Disclaimer: Nope. I own nothing that you recognize in Rowling's books.
A/N: Well, yes, another update...finally. I'm thinking about another update before school starts...but that may not be possible. So all you lovely reviewers can do is to review and hopefully, some of the wonderful things you say will tickle an inspiration in my brain. Without further ado, I present you the next chapter
Meetings
Hermione sat patiently in front of Severus' hearth. The fire crackled merrily and it illuminated the dark office in the dungeons. It was one of the two fireplaces that were able to access another fireplace beyond Hogwarts.
The Order's meeting was in few minutes' time and she waited for the arrival of her support, her beacons of light. Today had been a very eventful day and Hermione looked forward to see her friends, some stability, again. She stared at the dancing flame.
Her boys never seemed to be early, just barely on time if not late; she thought, slightly amused.
Suddenly, the fire turned green and with what seemed to be a roar, the flame flew high. Within moments, a swirl of disheveled black hair spun into her view. And before the disorientated body of Harry, who was trying to steady himself, could move, Ron's redhead that clashed horribly with the emerald flame appeared.
"Bloody hell, Harry." Ron exclaimed as he crashed into Harry and the two grown men stumbled out of the hearth like clumsy school boys. "I'd thought after all these years; you'd handle traveling by floo better. Honestly, how hard can it be?"
Hermione smiled at their antics- their presence had already lightened her mood.
Harry ignored Ron's comment and walked towards her with a huge grin. He slung an arm around her shoulders and asked, "So, how's it going, Hermione? Given out any detention yet?"
"None." She grinned as she led them out of the Severus' office. She saw Ron opened his mouth to speak, but before he could start, Hermione said, "and no, I haven't taken more points of Slytherin than necessary. Now, let's go."
With the two grumbling behind her, they entered the meeting room and took their seats after a brief greeting with the other members attending. Within moments, the meeting commenced.
xxXxx
When the meeting adjourned, Ron grumbled all the way to the kitchen where they decided to have a midnight snack. Harry tickled the painted pear in the fruit bowl that despite all these years, still remained fresh and vibrant as the day it was hung onto the wall.
They sat down by the table, just like old times. Dobby and Winky piled food in torturous amount on the table while they'd just asked for a cup of tea and some scones. It was just like old time. Except…the 'old times' wasn't that long ago. Merely five years since they were students of Hogwarts.
"I still don't understand why Dumbledore's letting a Death Eater to stay here!" Ron grumbled with his mouth full, repeating what he had said since he left the meeting room.
"Ron," Hermione said exasperatedly after swallowing her mouthful. "We've been through this already. He may hold invaluable information of Lord Voldemort."
"But this is Hogwarts!" Ron continued. "You've got students here!"
"Yes." She argued back, "You know that. That's why Remus is keeping a look…"
"Remus's injured!" the redhead reminded her.
"Doesn't mean he's invalid."
They held a fierce glaring match. Unwilling to admit defeat, just like the old times.
"Look," Harry finally interfered. "I've came here to have a snack and catch up with Hermione. And about Malfoy, I'm not happy that he's here, but we've got Dumbledore, Remus and Hermione to watch over him; and he will be taken to Grimmauld Place as soon as it's safe to take him traveling by floo."
That had concluded Hermione and Ron's dispute, for which Hermione was grateful because she really did not want to spend those limited times she had with them, arguing with Ron. Who knew when they would meet again after today.
When the three of them had eaten all they could, they left the kitchen and entered the candle lit hallway. From there, they made their way back to Severus' office.
The fire was still blazing after many hours of burning, but no one was present in the room. The trio stepped in and closed the door, just in case someone walked in. This fireplace was, after all, a secret. Ron dug his hand into his pocket and held out a bag of floo powder.
Harry gave her a pat on the shoulders.
"Take care, Hermione." He said before throwing the powder into the flame. He walked into the flame and disappeared with his shout of the destination.
Hermione looked at Ron who had yet to step into the flame. She looked at him questioningly.
"I'll give him a few moments." He said, "Don't want to crash into him like before."
She nodded and was enveloped into a loose brotherly hug.
"I'm sorry about before." Ron said awkwardly, as he released her. "I shouldn't have ranted on about the Order's decision. It was just…It's Malfoy."
"I know." She smiled. "You're forgiven. Now go, before Harry comes back. Take care."
