"Hermione, light of my life, glory of the morning, beautiful goddess
of the misbegotten world that we poor souls live in."
"Don't be a bally ankle-biter Ron, get to the point," Hermione raised a perfectly arched eyebrow as she looked at Ron over the top of the immensely thick novel she was reading.
"Gee, auntie must be coming to visit this month. So soon?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine, if you don't want to tell me what you want then I shall leave you to fend for yourself in this 'misbegotten world in which you poor souls live'" She unfurled herself from the oversized armchair she had been sitting in with the grace of a cat and stretched. Giving the boys one last mock-disdain filled look, she turned and headed for the portrait that led to her room in the Head's Quarters.
Harry lashed out and grabbed Hermione's ankle and hugged it to his chest, anchoring Hermione to the floor were she stood-Harry did outweigh her by nearly one hundred pounds, being so tall and muscular from Quidditch. "Okay Hermione, we admit it, we need help with our Potions assignment."
"Just as I thought, I knew the compliments were there for a reason."
"We need you to tell us what we did wrong on our Magicus Modelius Potion. Please." Harry dragged out the please in a pleading fashion.
Hermione through up her hands in frustration. "Fine, I'll check it but only because you look so pitiful down there on the floor, begging.
Harry wagged his finger at her, "Uh, uh, uh. One Harry Potter does not beg. He pleads with dignity."
"Sure Harry." Hermione picked up the potions book and assessed the situation in front of her. It took her only moments before she shouted, "Eureka!"
"This is what you did wrong you were stirring the potion clockwise when you were supposed to stir it anticlockwise. That, my friends, is your problem."
"Hermione, what would we do without you?" Ron asked, wide-eyed with pretend admiration.
"You would fail all your classes is what you would do. Now, I must be off to prepare for my interview. Ta."
~ * ~
"Now Hermione, this Portkey will take you directly to the Ministry's Chamber of Arrival. Upon reaching this chamber, there will be a Ministry official there to meet you who will guide you to the Research Wing of the main building. There, you will wait to be called in and you will have an interview with Ms. Leonora Gilmore, the head of the Research Facility. If you should get the job, you will be allowed to leave Hogwarts' grounds every weekend and over holidays to go to work. After your interview, you shall report straight back to me, is that clear?"
"Yes Professor Snape, I understand completely. As soon as I am finished I will find you in your office and let you know I'm back safe and sound."
"Good."
Hermione grasped the book that would be her Portkey. This Portkey was special as she could tell it when she was ready to move to and from the Ministry. She got ready to say the words and was surprised to hear Professor Snape whisper as she disappeared, "Good luck."
~ * ~
"Is everything going as planned?"
"Yes, my Lord, the blue prints for the Ministry are in our possession and we have a team working on which entryway is best used when invading the Ministry."
"Well done, Wormtail. I believe you are finally making up for the mistakes you have made in the past. You may actually regain the status you lost so long ago."
"Oh, thank you my Lord, thank you. It has been an honor to be in my Lord's humble service once again."
"Don't push your luck, Wormtail; no one likes a suck up."
"Yes my Lord."
"Good. Now that we understand each other, I would like to move on to other matters at hand. Have we yet discovered the identity of the offspring of one Severus Snape?"
~ * ~
The head floating in the Headmaster's fireplace was anything but cheerful looking as it told Albus of its findings.
"We've had word from our spy within Voldemort's ranks. They're fast on the trail to finding out about Hermione."
Dumbledore's face was grave; no twinkle besparkled the old Headmaster's eyes today, when one of his best students, and godchild, was in very real danger. "How much do they know?"
"They don't yet know her identity, but they do know that Severus fathered a child. It is only a matter of time until they find out that the mother of this child was muggle. For all we know, they could have already found out and are now working on finding out the identity of this child."
Albus was quiet as the news he had just heard sank in. Severus and Hermione were in mortal peril. He could not risk losing those who were like family to him. His face became grim, not really sure what to make of the situation just yet, he dismissed Sirius. "Thank you, Sirius. I will let you know when I have formulated some sort of plan."
Sirius nodded and then disappeared. He had not liked the look in the older man's eyes. A mix of helplessness and fear. Not a good combination in a man who was known for quick-thinking and bravery.
~ * ~
"Mr. Weasley isn't it wonderful! I got the job and I'm starting next weekend. Cor! I can't wait to tell Harry and Ron, of course, they'll probably think it's a crushing bore, but I don't care! Blimey, me, working for the Ministry of Magic. It's too good to be true."
Mr. Weasley smiled at the young woman's excitement. Well, he could understand, he had been just as excited when he had gotten a job early in the Ministry as well. Blast, it felt like just yesterday that.
Hermione's incessant babbling and Mr. Weasley's thoughts were interrupted by an explosion which knocked the both of them over. A piece of the wall hit Hermione in the head and the last thing she though before giving in to darkness was how mad Professor Snape would be if she didn't report back to him very soon.
