Thanks as always go to Ru!
Chapter 8: I Believe In A Thing Called Love
"What about Ron?" Hermione asked, fear present in her voice.
"I went upstairs to talk to him, you know, to try to get him to calm down and see that you marrying Professor Snape really is for the best. When I got to his room he was gone and there was a note on his bed," Harry started.
"He's gone off to face Lucius Malfoy!" Molly burst out into tears.
"Dad went to go get Dumbledore," George said.
"He told us not to go looking for Ron," Fred added.
"Oh, Severus," Molly sobbed, "there must be something you can do."
Severus looked at Hermione, who was in tears. He wanted nothing more than to go off and risk his arse to save the boy, but he knew that he could not. He opened his mouth to deliver the news when Albus appeared and answered for him.
"I'm afraid that Severus can not do anything. If he did so, he would expose himself as a traitor to Voldemort and then we would most likely loose the war. I'm sorry Molly, but we will have to wait and hope that Ron returns to us."
After a while Arthur suggested that everyone go to bed. He said that there was no use in everyone staying up and waiting for him to return. Ginny, Morgan, Remus, and Tonks had all slept through the crisis. Molly had refused to wake them up when she realized Ron was missing. Molly and Arthur were the only one's that remained downstairs, everyone else went up to bed. Hermione had tried to sleep, but she couldn't while she knew that Ron was in danger and it was all her fault. Afraid that she would wake up Ginny, Hermione slowly slipped from the room and started to head down to the library when she remembered that Molly and Arthur were still downstairs. She quickly made a decision and made her way into a nearby bedroom. Hermione looked at the motionless form on the bed and swiftly made her way over to it. After hesitating for a moment, she slid into the bed. She had just closed her eyes in preparation for sleep when the person next to her spoke.
"You shouldn't be in here."
"I know," Hermione responded. "I just can't sleep."
"Hermione, it is not your fault. You were not the one that made him leave the house and go after Lucius."
"I know, but I can't help feeling like it is. I knew that he'd be hurt when I told him that I don't want to marry him, but I didn't think he'd be this hurt."
"I don't know what to say to that."
"You don't have to say anything. Can I stay in here with you tonight?"
"Of course you can Hermione," the person next to her said, wrapping an arm around her.
"Thank you, Severus," Hermione whispered before she slipped into a much needed sleep.
When Hermione awoke the next morning she found herself wrapped in Severus' arms. She had never felt so safe in her entire life. More than just feeling safe, Hermione also felt loved, even though she knew that Severus didn't love her. She couldn't help but think that she would love to wake up like that every day for the rest of her life. She de-tangled herself from her fiancé's arms and quietly left his room. Hermione was hoping she'd be able to make it back to her room without being caught, but she was as soon as she opened Severus' door.
"Sleep well last night?" Hermione turned to find Morgan looking at her with a sly grin on her face.
"It's not what you think, Morgan. I didn't have sex with Severus."
"Then why were you in his room?" Morgan asked.
"I couldn't sleep last night so I went to go talk to him."
"And you fell asleep in there?" Morgan wasn't sure if Hermione was telling the truth.
"Exactly."
"Hermione, what is going on? Everyone has been acting really strange this morning."
"Ron is gone. He left last night to go fight one of the guys that petitioned for me." Hermione let out a heavy sigh.
"And?" Morgan asked, clearly confused.
"The guy happens to be a really powerful wizard who works for Voldemort."
"Oh," Was all Morgan could say.
"Nobody will say it, but we are all afraid that he won't come back." A tear slid down Hermione's cheek.
"I'm sure he will Hermione. He probably needed to clear his head. I bet he decided not to fight the guy before he even found him. He's probably somewhere cooling off right now." Morgan was doing her best to comfort her friend.
"And if he isn't?" Hermione asked.
"He is Hermione, he is."
The rest of the day went by and there was still no sign of Ron. The entire Weasley family was beside themselves with worry. Morgan began to worry too, but she refused to let anyone know. No one in the house had had breakfast or lunch, and Morgan was determined to make sure that they at least ate dinner. She looked around the kitchen for something to cook, but couldn't find anything. Deciding that they needed food, Morgan made her way to the library were Severus was reading.
"Severus?" she asked cautiously.
"Yes Morgana?" Severus asked, not looking up from his book.
"Do you love Hermione?" Morgan stunned herself by her question. She had meant to ask him if he could go out and get her some pasta to make for everyone. The question prompted Severus to put his book down and stare at the girl.
"What would drive you to ask such a question?"
"I don't know. I meant to ask you if you could go out and pick up some pasta and sauce so that I could cook dinner for everyone, but now that I think about it, I really want to know. Hermione is my best friend and I want to make sure that she'll be alright."
"You will be at Hogwarts with her and you'll see her everyday," Severus offered.
"I know, but every girl dreams about their wedding when they are young. I saw Hermione leave your room this morning and I think that she's falling in love with you. I just want to know if you love her too." Morgan felt really foolish.
"I find it admirable that you care so much for your friend, Morgana. I'm afraid, however, that I can not answer your question at the moment because I do not know the answer. Hermione is beginning to grow on me, and I'm beginning to think that I will be in love with her in the future, but as of right now, I do not know."
"Well, I think you do. You may not be in love with her yet, but you do love her. If you didn't, you never would have offered to marry her."
"I beg your pardon..." Severus started.
"You know I'm right. I promise I won't say anything to anyone if you go and get me something to cook for dinner." Morgan flashed a big grin.
