Disclaimer/ Authors notes: don't own HP but I am currently in possession of a rather awkward pc, it keeps crashing and losing things and generally annoying me (I'm rubbish with computers and they sense it!)

Well here's chapter 3 which was gonna be longer but I cut it in half so I didn't have to type as much and could get something up, that's good however as it means chap 4 should be quick in coming since I have it started and a plotline done 4 it… n yeah well here you have it enjoy:

'Minerva this is insane! I can't just let this go on; Remus is so stubborn I've never seen him like this. He's unwilling to talk about it, and when I try to bring up Hermione he's almost harsh, all he says is that he's weighted it all up and won't change his mind, I don't know what but I know I have to do something.'

Tonks was seated next to McGonagall on her red tartan settee, Tonks had her feet curled under her and a sweet cup of tea balancing precariously on her knee, while McGonagall sat straight slightly turned towards Tonks, cup of steaming black coffee clutched in both hands.

'I've known them both a long time Nymphadora, and their relationship will never be simple there are too many memories for that but I did think at least that they respected each other to some extent'

'well I don't know what to make of it, but if he wont discuss it I might just take things into my own hands I keep thinking how I'd feel if it was Remus and I was in Hermione's position, and I know Severus is in danger and everything, but we all are; so was Ron'

'But the death eaters search for Severus has become so fanatical of late and they are almost back to the position of power they held last time, thank goodness for Harry if people didn't have hope, well it doesn't bear thinking about'

'Minerva I want to tell Hermione, that way…'

'…Tonks you… '

'No hear me out if she knew it wouldn't be so unfair and he could keep his cover…'

'You think that Hermione would go on as normal? Just having learned of her boy friends death and Snape imposing on their life that was? This need to be an all or nothing mission I know it's hard'

'But...'

'Let me finish perhaps there is a way to make it easier, we could send him on a mission alone somewhere. What about to find out why the death eaters want Snape so badly'

'Well that's obvious they know he's traitor don't they'

'They do indeed but I think its more than that they could have killed him before now remember at Diagon alley?'

'Perhaps You Know Who wants him for himself?'

'but if it was a choice between killing him and letting him escape and their only motive was revenge surely he'd be dead, no I think there's more behind this. Right we need to figure out how this is going to work…'

Snape roused to life still feeling extremely groggy, but the feeling of soft hair under his nose was simply too much to bare for even a moment longer, so he sleepily mustered all the strength he could and rolled over, only to come into stark contact with the length of Hermione's body.

He started to life suddenly, and sat bolt upright in the bed, looking to his right he saw that it was not Hermione's hair but a large heap of a ginger cat that was presently curled up on his pillow that had originally distracted him. And that Hermione was still dozing on contentedly.

So Severus sat up properly and swung his feet and himself out of bed and thus away from Granger and her impossible cat who seemed to be in cohorts against his efforts to sleep through this nightmare and come out of it unscathed, or at least with all his limbs intact.

Half an hour later Severus sat sipping at his perfectly concocted cup of morning coffee, Hermione entered the room looking somewhat sleep rumpled and flopped down on the sofa next to him. She reached over and cupped his hands and drink in both of hers before tilting it towards her and taking a sip. She released him at once balking and covering her mouth with her hand.

'Ew! Ron! That's awful, what a lovely wake up call' she said in the most annoyed voice that her croaky voice would allow.

'You don't even drink coffee! Since when did you have a partiality to hot tar?'

'…well I thought you know try new things, besides its supposed to wake you up'

Still looking doubtful Hermione shook her head before curling her legs under her and snuggling into his arm.

'Great' though Snape 'I'm going to look like a zombie before the weeks through no sleep and no coffee'

However this encounter reminded him that if he was to stay under this guise he was going to have to work harder at playing his part, after all he thought looking down at the bushy head leant against him, there were worse places he could be.