"Nobody else's got what it takes for this mission, Granger," Moody growled over my spluttered objections. "You're a damn fine legilimens, a better occlumens."
"Snape's better!" I objected half-heartedly
"Arr he is that, but he's not young, and beautiful, and…"
Moody trailed off, but the subtext hung clear in the air: Already ruined
I narrowed my eyes. I could see everyone around the table shifting uncomfortably, but I stood up straighter and focused my gaze on Moody. There was a long silence, during which I tried to breathe deeply and not hex him.
Finally, he dropped his eyes and sighed deeply. "Look, girl. Ya know I care about you, I'm fond of you and there's nothing I want less than to throw you into the lion's den. But with Dumbledore gone we're losing, and badly. Unless we can turn it around, your fate will be much worse than what we're proposing here. Hermione, if I thought there was another way you can be sure I'd take it."
I pushed back angrily from the table and looked around the room furiously. Ron was beet red, but kept his eyes determinedly on the wood planks in front of him. Molly, unsmiling since the loss of both her husband and her Percy, sat like a statue. All the others looked away awkwardly, with only Remus daring to make eye contact with me. Suddenly I realized who was missing in the Order meeting.
"Where's Harry?"
Remus gave a small smile. "Do you really think he'd even allow us to consider it? He tried to muggle duel Moody for suggesting this plan".
So that explained the mass of bruises covering half of Moody's face. Figures. "We had to restrain him until you make your decision. You know he'd try to stop you".
"Some decision," I bit out angrily "become a Death Eater whore or face the end of the world, and get murdered and raped by them anyway"
I turned my back and made for the door.
"So you're in, then?" Moody clarified.
I turned around as I pulled the door open "I'm in. This better fucking work."