A/N: Thanks to anyone who has been reviewing my stories! Anyways...onward!!!

Chapter Two

"How did you...what in the...why did you..." Ron couldn't finish his sentences.

Harry smiled. "You left your journal out last night. I couldn't help myself."

"You're evil, Harry." Ron smiled. "Brilliant...but evil..." He paused. "Thanks Harry." He whispered. "At least that got us started out on the right foot."

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Hermione had come into the room, and was curious as to the topic of the conversation. Harry could only grin. "Never mind. I believe we have a meeting to go to?"

Harry knew where the meeting of the Order of the Phoenix was to be held. It was Sirius Black's old house. Sirius's house was like a safe haven compared to most places. It was invisible to the naked eye, and practically untraceable, making it a great secret meeting area for the secret Order. The trio could not apparate. The Ministry of Magic was watching the Floo network. It, too, was unsafe. Hermione cast a concealment charm, and they flew unnoticed to Number 12, Grimuald Place, London.

"We're here!" Hermione announced. "Had to fly, though...bit unpleasant, actually. Nearly got hit by that plane...Harry thought it was funny..." Hermione huffed. Everyone, including Dumbledore, glared at her. "What? How else were we to get here? We were under a concealment charm. No one saw us!"

"Try apparating." Mr. Weasley suggested.

Ron groaned. "Dad! Honestly! We can't bloody well apparate here! As far as the rest of the world is concerned, this place doesn't exist, remember? We'd end up in some Muggle's bathroom in Number Eleven or something,"

"The boy has his point," Professor Lupin grinned. "You do pay attention, don't you, Ron?"

Hermione smiled. "He's much smarter than he gives himself credit for," she whispered.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Anyways, on with the meeting." He said sternly. Suddenly every face in the room was serious and attentive. "We have reason to believe that Voldemort may be hiding somewhere in France. Death Eater attacks have been increasing in that area, as well as in Scotland, and here in London. Professor Snape has even reported that there have been Death Eaters recruiting people as young as Ms. Granger, here..." Dumbledore paused a moment.

"How are we supposed to know what to do about school?" Harry demanded. "From what you've just told me, I could be killed in my sleep. No offense, sir, but that kind of sucks."

"Exactly." Lupin nodded. "That's why we're putting someone in as a spy. We need someone who will be able to report back to Dumbledore, but who can also stay cool under pressure..."

"Fred and I will go!" George volunteered. "After all, that whole troll thing didn't check out last time...it all ended up to be rather boring."

"We can't put the two of you out there. If you think back to Italy, please. The Malfoys have seen your face." Snapped an annoyed Snape. "Besides, it would be easier if it was one of those three, as they are still at Hogwarts, and would be able to reach Dumbledore easily..." He was pointing to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Lupin blinked. "Not Harry, of course! They're after him."

"So that leaves Weasley... and Granger." Snape groaned.

"Ms. Granger, would you be able to take on the assignment?" Dumbledore asked. He turned to Ron. "I would ask you, but I'm afraid that the Death Eaters are far too...aware of your family as it is."

"I'll do it." Hermione whispered.

"No!" screamed Ron. He turned red. "Hermione, you could be killed." He whispered to her. "And you'd miss loads of school..."

"I know that," Hermione frowned. "But we can't very well have Harry do it, and you heard what Dumbledore said," she sighed. "I don't mind. Really. And if all goes well, I should still be at school. After all, I'll be playing double agent for them, won't I?"

Snape smiled, and Harry cringed. "It will be rather marvelous. Imagine their shock when, first, Harry Potter's best friend turns bad...then try to imagine the looks on their faces once we've thrown them in Azkaban. It will be classic..."

Harry had to admit that Snape had a point. It would all be amusing. Ron, sitting directly opposite Harry, didn't seem to be thinking the same thing. He was frowning so deeply that his brow had furrowed, and glaring at Dumbledore as if he were the source of all his problems. Hermione didn't look happy either. Both of them left the table almost immediately after the meeting was adjourned. Harry made to follow them, but Dumbledore stopped him in his tracks.

"Harry, there is something that I must discuss with you concerning Sirius's death and yourself..." Dumbledore whispered, and Harry immediately looked away. "Sirius had a will, Harry..."

"What?" Harry turned around in surprise. "Dumbledore, sir...he died nearly two years ago. Why are you just telling me this now? Besides, I should really go...Ron and Hermione are kind of..."

Dumbledore shook his head. "Don't worry about them at the moment. I didn't tell you, Harry, because you weren't old enough to benefit from it. As of your graduation at the end of this school year, you will inherit all of Sirius Black's estates...."

Harry nearly choked. "What? His estates? As in plural?" Harry whistled.

"Yes, Harry. Sirius didn't want anyone to know it, but the Black family...his family was very wealthy, Harry. He and your father are actually cousins. Your father was Godric Gryffindor's heir. Sirius left you with his estates, but you have also inherited estates from your father's relatives, and a rather large sum of money, if I do say so myself. None of it is concrete until you graduate..."

