Chapter 4
The next morning, Hermione actually heard the awful pounding in her head.
Why do I keep doing this to myself? she thought.
She sniffed the air and caught coffee brewing and eggs cooking. She stumbled from bed and trudged to the kitchen.
"So, how is my binge drinker doing this morning?" Severus asked chuckling.
"If you must laugh, please do it quietly, I beg you," Hermione said.
Severus handed her a cup of coffee then a vial of hangover potion.
"Bless you dear man," she said after the potion took effect.
"You're welcome. The only reason I gave you the potion is because you have something very important to do today," Severus said.
"Hmm, I didn't have anything planned today," Hermione said.
"Well, how do you feel about being invited to join the Order of the Phoenix?" Severus asked with a grin.
She jumped up from the table.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner! When do we leave?" she asked exitedly.
"My dear, I found out while you were out doing blow jobs with your friends, so to speak. That's why I went to your parents house thinking you were there. Finish your breakfast then we leave," Severus said.
She ate her omelette quickly, "Severus, this is a great omelette!" then gulped down the coffee. Running from the table, she re-appeared 5 minutes later in semi-formal attire and hair pulled back in ponytail.
Hermione held out one hand to Severus and the other hand a rubber duck that was the Grimmauld Place port key. "Grimmauld Place, let's bounce."
Appearing at the Grimmauld Place parlor, Hermione saw that Harry, Ron and Draco had already arrived. Harry and Ron looked to each other and shook their heads slightly at the sight of Severus and Hermione holding hands. Draco smiled at the two, Harry was starting to accept it, but Ron was going to take longer. Harry, in the interest of what they were about to endeavor, civility and most of all Hermione's happiness, offered an olive branch. He stepped forward and extended his hand to Severus.
"Professor, good morning, how are you?" Harry asked.
The smile from Hermione would have lit up the whole of Hogwarts. Severus was pleasantly surprised.
"Fine Potter," Severus said.
Ron nodded his head and said, "Professor."
Severus nodded back then turned to Hermione.
"Wait here until called by Dumbledore," he said. Then he cupped Hermione's face with his hands and asked, "Dumbledore will ask you this, but I'm asking you first. Hermione my dear, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Of course I'm sure. I was born for this," she replied.
"That's my Gryffindor," Severus said softly kissing her forehead. Harry and Ron felt like they were in an alternate universe (author's note: Ah-Hah) watching the emotional display. The doors to the living room opened. Dumbledore was standing there.
"Will the four Order candidates step into the this room?" Dumbledore stated. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco stepped silently into the other room. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Nymphadora Tonks, Arthur and Molly Weasley, Professor Flitwick (to Hermione's surprise) and a couple of other aurors were present. Snape followed the four in and took a place next to McGonagall. Four shiny black satin robes lay neatly folded on a table. Dumbledore started the induction/invitation speech.
"This morning we are gathered here to induct new members into the Order of the Phoenix. Each of you has been examined and deemed worthy of participation in the Order. Each witch or wizard present has a trait that is indispensable to the Order. Miss Granger, intelligence. Mr.Potter, fortitude. Mr. Malfoy, cunning. And Mr. Weasley, strength. There is considerable risk, risk of death even, upon taking on this responsibility, so the choice is yours. When asked if you wish to join, simply say yes or no. No one will think the less of you for saying no. However, if you say yes, you will required to vow an oath of secrecy to the Order. You must not say anything about the Order, ever, to anyone, not even amongst yourselves. The danger is too great to yourselves and other Order members. To do so will result in immediate and irreversible obliviation. I will give you a moment to ponder what I have said."
The four friends looked at each other and nodded.
"Do you wish to be inducted into The Order of the Phoenix?"
"Yes," they said solemnly at the same time.
"Do you swear a wizard's oath of secrecy to the Order?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes," they solemnly again answered at the same time.
"Very well. Ladies first, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said smiling.
Hermione stepped forward and Dumbledore put a medallion around her neck then handed her one of the robes. Harry, Ron then Draco received theirs.
"Only Order members have these medallions. They are charmed to become warm if a deatheater is in the vicinity and become cool if an order of the member is in danger. If the medallion starts to vibrate, the wearer is nearing death. We wear the robes to Order meetings and on missions. Now I want each of you to touch the symbol on your robes," Dumbledore said.
