Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related things are not mine. They are owned by the wonderful J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. I make no money whatsoever out of this. It is simply to have some fun with the characters we all love and hopefully improve my writing.

A/N: Wow, it's been such a long time since I've updated and I'm really sorry. A lot of you guys have emailed me asking me to continue and I come with a new chapter! I hope you all like it, and remember, tell me what you think!

Hermione stared at the building before her for a while before taking a deep breath in and climbing up the stairs. She hesitated before knocking. Her insides wished that no one would answer but their wish didn't come true as someone from the inside was heard unlocking the chains. Run for it! But Hermione squared her shoulders and waited to see who would greet her.

"Hermione!" exclaimed Remus, shocked. "Where have you been - what are you doing here? Do you want to come in?"

"Yes," she replied and stepped over the threshold after him.

"What brings you here, I thought you'd left us?" he asked.

"My running away was foolish, I came back to rejoin the Order and help you."

Footsteps were heard and soon Harry and Ginny stepped into the room. Their eyes went as their jaws dropped to the ground. Ginny ran to her friend and embraced her. Hermione awkwardly returned her friend's embrace while smiling timidly at Harry.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, in a rather bitter tone.

"I've come to help you."

"Help us? We don't need your help. You left us to befriend that scum Malfoy."

"There was a reason I left you, I didn't just walk out because I wanted to."

"You were safe with us, why on earth did you leave for?" he said angrily.

"Dumbledore killed my parents!" said Hermione indignantly.

"He did not!" roared Harry, taking a few steps towards Hermione.

"Well, he's sure got you fooled, hasn't he?"

"Harry's loyalty may have caused him to act foolishly at times, yes, but he has not been fooled," said a deep voice behind Hermione.

She turned around and found herself standing only inches away from Dumledore.

"What brings you here, Hermione?" he asked kindly.

Hermione's eyes lit in anger as she gazed at him. Something inside her wanted nothing more than to whip out her wand and kill the man but the other side of her was fighting for control.

"I have realized that I've made too many mistakes and the only way to fix them is to rejoin you. I only hope you'd accept me back; I want to be a part of the Order once we battle the - Voldemort."

Hermione had gotten used to saying "The Dark Lord" rather than speaking Voldemort's name as she'd been spending so much time with Snape that it nearly slipped from her tongue. She knew Dumbledore would be suspicious in an instant if she ever referred to Voldemort the way the Death Eaters did.

"Of course, we all make mistakes and you are always welcomed here," he said. Hermione felt that he was trying to say something, like he was trying to apologise for her parents' death. But Hermione knew she'd never forgive him - or any of them. Although, there was a small part of her that really wanted to embrace Harry. It had been so long since they've talked.

"Um, where's Ron?" asked Hermione timidly.

All the people in the room looked down but Ginny choked back a sob and ran out.

"He's - ?"

"Yes," said Remus sadly.

"Oh."

Hermione suddenly felt weak but Remus helped her to a chair. She really didn't know what to feel. Ron was her friend, but he strangely stopped showing any loving emotion towards her once they left Hogwarts. Hermione wanted to comfort Ginny, she had always been there for her throughout everything.

Dumbledore walked out of the room and Remus soon followed his trail. He stopped at the door and looked back at Hermione.

"Would you like me to get a room ready for you?" he asked.

"No, thank you. I've got a place to say."

He smiled and closed the door. Hermione stared down at the carpet. Harry's presence had always been comforting but right now, it was anything but that. What really annoyed Hermione was the fact that he was mad at her.

"How could you sleep in the same room as Malfoy's?" he finally said.

Hermione looked up at her friend. "At least he comforted me when I was down. He helped me, allowed me to grieve and strengthened me - even if he really was following Voldemort's order. The fact that he was there is all that counts."

Harry shook his head and stared at her.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing. Why did you not contact me or Ron? We would've comforted you!"

"Oh please, Harry," she scoffed, "Don't you remember when I came to you, the night I heard about my parents' death? You just left the room and I didn't see you for a week! I couldn't believe you put Dumbledore first."

"Why wouldn't I? He's always trusted me, when no one else has. Dumbledore has always stood beside me!"

"And so have I!" said Hermione heatedly.

Harry opened his mouth to speak but he soon closed it again. He took a seat in front of Hermione and dropped his head in his hands.

