Disclaimer: Harry Potter and friends (or enemies depending on how you look at it) is the sole work of JK Rowling.

Chapter One: Meetings

Hermione Granger rubbed at her forehead. It had been five years since she had joined the order, and one thing never changed; the arguing. There were always arguing and debating, not that Hermione minded a good debate, but if she had to suffer through another one about whether it should be Harry, Ron or Tonks who should infiltrate this operation she would scream.

Harry noticed his friend's habit and looked at her. "Everything alright Hermione?" He asked softly.

Hermione looked up at him. "Oh yes, just a headache from work." She replied. "The research on the veil has come to a standstill." She said softly, knowing Harry was keen on them actually being able to contract the people beyond the veil so he could speak to his Godfather one last time. "That reminds me," She said removing a black vial from her pocket and placed it on the table. "That's the Dicentra Scelestus pollen you wanted professor." She waved her wand causing the vial to move towards the Potions Master. "Mind you it's very explosive when exposed to light." She warned.

Snape raised an eyebrow at the warning and sneered. "I know that Miss Granger." He said with less bite than normal after all she did filch it from work and saved him the very expensive trouble of trying to acquire it, after all the even the apothecary on Knock Turn Alley didn't carry it.

The Weasley twin looked at the vial. "What's that for?" Fred asked curiously. If it was really explosive then perhaps he and George should get a hold of some and see if they could incorporate it in the weapons they were designing for the Order, and if not, it would make a fine addition to the Weasley Exploding Bludgers.

"A very rare potion ingredient." Snape sneered, "Several of the darker poisons use it or a variation of it." He said as he put the vial away. The headmaster inclined his head, eye twinkling, and motioned for the Potion master to continue. "It is my hope that the ingredient can be combined with the potions the Dark Lord has me brew for him." He looked at Hermione. "Do you think you could get a hold of some thymus nectar? I hope to mix it with potion to speed up the reaction time."

Hermione thought about it. "I'll see what I can do. I f I can, I'll bring it to Hogwarts in two week's time." She said turning to the Headmaster. "I will be able to take the Defense Against Dark Arts position for the year, the Department wants me to research the wards."

Professor Dumbledore nodded. "Excellent, with you doing the research, we will be able to keep the more sensitive wards secret; we don't need a repeat of five years past." He looked at everyone, "Well if that's all, the meeting is adjourned."

The members of the Order got up and gathered in small groups. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Luna and Ginny gathered together to talk like usual. Ever since the fifth year the six of them had become good friends and took the opportunity to catch up.

Two weeks later Hermione appeared with a crack at Hogsmead and started walking down the path to Hogwarts. She held Crookshanks in her arms. "Well Crooks... this might be fun, I've missed the Library." Her bags had been shrunk and placed in a pocket, and several potion ingredients were in unbreakable vials in her other pocket. Using the excuse that she might need to brew some complex potions to reveal some of the wards, she had taken out several rare ingredients figuring they might keep Professor Snape out of her hair for a while.

Standing at the entrance in his familiar violet robes, Professor Dumbledore waited for her. "Hello my dear." He said smiling at the former Head Girl. "Are you looking forward to this term?" He asked a twinkle in his eye.

Hermione looked at him. "I'm a little nervous, sir, but it sounds like an interesting change. I just hope I can do a good enough job," She said, "I mean some of the sixth and seventh years will remember me."

Dumbledore chuckled. "Don't worry about it Hermione, and please call me Albus, we are colleagues after all." He opened the doors to the entrance hall for her. "And surely teaching students can't be as hard as reestablishing and strengthening those wards was in your seventh year." He said with another twinkle as he led her to an etching on the wall near the Gryffindor tower. "These are your quarters. You can set the password by tapping the etching with your wand and saying the words leon signum and then the password." He said with a nod to her. "I will leave you to settle in. When you are done, please visit my office, the password is 'Gummy Dragons.'"

