Thanks to all my reviewers! You really make my muse go "wheee...type type type" I seriously meant to send this next chapter to someone for review, but forgot! So I decided to go ahead and post and see what happens. So here it is...

Chapter 10: Requests to Parents

"Hermione! Hermione!" Ginny cried out to her friend, who was only one of a handful of students at the Gryffindor table eating her breakfast. "It finally came!"

Hermione turned to Ginny as she sat down beside her. "What came?"

"Mum said it was okay! You're invited to the Burrow for Christmas! I just received her owl this morning."

"I am? You did? Er…"

"No, Ron doesn't know yet." She said with a smirk. "I thought I'd let you decide whether to tell him…or if you want me blow the news." Knowing the secret which she kept faithfully, she had been with the head girl on several occasions when Hermione had received an owl marked for "Maria".

"Well? Who is from?" She had asked. Hermione's blush told her immediately it was from Ron. "Okay, what does it say?"


Hermione handed her the letter.

Dear Maria,

I know Harry has been keeping you up to date with everything that has been going on, so I won't bother repeating what his last letter said…


Ginny scanned the letter. It was the end of the note that caused her to let out a yelp.

I really can't wait for us to meet. I know it might not be until it is all over, but you've become too important to us…to me especially…I mean, I really care for you a lot and hope to tell you so in person. Hopefully soon? I understand if you want to wait. You do want to meet still, right?

Yours truly,

Ron

"I can't believe he wrote that! Hermione, he really, really likes you! Maybe even…"

Hermione cut her off. "Don't say it, Ginny. You forget…what will he say when he finds out it's me?"

Ginny laughed. "Oh, I can imagine he'll be pissed. But you know how he feels about you…as in the real you."

"I'm not too sure of that right now. I thought…"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. I thought you two were past the whole Lavender thing…and the flying lesson, too."

"I don't know, Ginny, I haven't been as friendly toward him. Of course, I have been very busy with my assistantship to Professor Snape."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure you two will, well, make up?"

Hermione laughed. "Oh, don't think that I don't know what you mean by that, Ginerva Weasley!"

Hermione bit her lip. "What do you think? Should I tell him?"

Ginny gave her friend another smirk. "Oh, perhaps not. Don't worry. I'll take care of it when the time comes. Wait…does that mean you'll come?"

"I'll have to write my parents and see what they say. I'm sure it will be alright, at least for one of the two weeks we have for break."

"Well then, make it the second week. My brothers sure know how to throw a New Year's party!"

Hermione groaned at the thought and then went back to eating her breakfast while Ginny served hers. A few minutes later Harry and Ron joined them. This time Harry sat next to Ginny.

Lavender also came to the table and pointedly ignored them. However, she was joined by Seamus and Dean while Parvarti sat with Neville. The latter two were now seen together more frequently.

After classes Hermione trudged down the stairs to the dungeons for another long night of working with Professor Snape. They were really close…the potion that had worked on a trial object seemed to work and they were brewing more of the potion to put inside of the transfigured "fake" locket. Then the object would have to sit for a week with a time bolster so that the potion actually sat for more than fifty years in the "locket". They just hoped that it would be enough to pass any tests that Voldemort might give to ensure its authenticity.

Lucky for Hermione that Harry had loaned his invisibility cloak for many of her trips to the dungeons. Even though most people knew she was helping Snape, the two didn't want others to know she was working "after hours." Hermione was able to hide in a nook as Pansy, Nott, and Goyle exited their head of house's classroom. No doubt they had either detention or failed marks to make up. Hermione had seen them and others often enough, privy to know Slytherin member's consequences rather than having points taken off their precious house.

"You're late, Miss Granger."

Hermione looked at her time piece. "Only by two minutes. And I would have been on time if I hadn't had to hide while your students lingered outside your classroom."

Professor Snape ignored the comment. "Well, come on then. Tonight we check the potion and, if all is perfect, administer it to the fake locket."

