Disclaimer:  All in the Harry Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling.  I make no money.

I rewrote the end of last chapter.  Added it on for your review.

Where we left off…

Pansy and Ginny were holding hands, still shaking a bit from the witnessed display.  They had not healed their fingertips, their hands sticky with blood.  Minerva washed their hands with a clean towel and healed them with a flick of her wand.

"Miss Granger will be alright.  She is a very resilient and powerful young witch," Minerva said with encouragement, and not only for the benefit of the two guests.

Pansy caught Professor Snape's eye and addressed him.  "Thank you for stopping the ritual.  I'm so sorry we did it at all."

"Why?"  It was done with good intentions,"  Arthur said soothingly.

Ginny snapped back, "It was torture.  You can't understand how horrible it is to be trapped, to go so long without…" She clenched her teeth.  "You didn't see Hermione in that cave for three weeks.  As soon as we read the passage about the wards, she knew she wasn't coming back."

"She didn't sleep much, "  Pansy whispered.  "And when she did I could hear her sobbing.  I don't think she was always aware of it."

Snape's chest caved a little more.  His blood was still boiling from the sight of her fighting the onslaught of desire.  He expected she would be overcome with a feverish yearning, but instead of writhing, she had curled up in pain and cried.  Why?

"I'm so glad she's alright,"  Pansy breathed to Ginny.

"We're sorry, Hermione," Ginny whispered to the bowl with no image.

"You did fine,"  Minerva said, misty.

"It was a good suggestion, Miss Weasley.  A good one.  No harm was intended and Miss Granger, as always, bore it well."  Dumbledore comforted her, with a pat on her shoulder.

Molly was still staring at the blank bowl as everyone departed the meeting a good twenty minutes later.  Only Arthur, Remus, McGonagall, Snape, Dumbledore and the girls remained.

"She's in love, isn't she?" Molly asked Pansy, a secret Pansy told very few.  She could only nod. Hermione's heart was breaking.

Albus took Snape aside, and said, "I'll keep this in my office as I have from the beginning.  Sooner or later she will be visible again.  We shall find her.  Are you quite alright?" he asked the troubled man.

Snape's eyes were dark and he was still angry, but his agitation was subsiding.  "Yes," he said curtly.

"I take it your Goddess did not agree with the activities this evening,"  Dumbledore said low so no one else could hear.

"She did not."  And neither did I.

Chapter Twenty-One:     Making Your Mark

Dumbledore's personal inquiry left Snape feeling a little too exposed in present company.  Minerva and Remus were showing far too much interest in his and Dumbledore's hushed conversation.  Snape quickly adopted a look reserved for Death Eaters, a blameless expression of aloof coldness.  He wasn't going to make any excuses for his behavior this evening.

What Snape feared most was that his caring for Hermione would be obvious to everyone, yet it was naked only to him. 

No one was surprised by his outburst.  Moody distrusted him, and practically expected violence from him.  Minerva always knew him to be passionately protective of women, even in his school days.  His compassion was there, though hidden under a veil of insults and disrespectful comments.  Dumbledore and Remus still recognized Snape's efforts to reconcile his past.

Snape had always been fiercely defensive of women, even in his youth.  One of the reasons he'd joined the side of the light was after a young girl's death, the sad outcome of his initiation assignment— he had kidnapped a girl who was not but fourteen.  He wasn't quite the same after that. 

Voldemort's decision to have Severus make a list of the school's virgins had reopened old wounds.  Revels was one thing, they always existed, were not mandatory and somewhat easy to avoid.  Voldemort rarely ever participated except out of curiosity at the unimaginable behavior of his minions.  They were far more suggestible under the influence of alcohol and other sexual indulgences.  The Dark Lord always watched to see what their weaknesses were.  Blackmail was powerful.  Snape steered clear of those deviant opportunities for self-indulgence and depravity.

Snape had also been feeling rather useless of late with Voldemort's new secrecy, and being the one responsible for brewing the Haustum Vigor.  In their eyes Snape had already paid enough dues and was an equal member of the Order, same as any other member.  With the Dark Mark branded on his arm and a pardoned life sentence in Azkaban, it was Snape who could not forgive himself.

Snape left the Headquarters abruptly, without so much as a goodnight. Pacing back into his dungeons, he attempted to unwind for bed.  It was nearly two a.m. and he could not still get Hermione's image out of his mind.  He picked up her notes and reviewed them again, the complex theories of a thoroughly organized researcher.  Who was the woman back at that place?  What had she lost?  She wasn't the same anymore, and he wondered what had changed.

"Ginny, Pansy.  Come you two.  Follow me."  Pansy and Ginny shot a look to at each other, and Ginny was grateful she had peer support.  Molly ushered them both into the study and transfigured a third chair for them to sit.

Mrs. Weasley hugged them both fiercely, something utterly foreign to Pansy.

"Mum, I can't breathe,"  Ginny said into her crocheted sweater.  She feared the upcoming discussion, but she shouldn't have.

"Ginny… Pansy…" Molly regarded each fondly.  "I am so proud of you!"  Mrs. Weasley's eyes sparkled with intense emotion.  "The women of our family have always been strong and you are no different," she said to Ginny squeezing her elbow.  "And you Pansy, good for you for giving old Moody a piece of your mind!  Shame on him for what he said.  You've been through a lot this year and I must say, this is a very exclusive club you've been invited to this evening.  And if Albus Dumbledore invited you both tonight, you can be sure he'll be asking you to join the Order when you graduate."

"Thank you for saying that Mrs. Weasley,"  Pansy said formally.

"I'm not just saying that, dear.  We'd be honored to have you."  Molly fixed her in her eye and communicated that wordless motherly look which can only be understood on a deeper level.

Pansy kept her feelings in check but it was difficult.  She'd felt almost the same at St. Peter's when Mrs. Granger had complemented her so well.  So genuine.

"You've been keeping so many things secret these last months, and here all the time there was more to say.  You shouldn't have been afraid to come to me with this," Molly admonished sweetly.  Ginny gave a slight look of disbelief that did not go unnoticed.  "…and don't give me that look Ginerva Weasley," Molly tone changed to a lecture.  "Strange things happen in the wizarding world, we all know.  Sometimes we aren't meant to understand, but you shouldn't assume that we wouldn't accept it just because it seems out of the ordinary."

"Come on mum,"  Ginny sighed skeptically, "you would have never let…"

"You're damn right I wouldn't have let you do that spell young lady!"  The motherly reproach came easily.  There was the parent Ginny knew.  "That was dangerous what you did!  But," her tone changed again to one of soft encouragement, "that doesn't mean it wasn't the right thing to do."

Pansy and Ginny were flat out shocked.

"Mrs. Weasley, you're telling me that twenty virgins kept the spell's plans a secret for four months, plotting behind closed doors, reading a book considered Dark by many, disrupted a school function and poisoned a known Death Eater in front of everybody and then ran away from Hogwarts, hiding out for three weeks… and you're telling me that's okay with you??!!"  Pansy asked.

Mrs. Weasley turned scarlet.  She was trying to do the understanding parent bit, and had prepared well for this.  But hearing it put like that… she took a deep breath.  "It was horrible, and you girls worried me half to death I'll have you know," she blotted tearful eyes with a handkerchief.  "But there just cannot be very many instances where it would be necessary to do what you did, so you just better clue somebody in to what you think up next time." 

She took a moment and laughed.  "I would've like to have seen Lucius Malfoy drop like a log in the middle of the Great Hall."

Ginny and Pansy grinned.  That was pretty spectacular.

"How are you both since you completed the spell?"  Molly asked hesitantly.

Here it comes, Ginny thought.  "Fine, mum," she said in her sing song way.  Please don't go there.

"I guess it's a little late for a talk on the birds and the bees," Mrs. Weasley laughed a little.

Pansy and Ginny laughed with her once they realized she was making a joke.  The birds, bees, boys, girls and contraceptive potions were well covered by Madame Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall.  They didn't want a second lesson.

Molly smiled at Pansy and then addressed her daughter.  "I was sixteen when I fell in love with your father."  Ginny's mouth hung wide open, she'd always thought they'd gotten together after school.  "I never told you that, because I wanted you to focus on your education, and love can be distracting.  As if you get to choose when it happens,"  Molly snorted.  "It just is, isn't it?"

She might as well have been talking to Pansy.  Pansy hadn't gotten to choose who she was attracted to, it just happened.  And now that she and Draco were no longer intimate, she was more drawn to him than ever.  She didn't know how to define their relationship at the moment.  But she needed him.

Molly looked knowingly into her daughter's eyes.  "You're in love with Harry, aren't you?"

"Yes, mum.  I do love him."  She said it firmly.  A fact.  Certainty.

Her mother smiled in understanding.  "Have you told him?"

"Yeah, he feels the same."

Molly approved and hugged Ginny again. 

"I know it's not easy  in these times," Mrs. Weasley said with serious tone.  "I'm going to give you both some advice, and I want you to hear me out.  Boys are fickle and inconsistent in their youth, and we tend to know what we want much earlier than they.  Don't get me wrong," seeing Ginny about to object, "Harry is a fine boy and he knows some of what lies ahead.  But he is emotional, and has been wrestling with a lot lately.  Do not be surprised if he wavers before he decides to settle down.  And that better be a long time from now," she lectured with a wink.

"Harry won't cheat on me if that's what you're getting at,"  Ginny said.

"Don't get huffy with me, young lady.  What I mean is that he may push you away, and not really understand why he's doing it."  Ginny had a taste of that already after Sirius' death.  "When you need to talk with someone about things, just you remember that your father and I got married in the middle of the war.  It was not easy, but look what I have to show for my patience! "  She smiled and held Ginny at arms length, then hugged her again.  Ginny had a new female confidant.  She had no idea it would be her own mother.

"That goes the same for you, Pansy.  You are always welcome to talk with me if you need,"  she said with a twinkle, gripping her shoulder tenderly. 

Pansy knew she meant it.  She had felt more accepted, cherished and at home in five minutes with Ginny's mother than she had almost all of her life with her own family.  Mr. and Mrs. Weasley married for love, not blood.  Probably had as many kids as they wanted, not stopping with the first boy as many families did, halting at the first heir. Mrs. Weasley had her priorities straight.  The Weasley family may have had little money, but they all seemed happy.  And people said the Weasley's were poor.  

That's what it was always like for Ginny, she could tell.  Pansy saw Ginny's eye rolling, anticipating her mother's reprimand.  Ginny knew what to expect from her own mother, and that showed Pansy that Mrs. Weasley was someone who could be counted on— to be honest, consistent, and there for her.  Pansy didn't mind the lectures, the hugs or advice at all.  She needed that.

---------------

Katie Renou sat enjoying her morning tea and writing in her diary.  It was her Sunday morning routine, where her personal thoughts were flowing down her arm and through her nib in fluid strokes.  Sundays were slower than others and generally the bookstore did fine with one clerk.  They knew not to disturb her.  Katie enjoyed the solitude of her cozy office, surrounded in the company of books she loved and the art she'd collected over the years.  She preferred to dress formally, a way of embracing the memory of a more civilized time.  Her bodice fit snugly, and her sleeves were long ending in lace.  She felt calm with the long feather quill in her hand.

Buckwheat flew in and upon his return hooted low.  The only note attached to his claw was the unopened inquiry she sent.  She guessed Hermione had to move like she'd said in her last letter, or maybe couldn't respond to her note.  Katie had sent him on an unscheduled visit yesterday without asking just to see about her welfare, perhaps tempt her again with the offer of help.  She was hoping at least for an additional word on her safety.  Only Buckwheat knew of Hermione's previous whereabouts, and even if he could speak, Katie knew he would take it to his grave.  So she parted with a piece of pastry for her feathered messenger.  While he often picked at her leavings, she knew he did it to humor her.  He preferred to hunt. 

She sighed her disappointment, her free flow of ideas abruptly replaced with her concern for Hermione.

Katie sipped her tea and could hear murmuring in the background.  It sounded like the customers were starting in a little early for a Sunday, though it could have been another unsuccessful attempt by Elmer to woo her new sales clerk Emily.  She hoped the boy wouldn't scare her off.

"Good morning, I was wondering if I might speak to you about your sales logs…"

"Professor Snape, if you would like a recording of the sales of your book, I will tell you what we used to tell Mr. Lockhart, we submit them to the publish…"

Damn Lockhart, I need some bloody answers!  Snape fumed and looked around.  He did not have time for silly arguments.  "Where is Ms. Renou?  I would like to speak with her," he bit out tersely.

"I'm sorry she's busy at the moment…" the attendant tried to remain firm.

"Now."  His eyes flashed and left no other safe option other than compliance.

'Y-yes, sir," she said shuffling hastily towards Katie's door to knock.  Hopefully she wouldn't be too upset.  Right now Katie seemed the lesser of two evils.

"Ms. Renou?"  The door cracked open and Katie closed her diary, locking it in her drawer.  She rubbed her eyes and took another sip of tea.

"Yes, what is it Emily?  Come in."  Katie was feeling discouraged but the clerk mistook her expression for one of annoyance.

"Sorry to bother you, but there's a gentleman here to see you."

Katie stood a little surprised to see the formidable man towering over Emily.  The clerk turned and gasped, not realizing he had followed her.

"I guess you've found her sir," Emily said crisply and left the intrusive man a wide berth.

"Katie, may I beg a moment of your time?"  Snape inquired more sweetly than his previous dialogue.

"Of course, Professor Snape.  Please sit.  Would you care for some tea?"  She shut her door and Buckwheat hooted his hello.

