New Alliances

Standard Disclaimer Applies!

X

Severus sat down in a large plush chair that rested near the fire place in his personal chambers. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had an actual conversation with a person and truly been interested in what they had to say. Hermione fascinated him- it was that simple. She was quite beautiful, and had an intellect to rival his own. She even seemed to have quite a grasp on the upcoming war, contrary to what he had previously believed.

Until five minutes ago, he had believed Hermione and all students, for that matter, to be completely oblivious. They all acted as though there wasn't a care in the world, and it sickened him. He always thought, "Do they not realize the seriousness of what is happening? Are they that completely daft that they joke and play as the wizarding world crumbles before them?" However, they were apparently more prepared than the previous generation had been.

'Secret meetings... who'd have thought? No doubt that Potter runs them...' he scoffed. It is plain to see that not only is Hermione the brains behind the whole thing, but she is also the brawn. Potter is merely an image- an idol to follow! Savior of the wizarding world- pah! Hermione is the true savior...

He looked up suddenly. "When did I start calling her by her first name?" he asked nobody in particular.

'Since you realized you may actually- shall we say like her, for now? a voice in his head answered.

"Bloody nonsense... utter bull!" he muttered, shaking the voices from his head.

'Maybe it is Potter who is to lead us through the war, but he could not do it without Hermione's help. Hell! He couldn't do it without any of those bloody Gryffindors' help... and I do believe he knows it- which makes him an even better person. Damn!' he thought.

He stood and dressed quickly. He wrote a quick note to Hermione and sent his owl, Cassandra, to give it to her.

X

Hermione walked back into the common room to see them all still sitting up. They looked up from their activities as she stepped through the portrait. She smiled.

"What would you all say to inviting some Slytherins into the DA?" she said.

"Well, we already invited Draco and Blaise, so who else is there?" Harry asked.

"How would you feel if I told you that I talked to Severus and he gave me a list of Slytherins who don't support Voldemort?" she replied.

"Well, I would ask to see the list," Harry said, holding out his hand.

"You can't- I promised Severus that I, alone, would speak to them and I, alone, would know who they were until they chose to make it known to anyone else," she said.

"Exactly how much did you tell your darling Severus?" Ron asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Oh he knows pretty much everything," she said, causing them all to groan.

"Then why exactly do you remain unmarked?" Seamus asked.

"Severus is completely trustworthy. I'm going to put him under oath with the rest of the Slytherins tonight, so he can't tell even if he wants to," she said.

"Good idea... ever since we changed the oath in sixth year so that you plain can't tell anyone who is not completely trustworthy, I've felt that much better," Ginny said.

Hermione nodded. "Well, I think I'm going to change and go to breakfast. Anyone care to join me?" she asked, transfiguring her clothes into black, flared jeans and an emerald green halter top. They all stood, with several cheers from the guys, and headed for the Great Hall.

Hermione pushed open the doors and Draco pulled her into his arms. She raised her eyebrows at him, giggling. She looked toward the head table and saw Severus scowling. Is he- could he be- jealous? I can use this...She pulled him down and kissed him lightly.

"Quite a 'good morning', Draco," she said.

"Back at 'ya," he replied, "I hugged you because I got a note from Sev saying that you wanted to meet and a select group of Slytherins in his office to discuss- that. So, why did you kiss me?"

She nodded her head in the direction of the head table. Draco followed the motion and saw the black look that Severus sent him. He smirked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Playing games, are we? Well, I'm happy to oblige," he said, placing an arm around her waist and walking with her to the Gryffindor table. They sat down next to each other and she fixed him a plate and then herself.

Harry and Ron watched this display with questioning expressions. Hermione laughed and whispered across to them to look at Severus. They did and grinned.

"Sneak," Ron said.

"That's a low blow, 'Mione," Harry added.

"I know, but I think it's funny," she said, digging into her food.

She, of course, was finished way before the boys. She opened her mouth to attempt conversation just as the room echoed with the sound of wings. She looked up to see a pure black owl with intelligent golden eyes land in front of her. She took the note from its leg and stroked its back as she read it. 'Hermione, meet me in my quarters after breakfast. SS' She smiled. She cleared a spot on the table for the owl to sit, but it had a mind of its own. She knew an invitation to stay when she saw one and climbed onto Hermione's shoulder.

"That's Cassandra," Draco said, "He almost never uses her to send mail..."

"Well, then I feel privileged," Hermione replied, feeding Cassandra a bit of a soft bagel. Cassandra rubbed the top of her head against Hermione's cheek affectionately. "Would you like to come with me to my room so that I can reply to your master?"

Cassandra hooted in response and took off suddenly. Hermione shrugged, but gaped when, only moments later, the beautiful bird returned with a clean roll of parchment, a quill, and tiny vial of black ink. She grinned.

"Good girl, Cassandra," she whispered, "Severus trained you well, didn't he?"

Cassandra's eyes immediately swiveled to where her master sat and hooted. She pecked the parchment lightly, indicating that Hermione should write. She dipped the quill into the ink and wrote; 'Severus- Cassandra is beautiful. She's so intelligent! I suspect you trained her a little, but somehow I get that she is just naturally intelligent. Of course I will meet you in your quarters. Hermione P.S. I had a cat like her once.' She tied the note to Cassandra's leg and sent the owl immediately to Severus.

