Authors note: This is part two of chapter nine, hope you'll enjoy, thanx to all who have been reviewing and reading. Again, not mine, all belongs to JK Rowling. Thank you to Erin for being a great friend and beta.

Severus Snape was worried, working frantically to stop the spread of a dark curse which had affected Albus when he had foolishly placed a cursed ring on his finger.

Minerva held her husband in her arms, her face wet with silent tears and a grim line painted her mouth. He had insisted that only he was to touch the damned ring that he alone could try to destroy it. His face was grey and his lips turning blue when Severus finally managed to stop the spread of the curse; Albus' hand was withered and black, the curse having spread almost to his elbow damaging the tissues and even some of the movement in his arm. Each magical pathway had been burnt out and there was little chance of being able to use this arm for spell casting again.

"Have you stopped it Severus? Will he be all right?" She demanded desperately.

He was shaking his head. "I have only bought him some time Minerva, the curse spread quickly and took root, feeding from his magic and had already reached his core by the time I arrived. It will slowly sap him of energy until we find a way to remove the ring, even then I fear that there is little we can do to reverse it. We must wait until he wakes before we do anything more.

When he finally woke, Albus found Minerva slumped in a chair beside his bed and Severus staring out of the window, a frown of worry maring his face. "Severus…" the young man was by his side instantly.

"Albus, how do you feel?"

"Tired, my hand is agony."

"I'll be back in a few moments."

He exited the room and quickly made his way to the end of the hall. Knocking softly on the door he waited.

Hermione sleepily answered her door. Her hair was sticking out every which way and her sleep filled eyes were squinting in the light from the hall. Her nightshirt barely covered her knees, her feet bare. Seeing Severus there she finally snapped awake.

"Severus, what's wrong?" The look on his face was something she had not seen before, fear and worry and anguish.

"The Headmaster has been exposed to a debilitating curse, it has damaged not only the tissues in his arm but also burnt out part of his magical nervous system, both the median and radial Thurmanerves were badly affected.; I need to know if you have completed any of those healing potions we spoke of yesterday."

She nodded her head and grabbing her night robe slipped it on then made her way to the lab.

"I managed to make a healing balm and some pain relief cream those should be good for the tissue damage but I don't have anything for damage to the parapthways, anything to do with The thurmatugical nervous system requires ingredients I don't have access to here. I thought a topical cream would be effective faster than an ingestible potion for direct pain relief and the balm should dry to a husk before removal after six hours."

Severus inspected both medicines and was impressed in spite of himself, they were well done and the change to the original reciepe's seemed to have increased their potency.

"This is excellent work." He said with genuine feeling.

"May I come with you?" He hesitated a moment and then agreed, she followed him back up the stairs and they slipped into Dumbledore's room.

Severus handed the cream back to her and nodded his head indicating that he wanted her to apply the cream herself. Transfiguring a pair of latex gloves she scooped some pain cream out of the large jar and began to gently massage it into the Headmasters blackened hand and arm. She winced in sympathy for what he must be suffering.

"Miss Granger, I see Severus has you running about helping." Albus said to her as she continued her work.

"Not at all Headmaster, he simply asked me if I would like to try some new potions, I enjoyed the challenge, doubly so if this can ease your pain. After all, I still have some questions to ask you, I wouldn't want you breaking that promise by giving up now would I?" She asked in a strained cheerful tone as she proceeded to start applying the balm.

Albus snorted under his breath. "I try never to break a promise Miss Granger. You will get your answers."

When Hermione had done the whole arm, she helped him sit up in the bed just as Professor McGonagall woke up. She burst into tears when she saw him sitting up and looking so much better.

"Now, now Minnie, I feel much better. A little tired, but the pain is gone for now. Miss Granger here brewed an amazing pain relief cream and it seems to be helping very well." Minerva threw herself into the old wizard's arms and peppered his face with kisses as she cried out her relief.

Hermione knew the two were close but hadn't quite realised how close.

