After breakfast, Dobby arrived with the mail and handed it out. While everyone else was preoccupied with looking at his or her letters - the house-elf surreptitiously slipped an envelope into Hermione's pocket. She creased her brow at him but said nothing as she reached down to look at it secretly under the table.

On it, in rather scrawly handwriting, were the letters - F.Y.E.O. Her brain only took a few seconds to click as to what that meant and she stuffed the note quickly back into her pocket with a smile.

Later on she went to the bathroom, locked her self in and smiled with joyful anticipation, as she opened the letter. It read:

Hermione

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I have had to leave Grimmauld Place forthwith and I will be gone by the time you read this letter.

Do not be too disappointed though, as I have been given the opportunity to a stay at the house of an old friend of mine while he is away for a few weeks. As I will be quite alone, this would give us the perfect opportunity to be together, away from prying eyes - and ears.

If it is possible for you to join me, be waiting by Knockturn Alley at seven o'clock in two days time.

Yours S

(P.S. - Do not under any circumstance reply to this letter and destroy it immediately once you have read it!)

Hermione felt quite overwhelmed after reading this and her head was all of a whir. Why had he just run off in the night without telling her? Had he known about her run in with Remus? Or had something else really come up? If so – what?

Then the realisation hit her of the wonderful opportunity she was being offered and she jumped up suddenly, as if a bolt of electricity had gone through her. Her whole body felt awash with nerves and she jiggled excitedly.

"A whole house - all to our selves!" she squeaked under her breath, then bit her lip and clasped her hands together in front of her mouth – looking as if she was praying this wasn't just a dream.

A burning spell and a swipe of her wand later the letter was gone into dust.

Now there was the sticky problem of approaching Ron's Mum and Dad to ask them for permission to leave the house for a while. She had a sort of unwritten contract with the Order that she would stay - at least until her Auror training began, as it was much safer for both Harry and her. She felt though, that there were mitigating circumstances for which they might bend the rules for.

Now that everyone knew that her parents were going to be going to Africa and would be away for quite sometime, it might have even been expected that she would ask to see them before they went anyway. She would just say they were going away a bit sooner than she had previously thought that was all.

It would be so hard to tell such an outright lie to two people of whom she thought such a great deal of, but she felt she didn't have much of a choice. She could hardly tell them the truth could she? And there was no way she was going to miss such a golden opportunity to be with Severus – who knew when they were going to have the chance again?

As she walked down the stairs, back towards the kitchen, her thoughts and feelings were in such disarray, that she nearly collided with someone coming up the other way - a very tall someone.

"Oh I'm sorry.." Hermione began apologetically, but when she saw that it was Fred, her belly lurched and she was suddenly on her guard.

He smiled warmly, then shrugged "No problem...look.. I wanted to explain about the other day.."

"Oh there's no need!" Hermione interrupted him hurriedly. She really didn't want to go into this right now - she had more important things on her mind.

"No..really I was.." he looked down for a moment and creased his forehead thoughtfully

"Look.. I went too far and it was really wrong of me, I just couldn't help.."

"Look Fred" Hermione interjected again, rather more sharply than she'd intended -making him look up quickly. "It doesn't matter, it's all water under the bridge now, okay?" she continued, more softly, trying to brush past him, but he held up his hand to stop her.

"No.. wait.. I really need to tell you something, Hermy..it's erm.." He sighed and Hermione rolled her eyes and folded her arms in frustration, thinking that he was probably only trying to wind her up again

He sat down on the steps, pulling her gently down with him.

"What?..." Hermione began irritably, but the look on Fred's face quieted her. He looked more serious than she had ever seen him - which she felt was a little ominous.

He looked her straight in the eyes, took a deep breath and dropped the bombshell

"Hermione, I think I'm in love with you... I.. know it's wrong, but.. I can't help it. Merlin knows what Ron would think of me - he'd probably never speak to me again, but.. it's just the way I feel" He smiled feebly, waiting for her reaction

Hermione's belly lurched again; she was so shocked at this revelation, that she felt a little bit faint and leant against the wall for support. Had she just heard what she thought she'd heard? Was he joking? Oh..my..god!

"I don't..I don't know what to say!" she stuttered, shaking her head in disbelief

He moved closer and grabbed her hand.

"Look this isn't a joke, if that's what you're thinking - I wouldn't joke about this kind of thing. I mean it's not just.. you know.. a friendship kind of love or anything like that, it's the real thing." He looked down, then smiled and chuckled quietly "look -I'm shaking, I'm so nervous!" he admitted, holdinga handup to show her. "I had it all planned the way I was going to tell you, but.. well.." He shrugged again.

Hermione looked around quickly, then grabbed Fred's arm firmly and dragged him back up into the bathroom.

He looked at her questioningly, then smiled

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Fred had moved in to kiss her, pulling her tightly to him.

Hermione stiffened, then extracted herself determinedly from his grip and gave him a very stern look

"Look Fred...I'm sorry but I don't feel the same way.." she told him flatly. As she stood there looking at him she mused that if she hadn't been with Severus she may even have thought about it, but then again in that case, she would still have been with Ron and quickly pushed those thoughts out of her mind.

"But the kiss.. I'm sure I felt ...(he sighed) I'm sorry I must have got it all wrong" He smiled wanly, then looked down

He looked so crestfallen that Hermione felt terrible - had she unknowingly built up his hopes and led him on? She was pretty sure that she hadn't, but maybe she had without even realising it, after all, she'd been on such a sexual high lately, what with all the sneaking around with Severus - she may have been giving off some kind of vibes.

"Well would you consider going out with me anyway? I mean you don't hate me or anything right?" He looked hopefully at her, almost like the way a lonely puppy in a pet shelter would look at a prospective owner. She'd seen him do that look before at his mother and it made her wonder if he was completely on the level.

