Author's Note: Still Beta fishing….no luck yet on finding someone….

Thank you all that have reviewed and thank you to everyone following the story.

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter…next chaper is more SS/HG…

Also I'm going to give the story a new name and if anyone has any suggestions let me know! Happy Reading!

I own nothing these characters are not mine….

Chapter 5: Dinner with Potter!

Hermione was in a slight state of shock. Did Severus just caress her face all the way down to her hand? Did he just kiss her fingers? Dear Merlin did he just kiss her palm!? She was certain he had done so and she was about to drop to the floor from wobbly knees. Highly unanticipated and highly acceptable she could definitely take more of that sweetness from him. She attempted to speak but was unable to she simply stared at him with a quirky smile and nodded her acceptance. She couldn't speak but simply stood and stared at him in a trance like state.

"Then I shall see you Saturday." He smiled at her and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. "Good night Hermione." He turned and walked out the front door leaving her in a state of shock. He felt very proud of himself leaving her in such a disoriented state and maintaining his self control.

Hermione couldn't believe what had just happened. She stood in the hallway surrounded by her books not believing what had just occurred. She slowly sashayed her way up the stairs to her room and sat down on her bed. In all her years she never expected she would have feelings for the one man she always hated. She analyzed every minute of their evening together for the next several hours falling asleep still in her dress.

Friday morning came all too suddenly for Hermione. She awoke in the same state of shock from the night before. She had accepted Severus' invitation to the Ministry ball. This meant she had shopping to do and as expected she would have to spend an excess amount of money on getting her hair fixed. She hated her hair but she suspected a glamour charm would have to be used. Most muggle hair dressers were never capable of fixing her hair properly. She got up and showered preparing herself for a day of shopping alone.

Severus awoke immensely dreading the evening events that were to take place. He had a dinner meeting with the Potter brat and he would count the seconds till it was over. He however craved an explanation to the events that had taken place at the Burrow. He thought about the previous evening with Hermione and was easily distracted from the events that would later occur. She was everything he had ever wanted and couldn't believe she could be so easily persuaded into attending a Ministry ball with a simple caress. He also couldn't understand why she would be interested in someone twenty years older than her especially to someone like him.

He spent the morning in the basement organizing his potions ingredients and taking inventory. He was trying to use the example Hermione shared with him last night to be more proactive in his quest for an apothecary. He considered his options on the best most efficient route would be in reference to which market he would promote. He knew that hospitals would always need potions and a plentiful amount. He assumed that would get boring rather quickly though making the same potions day in and day out. He would need to research to find exactly who he would make potions for and what type.

Hermione also made good use of her morning. She went to Diagon Alley and purchased a beautiful silk dress robe. It was a bit out of her price range but she figured she would wear it to Harry and Ginny's wedding and make the dress for more than just one occasion. She planned to spend the afternoon taming her hair and working on her books.

Severus made his way out of his basement and into the shower. If he was going to be out and about he needed to get some dress robes and make his day at least productive so tomorrow would not be overly stressful or rushed. After his shower he dressed in some typical muggle cloths for the evenings events covered by a black cloak. He had to make an appearance in Diagon Alley and was not looking forward to being flocked by everyone on the street. He applied a quick glamour charm to change his facial feature and hair color then he apparated to Diagon Alley.

Making his way to Madam Malkin's Severus was pleased that no one recognized him with his glamour charms. He was in and out of the shop within the hour and headed towards muggle London to Sebastian's to meet Potter. He shrunk his purchases, removed his cloak and apparated to an empty alley he knew of that was about three blocks away. The short walk gave him time to clear his head. He arrived twenty minutes early so he stood outside and waited for the brat to arrive.

When Harry arrived he did not recognize Severus. Severus thought it was quite humorous watching Harry become impatient. He hadn't intended on forgetting to remove his glamour charms but now that he had he was really enjoying the scene of Harry pacing. Severus walked up to Harry and tapped his shoulder. "If you will give me a moment I will remove the glamour's and return." Severus turned and walked into the closest alleyway. He removed his glamour's and returned back to Harry.

"Professor Snape, thank you for joining me for dinner. Let's get our seats." Harry turned and walked to the hostess stand and gave them his last name. He had made reservations. Severus wasn't impressed. They followed the hostess to their table and placed their drink order.

"Again Professor I do appreciate you meeting me tonight. I feel you deserve a proper explanation."

"Indeed." He sneered.