"Miss Granger, I assure you there is no need to appear so scandalised, Minerva and I have been married these past fifty years." Seeing the surprised look on her face he chuckled, his eyes twinkling merrily. "I met Minerva when I was her professor, over the years we became very good friends. A few years after she graduated we began courting and were married. However it was always better to keep such things discreet while working in a school."

"Not just that Hermione dear, can you imagine us both being called Professor Dumbledore?" Minerva asked her with amusement.

"No Professor, I can't," she said smiling, "I won't say anything, I promise."

"Miss Granger, Severus, if you would take a seat there are some things to discus before morning."

They all sat down and looked at him intently. Although his face was draw and tired he was still as commanding as ever.

Albus regarded Hermione and Severus for a moment twinkling with relief on the inside. The two were definitely becoming close; thankfully even without the knowledge of the prophecy, events were progressing, as they should. He knew the time was coming soon when secrets would have to be revealed and now with this curse upon him he thought it would be a miracle if he lasted six months. It was designed to slowly drain the life force from the person until either they died or the ring was removed. Even after that, if it was left for too long it took up residence in the host body. It became a drawn out battle with his own magic fighting a war within the body while the curse used the hosts power to ensure it's continuance, what were the chances that he would live for long afterwards? The only thing, which could truly undo the damage now would be the water of life and there was no chance of that. The ancient recipe had been lost long ago. Realising how they were all watching him with concerned and worried expressions he pulled himself up further and lifting his chin, a determined set to his shoulders he began to give instruction on how things must proceed the next day.

"As you know, Molly has gone back to the Burrow, after seeing Sirius' will I had her go home to prepare for hosting the order meetings there. As the Black family holdings should only ever pass to a Black, I cannot guarantee that our presence here might not soon be known to Bellatrix Lestrange. Kreacher is an unfortunate example of elf kind and he could very well betray us at any moment. We must pack what is here and vacate to there for the moment. Until I know for certain this house has not been compromised we will have to stay away."

They all nodded their heads in agreement and when no questions were forthcoming he continued. "Hermione you can go to the Burrow; however, I have a request for you."

"Anything I can do sir, I am more than happy to help."

"I know this is a burden, but I must ask you not to mention anything about having been here to Harry, or of anything you have done while here. I also ask that you keep all knowledge of you friendship with Severus to yourself. Harry still has a connection to Voldemort and we must not put him at any further risk of exposure."

Hermione nodded she understood how important it was, if only Harry could learn to keep the dark lord from his mind. In a way though she felt a little relief not having to tell then just yet, it would only cause more problems and things she knew were already strained between her friends.

"Severus, I think it best you return to Spinner's end. The less time you are seen in the company of the Order the better. Minerva and I will go back to Hogwarts; there is much to organize before the start of term. Now, I think it's time we all get some sleep, so off to bed with you."

"Good night Professors, sleep well." Hermione nodded to all her teachers than slipped out the door.

"Severus, if I may have word with you before you leave." Snape took his seat again and looked questioningly to him.

"I have decided that it would be best for you to take the Defence position this year. We need the pupils to get the best instruction they can this term with the many dangers now surrounding us. With the dark lord showing himself publicly it is certain that attacks will be increasing and many of our student, pure-blood and muggle-born alike will be in danger."

"Albus, I protest, that job is..."

"Yes, I know you've never wanted the job really, but there is no choice. I can find no one to take the job and the ministry would send an incompetent replacement for it, so I am afraid that it falls to you. What you could do for those children could very well be the saving of them, even if you only get one year with them. I will be visiting Slughorn with Harry to see if I can convince him to return to his old position as Potions teacher."

Snape rolled his eyes in derision; he genuinely disliked the slimy git who had taught him his craft. Slughorn was the sort of man who truly didn't care about his pupils, only those he could befriend that might have influence or wealth in the future. No doubt there would be a resurrection of the old Slug Club, he thought with a sneer.

"Very well Albus, but you really owe me one after this." With that he left wondering if the old man had just completely sealed his fate with the cursed position.

