Once again, I do not own Harry Potter. Please don't sue me.

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

Half Blood Prince spoilers dead ahead! Do NOT read any further if you haven't read HPB!

You have been warned.

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

Explanations

The Headmaster's office looked exactly the same as Hermione remembered it. Nothing had changed since Dumbledore's death and she got a sense of permanence from the chamber. It's like he has only stepped out to buy lemon drops or something.

Hermione's parents, being unused to traveling by portkey, landed in a heap on the soft blue rug that just barely cushioned them from the hard stone of the floor. Wincing at the rough landing they made, Hermione moved to help her parents up.

"Don't worry," she said smiling, "I did the same thing the first couple times I had to travel that way."

Rubbing his backside, Dr. Granger complained saying, "Is it always so rough?"

Professor McGonagall replied apologetically, "Not usually. Hogwarts has some rather powerful protective spells and enchantments. Technically we are not supposed to be able to portkey in at all," she said with a small, sad look in her eyes. "That portkey was left over from when Professor Dumbledore was headmaster here. He believed that we should have a few for emergencies."

Seeing the pain in her professor's eyes, Hermione hurried to change the subject. "So, Professor, what now?"

"We are just waiting for a few more people before we can proceed, Miss Granger." A knock sounded at the door. Turning, McGonagall opened the door, speaking to the new arrivals as they entered the room. "Ah, there you are. I trust there were no problems?"

The scarred visage of Mad Eye Moody looked even harsher in the firelight from the hearth. His magical eye rolling nauseatingly, he growled, "None that we couldn't handle, Minerva."

Sickly looking green hair, the color of Rita Skeeter's Quick Quotes Quill was all Hermione could see for the next few moments. She snapped out of her musings when she heard a familiar voice say, "Wotcher, 'Mione!"

Tonks practically barreled through the door, tripping on the carpet. She was, of course the bearer of the acid green hair. She was also wearing a matching T-shirt with the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes logo on it and a pair of Black muggle jeans under black robes. At least four silver colored necklaces were around her neck. Hoop earrings (5 in each ear) and about a dozen bangle bracelets completed the ensemble. Hermione was struck with the odd thought that she couldn't be very effective as an auror going around jingling like Tinkerbell.

Her thoughts were once again interrupted by another person coming through the door. Remus Lupin entered with no fanfare and without saying a word. His eyes were haunted and his frayed robes seemed to hang off of his already lean body. His hair hung limp around his shoulders and it seemed greyer than it was the last time she had seen him.

Wearily he met Hermione's eyes in a semblance of his usual greeting.

"Poor Lupin," Hermione thought to herself. "I wish I could do something for him. He's been taking all this really hard."

The final member of the group came through the door and Hermione gasped at who it was. Severus Snape, ex-potions master, death eater, one time member of the Order of the Phoenix and, most recently, murderer of Albus Dumbledore swept into the room with his black robes billowing out behind him as usual. Overcome with rage at her former professor, she flew across the room with every intention of slapping him into next week!

Before she closed the gap between them she felt strong arms encircle her waist, holding her back. She struggled against them for a few moments, but it was no use. She stopped struggling and hung limp, letting the arms hold her up.

"Hermione?" She recognized Lupin's voice. "Hermione, are you done?"

She sighed and suddenly couldn't hold in her emotions anymore. With tears streaming down her face, she looked up at Snape with pure hatred burning in her eyes. Her voice was strong when she spoke. "He killed Dumbledore." She drew a shaky breath and said a little louder, "he killed Professor Dumbledore and you're all just standing there!" Her voice was rising with each word and she was now bordering on hysteria! "He MURDERED Dumbledore! How can you just stand there?"

Lupin's tired voice answered her, "Hermione, you don't know everything that happened that night." He had to pause for a moment when she started struggling against his hold again. When he managed to subdue her once more, he said again, "you don't know! Stop and let someone explain."

"Fine!" Hermione hissed at her captor. Turning venomous eyes to her once respected professor she said, "Explain. I don't see how it will change the fact that you're a murdering Death Eater."

With contempt in his very manner, Snape regarded Hermione with an icy glare. "Not all is as it seems, Miss Granger." He said in his most oily voice. "For instance, yes, I did kill Albus Dumbledore." His eyes gleamed maliciously when he saw her fight to control her rage. "However," he sneered, "the reasoning behind it is something I doubt your little Gryffindor mind could possibly understand."

"Severus," Moody growled, "get to the point. You've had your fun, now explain yourself before Miss Granger really hurts Remus."

Remus threw a thankful glance in Moody's general direction, keeping most of his attention focused on the girl in his arms who was, moments ago, desperately trying to escape. She had been so quiet in the last few minutes that he almost missed it when she finally spoke to him.

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Hermione looked pointedly over her shoulder at the man holding her practically immobile. "Professor Lupin, you can let go. I promise I won't hurt him." She looked contemplatively at Snape. "I admit, he has my attention now." She turned fully to the man she used to look up to. "Very well, Snape, enlighten me." A scowl to rival his own marred her face as she crossed her arms in front of her.