"No, thank you."  He smiled and acknowledged her companion with a nod.

"Do you have some more work…" she began, afraid of the response.

"No, actually I came on a rather delicate matter.  If you remember, a number of students went missing from Hogwarts over Christmas," Snape began cautiously.  They discussed these details with very few people.

"But they returned— I saw it in the paper."  Katie was relieved his hadn't asked for the mystery calligrapher to pen a new work, and now worried about where this conversation was heading.

"This has to remain between us, and I know you can be discreet.  Hermione Granger has not returned and we found a copy of Revitalizing Potions for the Modern Age in the place where she was staying."

"I saw the article.  Merlin, she was the young lady who was with you that day last summer, correct?"

He nodded.

"So you have located her?" Katie asked eagerly.

"No.  We are still looking. I thought perhaps if I could look at your sales records, it might shed some light on her whereabouts.  A long shot, I know.  She purchased it after Christmas.  We are sure she wouldn't have risked being seen in the shop, so we suspected she may have had it delivered… maybe to a friend or family member?"  Snape groaned inwardly. He felt like this would be another dead end.  But searching bookstores for something he knew she'd purchased was preferable to the wild goose chase that Remus and Tonks were on turning over old leads.

"Stay here.  Have some tea, this could take awhile.  I'll return shortly."  Katie got up from her seat and exited her office, leaving Snape with the security guard, Buckwheat.  He was trustworthy enough not to rifle through her things.  Beside, Buckwheat would peck him to death if he did.

"Elmer?  Elmer?" She called back to the rear, descending the steps to their delivery room.

"Yes, ma'am?"  the young nineteen year old with moppy hair came into view.

"I need the delivery logs for just after Christmas through March."

"Are you nuts?  Months ago and through the holidays?  You're mad!" He whined. 

"Elmer, it's important.  I need them now."  Just to make her point, she came behind the desk and began pulling volumes and ledgers off the shelf. 

Elmer finally fell in, looking for December, muttering to himself.  More work.  Those logs were heavy, and Ms. Renou didn't like tainting books with magical lightening and shrinking.   'There could be an accident,' she had said.  Yeah, there could be an accident all right.  I could drop one on my foot and break it.  Though Ms. Renou would probably ask if the book was damaged.

Katie knew exactly how Miss Granger got her book and that it indeed had been delivered.  Might as well at least let the record reflect that. One would never know by looking at her prim and formal attire and the proper way she carried herself—but in a former life, Katie was an excellent forger, hence her rather cautious nature.  She was fascinated with handwriting, so it was nothing at all to squeeze in  "H.Grangr, Revitaliz. PMA" somewhat messily in a vacant space under a column for early February.  The handwriting looked identical to the previous entry.  Katie was good.  Hmmm…delivery logs.  She went to go doctor those as well.

About ten minutes had passed and she loaded a cart with the logs for the last three months. Snape was seated right where she'd left him, finding some interest in an Italian glass paperweight on her desk. She wheeled the cart into her office and scooted it beside her desk.  Clearing off a broad space for them both to work, she took her seat and pulled the first register from Christmas.

"What are all of these?" Snape asked, stunned at the rather tall stack.  He had spent all day yesterday at nine bookstores scattered throughout wizarding England.  Those businesses sales combined seemed to pale in comparison to the volume Flourish and Blots did.  He should've come here first.

"Sales logs from Christmas to current.  I assumed you wanted to see them all?"

 "Yes."  Snape sipped his tea and slipped off the topmost book.  March 1997.  Remembering her lengthy notes, he suspected he should go further back.  "I should look at January first, I think."

"Alrighht…" she drawled out as she perused the stack. "This one."

She began to scan through December.  "We use a lot of abbreviations, so if you look in the 'item sold' column you may see Revitalizing, or RPMA or any variation thereof."

It was tedious work, though Katie was searching as though it bothered her not at all.  Snape reached for the next ledger.

"Your book is still doing quite well.  You must be proud.  Thank you for sending me a copy."

"It was no trouble," he said as he sat transfixed by the blur of entries before him.  "And you've been so helpful… wait.  Here.  This is it, I think."  He pointed and there was her forged entry from an hour earlier.

Thank God, it didn't take him that long.  "Where?" She tilted her head to see.  "That's February tenth, number 39," she muttered aloud, scribbling the numbers out on a scrap of parchment.  "A delivery by… Chiquita."  Katie stood up and ushered Snape to follow her back to the delivery area.

"Chiquita?"

She pointed to a wildly yellow tropical bird.  "The delivery owl… well, they aren't all owls, but they all deliver."  They passed the owlery and there were 20 other owls, falcons and tropical birds in the cages there.  From the front of the store, he had no idea they did so much business.

Katie flipped though the delivery log and found the entry.  "Hmmm.  That's odd."

"What's odd?"  Snape leaned over to see.

"The package was delivered to an alleyway right outside the Leaky Cauldron, in Muggle London.  It's walking distance from here, but that's the place people go, I suppose, if they don't wish to enter the wizarding community.  Would you like me to show you?"

"No," he sighed. "That won't be necessary.  Thank you for your assistance."

By the look of disappointment on Snape's face, Katie felt a bit of pride knowing she managed to fool him, both protecting her source and her reputation for secrecy.  However, she couldn't help but feel a bit of guilt that she had let Snape down— and perhaps Hermione as well, for it sounded as if the danger was not yet over for her.  Of course, revealing what she knew meant that she would need to tell him about Hermione's role as calligrapher, and that she could not do.  Historically, when exceptions had been made, bad things always followed.  Katie Renou followed her code to the letter and would not change this time.  Besides, she didn't know where she was anyway, and had nothing useful to contribute to his search other than a missed opportunity.  Hermione had been offered help, and she declined.  She knew where to find her if she changed her mind.

Snape checked with the Knight Bus, but of course, they would have known immediately if she had used it.  Tonks checked the taxis for that day.  No luck there.  He just couldn't imagine how she could've gotten from the forest to Diagon Alley and back again.  How many portkeys did she have anyway?  Did she have help?  There were too many questions and not enough answers.  Once the questions grew too vague and speculative, filled with too many ifs and maybes, Snape knew they were no longer worth pursuing.  Damn it, Hermione.  Where are you?.

------------------

The Ogden's could still clean cauldrons.  And produce massive hangovers.  Hermione's day began when a car backfired and she rolled out of bed, colliding with cold floor.

Shit.  She needed about ten aspirin.  Or one decent hangover potion.  Double shit.

No aspirin, no potion, no coffee and no Severus to wake up next to.  She had been a blubbering drunk, crying her eyes out last night into her pillow about her woes. 

From what she could remember, something really wasn't right about last night, and noticed the unfinished runes on the doorframe.  She spied the broken wax pencil, her empty bag, her belongings strewn over the floor.  And it came flooding back to her— the pain and anguish of loss.  It felt like she had died.  You can't have that.  It's not for you.  She saw the knife Millicent had given her prior to their return to Hogwarts and remembered thinking about killing herself.  She chickened out…  thinking pain might extinguish the other hurt filling her heart.  Then had the idea that perhaps if she died, no one would ever know she loved him.  Then he would be safe.  Wouldn't he?

She always imagined that if she or her friends died at an early age, it would be during Voldemort's defeat.  Hermione had pictured it a dozen different ways, but then Snape was in a pit of snakes all of the time— could he really last until the end?  Suddenly she felt selfish, like she was depriving him and Hogwarts of safety by not giving him the courtesy of hearing from her.   These of course, were the private thoughts of a sensible Gryffindor, but Hermione knew in her heart of hearts that Snape would refuse her.  He would laugh at her, and may not even apologize for doing so. 

This was the man who healed a foolish girl from dye poisoning, from inhaling noxious fumes— The man who told her he had no time for 'idle chitchat' with her during the summer, that was the man who had a relationship with her.  Not someone who respected her as an equal, though she did know he acknowledged her intelligence and encouraged her—so it was strictly student/teacher.  Not someone who saw her as a woman.  Hermione had studied hard, producing excellent work even while in captivity.  She felt nearly ready to take NEWTS just to get out of school.  Even if she survived, she couldn't go back now.  It just wouldn't be the same, certainly not with him there.  She laughed to herself.  It was a joke to consider that she could return to academic life. 

She could return to Hogwarts sure— if the object if her desire were different.  She could shag Draco, hell she even could shag Dumbledore for the sake of the wards.  But with them no feelings were involved, she couldn't be hurt.  Hermione wasn't about to open up her heart to a scorching dismissal from a man who crafted insults with easy skill.  Silly girl, what would a grown man need of a young chit like you!  She knew too well how cruel he could be, and it made it more difficult to consider that when admiring his more redeeming qualities.   Snape struck out at those who reached out to him.  It was a sheer miracle her independent study lasted as long as it did.  You are drooling on my sofa, Miss Granger.  Oh he'd have sex with her,  Snape was a man of sacrifice and duty.  But she just could not bear it, if she was reminded yet again that she, the insufferable know-it-all Gryffindor was someone to be endured… and discarded.

Sod it all.

Without even thinking about it, she grabbed the wax pencil and scribbled out the remaining runes on the door frame like a pro. She stomped into the shower and furiously scrubbed out her frustrated feelings.  Hermione was angry. 'She could use it to be motivated', she told herself.  Hermione was determined to overcome this ridiculous obsession.  She was Kate Evans.  A bartender, a Muggle. Ordinary.  Normal.

And twice a day, randy as hell.

Hermione threw on jeans and her Grateful Dead shirt again, hoping that it might magically boost her confidence for her first stab at bartending.  With the aid of numerous bobby pins, she pulled her bushy hair back tightly in a twist and put on her only lipstick.  The Celtic knots remained at her lobes and she wished they'd hung a bit longer.

It was 4:15 p.m. and she wanted to settle in, knowing it would take her longer to feel comfortable in her new job.  She met up with her trainer Danny, a handsome dark-skinned man who had worked here five years already.  From what Hermione could gather he was thirty going on twenty-one— all of the maturity of his years and yet with the energy of people half his age, helping him keep up as a bartender.

"Katie?"

"It's Kate,"  Hermione corrected, hoping she didn't sound too brusque.

"Kate, right.  The cases of liquor are back here.  They're pretty heavy, so if you need help, tell me or Gabe.  We have a cart," casting a look at the rickety wood frame on three and a half wheels which could pass for the definition of cart, "but the wheels have a mind of their own.  After breaking four cases of whiskey all over the back floor, it's better just to carry them out by hand."

They stocked the bar, and she was introduced to the rest of the crew.  A nice enough lot, they welcomed her at least to share the workload.

There were two bouncers taking a cover fee and watching for those unavoidable brawls that often followed intoxication.  Frank was a huge man, six-foot five and a broad-shouldered hulk of a Scotsman.  His voice had a natural depth to match his frame, and Hermione noted that he was extraordinarily polite.  Mick on the other hand was a more modest build, at least when standing beside Frank.  He sometimes looked like he'd just as soon shoot you as look at you for his glaring.  He had a foul mouth and sprinkled 'fuck' and other expletives throughout his sentences whether they belonged there or not.  At first she thought he was all talk, until she saw him break up a fight near the entrance between two guys and physically throw them out without effort.  He could handle himself.  Frank, in contrast, used his social skills to diffuse situations with grace.  His brawn was intimidating enough, and she trusted him to be sensible.

Danny introduced her to the two other bartenders. Gabe was a local part-time university student, and Roxy or just 'Rocks' was a glamorous punk femme fatale.  She was a bombshell— and complete with hot pink hair, tattoos, and multiple piercings, she was heart-stopping kinky.  'She makes great tips,' Danny said.  Hermione's first guess that Roxy was a derivative of her name, like Rachel or Racquel or Roxanne. 

Her name was Leslie. 

Roxy was her nickname because it sounded cool, and Rocks just because she had kicked a guy in the balls so hard he had to be picked up in an ambulance, right after he had tried to assault her in the back lot after a shift.  Roxy glowed in the dark, and many patrons sought her out, just to have her personally pour their shots.

Hermione did not want to stand out, and after seeing Roxy's hair, was determined to pick up some black hair paint  (temporary so that it would wash out) but just enough so that she could disappear a little more, and fade into oblivion. 

"Ooh, you could go Goth," Roxy said.  "It's so you."  She'd only met her five minutes ago and Roxy was already plotting her makeover session.  Hermione was a bit hesitant to leap out into friendship, but she needed to get out, and Roxy had supplies.

At first, the pace was slow as people trickled in from work.  The tinted windows kept the club rather dark and she felt safe with the length of the bar between her and the patrons… and the front door.  So this is pretty easy, she thought as she poured four shots at once.  But Hermione was being lulled into an easy confidence, about to be shaken by the rapidly growing crowd.

An hour or so later, the liquor was flowing.  It was black and smoky, the beat of the music, heavy on the bass, thumped underfoot— even the glasses vibrated.  She could barely hear the drink orders over the noise, music, and conversation.  She had to resort to shouting, lip reading and hand signals.  Hermione didn't know what time it was, all that mattered was that the man in front of her had just ordered thirty-six shots of tequila.

As Hermione looked to her left, she caught a glimpse of Danny smirking at her out of the corner of her eye.  He pulled dozens of shot glasses and lined them up on the bar, three rows of ten.  With a quick two-handed approach, they were all filled in less than twenty seconds.  He turned to face her after the drinks had left, raising an eyebrow in a dare. Do it.

Hermione pulled a fresh tray and lined up three rows of twelve, filling them in no time.  Not nearly as quickly as Danny, and even at that, she spilled a little—but all in all she didn't do half bad.  He smiled and nodded in approval of her efforts.  She was officially a bartender.