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For as long as Albus Dumbledore could remember he had been fighting against the spread of the dark, unfortunately he didn't quite know if he would succeed this time. So many plans had been put into motion, some more successfully than others.

Severus' love for his Grandmother had turned him down this path, and his hope for finding acceptance drove him on, the promise of a future love binding him fully to that road. Lucius' love for his parents and his family had turned him on a similar path for revenge and the hope of one day restoring his family's honour. Sirius' love for James had made him strong even in face of his incarceration in Azkaban, and had allowed him to retain his sanity. Likewise Hermione's love for knowledge and thirst for recognition had made her seek the road she too was on. And he, one of the greatest wizards since Merlin himself, had been driven, in part, down this road for his own love of power, albeit with good intentions.

He sighed deeply and allowed himself a wry chuckle. The muggles had a wonderful old saying about that, 'the road to hell was paved with good intentions', and he wondered idly if the end really justified the means he had felt forced to apply. As he lay there he took stock of his life, his actions and decisions and for the first time allowed the guilt to come to the surface.

He had manipulated and deceived all in the name of good. Perhaps he really was no better than his enemy. His hand may have been gentler and granted he never used an unforgivable, but still, how many had died because he had held back from acting when he should have. How many lives had he allowed to be destroyed to save others? In his own arrogance he had thought that Tom Riddle would amount to nothing more than a successful con man, never had he realised the depth to with that young man's soul would sink. All the signs had been there, he should have paid closer heed and perhaps if he had been willing to get his own hands dirty at the beginning this might never have happened. In the end perhaps he himself had done the unforgivable. He had let the darkest wizard in history live.

He remembered clearly the first time he had met the boy, how hatred and deceit had radiated off him in waves. He had looked into that mind and seen a love of cruelty that had been terrifying to behold. How simple it might have been then to have refused him entry to Hogwarts, but would that alone have stopped him finding their world? If he had paid closer attention and spoken out about Tom's involvement in the Chamber of Secret's, might he have been stopped then?

Should he really have stepped back and allowed the prophecies to be fulfilled, or should he have just confronted Riddle before Lily and James had become a target? But most heavily of all, should he have cleared Lucius properly and allowed him to take Harry in as he had wanted? Perhaps he should have done what was right and let Harry be brought up in the wizarding world, with a family who would, he knew, have spoiled and loved him, given him the affection and support the boy truly deserved. Had he in his arrogance taken the chance of defeating the dark lord away by denying Harry that right to happiness? Silent tears tracked a slow path across the old wizards face, as he acknowledged the fact that he might have been wrong. It left him filled with doubt and regret, but it could not stop the chain of events that had been put in motion and he knew there was nothing that could be done now but follow that path to its final conclusion, whatever it may be.

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Hermione woke that morning feeling sad that she was leaving and she realised she was going to miss her potions professor much more than she should. She made her way to the bathroom and after splashing her face with water looked closely in the mirror. She had not really paid much attention to her appearance in quite some time and was startled at the face before her. All the round, baby fat in her cheeks had disappeared; high cheekbones and a pointed chin made her face seemed almost cat like. Her eyes too seemed much larger in her face, and even in her pre-caffeinated state they seemed to glow in the early morning light with alertness and intelligence.

Smiling at her reflection she realised she looked much more her age than she did last year. Glancing at her nightshirt, she blushed as she thought of how Severus' eyes had shown surprise the night before when she had answered her door. It had begun to pull tightly over her breasts and showed clearly the outline of her nipples through the thin bra. Shaking her head she thought he probably hadn't really noticed at all, that she must have imagined it, but more disturbingly why would she have imagined it? Pulling a look of disgust at herself for having such thoughts she finished getting ready and made her way down the stairs.

Severus sat in the kitchen drinking his coffee. The daily prophet was loudly proclaiming that the new minister for magic was tough on crime and all crimes against upstanding wizards and witches would be punished to the fullness of the law.

Hermione snorted when she read the front page, while sitting across from Severus, as she sipped her black coffee, which was swimming in three spoons of sugar. Snape glanced over the paper and gave her one brow lift in acknowledgment.