"First and foremost, Miss Granger, you must understand that I am not a good person by any stretch of the imagination." Hermione rolled her eyes, but did not interrupt. "That being understood, yes, I am a Death Eater," He glared at her, "but I am far from being loyal to Voldemort."

Flash Back:

Black robes billowing behind him, Severus Snape strode down the empty hallways of Hogwarts. His feet carried him unconsciously as his mind worked furiously. Arriving at his destination, he spoke the name of the muggle candy with barely disguised contempt in his voice. "Baby Bottle Pops."

The stone gargoyle leaptto the sideand Snape made his way quickly to the Headmaster's office. Not even bothering to knock, he strode into the large, well appointed office and came to a halt in front of the man he had looked up to for the past sixteen years.

"Ah, Severus," Albus's eyes twinkled merrily, "to what do I owe this unexpected surprise?"

"I received a visit earlier tonight," the potion's master began, "a visit from a rather old friend." At Dumbledore's invitation, he seated himself in one of the comfortable chairs in front of the crackling fire.

Eyes still twinkling, the Headmaster of Hogwarts regarded his professor, spy and friend. "Who was it, Severus?"

"Narcissa Malfoy."

Dumbledore's eyes abruptly lost their twinkle. "If I am not utterly mistaken, Severus, that is the first time she has sought you out." At Snape's nod, he asked, "What did she say she wanted?"

Not wanting to beat around the bush, Snape looked into his mentor's eyes, "She wants me to help Draco kill you." Running ink stained fingers through his oily hair, he explained, "Voldemort has recruited Draco Malfoy. As you know, Albus, before new recruits are allowed to bear the dark mark, they must do something to prove their loyalty. Voldemort has decided that Malfoy's task will be to rid him of you."

Drawing a weary breath, he plowed on, "Narcissa came to me tonight. How she found me at Spinner's End, I'll never know. She is concerned that Draco will not be able to follow through with his task. She asked me, as his head of house, mentor and godfather to help him to complete his assignment. To kill you myself if he cannot." He paused and sighed in frustration. "Albus, she made me swear a wizard's oath!"

Looking grim, Dumbledore thought about what he had just been told. He sighed in resignation. "It appears my days are numbered, Severus."

Snape leaned forward in his chair almost desperate now, "Headmaster, there has to be another way!"

"I don't see how, Severus." Dumbledore stood and went to look out the window. "If Draco does not kill me, he will be killed by Voldemort, yes?" At Snape's nod, he continued, "and if you do not help him to kill me or do it yourself, you will be weakened by your oath and exposed as a supporter of the light."

"But, Albus!"

"No buts, Severus." With steely resolve in his voice, he turned to his companion, "I will not have other's die because I am afraid. After all, to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."

Seeing that his attempt at dispelling the somber atmosphere didn't have any effect, he became more serious. "I will get my affairs in order and train Minerva to take my place as the Order head." He held up his hand to forestall any arguments. "This is the way it will be, Severus. I trust you to make it as painless as possible."

End Flash Back:

"So you see, Miss Granger," Snape sneered, "all is not as it seems."

"Thank you, Severus." Professor McGonagall took charge once more. "The Drs. Granger will be escorted to their destinations by Moody, and Tonks. I believe they will be quite safe." At Hermione's reluctant affirmation, she went on, "Hermione, you will be staying with Remus. He has a place where you will both be safe. Severus, I believe you have something for Miss Granger?"

Reaching into the pocket of his robes, Snape pulled out a rolled parchment tied with a black ribbon and a rather large bag that clinked when he moved it as if there were glass bottles inside. Handing her the scroll first, he warned her, "Don't forget to make this every month. It doesn't store well, so you'll have to make it fresh." Then, in true Snape fashion, he sneered at her, "Of course, you may not be able to make it at all."

"Thank you." Hermione glared at him. "I assure you I will be fine."

Then, he handed her the bag, saying, "these are the ingredients you will need for the next three months. I trust you can prepare them for yourself."

Again, Hermione thanked him. His work completed, he brushed past her and exited the room without sayinganother wordto anyone and without a backwards glance.

McGonagall made a tutting sound at Snape's hasty departure. "Well, if you are all ready, there's not much more that needs to be said." She turned to face Hermione. "Say goodbye to your parents, dear. You won't be seeing them until next summer."

Moving towards her parents, she hugged first her mother, then her father. "We'll be alright." They nodded and hugged her fiercely before letting go. Hermione thought she saw her mother wipe away a tear, butshe was too fast to be sure. "I'll write to you. I think Professor Lupin has an owl I can use." She hugged her parents one last time saying, "I love you."

Pulling away from her parents, she went to stand by Remus. She watched as Moody pulled out another Portkey and told her parents to hold on. Suddenly, they were gone and she was alone with her professors.

Remus shrunk down Hermione's trunk so that it was small enough to put in her pocket then offered her part of an old Butter Beer bottle. They said goodbye to McGonagall and he activated the portkey that would bring them to the place where she would be hidden for the rest of the summer.

As Hermione felt the now familiar tug behind her navel, she thought, "This is going to be a long summer."