She had filled seven more orders before the same man returned.

"That was vodka!!" he shouted.

"What?!"  Hermione leaned over the bar, straining to hear.

"We wanted TEQUILA!" The twenty-something guy screamed at her, though not out of rudeness.

Oh shit.  Did he want his money back?

Danny rescued her, his arm tightly around her neck.  "Special tequila, no refunds understand?"  he said to the man.  The young patron barked another order which Danny rapidly filled and took his money.

"Don't let the customers here push you around, Kate.  You have what they want.  They won't stop coming back to the bar, just because you gave them the wrong flavor of poison," he teased.

"But I gave him vodka instead of…"

"Did he bring back a tray of untouched drinks?"  Danny raised his eyebrows quizzically.

She broke into a smile.

"Well then, guess they'll achieve the same result regardless of the distiller!  You're doing fine.  This is a bar not a hospital.  You look like you're performing surgery or something.  Loosen up, Kate! They're just FUCKING SHOTS!"  Danny howled laughing over the music as he poured two rows of twelve for the lady in front of him.

He reached into the bin below and his expression changed abruptly.  "Oh shit!"  He looked beneath the bar.  "Glass call!"  He grabbed Hermione and two buckets, urging her to gather outstanding shot glasses.  The clubs tables were littered with them.  If they weren't fast enough they would run out of glasses, the flow of liquor would stop, along with the tips, and it would hit them hard.

They gathered glasses in the nick of time as the guy in back was frantically washing.  When Hermione came back to the bar she caught a glimpse of a white-blond head and immediately ducked behind the bar, slamming into the row of bottles behind her.  God, could it be Malfoy? 

Danny saw the whole thing and was beginning to worry about his new partner. 

She saw the reflection of the blonde in question in the mirror behind the shelves that held liquor on display behind the bar, he walked forward to order drinks and… Thank God, it wasn't him.

"You recognize someone?"he asked, pouring two drinks.

"No, it's nothing.  S'alright."  She still looked a bit shaky while trying to compose herself.

At 2:30 a.m. her heart was racing along with the beat of music long since turned off, and she was dead tired.  If she was a waiter like Jake, she would've said she got 'slammed', but Danny was quick to point out this was how it was every night.

"You'll get used to it."  Danny said.  "Hey?  Did you drive?"

"No, I walked," she volunteered a bit vaguely.

"You live near here? Are you mad? This place isn't really so safe to be walking at night.  Can I walk you home?"  He offered.

"That's not necessary, really.  You can't do that every night," Hermione replied, but really became concerned about his experiences in this area.  She barely felt safe in her own place.

He noticed she still seemed a bit jumpy, and wondered if she had something to be jumpy about.  "Hey Frank?"

"Yeah?" came the deep voice from the delivery area.

"Can you walk Kate home?  She lives close by and actually thought she'd walk by herself."

"Sure, absolutely Kate.  You shouldn't walk alone, and I refuse to take no for an answer.  Come on, I'll hook you up."  He ushered her in back and Danny walked to his own car, leaving in a beat up Ford.

Frank was a nice enough guy, and such a gentleman.  He talked freely about his family— he cared for his disabled mother and little sister, used to attend university and dropped out when his mother became ill.  Frank provided her with mace and gave her tips on safety as they walked.  After finding out a little bit more about him, she felt more comfortable divulging a bit about her situation when he asked her the question on everyone's mind.

"Kate, I know that you're new, and I don't mean to press, but you looked really bothered when that blond man walked in tonight.  Are you okay?  I mean, Nick told me you asked to be paid cash— are you running from someone?"

Damn, he had her profiled.  But she couldn't see much from the bar, frequently distracted by the fast pace of the job.  She needed another pair of eyes.  "Frank, it's complicated.  But could I ask you to do something for me?"

"Sure."  He nodded at rapt attention.

"There is a man with long platinum blond hair who may come looking for me.  He looks arrogant, sure of himself, and carries a walking stick.  He may or may not carry a cloak with him.  Always dresses formally.  He'll look way out of place in a bar like The Shot."

"A cloak?"  he looked puzzled.

"Frank, don't ask," she said worriedly, trying to press her point.  "If anybody really strange walks in, just tell me.  Don't do anything okay?  He's… really dangerous.  He won't negotiate.   Please, please can you just watch out for him?"

"Okay.  Kate, I don't like this.  Have you gone to the police at least?"

"They can't do anything.  This man is powerful, slippery.  He gets out of tangles with government at all levels if you get my meaning."  She let the air hang, and Frank decided he didn't want to know any more.  It was enough that he could help give her a heads up, and look out for her.

She slipped in the building door and said goodnight.

"Goodnight Kate, be safe now.  See you tomorrow." 

"Bye, and thanks, Frank."  Hermione watched him walk down the street and when she could no longer see him, continued to walk three more buildings over to the Avery Inn.  It had no large sign posted where passers by would notice and was hidden within the walls of a building that looked otherwise unoccupied.

----------------

They had been talking for hours as they usually did, and most times about nothing at all.  He listened because some part of him hoped he could make up for treating her so badly, and also Pansy was the only person he could be halfway real with.  He avoided most of the rest of the housemates, because he no longer felt he had the same objectives in mind.  The leering and pranks really weren't his style anymore.  The other part of him selfishly wanted to make up with her so he'd have a shot at dating her. Only Pansy had ever looked at him like he was something special, and he wanted that back.  Draco had been a good friend to Pansy, had been an ear when she vented her frustrations about her Dad and her mother.  Listened to her drone on about where she would go if she didn't go back to live with them.  It was pretty easy to talk with her… when it was about Pansy.

"What are you going to do?"  Pansy asked quietly.

"I don't know.  I've been trying not to think about it really."  Draco turned away, wanting to talk about something else.

"It's three weeks away, if that.  Draco, I can't pretend I know what you're feeling, but my Dad didn't give me a choice either."

"Your Dad didn't give you a fucking date for your kidnapping," he said sarcastically.  "There's big party for me apparently and everyone's going to be there."

Pansy's eyes flickered painfully.  "Stop it, Draco."

"Stop what?  It's not like they are really going give me a choice.  Join or die, y'know?  Hah. Melanie was right," he spat.

"About what?"  Pansy asked nervously.  She wanted to comfort him, but she dared not reach out to him when he was like this.

"If I was a girl, it'd be no different.  He'd offer me up just the same."

 "It doesn't have to be like that," she said trying to talk some sense into him.  But he didn't want to hear it.

"Pansy, I'm not like you.  You got to screw everything up by getting shagged.  I can't just cut my left arm off at the elbow and say I can't take the Mark!"

"Oh Draco!  Stop whining.   Stop giving pathetic excuses about how you don't have a choice when you do."

Draco gritted his teeth and said nothing.

Pansy sighed.  "Maybe I'm not the best person for you to be talking to you about this,"  Pansy admitted.

"Really?  And who do you suggest I talk to?  Whose wisdom should I seek out?" He snapped sarcastically.

"Maybe you could go to Professor Snape."  Draco slapped his legs hard and rolled his eyes.  "What?  He's the Head of Slytherin House, and you're not the first person to go through this.  Don't you think he might have some helpful advice for you?"

Been there, done that.  "Pansy, you don't know what you're talking about."

She was furious and balled her hands into fists.  "Draco, you should take a good hard look at yourself when you make statements like that.  If you had really already made up your mind to take the Mark— if you really believed you had no choice— we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Their argument eventually fizzled out and Draco lamely changed the topic.  They talked for hours, tiptoeing around the obvious concerns at hand.  Most of the remainder of their evening had been spent in companionable silence. 

Pansy held his hand on the way back to the dorms.  She was afraid and didn't want to lose the newfound friendship.  This trust they had confiding in each other in some ways was more intimate than the frantic meltdown they shared earlier this year. 

Of course Pansy knew that a surefire method of screwing up a good thing was talking about it openly with the man in question.  He had enough on his mind.

----------------

Snape was dreading this.

Lucius Malfoy had sent his owl last night, announcing his arrival, presumably to discuss the upcoming festivities and expectations of Draco at the next initiation.  It used to be that they would initiate young recruits as a group just after graduation, at the very least.  Now Voldemort was taking them in as young as he could, especially now that there were potential initiates among Potter's classmates.

As smug as ever, the regal figure of Lucius Malfoy strode into the foyer of Hogwarts and was quickly escorted by Snape to the dungeons.  How dare he, after everything?  He had some fucking nerve.  If Minerva saw, she would have transfigured him into dog meat and fed him to Fang.  The spy was careful to avoid any confrontation with the other teachers or students, which is why Snape insisted that Lucius come at five in the morning.  Five bloody fucking a.m.!  Snape hated to sacrifice his mornings, certainly for a man like Lucius. 

Snape went to retrieve Draco, who was not at all pleased with the early wake-up call.  He had stayed up until one talking with Pansy.  He had no idea the topic of conversation last night would be relevant to the one he was about to have.

"Get up. Your father is here to see you,"  Snape bit out tersely to the groggy, sleeping form, trying to make it appear as though Draco was not worth his time, and that he was being inconvenienced.  "Come on.  Get your clothes on and be in my office in five minutes, Mister Malfoy."  Snape spun on his heel and left, waiting for Draco at the portrait hole.

Draco tried to collect himself.  He hadn't seen his father since he'd returned from seeing Voldemort, and hadn't come back in such great condition.  Really not a promising sales pitch for a new career as a Death Eater.  Draco sucked in a deep breath and put on his formal mask as he'd seen his father do a million times.

"Good morning Father."

"Ah, Draco.  Please sit with us,"  Lucius offered. 

Snape seethed as Lucius made himself comfortable in his dungeon as if it belonged to him, offering hospitality in a place Snape wished to insulate from such loathsome activities.  Snape sat stiffly and folded his arms in front of him.  He made no attempt to light a fire for warmth, and gritted his teeth when once again, Malfoy senior made himself at home.

"Incendio.  Much better.  Draco, you are nearing your seventeenth birthday and I've wondered if you've given much thought to taking the Mark as Mister Goyle has done,"  Lucius smiled at his son with a venomous curl of his lips. 

Draco was being led, and he knew it.  "Yes Father, of course."

"And what decision have you come to?"

As if he had a choice.  "I plan to serve of course, Father."

Lucius smiled proudly.  Snape remained silent, evaluating Draco's expression.

"But I was hoping to take the Mark on my 18th birthday, just before graduation,"  Draco said as evenly as he could, trying to make a stand. Buy time. Something.

"What?!"  Lucius's face turned dark and pulled his wand an inch from his cane. 

Snape looked Draco in the eye.  The boy meant what he said.  He didn't want to take the Mark.

"I am focusing on my studies, Father.  If I am distracted by other duties, my grades will fall.  It is important to be successful.  Goyle's grades have already been slipping…"

"Goyle is a stupid, worthless, good-for-nothing buffoon without the sense of a troll!  You are my son, and you will do what is expected of you!" 

Lucius was towering over him, but Draco would not allow his father the advantage of height.  He stood as well and maintained the position he had, however risky.  He'd never stood up to his father before, and he had to start somewhere.  Draco stared at his father coldly as Lucius withdrew his wand.  "When you serve the Dark Lord, you must learn to obey.  Crucio."

Draco crumpled to the floor, his body reeling from the shock of the curse.  His father had hexed him before, but never with Cruciatus.

Snape hid all emotion but finally spoke up, "That's enough, Lucius.  It should be his decision.  The Dark Lord wants willing followers who obey him, not the foolish sons of faithful fathers."

Lucius spun on Snape and hissed back at him.  "What do you know of obedience, locked away in this castle?"

"We all have our duties, Lucius.  I see you made a rather spectacular example of yourself of late. Do you really think Draco is ready for that life of service?"

Malfoy was furious that Snape had brought up his failure in front of his own son.  Before Lucius could react, Snape literally grabbed his wand and pocketed it. 

Lucius was livid.  The veins on his pristine forehead pulsed in rage. 

"Calm yourself,"  Snape growled.

Draco finally managed to pick himself up off the floor, still shuddering in agony.  He glared at his father with disgust and said, "I will serve."

Lucius looked at his son with revulsion.  "Yes, you will," he spat.  "Professor Snape will provide you with your portkey the morning of your birthday.  He will fill you in on the necessary details.  Do not embarrass me."  Each word was pronounced crisply for his understanding.  If Voldemort didn't curse him his father surely would.  A great sales pitch.   Serve, or else.

Draco attempted to walk out of the room with some dignity, though he did it at a lean.  When he was out of sight, Snape locked and warded his dungeon door, and abruptly turned to face Lucius.

Snape needed information, so there was certain amount of subtle maneuvering required.  "He will come around Lucius." 

Lucius glared at Snape.  "Don't ever touch my wand again."

"I meant it in the interests of preventing a terrible mistake.  I do believe you would have cursed the poor boy to death…"  Snape said silkily, returning his wand.

"Draco is not a poor boy, he is my son."  Only Lucius could use such a term of endearment for his son like he were a possession instead of a person.  "He will do what is expected of him."

Practically an adult.  But not quite, Snape thought.  "Of course."

Lucius looked around the classroom with disgust. He hadn't really taken a good look in awhile.  "Teaching them under the old man must be challenging, having to dumb down the class topics.  You must hate it here.  Over half the students are Mudbloods.  Soon we will take our rightful place and Dumbledore will be gone."

"Speaking of Mudbloods, what news have you heard of Granger?"  Snape asked, his venom directed at the man standing before him.

