Chapter 39
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(Hogwarts)
Harry's POV
Harry tried to act like nothing was amiss. That it was a regular Sunday night dinner in the Great Hall. He sat next to Ron, waiting for Hei-Hermione to arrive. It was a little odd to have somebody other than his best friend wearing her body. But they had to act the same, so when she arrived, followed closely by Adalene, he smiled and waved at her.
He knew immediately that there was a change. One that they had overlooked. While Hermione was confident both on the outside and inside, Heidi Black had something Hermione didn't possess. Only because Hermione wasn't a mother. The instinct to mother another that was her own. Hermione was often teased about her hen-like mothering to Ron and him. But now it was being used on Adalene.
Ron scooted aside so that Hermione would sit between them, Hermione smiled at them and Harry knew instantly it was going to fail. Hermione didn't smile like that. Not to them. He drew back and carefully stared at the rest of the Great Hall. Not many of them were staring but there were a few that stared at the new "Hermione" with careful eyes. He nudged Heidi, giving up on calling her Hermione, and leaned in. "Some people are staring. Neville told us about them."
Heidi didn't freeze or anything. But a new awareness radiated from her as she grabbed a bowl of Yorkshire pudding. She grabbed a spoon and smiled at Harry. "Have you never realized that there were others that stared at her? Even after all these years?"
Harry coloured. Ron choked on his pumpkin juice. Neither spoke as she ate. She was correct. They just hadn't really seen her or appreciated her enough. Now that she wasn't around...they felt different. More vulnerable and awake to things that hadn't before. Harry lowered his pudding cup and sat up straight in shock. Ron did too a few seconds later. Harry shook his head and laughed. Hermione knocked two birds with a damn bat, not a stone this time. She had left them not only for her secret plan but for their benefit as well. They needed to grow apart from her.
Just like she had from them. He shook his head again at her brilliance. The woman honestly scared him at times with her thinking.
Yet, the feeling of responsibility began to sit on his shoulders as he explored the truth further. His eyes shot to those that were on their side. Professor McGonagall was already staring at him. She inclined her head and lifted her goblet in silent acknowledgement. Harry swallowed hard. Heidi patted his arm. "Don't think badly of yourself for just realizing it. Be proud that you were able to figure out a part of Hermione. Not many can say they have. She is a beautifully frightful woman that sometimes knows too much and expects others to do so as well. We all have our own realizations to pass. But your's was the most important. She understands what you think of her even before you know yourself. She is handing you control now. Use it wisely."
The urge to throw up was strong. He jerked out of his seat and dashed out of the Great Hall. He stumbled blindly as Heidi's words roared through his mind. Why? Why did she do this? It was so much pressure! He shuddered as he blindly climbed the staircase. Pressure like never before crowded his mind and numbed his limbs. He didn't want it. But…
Within minutes he found himself sealed inside the RoR. The room was cold and dusty. Heaps of furniture and other things appeared in front of him. He trudged towards an overly large loveseat and sat down.
He braced his elbows on his knees and dropped his face into his hands. It must have been more than an hour later before he realized that he wasn't alone.
Daphne Greengrass stood in front of him, holding a platter of food and a large mug. She placed them down on a chipped wooden table beside the loveseat and wiped her hands on a handkerchief.
She flipped her blond locks back, throwing out a heady scent of mint towards Harry's face. He rubbed his stiff shoulder and raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?" he inquired, eyes never leaving the blond. He'd never really looked her before. Never had reason to.
Back then, she'd be just another Slytherin.
She folded her handkerchief and slid it back into one of her pockets. "McGonagall told me to ask Murin for food. She asked me to bring it to you."
"Why didn't she send Luna?"
"Theodore's lady? As if he would want you near her. Now eat, I have to get back to the pit."
He picked up the mug and discovered it to be filled with chocolate. "Pit?"
"Snakepit."
"Oh."
Harry swallowed a mouthful but didn't touch the food. The silence was cut when Greengrass let out a gusty sigh. The sound burned Harry's ears. He hesitantly looked up at her. She was cooley looking down at him. He must have appeared confused to her because she raised an eyebrow.
"Aren't you going to offer me a seat or are you going to leave me standing here? Being from your rival house doesn't mean you can't show me a bit of courteous kindness, Potter."
