Hello all!

I will keep the AN brief: Thanks to all (the very few of you) who reviewed, you are awesome. I adore you all. Thanks to those who read my new story, I adore you all.

Also (because I might forget later) thanks to Julia G, my wonderful friend who helped me block out a certain scene that will appear in Chapter Twenty One.

But for now: on to the story!

Chapter 16

Severus and Hermione Flooed to Dumbledore's office in silence. Severus plucked the small pot that contained his Floo powder from the mantel to offer it to her, even though it was well within her reach. Hermione glanced at him curiously, then took a pinch and stepped into the fire.

When Severus arrived at her heels, Dumbledore was offering Hermione a lemon drop, which she turned down. The old goat should know better than to ask her by now. Then again, I've known him personally for more than sixteen years and he's never once failed to offer one of his infernal sweets.

"Ah, Severus, my boy," Dumbledore said, smiling happily. "Lemon Drop?"

Severus shook his head once curtly, black locks swinging into his face. "No, thank you, Albus."

Hermione took a seat in one of Dumbledore's large fluffy chairs. "Severus and I have something we want to discuss with you, Headmaster," she said calmly.

Somewhat surprised, Severus stood behind her chair, leaning against it. He could feel the softness of her curls against his hands. "I think it is high time for Hermione to be formally inducted into the Order. And take her place in the Inner Circle."

The Headmaster leaned back in his own, throne-like chair, stroking his beard. "Oh?"

"We've discussed it and evaluated the various pros and cons," said Hermione, and from above Severus could see her eyes had narrowed like a cat's. "We think it should be done soon. Tonight, if possible."

The piercing blue eyes of the Headmaster bored into Hermione's, and then into Severus' before returning to the woman's face. "I find myself thinking it through and agreeing that it would indeed be wise to at least reveal your purpose to the Inner Circle. Are you certain about the Outer Circle, though, my dear? And why tonight?"

Hermione tilted her head back, meeting Severus' eyes briefly before explaining. "Severus has been adamant that my role in protecting Harry should be revealed soon to forestall any indignation from the Outer Circle. They have been upset that they don't know the extent of Harry's protection- you've heard the mutterings, Headmaster. And we think that tonight would be good because an Inner Circle meeting shall need to be called anyway." Hermione checked her watch, and found it was nearly two. "I know it's late but according to Severus, Lucius Malfoy did something that is going to have an impact."

"If we tell them now, the other news will take the forefront," Severus said smoothly. "Call the Inner Circle, and do the induction. Explain, as briefly as you can, Hermione's role. Hopefully you will be conveniently interrupted by the news that something happened. The Outer Circle can be taken care of at the next full meeting. Wednesday- correct?"

Dumbledore sighed, and stroked his long beard again. His eyes closed behind his half-moon glasses, and in a brief moment they all silently acknowledged how old he was getting. "It's too late for a man of my stature and with my arthritis to be out of bed," he remarked. "Very well. Go ahead and Floo to Grimmauld. I shall call the Inner Circle to Number Twelve."

It confused Hermione for a moment, that Dumbledore was able to speak the name of the Headquarters, before she remembered that he was the Secret-Keeper. That was a bad sign- she was wearier than she had previously assumed. She nodded and accepted a pinch of Floo powder, tossing it into the flames that burned a jewel-bright green as she stepped through them.

The kitchen table at Grimmauld Place was empty- the Order had not yet convened. Hermione waited with Severus in the Library, not wanting to have to explain her presence to each member as they arrived. The normal list of things to do (check the journal connected with Rita Skeeter, keep up her correspondence with Viktor and Charlotte, work on summarizing a stack of Order reports for Dumbledore, Transfiguration homework) had quieted, leaving her with the one thing she did not want to think about.

Hermione stood at one of the large windows set into a nook in the wall. There was a cushion there, which made it a great place to read. The moon was high, only a sliver in the dark, matted sky of London. No stars were visible through the fog of pollution.

The first revelation, she thought, staring at the moon through the thick panes of glass. None of these people are going to see me the same ever again. I'll have to be strong before all of them, all the time, lest they ever doubt me and my devotion to Harry.

"Are you regretting your decision?" Severus' deep voice was barely audible, but Hermione heard. She could both feel his presence at her back, and see his reflection in the glass window.

Hermione met his fathomless eyes in the reflection. "Which one?"

"Any of them." She loved his voice, the way it seemed to thrum through her bones.

Closing her eyes, Hermione answered. "No. I have the feeling that I should, though. Why don't I?"

She was surprised with a warm hand on her shoulder. "Because you are doing what is right, even if it isn't easy."

"Is it that simple, though?" Hermione opened her eyes again, and met his in the glass. "Severus, what the hell am I doing? I'm eighteen. How are they supposed to trust me?"

The hand on her shoulder gently turned Hermione around. "You have been older than your years all your life, Hermione," Severus told her. "Yes, you are eighteen. The boy we are pinning our hopes on is fifteen."