"It's just been so hard. First you left and a month later, Ron was found dead. Dumbledore and Remus were the only ones I could go to. And I couldn't tell them everything I wanted to. My two best friends had deserted me." His voice shook and Hermione knew he was fighting back his emotions.

"Harry, Snape was there. He could've saved my parents but Dumbledore told him not to interfere."

Harry lifted his head and gazed at her sharply. "How do you know?"

"It doesn't matter how I know. My parents were killed, I expected you to know how I feel and to support me."

"I couldn't blame Dumbledore," said Harry.

Hermione sighed and rose to her. "I don't care about it anymore. What's done is done, I just want Voldemort dead. It's the only reason I'm here for."

"So you never thought about coming for ... me?" asked Harry after a short moment.

Hermione turned around and faced him.

"I never hated you, Harry, and I never will. I was heartbroken; the one person who I thought would lend me his shoulder had turned his back on me," said Hermione sadly.

Harry stood up and took a hesitant step towards her.

"I know exactly how you felt and it was the most difficult thing for me to just leave you there. I was so miserable, I couldn't face you. Your sadness was too much to bear. I couldn't blame and I still can't Dumbledore, without him I'd be dead already."

"So you don't think my parents died because of him?"

Harry took another step forward. "Of course he's to blame but I can't get pissed at him. Look, Hermione, you're really the one person who has never turned your back on me. From the very moment we became friends, you've always believed me and I'm really grateful for that. It broke my heart to see you in pain while I couldn't do anything about it. I'm just so glad you're back."

Their eyes locked and at that very moment, every negative thought about each other was wiped off. Harry pulled Hermione into his arms and hugged her. Hermione embraced her friend. It felt so right to be in his strong arms, she felt so safe. The human contact she'd been longing for made her feel so warm from the inside. And it had been so long since she'd felt that.

"Just promise me you'd never leave," whispered Harry in her ear.

"I promise," said Hermione. She really wished she could keep her promise but she wondered if what she was currently involved in wouldn't allow that.

Hermione knew getting too close to Harry at this time was dangerous. She was after all a Death Eater now - and was married to Snape. The task ahead was difficult. But subtlety and cunning were traits the house of Slytherin possessed and she was surely no Snake. But she did have a brain to make up for that and she hoped it wouldn't desert her. But for now, she just wanted Harry's love to fulfill her. To make up for the loneliness of the past months.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"What happened?" asked Snape.

Hermione had just Apparated back to his home. She pulled off her robe and sat on the sofa. The day hadn't been so horrible. Everyone at the Order headquarters greeted her kindly and were sympathetic towards her. Mrs Weasley had tears streaming down her face the instant she saw Hermione. She hugged Hermione so hard that she had to back away a little because she was losing her breath.

Dumbledore tried to make conversation with Hermione but Harry kept pulling her to a side and speaking to her. And Hermione was rather glad for that. She had no intention of being alone with that old man. Hermione then spent a couple of hours with Ginny. They had the "girl talk", there were tears involved but everything worked out fine in the end. Lunch was served and Hermione had a good time savouring Mrs Weasley's delicious food.

Harry tried convincing Hermione to stay but she knew Snape would go nuts if she did as it might "ruin the plan". So she promised to see him two days later at a Muggle restaurant where no one would notice them.

It was getting dark now, but Snape had no lights on. She took our her wand and the room was soon shining with light. She leaned back on her seat and glanced at Snape.

"They welcomed me with open arms."

"Dumbledore hasn't suspected anything?"

"Not one thing," said Hermione, smirking.

Snape raised an eyebrow. "You know getting close to Potter may destroy our plans."

"I'm not getting close to him," said Hermione, eyes narrowing.

"I hope not, otherwise ..."

"What?" she asked.

"We have been invited to have dinner with the Malfoys."

"What - who? No!" said Hermione, "And don't change the subject."

"You have no choice in the matter. We shall leave at six."

"I'm not going," said Hermione, folding her arms.

Snape rose to his feet. "Ah, but we are married and Lucius merely wants to celebrate with us," he smirked.

Hermione's mouth opened wide. "You told them!"

"They saw the rings."

"But Voldemort! Does he know - why aren't you worried about this?"

"The Dark Lord is rather impressed by our marriage. It has proven to him that you are under my complete control."

"Ha! I'm not under your complete control!"

"Oh really?" he sneered.

"Why are you so - so -"

"Yes?" he asked.

"Nothing," said Hermione, her anger flaring.

He laughed scathingly. "I think I have proven my point."