Almost choking on his mouthful of choco, he slid to the far right, next to the platter of food, gesturing wildly with his hand. He sucked at any sort of mannerism. At least the kind she must be used to. He noticed that she still didn't sit down and quickly figured out why. The other side was still dusty. That only meant his bottom had just been used as a feather duster for his side. He flushed further and used his wand to make the loveseat more presentable.
He was sweating by the time she sat down beside him. The scent of mint was all around him as she leaned back and crossed her legs. It drew her flowy dress up and he removed his sweater and gave it to her. She laughed. He drew back in shock.
Greengrass dropped the cold look and began to laugh, the sound making him feel odd.
He glared. "What now?"
"You actually believed my little act? I am a lady but only with those I don't particularly like."
"Am I not one of those?"
"I don't dislike you if that's what your wondering."
"Oh...okay."
"Now, have you gained a bit more control?"
"Control? Oh, that. Wait, you saw that?"
"I saw a lot of it. You finally realized why she left you behind."
"You knew...? Great."
Harry laughed harshly. Now he truly felt like a bloody idiot. He looked up when Greengrass touched his arm. She was shaking her head. "Granger wasn't trying to play you for a fool. I might not be as close to her as you are but even I could see how much she loves you. She protected you this whole time and now is making you stand beside her. I helped her, you know. It was the first time anybody saw beyond me. Beyond the image, I showed the world. She knew you though and knew that a semblance of control would help you. She just needed to make sure you could handle it."
It made sense but the feeling was still there. It must have shown through because the blond Slytherin smirked. "Leave it to you to be stubborn. Deal with it Potter, the others will look to you soon. The control and power will be heady and all but stay focused. Just follow your heart."
The last part caught his attention. Heart? He placed his hand on his chest and released a deep breath. The pressure was still there but under control now. But his heart began to gallop as he sharply turned his head to the left. "What did you mean? About not disliking me?"
"Ah...you caught that, did you?"
"What does it mean."
"It's so damn amazing to see how your mind works. Saving the world, check. Noticing girls? That's a whole other curveball."
"What?!"
o0o
(Villa, Same night)
Hermione sat with her parents, they had relocated to her study room once the surprise had faded. They gathered around her as she sat on top of her desk. The room had already been well lit with candles and the fireplace roared with fire, offering them a cosy atmosphere. Hermione crossed her legs as her father twirled a loose curl on her shoulder. Her mother was beaming at her.
She noticed the small changes in them. Charles Granger now had a few silver hairs around his temple while Margaret had a few more laughing lines around her eyes. They looked the same otherwise. Charles leaned forward and gently took one of her hands once he let go of her hair.
"How have you really been? Letters can only say so much."
Margaret nodded, "Tell us everything. It's been too long, Hermione. We almost don't recognize you."
For the next hour, she told them everything. She showed them her plans. They grieved for the time lost. All the ups and downs of her life since she last saw them. Years ago. They grew happy when she spoke of her love life. Margaret sent her a secretive smile when she told them that the wedding wouldn't happen until everything was done. Charles grew serious but really couldn't say no since he had already known about it from Severus.
It wasn't until Severus spoke to her that she broke away from them. "They have arrived."
Hermione fingered the necklace in her lap and set it aside as she jumped off the table. Her parents followed her out of the study room and into the living room where everybody was. Except for Xeno and Narcissa. Hermione smiled when she saw Remus and the twins. They were dirty and looked exhausted. She walked forward and embraced each of them. They grinned tiredly. Hermione patted their cheeks.
"Go rest, we'll talk in the morning. Adrian will take you to Theo's room."
They followed him out. Hermione shifted her attention to Remus, who actually looked a whole lot better than the twins had. The full moon was a week away and he would be showing the signs of strain soon. Unless their potion worked. One that Xeno, Severus, and Halima had been working on for the past year. The last two had failed. But Hermione had hope for the third one. For it contained something the other two didn't have.
Her blood and something else that Halima had sent. If it worked, they would be able to give it to the other werewolves, Tatum Mashh and Felix Cane.
Hermione sat down on the armchair Remus was leaning on. Remus looked down at her, eyes guarded. Hermione motioned with her hand. "How did it go?"
