into his hands from sheer humiliation.

Apparently, Mrs Weasley was feeling sorry for the less loved people and was now advancing on Snape.

"Don't you dare!" Snape said warningly, brandishing his fork as she came at him with open arms, bewailing his loneliness and solitude and bad hair.

"That's it, I can't watch anymore of this!" Ron declared standing up "I've been embarrassed enough for one day! I will not stand to witness my mum hugging Snape!"

"We'll come with you!" Harry said getting up too, followed by Hermione and Draco.

They hurried out of the great hall, the sound of Snape's agonized screams of being hugged along with Tonks' cackling laughter fading as the door closed behind them

"I'm going to get out of this stupid dress." Hermione said suddenly remembering she was still wearing it.

"Yes, I need to change too." Draco affirmed.

Right, Gryffindor Common room." Ron said stiffly.

"I'll see you later." Draco said kissing Hermione on the cheek before heading down to the dungeons.

"So, he loves you eh?" Harry said conversationally as the trio walked to the common room.

"Well…I…Yes, I suppose he does." Hermione said blushing.

"Do you love him?" Ron asked uncomfortably.

Hermione was silent for a moment before she answered. "I don't know…I think I might…it was just a bit sudden…"

They reached the portrait and Harry gave the password.

Hermione hurried up to her dormitory and quickly shed the wedding dress, tossing it unceremoniously in the corner before getting gratefully into her school robes.

"Much better!" She said letting her hair down and running her hand through it.

"Well, this will have to go!" She remarked, peering at her face in the mirror. She took out her wand and waved it. The make-up that she had worn vanished and she felt more like herself again.

She rejoined Harry and Ron in the common room.

"So…this Draco fessing up that he's in love with you thing…" Ron said uncomfortably.

Hermione stared at Ron for a moment. "What about it?"

"I was just wondering how you are taking it." Ron elabourated, picking at a thread on the arm of the chair he sat in.

Hermione glanced at Harry, who shrugged.

"Do you have a problem with it?" Hermione asked curiously.

Ron went red and began to splutter.

"No! Of course not! Why would I? I mean, I'm just asking!" he sputtered.

"I only asked Ron." Hermione said calmly.

There was a moment of silence while Ron recovered.

"But since you asked…" Hermione said blushing. "I happen to…that is to say I…I find Draco very…"

"It's okay Mione…you don't have to say it…I think we know what you mean." Harry said teasingly.

Ron however, looked bewildered. "Well I have no idea what she's on about!"

"Then lets leave it that way!" Hermione said airily as she breezed toward the door of the common room.

"Where are you going?" Ron asked.

"Library." Hermione answered as she left.

"Ron, I can't help but wonder…if you might…well, like Mione!" Harry said after a minute of silence.

"Of course I like her!" Ron stated shrugging. "Wouldn't be friends with her if I hated her, would I?"

"No, that's not what I meant…" Harry began, but was interrupted when Seamus Finnigan approached with Dean Thomas, wishing to show some pictures of questionable things to Harry and Ron.

"Where did you get these?" Ron asked agog.

"Better yet, where did you get these??" Harry asked grimacing as he looked at the still photos.

"Hid down in the dungeons…Snape never did find out. They were taken with a muggle camera about two months ago, so it took us a while to figure out how to go about getting the photo's out of the camera…but we did it!" Seamus said proudly. "If these aren't great for blackmailing Snape, I don't know what is!"

"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed, holding the photo he'd viewed next at arms length. "How did you get into his chambers??"

"It was really easy…I just snogged a fourth year Slytherin in exchange for information!" Seamus grinned.

Harry and Ron winced. Some people will do anything for a laugh it seemed.

"Hey, for stuff like this, sacrifices must be made!" Seamus protested.

"Oh, Harry, by the way, while we were there…" Dean said diving into his own robes and pulling out another set of photos.

Harry held up his hands. "No, I don't think I can view any more photo's of Snape in his underwear and…other ways…"

"No, these are different photos. We got them from Snape's top drawer in his dresser!" Dean informed him. "Thought you might like to take a gander…"

Dean held out the photos face down to Harry who took them slowly and turned them over with some trepidition.

His eyes widened as he stared at the moving picture on the top.

"Its my…"
"Mum, yes. Back when she was at Hogwarts by the looks of things." Dean finished for him.

"She was one pretty woman!" Seamus grinned.

"What's Snape doing with pictures of your mum Harry?" Ron asked, peering at the photos over Harry's shoulder.