"By saying it aloud tonight, we're making it real," Hermione said, drawing comfort from the hand still on her shoulder. "If I fail- if something happens it will be my fault. Totally my fault and everyone will know."

"Some would blame you," admitted Severus. "But the good ones know who you are. You are our best hope of getting Potter to face the Dark Lord alive." He released her shoulder, and checked his watch. "We should go down to the meeting."

He brushed passed her, opening the door to let her through. "I will back you, whatever anyone may do or say."

"Thank you, Severus," Hermione said, wishing she could take his hand and squeeze it.

He regarded her with his typical guarded expression. "You are welcome."

They had reached the door to the kitchen, and could hear Dumbledore talking. "… Severus will be bringing down the new Inner Circle member shortly."

Severus opened the door, gesturing for Hermione to go first. She did so without outward hesitation- inside she was refusing to walk, but her face was set in her own unreadable expression.

The reaction of the Order members was, Hermione could admit, quite hilarious. Mrs. Weasley squeaked and a few of the other members just goggled. However, as soon as Severus entered behind her, all of the furious chatter that had broken out at Hermione's appearance stopped. His glare had that effect on people.

Hermione had removed her Glamour, and stood tall in the face of the stares directed her way. Without the spell, she looked far older. It was not just in the way her body had matured- no, the weariness on her face was not hidden, the wry strength in her arms and shoulders was revealed, but the real transformation was in the way she held herself.

"She's just a child…" Mrs. Weasley started to say, trailing off as she took in Hermione's appearance.

Behind her, Hermione could hear Severus exhale in a manner that suggested he was holding back a statement. Hermione kept back a smirk.

"Miss Granger is no child, Molly," Dumbledore said gravely. "She has been working toward Harry's protection and Voldemort's defeat for… how long has it been for you, my dear?"

Hermione spoke easily, none of her unease showing in her tone. "Five years, for me. A little less than two for everyone else." She was grateful she didn't need to edge the wall to walk to Dumbledore's side- she and Severus had entered through the somewhat hidden door near the head of the table. It was easy for her to stand beside the Headmaster, with Severus at her back.

"Miss Granger has been protecting Mr. Potter since she was thirteen years old," Severus said, addressing the Order. "Some of you knew- those who had a hand in training her. With the use of a Time Turner and the finest teachers in Wizarding England, she has been a valuable resource in guarding Mr. Potter."

Dumbledore nodded, opening his hands as he implored the Order to listen. "Calmness, please. We will answer all your questions."

"Within reason, of course," added Severus. His glare did quiet the crowd somewhat.

Mrs. Weasley asked the first question. "Who knew about this?" she demanded, rising indignantly. "I would have never given permission for my daughter-"

"Which was why your daughter was never even considered. Nor your son," Severus interrupted smoothly. "I knew, the Headmaster, Lupin, Nymphadora, Moody, Kingsley, Andromeda, Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, and Black. We needed to keep the information contained for as long as possible."

Kingsley leaned back in his chair, crossing powerful forearms across his chest. "I am curious as to why you are revealing Hermione's role now, Headmaster. After the lengths you took swearing us to secrecy…"

"The Dark Lord and a few of his servant maybe aware of Hermione's true role," Severus said, meeting Kingsley's eyes- he respected the man. "After the events of the graveyard, Hermione was forced to reveal herself by attacking the Death Eaters, giving Potter time to get away. We have come to the conclusion that the Order should know. Hermione will need to be protected as much as Harry, now- at the risk of sounding melodramatic, it is true that she knows too much, and is far too valuable to lose."

"I have been part of the Order for the past several months," Hermione said quietly. Everyone heard her nonetheless, and several small conversations fell to hear her speak. "You know who I am. The one who sits in the back and occasionally makes suggestions."

"The only one Severus ever listens to," added Tonks, a large grin on her face. "Our favorite little lioness."

Arthur nearly stood with the realization. "The one who didn't want to go get Harry because she doesn't like to fly."

Hermione grinned at him. "Yes. I hate brooms."

"She's the one who suggested the watch rotation," Emmeline Vance said, realization evident in her tone.

"But what can she know?" asked Molly, wringing plump hands red from washing dishes. "She's only a girl."

Severus glared at the Weasley matriarch. "For the last time. Hermione Granger is 18 years old, past the Wizarding majority. She has seen and done things that would make your head spin, and has more maturity than half of this organization. She's no girl." Severus ignored the part of himself that was calling him out on his support of Hermione for his own selfish reasons. She can't be a girl that would be wrong I can't be thinking about her like this if she is a girl.

"I trust her with Harry's life daily," Dumbledore told the Order, peering at them over his spectacles. "And as such she has access to intimate details about the boy that the Dark Lord would love to get his hands on. Additionally, she has been a key strategist in the planning of Harry's security." He nodded at Emmeline Vance, who smiled weakly at them.

The sneer Severus gave the group silenced most of them. "All you need to know is that if it comes down to it, trust Hermione Granger with Harry Potter's life. Protect her as you would protect him." He yanked out a chair, gesturing for Hermione to sit. "Can we begin the meeting?"