Remus scratched at his chin. "We got the last of the lone ones. Draco will make a list of the pureblood families that are in favour of Riddle and are also giving him financial support."
Adrian spoke up, his voice echoing against the wall of the fireplace as he turned to face them. "There are some that are within the Ministry who are involved with him. Not directly but there is no mistaking their true alliance. You'll see them tomorrow when we go in."
Hermione drummed her fingers against her knee. She would have said something but Draco addressed her directly. He'd been standing by the doorway the whole conversation but now passed Severus and Zeph to sit by the fire. He reached out and hovered his hands over the fire. He cleared his throat and looked over his shoulder at her.
"Lucius kept a notebook with the deposits of said families. They stopped around his imprisonment. That means that either Riddle himself if keeping up with it or there is somebody else doing it for him. But it won't be any of the new members since they have their own things to deal with."
That wasn't surprising at all. Since Riddle had deserted the Malfoy Manor, they could go in and get it. But she was damn sure it was being guarded. Hermione didn't have to speak up since Severus had already begun to talk as soon as the decision had begun to form.
"We have to get somebody that is on watch duty with the Manor. We don't want to tip them off just yet."
Everybody agreed.
o0o
(Monday, Ministry)
The sun was out for once. It didn't melt the snow but it did offer a bit of warmth as they walked.
Hermione was following Adrian down the sidewalk that led to another entrance to the Ministry. Hermione was dressed for the occasion.
Zeph had gone shopping with Margaret and had come back with too many clothes. Hermione had closed her eyes and taken their advice on what to wear.
She wore all black. From the blazer to the slacks that flared at the bottom. They had handed over dragonhide boots that did have a thick heel. She had paused when she had first seen them. Zeph had patted her shoulder, saying something about protecting her feet or whatnot.
She was dressed for the part she was to play. Even to the bright red lipstick that Zeph had shown her how to apply.
It wasn't long until she found herself being 'introduced' to the Minister of Magic, Amelia Bones.
Hermione took Amelia's hand, offering a bright and sunny smile as she beamed at her. "I'm Adrian's older cousin from France. I haven't visited since we were children since I have been travelling around with my older brother. Once Adrian reached out to me about the job I came right away."
Pretty talk. It was for the benefit of their audience. Dumbledore and a few members of the Wizengamot were standing around for the trails to begin for the last of the Death Eaters that have been dropped off once again. Hermione didn't take her eyes off Bones but could feel their curious gazes. Bones on her part smiled and let go of her hand.
"We've been swamped with work and having you around will be a great help. Please follow Mr Weasley to your office."
"Of course."
Percy walked forward and motioned towards a door to the far right. "If you'll accompany me this way, Ms Antoinette."
Hermione smiled and followed him, Adrian bringing up the rear silently. They didn't speak until they stopped by a large door right across from Percy's office.
Once the door was closed, Hermione dropped the ditzy look.
"That was damn boring. Why weren't the other members of the Wizengamot here?"
Percy leaned back against the mahogany table that faced the window and crossed his arms. "They don't care what happens to those that were dropped off. To them, they are already charged and in manacles. They don't want to waste their time since none of the Death Eaters has information on who's behind their arrest. Plus there are a lot of other things that need attention."
Adrian passed her and sat down and crossed his legs. He exhaled loudly. "Those are the ones that don't support Riddle but there were a few that just went neutral too. Especially Abbott and Shafiq. They have been known to back off and stay out of anybody's personal business but this time, they just don't know who to believe. The same could be said about Longbottom. She hasn't been in for weeks now."
"We'll deal with her through Neville later."
But it was all very informative. Hermione had also noticed one other person missing. The Bulstrode Matriarch hadn't been around. She was one in three leading females for three pureblood families. That was a whole other subject for another time.
"Malfoy's list backs it up. We'll begin flushing them out one by one. Percy, do you think we should proceed with our earlier discussion?" Hermione asked as she pulled her cloak off.
Percy shrugged his lean shoulders. "He is the most unpredictable one out of all of us. He might agree but on his own terms. I don't know him well enough to say anything else based on what I know"
That much was true. Out of all his brothers, Bill was the most remote and mysterious. But he was the best choice. The easiest way to get ahold of the records they sought. Hermione tugged at her necklace as she began to pace.