"The filthy girl is still loose.  Finally we've given up on most of the leads in the magical community.  A Mudblood like her wouldn't go there, she's not that foolish.  We have lookouts in… other places."  Lucius wouldn't say anymore.  Hopefully he was just implying that he possessed more knowledge than he had, without saying much of anything to back it up.  Voldemort had done well keeping most everyone in the dark.  Snape doubted he knew much more.

Lucius couldn't leave soon enough for Snape.  He spent the day alone in the dungeons after that exchange.  Snape could have killed Lucius right on the spot for casting an Unforgivable in his dungeons.  He had cast the Cruciatus curse on Draco like it was a mere trifle. 

Goyle hadn't been particularly helpful to the cause, and on Snape's last meeting with the Dark Lord, took an opportunity to point out the immaturity and impulsiveness of the younger group, saying it was a mistake to initiate so young.  Voldemort of course had thrown that back in his face, reminding Snape of his younger days in taking the Mark just after turning eighteen.  Snape didn't point out that the Dark Lord was making his point for him.  He feared though, as Lucius had his reasons for making Draco take the Mark on his 17th birthday, that Voldemort probably had his uses for Draco as well.  Perhaps the children of Death Eaters could still remain useful tools to remind their parents of loyalty— the Dark Lord had done it before.  Draco was still non-committal about taking the Mark, not unlike Mr. Goyle had been.  But the sons always served— always.  Lucius had grown suspicious about Snape's loyalties over the years, always making comments about his tenure under Dumbledore.  He could not afford to tip his hand to help dissuade Draco from taking the Mark, not Lucius' son. 

Draco spent the remainder of the day sleeping off the after effects of the curse and then returned to the dungeons for what he hoped would be a curseless explanation of the finer points of the ritual.  Snape's lecture was cold but relatively painless.  After that, he avoided Pansy's gaze and that of everyone else.

------------------

The Order had hit dead ends again.  Everyone was frustrated and the constant reminder that Hermione was gone was the throbbing blue glow of the pentacle on the floor of the Great Hall.  It had been growing brighter— impatient, one might say.  The spell wanted to be completed.

"Still nothing, Headmaster?" he asked.

"I'm afraid not, Severus.  The mirror is empty,"  Albus admitted regretfully, continuing his breakfast tea.

Snape drank his coffee stiffly, remembering the real cup he'd shared with her at Headquarters.  She was still gone, with no word, and Gaia hadn't stirred since the girls attempt to force additional desire on her.  He almost wished she'd stir if it might give some confirmation of Hermione being alive.  If Gaia could feel something, would he be able to find out where she was?  He'd studied every possible reference on blessings, goddesses and magical bonds, but to no avail.  Everyone he knew was looking for her, Death Eaters included.  On that thought he amended his previous wish to be either 'come home' or 'run like hell'.  He'd spent a large portion of his weekends thinking about her.  He was furious with her for not returning, and if he saw her, he'd probably hex her six ways from Sunday for doing this to all of them— Albus, Minerva, Remus, Potter, the Weasleys. 

Forget it.  She's not coming home.  He caught himself.  She's not coming home…to me. 

He had to prepare himself.  He couldn't continue to think like this.  Hermione could be a breath away from becoming a Death Eater's toy if they found her first.  Given his occupation, he might have a front row seat.  How could he just stand there with his usual detachment if he cared for her so?

How did I let this happen?  After17 years without any significant relationship to speak of, how did she creep into my life so easily?

Snape tried to shake off his feelings for the young woman.  It was the infatuation of a vulnerable man, and he could not permit himself to be weakened by those feelings and become an easier target for the Dark Lord.  Of course if Hogwarts wards fell, that just could be the pivotal point in the war and the Order was just now getting an advantage with numbers.  They weren't quite ready for a war, and neither was Potter.

If he saw Hermione in the hands of the Death Eaters, he'd have to make a choice… rescue her and give up his life as a spy, or keep his cover and allow her to fend for herself as he had for nearly twenty years.  So many young women were murdered at the hands of people who called him brother, and all the while he had to stand by and watch.  After Melanie and Kendra's disappearance it was like his initiation all over again.

Try as he might, Gaia was still with him, the subtle reminder the blessing and his obligation to protect Hermione.  Sometimes he could still feel the delicate touch of her thumb on his brow.  His own desires had been building every night since the Yule Ball.  Damn! How could he stop thinking about her?  He dropped his sugar spoon loudly onto his saucer, and pushed the coffee away.

Forget it Severus, if she came home now, you wouldn't hex her.  Sod her object of desire— you'd kiss her until she couldn't breathe and shag her until she couldn't stand.  He'd satisfy that bloody spell one way or another.  Snape couldn't fight these thoughts of her anymore.  He simply had to find her— he just had to.

"So are you going to ask Flitwick to the next DA meeting or should I?" Ron asked between mouthfuls of sausage.

"I could ask Luna, she can get him to do anything," Ginny said.

"Really?"  Harry didn't look convinced.  "After Colin set him on fire, I'm not so…"  Harry felt something and quickly patted down his pockets to find the source. 

All heads turned at the ringing echoed throughout the hall as Harry wrestled the phone free, catching Snape's attention from the Head Table.  Hermione.

"Is it her?" asked Ron.  Ginny sat up at rapt attention.

Harry's face lit up and then quickly hid his expression, running from the Great Hall, Ron and Ginny in tow.   Once outside he flicked open the cell phone struggling to find a signal.  "Hello?  Hello?  Shit."  Harry checked his messages and there was nothing.  He hung up again and prayed for the phone to ring.  "Come on!"  Harry squinted in the hallway to see the meter showing signal strength to make sure he could receive.  

"Can't you make it work, Harry?"  Ron barked.

"Shhh.  I'm trying!"  Harry found a good spot and waited. All three watched the object vibrate in the palm of Harry's hand.

"Hello?  Can you hear me?" he asked.

"Hello?  Is this Harry?" The voice said.

"Yeah, who is this?"  Harry asked excitedly.  Snape was already entering the foyer from the side.

'Is it Hermione?' Ron mouthed.  Harry shook his head at his hopeful friend.

"It's Hermione's friend, Jake.  Can we talk?"  His friend's desire for secrecy hadn't made any sense since she came, and he wasn't going to stand by and do nothing because she was too stubborn to ask for help.

"Yeah.  Have you seen her?"  Harry looked straight at Snape and nodded, his eyes wide with the promise of news.

There was silence for a moment.  "Yeah, she came here.  She begged me not to ring you, but I'm really worried about her.  Could you meet me?"

"You mean, she's not there anymore?"  Harry frowned.

"No, I'm sorry she's not."  Harry shook his head conveying Jake's answer to Snape, Ginny and Ron.  Snape looked annoyed to say the least.  "Wouldn't stay.  Can you come?"

"Yeah, I can meet you.  Thanks for giving me a ring, Jake.  Anything you might tell us could help us find her.  See you in thirty minutes."  Harry as much notified Snape of their trip as he made the agreement on the phone.  He closed the cell and addressed the man before him.  "She went to see her friend.  We need to change." 

Ron and Ginny ran after Harry toward the dorms.

"Wait, Mister Weasley, Miss Weasley.  While I am sure you are concerned about your friend, I do not need any additional accompaniment today.  He is only expecting two of us," Snape said tartly.  He did not need the trio, Harry was quite enough.

Ron's glared as he thought of a half a dozen spells he could cast on Snape at the moment.

"Come on Ron,"  Harry asked, pulling his angry friend along. 

Ron pushed the portrait hole open with a little too much force.  "That nasty git. You better find her, Harry."  Ron's lecture began again.  "Because Snape'll just scare him into not saying anything…" It was the same one he gave when Harry started talking with Hermione's friends and relatives at the beginning of spring term.  Harry got dressed as Ron continued his list of demands.

"Don't forget anything, don't leave anything out,"  Ron said bossily.

"I'll be back soon, and I'll tell you everything okay?"  Harry clapped Ron on the back and glanced hopefully at Ginny.

Ginny followed, and knew that shortly she would be helping Ron to decompress… again.  He went through these moments of despair when thinking of Hermione.  After three months with her gone, it was getting to where Ginny couldn't stand it anymore.  That's why Daphne had moved on.

Harry left with Snape ten minutes later, both in Muggle attire, anxious for any news on his missing friend.  Harry hoped Jake remembered every detail of their visit.  They apparated to the Ashby home, and Snape was already racking his brain with who could've missed Hermione's entrance.  The house was watched twenty four hours a day.  His teeth clenched. Someone dropped the ball.

Jake's face was long when he answered the door to invite the pair in.  "I'm sorry I waited to ring you.  She…"  he swallowed hard.  "She was so different from anything I remembered about her.  So scared."

Snape immediately tensed.  "When did you see her?"

"Two weeks ago Saturday.  She came in the morning through the back door after my mom left for work, around say… seven."

Shift change.  Snape was shaking his head.  Two weeks go, right after Lupin.  He was discouraged already.  She was long gone.

"What did she look like, was she okay?"  Harry asked.

"No, she was not okay," Jake said irritated.  "You've got to tell me what's happened to her!"

"We were hoping you could tell us Jake, you were the last person to see her,"  Harry said. 

 "She came in and she was covered in dirt, I could barely recognize her.  She'd lost weight and devoured an entire sub in a few minutes.  She was starving, looking at it like she'd never seen food before!" he cried.  "I'm worried sick about her!"

"What did she tell you?"  Snape asked.

"She wouldn't tell me a damned thing," he sighed and rubbed his brow and forehead.

"Jake.  You're not alone there,"  Harry admitted honestly.  "We are doing the best we can to figure out how we can help her.  Tell us about what happened when she came, anything she said, what you did, questions she asked."

Jake started from the beginning and described the whole thing, her saying she'd lived in a forest, figuring she was half-joking, and her not wanting to be alone when she showered.  "Hermione undressed right in front of me, I couldn't believe it.  She was numb.  She said she'd lost all modesty three months ago.  What was that about?  What happened to her?"  Jake was angry.  He knew Harry and this teacher were keeping things from him.

Harry took a breath and tried to formulate the best answer.  Snape interrupted.  "Hermione left just before the end of term.  She was humiliated in a way, and it was very public.  I can't go into more detail than that.  Please continue, what happened next?"

"Don't give me that 'can't go into more detail' rubbish!  You've given no details in the first place.  Neither did she! Hermione didn't tell me a damned thing about why she left, and you didn't really say much the first time you came, so do you care to shed some light before I continue?"  Jake's eyes narrowed, he was giving and not getting anything back. 

Snape had already been thinking about using a Legilimens, or other methods of extracting the information he required.  A simple obliviate afterward would do. Then Harry used a different tactic.

Harry sighed and looked at Jake, deciding to jump out on a limb.  "Hermione may have been seeing someone at school.  It apparently was pretty serious.  Did she uh… mention anything about who she might have been interested in?"

"You are shitting me.  There is no way Hermione would run away because of some bloke!  School was too important to her, you know that."  Jake was offended.  They didn't know her at all.

"Jake, I know it's far fetched. Hell, I couldn't believe it either.  But she told my girlfriend she was in love."

In love?  He looked at Hermione's friend with disbelief.  Jake shook his head.  "She didn't say anything.  I know she broke up with some guy at the beginning of school last year.  No big deal."

"Anyone else?"  Harry asked.

"No.  Just some sports guy— Victor, I think.  She met him a few years ago, but they're just friends now.   In her last letter she just talked about how exciting school was.  She was doing some extra classwork, I mean— you know how she gets when there's some new book or other that catches her eye."

"What happened next, Mister Ashby?"  Snape asked, trying to steer them back in topic.

 "She got into the shower but just collapsed and cried. I had to help wash her until she finally came around."  Jake's voice trembled when he described that.  He could never imagine a time when he saw her so despondent.

Snape's jaw clenched, his emotions flaring suddenly at the thought of Jake touching her.  But as his mind drew the picture of her in a frozen state, he could hardly imagine it a romantic picture for either of them. 

"We tried to wash her hair, but it was so matted and filthy.  After three tries to sort it, we had to give up. She was pretty peeved when I had to cut off all her hair.  It was knotted so badly it wasn't salvageable."

Snape felt a stab of pain thinking about that.  He couldn't imagine a Hermione Granger without a golden halo of hair to surround her.

"I gave her some of my sister's clothes and my leather jacket.  She wore black sweater hat to hide her hair.  I'm no barber."

"Did she just leave after that?"  Harry asked.

"She asked me to drive her into London, and I took her."  Jake said plainly.

"I want you to show us where," Snape ordered.

"I'll get my keys."  Jake said, hoping he could at least be of some help.  He took the M4 from Reading east into greater London, and Snape found himself taking the scenic tour of the Muggle side of London likely not found in the tourist guides.  It took approximately an hour when Harry couldn't contain himself any longer.

"You took her here?  This is front page crime scene!"  They drove down the dark street which looked nearly abandoned but for a few homeless, suspicious criminal activity, and parked cars. 

Snape looked out the window.  This was creepy even by Knockturn Alley standards.

"Don't snip at me.  She asked to be brought here.  She wanted to disappear and she didn't tell me anymore than you have!"  Jake had lost his patience, he told them what they wanted and they still provided him with no answers.  "Look, you know as well as I do, that if Hermione wants to do something, she does it.  She didn't need my help to figure that out, but I was glad to do what I could for her and so would you."