And the case was closed- Hermione sat, with Severus to her right and Remus to her left, and Dumbledore called the meeting to Order.

"Despite all my best efforts," Dumbledore announced, "The Wizengamot has decided that Sturgis Podmore shall serve a term of six months in Azkaban. This is inevitable, and that means you, Doris, will have to be his permanent replacement on the schedule."

Doris nodded eagerly. "I'll just do as I've been doing, sir," she said.

Just then, the Floo blazed and a small man with a pointed nose tumbled out. "Bode's been sent to St. Mungo's," he wheezed, brushing snoot from his clothes. "The Unspeakable. For some reason, he tried to take the prophecy."

The Order erupted into pandemonium- the members were expressing their disbelief and shock, wondering aloud who had done it. Severus and Hermione were no exception.

"Bodrick Bode, high level Unspeakable at the Ministry of Magic," Hermione murmured to Severus under her breath. "With access to the Hall of Prophecy."

Severus had closed his eyes, and was now pinching the bridge of his impressive nose. "Lucius…" he said, drawing out his friend's name. "That was what the blond ponce was talking about." It was a sign of how angry Severus was that he referred to Lucius as a 'blonde ponce-' normally, he refused to speak badly of his friend and the father of his godson, and when he did, he did not insult their intelligence.

Hermione sighed. "If they tried to make him get the prophecy, then they must not have known what it does to those who are not the subjects," she said. "That means they were in the dark about one thing, and they aren't anymore."

"And Bode was a supporter, if not an Order member," added Severus. "Given time and the proper handling, he could have joined. He would have been valuable as an Unspeakable."

"This was deliberate," Hermione figured, a calculating look appearing on her own face. "But this couldn't have been why the Dark Lord was happy- it was a failure by all accounts."

Severus nodded, a stern frown on his face. "Indeed. There is something else. I'll have to see what I can get out of the Death Eaters at the next meeting."

The next morning, a Saturday, the news of Sturgis Podmore's incarceration merited a tiny blurb in the middle of the paper. Hermione noticed it immediately, but chose to avoid drawing Harry's attention to it. Of course, therefore he saw it and began to speculate, along with Ron.

"It could be a frame up!" exclaimed Ron, moving his large hands wildly about his face. His voice was rather loud- Hermione glared at him, but he continued. "No- listen-" he caught the meaning of Hermione's look and lowered his voice. "The Ministry suspects he's one of Dumbledore's lot so- I dunno- they lured him to the Ministry, and he wasn't trying to get through a door at all! Maybe they've just made something up to get him!"

Hermione agreed with him, mostly because he was wrong. No, Ron. He was guarding the prophecy and Lucius Malfoy found him.

She tried to turn the conversation back to schoolwork, but the boys glanced at each other guiltily and declared that they were going to play Quidditch. Hermione was furious at the two of them, upbraiding them harshly with threats of D's or P's on their O.W.L.'s. She stalked off to the Common Room to tackle her homework. She knew another self was with them out on the Quidditch field, watching the two boys soar at dangerous heights and make fools of themselves. They wouldn't see her, of course. She would practice her spell work while up there. Reading would be too much of a distraction. Instead, Hermione could practice her Protean Charm.

At lunch she reminded them once more of their irresponsibility, but instead of returning to the Common Room, she waited until they left and followed them out to the Quidditch Pitch. Sometimes, she felt it was a bit ridiculous, but Dumbledore insisted that she be near Harry every moment since the Dark Lord's resurrection.

Practice went poorly, with the Twins escorting Katie to the Hospital Wing and Ron stomping back to the Gryffindor Common Room while Harry looked on with a rather morbid expression. Hermione let them be- she had some time to relax, and they had tons of homework that she was going to let them suffer through.

Ginny approached and wanted to talk, and Hermione willingly obliged. The redheaded girl was growing to be very much her own person, which Hermione appreciated. Strong willed, vivacious, pretty, and perhaps most pleasing, intelligent.

She's the one Dumbledore hopes Harry will fall for, mused Hermione. I can't say it's a bad choice. She's funny, she's beautiful, and pureblood. Harry does seem to like her that way. I like her. But- will Ginny Weasley be able to stand up against the dark? She's spunky, but fierce? I dunno. And maybe Harry won't fall in love with her. Or he will for a summer and nothing more. I doubt that Dumbledore would force it. No- he's not going to force it. I'll make sure the two of them aren't pushed together. And I'll have to keep an eye on Molly- that woman is a fan of love potions.

It was late when she finally wandered over to help the boys out. Hermione wasn't surprised by Ron's continued bad mood, or his rejection of her assistance. She was ready to go to bed when she spotted Hermes, Percy's owl. The letter he sent Ron sent small chills down Hermione's spine.

Percy's not involved with the Weasleys anymore, and he is just a trumpet for the Ministry. This is pretty much the unofficial Ministry viewpoint of Harry Potter- dangerous, unbalanced, Dumbledore's favorite. Dear lord, this is bad. And- he mentioned something about Dolores Umbridge gaining more power- this must be the "Hogwarts' High Inquisitor" crap that Severus and I have been hearing about from our contacts at the Ministry.