"We'll need all of your brothers to convince him unless we find an alternative way. I just don't want to give away our members in case I have to erase his memory. We'll have to do it soon." That was just another thing to add to the list of things she needed to deal with. Just thinking about it made her temples throb.
"How about including my parents? My mother hasn't been to the HQs since she laid one on Dumbledore. She has been writing to Charlie and the twins every day. My father has been working here all day and half the night since he can't exactly stop coming to work. Plus, he stands with my mother on whatever she chooses. Which right now means avoiding Dumbeldore like the Black Plague."
That could work.
"Has any of the Order members visited them?"
"Bill is staying with them but he's been going out a lot with a woman. We aren't sure who but nobody has time or interest to ask. I know it's a woman since he bought her a few flowers from the shop in Diagon Alley. But since he is still part of the Order and working in Gringotts, he's been a little too busy."
Hermione touched the time-turner, it lay around her waist and she could feel the outline of it through her thin turtleneck. She tugged it as she stopped her pacing. "I know you worry about them being so involved. Maybe I won't have them so active if they do decide to throw it in with us. But I won't leave them out. Molly could help with Harry and Ron. A safe house without it being so obvious."
Relief washed across his face. She knew he worried over his mother in particular. Having the family apart in such a way wasn't healthy. Not for them and not for the kids. Hermione groaned. Having more people join was a good thing. But it was also a little too much. She almost shouted in surprise as Adrian suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up.
"Adrian!"
"You look good as a blond, Hermione. We could almost pass for twins."
"She would obviously be the better-looking one. The original one." Percy said, face set in a serious expression. But his eyes betrayed him. They glittered with mischief that many overlooked.
Adrian snarled and would have probably said something witty but Hermione pinched him. Hard. He dropped her with a yelp. Percy broke character and roared noisily.
"Enough romping around. Tell me what else I have missed."
For a little while, they spoke of everything that she had overlooked. Percy gave her updates on the trails and Amelia's plans. Adrian gave her rundowns of his communications with his tasks that Riddle sent him. Not that it was much. Except…
"He is going to ask you to kill Amelia once he gets rid of any and all other powerful players. He doesn't want to deal with any of this directly since he's busy trying to find me."
Adrian nodded. "He will eventually have me kill her. But right now he's scrambling like a baby without its mother. I'm to stick close to her and make sure I make myself seem loyal and present a facade that will fool even Dumbledore."
Hermione stood up and walked over to the window, staring down at the pretty little indoor garden that held a small water fountain. She tapped the glass once with her finger and it disappeared. She picked up her beaded bag she had tied to her waist and enlarged the wrapped stack of papers she had stashed right before coming to work. She used her wand and sent the papers flying out the window.
It all took less than a minute. The glass was back in place before anybody could have noticed. Percy was already at the door, shouting at whoever was out in the hallway. Hermione turned her head to see Adrian smirking. She raised an eyebrow.
He stood up and walked over to her, hands in his pockets. She turned back to the spectacle. He brushed her arm as he gazed down.
"You like chaos, don't you?"
Hermione tilted her head and met his baby blue eyes with her own. "Shh, not so loud Adrian. Only a diminutive part of me really really like this."
o0o
Hermione knocked on the door and waited for Molly to open it. Percy had sent word to her that Molly and Arthur would be home alone for a few hours since Bill would be going in to help the Order on something. The door opened and Molly's flushed face appeared. She smiled but it froze on her face when she realized who was standing in her doorway.
"Hermione! Aren't you supposed to be in school?"
"Technically I am in school right now."
"Excuse me?"
"Let's go inside. Can we come in?"
"W-We?"
"Good afternoon Molly."
Remus and Severus spoke up at the same time. Well, Severus just grunted his greeting as he swept snow off his hair. Molly finally tore her eyes away from Hermione and noticed her second eldest, who'd been leaning back against the doorframe.
"Charlie Weasley!"
It took Molly a few minutes to stop ranting at her son. He took it quite well and actually calmed her down a lot quicker than Hermione had thought he could. They had moved out of the snow-covered entrance and now sat in the kitchen, the stove fire warming her back. Severus sat to her left and Remus was munching on a muffin he had swiped from the table.