Harry had to give him that.  "Jake,"  Harry said.  "I'm sorry  we can't tell you as much as you'd like.  Trust me we don't know much more than you.  She did hide out in a forest not far from school, and she did run into a friend that morning before she saw you and helped him like you said.  I haven't seen her since before Christmas."  Harry eyed Jake sadly.  At least you got to see her, help her.  "We're going to get out and look around a bit.  Thank you for your help.  If we find her, I'll have her ring you or do it myself okay?  Promise."

Jake nodded, knowing that was as good of an answer as he was going to get.  "Thank you, Mister Ashby,"  Snape said formally. "We have friends in town, so we have people who can get us around."

They said their awkward goodbyes and Jake found himself angrily driving away again from people on a street he would never have visited under other circumstances.  He had come back to this street several times after he had dropped her off, driving around, hoping for a glimpse of her, but there was no sign of her.

"I can't believe…" Harry looked around.  "Where would she even go from here?"

"Maybe she had another portkey," Snape said cynically.

"If that was true then why would she need to have Jake drive her to London?"

Good point.  They hadn't had a lot of luck on the 'why' front.  But perhaps now they had finally narrowed their search down from 'The Globe'.

"Let's go Mister Potter.  We shouldn't stay here.  We need to do some reassigning."  Snape took him into an empty alley and disapparated.

Half the Order was redeployed looking for her in London.  Snape had some confirmation that she was alive, or at least the last place she had been seen alive.  Tonks had taken it upon herself to check every hotel in London, ruling out the ones unaffordable to most.  Hermione did not have an unlimited supply of funds.  However most cheap hotels didn't even have listings, one just happened upon them.  The search was taking forever, but at least the trail was lukewarm.

That knowledge wasn't alleviating any stress for Professor Snape who was getting worried about another student of his, Draco Malfoy.  It was a little less than a week until his birthday and looked as though he was actually going to go through with it.  Crucio left little room for a courageous streak now, but he'd hoped that seeing him with Miss Parkinson, she might have talked some sense into him.  Draco was still an unknown quantity, and like many a young foolish student he'd seen, he couldn't divulge information about his loyalties for such a short term goal.  A lot of people said what was expected of them when opportunities arose, it didn't mean it was the truth. He could go either way.

--------------

"Draco, I don't know what to say," Pansy clipped out bitterly.

"What?"  Draco looked innocently at the girl, annoyed at this interruption of his studying.

"What do you mean 'what'?  You've been ignoring me for weeks!"  Pansy put her hands on her hips, nostrils flaring.

Draco rolled his eyes.  He didn't need this.  He had enough on his mind.

"Fine.  But let me tell you one thing Draco."  She slid into the seat beside him and leaned in closely, with an intimidating scowl.  "Right now, you own you.  But if you take Mark, you won't ever be your own person anymore.  And don't ever expect me to talk to you again.  I can't even believe you'd consider it after what happened," she choked out.  "Don't you dare pretend this is just some fucked up obligation.  This is your choice and no one is making you do it."  Pansy stormed out of the room and left him to his precious thoughts.

Bitterness and resentment filled Pansy as she flew off to the Room of Requirement. She charmed her clasp to see if Ginny could join her, because she needed to vent.  How could he?   She thought they were doing so well, and then he'd met with his Dad and they hadn't talked since.  It was like the last three months hadn't even happened.  She wanted to go to Dumbledore, but what could he do?  She bet he saw this all the time.  He couldn't stop Goyle from joining, why should Draco be any different? 

By the time Ginny arrived Pansy was in tears, aggravated that once more a Slytherin father got the best of one of their own.  After everything that happened at the Ball, and all that was sacrificed… After Draco knew what his father had done, how could he take the Mark?  She hung out with Ginny and leaned on her shoulder for a while.  Ginny was a good friend, and didn't criticize her for her interest in Draco. 

Pansy really hoped Draco would turn his back on that life, but also a bit selfishly wanted someone to be an outcast with her.  She was defying her parents too, and still hadn't figured out where she was going to stay after the school year was out.  At this rate, come summer, she just may have to pull a Hermione.  Millicent was already plotting the same thing as well, knowing her parents wouldn't go along with her new plan, and she was dating Longbottom to boot.  Pansy was glad for Millie, at least she could be happy. 

But it looked like Draco was lost.

---------------

Hermione had her routine down.  She slept late and as soon as she had the tips, paid a month's rent so she could save more and leave the dump.  Bartending was a little wild, and she liked the pace and anonymity that bartending offered her.  She painted her hair black and wore mostly dark clothes and jeans.  Snape would be proud.

She couldn't help it.  The more she tried not to think of him, the more he infiltrated her thoughts, leaving her wanting morning and night.  The night of the Yule Ball had nothing on what she was feeling now.  Instead of being preoccupied with desire, she felt overwhelmed with bitterness of not being wanted.  Keeping busy at the bar helped to distract her but only just. 

Roxy had certainly noticed and called her on it.  "Who are ya thinking about, hunh?"

"What."  Hermione said blankly.

"You.  Staring off into space with a silly smile on your face like you've discovered the meaning of the universe."  Roxy said rolling her eyes.  "Come on girl, dish."

Hermione couldn't help but crack a smile.  She was caught.

Roxy squealed.  "Aaahhh!  It is somebody.  A guy somebody…"  Roxy tried to read her expression and Danny watched them both intently.  He'd had his eye on Kate for awhile, wanting to ask her out, but she hadn't shown the slightest interest in him.

"I can't talk about it,"  Hermione said her facial expression changing abruptly.  Stop torturing yourself like some lovesick schoolgirl.  It'll never happen.

Roxy lost her happy place when she saw Kate's sadness creep over her again.

"I'm sorry.  Didn't mean to bring it up."

"No it's not you," Hermione apologized.  "I don't mean to be such a downer."

"Come on let's do something tonight!  After work, let's go back to my place and cook and watch movies.  Whadaya say?" Roxy beamed.

Danny smiled.  "I'm in, come on Kate.  It'll be fun."

How could she refuse?  After a busy night, Danny, Hermione and Gabe piled into Roxy's car.  Hermione felt a little vulnerable, but who would find her?  Sure enough, she made it safely to the flat, modest, but cozy.  Roxy had a chair in leopard print and her couch was an outrageous shade of orange, reminded her of Crookshanks.  She loved it. 

They made popcorn and ate Chinese takeout instead of cooking.  Hermione managed to eat the stir-fry without the nostalgia that often accompanied it.  She loved food, eating whatever she could get her hands on since her stint as a cavewoman.  She had filled out her wardrobe by packing on at least seven pounds after her return to mainstream society.  Hah, this was mainstream. 

They watched some strange French film with subtitles and 'A Fish Called Wanda'.  After that Roxy was pretty beat and Gabe left to get ready for an early class.  Roxy popped in Star Wars, and promptly fell asleep on the couch.

"I feel like I don't know anything about you,"  Danny said.

"Well that's not fair.  I don't know much about you either.  For example, you've been working at the club for five years right?"  He nodded.  "And don't get me wrong, but that's just not where I picture you."

"Really? And where do you picture me?" he asked with a quirk of his eyebrow.

"Teaching, or in a university somewhere getting an advanced degree," Hermione said matter-of-factly.  Danny shook his head.  "I think I'm hitting a little close to the mark.  You read Shakespeare for fun.  Don't lie."  Danny looked away.  "I've seen you before work.  Who does that?  I mean really, Danny.  What's your background?"  Hermione pestered.

"I studied literature at Oxford," he confessed.

"Wow.  What happened?"  She leaned forward interested.

"I dropped out.  Developed a partying habit that led to drinking and I quit.  Flunked out, screwed up, dried out."

"And now you work in a bar."

"Yeah.  Kind of weird, huh?  You must think I'm crazy."  Danny groaned, he hadn't mentioned this to hardly anyone.  He'd long since burned his bridges.

"Not at all."  Hermione said knowingly, chewing her lip.

"Really?  What's your story then?  You're no dunderhead either.  And don't give me that look.  I told.  Now you tell."

She sighed, and decided carefully what she wanted to divulge.  "I left school after a 'thing'.  It's no longer cool for me to stay there and now it looks like I'll never finish."

"Where'd you go?"  Danny probed.

"It's far from here."

Okay, back to cryptic Kate.  "What did you study?"

"Chemistry."

"Whoa." 

Hermione smiled.  Close enough.  Their discussion lasted hours, and they talked mostly about literature.  Hermione felt like herself being able to have a sophisticated conversation with someone.  Then the lonely pains hit her again.  She missed Severus.

"You left someone behind, didn't you?"  Danny read her, seeing her distant look.  That happened to her a lot.

"Is it that obvious?" she sighed.

"Yes."  He wanted to see if she wanted to talk about it more, but she got up.

"I need to go home.  Thanks for the talk.  I enjoyed it."  Hermione was abrupt, more than she wanted, but she was feeling insecure.

"Sorry it had to end so soon," he said fondly.  "Sure you don't want to talk about it?"

"It hurts too much, I'm sorry Danny.  See you later.  Tell Roxy good ni… morning or whatever."  Sorry, it had to end so soon.  So many apologies, too many 'sorrys' had been said to Severus and not enough truth. Every day she wanted to use the locket to return to him instead of hailing a cab.  If she went back now she knew she'd tear the place apart until she reached him and when it was over, she'd be left empty and unfulfilled.  What she really wanted was for him to love her, care for her in some way.  A sexual encounter to bring up the wards wouldn't make that so.

Hermione left the flat quickly and climbed into a taxi outside.  She couldn't breathe.  She couldn't move forward.  She didn't know what to do, and she couldn't keep going like this.  She was dying to be back in her own bed, with the annoyingly typical red and gold drapes, a full class schedule and a good dose of normal.  She missed her friends.  Harry's cell phone number was burning a hole in her pocket, but she refrained from calling.

When she fell into bed it was 10:30am, and her thoughts again were dominated by the tall, dark, figure of Severus Snape.  She was exhausted, but wired, and disliked how completely controlled she felt by the building desire.  Sometimes she just wanted to reach out and grab the nearest person and unload some of this sexual tension.  Once again her hands found a place he'd never touched, and ears heard endearments never uttered.  She screamed out her completion three times before falling into sleep.  Masturbating no longer relieved anything, and left her feeling more unfulfilled for considering him.  She grew more frustrated than ever, every time she acknowledged her fantasies were all imagined.

She dressed up for the evening slowly, wanting to feel a little sexier than usual.  Tired of fading, she skipped the paint job and pulled her hair back in a bun, leaving stray wisps down and tucked behind her ears.  She wore lace up boots, a sleeveless black tee, and slim skirt (a hand me down from Roxy, fashion goddess).  Danny barely recognized her.

"Wow," he let out a low whistle.  "What's this all for?"

"That's what I was going to ask," Hermione said moving to the new piano.  It wasn't new, but it was a new addition to the bar.  "What's this?  And the platform too."

Nick piped up from the back.  "Business has been great," he said talking through his cigarette.  "I'm going to turn this place into a piano bar.  We're going to be building another bar over there," he pointed to the other end of the room. "I'll hire three or four more bartenders by the end of the month.  Pretty cool, huh?"

"Yeah Nick, but what about the club music?  People come here to get their groove on,"  Roxy gyrated her hips.

"Relax.  This place will still be rocking from Thursday through Saturday, but the rest of the nights will be requests and live music."

"I'm gonna have to fucking see this,"  Mick laughed.

"Ha, ha.  Shut it, Mick,"  Nick muttered. 

Hermione slid her hands over the surface of the piano and made herself comfortable at the keys. 

"Hey, you play,"  Danny observed walking by.  "That's a little sad don't you think?  What is it?"

Hermione couldn't speak for a moment or find the words to accompany the song.

"Everytime We Say Goodbye," she croaked.  She changed the tune and the melody changed to something a bit sultrier.

She's sad again, thought Danny.  She thinks about him all the time.

"Hey now, that's good,"  Roxy said, dancing in place suggestively.  "What's this called?"

Hermione smirked.  "Ecstasy, by George Fenton." 

Roxy's eyes widened, "I like it."  She did a salsa.

"You want a new job?" Nick asked.

"Not really, but I wouldn't mind coming in early just to play this though.  Needs a little tuning and some polish, but it's a beautiful piano."  Hermione played a few more tunes and Roxy left to stock her side of the bar.

"You really need to get out of here Kate, you don't belong here," Danny said affectionately.  You need to figure this out.  It's eating you alive.

Hermione just looked at him as she played out the blues.  "Neither do you."  Cry me a river, I cried a river, over you.

"Don't do it, Kate. Don't stay here five years."

Don't plan on it.  But she had no plan.  "I tell you what, if I leave this place, you go back to school.  Deal?"

"I can't do that," he resigned.  It was the way things were.

"Sure you can.  I can't, but you can.  You're sober now, and you can get references.  You're really smart.  C'mon Danny."  Her chords changed.  She played a funky riff, making fun of him, teasing him.

"Alright, if you leave."  Danny winked at her.  She wouldn't leave.

"I'm going to hold you to that." And she played 'Piano Man.'

"Heeey!"  Frank called out.  "What's this?"  Danny filled him in, and Hermione finally wrenched herself away from the keys to stock her station.  It was 4:30 and the bar would open pretty soon.

-----------

It was the afternoon of April 20th, and he was finally seventeen.  Draco stood at the edge of the forest, the portkey of a silver serpent in hand.  His birthday was pretty empty so far.  Pansy had avoided him after her little lecture, and he'd skipped classes today.  He passed his apparation test this morning, but he didn't really give a damn. 