Hermione nodded. "Alright, Thank you." She said as the Headmaster walked off. She felt much better about this as she put down Crookshanks and removed her wand. She tapped the etching and spoke. "Leon signum dicentra scelestus." The lines of the etching darkened and suddenly the etching was replaced by a hole that expanded into a doorway, Crookshanks darted in with Hermione behind him. The doorway led to a sitting room with two open doors. One door led to the bedroom and the other to an office like room. The quarters were decorated in cherry wood with dark red carpeting and furniture, the walls were cream. It gave the quarters a feeling of comfortable sophistication. Hermione removed her luggage from her pockets and waved her wand, converting it back to its normal size. She started putting it away and about an hour later, as she straightened the last of her books, she stood up and made her way out of her quarters to visit the Headmaster.

Slowly Hermione made her way to the Headmaster's office. When she arrived at the gargoyle that guarded the entrance, she cleared her throat and spoke the password. The statue jumped aside, and she entered. She followed the spiraling staircase to the office and knocked. "Come in Hermione." Professor Dumbledore called and the door opened. Hermione smiled as she saw the Headmaster in the middle of a game of Wizards Chess with none other than the Transfiguration Professor. Ron owes me a Galleon she thought to herself in amusement.

"Good afternoon Professors." Hermione said with a nod to them. She recalled the Headmaster asking her to call him 'Albus' but didn't want to take the liberty to do so when Professor McGonagall was there.

"Hermione, feel free to call me Minerva, after all you are hardly my student now, you haven't been for several years." The Head of Gryffindor said with a smile. "Do you like your new quarters?" She asked kindly.

Hermione nodded. "I'll try." She said softly. "The quarters are lovely."

Albus smiled. "Good. Please take a seat." He said motioning to one of the many free chairs in the room. When Hermione sat down he continued. "Do you want anything to drink? Lemon drop?" He asked; Hermione declined politely. "We are glad you are on the teaching staff." He said smiling at her. "You are the youngest person to take up the staff since Severus joined us. Since you are so close in age to some of the students, they will probably try to test your authority to show they are no different from you or flirt with you in hopes of getting a better grade." He said softly. "I know you are equal to the challenge and will do an admirable job in teaching the class." He said and looked at Professor McGonagall.

The transfiguration teacher smiled. "Severus was none too happy to hear that his covenanted position was filled by a person younger than himself, much less a 'silly know-it-all Gryffindor.'" She said. "Albus had kindly informed him that it was likely that you would take the position before the Order meeting to avoid a scene."

Hermione looked startled at that. "Oh dear..." She said worriedly.

Dumbledore looked at her. "Don't worry, he won't do anything to you, he'll just be his normal grouchy self." He said with a chuckle.

Hermione managed a half smile. "That's what I'm afraid of. I brought him some thymus nectar and was hoping to deliver it to him." She said. "At the Order meetings he acts half way civil..." She said.

Professor Dumbledore smiled. "Don't let him bother you. He is in your debt because you have been able to get him those ingredients without much trouble." He said. "He's in his lab, its next door to his classroom, if you'd like to deliver the nectar to him now." He suggested.

Hermione nodded softly. "I'll do that. Good bye Prof-Albus, Minerva." She said getting up and letting herself out. She made her way back to her rooms and retrieved the nectar before heading down to the dungeons.

She stopped at the door she was told was his lab and knocked softly. She heard sounds behind it before a sharp "Enter!" sounded. Cautiously she opened the door and entered the room. Professor Snape glared at her. "What a pleasure it is to see you." He sneered, clearly implying it was one of the last things he wanted.

"Good afternoon Professor... I just wanted to drop off the thymus nectar you asked for." She said softly.

He looked at her. "Put it on the table and be careful not to disturb anything." He said sharply. She complied, and not expecting a thank you left quietly. Once outside she let out a sigh of relief. "That went better than expected." She said to herself recalling how Snape had acted towards each DADA teacher; contempt, loathing, tinged unease/hatred, hatred, disgust. He had treated her similar to how it was in school, which was something of a relief to her.