"I felt bad for Trelawney and I usually want to rip my ears out in that class," huffed Hermione, crossing her arms. "Honestly, Severus, that woman is horrid."

Severus raised an eyebrow, the most he could do with the potion he was making. His lab was as pristine as always, and he was busy with something complicated. Hermione itched to try her hand at this- but it was still in experimental stages.

"I know it's nothing new," Hermione added, sighing again. "But really- she walks around here like she's the freaking queen of all things and it is off-putting."

Severus gave her a look she correctly interpreted to mean, but now she is the queen of all things.

Hermione threw her hands up. "You're not helping, Severus. Now that she has all this power, I have no idea what she's going to do with it! I mean- she hates half breeds, but instead of going after Professor Flitwick she goes after Trelawney. Well… I do get it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Professor Flitwick is competent but old. She probably figures that she'll make him feel unwelcome, and eventually he'll retire of his own free will."

Severus dropped something in his potion, and stepped back quickly to avoid the plume of fire. That part was done and it was stable- he wiped his hands on a cloth and left the counter. "That was what I was thinking. But you must admit, Flitwick is more respectable than Trelawney."

Hermione wrinkled her nose. "I agree. Why does Dumbledore even keep Divination as a class? If there was a competent teacher, maybe I'd understand but-" Hermione stopped, clear eyes focused on Snape's face. He felt an urge to look away, but held her gaze. "Severus. There's a reason, isn't there."

"Hermione-" Severus sighed, bringing up a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. "There are things that Dumbledore does that no one can explain."

The bright lights of the potion lab made him look older, wearier. Hermione tilted her head up to look at him. "Severus. There is a reason. And you know it."

He glared at her. "Yes, I do. And you do not." She glared at him in return.

"Is it important?" Hermione asked, crossing her arms. Why would Dumbledore keep an incompetent teacher? He wants to keep her close- she's a Seer, so maybe... but she's never predicted anything big. Unless- the Order is guarding a prophecy. Maybe she knows who made it?

Severus frowned at her. "Yes, it is. No, I'm not telling you. If you want to know this one, you'll have to ask Dumbledore. We are finished here." He enunciated each word clearly, making his tension clear.

Hermione tensed as well, evaluating the various outcomes of standing her ground or giving in. Eventually, she backed down. "Alright." She checked her watch. "Dumbledore wanted to meet with us about the Order meeting on Wednesday, by the way. We should get going."

Warily, Severus tidied up his work area, avoiding looking at Hermione. "How did he contact you? I thought he was avoiding Potter?"

"He is," Hermione answered. "But there was a note in my private room from him. And sometimes he stops me during my patrols sometimes."

"I don't see why he made you a prefect," Severus snapped. "You have enough on your plate as it is, with Potter."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It would have been extremely weird if I wasn't made Gryffindor girl prefect, you know that. Are you ready to go?"

"Head up without me," Severus ordered her. "I'll meet you there."

"Miss Granger, Severus," said Dumbledore with a nod, blue eyes twinkling brightly beneath his spectacles. "Lemon drop?" he offered, holding out a small brown paper packet filled with his specially treated candy.

Hermione shook her head, taking a seat. "No, thank you, Professor." Severus raised one eyebrow at the Headmaster, taking a seat next to the slim girl. With a sigh, the Headmaster tucked the lemon drops away.

"Very well," he said, sighing again. "It's always straight to business with you two." He adjusted his glasses and turned his penetrating gaze on Hermione. "I forgot to ask last time. How did your arraignment with the Safe House and Grimmauld Place work over the summer?"

Hermione regarded him with calm eyes. "Excellently, sir. I made sure I turned back early enough that no one noticed, and was able to get a full day of work in at the Safe House." She gave him a tight smile. She had spent enough time around the Headmaster to know when something was up. Next to her, Severus was tense, watching Dumbledore with wary eyes.

He nodded slowly, then turned his head to ask Severus, "And how go your meetings with the Dark Lord?"

"We have already discussed this," snapped the dour Potions Master. His eyes flicked over to Hermione, then back to the Headmaster. "Hermione has an understanding as well."

The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes annoyed Severus to no end. "And that is where I come in with my preposition, my boy!"

"Which is?" Severus asked snarkily. "I'm positively brimming with excitement." He crossed his arms over his chest. Snape was dressed in his customary, heavily buttoned, black robes- Hermione found herself missing the simple white shirt and black trousers he had been wearing in the lab.

Hermione hid a small smile, but under the humor was a touch of fear. What has he come up with this time? she wondered. "According to Kingsley and Andromeda, Miss Granger is extraordinarily capable of taking large amounts of information, sorting the usable from the useless, and then connecting hypothetical dots, so to speak. That, combined with the situation we have at hand and the amount of sensitive information she needs to effectively protect Mr. Potter, makes her a perfect candidate for your liaison with the Outer Circle," Dumbledore said enthusiastically.