"What could you possibly find so amusing at this time in the morning?" He said. "Was it the part about upstanding citizens or the fullness of the law?" he smirked.

"I think it was the part where they expect people to believe it when there are less than fifty aurors and Azkaban has been deserted." She said dryly.

"Indeed, alas logic is our kind's greatest downfall. I estimate that less than three percent of our population possess more than an ounce of that precious commodity; and from what I have observed none of that number is currently working at the Ministry for Miserable Failure."

Hermione hooted over her coffee in appreciation.

"Ah, my dear professor that I might one day live up to that cutting wit, I can only dream."

"On the contrary Miss Granger, you don't lack wit, just the ruthless vitriol that accompanies mine." The corner of his mouth rose as he watched her snigger into her cup. He was going to miss their morning coffee and news ritual, it had made the days start on a much more amusing note. He rose from the table and informed her that he was going to start packing up the lab. Quickly finishing her drink she followed behind.

As they packed and stored each bottle and jar of potions and creams, Hermione felt a tiny sense of foreboding enter her heart. There was a strong feeling that everything was about to go wrong. Turning and watching Severus as he methodically files away their notes she felt the cold prickle of unease wash over her skin again. Trying hard to shake it off she went back to her work.

Kreacher slipped from the room unnoticed and grinned in maniacal delight, the little mud-blood would get hers.

As Hermione slipped her hand into the box she let out a hiss of pain. Severus whirled around and strode over to her. Seeing the blood well on the tip of her finger he saw the look of confusion in her eyes before she fainted dead away. He managed to catch her before she hit the floor and carried her quickly to the sitting room.

"Minerva!"

Severs shouted for the Animagus and cast diagnostic charms of Hermione, there didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary wrong other than that she was sleeping. However, he'd tried enervating her five times without success.

"You hollered Severus?" Minerva asked crossly. Then when she saw her student sprawled unconscious on the couch she let out a startled cry.

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure, one minute she was packing potions, the next she cut herself on something and passed out. Watch her while I try to find what cut her." Minerva nodded then sat by Hermione, softly stroking the girls' hand.

He returned moments later with a sharp spindle in his hands.

"Great Merlin's balls, that isn't?" Minerva exclaimed, her Scottish accent thick with shock. He simply nodded his head and scowled. If it weren't so serious he really would have laughed. Minerva looked as though she'd just swallowed a very live mouse.

"What on the goddess' green earth were they doing with that?" She whispered.

"Well how the hell do I know? For all we know they've got the poisoned apple and the glass slippers as well. A bloody enchanted spindle! I seem to recall from Binn's class that they used to be used for muggle baiting years ago." He told her, his trademark sneer missing form his face.

"That was centuries ago, they were outlawed nearly four hundred years ago, it was a horrible trick to play. It's part of what started that entire witch hunting in the first place. All the muggles could bloody believe is that witches were casting spells that put people in death like sleeps, blighting crops and eating children. There are only two ways to break it, mandrake or true loves first kiss that was always the rule."

"So which one do we need?" he spat, "Potter, or Weasley?"

"I'm afraid neither can help, Miss Granger only sees them as brothers." Minerva said exasperated. Just then Albus entered the room. He still looked quite weak but was managing as best he could.

"Minerva, could you leave us a moment, I'd like to try something, but we will need as little distractions as possible." Minerva looked surprised but said nothing and simply left without a word.

"Let me see the spindle Severus." Handing it to the headmaster with a frown, he watched the old man as he inspected it closely.

"You know, I think that this has not been used in a very long time, the poison might have worn off by now, or at least lost most of its effectiveness. It wouldn't hurt to try waking her yourself." He said slyly, hoping the younger Slytherin wouldn't see past his ruse.

The look on Severus' face was a picture; he went red then white and unable to hold the older man's gaze looked back at the sleeping girl.

"It's highly inappropriate Albus, she's my student." He replied reluctantly.

"Now, dear boy, it can't hurt to try, we have nothing to lose after all, if it doesn't work we'll have to call Pomona and hope she has some mandrake ready to be harvested."

