Tony, of course, was the first to broach the subject.

"What do you want, Stark?" Fury asked warily when Tony breezed into his office. It was never a good thing when the cocky multibillionaire paid him a visit at SHIELD.

"I'm just here to help you out, Little Nicky!" The man assured him, which ironically did not reassure Fury in the least.

Apparently he had good reason for his distrust because Tony just nonchalantly walked around his office and randomly touched things. As if that was not bad enough, he also immediately started throwing out thinly-veiled references about bewitching hot young women who actually liked ugly older men.

At first, even though he made sure that his usual bored expression never changed, Fury was momentarily startled at the thought that the pain-in-the-ass man knew his secret. However, he soon realized that Stark was just being his usual damn irritating self while fishing for information.

Well, he can just shove his bait right up his… Fury started to think before he was interrupted by a buzz from his personal assistant in the outer office.

Apparently, it was time for his video conference call with the Council. Never in his career had he been so eager to talk to that bunch of stuffed shirts who were still pissed off because he did not follow their orders during the Chitauri invasion. However, it did get Stark out of his office…and off of the topic that hit a little too close to home for comfort. Therefore, just this once, Fury was grateful for the opportunity to be the subject of the Council's displeasure.

Dr. Banner was next.

Fury made the mistake of asking the physicist about his current research the next time he visited the Tower. After a significant look from Tony, however, Bruce started describing the projects that he was working on with Hermione. He spoke at great lengths about how brilliant and talented the witch was both in the potions lab and out in the field. He emphasized her intelligence and intuition so much so that, for a moment, Fury was afraid that the man was actually interested in her for himself - even though he had always thought that Banner had a thing for Romanoff. Nevertheless, he reluctantly had to admit that he could definitely see the two brilliant people as a couple - especially since Hermione had also done the impossible and made friends with the Hulk, as well.

However, after the redheaded agent walked by and Banner could not keep his eyes off of her, the SHIELD director could instantly tell that his initial reading how been the correct one. His temporary concern that the little witch had a possible suitor in the doctor and/or his alter-ego vanished...and he could not help but to realize with surprise the amount of relief he felt at that knowledge.

In great contrast to the storm of thoughts inside his head, though, the stony look never left Fury's face. Consequently, the doctor soon gave up trying to push the agenda and buried himself sheepishly into a screenful of data instead. In fact, he was so busy trying to keep his eyes on the screen and off of the Director, that he did not notice the look of pure relief that briefly crossed Fury's face at the swift drop of the topic once the doctor finally looked away. After all, it was excessively hard not to think about someone when her name was constantly being mentioned and all of her many fantastic qualities kept being praised.

Uncharacteristically, however, Fury had temporarily forgotten about the other man in the room. Therefore, Tony had seen the look himself. Even though the sarcastic man had to bite back a comment about his surprise that the Director could actually feel emotion...much less show it...he was also shrewd enough to realize that look meant the team was definitely on the right track with their newest mission. Thus, he took much satisfaction when he relayed this information to the rest of his conspirators later when Hermione was out of the room. Since it seemed to be working, they decided then to continue with what they liked to call "Operation Dark Heart" - even though Tony was still a bit disappointed that his idea of naming it "The Get Everyone Laid Project" was vetoed immediately.

Fury finally realized for certain that the Avengers were up to something when even the Black Widow herself skillfully turned a standard debriefing around into a discussion about how Hermione preferred men with brains, experience, and character over youth, looks, and muscles. Despite himself, he had to admit that the information made him pause. Could it be true that a woman like Hermione would actually prefer to be with someone like him rather than someone like Steve Rogers, Captain America himself? No, he could not believe that for one moment…no matter how much he wanted to.

However, he continued to think about it long after Romanoff exited his office. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He could see the pattern now that all of his recent interactions with the Avengers had taken. He was by no means a gullible man, though, and he refused to be made a fool of over a woman by anybody. He did not know exactly what the hell kind of game the Avengers were playing at…but he was going to put a stop to it!

When Clint came in the next day to debrief on a different mission, Fury waited with silent glee for him to go off topic and start discussing the witch instead – just as all of his teammates had done. Then the Director planned to let him have it! Barton would not know which way was up by the time that he was done with the man. However, the archer never wavered from the story of how the mission went down. He simply explained what he had seen and done from his perspective and then stood up to leave.

"Well, Barton?" asked Fury, slightly confused…and maybe even a bit disappointed…as he continued to wait for the other Hermione-shaped shoe to drop.

"Well…what…Sir?" Clint asked with sincere innocence.

He honestly had no clue what was going on simply because the rest of the team had not brought him in on "Operation Dark Heart." Everyone knew that Clint could never keep a secret - not unless it was something of life and death level importance. However, the love lives of his friends and colleagues did not rate quite that high…and they knew he would blab the truth the first time that Fury gave him the eye…and probably to anyone else who would listen, too. Then all of their schemes would be for nothing and the entire plan would have to be aborted.

At that point, they would also probably have to deal with Hermione's magical wrath for interfering in her love life. None of them wanted that since the brilliant witch could get quite creative with her vengeance…as Tony had found out when she had temporarily given him a suckered tentacle instead of his normal precious equipment the first time he told her that she would not be so uptight if she had a little more action between the sheets during her free time instead of always having her head stuck in a book. Therefore, with that in mind, they all decided that the best course of action was just to keep Barton in the dark – especially since they actually wanted this particular mission to succeed.

However, Fury did not know that the man was truly ignorant of his teammates motives, so he pushed further. "Aren't you going to tell me about how great Hermione Granger is, or how pretty, sexy, smart, and talented she is…or how any man would be lucky to have her in his life?"

