A/N- I hope this chapter finds you all well. You continue to astound me with your love and support for this story. I'd like to send a shout out to Hermione Lyra Malfoy for giving my next story idea. It's an original that I've never read before so I'm excited to give it a go. You'll have to stay tuned for the end of this fic to get the dish on the new one. There's no way in hell that I could concentrate on two stories at once, lol. We're nearing the end of this story, only thirteen more chapters to go. Hope it's been as great of a ride for all of you as it has for me.

Disclaimer: None of this story belongs to me aside from the personal twist on the plot. Everything else in this story has been done before and everything original in this story belongs to J.K.R.

Chapter 37

March 15, 1996

Severus cursed his father for his inopportune timing. He had never been summoned by his father during dinner before, but Severus supposed that there was a first for everything. What Voldemort needed must be important. He quickly made his excuses to Septima and Remus as he stood and sent a look the Headmaster's way that would surely alert him to his true whereabouts that evening. He hoped that he would be back in time for the D.A. meeting that night. He had promised Hermione that he would come and teach a lesson on offensive magic.

Following the fall of Umbridge, as the students were calling it, the Headmaster had been at a loss as to who to call in to take over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He had hailed the Ministry for help and when they had turned up nobody, Albus had put forth Remus' name for consideration. Even his status as a werewolf didn't keep Fudge from telling Albus to hire him. While some of the Slytherin students were unhappy about his return, they were the only ones.

Remus had instantly binned Umbridge's plans and began rigorous training to catch the students up on the things that they would need to know for their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s. Severus and Minerva had stepped in to help, teaching on the side during the D.A. since they weren't able during the school day. While not many of the students liked either professor, there were no doubts in their minds that both Minerva and Severus were brilliant at defense.

The fact that the curriculums were so behind where they should be is the only reason that the D.A. continued to meet after Umbridge was gone. While they could learn during their class period, there was just too much to learn in that short span of time. Everyone, including the Slytherins, were encouraged to attend the meetings if for no other reason than to pass their tests at the end of the year.

Severus strode through the corridors until he reached his corridors, so he could retrieve his mask and robes. Merlin only knew what his father needed or who was with him. It would only be appropriate for him to wear his usual dress while attending meetings. After his belongings were retrieved, Severus made his way to the Entrance Hall. He usually hated leaving by way of the Entrance Hall because it was so open and public but since it was dinner it wasn't crowded at all.

After exiting the castle, Severus made his way across the grounds quickly. His father hated to be kept waiting and while he was sure that Voldemort would forgive him, it was in his favor not to anger him at all, especially since he wasn't sure what the wizard wanted from him. Once he reached the front gates of Hogwarts, he waved his wand and they swung open, leaving him free to leave the grounds and apparate.

Once he landed from apparition, Severus noted that he was once again at Malfoy Manor. Even though the Dark Lord had wealth untold, he refused to get his own manor. He insisted on using Lucius' home. Severus was unsure if this was a reward or a punishment, but he could say that he was thrilled that his father didn't have somewhere to call home, so he wouldn't be encouraged to stay. Most would consider him a traitor for feeling that way, but Severus just couldn't make himself care.

Severus marched up the familiar gravel drive of Malfoy Manor until he reached the enormous doors that led into the house. He knocked a single time before the door swung open to reveal Mipsy, cowering as usual. The elf beckoned him inside and Severus tried to give the elf a reassuring smile. She gave him a timid smile in return and then gestured for the drawing room.

Severus ambled towards the drawing room, not wanting it to seem that he was in too much of a hurry to get there. He had no idea who was on the other side of that door and he didn't want someone other than the Dark Lord to think that he had rushed over. He was the boss' son, so to speak, and that had earned him a bit of leeway.

Once inside, Severus found that his father was most certainly not alone. Lucius was present, seated quietly just a few feet from his father, along with Thoros, Rodolphus, Rabastan, and the Carrow twins. Severus fortified the shields in his mind. He had a feeling that he would need them intact tonight. He didn't drop to his knee as he usually did, but Severus bowed his head as he spoke.

"Father. I came as quickly as I could." His father gave him a semblance of a grin.

"Welcome, Severusss. I'm happy to sssee that you could make it." Severus raised his head and met his father's eyes. He felt a gentle probe on his mind but nothing like it had been in the past. It seemed that with his daughter's loyalty, his father was beginning to trust him wholeheartedly. Severus could only smile inwardly. It would help them win in the end.

"Yesss, I wanted to sssee you. I need to make plans regarding our future and that can't be done without Issabella." Severus narrowed his eyes.

"What kind of plans?" His father looked like he wanted to use his wand on him but refrained.

"We need to discussss key players for the light ssside that need to be killed." Severus bowed his head in deference. He had a feeling what his father was going to want but wasn't going to act like he knew a thing.

"You would like me to bring her here at the earliest convenience?" His father nodded.