"I…I don't know!" Harry replied softly as he flipped to the next one.

It pictured Lily sitting by the lake in summer, the sun catching her auburn hair as she laughed with her friends. It appeared to have been taken from a distance.

There were about twenty photos in all, and all of them featuring his mother…walking to class, in potions class as she stirred a cauldron, casting a charm, sitting reading by the lake, dining in the great hall…apparently without her knowing about the photo being taken.
He reached the next photo and froze. She was obviously aware of this photo being taken. She smiled right back at him, a smile of fun and life and her vivid green eyes sparkled.

"Do you think Snape took these photos?" Ron asked suddenly.

"I reckon he did, how else would he have them?" Seamus replied.

"But why would Snape take pictures of anyone…let alone Harry's mum!?" Ron asked, feeling a little disturbed.

Harry frowned as he flipped to the final photo. It was his mother again, but this time, she was in a red and gold ball gown and dancing with…Snape!

"What in the…" Harry exclaimed.

"Oh hey, can we have that one…more blackmail!" Seamus said grinning.

"Umm, I…Can we focus here!" Harry said irritably. "My mum danced with Snape!"

"Wait, look at the other couples behind them!" Dean pointed out. "See how they change partners?"

"Must be one of those dances where the girl dances around a circle of men…" Ron affirmed. "I hate those. I had to dance with Eloise Midgen last year…as well as Millicent Bullstrode…it was bloody awful!"

"But who took this picture if Snape was dancing with my mum?" Harry wondered aloud.

"He probably had one of his friends take it." Seamus remarked shrugging.

"Snape? Friends?" Ron snorted. "That's a laugh!"

"Well think about it, Lucius Malfoy would have been there, and Snape is Draco's godfather…maybe they were friends in school too!" Dean reasoned.

"I suppose…" Harry said frowning. He didn't like this. He didn't like this at all!

"Why has Snape got photo's of my mum?!" He demanded again, unable to think of anything else to say.

"Why don't we find out?" Ron suggested. "Give us something else to do besides plot and scheme for this war!"

"Maybe Mione could find out!?" Seamus said suddenly. "She seems rather close to Malfoy now, maybe he knows something!"

Harry nodded feverently. "Or maybe, I could just ask Snape myself!"

"And get into trouble for snooping around in his rooms?" Ron said lightly.

"But I didn't!" Harry protested.
"Yes but he won't see it that way will he?" Ron reasoned "Think about it, all he will see is that you have his private property from his dresser drawer and you are demanding to know why he has said property! He'll think it was you that stole them and Merlin only knows what he'll do to you!"

Harry scowled. His life really sucked sometimes!

"Then what can I do!?" He demanded.

"Get Hermione to…" Seamus began again but Harry shook his head.
"Mione won't agree to do that. She's gotten quite close to Malfoy and I know her well enough to say that she will definitely refuse to manipulate him into telling her something private about Snape! He's too loyal to him!"
Harry told them in frustration.

"Hadn't you better put them back before Snape realizes they are gone?" Ron suggested nodding at the photos.

Seamus and Dean shrugged.

"He won't notice…and even if he did, he won't have a clue who took them!" Dean elaborated.

"Good point. You can hold onto them if you want Harry…it is your mum after all!" Seamus said kindly.

"Thanks." Harry said quietly.

"Well, see you later…we have mischief to get up to and people to blackmail." Seamus said brightly before leaving with Dean.

"Bloody hell, Harry!" Ron said in a hushed voice as Harry flipped through the photos again. "What do you think Snape's game is with these?"

"I don't know Ron, but I'm going to find out." Harry said determinedly.

Meanwhile, down in the dungeons, Snape had returned to his quarters and was changing out of his 'wedding clothes' and into his normal black and billowing attire.

Noticing that his socks were spattered with mud, he went to the top drawer of his dresser to fetch a fresh pair.

At first, he didn't notice…but as he closed the drawer he stopped, frowning.

Something was missing…but what?

Opening the drawer again, he surveyed the neat piles of black socks and black handkerchiefs. The neatly boxed rows of cufflinks and pile of cravats…his black eyes narrowed as realization dawned.

His photo book was missing!

Pausing to ponder, he wracked his mind trying to remember if he had taken it out recently. His collection of photos hadn't seen daylight for years!

He snapped his fingers commandingly and a house elf appeared.

"Yes Master Snape sir?" the elf squeaked, bowing low.

