Disclaimer: Nothing but the plot is mine.
A/N: The wonderful April and Gyre Falcon beta-ed this. Thanks!
A/N2: I'm sorry to inform you all that, unlikeformy previous stories, I won't be able to do individual responses. I'll answer any specific questions you have through e-mail. Again, this fic is a challenge response. The rules of the challenge can be found on my LJ: zanthia122. A lot of you seem to be concerned about the plot, or have applauded me on making Dumbledore more ambiguious than usual. That's all part of the challenge. All I ask is for you to wait and see. I promise this will be worth it.
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Half an hour later, Hermione found herself standing by Severus in front of the fireplace, bidding Lucius Malfoy goodbye like they were long-acquainted friends. As the blond man disappeared in the emerald flames, she turned to face her lover.
"You could have at least informed me during supper that your friend was coming over."
He shrugged. "I had no knowledge of it prior to his visit."
"What are we going to do? Are we really dining with Voldemort?"
"Well, I am open to other suggestions." He placed his arm around her shoulder and fixed his gaze on her. "The Dark Lord knows of your existence. It's too late to back out. Or do you regret being with me in the first place?"
"Of course not!" she protested.
"Then relax. I will allow no harm to be inflicted on you," he replied, his face resolute in the flickering light. She smiled hesitantly to him. He tightened his embrace, bending low to meet her lips--
"Ooof," someone coughed. The couple snapped towards the sound, as the fire again glowed green and a wooden leg clunked onto the floor. Alastor Moody stepped out of the fireplace and shook himself. Hermione cringed as soot fell from Moody's coat onto the rug on which he stood.
The ex-Auror glanced around the room with speculative eyes before settling them on the embracing couple. His disfigured face broke into a grin while his magical eye rotated madly in its socket.
"Did I interrupt something?"
Turning away from the blushing Hermione, Severus shot a glare at the intruder. "Alastor?"
"I am sorry, Severus," said Moody, his upper lip still jutting out. "I couldn't help but Floo right over-- you two took me way too long to locate. Glad that you aren't retired to bed yet."
"Can't say I echo your sentiment," Hermione muttered warily.
"What can we do for you at this ungodly hour?" Severus asked, his voice detachedly polite.
"Albus wants to talk to you, Severus."
"Albus doesn't want anything to do with me," he said coldly, his brows wrinkling.
Moody cleared his throat and looked uncomfortable. "Well, he's changed his mind. He decided that we should have a talk, to resolve our... differences."
"That is Dumbledore's idea?" Hermione snorted, showing that she did not for one second believe in his words. Severus placed a hand on her arm.
"Well, in that case, Alastor," he told Moody, "we will talk. But that does not mean I'm prepared to give in to every nonsensical whim of that old goat," he added warningly.
"Naturally, Severus," said Moody in an even tone, "naturally. So... I assume I'll be seeing you on Thursday?"
"Thursday, the usual time."
"Good, good. I'll have to report to Albus, then..." He trailed off with a satisfied smile on his face, and turned to leave the way he came.
As their second uninvited visitor of the night departed, Hermione and Severus glanced at each other, both momentarily speechless. Then, she spoke dryly, "What, now we're the most popular of guests?"
"Doesn't the knowledge of being loved just warm you all over?"
She laughed briefly at his sarcasm, then grew sober again. "Why did you agree, Severus? The Order disposed of you like a used dish-cloth, just because you wanted to be with your one true love."
"No, but because I brewed some highly illegal lust potion and spiked an underage witch's pumpkin juice and dragged her into bed."
She stared at him. He spread his hands and shrugged. "Well, that's what they think."
She sighed. "Honestly, Severus," she said, "this is a slightly serious situation we have here. Are you really planning to meet with the Order and your Voldemort on the same night? How are we--"
"The Dark Lord is not mine." He held her waist and piloted her towards their bedroom. "You, on the other hand..."
"Severus!" She patted his hand away exasperatedly.
"I'd like to have both my options weighed, Hermione, before I make a decision. Or, better, a compromise," he paused slightly at the look on her face. "Don't worry. I've been a spy for longer than you've been alive."
She regarded him for a silent moment, then proceeded to ask the one thing that every woman in her situation would ask--"Merlin, what am I going to wear?"