"Of courssse. We're going to take over the world, it's her birthright to know exactly how that isss going to happen." Severus wasn't sure that that was all there was to it, but he couldn't deny his father what he wanted.

"I shall bring her at her earliest convenience. It may be a few days since Umbridge was sent to Azkaban and she's trying to help other students with their studies." His father's eyes narrowed, and it was clear in his gaze that he wanted to curse Severus. However, he didn't dare because he knew that his granddaughter wouldn't approve. Severus was surprised, however, at his grandfather's words.

"Tell me what happened with Umbridge." Severus was unsure how the Dark Lord hadn't heard the news. No, he hadn't brought it to his father's attention, but he was quite certain the Headmaster had sent an owl to Thoros Nott about the treatment of his son by a Ministry official. It was quite clear that either Thoros hadn't been notified by the Headmaster or he hadn't notified the Dark Lord.

"My lord, she was using a blood quill on the students in detention. My daughter discovered that the Weasley twins were causing trouble to keep the attention off all the small children. She came up with a plan that would provide proof to the Ministry that she was using inappropriate means to subdue the students." He took a deep breath and by the way that Thoros was staring at him, he knew that the man was unaware of his son's punishment, meaning that Albus had lied to him.

"Thoros didn't tell you, Father?" The question was clear in his voice. All eyes swung to Thoros and the older man looked irritated.

"Why would Theo have told me anything about Umbridge?" Severus quickly turned his eyes back to his father.

"Albus didn't tell him. Merlin, I should have assumed that he wouldn't, I should have known better." His father's eyes flashed but he didn't appear to be angry with Severus.

"Just tell usss what happened, Severusss." His father's voice was low, and he knew that he meant business. He bowed his head once more before he continued.

"Isabella set a trap for the toad. They've been holding a little dueling club for a few weeks now and Theo and Draco attended. She had a first year Gryffindor drop the location of the meeting. When she crashed it, she didn't waste time with explanations, so she was unaware that Hermione had followed every school rule by obtaining professor's permission. The awful hag slapped Hermione hard enough across the face that she bruised and bled and then she turned her wand on Theo because he wouldn't abandon his sister. She used the Cruciatus on him. It was only a minute later that Hermione disarmed the witch and used the very same spell on Umbridge that she used on Thoros. She also had a muggle device on her that recorded everything said. The sneaky little witch deleted Umbridge's screams, but not Theo's. Fudge agreed that she needed to go to Azkaban after Hermione demanded it. Dumbledore was supposed to notify Thoros in his duty as Headmaster but apparently that didn't happen." Much as he expected, Thoros stood and cast a violent spell at a statue head of Merlin in the drawing room. He shot spell after spell at it until it finally blew up before them. Lucius sighed as though it was precious, but Severus knew that the wizard simply wasn't looking forward to explaining it to Narcissa. His father's voice was deadly when he spoke.

"That witch ssstruck my granddaughter and you did nothing about it?" Severus continued with trepidation.

"The Minister and his aurors were already on their way when she informed me. If I had had more time I would have made them pay properly. Now the witch is in Azkaban and there is little I can do." His father considered him for several seconds before he relented.

"I sssuppose you're correct. She can no longer work at the Minissstry. Still, I think that a ssstronger punishment is due. All my Death Eaters will be notified that if they are caught and sent to Azkaban, their new mission is to make sure that Umbridge diesss." Severus bowed his head in deference to his father's wishes but Thoros was far from done.

"What retribution do I receive? It was my son that was tortured by that bloody bitch. What do I get?" Severus saw his father's eyes flash once more.

"You get the knowledge of knowing that my granddaughter protected him. She stopped the curssse and made sure that Umbridge made her way to prison. It isssn't my place to apologize to you for Dumbledore not sending you an owl but that blame also liesss with your son. He could have informed you just as easily. Maybe you should turn an eye to your home life and wonder why he didn't feel comfortable telling his father that his ssssister had to save him from an Unforgivable." Severus was just waiting for the fallout from the Dark Lord's words, but it never came. He could barely believe it. When his father turned his way once again, he met Severus' eyes and spoke.

"Tell Isssabella that I have a mission for her if she is interested in proving her loyalty. I know that she can't do anything that would give her away, but I have faith that she could accomplish thisss." Severus felt cold dread settle in his heart.

"I thought you said that you would never demand a show of loyalty from her." His father tipped his head at his words, acknowledging that they were the truth.

"I did say that, and they are ssstill the truth. However, her people would trust her more if they had something to judge her by other than her ssstellar bloodline." Severus felt his blood run cold at exactly just what her father wanted of her. She would have no chance at following their wishes if she didn't gain their approval in this first. The last thing he had wanted was to bring Hermione further into the war, but it seemed that there was little to no choice now.

"I shall bring her to see you, Father, in three days' time." His father gave an approving nod.