Hermione resisted the urge to flinch, expecting Snape to either leap out of his seat and yell at the Headmaster, or make a few derisive comments at his (or her) expense. When after a moment, neither of those things happened, Hermione glanced sideways at the spy. She was surprised to find him frowning, yet silent, obviously considering what the Headmaster had said.

"For once, Headmaster," Severus said slowly. "I find myself agreeing with you. She's already been inducted into the Inner Circle, and we were planning to publicly announce her to the Outer Circle. I- I can see an arraignment like this working."

"What kind of arrangement?" Hermione demanded, pulling a hair band off her wrist to pull her hair back from her face. "You said I would be a liaison, as well as Harry's- well, Harry's body guard?"

Dumbledore nodded. "You would meet Severus after the revels, and he would give you his report. If there was something urgent, you would take the information to me immediately. If not, Miss Granger, you would format it in a comprehensible way and either give it to me, or present at the Order Meetings. You could dispense necessary information to Kingsley, for the Aurors, Arthur for his department, or other members as needed. That way, no one would know the full picture except for the three of us. The Order need never know exactly who the information came from- they would know it was from a spy, and most of them know that apart from Severus, there are several other spies. But that way, if captured, Voldemort would see the information coming from someone other than Severus, and think he had a spy in his midst. After all, the Outer Circle does not know Severus' identity. They know him only as our spy." The three of us knowing the full picture? You mean you.

"It would be relatively safer for me," Severus said under his breath, almost as if he was talking to himself. "The Dark Lord has not been trusting- if he was to see me passing along secrets in a person's mind, then my life would be forfeit in an instant." Hermione winced- she had seen him coming back from a few meetings earlier in the summer.

Hermione smoothed her skirt down nervously, glancing between Dumbledore and Snape. "Are my Legilimency defense strong enough to protect you?" she asked Severus directly. "If I was captured, could I put you in danger?"

He regarded her with his calm slate eyes, then nodded. "We have discussed this, Hermione. I trained you, and I have full confidence in your abilities." And anyways, I've known about Severus being a spy for years. I can do this.

"Then I'll do it," she said quietly. "We should figure out a more thorough system as soon as possible." Her mind began running through possibilities, codes, and plans.

"Excellent," Dumbledore said cheerily, clapping his wrinkled hands together. "Severus, would you mind escorting Miss Granger to the Grimmauld Place for the Order meeting next week? Wednesday I have a meeting with Professor Umbridge to discuss her new position as High Inquisitor, and will have to leave directly from here."

The Potions Master agreed, and he and Hermione took their leave of the Headmaster's office, Severus holding the door open for Hermione, then nodding at Dumbledore in farewell. Silently, the two walked down the slowly spiraling staircase. The gargoyles jumped aside, and they exited the Headmaster's Tower.

The halls of Hogwarts were almost eerily still; Hermione glanced at the shadowy corners uneasily even as the moonlight filtered through the large glass windows. "When do you think you'll have the time to sort all this out?" she asked after a moment, watching the tall man with the hooked nose.

"Now, I suppose," he said, turning down a passageway that led to the dungeons. "We can do this in my quarters, if that is convenient."

She nodded, and they began the descent to the dungeons. If the empty halls had been discomforting, the dark and cool dungeons were worse. No one was about, no Slytherins or teachers. She let out a little sigh of relief when they reached Severus' office.

Hermione watched carefully as Severus entered his quarters, as the stone in the wall read his hand and the passphrase, revealing the hidden door. She had spent some of the time waiting for him in his quarters trying to figure out all the little components his security system. "Does it recognize your palm print?" she asked, passing under the archway.

"Yes," he said. "It also registers the warmth and my pulse. Even if they had my hand, they could not pass through." He followed her. "Same for yours. When I added you to the wards, do you remember the scan it did?"

Hermione waited for him to unlock the Potions cabinet against the wall, closing her eyes as she walked through the seemingly real glass vials. "Yes. And what if they were Polyjuicing you? Same hand, same heart rhythm…"

"That is the reason for the passphrase," he explained, moving to the kitchen. "Tea?"

"Yes, please," she responded, following him. "So what if they Polyjuiced you and had the password?" She leaned against the wall, following the deft movements of his hands with her eyes. He had several fat pots, all labeled neatly in his own hand. Morning, Evening, Spice, Earl Gray, Breakfast, Calming, Sleep, Alertness…He makes his own tea, Hermione realized. One of the benefits of being a Potions Master, I suppose.

Severus spared her a glance, raising an eyebrow. "First they would have to find that the fake yet heavily warded chambers connected to my office, are, in fact, false. And then they would need to know the exact stone in the wall, as well as the lengthy passphrase to enter my second false set of chambers. And then they would have to figure out those ones are useless as well. And finally, the Potions cabinet. They need the key, first off. Breaking the glass breaks the spell. Three turns of the key opens the door to my chambers, two turns opens into the other end of the castle, and one is just a potions cabinet." He glared slightly at her. "Any more comments on my security precautions?"

