Disclaimer: None of these wonderful characters is mine; they are J.K. Rowling's.
Summary: Hermione graduated from Hogwarts 2 years ago and is now twenty. War rages on and she builds barriers around her heart.
Genre: Angst/Romance Rating: Mature/Lemon Warnings: This is very OOC. If you want the characters just the way they are in the book, stop now and click on the back button. This is also AU. If you do not like it, do not read it! Now for those who want to, enjoy!

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I Don't Believe In Love

Chapter Fourteen: The Assignment

Voldemort was thinking. It seemed that his Hermione and Severus were getting far too close for comfort. He realized this immediately after their duel. They showed far too much comfort with each other.

He thought and thought of an appropriate way to separate them, without showing his distrust. He pondered over this.

After a few hours, an evil smirk grew on his illusionary face. 'Perfect.'

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Hermione was sitting in her office, admiring Severus' Christmas gift for her. It was a crystal statue of Athena, Goddess of wisdom. The statue was fully armed.

Severus told her to think of him whenever she looked at the statue. Severus chose that time to knock on the door.

She called out "It's open!"

"Good afternoon." Severus slipped in. He noticed the statue and smiled.

His smile tugged at Hermione's heart. "Good afternoon. You seem to be in a happy mood." She observed.

"Perhaps I am." He offered his hand, and she took it.

"Well. Are you going to tell me what put in such a good mood?" Hermione asked, curious.

"You are the reason for my good mood." Hermione raised her eyebrow.

The corners of Severus' lips quirked up. He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

She closed her eyes and leaned into him. He closed his eyes, and kissed the top of her head. Together, they swayed in music only they could hear.

Hermione waved her hand lazily and soft, slow music filled the office.

"May I have this dance?" Severus asked, his arms still around her, his nose still buried in her hair, breathing her fragrance.

Hermione turned in his embrace, and put her arms around his neck and drew him closer. His eyes were engulfing her. She swam in those black depths. Like the night sky...

They both swayed slowly with the music, both lost in their own world.

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Minerva McGonagall was worried when Hermione did not attend lunch. She told Albus that she would go fetch Hermione. "Splendid! Why don't I join you?"

He offered his arm to Minerva, she smiled, and she took it. They walked to Hermione's office, talking about students and their progress.

They knocked but no one answered, so they decided to open the door. The sight that greeted their eyes was overwhelming. They saw the two swaying, then Hermione conjured up a slow music, and they saw the two dance, ever so slow, seemingly savoring each passing second that they were in each other's company. It was plain to see that they were truly in love.

"Do you see now Minerva?" Albus asked his best friend.

Minerva watched the touching scene as if she was entranced until she realized that Albus asked her a question. "They look so...in love..." She said in a remorseful manner.

"Ah yes they do, alas, neither one of them would accept it." Albus said. Sadness evident in his voice.

"But why?" Minerva never realized.

"They say they do not believe in it. It has been etched far too deep in their minds. They believe that it is a weakness." Albus sighed. "Let us not intrude in their privacy any longer."

They quietly slid the door shut, and left the couple still dancing, lost in their fantasy world.

"Albus I do not understand. They surely have to feel it when they..." Minerva was cut off.

"They cannot even kiss." Albus revealed to her, and she gasped. How did they survive this?

"If they do not believe in love, then what do they call it?"

"Lust." Albus said simply.

"Lust! They cannot even kiss and they call it lust!" She could not believe those two.

"Minerva, you have to understand, it is harder to break a wall made of steel, than a wall made of wood. Apparently, they have erected a wall of steel to cover their hearts." Minerva felt a wave of sadness flow over her.

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Severus never felt so free before, with her arms round his neck, and her head on his chest.

She listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat. She knew the war would cost lives. She wanted to memorize everything she could of him.

He nuzzled her ear, and she giggled.

Suddenly, a searing pain shot through their left arms.

They broke apart, and a look of horror crossed their eyes. It was an individual summoning, not a group summoning.

They knew that they had little time, an individual summoning is always important. They summoned their death eater robes and wore them, then covered them with the usual work robes.

Hurriedly, they went to the headmaster's office, where they saw Minerva.

"Good afternoon. An individual summoning." The headmaster immediately gave them the portkey.

They were whisked away to Hogsmeade, where they immediately apparated.

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Voldemort chose a hill to meet them. Severus immediately kneeled, while Hermione Immediately began bombarding Voldemort with questions.

"Tom! What happened? Is there something wrong? I felt an individual summoning an I--" Voldemort shushed Hermione by putting a finger on her lips.

"Everything is fine; I only wished to assign you both important tasks." Hermione sighed in relief. Severus however, felt his blood boil when he saw the dark lord touch his Hermione.

"Oh. I thought something horrible happened." Hermione's skin was crawling from his touch, when he rand his fingertips along her arms.

"Hermione, I want you to research on a spell rumored to cause a widespread variation of the cruciatus curse." Voldemort turned to Severus, his eyes turning cold.

Severus retained his I-am-your-loyal-dog,-master facade. "Severus, you will spy on Potter."

"My apologies my lord, but Potter has been under the old fool's wing since he graduated. His current place is under a secret-keeper." Voldemort sneered.

"Then spy on the secret-keeper!" He snapped.

"As you wish my lord." Severus bowed while kneeling.

Voldemort, to prove that Hermione will be his and his only, pulled her into a kiss. Her eyes widened, and she felt panic overcome her feelings. She forced herself to kiss back, and tried her best not to throw up in Voldemort's mouth.

("OOOH MY EYES!" Smirks wails in parseltongue. "MY EYES!" "Oh well, my nightmares will just have to get worse." Snarks sighs. "Oh shut up!")

Severus felt his heart stop, then hurt in unbearable agony. He forced his face to remain impassive. It would do no good to show any feelings.

Voldemort ended the kiss.

"Tom! I promised you after you win!" Hermione's face showed anger.

"Of course my dear, but a kiss will do no harm." Voldemort caressed her cheek. "I shall see you again soon."

That was the dismissal.

They both apparated to Hogsmeade.

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Severus felt numb. Hermione however, promptly emptied the contents of her stomach.

He stroked her back, as she continued to vomit.

After that, she used a soaping charm in her mouth, and used a wordless 'aguamenti' to rinse the soap.

"Disgusting." She grimaced.

They spent the rest of the night lending each other stregnth in the courtyard.

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Ok. The next chappie: They both do the assignments. Thank you so much to those who reviewed.

chibimecools: Lol. Gotcha.

Varcolaci: Hey, that happens to me too. I just hit refresh. Great! My snakes will have a new playmate. -

retarted monkey: Thank you!

jekyllhyde: They are. Aren't they? hehe.

deadlyabyss12: I can relate. lol.

Mish Michelle: OMG! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Oh thank you thank you thank you. You made my story all the more interesting! (glomps)

Angelbabe385: Well, you'll see. (evil grin)

Fairy of Fire and Fury: Lol. Poor computer. Oh don't worry the angsty one will go first.

JTBJAB: Whew. Thanks. I thought it might have been crappy.

aniamifan1988: Hehe. Thanks!

Mrs Luna Potter: Thank you! The snakes are basically my messengers-Author's note

Obi-wan's lover: I shall do so!

SexyIsSnape126: lol. Ah school. I'm so glad it's a whole week away for me...

I got so much reviews! I'm so happy. Thank you so much for Mish'idea for the assignment. Thanks for reading. Review. Please. - Darque