Welcome my friends to the show that never ends we're so glad you could attend come inside come inside.
Disclaimer-see Chapter one
*Pop* and with that a very respectable wizard apparated into the living room.
"Welcome Professor!" Hermione stood and walked over to him offering him a seat to sit down. He was starting to finally look his age. Remus skidded to a halt in the hall outside and tried best he could to walk in the room calmly. He and Hermione had been up most of the night coming up with why they were here. Sure the house was nice and all but it was still rather odd.
"Thank you Hermione. Good morning Remus. Please sit down." And with that Dumbledore got into his classic lecture mode; intent face, exaggerated gesticulations, and yet an extremely reassuring ease about the way he talked of things too horrible to imagine as if they were nothing.
"Good morning Albus" Remus sat down near Hermione across from Dumbledore.
"As you are aware Lord Voldemort is still at large despite the fact we've captured many of his loyal Death Eaters. Your assignment is very complicated, but I can't risk revealing too much at this time. You two are muggles remember that. You are not connected to the floo powder network, nor is this address capable of receiving owls for your own safety. Try your best to maintain seeming normality.
Severus Snape informed us of a plot to try and get Remus Lupin on their side, and to kill Harry Potter's best friend Hermione Granger. No one except for myself knows that you are here. I will be here once a week to bring any messages. Everyone thinks you are on a mission in America. You two need to stay as low-key as possible, be the friendly stereotypical neighbors but do be careful. That is all I can reveal at the moment. I must go now before I am missed. Good day" and with another *pop* Dumbledore was gone.
"Well…how do you speak mugglish?" Hermione rolled her eyes, typical Remus to try and make light of a serious situation.
"Oh do shut up Remus, this truly isn't a laughing matter." Remus grinned, typical Hermione. "We are both being hunted by Death Eaters, how can you manage to make light of this situation?"
"One of us has to have a sense of humor." Remus shrugged his shoulders and as he stood the doorbell chimed. "I'll get that."
As soon as Remus opened the door a short, stout woman stepped into the hallway introducing herself as Mrs. Miller and practically telling the entire history of the block's families. Hermione came to stand beside Remus and Mrs. Miller started talking even more. 'Does this woman ever shut up?' Remus began to think but Hermione invited the woman in for some tea and they moved to the living room.
"Yes, we moved here from London. Needed a change of pace for Remus' writing." And with that Hermione became almost as bad as Mrs. Miller. Half an hour later Mrs. Miller left and Remus sighed in relief when he plopped down at the kitchen table.
"She's a nice lady. Her husband is a surveyor and she is a librarian with three daughters, Anne, Ryder, and Eve." Hermione said as she started preparing for supper.
"That's nice…what's with all the food?" Remus arched an eyebrow quizzically at Hermione.
"Mr. and Mrs. Miller are coming over for supper this evening at 6 o'clock sharp." And with that Hermione bustled out of the kitchen and started setting the dinning room table for four leaving Remus to digest the information Hermione just spit out.
He moaned. "Hermione. You are amazing. Second day in this neighbor hood and already you're having dinner with the neighbor hood's yenta."
Hermione smiled " What can I say? I'm being the stereotypical housewife!"
Remus sighed and shook his head. There was no changing Hermione's mind when she set it to something. She was just trying to get through this odd assignment as much as he was. 'As if this assignment isn't weird enough, Hermione is rebuilding that brick wall that took seven years to tear down.' He sighed again and walked outside with a book. It was cloudy and still. He sat down and began to read.
The supper was ready and keeping warm as Hermione got ready. She was dressed in bobby socks, just above the knee dark blue skirt and a crisp white blouse with pearls, and her hair half up allowing her curls to cascade over her shoulders. She laughed at herself when she caught a glimpse in a pot on the stove.
"When did you become your biggest trepidation Hermione? A housewife trapped within the four walls of her house." But then she thought about what she was truly doing there, of course she was still in the dark about it but she is a witch, she is young, she is intelligent, so what was she doing here? The fake wife to a man old enough to be her father, a young father but still. Completely shut out from the wizarding world and her muggle family. It's enough to make her go crazy. And here she was masquerading as the humble little housewife when she should be out looking for Harry. He had gone missing and she should be out there looking for him and protecting him.
The doorbell sang out the tune 'Hail to the Queen' and Remus hopped down the stairs quietly. Just as Hermione's hand reached for the door, Remus slide his own hand in and opened it causing Hermione to jump back into him. Hermione quickly regained her composure.
"Hope we aren't interuptin' anathing Mrs. O' Roark." Mrs. Miller smiled and Hermione stepped to the side out of Remus' hold.
"Of course not Mrs. Miller, and please do call me Hermione. Remus, if you could please show them to the dinning room I'll be with you all shortly." Hermione sped down the hallway and entered the kitchen trying to calm herself down. As soon as her heart had stopped fluttering she started bringing the food into the dining room. Remus was up in a heartbeat helping. Supper began.
"Mr. Miller-" Remus was interrupted.
"Please, call me Timothy" He spoke kindly. He was slightly balding, round and strong.
"Alright. Timothy, did you hear about that Manchester United game…" And with that the men were in a conversation about sports. Hermione smiled 'Remus' did his reading.'
"Hermione, the women of the block have a book club meetin' every Sunday night. It'd be lovely if you could join us." Mrs. Miller smiled.
"I'd love to! But of course I'll need to speak with Remus. Thank you for the invitation Mrs. Miller."
"O do call me Deborah." Deborah smiled and they women began talking about books.
"Lovely meal Hermione" Timothy raised his cup. And they toasted to the new neighbors, health, and 'love'.
Hermione and Deborah did the dishes in the kitchen while Remus and Timothy started a fire in the den. Once everyone was settled in the den with their cup of tea Timothy spoke.
"That man gives me the willies. Never 'round 'n he never stays long. Al'aes shootin' dirty looks at everyone. Dodgey fellow."
"I do agree." Deborah chimed in. Remus and Hermione were interested.
"What's this man look like?" Remus inquired innocently.
"Greesy jet black hair, rather sallow, slender and strong. Very dodgy indeed, al'aes wearin' cloaks when I seen 'im." Timothy answered. Hermione and Remus thought the same thing, 'Snape?'
"And do you happen to know his name?" Hermione asked hiding her excitement.
"Why yes it's….S…Severus-odd name..Snake? No, no, no Snape. Severus Snape." Hermione's and Remus' mouths dropped simultaneously and both regained their composure quickly. "Do you know 'im?"
"No, just gave me the chills that's all." Hermione smiled to reassure Deborah while Remus found out the address from Timothy.
After the Miller's left Remus and Hermione sat there a moment thinking, neither speaking. Finally Remus began laughing and soon Hermione had joined him.
"Snape!..L-livin' wit…muggles!?!" Remus spluttered out. Hermione hit him lightly. "Sorry Hermione, it is Slimy Snape we're talking about. Er. I ment Severus."
Hermione got up shaking her head. She went to the backyard. According to Timothy, Snape lived just next door at 13. She saw a silhouette at the window, which indeed looked like Snape's crooked nose and slim figure. It moved towards the window and flung it open. Hermione was behind a pillar peeking. An owl flew in the window. Hermione gasped.
TBC
Yay! Slight cliffhanger!!