"Nope," Hermione said, giving him a cheeky grin. "But I do have a few questions about other things. For example, the-"

"Too bad," Severus said, cutting her off. "Tea's ready, and we need to discuss how to make this arraignment work." He set the teapot on the tray with two cups, and carried it to the sitting room, Hermione following after a moment.

They took their time preparing their tea to their liking, sipping in silence for a moment or two before beginning to plan. Hermione glanced around the room again, her eyes lingering on the bookcases. But she turned her thoughts to the problem at hand.

"We need a way for you to contract me when you are going to a meeting and give me vital information quickly," Hermione said seriously, eyes gaining a faraway spaciousness as she thought. "Something quick and easy, inconspicuous. We already have the watches- would that work?" she asked.

"We would have to alter some of the spell work already done," Severus said with a sigh. "Give me yours. I've been using my pocket watch, and I think it will still work." He stood and began to unbutton his robes.

Hermione stared at him, going unnoticed by Severus. He peeled away his teaching robes, revealing the clothes he wore underneath. Hermione had to remind herself not to suck in a breath- it never failed to shock her, how different Severus Snape looked when he removed his robes. He wore a white button-down shirt tucked into black pants, the harsh colors somehow softening his even harsher persona. His frame was long- Hermione had known he was a tall man, he used his height to intimidate people all the time but he looked so- so lanky and so thin! His long dark hair was tucked behind an ear, and in the firelight of the dungeons, just for a moment, his face was less severe. And then he was scowling again, pulling a pocket watch on a chain out of his pocket.

"What charms are you thinking of?" he asked, turning toward her. She blushed, blinking to focus on the watch he was holding out. It was simple, heavy; its chain was unremarkable, the outside case of the watch decorated with thin carvings. He flicked it open- a simple enough watch, three hands, one smaller circle with the date and another with the symbols.

She put down her tea cup, nodding eagerly. "An adapted Protean, for sure" she murmured, leaning in to see the watch closer. She unclasped her own watch, sliding it off her wrist.

Severus nodded. "We want to keep the symbols and the connection there. We could layer the two charms, or we could try stripping all the enchantments off and redoing them."

"It would be more successful if we tried to integrate the Protean charm we have now and another enchantment for words or meanings," decided Hermione. "What we need is something that can pass messages as well. And it really would be best if it was wandless. What if we used rings instead? Kept the watches as they are and had rings with messages appearing around the rim? You have it in your wand hand- no need to conspicuously tap a watch."

Severus shook his head once, sharply. "I never wear jewelry. It would be suspicious, and therefore attract attention. And a disguising charm would not work because I would have to be able to see it at all times."

Hermione leaned back into the chair, rubbing her temples. "Right. So reconfiguring the enchantments it is, then. That'll take time- what else do we need to get together?"

"We don't need an excuse to meet, because we can do that on your turnarounds. If anyone happens upon us, you are in my office to check on scores or your potion. We need somewhere for you to record information that no one else can read, we need codes for exchanging information in front of other people, and I need to bring you fully up-to-date on all the information I have on the Death Eaters," listed Severus. "Anything else you can think of?"

Hermione bit her lip, turning over a few ideas. "A Pensieve, perhaps? So I can watch the meetings?"

"Absolutely not," Severus snapped, the muscle in his jaw jumping. "What happens there is nothing you want to see, Hermione."

"I may not want to see it, but I do think it would be best," Hermione insisted, leaning forward earnestly. "Severus, I may catch something you won't. Or I could see someone else's expressions, or hear conversations that you didn't. In a Pensieve, it may be your memory, but included are things that you only heard or comprehended subconsciously."

She glanced down at where his long fingers were tightly gripping his knee- digging into the black fabric of his trousers. "Then I will go in and see for myself," he said, every word clipped and controlled.

"What if we go together?" suggested Hermione. "Severus. The point of this-"

"It's time consuming. A waste of your time," said Severus, dismissing her. "We should use the time we have now to come up with usable codes."

Hermione wanted to press the issue, but again, she backed down. It rankled her sometimes, the way he used his authority to shut her down. But this time wasn't the right time to protest it. "Alright. And tomorrow I think I will ask Harry about teaching a defense group."

Hermione had to admit, Harry's comment about Voldemort sticking out of the back of Quirrel's head, while certainly one of his finest moments, was definitely not his most reasonable. I can either throw myself into detention with him, or try to preserve my role as perfect prefect Hermione. Well, Harry needs to learn to keep himself out of detention and I need to set a good example. Taking the higher road this time.

Tuesday morning, when both McGonagall and Angelina discovered Harry's new detentions, were certainly not fun. Hermione was already trying to plan for proposing the idea of a defense group to Harry, trying to prepare herself for revelation to the Outer Circle of the Order, and Severus had informed her of a hatching plan to assassinate Harry. To make matters worse, Harry took her distraction as disapproval, and ignored her throughout Charms.