"Tell me, have any of the elves touched my photo album? It was in the top drawer of my dresser and now it is not." Snape enquired in a snappish tone.

The elf looked thoughtful. "No Sirs! We is never touching Professor Snape's private things! We is just doing his laundry, Sir. Washing his socks and Handkerchiefs and is putting thems back in neats little rows just as he likes!" The house elf squeaked out shaking his head vigorously.

Snape eyed the elf suspiciously. "Are you absolutely sure that none of you moved it somewhere? Taken it to be dusted? Hidden it as some sort of jo-" Snape stopped in mid sentence.

"We hasn't got Professor Snape's photos!" The elf affirmed honestly. "We sees it though!"

"See it? Where?" Snape asked urgently.

"In the drawer sir!" The elf replied, pointing up at the dresser. "When we is putting your socks in there! But we is never touching it, no no, that is being naughty and rude, and Professor Snape would hang us by the throats if we touches it!"

Snape scowled in frustration. "Very well, you may go!"

"Before Elsie goes, is Professor Snape needing anything elses? Darning? Food? Whats about these clotheses?" The elf asked pointing to the pile of his wedding clothes.

"Yes, take them and burn them." Snape instructed darkly. "I never want to see them again!"

"Yes Professor Snape."

The elf gathered up the clothes and disappeared with a crack, leaving Snape to piece together the mystery of his missing photo book.

Hermione had gone to the library as she had said and went straight to the section on wizarding warfare, a history.

She had taken up a pile of heavy books and settled down to study up and get a few ideas for the Order.

She began to scribble notes down feverishly as idea upon idea was rendered from her stockpile of books.

Draco had changed back into school robes and headed for Snape's door.

He had knocked once before he was yanked inside.

"What's the matter with you? You look like a troll just crapped on your desk!" Draco said eyeing the irate potions master warily.

"Someone has been in my chambers!" Snape snarled in Draco's face.

Draco winced as spittle hit his face. "Hey, say it don't spray it!" he wiped his face off with a handkerchief. "You have some spinach in your teeth by the way! And what do you mean by someone has been in your chambers? No-one can get into your chambers without your password…and nobody knows that except you!"

"Well someone has managed to find out what my password is!" Snape snapped, throwing a piece of chalk across the room, where it shattered against the stone wall.

Snape turned sharply to face Malfoy again. "Was it you?" he demanded.

"What?! No!" Draco said, offended that he'd been accused.

Snape seethed in silence, glaring at the wall, muttering to himself.

"How do you know someone has been in your chambers?" Draco ventured to ask.

"Because something is missing from my dresser drawer!" Snape replied darkly. "Something that I haven't moved or touched for quite some time."

"Do you mind if I ask what it was?" Draco asked, "It might help narrow it down if I know what the thing was!" He hastened to add at Snape's expression.

Snape didn't reply immediately, but after a moments silence he spoke.

"My private photo book."

"Photo book eh?" Draco mused, wracking his brain. "What sort of photos are we talking about here? Family? Friends? Art?…suggestive?"

"How dare you!" Snape spat indignantly, "Suggestive indeed!"

"So they were suggestive then?" Draco stated.

"NO!" Snape squawked.

"Alright alright, don't get your cauldron print boxers in a twist!" Draco soothed. "I was just trying to figure out who would have the gall and what their motive would be!"

"They were photos of…photos from my time at Hogwarts." Snape said with some difficultly.

"Ah, okay." Draco said taking that information on board. "So friends."

"Not in so many ways, friends is such a strong word Draco." Snape answered briskly.

"I'll stalk around a bit, have Crabbe and Goyle crack a few skulls, break a few arms, legs, noses eccetera and find out what I can from the other students." Draco said decisively.

Snape nodded. "Was there something you wanted?"

Draco looked at his godfather questioningly.

"You knocked on my door…was there something you wanted?" Snape asked again patiently.

"Oh, yes. I wanted to ask you about the mistletoe thing. What's the big deal with it for you? It's just a plant!" Draco said launching straight into it.

"I told everyone!" Snape said wearily. "It is absolutely worthless! It has no magical qualities and it has caused nothing but grief to me!"

"Yes…but how?" Draco pressed. "Other than having to kiss Tatiana that one time and McGonnigal the other…then there was Tonks there an hour or so ago…"

"Aside those times of utter humiliation and degradation, it has caused me more grief than I care to discuss." Snape sniffed, aloof.

Draco eyed him curiously. "Very well." He said airily and heading for the door, "I'll just find out some other way."