"I want her matessss here as well." Severus needed the answer to his question but dreaded asking it. His father seemed to realize that and chuckled.

"I'm no stupid enough to threaten her matesss. I just want extra motivation. If she rejectsss my offer, I will do nothing. I gave her my word, after all. This is sssimply a chance at sssomething more." Severus felt himself breathe a little easier at his father's words.

"I will bring all three of them in three days' time. I'm sure that she will be most excited to help further our cause." His father grinned at him in the best manner that he could. In the next second, he was turning his head to face Thoros Nott.

"Do not despair, Thoros, your son has gained the protection of my granddaughter. She will protect him from those that seek to harm him." Severus saw the wizard's eyes bulge in anger but then relaxed when he didn't want the world to see his reaction.

"Yes, my lord, I'm most grateful." Severus wanted to snort at the obvious lie but there was nothing he could do about it now.

"I haven't spoke to you in a couple weeks, Severus. Our attacksss on Wessstminster Abbey and London Bridge were sssuccessful. Thousandsss of muggles died but the Order of the Phoenix arrived. There was no possssible way that they could have known my plansss, you had to have told them." Severus knew that there was no wiggling out of this one. He would have to lie and hope that the Dark Lord believed him.

"I told them nothing, my lord. I would never betray you in such a way." His father's eyes flashed, and Severus felt a sharp prod against his mind, searching for a way in to find the truth. Since the Dark Lord was unaware that he knew occlumency, he only pushed as hard as he had to to believe that he was telling the truth. His father smiled at him once he became aware that he was staring at him.

"I know you told them. You will sssuffer the consequencesss." Severus fell to his knees at the pain that flitted through his subconscious. His father had never had a problem using the Cruciatus anytime before on him, regardless of the fact that he was his son. This time was no different. He suffered the curse in silence, a feat that near to impossible, but Severus had perfected it over the years. As long as the curse lasted, Severus focused on the thing that made him the happiest in the world, reminding him of just why he had to stay strong. Hermione flitted through his mind and while he didn't want her to be present in such situations, it was her memory that made him able to keep silent. When his father finally lifted the Cruciatus, Severus heaved a deep breath.

"Don't disssobey me again, Severusss." He didn't answer his father, not even so much as a nod because it would have been admitting guilt. That would surely have meant death. He rose unsteadily to his feet and met his father's gaze bravely.

"I will bring my daughter and her mates to you in three days' time." His father chuckled quietly.

"You're free to go, Ssseverus. Don't forget my lesssson today." Severus didn't even favor him with a nod. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the drawing room, quivering with the aftershocks of the Cruciatus. He caught Lucius' eye and while it was clear that his old friend wanted to speak with him, Severus just wasn't up to it.

He left Malfoy Manor with little fanfare. Nobody was even aware that he had been there aside from those that had been in the drawing room. Mipsy let him out as she always did, a small smile on her face when she received a nod for her efforts. Severus glanced at his pocket watch, realizing that there was only twenty minutes time before he was due to teach for the D.A. He heaved a sigh. He would have just enough time to hurry to his quarters and get a nerve suppressant before he was due in the Room of Requirement. He hoped that nobody realized that he wasn't quite up to par. It was imperative that Hermione remain in the dark about what happened today with her grandfather.

Severus apparated from outside the gate of Malfoy Manor, landing just outside the gates of Hogwarts. He made his way across the grounds, hurrying to get to his quarters before he was due in the Room of Requirement. He entered the castle and glared at anyone who dared to stare at him. All the students quickly turned their gazes elsewhere and Severus continued on.

When he reached his quarters, he went directly to his bathroom, the potion he was looking for being in the bathroom cupboard. He found the electric blue concoction and swallowed it down. While the tremors that wracked his body died down, they didn't disappear completely. He would hide them the best that he could, there was no sense in scaring all the students, but he was almost certain that his daughter would notice.

Severus left his quarters and started for the seventh floor. Usually the trek wasn't too difficult even though it was eight stories, but the aftereffects of the Cruciatus made it much more difficult. Even though he had left with plenty of time to get there in a punctual manner, Severus was still a few minutes late as he paced the corridor in front of Barnabas the Barmy. When he entered the Room of Requirement, everyone turned his way, clearly surprised that he was late.

Severus acted like he didn't see them, striding to the front of the room where Lupin was standing. The werewolf watched him carefully, clearly aware that there was something wrong with the Slytherin. His daughter watched him walk and even though he did his absolute best to hold back the tremor as he walked, it was impossible. He turned to face the students and he saw that his daughter's face was hard.

-O-

Hermione was so much happier now that Umbridge was gone. While she didn't care about being hailed as a hero by getting rid of the toad, she most certainly enjoyed the fact that Remus had returned to teach. The werewolf was still her favorite D.A.D.A. professor they had had and the fact that he was now making a steady paycheck made her happy. She knew how difficult it was for him to make a living in the real world since there were so many prejudices against his kind.