He was starting to get jittery, the nerves of the upcoming ceremony getting to him.  So many unknowns, but they were all bad.  He didn't want to wind up like his father, and up to now really hadn't done much for himself.  Everything was done to avoid punishment or out of a sense of obligation, nothing he really wanted to do for himself.  His father wanted him to be on the Quidditch team.  He enjoyed flying sure, but he hated doing it because his father expected it of him.  His parents had unimaginable wealth, yet Draco didn't feel like he had much that was worth anything.

Right now you own you.  But if you take Mark, you won't ever be your own person anymore. 

He looked at his portkey.  Right now, he had Pansy.  If he stuck his neck out, he might… maybe… possibly could be free.

This is your choice and no one is making you do it.

Draco found his nerve, dropped the metal snake and his black cloak and disapparated.

He had aimed for London, but trying to apparate when angry doesn't do so well for navigation.  Draco intended to be near Kensington, and wound up Merlin knows where.

Draco Malfoy was lost in London.  He wasn't in a nice part of town at all it seemed, at least from what Draco was used to.  After all, his father could afford 'the best'.  With hardly any Muggle money at all, Draco could afford very little.  So, he hailed the first cab and asked to be taken to a popular club or pub.

One should never, ever, give a cab driver that much leeway.

He drove him around the long way.  "I'll take you to a good club mon," the taxi driver said with a heavy accent.  Reggae boomed from the front of the car.  Draco caught on, and saw the meter.  There was no way he had that much money to pay him.

"Hey stop the car,  I want out."  Draco spat out.  Thirty minutes had passed.

"Alright mon, you don't have to be pushy," he laughed.  "You're here anyway.  S'up ahead on you left, mon.  Good club, very popular," he cackled.  This man belonged in Knockturn Alley.

"Thanks."  And Draco ran without paying. 

The driver had not expected that from such a well dressed bloke and yelled down the street, "You stiffed me you little punk! No cabbie will pick your arse up here, I'll tell you that!"

Draco walked up the street, looking for signs of wizarding life a Floo, or whatever.  He had no desire to apparate anywhere soon and besides which, he was now officially late.  Somewhere there was a circle of Death Eaters with Voldemort at the helm and his father was cursing his name.  If he tried to apparate, there would be repercussions.  His father had amazing connections at the Ministry.

A crowd was gathering up ahead at a bar, and it seemed safer where the people were, rather than where they weren't.  He weaseled his way to the front of the line, hoping to figure out something, at least where he was.

Call it fate, call it luck, karma— or sheer chance, but as soon as five o'clock rolled around, Draco Malfoy walked into The Shot.  And Frank sized him up quick.  White hair, smug attitude, and he looked… weird.

"Excuse me, Mick."  Frank approached the bar and leaned over the side where Hermione was still stocking.  When she looked up and saw Frank's eyes, she knew something was very wrong.

"Stay down and look in the mirror," he whispered. 

Hermione turned around, still in her crouched position and saw… Humph.  You gotta be kidding me.  What are the odds?  She looked back up at Frank. "He's harmless."

"That's a relief,"  Frank sighed, glad to be wrong.  But he wasn't far off the mark. 

Draco was too quick and approached the bar, curious about the bouncer's position.  "Sir, I was hoping you might tell me where… Hermione!  Bloody hell!"

Hermione couldn't duck out now.  She stood and met Draco's gaze. "Hey.  Frank, could you give us a minute?"

"Sure."  Kate. Hermione.   He left but watched closely.

Hermione maintained eye contact, and had one thing on her mind.  Draco sat on a stool and had his arms on the bar like the customers did.  Hermione slapped her hand on top of his left arm and quickly retrieved his wand where she knew it was hidden.  No one saw a thing, and Draco was fuming.  How dare she?  "You never touch my…"

"Be quiet," she hissed.  "This is a Muggle bar, and I can't afford for you to cast anything when I've tried so carefully to hide my whereabouts.  What the hell are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing!  Shit, you're working… in a bar?"  Draco looked around with distaste.

"I asked you first," Hermione said with gritted teeth.  "What are you doing here?"  Some fucking coincidence.

He groaned. "I got lost," he mumbled.

"What was that?"  Hermione asked.

"I got lost, okay?  I got my license today and I apparated here, and I didn't show up where I wanted to be.  Then some taxi guy drove me around in circles and I came here."

It was so stupid, it could just be the truth.  Draco looked genuinely embarrassed and Hermione laughed right in his face.

Danny loved it.  He hadn't seen Hermione smile this big ever.  He poured him a drink.  "This one's on the house.  Keep that up,"  he pointed at her.  "Kate needs a good laugh."  Danny let them be.

"Kate?" he mouthed.

She glared.  "What are you doing here, Malfoy?"

"I told you…"

"Wait.  You said you got your license today.  You're 17 today."  Hermione was suddenly really glad she took his wand.

"Great.  Somebody should give you a prize."  He drank the shot of vodka and choked.

"Are you here of some kind of initiation thing?" she asked coldly.

"No," he laughed sarcastically.  "I'm here because I ditched some initiation thing." 

"Oh my God, you skipped out?"

"Yup." 

The air just hung.  "I don't believe you," she said.  "What?  Have some big epiphany or something?"

He scowled.  "Pansy chewed me out for considering it.  She kept saying I had a choice when I didn't.  She said if I took the Mark then they would own me."

Hermione absorbed what he was saying.  "She's right you know."  Snape insisted that Goyle didn't have a choice.  He really believed it— it was so indoctrinated.

"I can't believe you don't have any nasty comments to say," he said.

"Why would I?"  Hermione asked, pouring two shots for the woman beside him.

"Because my father's a Death Eater, that's why.  Because he tried to break the school wards… because you've always hated me."

"Oh give it a rest Draco, just because I dished out what you gave me doesn't mean I hated you.  And you are not your father.  I am surprised you didn't take the Mark.  You're probably one of the first to refuse."  Draco glared at her.  "Well, maybe not, but you're actually here, alive."

"What are you doing here, Hermione?"  he asked.

"Shh, keep your voice down.  It's Kate," she hissed.

"Whatever.  People are worried sick about you.  Pansy's freaking out…"

"So you made up?"  Hermione smiled.

"I guess you could call it that."  Draco admitted.  "Though she's pretty upset with me now."

"Hey, Kate.  It's not busy yet, why don't you go in the back and catch up?  You can come back when it's busy,"  Danny offered.  She was happy, talking.  It was a good sign.

"C'mon."  Hermione ushered Draco into the back and got a brief ten minute synopsis of the year.  She had missed a lot, and Malfoy was bringing emotions to the fore she had tried hard to suppress.

"Weasley has been in fits with you gone, so Daphne dumped him."  

Hermione felt the guilt again.  All her fault.  She was screwing everything up.

"Millicent and Neville are still together, and Pansy and I still have stuff to work out.  Hermione, how could you leave in the first place?  Why didn't you come back with the others?"

She wasn't about to fill him in.  She shook her head and looked away.

"I have to leave now," Hermione said flatly.

"What do you mean?  Can't you come back with me?"  Draco asked.

"You're joking right?  I can't go back with you.  Draco you don't understand, I just can't." 

"Dumbledore says he'll protect you, Pansy said."  Draco's tone was serious.

"This is so surreal. Draco Malfoy is sitting in front of telling me Dumbledore will protect me," she muttered to herself.  "Draco, if I really believed that he could help me, I would have never left.  I can't go back."

"Um, Hermione?" Draco asked.

"Yeah?"

"I have no way to get back to Hogwarts."

"What's the big deal?  You can apparate," she said shrugging her shoulders.

"No way.  First of all, you have my wand.  Second of all, if I cast anything you told me people would come for you.  And I know that by now, if I casted a whole squad of Death Eaters would come for me."

"How did you get here?'

"A cab."

"You took a cab?" She scoffed.  "So take a cab to Diagon Alley."

"I don't have any money."  He didn't even know where it was in Muggle London, he always Flooed there.

Hermione howled.  Draco Malfoy had no money.

He rolled his eyes.  "Can you help me?"

She laughed harder.  The ferret was asking for her help.  "Stay here.  I can get Gabe or Danny to take you outside the Leaky Cauldron and you can Floo to Hogwarts or Hogsmeade from there.  You know, you could take the Knight Bus."

"I'd never make it,"  Draco sighed.  "Dad's too connected.  He'd know immediately."  He'd have to settle for the Muggle way. 

"Yo!  Kate, we need help out here!"  Gabe called out.

Hermione felt for him, he was doing the right thing and was noticeably worried about his decision.  She wanted to leave now, but she couldn't have him tagging along with her, and it was Friday night.  She wasn't going to leave the other bartenders in a lurch.  "Stay at the bar.  Come on."

Draco watched as Hermione worked like a pro, pouring literally hundreds of drinks every half hour.  She lifted heavy cases of liquor and had the biceps to show for it.  He saw how easily she slipped into the life.  There wasn't a book in sight, yet she seemed comfortable.  Draco wondered if he could switch gears.

"So are you the mystery guy?" Danny leaned over the bar and asked him.

"What do you mean?"  Draco said with a confused expression.

"Kate's been happier talking with you than she has been here with us for weeks.  I was hoping you would have something to do with that,"  Danny suggested.

"Don't be ridiculous.  She and I really aren't… that close.  Haven't always gotten along."  That was an understatement.

"Could've fooled me,"  Danny said.

Draco was switching gears already.

--------------

Somewhere at one of several Malfoy estates, Lucius was getting extremely angry.  His face was taut in a frightening manner.  Draco had embarrassed him.

The Death Eaters had waited before for initiates, for various reasons.  Over anxious initiates who foolishly thought they knew what was coming would sometimes bring a 'present' for the Dark Lord, having something to entertain the rest of the Death Eaters while Voldemort cursed the person and sent them out again on a mission of his own choosing.  Draco didn't fall into that category.  Others got intoxicated before they came, but that was during the time when Death Eaters were inducted as a group.  Draco also did not fall into that category.

"What do you have to say for yourself, my servant?"  hissed Voldemort to Malfoy, wand out.

Lucius was surrounded by the burning stares of twenty or so Death Eaters.  He loathed being put on the spot in this way.

"I will punish my son, my Lord.  I am appalled by his disrespect." Lucius bit out and meant it.

"Crucio!  It is you have disrespected me, Lucius— by attempting to bring your son before me without adequately preparing him!"

"My Lord…"

"Silence!"  Voldemort picked up his chin to look him in the eyes.  "He was not ready and you would bring him here out of some foolish pride.  Goyle was not ready." 

Gregory kept his mouth shut, feeling a lump in his throat at his mention.  One of the times he was glad for the mask.  Where was Draco?  Gregory couldn't believe he hadn't shown up yet.  Now he prayed Draco would never come.  If he did, it wouldn't be pretty.

"I'm sorry my Lord,"  Lucius muttered, but it was too late for recovery.  Voldemort cursed him again and after several minutes the blond lump regained composure.

"Go find your son,"  he hissed.  "And secure his promise to serve next year."

Snape watched the display.  He hadn't said a single word to Voldemort, yet he had known.  He was an excellent judge of character.  The Death Eaters were dismissed, all eager to get out of Lucius' wake.  Snape nearly danced a jig all the way back to Hogwarts.

Gregory Goyle left last, still shocked at the absence of Draco.  He was jealous in a way, that Draco had ditched the Mark.  Voldemort was right— he wasn't ready.  Who the hell could be?  Gregory had seen his own father do things at the revels he never thought someone capable.  Goyle could barely stomach it.  He had seen too much, and now he couldn't go back.

-------------

Draco was in a foreign land.  He had been hit on by no less than seven women and one man, most of them inebriated.  Hermione was amused.  The music was different and not half bad, once he got used to the deafening volume.  The place was so crowded, Hermione was sure they were violating some fire code or other regulation about exceeding capacity.

Hermione left to gather shots around midnight, making the run with Gabe.  It was hot in the stuffy club, and she felt the beat of the music hum through the bodies of gyrating couples as she squeezed between them.  The lights flashed hypnotically in the middle of the floor, something she was normally spared behind the bar.  She began to flush, a bit disoriented from the touches and brushes from numerous people about her.  Most were inadvertent, because there was no room for movement, and some were deliberate attempts to fondle her.  She both hated and loved it.  It unnerved her that she was lured so easily into that almost sexual rhythm, the damned spell didn't help her in this.  She waded back through the human sandwiches to the bar and people followed her like the Pied Piper.  The clubbers could barely move to dance, but they always managed to order more drinks from the bar.

As time passed she shook off those unwanted feelings as she busied herself with the orders coming as fast as she could fill them.  Time passed quickly at the bar, and before she knew it, it was a little after one.

Hermione found it was useless to worry about pouring faster than she was able— money mistakes got made that way.  The patrons would still be there, and the liquor would still be here.  Ducking behind the bar for a second glass check, she spied a Coke.  She looked up at Draco and decided to give him a taste.  They only served shots, but she was about to make an exception.

"What's this?!" he shouted.

She couldn't hear him and didn't try to reply.  Looking at the can, he wondered.  He sipped and then nearly spat it out for the carbonation.  Hermione laughed out loud, though her amusement couldn't be heard.  "Not a butterbeer is it?"  She scribbled out on a spare napkin.  He laughed and she stole a sip from his drink.

Draco finally caved and tried it again. Horribly sweet, but not too bad.  He felt his teeth squeak when he ground them against each other.  Draco watched as Hermione and Danny poured two lines of shots down the entire length of bar— competing to see who finished fastest.  As quick as you please, the crowd rushed up to grab the free round of drinks.  Everyone watched for that.  It happened only once a weekend.  Danny won again, no surprise there, though Hermione was still trying to beat him.