"So, that was Snape's owl?" Harry asked, "Bloody smart bird, that one."

"Reminds me of that bloody smart cat- OW!" Ron exclaimed, "What'd you kick me for, Harry?"

"It's okay. Crookshanks was old when I bought him...it was only a matter of time before he died," Hermione said, smiling reassuringly.

"Maybe you should get a new familiar?" Draco suggested.

"You know what? Maybe I should... what should I get though?" Hermione said, "I don't need an owl, since Severus already has one..."

"Maybe another cat," Ginny suggested.

"No... I'll think about that. Maybe I'll get a magical creature," she said, "Maybe I'll get a Niffler... no, those things are supposed to be destructive to belongings. Perhaps a Crup. Oh, wait- they're scavengers and are far too aggressive toward Muggles. Maybe I should get a Phoenix... except they're so rare and expensive! Damn! Maybe I'll just get a normal pet."

"Good idea," Draco said, laughing.

"Hmm... I'll go today," she said, "Well, I'm done with breakfast, so I suppose I should be going."

"See you around," Harry said.

She flashed him a quick peace sign and blew a kiss to Draco before rushing out of the Great Hall. She walked up to the door to his private quarters and, instead of knocking like a normal person would, she pulled out her wand and blew the door up. She ran inside, laughing like a maniac, to see that not only was Severus in the room, but so was-

"Lucius Malfoy?" she exclaimed, not bothering to hide the disgust in her voice, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I am talking with Severus. Surely that is not a crime," he said smoothly. Hermione couldn't help but think about how many women would swoon at his voice... but not her. To her, the sound of his voice was sickening.

"Well maybe not, but he has a prior engagement with his fiancé," she said, walking further into the room until she stood between the two men.

"Really? And where is this fiancé?" Lucius asked.

"Well," Severus said, raising an eyebrow, "She's standing right in front of you."

The only sign of emotion from Lucius at that moment was his eyes, which were blazing. "Really? I was under the impression that she still had not decided."

"Did Draco tell you this?" she asked.

"Why y-" Lucius paused as he noticed her use of his son's first name and narrowed his eyes, "Yes... he did. Have you two become- close?"

"And what exactly would you do if I told you yes?" she retorted.

"I would have to have a heart to heart with him about associating with mud-blood trash," Lucius said and in a heart beat he was pinned against the wall by his throat.

"I would appreciate it terribly if you didn't use that word in the presence of a lady- not to mention my fiancé- Lucius," Severus hissed, squeezing his throat just ever so slightly.

"Terribly sorry... must have- slipped my mind," Lucius replied and Severus let him go.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to speak with Hermione- alone," he said.

"Yes- of course," Lucius said, "Good day to you both."

Severus repaired the door with a simple spell (you all know which one) and turned to Hermione. She grinned.

"Thanks," she said.

"It was no problem," he said coolly, "Now I suppose you're wondering why I asked you to come here..."

"Not really. We are to be married soon- tomorrow in fact- so there doesn't really need to be a reason, now does there?" she said in her famous matter-of-fact tone.

"Well, I suppose not- but there is a reason," he said, "I was wondering if you've heard from your parents since you owled them."

"Actually, no, I haven't," she replied.

"Hmm..."

"Hmm? What do you mean 'hmm'? That means something- it always does!" she exclaimed.

"It simply means that I'm thinking," he said, holding back a laugh, "I was just thinking that you don't know how your parents have reacted."

"No, I don't," she urged, "And..."

"So you don't know what to expect at the wedding... they could try to stop the whole thing," Severus said.

"Oh... shit," she muttered, and then slapped a hand over her mouth, looking wide eyed at him.

"No need for that, Hermione. You may speak in whatever manner you wish while you are within these walls," he said, grinning.

"Oh good," she sighed, "I was just hoping you wouldn't take away any points."

He chuckled. There was a sudden flapping of wings and Cassandra fluttered into the room and perched on Hermione's shoulder.

"I've noticed how well you two have been getting along," Severus said, smiling, "It's good, considering you two will be seeing much of each other."

"So she does stay here with you?" Hermione asked.

"She stays in the commons area of my quarters," he said, "I tried to put her in the owlery, but she didn't seem to like that very much."

"Heh. I'm planning on going... out today. Would you care to join me?" she asked, completely out of the blue.

"I suppose so. Where, exactly, were you planning on going?" he replied.

"Just... out," she stated, "Maybe to Hogsmeade." And maybe not...

"Really? Well, since it is the weekend, I'd be happy to escort you to Hogsmeade," Severus said, flashing white teeth at her.

"Great," she pushed her back away from her face, "I'll go and get my money and then we can go."

"There will be no need," he said, making her look up at him in confusion, "As your fiancé, I will pay for anything you buy today."

The 'down-to-business' tone didn't hide the intimacy behind what he was asking of her. Him pay for her purchases? She could just imagine the shocked looks on her friends' faces when she tells them.