Hermione understood that prejudice. She fully believed that the people at large were correct to be wary of Remus, of any werewolf really. They were dangerous, and they could kill. What she disagreed with was the fact that the people believed that this was the truth every day of the year when in reality it was only one day a month. People needed to be made aware of the fact that werewolves couldn't harm anyone unless they were transformed; there was a potion that allowed them to keep their minds during that one night as well.

Hermione had always wanted to be an advocate for the magical beings in their world that were oppressed. While she had realized that house elves would surely die without a bond to someone, that didn't mean that they weren't able to be treated better. After dealing with Kreacher, it was clear that the little creatures loved to serve. Hermione simply wished for them to receive better treatment while they did so.

Werewolves, goblins, and centaurs were treated no better.

While Hermione's plan for life were to gain a mastery in several subjects, she hoped that she would be able help those in need in some way. She knew that many called her a bleeding heart and she tended to agree with them for the most part. That didn't change the fact that the changes she wanted to bring about were what was right.

The students were thrilled to continue with the D.A. They were even happier to know that while Harry had done a wonderful job, they were also being taught by several different professors to reach the level of skill they would need to pass their O.W.L.s. Hermione had no idea that they were so far behind, but she really should have expected it. Since she was what everyone considered to be a know-it-all, she wasn't as far behind as most of their peers but even she had some work to do before she could pass her end of year exams.

Hermione had convinced her father to teach the lesson that night. He had only taught one so far and it had been a rousing success even though the students had been scared to death. Professor McGonagall and Remus did a wonderful job, but the fact remained that her father had the most practical knowledge of fighting the dark arts.

The Gryffindor dragged her two mates along with her to the seventh floor, hoping to be the first there to open the Room. Even though the professors were aware of how to access the Room, it was always better when Hermione or one of her boys accessed it. Remus conjured a room that was close to what they were used to, but Minerva conjured a room that was almost identical to her classroom. Not that Hermione didn't love the Transfiguration classroom, but she liked learning Defense in their own version of the Room.

They did indeed beat Remus and Minerva there, leaving Harry to be the one that called forth the Room. Hermione entered and went straight to the bookshelves in the back, the ones that she loved to raid for information regarding defense. Draco and Harry chuckled at her before turning to talk quietly amongst themselves. She was currently making her way through Dark Arts, The Way Forward. While some of the photos were gruesome, Hermione still found it to be an interesting read.

Other students began to file in and group together, so they could chat quietly. Hermione had watched her father leave dinner that night, hand clutching his left arm surreptitiously. She knew that her grandfather had summoned him, but she hadn't had a chance to speak with him about what. She simply hoped that he wouldn't be too long, and he would still be able to teach them.

Remus and Minerva both appeared, and both looked worried. She could only hope that her father appeared quickly. Remus called the students to order and split them into pairs, so they could practice the spells they had learned the last time. They were ten minutes into their time together when the door opened, and Severus strode through, looking as though he wasn't late for the first time ever. He walked to the front of the Room and made eye contact with Remus and Minerva. Hermione watched him closely and for a moment she thought that he was fine until she saw a fine tremor run through the entirety of his body.

The Cruciatus.

Hermione would never forget what those tremors looked like since she had seen them on occur on her brother. It was clear that someone, possibly her grandfather, had used the Cruciatus on her father. Hermione tried to fan the flames of fury as she watched her father begin his lesson. He covered the jelly-brain jinx and the oppugno spell, both of which Hermione had already mastered two lessons before.

Harry and Draco made their way to her side, clearly upset at the fact that she was watching her father so closely. The Slytherin didn't look her way once and she couldn't help but wonder if it was because he was hiding something from her. She watched him carefully for the duration of their lesson, the tremors showing through occasionally. Hermione knew for a fact now that he had suffered the Cruciatus and that he had taken the same potion that Madam Pomfrey had fed Theo to hide his condition.

The lesson lasted right at an hour and a half. To be honest, she was surprised that her father had made it that long. Once he dismissed class, Hermione made her way to the front, Harry and Draco flanking her. He was talking quietly to Minerva and Remus, about what she wasn't sure. She waited impatiently for him to acknowledge her. When he did finally turn her way, Hermione was unimpressed.

"I need you three to follow me to the Headmaster's office." Minerva and Remus both turned and led the way, Hermione scowling that her father seemed unwilling to give her any information. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Don't think I don't know what's wrong with you. I'll never forgot those tremors after Theo." Her father wouldn't meet her eyes and she knew in that moment that she was right. Someone, most likely her grandfather, had used the torture curse on her father. She didn't wait for him to speak; she turned and followed Minerva and Remus, both her boys following her silently. The silence didn't hold, however. On the sixth floor, Draco took her hand and spoke softly so as nobody would hear.