It was obvious that she was worried about her son more than the fact that Hermione had shown up with them. It seemed to hit Molly all at once as she turned to look at her.
"Why are you with them? What's going? Weren't Remus and Severus...gone?"
"I know it may seem like a lot right now-" Hermione stopped when Molly went white in the face. It alarmed Charlie since he extended a hand out. Molly waved her child away, keeping her gaze on Hermione, seeming to finally see the bigger picture.
"Last I heard from Dumbledore was that Remus and Severus were deserting us. That they openly defied both sides to join a woman. One that also took my twins and Charlie. That can only mean that you…"
"Yes, it's me. I took them. But I'm also planning to get the rest of you."
"The rest? Ron?"
"Ginny and Ron know what is going on and are working with me too. The only ones that aren't are Bill, Arthur, and you."
Molly's back was ridged with tension as she stared down Hermione. "What exactly are you planning? Who else is in on this? There is so much that I want to ask but I can't get over the fact that it's you. That you are actually oppings both of them. Do you understand the magnitude of what your beginning to do?"
Hermione poured some tea and picked up the tiny cup. She brought it up to her nose and smiled. "Begining? You're mistaken, Mrs Weasley. I have been doing this for years. This is me bringing it all to an end."
"What have you done, Hermione?" Molly questioned, her face ashy and eyes wide with trepidation. Hermione leaned back against the wooden chair and looked past Molly's shoulder. Arthur was standing there, face red from the cold. He had come in mid-conversation and now stepped forward. He laid his hands on his wife's shoulders and waited for Hermione's answer.
"I did what had to be done. I have been doing this for years. At least on my part, it has been years." Hermione dropped the simple charm on her person and pulled her cloak off. She folded it and passed it to Severus. "There's much to be said before your eldest arrives. Please just listen to me. And when I'm done, I'll answer anything you want. Remus, stop eating those muffins and bring Sirius in. He'll freeze once the storm hits."
The hours passed them by. Charlie left midway through to continue his search. It was an hour before sunrise when Molly finally asked Hermione about Severus. They had left the kitchen for the living room and Hermione had found her way to Severus as the hours had gone by. She hadn't realized that she was practically on his lap until Arthur cleared his throat repeatedly. Molly wasn't so discreet.
"I've been meaning to ask this but I don't want to make it seem like...well, are you both together? Isn't that…"
Severus had been quiet for the most part but now spoke up, voice deep and tightly controlled. "We plan to marry as soon as this is all over. We got together when she was well above age. We don't care who knows now since she's not going back to school."
Molly gasped. "You're not? But wouldn't they notice you gone?"
"Once Harry has the reins in hand and Riddle is gone, I plan to come forth with the truth. Or at least some of it. I won't be able to go back even if I had wanted to due to my age and the fact that I could sit the NEWTs right now and pass them with flying colours. Harry could too but I want him to finish."
Arthur rubbed Molly's back and stared out the window. "We think of you as our own. Just like Harry. How did we miss all of this? We've been with the Order for so long and yet, it feels like we never really knew anything. At least not the truth."
Severus shook his head. "Arthur, Albus never wanted any of you to find out the truth that only he suspected. At least the prophecy part. The Horcrux is recent or at least it was. He did wrong by keeping it from you all. From the Order. The only reason the Order came back was that he needs you all to protect Harry until Harry went up against Riddle. The rest...well he was going to have Harry help him while the rest of the Order held the Death Eaters back."
Hermione grabbed his hand and brought it to her lap. She stared at his hand and spoke, keeping her voice low. "You both know how loyal I am to Harry. To Ron. I couldn't let them face this without doing what I could. Things changed over the years for me. I started off with that mindset but...I have to finish this until the end. Which is why we need Bill."
"He will help if he hears it all from his mother." Arthur murmured. Hermione silently agreed. Molly being the matriarch would help a lot more than having all of his brothers together. Arthur cleared his throat. "Percy was the first one to join, right?"
"Yes, early on he was the one that I needed." He had been the most logical pick. He still was.
The fire ignited, casting green shadows across the room instead of red. Hermione turned her head away, burying it into Severus' shoulder. She let Molly welcome Bill back and Arthur thumped him on his back. Bill didn't notice them until he finished brushing off soot from his coat. He froze once he caught sight of Remus. Who was directly in front of him. He frowned at the werewolf.