A popular tune rang out through the club and everyone threw up their hands, including the bartenders.  Roxy paired with Gabe, and Danny with Hermione dancing enthusiastically to the music behind the bar between pouring rounds of drinks. The club was really hopping now, the drink orders subsiding slightly as the crowd became preoccupied with dancing.

A few songs later, it was 2:00 a.m. and the bar was thinning, but just a little.

And Frank was furiously trying to get her attention.

-----------

Lucius was going to kill his son.  Little fucking insolent prick.  Wizarding parents, especially servants of the Dark Lord, knew how to protect their own.  Of course, protection wasn't quite what Lucius had in mind.  Long ago he had tattooed Draco with a method of tracking him.  They nearly had the same blood, or Draco had half of his.  They were tethered through their genes.  Draco had gotten into too much mischief not to be leashed.   Wizarding LoJack.

Lucius was stunned when he apparated to a squalid and disgustingly common part of west London.  Draco had traded the Mark for a Muggle bar.   He vanished his cloak, but was still dressed to the hilt for his son's debut. He was appalled at the crowd and didn't want to taint himself in this community, but one way or another he was going to get Draco.  The soles of his feet still ached from the curses,  but Lucius was about to share a bit of that discomfort.  Spread the joy.

"I'm sorry, you're going to have to wait until someone leaves, sir.  We're at capacity,"  Frank said.

"Let me in now."  Lucius asked, holding his cane ominously.

Frank's eyes narrowed.  "No sir.  I'm afraid I can't do that."  He stood tall and straightened to his full height, blocking the view of the inside of the club.  "You will have to be patient.  The club is winding down.  Someone will leave shortly, and then you can enter."

Lucius had never been turned away, but he gritted his teeth. 

Frank grabbed Mick and asked him to watch the door.  "Don't let that man in."   Right now, he needed to find Hermione fast.

The Scotsman was trying to be seen over the noisy, dancing crowd.   Wading toward the bar, he waved his hands.  Hermione caught his uneasy expression and glanced at the door, catching the shine of platinum hair belonging to only one man.

Oh shit.  She looked at Danny and he saw Frank too.  She grabbed Draco by the collar and yanked him physically over the bar, her heart hammering in her chest.

"What was that for?" he yelled, rubbing his elbows.

Hermione's eyes bore into his.  "Your father," she mouthed.

 I'm dead, Draco thought.  They scrambled on hands and knees to the swinging door behind the bar, and Danny made like he was going back to get liquor.  They slipped through the door and Hermione grabbed her book bag, the one she packed for emergencies.  She put a change of clothes and anything associated with magic in it every morning, just in case her hotel room got burglarized, but also for cases just like these.  She had left most of her belongings back in the cave and didn't want a repeat if she had to leave in a hurry again.

"Kate, what's going on?"  Danny asked.

"I'm in real trouble, bar's about to close soon anyway. D'you think you can take my friend Derek here into London right now?"  Hermione's words came fast, spit out all in a rush as she found her wand and stashed it quickly in her skirt pocket.  Danny didn't have a chance to respond.  "He's stuck here, no way back…"

"Sure, Kate,"  Danny said edgily.  "Can I drop you anywhere?"  Danny tried to grasp her arm and make eye contact with her.  Come on, Kate.

"He.. Kate.  You're coming with me aren't you?" Draco asked.

"Stop asking, I told you I can't," she groaned and kept darting her eyes to the swinging door. 

"You're being stupid, you know that."

"Go home."  Hermione rolled her eyes at Draco, stifling any argument.  "Danny, drive and drive fast.  Take him east of Hyde Park, to Charing Cross Road.  Don't stop until you get there and stoplights are optional.  D'you know it?"

"Yeah.  I know it, it's near a record shop I go to."  Hermione was about to run out the back door.  "Kate, wait.  Will I ever see you again?  Will you let me know how you are?"  Danny's urgent look reminded her of the people she'd left behind.

"If things work out, maybe.  Remember your promise." Danny hardly thought she'd hold him to that considering the circumstances in which she was leaving.  Hermione fished through her tips and gave about thirty quid to Draco.  She spied Draco's father through the circular window in the swinging door.  "Move!"  All three ran out the back door, and she remembered at the last minute to slip him his wand. Hermione gave Draco a firm look to wish him good luck.  She had to run.  She knew he'd go and blab everything to Dumbledore, but she couldn't think about that right now.  She had to get the hell out of here.

Frank caught her out back.  He was already on his bike with the motor running.  "Hop on, Kate." 

Hitching up her skirt and regretting her decision to wear one, she swung her leg over the side.  Speeding down the street, The Shot passed out of sight, leaving behind the bar and her life as Kate Evans.

The bar was congested with people, the air was thick with smoke, sweat and booze, without a decent drop of brandy in the place.  He couldn't see Draco anywhere and asked around.  Finally someone agreed to shout with him about it, and admitted they saw someone with whitish hair sitting at the bar for half the night.  Ten minutes after 'Derek' and Danny had fled, Roxy was all too happy to tell the bastard following Kate that the guy had left.

Lucius stormed off and apparated from the alleyway.  When he reappeared he landed in a busy intersection near Kensington, startling several people and a few cars with the loud cracking noise which preceded him.  Swerving at the last moment, a BMW narrowly avoided hitting the man dressed all in black. 

A beat up Ford was speeding out of sight, and Lucius was losing his patience.  His son was probably in motion, and he couldn't apparate successfully if Draco was mobile.

It took maybe thirty minutes for Draco to get out of the speeding nightmare that was Danny's car.  "Thanks, Danny."  Draco dashed into the Leaky Cauldron, throwing powder to activate the Floo without asking.  "Albus Dumbledore's office, Hogwarts!"

-----------

Snape was there in the Headmaster's office, relaying the amusing events of the evening.  Lucius had got his, and Draco had stood everyone up.  They were having a drink and a good laugh.

Then his fireplace lit up and spit a sooty Draco out on the floor.

"Maybe there's hope for young Malfoy yet, Severus."  Dumbledore stood and polished the dust off his glasses.  "Mister Malfoy, I am so glad to see you are alright." 

Draco was huffing and out of breath, brushing himself off.  "I saw Hermione."

-----------

Author's Notes:

I have to give a huge amount of thanks to all of you for keeping me on my toes. I am so grateful for all of your feedback and comments about the plot and characterizations.

I have to give a special round of thanks to three people who offered their writing talents in proofreading and editing this chapter. Applause, cheering!!! Thanks to Shabopo, Keket Amunet, and MA!  They all spent a lot of time making sure this was enjoyable and fully edited reading! Salut!

I've tried to use more British slang and hope it won't sound out of place.  Hermione's got to think fast, and everything is about to speed up horrifically after three weeks of down time. 

Okay, so… I totally screwed up by saying that Hermione is from Manchester.  That is too friggin' far from London for Jake to drive her there, certainly not on the M55.  How did I come up with that, it's like… hours and hours away!  So, I'm reposting the last chapter to reflect that she is from Reading, England.  That's how it is now possible for Harry and Snape to get to the place Jake dropped her off in about an hour.  Whew.

BTW, "Call it luck, call it fate, call it karma… I believe we were put on this earth for a reason.  We should go into business for ourselves…"  Bill Murray said this in Ghostbusters in his role as Dr. Venkman. 

I alphabetized, if it makes it easier!  So close to the end now y'all!

Alarase-  That has been pointed out frequently, and yes, regretfully, it is that easy.  At first I thought I would make it so that killing the object would have to be deliberate, but I don't think so.  Hermione is being stubborn for personal reasons, in addition to thinking Snape would never have her.  Most wouldn't picture them together, and instead assume she picked a student.  Snape may very well be inadvertently killed in the line of his duties as a spy (though he has his Goddess to protect him—of course that might out him… ugh.)  in response to your Chap 20:  Sorry it wasn't fire breathing exciting, and it was a transition.  (I mean she just escaped the forest… give the girl a break!)  I never felt Dumbledore was psychic, though perceptive.  Dumbledore is really observing Snape's feelings for the girl, rather than making inferences about her feelings.  Thank you for your insightful notes and suggestions.  I'm saving some of Hermione's inner thoughts for the next two chapters.  I did try to add some more about why she hasn't returned in this chapter.  There is one thing that would make sleeping with Snape unbearable for Hermione… hah! Cliffhanger.   Thank you very much for reviewing.

Amanda-  Thank you!  And thanks for reading.  Chapter 22 will soon come.  Promise to update soon.

Anna York-  Thank you, I agree.  Crying for many is a form of release of tension.  Hopefully for out couple to be that version of weeping will happen really soon. : )

Antagonist Len-  Dear Helen-  Thank you for reading, and I'm flattered for your description of your click-a-thon (I do the same thing), and I also do victory dances too… especially for Somewhere I Have Never Traveled, awesome!  Sorry about the water, but don't turn stalker yet (wink) I promise a new chapter soon.  I make it a personal policy not to check for updates before I go to the bus, because I invariably read too long, miss my bus and have to drive.  Of course, I break my own rule all the time… 

Althea Grey-  Gaia ain't too happy when our lady's in danger, or if Snape's doing anything to ignore that.  Therefore she stirred a bit, but it was Snape who leapt out with his wand, not her.  Nah,  Molly doesn't know.  Most people, especially students still think of Snape as icky or untrustworthy… at least unpleasant and unapproachable.  Thank for your review, I hope I can keep up the suspense! 

Artemis05-  I'm not telling, so there. crosses arms defiantly Wink!  Thanks for reviewing!  I'm glad to like the Drakester.  I like his character.

Ash-  Woo hoo!  Thanks, more soon. : o)

azulkan2-  I agree.  Isolation sucks.  Glad you like the story.  We're heading to the finish line.  I can see it.  It's halfway written… Thanks for reviewing!

BadBugz-  Nope.  He didn't call her, but she could have come.  She stayed at bay because he finally intervened.  Eeek, Hermione was getting very impulsive.  I think she would have cut herself just to make her feel pain other than what she was feeling at that moment.  If she thought there was any chance of Snape caring for her she wouldn't be in so much pain.  Thanks for your review!

Beky- Oooh taunting you with the cliffie!  Glad you liked the chapter.  Stay tuned!

B.M.- Thank you.  I'm behind on God of the Lost myself and have to finish.  Too busy writing.  But now I've posted!  Now I can read.  Thank you so much for spending your day reading.  I'm flattered you spent the time, and thank you for reviewing.  I promise more chapters soon!

BlackMajenta-   Woo hoo thank you!  I love Pansy.  And eww!  I would never end the story on a kiss cue music bleack!  Not to say that I haven't read a good fic or two where that has happened, disclaimer, but that it just would nevah be me writing that.  I will say it will take at least two chapters and a epilogue to wrap this up.  Stay tuned, I promise not to disappoint, and if I stiff you, you can hex me by e-mail. : )  No simple kiss, I swear.

Celtic Words- Thank you for your review, and I'm sure Hermione hollers in this chapter when she's alone between shifts at the bar.  The goodness is coming soon, I promise.  Right after Hermione's race through London.

Chsqrlgrl-  I think I just figured out your name, is it Cheese Curl Girl?  Awesome.  (Though if I'm wrong, I am suitable ashamed…)  Hermione won't suffer much longer, promise.  The story is picking up like the speed of Frank's motorcycle.  Wheee….

CJ-  Whoops.  I meant to put that in the author's notes.  I actually did look it up, and it said an athame was primarily used for casting and other things.  I thought perhaps alternate words wouldn't be readily recognized.  I'm about to report that chapter so I will probably change it.  Thanks for your feedback!  Let the intensity continue!  On to chapter 22!

Corrie-  Thank you!  On to the next chapter!  Hopefully you shouldn't have to wait so long, Chapter 21 is mostly written.  Mostly.

crissy-  Nope. That would be too easy. The best everyone can hope for is for Hermione to get really desperate and show up in the reflecting pool in Dumbledore's office.  And as for Snape's book, here you go with your answer.  Gotta love Katie.  Hope I can keep up the intensity… Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Demon Sorceress-  I'll have to look for the fics, thanks for the rec! (Unless you meant books, where I'll have to go to the store).  Thanks for the review and hope you keep reading!

Dragonmaster Kurai-  A Chia Pet, from the Latin root… just kidding!  A Chia Pet is a Clay figure (in many shapes, a head, a mushroom, an animal… there are several) with ridges on it and holes.  You put a seed paste on it and it literally grows a grassy fur, like mustard seed sprouts.  Or visit ?source=google&chia-pet   Thanks DK for R&R!

eav-  I swear I won't be long in posting.  It's weird how the last chapters are written first, you know?  And we can't have Hermione cut her hair.  Instead she pulls her hair back, and Nick? The manager with the cigarette dangling from his mouth? He just doesn't give a damn, remember?  She's a warm body who can pour drinks.  Now that Hermione's tears are practically shed, for multiple reasons… she's about to move on to bigger and better ways of coping.  Desperation and sheer stupidity.

ellie-  You weren't going to review?  Glad to hook you with the movie quote, I LOVE that movie.  And who says fangirling isn't useful. (What happens when your brain turns on?)  My husband thinks I'm crazy because I'm so obsessed.  This started out as a desperate attempt to write some frigging thing.  And thanks to all of you I keep on writing.  I just can't give you guys enough gratitude.  From one fangirl to another, you rock.  And a bright light shot out of his wand like a cannon, I might change.  I guess I was trying to convey the sound it made, or how fast it was, not the physical object.  I'll think about a better phrase. Thanks!