"I understand why you're angry. Keep your calm so you don't end up dead." Harry nodded sagely, backing his best friend. Hermione knew that they were right but at the moment it didn't matter. She wanted justice for her father and she would stop at nothing to achieve it.

"I won't do anything until I know the truth." The two boys shared a worried look between them, but she didn't let it affect her. She didn't want to worry them, but they had to realize that she wasn't going to allow her grandfather or anyone else treat her father so callously.

The six of them made their way through the castle, traversing the corridors and staircases quickly. They were all silent and Hermione was quite certain it was because they knew exactly what had happened to her father. When they reached the Headmaster's office, they bypassed the griffin and ascended the stairs. Dumbledore was seated in the chair behind his desk and his eyes were twinkling as they all entered. With a wave of his wand, the Headmaster conjured enough seating for them all before the fire, gesturing for them all to take their seats. Once they were all settled, the Headmaster opened the discussion.

"What did you learn tonight, Severus?" Her father steepled his hands under his chin as he thought about what he wanted to say. Hermione was certain that he was finding a diplomatic way to get around admitting that he was tortured.

"My father is demanding that Hermione and her two mates be brought before him. He wants her to undertake a mission to prove her loyalty to the cause." Dumbledore's eyes were no longer twinkling, in fact, his eyes were sharp and dancing.

"I thought that he said that he would never demand a show of loyalty." Severus nodded his head.

"That's what I asked him. He told me that she isn't required to take the mission, but she would gain more respect from his followers if she did. For some reason, he wants them to judge her on more than the fact that she is his heir." Dumbledore began to stroke his beard as he contemplated her father's words.

"Did he give you any idea as to what the mission would be?" Severus shook his head.

"He didn't say. He only told me that if she did it right it wouldn't blow her cover." The Headmaster sighed.

"That doesn't tell us much. When does he want to see her?" Severus raked a hand through his hair.

"Three days' time. I told him that I could do that." Hermione didn't have to ask about her father because Minerva beat her to it.

"Did you refuse at first? Is that why he used the Cruciatus on you?" Her father stiffened and shot his colleague a dirty look.

"No, I told him that I would bring Hermione and her two mates before I was tortured." Hermione was furious, and she needed to know more.

"Why did he torture you?" Severus shook his head, indicating that it wasn't important.

"It doesn't matter. There is nothing to do about it at this time." Hermione cleared his face of emotion it was clear to the others that she wasn't Hermione Granger at the moment, she was Isabella Rose.

"Tell me why he tortured you or I will look in your mind and find the reason." Fury flashed in her father's eyes at the threat, but he remained calm.

"You won't break into my mind because you know that I would hold it against you. Don't make decisions that you can't take back." Hermione smirked his way.

"You're my father and I will protect you as such. I take care of those that belong to me and as much as you hate to admit it, you belong to me. You're my father and I will allow no harm to come to you." Her father looked less than impressed at her words.

"Hermione, I knew what I signed up for when I became a spy. I knew that I would be the one to take the fall if my cover was ever blown." Hermione cocked her head to the side and met her father's gaze. Everyone was simply watching the situation unfold, nobody brave enough to step between father and daughter.

"He thinks you're a traitor." Her father wilted at her words. He buried both his hands in his hair and sighed.

"He doesn't think that I'm a traitor, he found no proof in my thoughts. He was under the assumption that I told the Order about the attacks on Westminster Abbey and the London Bridge. The Order's presence didn't go unnoticed." Hermione considered his words.

"Were you specifically told to keep the attacks a secret?" Her father nodded wearily, and a tremor wracked his body again. Hermione stood and sat next to her father, so she could take his hand in hers.

"I'm going to take care of this. This will not happen again." Severus shook his head.

"You mustn't interfere. We're too close to the end to throw a wrench in things now." Hermione squeezed his hand.

"Trust me, I won't fuck this up. But I promise you, this will never happen again." Hermione could see that he hated the idea of her protecting him, but he didn't fight her. Whether it was because he was secretly grateful and that he knew that he was no match for her, Hermione didn't care. Now that her father had capitulated, she turned her gaze to the Headmaster.

"You knew that he wasn't supposed to tell you and you still sent the Order, throwing him under the bus. You don't care in the least about what my father has to suffer through." Dumbledore held his hands up to stop her words.

"I do care but you expect me to let hundreds of muggles die?" Hermione waved her hand furiously, silencing the Headmaster.

"I expect you to make the hard decisions that a leader has to make. I don't want all those muggles to die but I don't want to lose this war. You've said yourself that if you lose your spy you'll lose the war. Yet you just endangered his position." Minerva looked shocked at her words.

"Surely, Miss Granger, you can't expect us to just stand aside and do nothing. Those muggles don't deserve to die." Hermione turned her gaze to her mentor and her gaze softened slightly.