Harry expected him to be more cordial but he seemed more like the old Snape from school than he had anticipated. Cold stare, deeply concentrated lines on his face and even the direct response with no hint of curiosity behind his response. He certainly hoped the scotch he just ordered would loosen him up just a bit.

"Have you been doing well since you left the hospitals? Hermione I assume is taking good care of you at home?"

"Yes I've been well. Hermione is not staying at my home. Why did you request to meet me for drinks Potter?" He had no desire to stay here longer than he must.

"Yes about that I wanted to explain the situation with Arthur and Ron. What do you know about their deaths?"

"I know they are dead." Slowly becoming annoyed Severus tried to keep his patience in check.

"That's all…hmm..I thought Hermione would have told you more about what happened to them." He gripped the bridge of his nose.

The drinks arrived and interrupted their conversation momentarily. The waitress took their order and left. Severus was now curious. Hermione hadn't told him everything he needed to know apparently. She only told him what he could assume was what she could bare to say. Gryfinndors!

"Continue."

"Ah right. Well, Ron and Arthur's bodies are still technically missing. They held a wake at the Burrow after they had been missing a few weeks. The hand on Molly's clock changed and placed them in the same category as Fred. It's all very mysterious the circumstances in which it happened. They were sent out after McNair, we had gotten a tip about his location. This was after Hermione's parents were captured, tortured and later murdered. McNair was the last of the three we needed in the connection to her parent's death. I was with them and a few other auror's from the ministry. Arthur and Ron found McNair first. When the rest of us arrived McNair was on the ground tied up and remnants of Arthur and Ron's cloths were found singed on the ground, along with wands and a few other items. No one has seen them since that night."

"So they just decided to pronounce them dead because of that wretched clock of Molly's?"

"Yes apparently they think it cannot be wrong."

"You have continued to look for them I presume?"

"Yes constantly."

"Have you spoken to Hermione about the possibility they still may be alive?"

"No. Only Ginny and she thinks I'm wasting my time."

"You may or may not be." He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Just stop looking for people because of a stupid clock. "And what about Ms. Weasleys attitude yesterday?"

"They still blame your for Dumbledore's death."

"You're joking?" The nerve of them two women was incredulous!

"Nope."

"Why exactly do they still blame me for doing what he ordered me to do?"

"They believe you should have refused his request."

"IT WASN'T A REQUEST!" Most of the people in the restaurant turned and stared at him mostly out of fear. Anger spread across his face.

"I know that Professor." Harry said as calmly as possible. Immediately regretting his choice of words, "I know that it wasn't a request. I apologize for the poor choice in my vocabulary."

Severus was furious. Is that what they all thought? That it was a request and not an order? The audacity of these people was appalling! He only did what he had to do to keep the children safe. It appears that even with him killing Dumbledore Draco still managed to be an idiot and off himself.

"What of the rest of them? Do they all feel this way? Does Hermione feel this way?" Dear Merlin he hoped she didn't feel the same way as the Weasleys.

"Hermione wouldn't have cared for you if she felt as the Weasleys feel. George is the only one who agrees with Hermione and me. Arthur also felt the way I do and Ron. They no longer matter though."

Severus gave a sigh of relief. Hermione believed Harry, this was the one time in his life he was grateful for Harry's existence. He wondered what else the brat knew.

"What happen to Draco?" He always knew the boy was depressed but why would he kill himself now and not prior to Voldemorts downfall.

"Draco's case is a strange situation. After Lucius was sent to Azkaban for his one year sentence the death eaters all came to Draco for guidance. Draco wanted nothing to do with them and he refused. Narcissa and Draco came to the ministry for refuge. Here is when it gets fuzzy. I don't know if the ministry turned them away or what exactly happen in their confrontation with Shacklebolt but they both returned home. Later that night Draco left a suicide note refusing to bring back Voldemort and slit his wrists in a very muggle way."

"How long after this happen did Ron and Arthur disappear?"

"Couple weeks maybe three."

Severus knew of dark magic that Harry knew nothing about very old and very dark magic. Lord Voldemort studied this magic before the final battle. He knew there was a very ancient ritual that could be held in Egypt to raise the dead. The only problem Voldemort had encountered with the ritual is the quantity of dead the ritual would cause to rise. Surely he wouldn't be stupid enough to instruct someone to do this ritual? It could cause mass panic and widespread destruction of both wizards and muggles.

"Harry I believe you must go to Eygpt and look for Ron, Arthur and Draco."

"Why would I look for Draco?"

"Because it is very possible that he is alive and well."

