A/N: Please read, vote, review and enjoy!

At the sound of his name, said man scrambled up into a sitting position. His eyes wide as he gazed up at her face. He seemed just as shocked as she was. Hermione rushed over to him, not for the first time wishing she could use magic. "Oh Remus you're hurt. And goodness! What are you doing here?! Snape will- he'll-!" she was panicking, racing from him to where they kept emergency healing potions and supplies. Her heels clicked against the polished floors as she hurried back. He seemed much more aware of his surroundings now. "What happened?" She asked, tending to his wounds. Up close she realized they really weren't that bad.

"Thank you, Hermione," he replied, ignoring her question. He looked up at her and blushed and Hermione did the same, tugging fruitlessly at her sheer robe. "You uh, did I interrupt something?"

She shook her head vehemently, her blush deepening. "Um, no. Not at all. Master Snape requires me to wear such things around the mansion," she explained. Hermione now wished she had covered up. She could only imagine the sight she presented to her former professor and friend. She was glad to see him alive though and it gave her hope. She still had allies out there. "Speaking of which you need to go. Master Snape will-"

"I will what….Miss Granger?"

Hermione flushed at being caught aiding a fugitive in her master's house, but the shock of Remus appearing there in the first place clouded her judgment. Now she was afraid of what he would do. She turned to Remus and was surprised to see a lack of fear and concern in his gaze.

"Severus, the Lion's Den has been compromised. We need to go on the offensive. It's time," Lupin said simply. Remus knew Severus wouldn't like it but the tides of war were changing. They needed all the man power they could get which meant letting Hermione in on their secret.

Severus could still feel her touch, could still taste Miss Granger on his lips. Like fresh strawberries. The longer she stayed the more he found himself slipping. Any longer and he would take her roughly right there in the tub. That's why he had to dismiss her. It was never part of his plan to abuse this authority he had over her. He was her protector, not her predator. And she was not his prey. She wasn't his anything, not even his slave. It was all a clever front. Only today it had weakened. That kiss…

It changed things considerably.

When he walked in the room his eyes first landed on Lupin who seemed anxious, but otherwise fine. Hermione on the other hand was clearly shocked and confused by the turn of events. But that wasn't the only thing Severus noticed. Hermione looked exquisite, very regal yet alluring and he couldn't help but feel warm at the sight. Too bad it appeared as if he wouldn't be able to enjoy it. Not that he even should. The fact remained that Miss Granger was in his care under false pretenses and thus, deserved more than…..

Well more than anything he could offer.

He looked to her, seeing that she was clearly puzzled by the happenings in front of her. Which she should be. To Miss Granger he was just a Death Eater. He was not supposed to have Lupin in his home seeking help. And the very fact that he could even enter unannounced spoke volumes. Snape had heavy wards in place which Miss Granger of course knew about. "Miss Granger, go to your room. I'll be there to explain things momentarily," he commanded. Immediately the brunette began to exit the room, tossing a worried glance in Remus's direction.

As soon as the sound of her heels clicking began to fade, noting her retreat, Remus reeled on Severus, a fierce expression on his face. "What in the bloody hell do you think you're doing, Severus?!" he raged. "Why is Hermione dressed like that?! You told us that she only had to dress that way in front of the Death Eaters, not….." He grabbed a hold of Severus's shirt front, wrestling as the raven haired wizard tried to wrench his hands away, but the wolf wasn't having it. "If you've taken advantage of her, so help me….. Spy or not I will kill you myself."

They stared at each other. Cold glares exchanged between the two of them. Nostrils flared as they sized one another up. Magic crackles in the space that parted them. Each one seeking to dominate the other. "I have not harmed Miss Granger in any way. I have done nothing since she was placed in my care. My care. She has been fed, clothed, and provided with entertainment. Living in the lap of luxury actually. And you threaten me over a damn sheer robe?" Snape spat. "You've just said that the Den was compromised so we obviously have bigger concerns. And since you've blabbed it in front of her, we now have to clue her in on everything."

Lupin rolled his eyes. "We were going to bring her in anyway. It was about time she learned about the resistance and frankly, we could use the hope…."

Severus could understand that. After the defeat at Hogwarts, the Order had to flee across the country. With so many dead it was easy to understand that the side of Light was beginning to lose hope. After all, they were the good guys, they were supposed to win, weren't they? But with their main hideout being compromised the prospects looked pretty grim. "Hope. The old man lived by it. And so shall we. Move half the group to Raven's Nest and the other half to Badgers Cove. Things will get crowded until I can find a new safe house. And tell them… tell them we have more allies than we think."

"So the Americans…?"

"Yes." And with a nod of understanding exchanged, the werewolf left to carry Snape's messages. Severus stared at the empty space his comrade once occupied before sighing and heading out of the room. He had a long conversation ahead of him with the ever inquisitive Miss Granger.