"Lupin. Why are you here?" He stepped in front of his parents protectively. Remus didn't loose his casual slouch on the couch and instead turned to look at Severus. Hermione watched from the corner of her eye as Bill followed Remus's gaze. If he had been bothered with Remus presence before, It was nothing compared to the utter stillness that took over Bill's body. He lost the heated glower to replace it with something else.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't call Albus or Moody right now," Bill said quietly. He had his wand out the next second and it was pointed at Severus. Hermione chuckled. But it wasn't a pleasant sound. It was full of feminine anger. Darkly sensual. It made the man beside her stiffen. He curled his arm around her waist and hoisted her up onto his lap when she started to slide her hands all over him. She draped herself across his lap and pushed her hair away from her face.
"You better lower that wand, Bill, or you'll regret it," Hermione whispered the threat, making sure to ring it with beautiful cruelty. Bill's face paled as he stared down at her. He carefully turned the tip of his wand towards Hermione.
"Tell me you aren't Hermione Granger."
"Oh but I am. Shocking, I know. But do sit down, you must be tired from...your shift."
"What is going on here?" Bill demanded, eyes darkening with fury. Molly patted his arm but spoke to Hermione. "Explain it to him while I make us all some tea."
This was getting old. But it had to be done. Hermione didn't budge from her spot. Bill dropped his wand once he saw Sirius by the fire, in his dog form. He sank into the chair his mother had been occupying and fixed his eyes on Hermione. She played with Severus's hair and returned the stare with a touch of indifference.
o0o
By the time she was finished, the sun had risen. Breakfast was being served by Molly and Remus so they had moved towards the kitchen once again.
Through it all, Bill hadn't spoken. He actually looked to be deep in thought. Hermione shrugged and passed Severus a cup of pumpkin juice and leaned back to stare out the window. Zeph was probably waiting for them. Dimitry was supposed to arrive sometime today and Hermione didn't want to miss him. She pushed her plate away and got up.
"Remus, take Sirius back and meet us back at the villa. Molly, the twins will come by and see you once Bill makes sure the Order is occupied. Dumbledore won't bother you anytime soon so they can come to see you."
The others agreed and Bill finally looked directly at her. "You really aren't the girl I remember. You've told me what I need to know. Don't deny it. I know that there is much more than just the prophecy and the Horcruxes. My parents accept it all because you have most of our family on your side. But I need to know more. I get it. I really do. But I can't seem to fully place my faith on an image I carry of you. I also know that you have a lot more people helping you than you've let on."
That was true. Molly and Arthur wanted their family together more than everything. But they did believe in her. They hadn't asked too many questions. Not as to which members or amount of people were backing her. They knew what their role was. A safe house that was right under Dumbledore's nose. A decoy of sorts.
Hermione twirled her wand nonchalantly, gazing at Bill.
"Tell me exactly what you want, Bill."
"I understand why you need me. At least for one thing. But I'm not one to take a task and call it a day. I want to be more involved."
Hermione had known he would be this way. That's why she had come prepared. She reached for the folder that Severus had pulled from his robes. She handed it to Bill. "Take the Order apart with this. Make sure they read it carefully. Make them stand down and withdraw their support. Tell them that I have an understanding with you. With your parents."
Bill opened the folder. Molly glanced over Bill's shoulder and froze once she got a look at what the folder contained. Arthur steadied her with his arm as she paled. Bill's jaw clenched. He shut the folder carefully, fingers curling up to form a fist. He spoke through gritted teeth. "What else has he lied about. He waisted years! While Riddle was gone he should have been hunting him. I don't understand what he plans to do."
"Yes, you do. He waited for the one to 'defeat' him to learn how to lift his wand. He waited because he didn't think he would live to see it all end."
o0o
Three days later, Sirius saw the Order turn on Dumbledore.
The folder was passed around the table. Dumbledore himself wasn't present for the great reveal.
Bill Weasley had timed it well. Sirius was the only one that didn't take it. Kingsley noticed.
He was the one in charge while Albus was busy and McGonagall in Hogwarts. Kingsley tried talking above the crowd but many of them were shouting or asking questions of their own. The big man didn't take his gaze off Sirius and actually made his way to where he was sitting.