The new members did then looked to Dumbledore.
"Now the symbol is warded to you and only you. When touching the symbol while wearing the robe, you and only you will apparate back here to Grimmauld Place," Dumbledore said. "Any questions?"
The four were silent. They were sure they had questions, but could not think of a thing at the moment.
"Very well, this meeting of the Order of the Phoenix will begin" Dumbledore said. The four newest members donned their robes.
"Dora, any news on Ayden Foote's deatheater contact?" Dumbledore asked.
"I wish there was Albus," Tonks said. "We had word that might be someone at the ministry, but as to who or what department, we haven't a clue," Tonks said.
"Miss Granger? Mr. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy, you have your first assignment," Dumbledore said.
Already? Severus wondered.
"Since you three will be fresh faces at the ministry, and will be working there soon, your first and ongoing assignment is to keep an eye and ear out for any signs of deatheater activity at the ministry," Dumbledore said.
"Yes sir," Hermione, Draco and Ron said.
"Mr. Potter, you will get your assignment in private," Dumbledore said.
The meeting went on for another hour. At the end of the meeting, Tonks and Harry apparated somewhere, then McGonagall brought out a bottle of wine.
"Let's celebrate our new Order members," McGonagall said.
The memory of last night fresh in her mind, she said, "None for me thanks."
Monday June 7
That morning, after a oh-so-good shagging from Severus, Hermione walked into the Department of Magical Research, potions division. Matthias warmly welcomed her to the division then they walked to his office. He presented Hermione with a beautiful shimmering royal blue robe representing the department and a stack of booklets and parchment.
"You'll start with these," he said. "And that reminds me, I have your NEWT results. Professor McGonagall sent them here. I think you will be pleased." He handed her the scroll.
Granger, H.
NEWT Scores
Herbology- E+
Charms- O
Arithmancy- O
Ancient Runes-O
Transfiguration- E
Defense Against the Dark Arts- O+
Potions- O+
Hermione sighed as she read her scores.
"Miss Granger, you have no reason to be disappointed in your scores. None at all, you have higher scores on your newts than anyone else in this department, myself included," Matthias said.
"How did I get an O plus in potions? I missed two questions?" Hermione wondered out loud.
"Those two questions were extra credit. To miss those do not count against you," Matthias said. "As for the rest, your technique was flawless, that's given credit, and the potion was a success."
"I see," Hermione said.
Hermione and Matthias walked back into the lab. They walked to an empty table. Feeling as if she had trekked to Mecca, she looked to the gleaming table with anticipation.
"As promised, your own work area, just clean it up at the end of the day," Matthias said.
Matthias patted the stack of parchment. "Your first assignment is this top booklet. There will be a departmental meeting Friday morning to discuss your progress. At the end of every month, you will be given a test of sorts that counts toward your potions master's certificate. See Timothy over there and he will give you a brief tour of the department apothecary. Everything you need should be there. Any questions?" Matthias finished.
Hermione shook her head.
"Very well. I assume you look forward to your work, so I'll let you get to it," Matthias said then left.
She went over to a wizard in his mid-twenties named Timothy Brightfield. As it turned out, he was a Ravenclaw alumni as well. He was a seventh year when Hermione was a first year so Hermione didn't remember him. She was shown to the department apothecary and was told that if for some odd reason something couldn't be found here, it could be found in the ministry apothecary.
"It will take an hour's worth of paperwork to get anything from the ministry apothecary however," Timothy said. "That's why we keep ours well stocked. Anything else I can help you with, just let me know," Timothy said.
"Thanks Timothy," Hermione said.
"You can call me Tim, everyone does," Tim said.
He noticed the ring on her finger. Darn.
Hermione went to her desk and got to work. She opened the booklet and started reading and making notes she prepared her desk for brewing. She was stooped over a simmering cauldron, sweat forming on her forehead.
"Lunchtime!" Matthias said coming through the lab doors. Hermione looked to the clock. Lunchtime already? She felt like she had just started on the project.
"Hermione, don't worry about making any great leaps in this particular potion your first day before lunchtime. We've been working on it for years," Matthias assured.
"Oh," Hermione said.
