A/N Thank you for all who reviewed:

Ghzowy : Thank you, for the support, it means a lot. As for the questions, you'll have just wait and see ;)

Sampdoria: I was very moved by your remarks, it is really encouraging to know that your work is appreciated. Do not worry: I have every intention to take it to the end. I admit, it might take a while, but I already have the idea of the last chapter in my head! The problem is to fill the space between the first and last one ;)

Villafoo: it is always nice to know that you liked it. Here is the next chapter, hope you'll enjoy it as much as the first!

DanniV: your wish is fulfilled: here is the next chapter.

Just to let everybody know: as long there is at least one person interested in reading this story, I'll continue to write and post it.

By the way, I was (pleasantly) surprised not to get any flames, but then I noticed while exploring my account that the non-registered reviews were not allowed… "Oops!" I said to myself. So I changed that. I know, I should have done it earlier, but better late than never. So now feel free to review! I'll not tell you not to flame me (after all everyone has the right to freedom of expression) but I admit that constructive criticism is more welcome. After all if you tell me what exactly you do not like, I can work on it and make it better.

Now, on with the story

Chapter 2:

It is a common knowledge that there are some days when everything just goes wrong. It is also a common knowledge that those days it is better to invent yourself an one-day illness, stay in a bed and rest. But it is usually only by the end of the day that one come to the conclusion that it was a mistake to get up at all. They really shouldn't have.

Also the knowing people will tell you that there are some clearly identified signs of dies malus or more commonly known as bad day. And Hermione just made the mistake of not paying the due attention to the most obvious one – she overslept. So instead of pretending that she suddenly discovered quite a nasty flu, she was about to beat the record of the time she needed to get ready.

- "Shit! Shit! Shit!" – swore quite a panicked Hermione – "Never in my entire life had I overslept, and the day it finally happens it has to be the day I have a meeting with Headmistress". Well, the breakfast ended five minutes ago and she still has to brush her hair and put the make up. "Argh!" – cried our frustrated Head Girl when her hairbrush got stuck once again in the mass of what only yesterday evening were curls and now looked more like a bird's nest. To be honest there was nothing unusual, it was the ritual she was going through every morning, but today she was already late and saying "I'm sorry Headmistress, I overslept and then I was having a fight with my hair" didn't seem as a good excuse to her. So instead she quickly applied the spell praying that nobody will say "finite incantatum" in her vicinity, left her dorm and run to meet Professor McGonagall.

When she reached the Headmistress office she was out of breath. I really should convince Professor McGonagall to connect my fireplace to the school network. Otherwise, what's the point to have a fireplace at all?

She was late, there was no doubt about it, and to be honest Hermione didn't know what was the point of coming besides saying "I'm sorry, professor, I'm late" and then be off to her classes.

She was about to say the password to the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the headmistress office when she actually remembered what this meeting was about. No, she corrected herself, I have absolutely no idea what is about. But she knew all too well that this meeting was the consequence of her Gryffindor stupidity. So now, with a little bit less confidence she said quickly the password and stepped into moving staircase before all her courage left her and less than in a minute she was knocking at the door of Headmistress office.

§§§

Meanwhile, two other members of the Golden trio were still having 'to tell or not to tell' conversation.

- "Come on, Ron, she is our best friend, she'll understand.

- "You forget that she is a girl, and girls have a different brain structure. And you add to that the fact that she is a Head Girl… She'll never forgive us!

- "The Head Girl that saved our asses yesterday, Ron! If not for her, we would probably be serving detentions for next few weeks and loose Merlin knows how many points. And we agree that we need this potion if we want to go through this plan…"

- "Sure, but don't you think that she'll freak out if she learns what we are about to do ?"

- "You are right. But what should we do? We need this blasted ingredient, and we do not have time to ask Fred and George for it… It is already mid September and if we do not start it in one week, we'll be late on the schedule."

- "So what we are about to do?"

- I don't know, mate, I do not know…"

But as soon as the words left Harry's mouth, his face was suddenly illuminated by a huge grin

- "Ron, what if we let her believe that we need the potion for it actual use?"

Ron nearly chocked on his pumpkin juice, and with a look of disbelief he looked at his friend as if he had gone crazy

- " Tell me you are not serious! Hermione will never believe in this rubbish!"

- "I'm perfectly serious, and it might actually work! As you pointed out Hermione IS a girl, and GIRLS like this kind of things, you know romantic stuff, undying love, roses and chocolate!"

- "Yeah, but… You know… It is so embarrassing!" And then Ron turned quite an unexpected shade of pink, that Harry couldn't hide his surprise.

- "What's wrong, mate?" he asked very concerned.

- "Shevazmygirlfriend", said Ron all to quickly

- "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that."

- "She was my girlfriend".

- "Oh" Harry could only say, the meaning of Ron's words sinking into his brain. How could I forget this little disaster they called going out together. It was more like being at battlefield. But then another question popped into his brain and before he could tell his brain that maybe he didn't want to know the answer, his traitorous tong voiced the question "But you didn't…"

- "NO!", was Ron's quick answer, but Harry was glad because it stopped him from saying aloud the end of very awkward question.