Hermione nodded as she followed him. Like always, a series of wards, locking and silencing charms were set to make sure no one would interrupt them. Even Dumbledore knew well enough to leave them alone, although he had managed to sit with them on several occasions, as had Professor MacGonnagal.

The two checked the substance. "It is perfect." Snape drawled.

"Of course. We checked it enough times." Hermione snapped.

"One cannot be to dismissive to mistakes. Not with the Dark Lord himself as the user." He said, his tone rather harsh.

Hermione nodded. "I know…I'm just anxious." The two had gotten used to each other after the first couple of weeks working together. And she knew that Professor Snape respected her, no matter how ill he treated her and her friends in class.

"I'm still in shock that you chose one of your own classmates to use as a test subject."

Hermione smiled. "Yes, and Neville was perfect. He never suspected the watch I gave him when his broke."

"No doubt as to how it was broken." He scoffed, but a smirk appeared on his thin lips.

"Oh, yes…it was an accident of course." She replied with her own smirk. "That way I was able to give him a new one without any suspicion. And his girlfriend might have had a problem otherwise."

"How he ended up with one of the Patil twins…but he hasn't blown up a cauldron since. And for that I am thankful you chose him."

"Impressed?" She teased.

"Hardly. Merely relieved that the safety of my class has dramatically improved since you gave him the watch." He paused, checking the potion one more time. "Bring the locket opened. It is time."

She obeyed, and there was a tense moment as they poured the potion inside. Once it was done, Professor Snape placed it carefully on a table over a cloth. The two both let out a sigh of relief.

As they waited Professor Snape had Hermione grade some papers while he brewed some potions for the Order's medic supply. After two hours the locket had definitely cooled. They wrapped the locket in the cloth, then placed it into a glass chamber with the time device. Snape whispered an incantation and the time bolster set to work. He then opened a hidden vault and placed it inside. Now all they had to do was wait.

December 11th

Hermione was a nervous wreck all day. Even Harry and Ginny had kept out of her way even though their friend "tried" to act normal. Luckily exams were coming the next week, and everyone else assumed the stress of studying was showing on the Head Girl.

Ron was another matter all together. Her partner in Charms, he had completely botched their project the week before and they had rowed. He kept out of her way ever since, but he and Harry were just as anxious as her to find out if the "locket" was a success.

Professor Snape wasn't in class, but he hardly was after a night at a Deatheater's meeting. Two more days passed and Hermione was beginning to worry even more. Dumbledore had assured her and Harry that all appeared well, but details were not given. Hermione wondered if Professor Snape would tell her, since she had done as much work as he had – in fact, it was her idea all together!

Draco had appeared jumpy in their quarters. All Hermione had to do was breath and he would startle as if expecting something. At times he seemed relieved when she was around, and once she'd caught him staring at her. Not in the way he previously had, when he'd been trying to seduce her.

Three days after Snape appeared in class. The students knew better than to ask any questions, and his lesson went on as if nothing had happened. It wasn't until late that night when Hermione finally showed up at his dungeon classroom. She slipped inside, grateful that there were no students around, and knocked on the office door.

He opened the door in his usual manner, raising a brow seeing who it was. "It expected it might be you."

Hermione grinned warily. "Might?"

"Yes, now get in before someone sees you, although students never seem to search me out unless I've ordered them here." He waited for her to come inside, doing the usual charms to lock the door and silence the room. "Or unless they are in other sorts of trouble." He mumbled bitterly.

"I am sure you can guess why I'm here."

"You are correct, as I am most likely as well. No doubt the Headmaster didn't share with you any of what I have already told him."

Hermione nodded.

"The locket, by all appearances, fooled the Dark Lord. He appeared most sure that the power he supposedly holds will work to his favor in this war, starting here at Hogwarts."

"And Draco? Does he really believe that Draco will do what he expects him to?"

Professor Snape nodded. "The boy put on a good front, appeared most proud to play such an important role in defeating Potter. Have you noticed anything unusual about him lately?"

"Yes, he seems…jumpy. As if he expects something to happen at any moment."