Even so, it seemed that both her and Harry's moods were raised by the prospect of seeing Umbridge try to 'inspect' Professor Minerva McGonagall's Transfiguration class.

This will be lovely, Hermione though wickedly, accepting a mouse from Lavender. Umbridge is doing that stupid little fake cough- and look at that, McGonagall shuts her down. Lovely. Absolutely lovely.

Harry had a smile on his face, and was whispering to Ron, so she figured he was enjoying it as well. On the other hand, Umbridge observing Care of Magical Creatures with Professor Grubbly-Plank was far more worrying. Hermione could feel Umbridge's satisfaction with Grubbly-Plank, as if she was ready to dispose of Hagrid and have the woman take his place.

That night, when Harry had already left from dinner for his detentions, Hermione left Ron with a muttered excuse about the library, and left for Severus' office.

He was there, grading papers, when she slipped in and removed her concealing charms. "Hullo," she said, feeling a bit awkward after the many arguments they had fought the day before. "Do you have any solution of strained and pickled murtlap tentacles I could borrow?"

Severus didn't look up from the papers. "My private stores, third shelf. Help yourself."

"Thanks," she said, frowning at him where he couldn't see. "I'm proposing the Defense group to Harry tonight."

Again, he didn't look at her. "I'm hoping it will go well," Hermione continued. "Any suggestions?"

"You're competent," Severus said dismissively. "Report to me tomorrow on how Potter reacts."

The murtlap was where he had said it would be. "Tomorrow I have the Order meeting," Hermione told him. "I'll be a bit late."

He exhaled loudly. "So be it. If you don't mind, I'm trying to muddle through the seventh years' summer homework."

Hermione laughed. "Have you read Fred Weasley's, yet?"

Finally, he looked up, a particularly sour expression on his face. "Don't think I didn't detect your influence," he told her tartly. "I should take points away for cheating."

"I didn't write it for him," protested Hermione. "Please. You expect them to develop a potion over the summer- the Weasleys have already done several. I just helped him fine tune it so it doesn't explode every third time."

He rolled his eyes at her. "So I should be thanking you for preserving my classroom and cauldrons instead of reprimanding you for corrupting my students?"

"Save your reprimands for someone they'll effect," Hermione told him innocently. "I know how much time and effort you put into making every one memorable."

He scowled at her, and she laughed again, ducking out of his office to his mutter of "Impertinent minx!"

The Common Room was nearing emptiness when Hermione returned. Save Ron, the only other students were those trying to complete the loads of N.E.W.T. level homework their professors had lavished on them. Even as she walked to the corner where Ron was waiting, three of them packed up their work and disappeared up the staircases.

Crookshanks wound around her feet, and she picked up him with one arm and held the murtlap tentacles in the other. "Hello, my lovely," she whispered to him. "When Harry comes in, be nice to him? He needs it."

Her cat meowed at her approvingly, waiting for her to sit before curling up her lap.

"What's that?" Ron asked curiously, eyeing the thick yellow liquid she carried. "You're not going to drink it, are you?"

Hermione fought the urge to shoot him a withering glare. Instead, she just sighed. "No, Ron. It's for Harry's hand. I have an idea and I'm thinking he'll be more open to listening if he isn't in pain. Can I have that piece of parchment?"

Ron shrugged and handed it to her. "So what's the big plan, then?" He waited for his answer as she closed her eyes, composing herself before transforming the parchment into a sturdy little bowl.

Earlier, she had decided that if Ron was on board, he would be a valuable ally in convincing Harry. Even now she had no qualms about telling him her idea. However, she did take issue with other people hearing, so she discreetly placed a few muffling charms in place. "I want Harry to start teaching a Defense Against the Dark Arts class," she told Ron plainly. "A club, but one where he teaches us what we need to know. Obviously Professor Umbridge is completely useless- this will give us a place to practice and Harry is the best in our class at Defense."

Probably because she had been half-expecting Ron to gape at her, Hermione was pleasantly surprised when Ron actually considered her idea. "It sounds like a fat lot of work," he said frankly, stretching to rub the back of his neck. "I know I'm already behind on homework and it's only the second week."

"This is more important than homework," Hermione said quietly. There is so much at stake here.

Now Ron did gape at her. "Hermione! I didn't think there was anything in the universe more important to you than homework."

She winced, and looked down. As if you knew. "Ron, I know Harry and I haven't talked about it much, but-" she looked him in the eye. "Ron. After what happened last year, I've definitely sorted out my priorities."

He grinned at her weakly. "So now where does expulsion fall? Before or after death?" he joked.

The corner of her mouth twitched up. "After," she admitted. "If we don't want to die, we need to learn Defense."

"And you think Harry' s the best one to teach it?" Ron asked, with a hint of incredulity. "Hermione, I know he's faced You-Know-Who more times than anyone else, but he's not exactly Lupin or Moody."

"I know," acknowledged Hermione. "But he's a great leader. He'll figure it out. I would rather put my life in Harry's hands than in those of Dolores Umbridge."

"Good point," said Ron. "Look. Here he comes. Are going to ask him now?"