"That's really not necessary..."

"Nonsense. If it will soothe your Gryffindor chivalry, you may think of it as a sort of- wedding gift," he said, never losing his cool façade.

She smiled. "I guess it'd be okay... but just this once- and you have to let me buy you something."

"I won't object as long as you promise that it won't be anything expensive or tasteless," he said, shooting her a suspicious glare.

"Severus, I have never bought anything tasteless in my life and I don't plan to start now," she replied.

"Good. We should go now," he said, striding past her and out the door. She followed him, nearly jogging to keep up with his fast pace.

They stopped only once when on the way to Hogsmeade, when Hermione was lagging too far behind. She sighed when they entered Hogsmeade and immediately requested that they go and get a drink at the Three Broomsticks. He complied and they quickly found a booth at the back. She found it hard to ignore the strange looks they were receiving from the other occupants of the pub, though Severus didn't seem to be having trouble.

After they finished off their drinks, they migrated back outdoors. Hermione turned to him. "I'd like to go... for a walk."

"A walk?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know why, but I feel like I need to take a walk," she said, looking toward a particular building, "I know you're probably going to hate this, but could we possibly take a walk by- the Shrieking Shack?"

He barely winced, but it was enough to notice if you were actually looking for it. Hermione saw it and immediately regretted bringing up the place. She knew, of course, about the possibly deadly prank that Sirius had tried to pull on Severus, and how James had saved him and then died before Severus could repay the debt.

She opened her mouth to tell him to forget about it, when he suddenly grabbed her arm and began pulling her, forcibly, up the hill. "What are you doing?" she asked, looking up at him.

"I have no idea... I have no control over my body. I suppose we'll find out soon enough," he replied.

Perfectly aware that they could be heading straight into a trap, she curled her fingers around her wand inside her pocket. He finally came to an abrupt halt and looked down at her. He smiled when he saw that she was poised to do battle. She really would make a great Auror... or Defense Against the Dark Arts professor... Wait a minute! Did he just think about somebody else getting the position of DADA teacher- and was HAPPY about it? That's it- he was officially losing his mind!

If it weren't for his years of training to be completely immovable, he would have jumped out of his skin at the low mewl that came from above them. In a flash both Hermione and Severus had their wands out and were facing upward. However, they froze at what they saw.

Seemingly stuck in the tree, was a small Black Panther cub with wings! Protruding from its back were great, black, raven wings! The intelligent cerulean eyes gazed down at her with such intensity that she was sure it would open its mouth and speak. Hermione gasped audibly. She placed her wand back in her pocket and held her arms out to the creature, making soothing noises as she- for it was indeed a female- crawled slowly down the tree toward her. The animal, which was not so small after all, began purring loudly as it nestled in Hermione's arms.

"Severus, do you know what this is?" she asked, stroking its head.

"No... care to elaborate?" he said.

"This is a Volaticus Panthera, which is Latin for 'winged Panther'. It is a species thought to be extinct by the entire wizarding world. They were sought after for their pelts because they are completely immune to all curses and spells... including the Unforgivables," she explained, "It was usually native to mountainous regions, so I have no idea why she's here, but... that's the odd thing. I was reading up on wizard myths and it said that the only time the Volaticus Panthera comes down from its nest is when it senses its familiar is near by. They have enormous magical powers and only choose the strongest of wizards to be companions with. When a person is bound to the Volaticus Panthera, they become partially immune to curses as well. They still are affected, but not as badly. For instance, if they are struck with the Killing Curse, they would only suffer pain... probably immense pain, but it's still a far cry from death."

"Okay... so you're telling me that this- thing- has chosen you for its familiar?" he asked.

"I never said that... but it would seem so, wouldn't it? It was probably also the reason you lost control of your body. As I said, they possess incredibly strong magical powers," she said, "I'm going to have to read more about them later this week. In the meantime, how are we supposed to get little Artemis back to the castle without drawing too much attention?"

"Artemis?" he asked.

"Yes, Artemis. The Greek Goddess of the hunt, protector of the young, and lady of wild things. She was also Apollo's twin sister, and-"

"Good Lord Hermione, is there anything that you don't know?" Severus exclaimed.

"Well, yes. I have no idea what Fudge was thinking when he imposed that law. I truly do pity the girl who gets stuck with Crabbe or Goyle," she said, chuckling.

"I'm sure there are plenty of girls who pity you," he said bitterly.

"Yes, well there are plenty more who envy me," she said smiling up at him, "Now... back to Artemis..."

"Right..." Must ask her about that later, he thought, continuing, "We could simply use a cloaking spell."

"Right... except she's immune to spells," Hermione said, "If only she didn't have any wings..."

The wings suddenly folded close to her back and to Hermione's surprise, disappeared completely. Artemis looked up at her, and Hermione swore she saw them twinkle in that knowing way that Dumbledore's always do when he knows something that you do not. She grinned.

"Well, that takes care of that," she said.

"Such a fascinating beast," Severus said, sounding sincere.

X

Okay... another long one! YAY ME! Lol. Review Review Review! Always review! I love 'em. YAY REVIEWERS!!!