- "We never got to the point", admitted Ron, "With all this fighting we had it was not the best opportunity, if you see what I mean. I know they say that make up sex is the best but one, but I really didn't want to end up with a knife in my back… You know mate how scary she can be."

- "That I know", admitted Harry and silence that followed allowed them to finish breakfast.

- "So what did you decide, Ron?" Harry started the subject again once they were in the corridor.

- "I really do not like the idea, but I've got a feeling that I do not have a choice in this matter if we want to continue with the plan. And I'm still hoping, - he said and little devilish smile appeared on his face, - that all those years she spent with us limited the brain damage the girls usually develop at this age". Now he was openly grinning.

- "That's the spirit, mate!" – exclaimed Harry grinning himself. But then something came into his mind that made his smile disappear. "But where is she?"

§§§

The knot in her stomach was getting tighter and few seconds that passed between her knock on the Headmistress office door and the expected "come in" seemed to Hermione like eternity.

When she entered, McGonagall was seating behind her desk and seemed quite surprised to see the Head Girl. Did I misunderstand something? Hermione asked herself still wondering how she managed to get herself in such a mess. Instead she said "Good morning, Professor."

- "Good morning, Miss Granger. I admit, I didn't expect you this morning".

Now I'm officially lost. Was I dreaming that Professor wanted to talk to me?

- "I'm sorry, Professor, but I understood that you wanted to speak with me just after breakfast."

- "Yes, Miss Granger, but considering the fact that you ignored the breakfast today, I assumed that our meeting will be postponed."

- "I apologize, Professor…" started Hermione feeling uneasy. She was feeling as if she let down Professor McGonagall.

- "It does not matter, Miss Granger. Anyway, we would not have enough time to discuss everything this morning." And without letting Hermione enough time to think she added "I trust you have rounds tonight?"

- "Yes, Professor"

- "I would like you to join me this evening in my office, I believe that we have some matters to discuss. And I also believe that Miss Weasley will not mind acting as you substitute tonight."

- "Yes, Professor". It was all that Hermione could say.

- "Now, Miss Granger, I advise you to hurry unless you want to be late for your class."

- "Good day, Professor". And with that she left, even more confused than before.

She started to walk to her class when she noticed that in her hurry this morning she didn't take her school bag with her. "Bloody hell!" and for the second time this day, that barely started, she found herself running in the corridors of Hogwarts, and it was already no surprise to her when she was late for transfiguration class. It is really not my day.

§§§

Harry and Ron couldn't find an opportunity to speak to Hermione until later this day. Her being either in a class, or in the library or being occupied with Head Girl duties were the main reasons for that, considering the fact that classroom or kingdom of books were not the places to talk about stolen ingredients and how to break school rules. Neither were the Great Hall or Common Room for that matter. That is how the three of them ended up in Head Girl's room just after dinner and an hour before she had to meet with Headmistress.

- "So guys, what you wanted to talk to me about?"

- "Hermione, - started Harry slightly insecure about what to say, - we… we wanted to talk to you about the potion".

Hermione looked confused for a moment. What potion? was running through her mind. Did I miss something Professor Slughorn was saying? The events of the day were really getting on her. To resume: she overslept, was late for meeting with the Headmistress, then was late for her Transfiguration class with the new teacher who felt the need to establish discipline by being even meaner than Snape. And if the latter was at least a brilliant potion master, Hermione had doubts about the capacities of the former. Thanks Merlin she is only a temporary replacement before Professor McGonagall can find a suitable permanent teacher. Anyway, coming back to the events of the day, she was forced to skip lunch because she had to check some theories before Charm class but she never managed to finish what she started because two second years Slytherins choose exactly this moment to play a joke on two first year Hufflepuffs and so she was forced to spend the rest of her lunch time sorting this little accident with Head of Houses and then act as a counsellor for the terrified Hufflepuffs, she was the Head Girl after all. But after some time she had to admit the defeat and bring them to Mme Pomfrey so she could give them a calming draught. And after that, guess what? You are absolutely right: she was late for her class. Again. At least it was a potion class and Professor Slughorn knew about the reason of me being late. After all he inherited the title of Slytherins Head of House after Professor Snape disappeared. And I did have the note from Poppy. But it did not change the fact that Hermione never got the time to finish her potion and she had yet to make Professor Slughorn to agree to schedule an extra potions with her so she can actually brew the potion and get the mark. And now, after she finally got her first meal of the day and she actually started to believe that maybe her day can get better, Harry and Ron wanted to talk to her about the potion?

- "The potion?"- she asked tentatively

- "Yes, the potion we needed dragon gall for", - specified Ron seeing her confusion.

- "Oh, that one!" How could I forget about that one, considering that it can be considered as the source of all my miseries of the day? Well, maybe not all, but a good part of them for sure… Hermione was very tempted to start banging her head against the door. But instead she continued "I'm sorry guys, but I've got such a day that I slightly forgot about it, thanks for reminding me."

- "Yeah, 'Mione, we noticed. Being late for two classes during one day… We are speaking about a record here!"