Hermione shrugged. "Why not?" She didn't cancel the listening spells, even though the room was now empty.

As Harry drew closer, she could see better how haggard he looked. The scarf he had wrapped around his hand was soaked through with blood, and Hermione was suddenly very glad she had bothered to get the murtlap.

"Here," she said once Harry was inside the spells. She pushed the bowl toward him. "Soak your hand in this. It's a solution of strained and pickled murtlap tentacles, it should help."

Even she could see the worry on his face, but it sank into relief as the solution eased the pain. Crookshanks left her lap and curled into Harry's, purring quietly. Harry smiled gratefully, and started to rub behind Crookshank's ears. "Thanks, Mione," he said, happily.

She and Ron let him rest a moment, but it was growing late. Hermione glanced at the clock, then put a gentle hand on Harry's arm. "She's a dreadful woman, Harry," Hermione said in a low voice. "We can't directly retaliate against her. But I have an idea."

Ron nodded helpfully. "She does," he said. "Better than my idea anyway."

"What was your idea?" Harry asked curiously.

The redhead's cheeks flushed, and coughed. "Poison."

"Which we are not going to do," Hermione said firmly. Yet, anyway. We'll see how bad she gets. "Awful as she is, she's here to stay. Which is bad news for us, considering that we have our O.W.L.'s this year."

Now Harry was starting to get suspicious. "Where are you heading with this, Hermione?"

"I think it would be a good idea to start a Defense group and learn what we need to learn ourselves," explained Hermione.

It was more a feeling than the look on Harry's face that let her know he was ready to shut it down. "Harry, look at me," she ordered. Reluctantly, his green eyes met hers. She didn't slip into his mind- but she did squeeze his arm. "Harry Potter, you have faced Voldemort how many times?"

He didn't look away, although she was sure he wanted to. "Four times, in some form or another."

"And I was with you the last time," Hermione said, voice dropping to a whisper. "Harry, who got me out of there alive?" She didn't wait for him to answer. "Harry, I wouldn't have made it out of that graveyard if it hadn't been for you. You are the best in our year at Defense Against the Dark Arts, and more importantly, you know what you're doing."

"You're the best," argued Harry. The fall wind rattled the windowpanes behind Ron, and the fire guttered for a moment, flickering on all their faces.

Hermione laughed harshly. "Harry, the last exam we had with a competent professor, I couldn't get passed the Boggart." She had told the boys it was Professor McGonagall telling her she had failed. It was a lie. "Honestly, you would be a better teacher than Umbridge."

"Yeah," Ron interjected, drawing both of their attention. "I mean- first year, you saved the stone from You-Know-Who.

"But that was luck!" protested Harry. "That wasn't skill-"

"Second year," Ron interrupted, speaking over Harry, "you killed the basilisk and destroyed Riddle."

Harry's face was turning red. "Ron, if Fawkes hadn't shown up-"

"Third year," said Ron, voice growing louder, "you fought off about a hundred dementors at once-"

"That was a fluke, if the Time Turner-"

"Last year," shouted Ron. "You fought off You-Know-Who again-"

"Listen to me!" shouted Harry back at him. "Just listen, alright? None of that was skill, all of it was luck I had no idea what the hell I was doing. I didn't survive because I'm good at Defense Against the Dark Arts but because help arrived at the right time or I guessed right."

Ron laughed. "Harry! This-"

"STOP LAUGHING!" Harry roared. Hermione was instantly grateful for the silencing spells she had cast. "You haven't faced him Ron! You think it's just memorizing a bunch of spells and throwing them at him, like you're in class or something? The whole time you're sure you know there's nothing between you and dying except your own- your own brain or guts or whatever- like you can think straight when you know you're about a second from being murdered or tortured or watching your friend die- they've never taught us that in their classes what it's like to deal with things like that- and you two sit there acting like I'm a clever little boy to be standing here alive-"

Hermione rose, clenching her own jaw. "Harry, stop." He glared at her, and she placed a hand on his arm. "This is why you need to teach the class. Because this is exactly what happens and it is nothing like what that stupid book Umbridge is having us read is saying. They need to know what facing the Dark Lord is like."

Harry didn't say anything, but looked at her pleadingly. She hugged him. "It's alright, Harry. Just think about it." He squeezed her tightly.

"Goodnight," she said, easing out of Harry's grasp and patting Ron's hand. "I'll see you tomorrow."

And so ends Chapter Sixteen.

I hope you enjoyed it, as always, and I hope to hear back from all of you!

Will it make some of you happy to know that I have finally after more than two hundred pages of writing written the first kiss? Finally! However, that chapter will have to wait until January or so. :) But I am making serious progress on the story!

Just a quick excerpt:

That took Hermione aback. "Wait-" she said, confusion overtaking her. "What do you mean?"

"Dumbledore came up with the idea for a protector for Potter," Severus said warily, a feeling of dread creeping over his flesh. "He told me to select someone. A child."

Chapter Seventeen will be up on November 1st! Please leave a review!