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She finally decided on an ankle-length, somewhat form-fitting burgundy robe. During that hour of fretting, Severus snidely offered to lend her his black attire, and shared a hearty snicker with the mirror when it pointed out that his straight robes would make her look like she was pregnant. Hermione huffed under her breath about inconsiderate men not understanding the woes of women, and made a mental note to get rid of the mirror when Severus wasn't looking.
When the laces around the collar were smoothed and the sleeves straightened, she waved her wand and deftly tied her mane into a fairly presentable bun. Severus walked over to her and began massaging her exposed nape.
"For a girl who hasn't much beauty to start with, you don't look too bad," the mirror commented.
She glared at it in the hope of her pure venom would be able to shatter it, and then relaxed when she noticed her reflection. The bun had achieved the desired effect-- she no longer appeared underage, but an elegant, self-respecting lady. In fact, even though her height barely reached his chin, she thought they looked... appropriate, if that was the word.
Severus seemed to be thinking along the same line, for he bent down and whispered in her ears, "You look like my perfect partner--"
She smiled at him.
"--now can we go?"
If the mirror had lips, it would have been smirking as Hermione shoved an elbow into her lover's abdomen.
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"Is it me, or is this place practically freezing?"
"You have the frock coat, Severus."
Seeing the anxiety etched on her face, he held back his tongue. The Headquarters of the Order was never particularly convivial, but today, even without the shrieks from a blasted portrait, it seemed more forlorn than usual. They walked noiselessly along the corridor, their hands clammy against each other's. Arriving at the kitchen door, Severus turned to glance at her pale face.
"Are you ready?"
Hermione inhaled deeply and straightened, squaring her small shoulders like a soldier going into a battlefield. He gave her hand a light squeeze and pushed open the door.
If possible, the kitchen seemed even chillier than the hall, although a fire was blazing in the fireplace. He led her in, all the while guardedly eyeing the members of the Order around the table, every one of whom was either glowering or evading his gaze.
"I can just feel the welcome, can't you?" he whispered.
"Sev--"
"Hermione, Severus," Dumbledore interrupted grimly, "please have a seat."
They obeyed without a second word, and sat down directly across the old wizard at the end of the table. Hermione looked at all the usually friendly faces, people that she hadn't seen since she ran away from Hogwarts, and felt oddly like a convict in front a jury.
"I gather that everyone's here. So, let the meeting commence," said Dumbledore, as he did every time they met; though this was, of course, no ordinary meeting. "There is only one item on our agenda this evening." He studied them over the rim of his glasses, and steepled his fingers on the table. "And that will be... Severus, Hermione, we need your service in the Order."
"You mean we're permitted to be back in your great club, sir?"
"Hermione..." Harry began in a pleading tone, but Dumbledore silenced him with a wave.
"Miss Granger, I'll admit that I was rather impersonal in my dismissal of Severus, and I apologize for my impulsiveness. But you must understand, in my state of shock--"
"And disgust," she inserted, feeling a fizzy anger replacing her initial nervousness.
"--I was only obliged to do the first thing that came to mind."
"Somehow, that doesn't sound very repentant to me."
"Hermione," Remus spoke gently from her left. "Please, hear us out. You can curse us every way you want later."
That didn't sound too safe to Harry, who was one of the few people around the table that had a very clear idea of what kind of hexes his best friend was capable of. However, he relaxed slightly as he saw Hermione soften at Remus' words.
"Both of you have contributed a lot to the Cause in the past," said Dumbledore, clearing his throat. "It would indeed be a great loss to us if you two should leave the Order."
She rolled her eyes furtively. That from the man who had basically thrown them out of Hogwarts a week ago.
"You will leave Hogwarts formally, with a certificate, Hermione," continued the Headmaster, switching to her first name in a softer voice, "and Minerva is going to offer you an apprenticeship." He watched the young witch snapped her head towards her Transfiguration Professor, who nodded affirmative. "As for you, Severus, you will get your job back. Can't afford to lose my resident Potions Master extraordinaire, can I now?"
"If I didn't know you better, Albus, I'd say you are practicing bribery on me," Severus noted sardonically.
"Whatever works on you, Severus." With that, up his twinkles came.
"Albus--"
"There'll be one condition, though," said Dumbledore, serious again. Severus folded his arms and leaned back. He knew this was coming: it was starting to seem too easy. Hermione shifted in her seat.