"Don't be a bally ankle-biter Ron, get to the point," Hermione raised a perfectly arched eyebrow as she looked at Ron over the top of the immensely thick novel she was reading.
"Gee, auntie must be coming to visit this month. So soon?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine, if you don't want to tell me what you want then I shall leave you to fend for yourself in this 'misbegotten world in which you poor souls live'" She unfurled herself from the oversized armchair she had been sitting in with the grace of a cat and stretched. Giving the boys one last mock-disdain filled look, she turned and headed for the portrait that led to her room in the Head's Quarters.
Harry lashed out and grabbed Hermione's ankle and hugged it to his chest, anchoring Hermione to the floor were she stood-Harry did outweigh her by nearly one hundred pounds, being so tall and muscular from Quidditch. "Okay Hermione, we admit it, we need help with our Potions assignment."
"Just as I thought, I knew the compliments were there for a reason."
"We need you to tell us what we did wrong on our Magicus Modelius Potion. Please." Harry dragged out the please in a pleading fashion.
Hermione through up her hands in frustration. "Fine, I'll check it but only because you look so pitiful down there on the floor, begging.
Harry wagged his finger at her, "Uh, uh, uh. One Harry Potter does not beg. He pleads with dignity."
"Sure Harry." Hermione picked up the potions book and assessed the situation in front of her. It took her only moments before she shouted, "Eureka!"
"This is what you did wrong you were stirring the potion clockwise when you were supposed to stir it anticlockwise. That, my friends, is your problem."
"Hermione, what would we do without you?" Ron asked, wide-eyed with pretend admiration.
"You would fail all your classes is what you would do. Now, I must be off to prepare for my interview. Ta."
~ * ~
"Now Hermione, this Portkey will take you directly to the Ministry's Chamber of Arrival. Upon reaching this chamber, there will be a Ministry official there to meet you who will guide you to the Research Wing of the main building. There, you will wait to be called in and you will have an interview with Ms. Leonora Gilmore, the head of the Research Facility. If you should get the job, you will be allowed to leave Hogwarts' grounds every weekend and over holidays to go to work. After your interview, you shall report straight back to me, is that clear?"
"Yes Professor Snape, I understand completely. As soon as I am finished I will find you in your office and let you know I'm back safe and sound."
"Good."
Hermione grasped the book that would be her Portkey. This Portkey was special as she could tell it when she was ready to move to and from the Ministry. She got ready to say the words and was surprised to hear Professor Snape whisper as she disappeared, "Good luck."
~ * ~
"Is everything going as planned?"
"Yes, my Lord, the blue prints for the Ministry are in our possession and we have a team working on which entryway is best used when invading the Ministry."
"Well done, Wormtail. I believe you are finally making up for the mistakes you have made in the past. You may actually regain the status you lost so long ago."
"Oh, thank you my Lord, thank you. It has been an honor to be in my Lord's humble service once again."
"Don't push your luck, Wormtail; no one likes a suck up."
"Yes my Lord."
"Good. Now that we understand each other, I would like to move on to other matters at hand. Have we yet discovered the identity of the offspring of one Severus Snape?"
~ * ~
The head floating in the Headmaster's fireplace was anything but cheerful looking as it told Albus of its findings.
"We've had word from our spy within Voldemort's ranks. They're fast on the trail to finding out about Hermione."
Dumbledore's face was grave; no twinkle besparkled the old Headmaster's eyes today, when one of his best students, and godchild, was in very real danger. "How much do they know?"
"They don't yet know her identity, but they do know that Severus fathered a child. It is only a matter of time until they find out that the mother of this child was muggle. For all we know, they could have already found out and are now working on finding out the identity of this child."
Albus was quiet as the news he had just heard sank in. Severus and Hermione were in mortal peril. He could not risk losing those who were like family to him. His face became grim, not really sure what to make of the situation just yet, he dismissed Sirius. "Thank you, Sirius. I will let you know when I have formulated some sort of plan."
Sirius nodded and then disappeared. He had not liked the look in the older man's eyes. A mix of helplessness and fear. Not a good combination in a man who was known for quick-thinking and bravery.
~ * ~
"Mr. Weasley isn't it wonderful! I got the job and I'm starting next weekend. Cor! I can't wait to tell Harry and Ron, of course, they'll probably think it's a crushing bore, but I don't care! Blimey, me, working for the Ministry of Magic. It's too good to be true."
Mr. Weasley smiled at the young woman's excitement. Well, he could understand, he had been just as excited when he had gotten a job early in the Ministry as well. Blast, it felt like just yesterday that.
Hermione's incessant babbling and Mr. Weasley's thoughts were interrupted by an explosion which knocked the both of them over. A piece of the wall hit Hermione in the head and the last thing she though before giving in to darkness was how mad Professor Snape would be if she didn't report back to him very soon.