Hermione strolled towards the ministry cafeteria. She realized she was quite hungry as she sniffed the air. She felt someone tap on her shoulder. It was Ron and Draco was with him.
"Hey you two! I thought you didn't start for another week?" she asked the two.
"Nice robes, Mione," Ron said admiring Hermione's robe.
"Thanks, and yours are…uhh….yellow," Hermione said looking at the two. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement had deep yellow robes.
"They said we could start today if we liked, so we did," Ron said. "I'd like to start earning a living as soon as possible because I have to move out of the burrow as soon as possible," Ron concluded.
"And quite frankly, I had nothing else to do," Draco said.
"Let's eat," Ron said.
"Some things never change," Hermione said.
As the three ate and chatted, their medallions got warm. They looked to each other in surprise. Then they looked around quickly. There was about a hundred people in the cafeteria, so there was no way to tell who the medallions were warming for.
"Shit," Hermione grumbled.
"That about sums it up," Draco said.
"Nothing we can do about it now but just report what the medallions did, when and where," Ron said.
That was the simple answer but the right one. Ron had made the right career decision.
After lunch, the three agreed to meet up after work and walk Hermione home. She wanted them to see her finished flat. The day flew by for Hermione when at 5 pm, Matthias announced that the departments started wrapping up work around that time. She gathered her stack of parchment and books and headed to the ministry exit. Ron and Draco were waiting for her.
"Ahh, the quest for knowledge is never ending," Draco quipped seeing her struggling with her load. Ron and Draco each took some to help her carry it.
"Laugh if you will, Drackey-poo, but in three years I will have my potions masters certificate," Hermione said. "Eventually I may be the snarky potions mistress at Hogwarts."
They arrived at Hermione's building and went to her front door.
"Pancake," Hermione said softly. Then she tapped twice on the doorknob with her wand and the three entered.
"Mione, wherever did you get the idea for pancake as a password?" Ron asked.
"That's personal Ron," Hermione said grinning.
"Fair enough," Ron said.
"Hey, this place looks nice Mione," Draco said. The saw the piano by the window, the rugs she had put on the floor and pictures that were on the walls. They were of her and her parents, her times at Hogwarts, and on the fireplace mantle, a picture of her and Severus. It was the picture Ginny had captured of the two at graduation. The three regarded the picture. Severus arrived at the apartment and listened outside the door.
"Hermione, you went out of Hogwarts with a bang, I'll give you that," Draco said. "Ginny predicts that Professor Snape will have his hands full this next term. Everyone knows that you Ginny are best mates, so she's getting owls everydayfromstudents wondering if Professor Snape was shagging the head girl last term."
"Merlin's lacy knickers, those nitwits need to get a life," Hermione said exasperated.
"Mione, it's still hard for me to believe," Ron said.
"I know Ron, it's hard for people. You don't have to like Severus, but please try to be understanding. He's not exactly fond of you or Harry, but he understands that we are the best of friends. I love him, he loves me and we will be married.Never know, one day I might ask you to babysit our children," Hermione teased.
Severus' heart melted once again at that comment. Our children!
"Whoa, hold on there Mione. I've just started accepting you two, I don't need images of you two…in….your..intimate moments," Ron sputtered.
Hermione and Draco burst out laughing.
"Images of our imtimate moments? Ron, that sounds like a greeting card," Hermione said between giggles.
Well it does! Severus thought with amusement.
"I think Ron needs a woman, not images of your "intimate moments," Draco said.
"I agree, and on that note, I will retire to my bathroom and take a long hot bath to wash away this long day, " Hermione said. "Until tomorrow, good night. Stop by for breakfast if you would like. I put it on the table at eight am sharp, use the floo," Hermione said.
"Mione, the flat looks great," Ron said. Draco nodded in agreement.
Hermione watched the two floo away and she went into her bathroom and ran a hot bubble bath. Snape waited outside for a bit longer to surprise her. When he heard nothing but her humming, he applied the password and door knob wand tap, and peeked in the front door. He tip-toed to the bathroom and peeked in the door. She was laid back in the tub, head laid back on a folded towel. Again she had that weird green concoction on her face complete with cucumbers on her eyes. Hot water was steaming up the bathroom. She had one foot propped up on the top of the tub and was waving her hand humming along with the music. She was so content that he was hard pressed to disturb her. So he didn't.