"I have seen his body. I attended his funeral. Draco is dead."

"Prove it. Show me his corpse."

"Professor, do you know something I should know?"

"In due time Potter."

They stood and left their food on the table half eaten. Harry quickly paid the bill and the two of them set foot outside.

"Professor I don't understand what you are talking about if you expect me to break into Malfoy Manor to access their mausoleum and break open Draco's head rest you are sadly mistaken. I will not defile someone's resting place!"

Severus was furious he grabbed Harry by the arm, "Potter don't be a fool! I promise you he is not there." Severus apparated them both to the gates of Malfoy Manor.

Harry was completely confused. Severus was stark raving mad. He should have believed Ms Weasley. And now he was dragging him all the way to the front door at Malfoy Manor! Severus dragged him all the way to the front door and into the front foyer. He looked around for Narcissa. Harry knew she was on house arrest so he wasn't for certain why she would not be at home this late at night. After thirty minutes of wondering through the mansion Harry accepted the fact that she was not home.

"No one is here Professor Snape. She is supposed to be here she is on house arrest." Harry was furious.

"I knew she would not be here Potter. Come this way." He was nearly panicking. They could not do this! How could they perform such a stupid ritual? He walked into the mausoleum with Harry. Severus looked around to find Draco's name. After several minutes he found it and stared at it furiously. He pulled out his wand and used a blasting curse to bust through the thick marble slab that sealed his tomb.

"SIR WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Harry yelled with confusion filling his voice.

"Observe Potter." Severus levitated the coffin out of the wall onto the floor beside him. He opened the lid.

Harry closed his eyes as tightly as possible as Severus opened the coffin. He didn't want to see a decomposing body.

"As I said Potter, Draco is not dead." He knew he was right those insolent stupid idiotic fools! He felt it a curse to be right all the time!

Harry was shocked to hear Severus' words. He slowly opened his eyes and stepped around the side of the coffin. It was empty. How? He knelt down and frantically searched through the cushions in the bottom of the coffin. He had to be here. Maybe they cremated him and his ashes were hidden in the bottom.

"Explain this sir! What is going on?" Harry was confused he didn't understand.

Severus took a few steps away from Harry and turned his back to him staring at the wall. He began to explain what was happening and about the ritual. Ron and Arthur were pure bloods they intended on sacrificing. It took pure magical blood to perform the dark magic. Draco was the one to perform the ritual. Lucius made sure it would be Draco prior to going to Azkaban. His family would not be disgraced and Draco would be the one to bring them back. Everything from the moment Harry killed Voldemort was simply party of his master plan.

Harry fell back onto the floor not believing what Severus was saying. How could this be? He killed Voldemort! He only knew of one question at the moment he had to ask. The only thing he could think of to ask. "When?"

"Halloween night, you have a little more than a month to stop them Potter."

"We need to leave tonight then!"

"No. I won't be going."

"Do what!?" Harry could not believe he wasn't going!

"I will not give up anymore of my life for this cause Potter." He was looking forward to his future. The golden boy enjoyed his spot light he could take care of the problem from now on without him.

"Sir with all due respect you cannot expect us to do this without you by our sides! You are the only reason we defeated him last time! How could you be so selfish?"

"Selfish? Boy I gave up half of my life to avenge your mother and protect you and you have the audacity to call me selfish!" He was yelling. How could this boy grow up in an abusive home and still manage to become a spoiled brat! "You have no idea what I've seen in my life time Potter. And I will not give up what I have planned for my life again. Not for anyone." Severus turned and began to walk away from Harry. He stopped and looked back at Harry for one last piece of advice before he was done with this forever. "You need to go to the Great Pyramid of Giza in Cairo. The ritual will be performed there on Halloween night. They will be building a new army Potter. I suggest you gather as many as you can and go there no later than next week. After that there may not be time to save anyone." He turned back and walked out of the mausoleum towards the front doors.

Harry couldn't believe what was happening. Voldemort was on the verge of returning and Severus was running away! How could he be so cold and heartless and just walk away! He stood up slowly and dusted himself off. He looked around the room in disbelief. How could this be happening again? He wasn't ready to do this again. He walked closer to the front and heard a crack. Severus was gone.

Harry looked around the outside of the manor one last time shaking his head in disbelief. He apparated to the ministry to bring them this horrible news. He also needed to round up a band of wizards willing to fight.

Severus apparated to Spinner's End he was still in charge of his life and would not be forced into another war. He would stand on the sidelines and watch this time. For now he had a ball to attend.