Clint just stared at the Director in shocked disbelief for a moment. However, Fury seemed to be waiting for him to say something, so he cleared his throat nervously and wondered if he was actually supposed to give the imposing man some advice of a romantic nature here. Who would have guessed that the almost gargoyle-like Director was actually interested in anyone in that way…much less someone as friendly and sweet as Hermione?

"Um…yeah, she is pretty awesome, I guess," Clint ventured before he hastily added, "However, you know I'm married, so I've never thought of her that way. If I was single, though, I'd definitely ask her out."

"Why?" Fury asked.

"Why would I ask her out?" Clint seemed confused for a moment. Did Fury need some friendly encouragement?

He did not quite understand where all of this was leading, so Clint just told his boss the truth. "Well, you were right about everything that you just said about her. Therefore, if I was a single guy, and interested in her, then I would definitely ask her out before someone else snatched her up first and I had to regret my inaction. Even if it didn't work out, I would know that I tried."

With those words, Clint left the Director to stare out the window deep in thought, and quickly escaped the office while he had the chance. He headed straight back to the Tower, however, in order to tell the others about the almost surreal encounter. After all, everybody already knew that he could not keep a secret - and this bit of juicy gossip was just too good to pass up!

He simply had to tell everyone that Director Fury wanted Hermione!

Hermione walked in on the tail end of his story, however, while the team was busy congratulating themselves on what they considered to be a foregone victory (after bribing blabbermouth Clint to keep it quiet with the promise of a new enhanced bow and some explosive arrows straight from Tony's tech lab). However, she immediately became suspicious of the way that everyone in the room went completely silent – even Tony. After all, everyone knew how much the man loved to hear the sound of his own voice. When the silence continued for too long and a weird, strained, and stilted conversation replaced it, she knew something was going on. Since she also knew that the majority of the people in that room were professional liars...in one way or the other...she then resolved to ask the one person whom she knew would tell her the truth.

...

"Why is everyone acting so weird, Steve?" Hermione asked the Captain later that night when she caught him alone in their favorite place in the Tower.

Even though Tony obviously preferred technology, he still recognized the value of a well-stocked library…and that was something that both Hermione and Steve appreciated. The Captain liked to use his free time whenever he was there instead of in his own apartment to catch up on everything that he had missed over the years. He usually welcomed Hermione's presence during his research because she did not mind simply explaining things to him…without throwing in jokes and barbs at his expense like the others normally did. In fact, she had also missed quite a bit in her later isolated years in the wizarding world during the war and afterwards, when she no longer had her muggle family to visit. Therefore, the two of them often found out about important events in history together. He also never lied to her…never…and she appreciated that.

However, on this occasion, he stuttered and stammered so much that she just stared at him until he broke down and confessed the truth. He told her that the team had been trying to set her up with Director Fury as her date for the wedding…and that they all hoped it would lead to much more than that.

At her immediate look of horror, he rushed to explain. "For what it's worth, I think it is a good idea, too. Even though it's not obvious at first glance, the two of you have a lot in common, and even your differences kind of…complement…each other," he added in the sincere way that only Captain America could. However, Hermione's dismay at Steve's confession overrode all other information at that point.

"What?" she shrieked before she apparated to the privacy of her personal set of rooms in the Tower.

There she collapsed on her bed in embarrassment as she thought about how her friends had focused on the one man whom she never would have asked out in a million years…simply because she did not think that she would be able to handle the rejection that he would surely send her way. After all, even if he was far from classically handsome, he did have the whole tall, dark, and brooding thing working for him.

In fact, Hermione had to admit that her breath caught in her throat every time he looked her way…and it was not with fear. Plus, it was no secret that she had always liked and preferred the knowledge and experience that older men brought to the table…and to the bedroom! Her libido whispered before she tamped down on that thought hard!

Instead, she thought back to how she secretly treasured every conversation that she and the Director had ever engaged in together. Not only that, but she had always valued brains over brawn – even though he clearly had both sets of that criteria working for him. He may not have quite the muscular build that Cap did, but she had seen the man kick some arse – and it was a sight to behold!

Yes, she had always been a bit attracted to Fury, but he had never shown anything but professional interest in her. Therefore, she just stayed out of his way. She simply did not want to stoke the fires of her want and need for something…or somebody…that she could not have. However, that did not stop her from looking forward to the few memorable occasions when they actually ended up alone together. She always enjoyed those quiet moments with the Director away from the distractions of the other Avengers. In his own way, she thought he did, too.

That was why she was so horrified at the knowledge of what the team had done. She could not even imagine what he must think of her now. To be sure he does not think that I put them up to it, she suddenly thought with a gasp. At any rate, she was determined to apologize to him for her wayward teammates immediately, so that he would realize that she had not known about their scheme. She flushed with embarrassment as she realized that she could only imagine the kind of things that they must had said to him – especially Tony.

Oh, Merlin! she thought frantically as she remembered that the man with the uncensored mouth had actually met with the Director in his office earlier in the week.

If only they had focused on anybody else! she thought desperately. Ever since she had joined the Avengers, and had spent so much time being vetted by Fury personally, he had been her secret dream…her fantasy man…the one she thought about late at night when she was alone in bed. Nobody else was supposed to know about him – especially not the man himself! Now even her most private thoughts were tainted. She could only hope that this situation would not make things even more awkward between them in real life, as well. After all, she had to continue to work with the man. It would be hard to do that if she could not even look him in the eye!