Okay, I forced no one to wait!

Mac1 was my super-quick reviewer for Chapter 15. I'm glad my stories are amusing…I'm a very lighthearted sort and I enjoy reading amusing stories, so I do my best.

Hippiechick: Yeah for a minute there I wondered who was at the door too. Then I realized that it's my story so I get to pick!

Draccy: Yeah, fluff's good, right? Actually, I kinda felt the need to give Hermione a more human dimension than she's had thus far which was the point of last chapter (yep, Hippiechick, you got it right in one!). Unfortunately, I've explored a human dimension of Hermione in my other stories so I got bored quickly and switched back to fluff.

Hand3: Next chapter as quickly as my dial-up could deliver, just for you.

Lil: Knowing all of someone is contingent upon them sharing all of themselves. I think that's where the fundamental conflict lies.

Enjoy everyone!

new A/N: Error fixed! Sorry 'bout that!

Aimes-who-got-hit-by-a-taxi-and-has-a-sore-bum

"Hermione! Open the damned door, I know you're in there! Where the HELL have you been? I've been worried sick, you know!"

"Shit," Hermione cursed under her breath. "Bloody hell, hang on a minute, Draco. Can't a girl get dressed?"

"You don't sleep nude!"

"I don't sleep fully clothed either!"

"Who's in there with you?" Hermione looked at Remus with a bemused expression.

"If someone were in here with me, do you think I'd even be answering you, Draco? Not likely."

There was a pause. "I'll give you that one. Get dressed then and open your door and tell me what's been going on. Everyone's been really concerned."

"Actually, Draco, could you get Harry and Ron and Ginny, please? I need to have a talk with all of you."

"I'll go find them."

Hermione and Remus heard his footsteps receding. Disaster averted for at least fifteen more minutes.

"I don't know how we're going to get you out of here unseen."

"Do you have Harry's cloak?"

"I wish. Maybe we can sneak you out while Draco's looking for Harry and the others? Nah, he'll get back right when you're leaving and that'd leave us screwed. I think the best idea is for me to go down to the common room, talk to my friends, get rid of them, then tell Draco the truth. He'll keep his mouth shut, I think."

"I believe he will. He's got a romantic streak, or so Severus complains." I'd complain too if Draco tried to match-make for me. I can only imagine the type of woman he sends Snape's way. She felt a flash of sympathy for Snape. Not enough to be a double agent and fight Voldemort twice, he also had to have Draco as his godson.

"Good. I'm sorry to ditch you in my room but feel free to explore or whatnot."

"Moi, pry into your deepest darkest secrets?"

"You already know my deepest darkest secrets. Trust me when I say that it doesn't get any deeper or darker than what you already know."

"I should hope not."

Hermione rolled over so she was straddling him and leaned down to kiss him.

"Wish me luck." She got off the bed and made for the door.

"Good luck," came the soft voice. Hermione smiled as she exited.

Draco was sitting next to Harry on the couch, hiding furtive looks in Ginny's direction. Ginny sat on an armchair pretending to read a magazine while glancing at Draco as frequently as possible. Harry was hiding a smile while Ron ignored them all, but for the occasional pointed glare in Draco's direction. These are your friends, Granger. Be tactful.

"Hello, everyone."

"Hermione! We've been so worried! Are you alright?" Ginny sprang to her feet as she fired off questions. "Where have you been? What happened?"

Hermione held up her hands for silence.

"I'm fine, I'm sorry to have worried you all. Where I've been…it's a long story. It's been a very long week." She moved to lean against the fireplace. Ron sat near Ginny and they all watched her silently.

"I'm a spy," she said flatly. Draco nodded, looking unsurprised, while Ginny and Ron gaped. Harry furrowed his brow.

"What kind of spy?"

"The kind that's paid to problem-solve. In the muggle world, obviously. I've been trained since I was a young child for it…and I continued my work after I entered Hogwarts."

"It makes sense," Draco said mildly. "You would have been recruited for your reasoning abilities and obvious intelligence. It explains a lot actually. You disappear for three or so days at a time and come back with a few bruises but looking exhilarated. Not to mention the case file you left out three weeks ago. I peeked," he said with a shrug. And this is why you're supposed to burn them, Granger. Good job.

"Are you a spy for the side of Light?" asked Ron quietly.

"It's not that cut and dry in the muggle world…I suppose I work for the side of light if anything. It hasn't always been that way, but I'm good enough now that I can choose my jobs. But don't sugarcoat it, hon. I'm a paid killer. I save the world but it costs lives and at the end of the day, there's a lot of blood on my hands."

"Why are you telling us this?" Ginny queried.

"One of my jobs went wrong. I was assigned to liquidate a target with whom I had some…history. He had managed to wipe out my entire team, I'd killed his mad lover, all in all, we weren't the best of friends. The mission went sour…I was compromised at very high levels. My parents…were the innocent bystanders. The bastards killed mum, dad, and Melville and kidnapped Genes. I was ambushed and had the crap beaten out of me. When I came to I went to rescue her…but I was too late."