- "Do not remind me about that!" she said and hid her face in her hands embarrassed. "So, are you going to tell me about this potion or yours?"

- "It is…" - started Harry refusing to look at her. "Promise first you are not going to laugh!"

- "To laugh?" – asked Hermione confused for Merlin knows which time this day.

- "Promise, 'Mione!" Repeated Ron

Now Hermione was getting angry "Is it some kind of joke?! You dragged me into it for a joke?! I…"

- "No!" - exclaimed two boys simultaneously. "It is not for a joke, - continued Harry, - it is …

- "It's called Sensus Parilis", - finished Ron and silence filled every inch of the room. The boys were waiting for explosion, and Hermione was trying to remember what she knew about it.

Sensus Parilis potion is mostly used by lovers in order to share their feelings and sensations during most intimate moments. In Middle Ages it was one of the most guarded potion masters' secret and was used as a part of binding ceremony. But this practice was abandoned due to the complexity of the potion, however the secret itself was not lost: the most brilliant potion masters were continuing to brew it, making it a very generous gift. Later, one of them, Frederic Guardon, if she remembered correctly, created a commerce and started selling it, what cost him his potion master title but made him also one of the richest men of the century. Nowadays, it is one of the most expensive and most difficult to find potions. Some were trying to brew it themselves but the difficulties to obtain the needed ingredients were enough to discourage most people from attempting it.

- "You ARE joking, right?" Hermione said finally in disbelief but the look of their faces told her they were not. So she continued: "Do you have a slightest idea how difficult this potion is?"

- "Hermione, we researched this potion well, we found not only the instructions, but also we read about side effects and the consequences of possible mistakes." – Ron said and Harry continued:

- "Believe us, 'Mione. For once we really KNOW what we are doing."

- "But… why?" asked Hermione refusing to believe what she just learned.

- "Hermione – started Harry, not sure what exactly he should say to make her understand him and after shooting an apologetic look at Ron, he continued – Please try to understand, you know that I love Ginny more than I can express with words. I want her not only to know it, I want her to feel it. Please, I know that it is not a good moment for such things with Voldemort out unto open, but it is probably the best I'll ever have." Hermione looked into his eyes and saw no irony but only the seriousness and sadness, and she understood what he was thinking. He understands that he may not live to see the era without Voldemort. He understands and he accepts it. She wanted to say something like 'Harry, how can you say that!' but couldn't. What he just said was the truth and against it one is helpless. And she found herself saying: "Ok, guys, I'll help you."

In a second she was pulled into a hug by Harry and Ron. "We love you, Hermione, you know that?"

- "Of course, and I love you too, guys. Now, you better be going. I do not want two jealous gryffindors banging at my door" It was true that neither Lavender and nor even Ginny couldn't understand the nature of their relationship. "And I have to hurry up as well for the meeting with McGonagall, before I'm late once again. Oh, and Harry" – she added with a smile but her tone was serious – "I know I'm not supposed to encourage the rule breaking, but I'll feel better if you kept an eye on Ginny, she covering for me tonight. Just do not forget this cloak of yours…"

- "Do not worry, Hermione, I'll not let her wander in corridors alone at night, and thanks for letting me know." And after a second he added "And if ever I'll get caught I can always say I had your blessing!" And before she could throw something at him, he disappeared just after Ron.

Once alone, she turned to the armchair where Crookshanks was making a good job of appearing asleep.

- "What I just got myself into, Crooks?" she asked not really counting on a reply but still somehow irritated when Crookshanks sent her a glare, obviously displeased to be disturbed for such a silly thing.

Anyway, I've better be going, unless I want to be late again.

And she left, completely oblivious to the fact that the little midnight adventure she had yesterday with her friends was only the first link in a long chain of events, the little detail that set in motion a complex mechanism that will change her life in a way she couldn't think possible.

§§§

In the Gryffindor common room, sitting in the armchairs in front of the fireplace two members of the dream team were discussing the conversation they just had with their best friend.

- "You know, Harry, I feel bad about telling her the whole truth."

- "I know what you mean, mate, but we really can not tell her about our plan. She'll do everything to keep us from going through it, or worse, she'll insist on joining us".

- "I know, It just feels, we are betraying her trust".

- "Yeah… And knowing her temper, I hope she'll never find what we really need the potion for".

- "And after all, we are not even sure that it is going to work."

- "Don't worry, Ron, everything is going to be alright. The last ingredients ordered by owl will arrive tomorrow, and we already have the rest and Hermione agreed to help us. If my calculations are good we will complete the testing by Halloween and then we can move on with the next step. And know I have to go: I have Ginny to keep out of trouble."

- "See you later, mate. Oh, and Harry…"

- "Yes?"

- "I'm amazed by your acting skills!"

A/N Here you go: another chapter. Hope you enjoyed it, but I still need a beta.

In next chapter Hermione is becoming the member of the Order and we'll have the first glimpse at Severus (yes, the Dark and Brooding but one and only!). And I also have a question (remembering me telling you that the story is not finished and I like readers being able to express themselves?) : I need to pair Draco with somebody: any preferences? Do you want it to be the canon character or not? If yes which one? It really can be anyone except Hermione.