"The Dark Lord told him he would have a task and will be summoning him through the locket. He would not share to any of us what that might be, but tell me, has Harry felt anything?"

Hermione nodded once again. "Yes, the night of the…the ritual…Harry said he woke up around midnight and felt the Dark Lord's happiness. Or boasting."

"The Order will know the second Draco shares with me if he feels the inclination to do anything. No doubt there will be a test at first, something minor." He paused for a moment. "Do not share what I've told you tonight. The less Harry knows, the better."

"That seems logical. Tell me, Sir, does Malfoy know my part in this? He knows it was a fake, right?"

Snape shook his head. "Not quite. He may suspect, but he knows not to question me. And I do believe he suspects you might be playing a hand in this, but this is from nothing I have told him. Narcissa may have slipped something, but no details. She assured me of that much."

With nothing else to do but wait, Hermione helped the Professor with a handful of essays and then returned to her Head Girl's dormitory. While the Professor was gone, she had kept up her work for him and so there was nothing left but some papers that second-years turned in earlier that day.

When Hermione returned to her quarters, she found a note from Ginny and a letter from her parents. Ginny's note asked if she had heard from her parents yet, which Hermione found ironic seeing that she just received it.

Dear Hermione,

We were planning to tell you that the family is meeting at your aunt Kathryn's home in upper France on Christmas Eve. We would very much like to spend time with you the week before, so if you would like to meet with your friends on Christmas Eve and stay the rest of the holidays, we have no objection.

Your loving parents

Hermione was ecstatic. She would get to stay with her family and go visit the Burrow, which she had heard loads about from Ginny and the boys through their letters. She had already met the twins, and had once met Fleur and Bill for dinner when she was with Victor in Germany after a Quidditch match.

This would also mean she would "miss" her two snobby cousins, Brittney and Skylar. The two attended a prestigious preparatory school and never resisted teasing Hermione and her bookish ways, refusing to believe that she attended some special school for the gifted. Hermione couldn't wait to hex them…if she could get away with it. Of course I could…she thought. Maybe getting to know the twins would help me in a way without getting caught.

She couldn't wait to tell Ginny about joining the Weasley family, and secretly wondered what Bill and Fleur would say when they saw her again. She hadn't mentioned meeting them to anyone, and had, quite frankly, forgotten about the connection until Ginny mentioned that her brother had married Fleur, one of Harry's opponents in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. She hadn't said anything, for Ginny had been going on and on about her sister-in-law who she once hated and only barely tolerated.

She outwardly groaned. What would Ron say? She remembered his words on the train…As in Vicky Krum's Girlfriend?...why didn't he like Victor? Was it because he was Harry's opponent? Or…no, she shook her head. It couldn't have been because of her, could it?

She was right. (AN: about Ginny, of course).

"So you're coming?" Ginny asked excitedly the next day. "I'll owl mum right away…well, once we're through with classes. And once my git of a brother isn't around."

"You're not going to tell him?" Hermione asked.

"No, I thought I told you," She said shaking her head. "I want it to be a surprise for him. Come on, Mione…it will be fun." She giggled. "You can be my present to him for Christmas."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You're just finding an excuse not to buy him anything."

"Oh, I already have that covered." The red headed girl said mischievously.

"Do I dare ask?" Hermione asked.

"Nope. It will just have to be a surprise." The girl giggled and left the table, where the two had just had lunch together.

Later that day Hermione met with Harry and Ron in her dorm room. The two had been waiting patiently all day for the news, and Hermione had been putting it off as well she could. She knew they would be disappointed, but she had promised Professor Snape not to share any more than what she was about to.

"Well?" Ron asked as soon as she warded her own door. He had obviously been irked having to wait.

Hermione waited until they were all sitting, accepting an eager-for-affection Crookshanks who had hopped onto her lap. "Well, apparently the locket worked. As I told you the other day, Draco has been acting strange the past few days, as if he is expecting something. And Harry, you told me that you felt the Dark Lord's strange feeling of happiness on the night it was delivered."