"You two will obtain your respective positions in Hogwarts and in the Order, but your... relationship will have to be terminated. We do not wish to set a precedent for inappropriate--"
"Sir!" Hermione protested indignantly.
"Oh, Hermione, don't you worry," the wizard spoke in what he thought as a soothing voice. "You two will continue to work together in an amicable, comradely manner that was expected of all Order members, in all situations-- within reason, of course. A period of time will be given so you two may be able to work that bit of infatuation off, and come up with a more thought-through, agreeable friendship."
Hermione gaped at him, not sure if she was hearing him correct, unable to respond. It appeared that only she, with the exception of Severus maybe, was able to spot the twisted logic beneath what the Head of the Order had just said. What infuriated her the most, however, was Dumbledore's tone that suggested he was granting them an enormous flavor, and his way would be the best way to do anything.
Before the angry reply in the back of her throat had the time to tumble out, Dumbledore had taken her silence as agreement and continued on. He was now talking to Severus in a very reasonable manner.
"Besides, you'd be able to continue your spying for the Order, Severus."
"And that would be so much fun, wouldn't it."
Hermione shot him a look. It was obvious that the Order had no idea of Voldemort's activities without him, and they were just as clueless of Severus' ambiguous loyalty, it seemed. Well, at least she needn't worry about the latter: they were doing a nice job of pushing him over the edge. She could see a vein bulging at his temple-- a sure sign of his patience waning.
"Let's be reasonable here, boy," --That earned a dirty glare from Severus-- "I don't suppose Voldemort would accept your association with Hermione too well. It's in your best interest to break off this relationship. You don't want Hermione to get hurt, do you?"
"I think I might just be able to handle myself, thank you very much," she interjected icily.
"Hermione!" Ron cried suddenly, his voice quivering, whether from rage or holding back tears, even he, himself, could not be sure. He was sitting next to his mother, taking refuge behind the plump frame of the woman, and was silent until now. He had sworn to stay out of this, but seeing her defending Snape was too much. "How can you... Snape... after all he had done to us...I-- he-- you--" Undiluted rage took over him for a moment as he trembled in his seat. When he collected himself, he spoke again in desperation, "If it's a man you want, I-- I can be with you!"
Overcame by a sense of incredulity, she opened her mouth. But Severus beat her to it.
"That's awfully generous of you, Mr. Weasley." He barked a harsh laugh, and the fury emanating off him washed over her like a tsunami. "What do you say about his offer, Hermione?"
Putting her hand on his knee under the table, she looked her lover into the eye. "I guess I'll just have to make do with you, Severus," she said quietly.
Severus turned his cold eyes at Dumbledore, who was now stony-faced. "Albus, I loathe to turn down your proposal. I'm certain that it was planned with everyone's benefits in mind. However--" He covered Hermione's hand on the table with his own. "I have not known happiness in my entire life, Albus. I am happy now. And you are not going to take away the only thing that makes me feel that way."
Hermione swallowed a lump that had appeared in her throat all of a sudden.
"I hope you know you're being exceedingly selfish, my boy," said Dumbledore reproachfully.
"That's the only way you all know me," he replied. At least my reputation as a selfish sod's still intact, he thought self-condescendingly as he stood up, with Hermione following suit. "Now, if you'll pardon us."
As they walked to the door, Dumbledore called wearily from behind, "Think of your future, Severus. Think of Hermione's. Think of Voldemort-- jobless, and forever hiding-- you two will never make it!"
"I will be sure to give that some thought," replied Severus, propelling Hermione out the door and swept out of the kitchen in a whirl of billowing robes.
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"That went well," Bill commented as the door slammed shut, gaining himself a chiding glare from his mother.
A graveness of the situation shadowed the members of the Order, and for a moment the room was silent, save for the crackling logs and the sound of Mundungus huffing on his cigarette. Finally, Moody stood up, walked over to the fireplace, and disappeared in the Floo without uttering another word.
"The meeting's concluded and you're all dismissed," Dumbledore said tiredly, and rose to his feet.
"Albus! Don't you want to stay for dinner?" Molly asked.
"Another time, Molly. I've some really pressing matters at hand right now." Turning to Remus, the old wizard added, "Remus, come with me. There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Remus obeyed, and as he prepared to Floo to the Headmaster's office, he realized with a sinking feeling that Dumbledore's back-up plan had to be activated.
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