Disclaimer: I am Ashiri. Nice to meet you.

AN: So, yeah... Not gonna offer excuses, just apologies... I know: I'm evil. I give you permission to throw rotten tomatoes at me. Oh, and just so everyone is informed… I already know the Draco/Herm scene sucks… It hates me and I hate it.


"I've talked to father," Draco said, taking hold of Hermione's hand. They were seated again on the hill overlooking the Malfoy property.

"And?"

"He's contacted the rest of the Death Eaters. Friday's the day."

Hermione nodded slightly, staring off in thought.

"Hermione? Are you OK?"

"Yeah... It's just that..."

"Having second thoughts?"

She smiled at him. "Yeah, but..." She paused. "I'll be fine. We're gonna kick some arse on Friday."

Draco laughed. "Now I know something's wrong."

Hermione smiled also. "No. It's OK; I'm just worried."

"As you have a right to be. I mean, it's six against eleven. And our plan is really amateur. Basically, if we don't have luck, we're all going t-"

"Draco... You're not helping."

"Oh... Yeah, sorry."

There was a long pause as Hermione leaned her head on Draco's shoulder. "Draco?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

Draco smiled down at her and kissed the crown of her head. "I love you too."

She sighed. "So, did you want me to send the letters to everyone?"

"We need to, but I can do it if you don't want to."

Hermione shrugged. "No, I think I can do it."

"We both will." Draco stood up and grabbed Hermione’s hand. She stood up and as Draco started walking to the house, Hermione held tight to his hand to stop him.

"What?"

Hermione pulled him closer and then reached up to pull his head down to her level, where she gave him a long, soft kiss.

Draco was smiling when Hermione pulled away. "What was that for?"

Hermione smiled sadly. "I'm going to be kissing you every chance I get between now and Friday."

Draco pulled her into a hug, as he recognized her reasoning: one of them might not be there to kiss after Friday.


"Hey, I need to borrow Harry real quick. He has a letter to read," Ron said, poking his head into the Living Room where Harry and Ginny were sitting.

"Can't it wait?" Ginny complained, lifting her head from Harry's shoulder. "I'm comfortable."

"Sorry, Gin." Harry leaned over and kissed the top of her head as he stood up. "It's probably from Hermione and she'll want a response reight away."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Fine then. Go answer a letter from another girl."

Harry paused. "Please tell me that was sarcasm."

Ginny grinned. "Go ahead, Harry. Last thing I want is an angry Hermione."

Harry gave her another short kiss, aware that her brother was watching, before he left.

"OK, let me read this." Harry held his hand out for the letter. Ron hesitated, his eyes narrowed at Harry. Harry groaned.

"Come on, Ron. You already said everything was fine with you."

"Yeah, I know. It's just... The 'Older Brother Speech' was really just a joke. But I love my little sister, even if she's a brat sometimes. And if it ever comes down to choosing between family and a friend... You're just going to have to respect my decision."

Harry pondered this for a moment and said seriously, "I don't think you'll ever have to do that, Ron."

Ron paused before grinning and then clapped him on the back. "You're like my brother anyway, mate."

Ron's grin was contagious and Harry was soon smiling with him. "Thanks man."

Ron pulled the parchment out of his pocket and handed it to Harry.

"We're meeting on Friday. That shouldn't be a problem, but I don't know how we're going to explain why we're gone," Ron said as Harry skimmed though the letter.

Harry nodded idly. He had also spotted this problem and had yet to come up with a solution.

"I mean," Ron continued. "It's not like I can say, 'Oh yeah, Mum. Harry and I had planned to go have a chat with You-Know-Who in the Malfoys' basement. I knew you wouldn't mind. We'll be back for dinner.' I don't think she'd take that well."

Harry chuckled as he looked up from the letter. "What about Fred and George? Could they cover for us?"

"If we tell them, they'll want to help."

Harry sighed as he thought. "We don't have to tell them where we're going..." he mused.

"They'll want to know, is all I'm saying."

"I'll see if I can convince them," Harry said with a shrug.


Severus walked downstairs, pocketing the letter he had just received. He glanced in the living room for Shaylee, but she wasn't there, so he commenced to the kitchen.

There Shaylee was, side-by-side with Sera at the counter, working on what appeared to be chocolate chip cookies. Her scarf and sock cap lay disgarded on a nearby chair and she wore one of Sissy's aprons.

She had cookie dough all over her hands and a few spots of it on her face. She was watching intently as Sera took a huge glob of cookie dough and started to set it on the pan.

"Um, Sera... As much as I'd like to have a giant cookie, I think we'd better make enough for everyone to have one before we make a really big one."

"How considerate, Fairy Princess."

Shaylee jumped a foot in the air and spun around.

"Severus Snape! Don't ever do that again! I get startled very easily."

One glance at Severus' mocking smile told her that she was looking worse for wear.

"Oh, shut up."

He shrugged. "I didn't say anything. Besides, you look good in an apron."

"I'd take that as a chauvinist remark, but then I'd have to slap you, and..." She held up her cookie dough covered hands. "I don't think I should do that."

"Again, thank you for being considerate," he said slightly sarcastically.

"No prob. Anyway, what do you want?"

"You have a letter to read."

"From?"

"Two certain students."

"Ah... Is one of them yours?"

Severus rolled his eyes, but nodded.

"OK." Shaylee looked down at Sera. "I'll be right back, Sera."

"No," Sera protested firmly, attaching herself to Shaylee's legs.

"Um... Alright..." Shaylee looked to Severus for help.

"I just need to talk to her for a moment."

"No... My Auntie Shay!" Sera looked up at him with a pout.

"Er... Sera, Shaylee's not your aunt."

"Yes she is! And you can't have her."

Shaylee snickered at this and grinned at Severus, deciding she'd let him handle this one.

"OK, Sera... I promise I'll only have her for five minutes. She'll come right back when I'm done talking to her."

Sera paused and then released her grip on Shaylee. "Auntie Shay, Uncle Sevwus wants to talk to you. You'd better go." She added in a loud whisper, "He's very impatient."

Shaylee grinned. "I'll be right back. Don't touch the oven," she warned as she moved into the hallway to talk to Severus.

Severus made sure they were out of hearing range and then started. "The date's set for this Friday," he said in a low voice. "Draco says to be in position by 6:30."

Shaylee nodded slowly in comprehension. "About the plan... Do you think it will work?"

Severus looked wry. "Not the way that they're planning it."

Shaylee nodded, then narrowed her eyes. "Woah, woah... Wait a second; what does that mean?"

Severus smiled. "You'll see. Now, I believe my niece is waiting for you to help her with cookies. You mustn't keep her waiting."

When Shaylee opened her mouth to protest, Severus shook his head. "We'll talk about Friday later." He turned away, then turned back with a devious grin.

"I just can't resist... Auntie Shay seems to have a bit of batter on her nose."

Shaylee glared at him. "Well, Uncy Sevwus seems to have a bit of an attitude up his --"

Severus put a finger over her mouth to silence her. "Four-year-old in the next room, remember?" He smiled cockily, then turned to go.

"Severus Snape, I hate you."

"So I've heard."