Ron grinned at her. "Well, I'd better go then. You take care too, Hermione. And try taking some more points off Slytherin. I saw their hourglass; they aren't that far behind us!"
With that, Ron, too, threw his handful of floo powder into the fire and went back to Grimmauld Place.
The flame gave a last huff of green, before simmering back to its original orange-red. Hermione gave a last smile at the empty flame before leaving Severus' office. She strolled quietly down the silent and empty hall. The cold air that penetrated the walls of Hogwarts kept her awake. Somehow, maybe because her mind was still wantonly lingering in those past moments where she was with her best friends, her footstep led her away from her room, where her bed lay warm and readied for her, and found herself at the Hospital Wing, besides his bed.
She sat down in a chair and stared at the pale face on the bed.
This was the first time she saw him, really saw him, after graduation.
His pallid and still form stretched out across the equally light sheets. The rise and fall of his chest was the only indication that he was anything but dead yet. His face was as she remembered it. Only now that; his lips were chapped and colorless. His hair was dull and matted on his face and the pillow where his head sunk deeply into it.
And suddenly a wave of nostalgia struck her.
She remembered seeing him like that once in seventh year. It had been after a Quidditch match. He'd taken various hits during the game and insisted on playing on. It was until he'd taken another Bludger at the base of his neck when he caught the snitch, did he fall from his broom. He caught the prize but lost the game. He had been in the Hospital Wing for two days.
Just like now. He got his power…and the cost of his whole life.
He only looked slightly different from he had in seventh year.
Hermione sighed and wondered what had happened to him to make him took that road.
She stared at the bandaged left arm and refused the urge to touch it. That was where it laid. The Dark Mark. That was where his decisions were. She remembered seeing that darkened, bloodied tattoo in the morning. And she wanted so badly to unwind the stainless bandage to see what it was that had, and probably still, fascinated him.
Hermione forced her hands to stay in her lap as she gripped tightly at her robes.
"Came to check up on a childhood nemesis?" A voice asked from the other side of the Hospital Wing.
Hermione turned to voice quickly and saw her predecessor, trying to sit up on his bed.
"Remus," she greeted as she briskly walked over and helped him. "How are you doing?"
"As well as I can hope for."
"That's good." She said, sitting herself down in a nearby chair. "When are you going to take up teaching again?"
"Well…not for a long time." Remus said, somewhat regretfully. "At least not until next year."
"I see." She nodded, thoughtfully.
"You don't like teaching here?" Remus questioned conversationally. "I'd thought you would be ecstatic. You've always had a fondness for teaching."
Hermione smiled. "It's not that." She replied, and then her face darkened a bit. "It's just that…it doesn't feel right again. Harry and Ron are having those skirmishes out there…always in danger. And I'm here, in relative safety. We've always been a team…and it's the first time we've been separated for this long since the war started."
"They'll manage." Remus reassured her with a soft smile. "You're doing fine here too. You did stop an infiltration today."
He nodded at Malfoy's body across the room. Hermione flashed him a cynical smile as she followed his gaze.
"I was just at the right place at the right time."
"Still." He insisted.
Hermione shrugged, not bothered to continue this argument.
"So, what's going to happen to him?"
"We've decided to haul him to Headquarter for interrogation." She said, peering form her spot at the man across the room, her eyes lingering on the other man for a moment too long. "Once he has come around that is."
Remus noticed but said nothing.
He nodded at her answer. A silence surrounded them. Neither comfortable nor uncomfortable. There was hardly anything else to say that would seem appropriate.
"I shouldn't be deterring you from your rest. Recover soon, Remus. The Order needs you. Tonks misses you too." Hermione said as she stood up.
"I will." The tawny haired man promised as Hermione helped him lie back down.
She left Remus's bedside and on her way out of the Hospital Wing, she shot another glance at the blond Death Eater.
What's going to happen to you, Draco Malfoy?
A/N: Yet another chapter, complete. It's un-beta...because I want to get it to you guys sooner, I hope it's not too bad. I already know what I have to do in the next chapter...just don't know how to start it. I'm sure I'll come up with something. I hope you enjoyed it...and the quality of the chapter makes up for the longer wait. I'm terrribly sorry about that. Hopefully, next chapter would be more eventful than this one. But you can think of it as the calm before the storm...becuase this story has offiicially entered the second halve.
Please Read and Review.