When the others noticed the change in the air, they all turned as one. Nymphadora actually stumbled back, face blanching at what she saw in Kingsley's face. Bill picked up the folder that was still in front of Sirius and opened it.
Many eyes glanced at it, anger and worry etched across their faces. It was all overshadowed by doubt. Because if they believed it, then everything they had been working for so far had been for nothing. It meant Albus had been playing them like chess pieces.
Kingsley spoke to him while all the others stood by, talking quietly amongst themselves.
"You know more. I can see it on your face. You don't seem surprised."
Sirius arrogantly lifted an eyebrow. "Of course I do. I'm actually here to withdraw from the Order formally if none of you will listen. And to deliver a warning."
Whatever murmur had been going on in the background died once his words registered. Dedalus Diggle stood abruptly and angerly slapped his hands on the tabletop. "What is the meaning of this! We are supposed to be working together. Not trying to tear each other apart."
Kingsley waved his hand, silencing everybody else that had begun to agree with the old man. He continued to stare down at Sirius. Waiting. Sirius stretched like a cat and stood up. He was head to head with the large man when he shrugged. "I meant what I said. You all aren't doing anything but getting in the way. I'm not the only one in the Order that has turned to her side."
"So it is a female," Kingsley whispered.
"It's a female alright. Actually, she's Severus's fiance."
The silence erupted as many gasped. Diggle sat down heavily and even Emmeline Vance staggered back. Bill threw the folder into the fire and circled the long table. He met everybody's gazes with his own cold one.
"There is much to be discussed. Those that refuse to even consider the truth, leave. Those that wish to know more, stay and listen. Because she won't tolerate anybody standing in her way. Not even those she knows."
It seemed to click. Nobody moved. Not even Cowardly Fletcher. But somebody did finally join the conversation.
Aberforth Dumbledore stood up, back facing the fire and smiled. "Whoever she is, she must know quite a lot about us and my dear old brother. I want to know more. I might even be swayed," he smiled eerily, "But Albus won't take it kindly for trying to shut down the Order."
"She doesn't care. She isn't here to please him. She's here to make sure that nobody stands in her way."
Kingsley spoke next. He was still staring at Sirius. "Who is she doing this for? Why is she doing this at all."
"To protect her own."
o0o
Hermione sat on the window seat as the others ate and talked. The Villa was packed with people. Except for Harry and the others. McGonagall had stopped by briefly to give her a letter that Kingsley had written her. It had basically asked her if she had known about Hermione and if Harry had been contacted by the woman since he did live with Sirius. Hermione had written him a short letter, basically telling him to back off. That he shouldn't worry about Harry.
Andromeda had arrived with her husband. Both had been deep in talk with her parents since they've been introduced. Xeno sat with Narcissa, both drinking tea and eating crackers. Hermione turned to stare at her boys next. Both were by the door, staring at everybody else. They stood close together but didn't touch. In her opinion, they needed to come clean to each other but knew it wasn't her problem.
Zeph walked out of the kitchen with Dimitry. He looked tired and barely glanced at the others as he sat down heavily on to one of the armchairs near the fire. He drew Zeph down to his lap and played with her braid.
The twins were passed out on the rug behind the bigger couch. They were still trying to catch up on their sleep since they had exhausted themselves by helping Severus with a few potions. Draco was also passed out a few feet from them. He had been helping Remus with his special potion. Remus and Sirius had left the house hours ago, wanting to make sure the potion worked without putting the others in danger. But Hermione had a good feeling about the potion.
She knew it worked. She didn't know how she knew but something inside of her agreed with her. Hermione leaned her head back and drifted off. They were all safe right now. The fieldwork was set and the stage was ready to be filled with players from all sides.
She just hoped that she didn't lose anybody.
It would take a piece of her if anybody got hurt or even killed.
Severus knew what she was thinking. He was inside of her just as she was inside of him.
"You won't carry the burden alone. I'm here and so are the others. We're almost there."
"Yes, we are."
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Thank you for all the comments! I really like hearing back from you all. Here is another chapter that took me quite a while to rearrange since I kept writing scenes that just didn't fit. Once I'm done with this story I might end up releasing them on the side.
Vanee