I apologize for the wait everyone, this week has been busy and my muse is suffering. But I hope you enjoy!

…

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO – SECRET NOTES

It was decided that Hermione would only attend certain classes. It would look poorly if her face was never seen around after the flashy show at the opening feast. So Hermione went to herbology, care of magical creatures, ancient runes, and arithmacy. Severus had snarkily told her he would instruct her in potions and defense but by the end of the first week of classes, she had barely seen him except to sleep. She decided to tell herself that he wasn't avoiding her and that with all of the new things happening around the castle, he was just busy. Hermione got afternoons to herself which was really nice, so she read, spent time in the library, and walked around the grounds. She didn't really have anyone to socialize with; anyone fighting the good fight seemed scared of her and anyone else, well, they seemed amused that she had been claimed. Hermione wanted to spend her weekend doing something different but the possibility was remote.

"Severus?"

"Yes?" He did not close the book he was looking at but she noticed his eyes stopped moving.

"I think some of the students want to start up Dumbledore's Army again, I heard some whispers."

This time he did close his book and looked at her. "That's a dangerous idea."

"Naturally, but that won't stop them. I want to help."

Severus' eyebrows rose. "Help how?"

"Keep them hidden from the Carrows, help with spells."

He looked at her a long time. "I won't dissuade you from this will I?"

She shook her head.

Severus sighed heavily. "Fine. Just be careful, and keep me updated."

"Yes, sir."

He scowled at the playful way she said sir, but his heart wasn't in it. He had no idea how Hermione was keeping her sense of humour, her joy. She was stronger than he thought perhaps.

"And we wills start with your other lessons on Monday."

Hermione beamed at him. "So what are we doing this weekend?"

"We?"

She nodded again. "It's not like I currently have anyone else to talk to."

He pinched his lips. "I was going to go make sure the Carrows aren't setting up torture devices in the dungeons."

"I see."

"Go try and work with your friends while you have the weekend. Earning their trust will take time."

She sighed. "I suppose you're right. Come to breakfast with me and then we can split off into out duties."

Severus thought about protesting but he realized if she hadn't suggested breakfast he would neglect eating probably until dinner. It was a horrible habit of his. He suddenly felt looked after and it was a strange feeling. Severus nodded his assent and they both got up to dress. Despite the claim status, they walked companionably side-by-side down to the Great Hall, through the staff entrance, to the table. They ate, mumbling quietly together, until they were quite full and Severus insisted he was "too busy to lounge about like an old hen". They walked out together, many eyes on them, Severus heading down towards the dungeons once the doors of the Great Hall slammed shut behind them and Hermione weaving her way hesitantly to Gryffindor tower. She paused outside of the portrait of the fat lady who eyed her warily, but had to open up when Hermione told her the password Severus had given her.

Only a few people looked up when the portrait swung open but soon everyone was looking at her. She swallowed and tried to smile.

"How'd you get in?" Seamus bit out.

"The password."

"Hermione?" Ron asked, moving towards her with Harry and Ginny in tow.

"Hey Ron," she smiled, "Good to see you."

"What did Snape send you here for?" Ginny asked, drawing her wand.

"Snape?"

"You're claimed, everyone in the school knows it." Harry explained.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes but it's not what you all think. I'm here willingly and Snape has nothing to do with it."

"But he controls you." Ron said rather pompously, crossing his arms as if he hadn't just been happy to see her.

"Not while I'm alive he doesn't." Hermione replied, "And I'm here to help."

"Help with what?"

"Dumbledore's Army. I know you all want to create it again. But you'll have to be careful at first. If the Carrows get a whiff of any kind of resistance starting they'll shut it down right away, but if you start quietly then build up, they won't know what hit them."

"Why would you want to help us?" Ginny asked.

"Because, we have to win, and there's only so much the Order can do."

"I want to let you help us, Hermione, but it's going to take time for us to trust you aren't under Snape's control." Harry spoke up.

Hermione smiled. "That's all that I can expect."

