So sorry for the wait. Please don't kill me. Our computer died this weekend, but I'm doing this at school, with a fire-breathing dragon of a librarian looking over my shoulder. -Shudders- Anyways, here you go. There should be like, maybe three more chapters before this is finished.

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Luna and Harry ran like the Hounds of Hell were after them. Luna knew she shouldn't have gone to Blaise when he had called. She knew it had been mating season, why had she even gone? Come to think of it, she had heard that the Zabini's had some kind of ability to do with wolves from some long ago ancestor. But you wanted a thrill didn't you; a snide voice in her head taunted her. Luna shook her head inwardly. That couldn't be, it just couldn't.

"Magnificent Mugwump!" Harry gasped as he skidded to a stop in front of the Fat Lady's portrait. She gave them a look before letting them in.

The Creevey looked up from their spot at in the deserted common room as they tumbled inside. Negatives and pictures littered the table in front of them and they looked grim. Their faces cleared as they took in who it was.

Colin snickered, "Won't Theodore be angry?"

Harry scowled, "Well right now he's screwing Padma so I don't give a shit. In any case we were just getting away from o-"

"One really big mean dog," Luna blurted.

They stared at her.

Harry gave her a quizzical look but turned to the brothers, "Where are Ron and Hermione?"

They exchanged looks, "Er, Hermione is AWOL and Ron is sleeping."

"Okay…Luna will you be okay getting to Ravenclaw tower? Do you want me to escort you?"

Luna gave him a tentative smile, "I'll be fine," she turned to go but Harry caught her shoulder.

"Be careful out there. You do still have friends you know, no matter what," he gave her a peck on the cheek, "Remember that."

She nodded and left. Harry gave her retreating form one last concerned look before turning to the Creevey brothers, "Spill. Now."

Dennis gulped, "Really Harry, nothing happened."

Colin sighed, "Remember when you told us to set up cameras around the school? One of them just took a rather disturbing picture."

"Trouble?"

"Not the kind you're thinking of," Dennis muttered.

"Whatever you do Harry, don't go ballistic," Colin advised.

Harry frowned at him and picked up the picture they were looking over.

It was a dark picture, at least the background was. It was hard at first to make out the two people in the picture. One seemed tall and slightly bulky, the other was medium height and slender. It took a lot of squinting and turning the picture this way and that to finally make out what it was. When he did, he wasn't angry, he was just numb with shock and disbelief. It wasn't possible for them to feel that way, it just wasn't.

The picture was of Hermione and Snape. The grungy, greasy git of a Potions master. The moment was frozen in time, clearly visible to those who could see. It seemed that the Potions master was in pain and Hermione was behind him, leaving her expression to go unnoticed by Snape.

She was looking at him with anguish, but the love was definitely there. He though he had it bad, Hermione's feelings were on a totally different level. Perhaps, here, in this situation, the love was returned? It seemed impossible, but maybe it was?

With that thought he dropped the picture and stared at the Creeveys' who seemed as shocked as he was, "Where is she?"

Colin swiveled in his chair to write on a piece of parchment, "Fourth corridor, and two doors to your left."

Harry turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, suddenly furious, if he had hurt her…

Colin looked at Dennis, "Now what?"

Dennis just gave him a small smile, "Que sera, sera."

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Hermione eyes the doors in trepidation. She so did not want to do this. But as Head Girl, ugh, she had to do it anyway. She started muttering about stupid, idiotic, conniving headmasters as she stomped into the room and slammed the door shut.

"Oohhh…someone's touchy."

"Shut it Malfoy, or I'll get Ron I here." Hermione snarled.

Draco stiffened, "Don't you dare."

"Just try me Ferretface."

He threw her a glare as Tonks came in with Snape, carrying rolls of parchment.

Tonks assessed the situation and narrowed her recently turned blue eyes, "Please behave maturely and like honored students or I'll be forced to do something drastic."

Snape sneered at her, "If you can stay off the floor long enough to do so."

"Alright then," Hermione sighed loudly, "Where do we start?"

Tonks turned to her and forced a smile, "How about the music? Ideas?"

"The Weird Sisters were a hit back in fourth year," Draco said stiffly.

Hermione gave him a surprised glance, "Fine by me."

Tonks frowned, "Why hire a band when you have your own?"

Draco and Hermione stared at her, "Hunh?"

Snape smirked, "I guess you didn't know that Hannah Abbot gathered a band together. It's got three Hufflepuffs and two Ravenclaws in it."

"Really? I didn't know that."

"Knowing your intelligence Granger, I am not surprised," Draco taunted.

Hermione sent him an acid smile as Snape snickered, "I'm sure you're not."

He stared at her in surprise, she looked right back at him. He sent her a small smile, "Right then."

Tonks raised an elegant brow, "Now that your little spat's over, can we get on with it?"

Snape smirked, "Everything should be black, with white tapered candles."

They all stared at him and he rolled his eyes, "Fine, how about mistletoe?"

Tonks' eyes lit up, 'That's brilliant!"

Snape looked smug, "I know, it's from my school days."

Hermione gaped, "That is NOT brilliant! Don't you guys remember what happened last year at Christmas with me and mistletoe? I was stuck between the WEASLEY TWINS! How about NO mistletoe!"

Draco snickered, "Scared of hormonal teenage boys Granger?"

'That's an oxymoron not to mention tha-"

We're having mistletoe, so deal with it Miss Granger."

"Excuse me! Just because Lily never liked you and turned you into a sadist doesn't mean you can turn all sadist on me! And don't you dare disregard my avoidance to mistletoe! How would you like to be stuck between to teenagers by a sticking charm that doesn't come off for 24 hours straight!"

Snape stiffened, "That is none of your concern Miss Granger, excuse me."

"Nice going Granger," Draco said disgustedly.

Hermione's eyes grew round and she squeaked, "Gotta go," and flew out that door.

Tonks was still staring at where Snape had been, "Sev had a thing for Mrs. Potter?"

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Hermione ran after Severus and caught his arm. She had no idea why she was doing this except for the fact that she had caused Severus pain and now she had to fix it.

"I would advise you to let me go Miss Granger," he said coldly.

She let go and winced, "Hermione, call me Hermione. And look, I didn't think before I spoke so I want to apologize. I am sorry."

"You know nothing of my life Mi- Hermione. Don't act as if you do."

"O-okay."

"I have it on good authority that the Dark Lord will attack Hogwarts at the Yule Ball. Mistletoe is small enough to not be noticed and big enough to hold things," he turned toward with a surprising amount of speed, "Do you understand what I'm saying Hermione?"

Hermione gulped at his intensity but nodded, "Crystal clear."

Severus gave a curt nod, "Do you remember your first mission Hermione?"

Hermione was confused at the abrupt change of subject but nodded. She was glad he was no longer in pain. She didn't know why she knew this, but she knew it with a bone-deep clarity.

"Yes, you were captured, do you remember what happened?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then you understand my position. Have a nice evening."

Hermione frowned after him and muttered to herself, "Position? The worst they did to me was cast the Cruciatus. Why would he ask about that? That is all they did, right?" She turned to go but bumped into someone, "Oh, hey Harry!"

"Hermione, we need to talk."

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Dum dum dum. And the plot thickens! …finally… Anyways, sorry for the long wait. Review please! Oh and Que sera sera is Spanish for What will be, will be…or something to that effect.

Ciao!

Lady