"Liquidate is such a kind term for it," murmured Harry.

"I know it's a lot to absorb. I also realize that this may…change the way you see me. I wish I could have told you sooner, but my identity is one of the best kept secrets in the muggle world…"

"I thought you were compromised," Ron interjected.

"I was compromised by one of my trainers. She was a crazy one…handled my training from age five to age nine or so. She knew nothing about me except that my name was Hermione G. It wouldn't be hard to find out that I was the operative called Smoke…I've got a pretty distinctive resume. From there…some digging was all that was required. They took Genes to pump her for info they could use on me, and when she proved useless, they killed her."

"I'm so sorry, Mione," Ginny said gently. She uncurled from the couch and hugged Hermione tightly. "That must have been awful. And to not have anyone to go to…I can't imagine."

"Thanks, Gin," Hermione whispered. Ron came over and joined the hug, followed by Draco. Ron cringed when Draco joined in but said nothing. Harry was the last to pile onto the group hug, but he was not far behind the others.

"Thank you, guys. I was so scared to tell you…that you might think everything about me was a lie. It's not, by the way. I've been the more honest with the lot of you than with anyone else in the world, save another operative I work with. Your friendship means a lot."

"You'll always have our friendship, Fuzzball," Draco said cheerfully. "You are what you are."

They pulled away and Hermione gave a dazzling grin. That went well. "I'm exhausted. I'm going to take a nap before dinner…you all want to meet up here? We can have the house elves bring something up. Dumbledore's telling everyone else that my parents died in a car crash, so no one's going to question it. There are logistical details to deal with, but for now…I guess it's over."

"For now, eh? We'll see you later, Mione. If you need someone…" Ron blushed.

"I know, Ron," Hermione said with a smile. "Thanks." Harry, Ron and Ginny left, talking amongst themselves and Draco draped himself in an armchair. Round 2, let's fight.

"There's more to this story, Frizz-face. Out with it." Hermione took a deep breath.

"I'm…involved…with Remus Lupin."

Draco gasped theatrically. "How absolutely scandalous!" he teased. "What's your point, exactly? I mean I'm trying to get involved with a Weasley and no one's hunted me down yet."

"Give it time. In any case, I'm glad you approve, Goldilocks, because he's sort of in my room right now and we need to get him out of the area without arousing suspicion." Or anything else.

"Not a problem," Draco replied. "I'll see him out and start the news that he helped you out with funeral arrangements and was taking care of some details. No one will care."

He strolled into her room, where Remus was lounging on the bed, perusing a copy of 'Slaughterhouse 5.' He looked up and raised his eyebrow, then returned to the passage he was reading, finished, and closed the book.

"Hey, Draco. I'm guessing she told you."

"Obviously, or I'd be hexing someone out of existence by now."

"Right. How did it go?"

"Better than I thought it would," Hermione admitted. "I think it hasn't quite hit them yet…they'll have lots of questions when they come for dinner."

"Mmm. And how are you?"

"I'm…fine. It was less difficult than I thought it would be, so I suppose that's good."

"Where do you two go from here?" Draco asked curiously.

"I have to leave on a mission in the morning," Remus said quietly. "Sorry about the short notice, Hermione, but you know Albus."

"I know I'm lucky we're still in one piece," she agreed. "Where are you staying tonight?" Remus merely smiled in response.

"I'll stop by after dinner to talk to you about what to do with your parents' house, okay?"

Draco snorted and Hermione raised an eyebrow at him.

"What?" she asked.

"No, no, nothing. It's fine. You two kids just try to keep it down, okay?" Hermione blushed, remembering Tonks.

Remus rose off the bed, setting Hermione's book down. He's really very graceful.

"You can take it, if you'd like. It's an interesting study of the human psyche in a wartime situation. Tell me what you think."

Remus smiled slightly and nodded at her. They shared an intense look while Draco watched with interest.

"Turn your head, Vanilla Ice."

"Cotton Ball, I—"

"Turn your head, Draco." Draco sighed and turned his back on them. Hermione and Remus shared a gentle, lingering kiss, before pulling away and switching back into professional mode. Wow. Draco finished making gagging noises and turned around.

"If you've wretched on the carpet, you get to clean it," Hermione said mildly, not breaking Remus' gaze.

"I'll see you around ten-thirty, Hermione," Remus murmured. He pulled away and strolled through the door as Draco held it. Draco followed him through then closed the door, turning back to wink at Hermione.

"'Night, Broom Hilda," he teased.

"Get out of here Casper," she retorted.

Hermione smiled to herself and laid down on her bed, sighing contentedly. You've lost a lot, Granger, but you've gained quite a bit as well. You'll make it. You'll make it and then some.