"Oh, alright," Severus huffed as he got up out of his chair.
"Severus, thank you for taking care of me. I know that you don't even know me, and that I'm a muggle, but I really appreciate your kindness to me." Morgan threw herself into Severus' arms.
"You are very welcome, Morgana. To tell the truth, you remind me a little of my younger sister. When Albus told me what had happened to you I knew that I had to take care of you. I knew that your family was marked for attack, but I didn't know that you were friends with Hermione, had I known, I would have tried to get your family to a safe place before the attack."
"I figured as much. Hermione told me that you used to be a Death Eater. She said that you pretend to be one now so that Harry and the Order have a chance of beating Volde-whatever. She really admires you." Morgan smiled at Severus then left for the kitchen, reminding him to pick up the food before she left. Severus just laughed to himself when she was out of sight. Morgana was just like his sister when she was younger. It really was too bad that she was a muggle, Severus would have loved having her in his class.
Nobody ate much dinner; everyone was far too worried about Ron. Molly had stopped crying, but only because it seemed that she had no tears left. Shortly after tea was served Severus was summoned. Grabbing his forearm that was searing in pain, he turned to Hermione.
"Go use the floo to summon Albus. Tell him I have been summoned and that I have a bad feeling about this meeting. Then tell him that I want everyone out of this house. After that, go and pack your things and have Morgana and Harry pack their things, you three will be going back to Hogwarts with Albus." Before Hermione could respond Severus had fled the house and apparated away. Hermione ran to the fireplace and flooed Albus, relaying Severus' message. Albus came through the floo, then went into the kitchen to dispense orders.
People were scattered everywhere trying to pack up everything that was related to the Order. Severus had been the first to realize that if Ron were taken to the Dark Lord the Order would be compromised. Dumbledore had announced that everyone would have to split up util further notice. Tonks and Remus were headed to Tonks' family home, Harry, Hermione, and Morgan were going to Hogwarts, and the Weasleys were going back to the Burrow. Dumbledore had assured everyone that as soon as he was sure it was safe he would call another meeting of the Order.
As soon as he was summoned Hermione began to worry about Severus. Morgan was quick to pick up on her friend's uneasiness. She wasn't going to comment while everyone was rushing around. She watched Hermione shrink her things and then pocket them. They waited outside of Harry's room for him and then the thy all made their way downstairs when he immerged. Dumbledore was waiting for them in the kitchen. He told the trio that they would floo to his office and wait for him there. Harry went through first, followed by Morgan and Hermione who went at the same time. Crookshanks let out a loud howl when they stepped out into Dumbledore's office.
"Harry where's Hedwig?" Morgan asked. Crookshanks' howl reminded her that Harry had a pet too.
"I let her out of the cage before we left. She knows where we are and she'll be here soon." Harry smiled at Morgan. She didn't return his smile because she didn't see it she was far too busy looking around Dumbledore's office.
"Wow." It was the only word that came to Morgan's mind as she looked around the room. "This place is so cool."
"Wait until we show you the rest of the castle," Hermione said. Hermione had always gotten along so well with Morgan because they both had the same curiosity and passion for learning.
The three sat in the small room and talked while they waited for Dumbledore to arrive. Morgan asked them questions about magic and what they learn in school, and Hermione and Harry did their best to answer. Harry laughed at Morgan's reactions because they reminded him of Hermione.
"What do you think happened to Ron?" Hermione asked during a lull in the conversation.
"I don't know, 'Mione," Harry answered.
"I told Hermione that he's probably just cooling off somewhere. I really don't think we need to worry just yet," Morgan said.
"Thanks for caring Morgan," Harry started. "I mean, your family was just killed and here you are trying to help us out with our problems." Harry pulled Morgan into a hug. Morgan blushed at the contact.
"It's no problem Harry. I'm always going to miss my family, but if I dwell on their deaths too long then it's just going to make me whish I died with them. Besides, you all took me in and gave me a new family and while it will never replace my real family, it's a means of support when I need it."
Hermione sat back and observed her two friends. She could definitely see a relationship blooming between them. This observation led her to think about her impending marriage to Severus. She was going to be married to him for the rest of their lives, but that didn't mean that they would have a conventional marriage. She knew that there wasn't love in their relationship now, but could there be in the future? Hermione doubted it. Severus would probably see her as more of an inconvenience than a wife. He'd probably only touch her in order to fill the law's requirements and then never touch her again after that.
It suddenly dawned on Hermione that she would have to have sex with her Professor. She had been so upset about the whole wedding thing that it took her until that moment to comprehend just what the law's requirements meant. Hermione was a virgin and she knew that she wasn't ready to have sex. She knew that she was probably the only virgin in her year, but that never bothered her. Even though it sounded pathetic, Hermione had wanted to give her virginity to the man that she loved. She definitely didn't love Severus, she barely even knew him outside of him being her teacher. Hermione slumped down in her chair as the onslaught of thoughts began swimming in her head. It was at that moment that Dumbledore came through the floo, sparing Hermione the emotional trauma that she was starting to inflict on herself.
"I should tell you that I must keep you here until Severus returns," Dumbledore said as soon as he had seated himself behind his desk. "I know that it isn't the most pleasant of situations, but I assure you that it is absolutely necessary." Albus got out his wizard's chess set and an Exploding Snap deck to keep the three students occupied, then left the room to go visit Minerva. After about an hour of Hermione and Harry trying to teach Morgan how to play Exploding Snap, Albus came back into the room followed by a very tired looking Severus.