A/N: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Chapter Eight
Hermione pulled her cloak around her tightly to ward off sharp October wind. She might have appreciated the red and orange sky that complemented the turning leaves except she was too busy searching for Severus. He hadn't been in the Apothecary's or any of the surrounding shops as well. Impatient and irritable after her encounter with Seamus and Lavender, she wondered briefly if she should head back to the castle without him, when she heard his deep voice coming from a nearby alley. She started down the small street and was getting ready to ask him if he was ready to go, but she stopped abruptly at the sound of another voice—Lucius Malfoy. She ducked behind some boxes one of the shopkeepers had stowed in the alleyway and listened.
"...if we can't get at him, then we can hurt him in other ways," Malfoy said.
"He's protected as well as Potter himself. You'd be lucky to get within five hundred meters of him," she heard Snape say.
"Dumbledore can't have the resources to have protective guards on both of them."
"The two are inseparable so it hardly makes it necessary," Snape pointed out.
"It's the perfect plan, Severus. We isolate Potter by removing his friends. You've already maneuvered the Granger girl away from the other two, now all that is left is the Weasley brat," he said maliciously. Hermione shivered at the cold hatred in his voice and the consequence of what exactly they were discussing.
"You don't have much of a plan as it is, Lucius."
"That's where you come in. We'll need you to wring some information out of the girl. Find the best way to get near Weasley—when and where."
Hermione could see Severus shake his head at this.
"I commend your fortitude, and your dedication to the cause. Draco tells me she wasn't your favorite student. And a mudblood at that!" Malfoy sneered.
"There are certain side benefits to the arrangement that make it more tolerable," Severus said, the insinuation clear to both Malfoy and Hermione.
"I suppose there would have to be," Malfoy replied, "She's not much to look at, but then neither are you. Do you use the Imperius curse to control her?"
"No, she's too strong willed for that. There are other ways of controlling a young impressionable witch like her, much more entertaining than a simple Imperius curse," Snape said.
Her stomach turned at the thought of what he was suggesting and forced herself to remember that he was playacting, that he had to say these things. Malfoy laughed, his eyes glittering dangerously.
"We shouldn't be seen talking here," Snape said suddenly and sharply.
"You're right. Remember what I said and don't forget that we're raiding the Millers tomorrow night. Come if you can get away from the old fool." And then with a loud pop, Malfoy disappeared. Hermione quickly retreated from the alleyway. She didn't want Severus to discover her hiding among the boxes. He emerged from the small street a few minutes later.
"There you are," he growled.
"I've been looking for you," she said as he stalked up to her and grabbed her hand.
"I was detained." He marched down the street once again dragging her behind him. She shuffled to catch up.
"Severus, please slow down," she said out of breath. He stopped shortly. He was angry she could tell. Not at her, though her slow pace probably only exacerbated things, but at the situation he was in.
"I need to go to London," he said tersely.
"I'll go with you," she offered. He nodded and then they apparated.
They appeared directly in front of the door to 12 Grimmauld Place, waiting impatiently as the house stretched itself out between the muggle homes that flanked it. They entered quietly in order not to disturb the painting of Mrs. Black that still stuck to the walls in the entryway despite several years worth of efforts to remove her. Even a silencing charm hadn't proven completely effective, only quieting her raving somewhat.
"Severus, Hermione," Lupin greeted them, ushering them into the kitchen. Severus dropped her hand, placing his instead on the small of her back as he propelled her through the door to the kitchen. The room was crowded with people having just finished dinner, but most upon seeing Snape exited the room quicker than they otherwise might have. Professor Dumbledore sat at the head of the table and smiled warmly at them as they came in. Harry and Ron stood by the door, looking aghast at seeing their friend with Snape. She realized it was the first time since their wedding since her two best friends had seen them together, and it must have been unsettling to see Snape with his hand on her back and then as he let it rest at her waist. She gave a wan smile in their direction before turning her attention back to her husband and the headmaster.
"I just spoke with Malfoy, Albus," Severus begun. Professor Dumbledore's smile faded.
"And...," the older man asked expectantly.
"The Millers—tomorrow night." Dumbledore nodded to Lupin, who left the room immediately in preparation to warn the family.
"You'll have to come up with a good excuse to why they aren't there tomorrow night," Hermione interjected, feeling sorry for the plight of the Miller family but also concern for Severus' safety.
"We always do," Dumbledore assured her. "Harry, Ron would you mind excusing us for a moment."
The two boys looked unsure of leaving but did as they were asked, but not before Harry could shoot Snape a suspicious glare. Severus returned the look with a scowl of his own, and he pulled Hermione closer to him, knowing it would provoke Harry further. She glared up at him, pulling away too late for Harry or Ron to see.
"Was that necessary?" she asked impatiently. She had hoped that their marriage would create some sort of bridge between the two men, but if anything it only made the situation worse. Now Harry had one more thing for which to resent Snape and Snape had one more thing with which to openly taunt Harry. They had behaved at the wedding, but barely. It seemed that little had changed. She would have to have stern talk with both parties because she refused to be in the middle.
"Perhaps not," he said in answer to her question, "but worth the look on his face."
She glowered at him.
"Ahem," Dumbledore cleared his throat, bringing their attention back to their purpose in coming to London. "Is there anything else you wanted to tell me, Severus?"
Hermione waited for him to relay the rest of the conversation she had overheard.
"I fed him the misinformation that we prepared. He seemed to accept it as true."
"Good," the headmaster replied, "Good. Well then, I must leave you. I'm meeting a very old friend to celebrate his birthday. Its not every day one turns 199." His eyes twinkled and Hermione wondered if by 'old friend' that they had been friends for a long time or if he meant his age. Dumbledore chuckled as he walked past her.
"Both," he whispered just loud enough for her to hear. She gasped and then stared at the old man as he left the room. She looked over at Severus to see him lift an eyebrow.
"Are you ready to go home?" she asked, ignoring his silent question. He nodded, following her out of the room. She said her goodbyes to Molly, Lupin, and the boys, telling them she was too tired to stay and visit and promising to stop by later in the week. Severus waited for her outside and it was as they were apparating back to the gates of Hogwarts that she suddenly realized that he hadn't told Professor Dumbledore the rest of the conversation with Malfoy—the plan to attack Ron.