Harry nodded, but watched Hermione carefully. He could tell she was holding back, but didn't want to question her on it. He knew Snape probably told her not to say much, and that she probably knew more.

"Well, you were right of course. He bought it, hook, line and all."

"Huh?" Ron asked.

"Muggle term. Fishing." Harry answered.

"What?"

"Fishing. It's a muggle sport, of sorts. They use a pole with a line, which has…"

"Yeah, I got it." Ron said hastily, although his two friends knew he probably didn't.. "So what now?" He apparently thought that Hermione did tell them everything she knew. Wouldn't she have told them? Or, at least wanted Harry to know? And Harry told him everything, right?

Hermione shrugged. "We wait. And watch Malfoy for any unusual behavior. I think we should inform Professor Dumbledore immediately if we do."

"But he's always…doing stuff that looks bad." Ron piped in. He ignored Crookshanks growl at him

"Yes, but anything that's different." Harry stressed.

"And if he doesn't do anything, then we'll have to be more alert."

"Huh?" Truly Ron wasn't thinking well tonight.

"That might mean he's up to something, or afraid."

Ron laughed. "Afraid? That pompous ass…" But then he, too, remembered how Malfoy had reacted last year after his failed attempt on Dumbledore's life. Ron sighed, then sat upright. "You're right! He has been acting strange lately. He hasn't done or said anything to hardly anyone!"

"He's nervous again." Harry replied.

"Yes, no doubt worried that the Dark Lord will test him again. Harry, you said he never got the mark. Well, I don't think he got it the other night, either. Or ever did. I believe the Dark Lord has waited, he might have other plans for Draco such as the locket and doesn't want to risk anything by making him a Deatheater."

"Or he's too bloody chicken." Ron added.

"Maybe…whatever his reasons are the locket might be the key to the Dark Lord's plans. Draco is Head Boy, he comes from a very affluent pureblood family. His father…well, he used to be in a position of great power and likely still has some of his connections."

Ron frowned at this. "Hermione, how much have you been talking to Professor Snape? You seem to know more than you're telling."

Harry groaned. He didn't want to press the matter…not yet. "Ron, leave it…"

Ron ignored his best mate. "How much has he told you? Anything about Malfoy you'd like to share with us now?"

Hermione was furious. She stood up, letting Crookshanks fall gracefully to the floor. "You have some nerve! I've been working endlessly with the bat to make sure…" She stopped herself from saying any more.

"Ron, I don't think this is the time…" Harry tried again.

"No, Harry. She obviously is holding something back from us." He stood up to face the young witch. "You've been lying! You know a hell of a lot more than you're letting on!"

"If I were, it's for good reason! You obviously don't have the maturity to hold such information!" Hermione yelled.

"I've known about plenty! Plenty more than you! Just who the hell do you think you are! Coming to Hogwarts this year, becoming our friend, and then just lying to us!" Ron spat.

"Ron, you don't know…"

"You leave it, Harry. I'm out of here." Ron turned to leave, but then faced Hermione one more time. "When you decide we're worthy of the truth, you come find us. Harry?" He asked, opening the door after Hermione let the wards down for him.

Harry shook his head. "You go on. I need to talk to Hermione here for a bit."

"Fine!" Ron screamed, then left by slamming the door shut behind him.

A few minutes passed before anything was said between the remaining two. Harry looked up at Hermione. Tears were now forming on her delicate face. "Ron…he…"

"I know, Harry. He speaks first, thinks later."

Harry sighed. "Yeah." He paused for another minute. "For what it's worth, I see now why Dumbledore didn't want him to know yet."

Hermione sat back down. Crookshanks had now crossed the floor and jumped onto the bed next to Harry. He meowed so that Harry acknowledged him and let him onto his lap.

"Yes, Harry…I see that now, too." She wiped the tears from her eyes. "So, what else did you want to know?"

To be continued...

end of chapter a/n: So there it is...I had a really hard time with the argument and meant to get someone else's opinion. Hopefully you'll let me know and next I will definitely 'consult my consultant'. :) Happy October!