He went to her office and saw the stack of booklets and parchment and flipped through them. He saw Hermione's writing on the top one and saw that she had already been hard at work her first day. She was researching some new type of curse protection potion. Her pensive was also the desk today. He was curious as to what she put in the pensive, but did not want to invade her privacy. He admired her new department robe and smelled her lavender fragrance on it. He last saw the scroll with her newt scores. O+ in potions, that's my girl! He went to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee brewing. A little later he was sitting at the table reading the day's issue of The Daily Prophet. Hermione walked into the kitchen wearing the black silk bathrobe he had given her months ago, and greeted him with a kiss. He handed her a cup of coffee.
"I thought I smelled coffee. How long have you been here?" she asked sipping some coffee.
"You were bathing when I came in. I saw some of your work. Quite a load for your first day," Severus remarked.
"They wouldn't have given it to me I they didn't think I could handle it," Hermione replied. "There is some interesting work being done on this particular protection potion," Hermione said.
Severus put a finger to her lips and pulled her onto his lap. "It was just your first day my dear. You have the rest of your life to devote to your craft. Slow down, because I'd hate to see someone of your talent get burned out and end up despising the very thing that drives you," Severus said.
"Severus, that's the best bit of advice I've ever heard besides "practice safe sex," Hermione said. "Which reminds me, I need to brew a new batch of contraceptive potions. I'm just about out." With another kiss she got up from his lap. Hermione went to her office sipping her coffee and Severus heard the sound of spoons and the tinkling of a cauldron. He heard the familiar sound of a burner being lit then joined her in the office.
"May I assist?" he asked.
"Certainly. But I must tell you this isn't the contraceptive potion you are used to seeing at Hogwarts or the local apothecary. This is an improved version that takes half the time to brew, and doesn't taste so vile," Hermione stated. She looked to a well worn index card and started the mixing.
Snape thought it was a good time to broach the subject.
"Hermione, why are you making this potion?" Severus asked.
"Because we get so caught up with each other that we can't be relied upon to remember to stop, take out my wand and cast a 'nonpregnato' on myself. Kind of a mood killer, don't you think?" Hermione stated crushing something into a powder.
Sensible answer, but not what I meant. Severus thought.
"That's not what I meant," Severus said.
Hermione looked at him with guilelesss eyes. He loved how those soft brown eyes of hers looked at him with trust and honesty.
"Then what do you mean?" she asked.
"When do you want children Hermione?" Severus asked. The direct approach was always best with her.
"Honestly, I don't know. We can decide after we marry, but please know that I definitely want them. And I want boys, girls are too much trouble," she stated. He could always count on her refreshing directness and honesty.
"Hermione, I can honestly say that I have never met anyone quite as direct as you, besides Minerva," Severus said.
"Blame my Dad. I get it from him," Hermione said stirring the potion. "This should be done in about twenty minutes. Why don't you go shower while I wrap this up, then we can retire for the evening so that I can better demonstrate just how direct I can be," she said with a smile.
Twenty minutes later, his shower finished, Severus left the bathroom and went to her office. It was quiet. She had fallen asleep at her desk. The potion she had just brewed was bottled and she had drunk a vial already. Severus rubbed her back to wake her up. She sat up suddenly.
"I fell asleep here at the desk!" she exclaimed.
"So I see," Severus said.
"Let's go to bed," Hermione said.
"Oh, that reminds me. Who do I give Order reports to?" Hermione asked. "I mean I know I'm not supposed to talk about it, but how does anyone find anything out? I mean…"
"Hermione, you are babbling," Severus said. "I am a senior Order member, so you can tell me."
"How convenient. Well here goes. Myself, Draco and Ron were eating lunch together in the ministry cafeteria during lunch and our medallions warmed up. We looked around, but Severus there was about a hundred people there," Hermione said as they walked in the bedroom.
"Enough said my dear. You must be tired because you only babble when you are very tired. Bedtime for you," Severus said turning back the covers.
"I won't argue there, I am tired," Hermione stated taking off her robe and slipped nude into bed. Severus climbed into bed with her and rubbed her back until she fell asleep.