Ezmerelda-  The Order could hear some but not all of what Hermione said, though they could definitely hear her curse out Voldemort.  I'm sure Ginny and Pansy felt pretty bad for Hermione to think it was him doing it to her instead of her friends.  As for the sudden appearance of hair,  Nick could care less.  He wanted a body to pour shots and she does it.  That's all he cares about.  Thanks for pointing it out, that's why I wrote her pulling her hair back and bobby pinning it down.  And Jake's a dear isn't he?  Everyone would want a friend like that.  As always, thank for your reviews.  The story is picking up now that we are nearing the finish!

falafelgigglehiney-  Thank you for continuing to review!  I won't re-write, except to correct.  Probably three more chapters and/or epilogue.

FluteKahlanChambers-  Thank you very much for your review!  I'm glad the plot was captivating enough.  I always worry about that.  In the home stretch now!

franflutewitch-  Dumbledore is nosy, but also quietly available to a guarded man like Severus.  He knows he had strong feelings for her, of protection… I'll have to look back in my notes and see if I wrote in this chapter or the last chapter.  Severus has got a special place in his sense of obligation for women.  Not only for his mother, who in the books was being accosted by a man in his childhood, but in this story for Snape's feeling of responsibility for the death of a 14 year-old girl which resulted from his initiation.  He hadn't been the same since.  And I put a bit about Death Eaters in this chapter, they are looking for her trust me. 

Gin-  Thanks a bunch.  Here's the next chapter, Chapter 21 is not far behind.

Hermia- Hey!  So glad you started reading, still hope not to de-rail.  Draco is going a bit off the beaten path, and while he has been cruel in the past I always thought he was a chicken shit that was all talk.  And Snape has only figured out that his got a bad case of Granger, and he can't do a damn thing about it.  Wait til next chapter, he'll be obsessed with finding her.

hope-  Thanks for your review, and I'm glad you like.  Hermione is still in agony, but getting more frustrated by the moment.  She won't be able to hang on to moping much longer.  I like Ginny's and Pansy's characters, they are about to come back into play again.  Hermione's about to feel the feminine power of someone who really needs to get shagged.  Scary.  Chapter 22, can't wait… nearing the finish now.

June Williams-  Thank you for reviewing, and you're right about the possibility of Snape being killed and the wards falling. She's being very foolish, stubborn and full of self-pity.  And if she tells someone to keep Snape alive, she might as well shag. She doesn't trust anyone to keep that kind of secret.  It's taking a lot of time to post and I've signed up on whispers.  Still figuring that out.  If I get time this week I may start posting there.  See you soon!

Kawaiilikitten- Will do.  Thanks for reviewing!

Kawiineko4eva-  Thank you for reading.  And you're right, it is so very wrong.  But they'll get there!  More updates soon!  Thanks for the review!

Keket Amunet-  This is only my second fic, and I am still in awe of some of the first fics I've ever read.  I've always thought my writing was merely okay, and I remember the incredibly talented people I went to school with.  I guess it makes me feel a bit inadequate, as I first began writing to get a story out of my head rattling up there for some time.  Shame on me for not accepting feedback well.  I'll have to issue an apology to Salem's Goddess for discounting her, thanks for correcting me.  Who am I to argue with a reviewer? It like someone tells me their favorite color is blue and I say.  "No it's not." 

I read also, I think on wiktt, about your writing workshops and was interested.  Where do you offer them?  Good luck with your thesis (you may be done already, that's quite an accomplishment!)

Thanks for your feedback about the characters, and Ron being mysteriously absent.  It's hard to keep up with all of them so I've tried to pull him in a bit.  And here you have Katie.  I have this little side fantasy that Katie was pretty dangerous in a former life and she overcompensates by dressing the way she does, writing with her quills, collecting art, yet having a number of weapons and two extra wands hidden under her long skirts.  Hah. But there's no room in the story for Katie to play that role. Ugh.

And you totally called it with Jake.  He is indeed Hermione's Harry in the Muggle world.  I think I wrote Harry feeling a little envious that he seems to know her so well in an earlier chapter.  And of course he caves in and calls Harry.  He's too freaked out by Hermione's disappearance.  I won't say any more to leave you in suspense. 

To let you know for sure about Snape's goddess: she stirred because he knew Hermione was in danger and he wasn't doing anything to protect Hermione, and Snape felt that Gaia might let herself go and he was worried about Hermione so he took matters into his own hands and cast. I think it rather outed him.  So still a possibility.  Thanks you thank you for your invaluable help in editing this chapter!  I appreciate the advice and feedback.

Kylara-  Me too.  If it were short all the time she would be a brillo pad, or furry instead of bushy.  I just couldn't do that to her.  She doesn't really disguise herself in the Muggle world except lay low, and work in an out of the way bar.  It's crowded, but a shame it's so popular.  Draco found her after all!  Sorry about Jake, I'm sure he has some faults but they didn't appear here!  Hey, he does give a bad haircut.

Lisarose-  Thanks for reading, glad you liked it.  It won't be long now.  Snape's about to get shocked!

Lori-  Hey Lori!  Hope you had a great time in Toronto, sounds like you did.  Glad you're liking the story, thanks for your review.  Always appreciate your comments.  More soon!

Luna Writer-  Burning nettle! And it leaves a rash.  That's just what I wanted.  Thanks.  Dumbledore always knew, but never said anything to protect Snape's anonymity.  He made note of Snape's reactions to the discussion between Remus and Harry when they first talked about it.  Reposting previous chapters to reflect corrections.  As always thanks for your expertise!

lyress-  Gotta love Lupin.  I love Remus' character.  He's such a mystery, but a good man.  He could be anything you know?  I know there's a powerful wizard in there somewhere, but to me he seems so gentle and parental, especially in teacher mode.  Sensible, just like in his school days with James and Sirius.  You're not too demanding wink, but if you want shared dreams, you may have to revisit the Burden of Sight (which I promise to finish right after I complete The Twenty).  Hermione's feelings about why she left and was so adamant about not returning will be explained in an upcoming chapter.  I may have mentioned it before, but don't want to reiterate it and spoil it for you! Thank you for reviewing!  …Hey there again!  Working as fast as I can type!

Maxy-  Hey, thanks for your review.  And the green ribbon came on the bottle of Ogden's last summer, his gift to the artist for completing the work.  Thanks for continuing to follow the story.  I promise to update again soon.

Me-  Good, I'm all bout happy.  Thank you for reading!

Michele Parent-  Hey!  Thanks for your review and I will try to e-mail you.  Also post updates on wiktt, if you subscribe.  I can't believe your husband reads, wish mine was as obsessed with Harry Potter as I am!

Midnight-Starr1- Thanks, and no flames yet.  It's totally HG/SS and I'm a die hard HG/SS shipper.  More to follow!

mione drac opal-  God, I read Clan of the Cave Bear eons ago!  Updating soon I swear, maybe in another week.  Thanks for reviewing!  Btw, did I say that I love your user name?  So cool.

MissCrystalix-  Hey thanks for reviewing!  Like your acronym.  Thanks for the 'eclectic' definition too, I never thought of it that way!

MxSRose-  Thank you for reviewing!  Woo hoo!  Will keep building tension.  Poor Hermione.  Snape has got it coming.

Nakhash Mekashefah-  Thank you!

Nevillus-  Wow, I can't believe you read it all in one go!  I'm flattered.  Please let me know what you think.  I'll post more next week.

nocturnus-  Thanks for pointing out the difference.  I think the people who try to hard to be superwomen (superpeople) fall so much harder than those who accept limitations.  Hermione accepts some things and rejects others.  She's a stubborn girl, all in the name of love and self-protection, will go into that in future chapter, coming up soon.

olka-polka-  Hey thanks for your review.  I think that Dumbledore is insightful, but not all knowing.  He sees Severus sticking his neck out and sweating bullets for the witch he's bound to, but hasn't pressed him yet.  Nobody knows Hermione's side of it.

OzRatbag2-  Thank you for your feedback about the story!  I think I wrote her parents saying that God gave her the gift of magic for a reason.  I know if I found out I was a witch, and had powers, I wouldn't let myself be ejected from my faith because of those thoughts, but you're right.  Thanks for your exploration of that.  It is possible I might be able to mention it in a future chapter. Hmmm…  Thanks for the lengthy review about multiple elements in the story.  Hee hee, plenty of URST (I started writing this fic when my husband was on a three week trip to Egypt and Aberdeen, can you say projection?) I am finally resolving to reload old chapters to correct typos and other things, I get so frustrated when I re-read and see their instead of there.  I am always grateful for corrections! Especially, please on tense changes.  It's also hard sometimes to write the thoughts of the characters.  Thank you, thank you, for your time!

Pandora Nervosa- Thanks for your review, and isn't that bit about Survivor true?  Everyone gets a little desperate don't they?  At least I didn't have Hermione whining over no mascara, when there is the most important issue of food.  Here's Chapter 21, squeal away!

PattyWaffle-  Thank you for your review!  And as for making me write, where were you yesterday when I was blocked?  Ha.  I'm unblocked now, ideas flowing…

Reader-  Thank you for your review, and I won't string you out too much longer.  Thanks for hanging on!

redlady27- I'm glad I'm driving you nuts!  Hermione is crazy! And she's not done yet!  I promise I will post again soon.

Rheniel-  I'm glad to have hooked you!  Many of the Snape/Hermione fics are really good, as I am sure is true of other ships. I know the age difference creeps out a lot of people, many times it does me too, but hey!  It's fiction.  And you reading through to almost the end.  Perhaps three more chapters to go.  Thank you for reviewing!

Rising Wind Tiger-  U betcha.  Thanks for the review, I dislike mush.  Snape just doesn't go there you know?  Hope you don't identify too closely with the anguish, I guess we all have out own painful experiences.  Both of our characters will finally get the benefit of acceptance, once they get the guts to own up to how they feel.

Romm- Thank you for your review!  Yeah, bartending is more exciting, and she was just getting the hang of it.  Of course when her role as calligrapher is spilled… well well.  Stay tuned!

Rosmerta-  Hooray!  I hope you enjoy the new chapter.  Hermione has a few more trials before the finale.  Stay tuned and thanks for reviewing!

Shabopo-  Thank you Shelly for your review!  People depend on contact and people get a little out of sorts when isolated.  I'm glad you liked the chapter and I may run a thing or two by you if you don't mind.  And we are transitioning… into panic mode.  Hermione is running away and also toward the finish.  She can't see ahead of her and now she won't have time to plan, just react.  Stay tuned!   Thank you very much for helping me edit!

Shauna-  Okay I won't!  Thanks much for the review.   And thank you for continuing to read the story, glad so many people are putting in their two cents, it's help me develop the story further.

SimplyScribbling-  Thank you so much for hanging on.  I really want Hermione to be the fiercely stubborn person she is.  Like in this chapter when gets frustrated and finishes the runes.  Channels her anger you know?  Gaia has an instrumental role coming up in the next chapter or two!  I hope I posted before your vacation!

Stellar Snape-  Oooh, I'm glad you were moved.  Victory dance.  I love Louise Labe's poems she writes with so much agony.  And Hermione is a woman in pain.  The desire is beginning to take over though, on the run now, the chapters will be picking up speed until at last our couple meets face to face.

Strawberry22-  Thanks for your review! But conflicting info?  (you mean contradicting stuff I said before, or stuff in the book… hmmm…) Not fair to post and not share. ( I don't mean that meanly, inquiring minds want to know!) I need to fix stuff.  There is one thing it could be… but I won't spoil it. I did some stuff deliberately… but it's not overt. wink

Tabii-  Hope not to disappoint with the upcoming meeting of HG/SS. : ) wink! I will post again soon, thanks for your review!

thatonechic-  You know I'm really flattered you said that.  I never expected the fic to be something that might speak to people that way.  And while Hermione's faith makes her strong, she certainly has taken one hell of a detour.  A recommendation to all would not be shag away.  Though we are certainly headed there. Thank you so much for spending the time to read this, and then to review.  Chapter 22 coming soon!

Tiffie 101-  Thanks for hanging on.  Hermione was at a loss for what to do for cave dwelling.  And it was a way of delaying the inevitable.  She won't be able to outrun her desire.  Thanks for your review.

Viv- Hey thank for your review and glad you like the story.  I don't think I ever said the SOS was ever more powerful than Dumbledore and Snape, fully grown wizards with years of experience (don't forget Minerva, she kicks ass!) Remember a bundle of sticks are harder to break than just the one, and the bonds of sisterhood and teamwork work that way too.  Hermione couldn't have done this by herself, nor Pansy.  Minors or no, Harry, Ron, and Hermione manage to pull off some impressive feats at the end of ever one of Rowling's gems!  I don't wish to make the girls supernatural by any means, but I do think a lot of women's power and mysteries of the female has been lost over the centuries, in religion, in history, science, art…  Girl power!  : 0 )

wackoramaco87-  Hermione is mortified Snape won't and could never love her back.  She has never loved anyone before and it's killing her to stay away.  Ah, I love angst.  Goddesses are one use only blessings, Pansy has used hers, and Ginny.  Thanks for reading and reviewing, you've been with me practically since I first posted!  And we are nearing the end.  Tear. : (

Wiri-  I couldn't agree more with your eloquent sentiment.  Women have to stick together and we are all the more powerful for doing so.  I actually didn't intend to black unicorn to symbolize Severus, but now that you mention it… yeah, yeah that was the whole plan see?  Hermione's about to make some rash decisions, but then, much is about to happen forcing her into certain situations that will test her will.