"I don't want to let all the muggles die but hard decisions have to be made during war. I love muggles but think of all the muggles that will die if my grandfather takes over. Maybe that makes me a monster but at least I'm realistic." Harry shook his head.

"Nobody thinks you're a monster. It's just hard to accept the hard truths of war." She could see that he shot a dirty look at the room at large but nobody said anything to contradict him. Hermione released the spell on the Headmaster before she spoke again.

"We do not make another move that will expose Severus. I am fine with doing what we can to prevent loss of life, but I'm not going to let you hand my father over to the enemy. He's our main source of information and we can't lose him."

Hermione had to give it to the Headmaster, he looked chastened at her words. He gave her a brief nod before he spoke again.

"I apologize, Severus. I never meant for this to happen." Hermione watched as her father gave the Headmaster a brief nod of acknowledgement. She broke the silence that fell.

"Is that all he had to say?" Her father shook his head.

"No, he was most displeased by the fact that Umbridge struck you. He has an order out to all Death Eaters that if they are caught and remanded to Azkaban, their primary objective is to kill the hag. I, for one, won't be crying crocodile tears over her loss." Hermione snorted at her father's words but remained silent.

Dumbledore took over the preliminary plans for the three of them going to Voldemort in three days' time. Hermione let them. She focused her attention on what exactly she was going to say and do to her grandfather when she next saw him. The treatment he had given her father wouldn't stand and she didn't care if they had to break away from him to get the treatment he deserved. She really didn't want to pull all four of them out of her grandfather's confidences, but she would do what she had to do. Truthfully, she didn't think for a second that her grandfather would do anything else to jeopardize Hermione's placement on his side.

It was thirty minutes later before Dumbledore stood and dismissed the group. Hermione knew that she wanted to speak with her father, but she also knew that he needed rest. Therefore, once they were on their own in the corridor outside of the griffin, Hermione turned his way to see his weary body turn hers.

"Hermione, you must not do anything about this. We can't afford to die at this point of the game." Hermione chuckled at his words before moving forward to embrace her father around the waist.

"You also told me that I should bow and scrape before him, but he tends to like that I refuse. He likes knowing that his heir is powerful. Trust me, he's going to know just how powerful I am. I'm going to come up with a plan to make sure that this doesn't happen again." Her father mopped his hand down his face while Harry and Draco watched from several steps away.

"Please trust me, Hermione." She went to her tip toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"I do trust you, I trust you with my life. Now, you need to trust me. Do you really think I would something to deliberately end the alliance between the four of us and my grandfather? Not to mention, I think he'll do whatever I say if I stay on his side of the war with him. He fears me and, in this case, it's going to work in our favor." Her father raked his hand through his hair before turning her way again.

"I really wish you wouldn't." She chuckled softly as she reached up to fix the hair that he had mussed.

"I know you don't, daddy, but I have to do this." He gave her a sharp look.

"Don't make me regret trusting you." She took his hand in hers once more and squeezed.

"I won't. Now go to your quarters and get some rest. It did wonders for Theo." Severus chuckled at her mothering but let it stand. He kissed the top of her head and started for the staircase that would take him to the ground floor, in turn taking him to the dungeons.

Hermione allowed herself to be pulled towards the opposite staircase by her boys.

-O-

Draco was flabbergasted. He couldn't believe that his girlfriend had threatened her father with entering his mind without his permission. He didn't think for a second that she would do it, but it had sounded good and had elicited the response that she wanted.

He knew that McGonagall looked at his girlfriend like she was a monster but that couldn't be the further from the truth. If muggles died because she chose not to save them, she would be saddened. She would feel guilt for not saving them. This didn't change the fact that she was able to make the difficult decisions that needed to be made to ensure their victory. Losing Severus would be like losing the information highway and there was no way that she could sacrifice that and hope to win against her grandfather.

He knew that she was going to have to come up with a plausible excuse for how the Order was present for the attacks. It was true that she knew how to create false memories, but Voldemort would never enter her mind for fear of angering her. That meant that it would have to be him or Harry and since Harry was the one destined to kill the evil wizard, Draco was sure that he would have to be the one to produce those false memories. They could play it off that the Order was following Thoros and both Lestranges, maybe even some other key Death Eaters. If they didn't have a solid plan, Voldemort would never believe that his son was innocent.

Hermione might claim that she didn't want to endanger the alliance that she had with her grandfather, but Draco knew differently. He knew for a fact that if she felt that her grandfather would pose a threat to the three of them or Severus she would pull out without a second thought or regret. She cared about everyone in the world, that he wholeheartedly believed, but he also knew that those who belonged to her came first. He couldn't fault that; he was the exact same way.

Draco quietly pondered the situation while they made their way back to the Room of Requirement. He knew that Harry and Hermione were conversing quietly about who only knew what, but his mind was elsewhere. He was worried that Hermione's impulsive nature would ruin this for them all. It was true that she wanted to save the world, but she still had enough lion in her to act without thinking if there were enough emotion involved.