Harry nodded. "And this is what you wanted to tell me?" When Dumbledore nodded, Harry continued. "That's great, Professor. Now if I could just find Ron and Hermione..."

Dumbledore laughed. "You reminded me of Sirius in his seventh year, just then. He and Lupin were trying to play matchmaker for Lily and James. It was interesting, really. Some of the stunts they pulled, I mean. And in the end, Lily and James ended up doing things all on their own. Sirius was so proud..."

Harry frowned. He didn't mean to be rude, but the subjects of Sirius, his father, and his mother...they were sore to him. Hearing Dumbledore recount so much was like stabbing Harry in his heart. After all, so many other people spent so much time with them, and he still felt as if he had been robbed of them before his time.

Ron sat brooding in a study nearby to the kitchen. How could Dumbledore let Hermione do something like that? How could he even suggest it? He, of all people, had to know how dangerous it was. And what would happen if Hermione was hurt? Stop thinking like that, he told himself over and over. "Hermione, I wish I could go with you," he whispered out loud, even though the room was empty. "Please be safe. Please come back to me..."

Hermione had retreated up the stairs after the meeting. She was sitting on a large four-poster bed. Above this was a rather large portrait of Sirius. She smiled at him. "I must be nuts, huh?" she said to the portrait. He nodded. "I best be careful. When this is all over, I really need to have a talk with Ron. Yes, a talk. How's that sound?"

"Yes, dear," the picture of Sirius smiled at her. "You really should talk to him, you know? You can't love a person that much and not tell them..."

"How would you know?" Hermione groaned.

Sirius's portrait smiled again. "Trust me, I know."

Harry's next order of business as matchmaker was to find some way to remedy the gigantic mess that Dumbledore had just unknowingly created. Hermione was going to be playing double agent for the Order. She could be killed. Harry knew that. His first order of business, then, was making sure that she survived long enough to help Ron come to his senses. How he was going to do this, he had no idea.

It was then that a terrible thought struck him. What if he and Ron had to fight Hermione? After all, she was supposed to be posing as some sort of junior-death-eater-in-training, wasn't she? This would definitely make his job a little bit more complicated.

"What am I supposed to do?" he groaned.

"You're thinking far too hard, you know..." It was Professor Lupin. He had emerged out of a corner near the south end of the room. "I understand what you're trying to do. Sirius and I had quite a time trying to set your parents up. You want some pointers?"

Harry blinked. "Pointers? Okay, tell me!" he smiled enthusiastically.

"Girls like surprises. You should keep that going. The flower thing was a nice touch..." He grinned.

"Wait...how did you..." Harry stammered.

Lupin shrugged. "Ron told me."

"So what do I do?" Harry asked.

Lupin grinned. "Get with Ron...I'm sure he has a lot of ideas. Believe it or not, he'll want to help you. You need something on a big scale, anyway. Something that will surprise her, but don't make it too...odd. She is muggle-born, after all, and if you do that, she may back down a bit..."

"Wait...so let me get this straight...I need to help Ron surprise her?" Lupin nodded. "But not surprise her too much?" His brow furrowed as Lupin nodded again.

"Aren't women complicated? Your mother was a real hard nut to crack. Hermione reminds me of her a little bit..." Lupin laughed.

Harry frowned. "Thanks." He groaned.

Soon after Professor Lupin had his talk with Harry, his seventh year at Hogwarts finally began. Unfortunately enough for Ron, this meant that Hermione's assignment was also to begin soon. Harry and Ron sat with Hermione on the Hogwarts Express, but were confused to see that she wasn't at the Sorting Ceremony when they got off the train. Dumbledore, Harry noticed, was also curiously absent from this semi-sacred event. In his place sat Professor McGonnagal, Hogwarts' Deputy Headmistress. She shot a glance at Ron and Harry before beginning her speech.

"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" she smiled. "Now that the Sorting has ended, there are several things we must go over before you are dismissed to your houses..."

At that point, neither Harry nor Ron was listening to McGonnagal anymore. They were paying closer attention to the entrance of the Great Hall. Hermione Granger had just slipped into the room. She took her seat across from Ron and Harry at the Gryffindor table and stared forward.

"Hey 'Mione..." Ron whispered, but Harry elbowed him.

"Not here!" he warned. "We have no clue who could be watching!"

Ron blinked. "I was just going to ask her why she was late. She sat right across from us on the train..." Ron was the first to excuse himself when McGonnagal's speech was through.

Harry watched Hermione leave the Great Hall. He knew, as well as Ron, where she must have been. It had something to do with Dumbledore, who had also been absent, and of course, everything to do with her new 'assignment'. He sighed. He was nearly the last Gryffindor to leave the Great Hall. Getting Ron and Hermione together may prove to be much harder than he had thought it would be. He could only wonder as to how much Hermione's new assignment was going to hinder his progress...

A/N: How do you like it? I know the end of this chapter could have been a little better, but I didn't want to spoil too much for the future...so I kind of left it as it was....chapter three up as soon as possible!