Hermione braced her self before she answered

"No, no I'm sorry...I can't"

"Is it because of Ron?" He ventured

"Err, no, err yes, yes it is, I just couldn't do that to him, it would be really cruel, like.. like I was rubbing his face in it or something"

"Oh, oh well, if you change your mind ..you know where I am"

He moved aside and let her go at last.

"Woah!" Hermione said quietly to herself as she walked a little unsteadily back down the corridor.

She felt the need to get away as quickly as possible and bolted down the stairs so fast she nearly fell down the last four steps. She flew into the kitchen to surprised looks from Molly and Remus who looked like they had been deep in conversation. Hermione's heart sank as a rather paranoid thought came into her head – "had they been talking about her?"

"Erm Molly..err.. Mrs Weasley could I talk to you about something?" she asked awkwardly, hoping that Remus would see he wasn't wanted and go. She really didn't want to say what she wanted to say in front of him, as she was afraid she would lose her nerve. Her heart was already beating so fast that it was pounding in her ears and she didn't think she could take any more stress right now.

Thankfully, on seeing Hermiones expression he wandered off to the other side of the room. Molly stood there looking atthe girlexpectantly.

"Yes dear? What is it? Are you all right? You look quite flushed - are you sickening for something?" She asked, putting a soft, cool hand on Hermione's forehead

"No, no I'm fine" Hermione smiled reassuringly, "Erm.. you know my parents are going away to Africa soon, well, I'd like to see them before they go – you know to say goodbye properly"

"Oh, well that shouldn't be a problem, as long as you have an escort there and back and let us know when you are going out. We can't be too careful at the moment you know, but I couldn't deprive you of seeing your parents, not when you don't know how soon you'll be able to see them again"

Molly smiled so kindly that Hermione felt a wave of guilt crash through her. Then she began to panic – an escort? She hadn't thought of that! Of course they would want to escort her!

She acted quickly

"What about Remus? He could escort me couldn't he? I'm sure he wouldn't mind" Hermione suggested looking hopefully in his direction.

Remus looked surprised at his name suddenly being mentioned and gave Hermione a suspicious look. He may have known or at least had an inkling of what was really going on, but he said nothing and just nodded his agreement.

It was arranged that as long as Remus and another Auror went with her as escort, she could go.

She was planning to say that she was meeting her parents by the Leaky Cauldron at Diagon alley – and hoped the other Auror wouldn't question it.

The day soon came and Hermione packed her trunk, while Ginny was lain back on her bed, quoting funny or interesting bits out of a magazine she was reading. Hermione felt so awful lying to everyone about where she was really going, but she felt sure the end result would be worth it. After all it wouldn't hurt just to be away for a few days would it? After her trunk was packed she minimized it to the size of a handbag and left it on top of her bed, then clock watched all the rest of the day. When the time came for her to go, her nerves were shot.

Fred's recent revelation and the fact that he still kept giving her hopeful sidelong glances had also added to her already agitated state.

Everyone wished her goodbye, with hugs and warning's to be careful – especially Molly. Ron merely lingered by the door and gave her a half smile – which Hermione returned. Then she and her 'minders' walked out of the door and said in unison

'Diagon alley"

They all landed with a pop outside the door of the old pub and began to wait.

Hermione's mind began to whir as she planned exactly what she was going to do.

After a few moments of silence she suddenly announced

" I just have to go and do a little shopping before they come, do you mind?" looking at Remus expectantly

"All right, which shop?"

"Erm..Madame Malkins, I just want to get something for my Mum" Hermione returned quickly

"Come on then.." he replied stepping forward

Hermione reeled a little, then recovered

"Oh you don't need to come, I'm sure I'll be alright, it is only down there!" she said in irritation, indicating with her hand

Remus sighed resignedly as he looked into the resolute expression on Hermione's face; it was very hard and tiresome to argue with someone who always had an answer for everything and he wasn't going to try now.

"Well don't be too long, or I will come after you!" Remus warned as she walked away

"I won't" Hermione smiled reassuringly and walked happily off down the street.

Once at Madame malkins she worked quickly. She bought a robe much too large for her, then stepped outside to a side alley. She made a spell to fill the robe out around her andpulled the hood over her head. After wrapping her other robe around her trunk, to make it look like a bundle of rags, she changed her gait to one of a stooped, shuffling old woman and set off down the street again without looking over her shoulder (as she knew that would only arouse suspicion) towards Knockturn alley.

It was funny how the atmosphere changed once you walked down Knockturn's more dimly lit streets and Hermione was immediately on her guard. She pulled back her hood and looked around. On seeing no-one, she took off the spell that had filled out the new robe and waited. She sincerely hoped she wasn't going to worry anyone too much, but feeling sure that Remus would eventually follow her she had left a message at Madame Malkins with the assistant. She had told the lady to tell Remus, (as she felt sure he would come in after her) that she had seen her Mum and Dad, had already gone and that she was fine and he should not worry.

She waited for a while and kept looking around, but could see no sign of her lover. Then suddenly she felt a presence behind her and she turned around quickly to see a cloaked figure.

She jumped back in fear and bought her wand up protectively in front of her.

"Severus?" She ventured cautiously

The figure did not answer, but a pale hand reached up and lifted the hood back, revealing the familiar face of the man she had been expecting. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly in what he must of thought of as a reassuring smile and Hermione felt both relief and joy. She rushed forward to embrace him, but before she could, he touched his forefinger warningly to his lips, indicating her to be careful.

Hermione obeyed with a nod and instead just smiled happily, but she could not contain her excitement and dived into his arms, holding him tightly. She felt his arms slide gently around her back and his lips touch the top of her head and felt complete.

After a few seconds she heard him whisper something and felt the familiar sensation of being sucked from one place to another.