Harry paced the corridor, striding confidently as he made the entrance to the Room appear. The three of them entered once the door was visible and Draco let his shoulders slump. Harry noticed his actions and shot him a questioning gaze, but Draco remained silent. Harry was as much an impulsive Gryffindor as Hermione and he would probably take offense if he told the two of them that it was likely to get them all killed. Hermione watched him quietly and when he met her eyes, he felt like her gaze was searing into his soul.

"What's wrong, Dray?" He loved it when she shortened his name. He wasn't sure why since he had always hated it when girls called him Drake, but with Hermione it was different. He raked a hand through his long blond hair.

"We need a plan to make this work. You can tell the Dark Lord all you want that Severus isn't the traitor but if he believes him to be we won't get any more information. You can bully him into not killing him, but Severus won't be available to further information because the Dark Lord will exclude him. You're right, he'll do what you want to keep you on his side, but that doesn't mean that he'll tell Severus anything of import if he believes him a traitor."

Hermione began slowly stripping off her clothes, a contemplative look on her face. Once she was in only her knickers, she perched on the bed and cast a look at both Harry and Draco.

"What do you think we should do?" Draco began to strip his clothes, not speaking until he was in his boxers. He noticed that Harry had followed his lead.

"I think that we need to frame someone. Not anyone from the Order but from the Death Eaters. We tell them that there were orders from Dumbledore to follow the Lestrange brothers, Nott, the Carrows, and several others. That way it doesn't seem like it's a fake story. He won't dare enter your mind, but I should be able to provide a fake memory showing him that the Headmaster assigned this task and that was why their missions weren't a complete success." Hermione began shaking her head.

"No, I won't let you take that chance." Draco shook his head irritably.

"You have to. He won't enter your mind and you know it. Harry is the one that is destined to kill the bastard, he must be above reproach. If Severus had known this information, he would have already provided it to the Dark Lord. I can show a memory of myself spying and discovering the information. I am the only one that can do this and pay the price if he discovers that my memory is false." Hermione started crying and Draco felt terrible, but the truth was the truth. She was able to say that muggles should be sacrificed to keep Severus as a spy, she should be able to realize that they needed Draco to provide the cover story.

"You're not taking that chance, Draco. You're going to play stupid and I'm going to think of something." Draco gave her a deprecating smile.

"I'll agree to that if you come up with something better in the next three days. Otherwise, it's happening. You can't bully me like you do the Headmaster." Hermione stopped short at his words.

"I would never bully you." He snorted at her words. It sounded inelegant but there was nothing for it.

"You would, and you know it. If it meant saving my life you would bully me into submission or threaten me, whichever worked better." Hermione looked at the floor and Draco knew that he had her. He didn't expect Harry to speak up.

"We'll come up with something else. I agree with what you're saying, we need to cast the blame elsewhere, but I don't want to risk you unless we must. We'll search for other options while Hermione brushes you up on creating memories. She can test you better than Snape or Dumbledore ever could." Draco nodded his agreement. It wasn't as though he wanted to face the Dark Lord with a false memory, he was just the only logical person to do so.

Hermione shifted closer to him on the bed and wrapped her arms around his waist. She held him tightly while he rubbed his hands soothingly up and down her spine. He held her for several minutes before she finally nodded into his chest.

"You're right. We'll do our best to come up with an alternative solution, but I will be testing you ruthlessly until then." Draco nodded even though she couldn't see it. He bent and kissed her forehead again, making her tears fall harder.

"I don't want to die, Hermione. I want to have a full and happy life with you and Harry. You're my best friends and I would die for you." He expected her to cry even harder, but she didn't. In fact, she did the opposite. She stopped crying at all. His girlfriend reached down and rubbed his cock through his boxers, instantly making him hard. She lifted her head to capture his mouth with hers and he couldn't help but groan at the movement. When she pulled away from his mouth, she moved his lips to her ear.

"You don't have to do this. This isn't' goodbye." She bent down and nipped the skin on his collarbone.

"No, this isn't goodbye. It's thank you for being so fucking brave." Draco lost himself to the sensations that Hermione was causing in him.

She was straddled on his lap, rubbing her hot pussy along the length of his cock through their underclothes. Her mouth took his once more and possessed it a way that he had yet to experience. Her tongue battled with his for dominance, and even though Draco considered himself an alpha male, he gave up his dominance and let her run the show.

Once she realized that she was in charge, Hermione bent and began pressing sucking kissed to his shoulders and chest. Draco really wasn't sure that he could survive her onslaught; he had never let a female take control of him. He really didn't see it lasting for the whole of the evening, but he would do the best he could for as long as he could.

Her tongue laved his nipples, nipping at the areas surrounding them. Draco felt his cock grow impossibly harder and he did his best to allow her to be in control. He had never given complete control to a woman and he had no intentions of doing so today. Letting her have this was just another way to make her happy. Draco say back and enjoyed the attentions that she showered on him, doing his best to let her remain in charge until the last possible second.