Snape scowled, he didn't like the feeling he was getting, the old man was up to something, but right now he was too concerned about his student to think clearly. With an extremely convincing show of reluctance he knelt by her side and gazed at her face for a moment before sweeping his lips across hers.

"Come now Severus, that was hardly a kiss, do it properly" Albus was enjoying this; Severus had never looked so reluctant but at the same time guilty, about anything. He could tell the younger wizard was more than willing to kiss the girl, but certainly not in front of him.

Once more he knelt by her side, poised above her, he bent his head and grazed her lips with his own, once, twice, then pressed against her soft warm mouth with gentle reverence. He held his breath as pleasure shot through him and he felt a spark of triumph when she responded beneath him.

A wave of heat washed over him as she kissed him back. A tiny moan of pleasure escaped her lips, startling him back to reality. Pulling away reluctantly he looked into her eyes and saw dawning realisation there of what was going on, before he saw the look of revulsion he was expecting he turned quickly away and left the room.

Hermione pushed herself up, running a trembling hand over her mouth, she had never felt anything so right since the first time she touched her wand. She was certain her magic had touched his, if only for a moment and then when he had broken the kiss, she was too startled to call him back. Her eyes fell on the Headmaster who had obviously watched the whole event with amusement.

A faint blush staining her cheeks, she wasn't quite sure how to handle the situation, especially as she had no idea of what had happened. Albus cleared his throat and with a wave of his hand the door closed. "I suppose it's time we had that little talk, my dear."

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Spinner's End.

Cold fog swirled in motes close to the ground and Snape swore he could feel it creeping under the door. Standing in the window of the run down house, he pondered the events of three days ago. He had left Grimmauld Place faster than he could remember, intent on leaving before he ran into Hermione. He had been embarrassed at his reaction to that kiss and he was afraid of the rejection she most certainly would have given him. For the first time since he had heard his grandmothers prophecy he felt confused.

He couldn't really have feelings for the girl could he? Dumbledore had told him the girl of the prophecy was safe, that he couldn't tell him where she was. It was impossible for Miss Granger to be that girl, for she certainly was not safe, besides her birth date had been wrong for tying in with the prophecy. He had pondered it many times over the years and come to the conclusion that the child must have been born on one of the fire festivals, most probably Lughnasadh. Hermione had been born in September; with a heavy heart he let go of the hope that she might have been the one. Noticing the figures making their way towards the house he moved away from the window quickly, and cursed the fact that Wormtail was here.

Clearing his mind and composing himself for who ever was about to arrive, he couldn't seem to rid himself of a growing sense of unease, a feeling that events were now reaching their conclusion.

Opening the door to Narcissa and Bellatrix, his heart plummeted, but he gave a courteous smile and invited them in. This was no social visit and he had no choice but go along with whatever they requested.

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Hogwarts.

Albus sat in his chair, head bent in contemplation. Tiredly he pinched the bridge of his nose, and let out a long sigh. It had been an hour since Severus had told him of the Unbreakable vow he had made to Narcissa. He had played his part well, pretending to be aware of the plans for the boy, of what he was supposed to do. They had discussed it at length and had finally decided that Draco would most likely have to kill either Harry or Dumbledore. He had ordered him away to find out for definite who the target was. His eyes turning coldly calculating he thought of all the possible outcomes, in some ways it would be useful for Severus to kill him if he was the target. It would put him irrevocably in the Dark Lords inner circle, able to pass invaluable information to the order, without being suspected at all. He was dying anyway; the ring was making him weak.

The beginnings of a plan formulating in his mind he sat back in his chair and plotted.

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Hermione sat on Harry's bed, assessing him. He was thinner, his eyes dark and puffy from lack of sleep, but he was putting on a pretty good show of being fine, a little too fine in her opinion.

"Come off it," said Ron, "you've been off with Dumbledore." Hermione shot him a sharp look. Ron could be incredibly tactless, but Harry didn't seem to notice the envy in his friend's voice.