Hermione spent Saturday doing her best to provide the information she could, listening intently to what people would tell her. She spent that evening researching ways for everyone to communicate secretly, trying to combine the concept of the Marauders Map with the coins she had made fifth year.

"If you can charm the pieces to take in a finger print instead of a verbal password it will be more secure." Severus suggested, looking over her shoulder.

Hermione turned her head to look up at him, her frazzled hair tickling her face. "Oh. That's smart."

He cocked his eyebrow at her and smirked. "How many will you make to start?"

"Seventeen, that includes one for me and one for you."

"That's not a lot."

"We have only been here a week."

Severus left her to work on her spells and after a time she approached him, sitting at the headmaster's desk – it still looked weird to her – and handed him a slip of parchment, which she held between the edges of her robe. He took it from her and felt a little trill of magic course in his hand.

"Give it back then," she directed and he did. He saw her blink a few times and give back the parchment, and after a few seconds she grinned. "It's perfect!"

"What did you do?"

"I used your finger print idea, so whoever touches the parchment first has access to whatever message is written there. Then I charmed it so anyone else who touches it gets confused and only knows that they have to give the person back."

His eyebrows shot up and the corners of his lips twitched so she knew he was impressed.

"Ours have a separate special connection so if you write my name before your message it will only go to me and vise-versa."

"Why are you giving me access?"

"It's easier than reporting back to you and as long as you don't write to anyone, no one will know."

He nodded.

SHSHSH

Sunday saw Hermione meeting the small group at the Room of Requirement. She carefully passed everyone a parchment and explained their charm. People were impressed and spent a long time playing with them and testing them out. Harry smiled at her a few times in a familiar way and she knew she was on a path to earning their trust. At the end of the meeting she hung back and asked for Ron and Harry to wait.

"What is it?" Ron asked.

"Can we spend the evening hanging out here for a little, I've missed my friends."

Harry and Ron exchanged a glance and on cue the Room of Requirement shifted into a cozy living room, fire, tea, and all. Hermione smiled, knowing that the Room changing meant they wanted to stay. The three of them sat in the chairs around the fire and took their cups of tea.

"So what happened?" Harry asked her.

"Bellatrix took Sever- Severus and me hostage." She decided being honest included calling Severus by his name, like she always did. "She thought that he was a traitor to Voldemort and that I was somehow a part of it."

"Severus?" Ron hissed but Harry elbowed him.

"We were locked up in some abandoned house for most of the summer, if I hadn't been ready for an emergency at any time, we probably would have starved to death out there. She tortured us for information." Taking a deep, uneasy breath, Hermione rolled up the sleeve of her robe to show the Mudblood carved into her skin, clearly healed but still a somewhat angry pink. "We didn't tell her anything and eventually Voldemort came to the house looking for Severus. He basically told Bellatrix she was a daft fool and to release Severus in a week."

"How come you're still not locked up then?" Ron interrupted.

"He claimed her." Harry said quietly, as if realizing something.

Hermione nodded. "As snarky as Severus is, he isn't pure evil. He claimed me to save my life and keep me protected." It was the first time she had said as much out loud and the importance of it hit her in the chest. "A week later Bellatrix and Mrs. Malfoy came to let us out. Severus bought me a new wand and we stayed at Malfoy Manor for a little under a month until we came here."

"Sounds awful." Ron said, wrinkling his nose.

"More boring than anything." Hermione admitted. "And I hated that I couldn't do anything to help out here."

"Ginny told us about claiming," Harry continued in his low voice, "You're basically his puppet."

"I'm a thrall by name only," Hermione explained, "Severus didn't break me down into nothing and build me back up in the way he wanted."

"Then why do you call him that? And what's with the clothes?" Ron grumbled, eying her elaborate black robes.

"Maintaining the imgae." Hermione shrugged. "And after being locked in a small space together for so long professor just didn't really fit anymore."

"It's bloody weird."

"I don't disagree, Ron, but it's part of my reality now."

Ron still seemed to be chewing over it all but Hermione got the feeling Harry was understanding this much better. "Come to the common room Friday night if you can, I want to tell you something."

Hermione nodded and smiled. It felt good to be around her friends again.