It was difficult when she bent to take his cock in her mouth, toying with the head with her tongue. He was aware that she knew what she was doing, and she was enjoying it while she could. Therefore, he didn't feel too badly when he wrapped his hand in her hair and began thrusting deeply into her mouth. He thrusted for a full minute, wishing that he could just relieve himself in her mouth, but he didn't want to leave her high and dry. His fingers twisted in her hair and he thrust one last time into her mouth.

When he pulled her mouth off him, he did his best to focus his efforts on her. It didn't work, however, since she straddled him once more and took it upon herself to sit on his cock. He had never had a witch ride him since he was more comfortable being in charge, but Hermione seemed to understand that.

"Fuck me, Dray." Her words were heaven to his ears.

Draco didn't hesitate to start driving himself up into her. He had never fucked in this position, but he found that he liked it. It was the illusion that she was in control, but he was the one that held her hips steady and refused to let her meet his thrusts. She was forced to submit to him and he reveled in it.

Draco drove himself deep into her pussy, making sure that he hit every pleasurable spot on the way. He wasn't soft and gentle with her and to be honest, he really didn't think that she wanted him to be. Hermione had always been one that seemed to love when others were in control and he attributed that to the fact that she was in complete control of every aspect of her life. Hermione dug her nails into his shoulders as she struggled to hold on, struggled to keep up. He refused to relent on her and forced her into mindlessness and she achieved her orgasm.

When her inner muscles clenched tight on his cock, when the tried to pull him deeper inside her, Draco relented. He exploded inside her, painting her cervix with his seed. It was in this moment of coming down that he glanced over at Harry and watched him bring himself to release with his hand. Once his mess was left all over his stomach, he grinned at Draco and Hermione.

"That was so fucking hot. I've never came to something like that but that was amazing." Draco withdrew from Hermione and laid down next to her. She was breathless, and Draco was unsure that she would even make it out of the bed to clean up. Harry wrapped an arm around her waist and she laid a hand on his chest.

"That was amazing, Dray. I can't remember feeling like that." He gave a self-satisfied smirk. Harry kissed her shoulders in response.

"Next time, I'm fucking you while Draco watches." Draco felt a thrill of pleasure rush through him. He loved watching Hermione and Harry together. She chuckled softly, her eyes closed.

"Whatever you say, Harry. I always leave satisfied, I trust the both of you."

Draco and Harry snuggled into their girlfriend and they both grinned happily when she dropped off to sleep almost instantly. Harry caught his gaze over Hermione's shoulder.

"You really think you can pull this off?" Draco shrugged his shoulders.

"I want to say no but I don't see the Dark Lord trying too hard to break through my defenses if Hermione is there. He knows that she'll take it as a threat if he does. If the memory is believable, I think I stand a fair chance at making it out alive." Harry seemed to consider his words.

"I would agree with that statement. I'm just worried about what will happen if he doesn't believe you and attacks your mind. Being Hermione's mate will only protect you for so long." Draco felt a frisson of fear flow through him.

"I know, that's why I want her to coach me on false memories. Not that Severus didn't do a great job, but Hermione is better. She can tell me what I need to work on." Harry nodded as he kissed Hermione's shoulder again.

"You know that was hot as fuck, right? I love watching you two fuck." Draco chuckled.

"I know. I love watching you two as well." Harry chuckled and there was silence for several minutes. When the Gryffindor broke the silence, it was in reassurance.

"Get some rest. She isn't going to take it easy on you until she's one hundred percent sure that you're going to survive." Draco grinned at his best friend's words.

"Goodnight, Harry." Harry laid a hand on his waist briefly before pulling it away.

"Goodnight, Drake."

Draco listened to his best friend fall off to sleep. He was sure that he could fight any spell attempted on him and if he couldn't, Hermione would never allow him to be swayed. However, there were no harsh spells out tonight to take his attention from his family. He had to concede to himself that he considered Hermione and Harry his family. He pulled Hermione even closer and nuzzled her neck with his mouth.

After several kisses to the soft skin of her shoulder, he pulled away and kept watch. He wasn't sure that he could trust others even though he was in the Room of Requirement. Until he was sure, he was going to keep watch and do his family proud. It was man hours later that he finally dropped off and by that time Harry and Hermione were both stirring. Draco fell asleep with a grin on his face. He would keep his family safe no matter the cost.

A/N- Another chapter down, bitches. I've enjoyed writing this chapter even though it wasn't too terribly interesting. Next chapter should be a different story. Anyone want to take a guess at what her objective is? Anyways, I hope that you all enjoyed my chapter and will leave me some love. Reviews = love.

Next chapter, meeting with Voldy and she finds out what her assignment is.

Love,

Alicia