"It wasn't that exciting he just wanted me to help him persuade this old teacher to come out of retirement. His name is Horace Slughorn."

Hermione managed to change Ron's next train of thought with a withering glare as she pondered Slughorn. She had heard of him of course, he had been Head of Slytherin while Tom Riddle had been at school, but he was a potions professor not a Dark Arts teacher. It didn't really make sense for him to have the job unless… No, surly Dumbledore wouldn't do that.

"He looks a bit like a walrus and he used to be head of Slytherin," said Harry. "Something wrong Hermione?"

The understanding and horror she had felt as she realised how things were really going to work out, that Dumbledore had given Snape the cursed position, had twisted her face into a shocked and confused scowl. At Harry's words she had looked up and smartly rearranged her features in an unconvincing smile.

"No, of course not, so did Slughorn seem like he'll be a good teacher?" She asked, feigning interest.

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Hermione

Dear Diary.

So many things have happened in the past two weeks. Dumbledore's talk with me was certainly enlightening, when I get back to school I'm going to get out some books on true tales, apparently many muggle fairy tales are actually historical fact as far as the Wizarding world goes. We discussed my real parents for a while and then he told me the best thing to do as far as my muggle parents were concerned was to put them under the Fidelius Charm, he offered to let me be their secret keeper. He then went on to explain that there was a prophecy concerning me that he would reveal to me at a later date.

This he told me was the reason that Professor Snape did not know of me. Although he had rescued me that night and protected me until I came to school, he had thought it best that as he knew of my part in a prophecy that all knowledge of my identity be locked away in his mind as a precaution in case Voldemort ever got past his shields. He could never have foreseen that I would put myself in harms way by befriending Harry anyway. I sensed that there was more to this story than the Headmaster was letting on, but held my tongue. Better to let the old man think I believe him completely then risk him watching me as I try to piece together this puzzle.

Unlike Harry I can accept that there are some things I don't need to know right now and I'm not going to make him suspicious by acting like a huffy teenager. He did tell me though that my real mother had been researching a way to defeat Voldemort before I was born, he hinted that I might in some way hold the knowledge of this in my mind. I told him that there was nothing I seemed to know regarding that matter, but it's not strictly the truth. Shortly after I turned seventeen I began to have unsettling dreams. I'm sure the woman in them is my mother and I somehow get the impression that she tries to tell me something, but when I wake I'm only left with fragments. I've decided to pay closer attention to these dreams from now on, if she has left some information in my mind, the dreams may be the way to discover it.

I'm very worried right now about Severus. Dumbledore I know has made him DADA teacher this year, which can't be good. I wonder if he has done this simply to ensure that Harry can take potions this year, as he only got an E in his owls. I suppose there must be more to it than that, and I'm looking forward to see what Severus will be teaching us in DADA, but for the moment I'm keeping my suspicions to myself, telling Harry and Ron might make them think I know more than I do.

Molly has been wonderful to me since I arrived last week and I think of her as my aunt even though she knows nothing of who I am. I think we might share the same nose, but it's not something likely to be commented on, as it seems I take more from my mother than my father. I have caught her looking at me more and more though as though she's trying hard to remember something, for now it seems to have escaped her, I hope she won't be too angry when she finds out the truth.

She's stopped Ron going to help the twins, she thinks it's too dangerous now since Emmeline Vance was attacked and Amelia Bones too. He seems to be taking it a lot better than I thought, the only downside is the way he keeps mooning over me like some lovesick calf half the time while the rest of the time he snaps and makes fun of me. He's like a little child in the playground pulling pigtails and running because he fancies me.

As term draws near I find myself with an intense feeling of dread. Something truly awful is closing in on us, it feels as if there is no way to prevent whatever this is from coming to its conclusion and I know that nothing can be done to stop it. Although I have no preconception myself, I'm learning that my magic is growing stronger and can sense certain events before they happen, it leaves me with a faint unease as I now know what it means. I'm no seer but even I can see the threads of fate are all converging on one another and somewhere there's going to be a god-awful tangle.

TBC…