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A hot tear rolled down her cheek as Severus returned with his impeccable timing and a couple of bottles of potion.

He walked in briskly, looking agitated. After he handed her the two bottles, his hand shot to his grip his left forearm.

"The Dark Lord is summoning me. He will only be expecting me," he added quickly when he saw the alarmed look on her face. "I will be back by morning. Apply the green one to all of your wounds, and then drink the clear one. It will ease the pain and help you sleep. I would prefer you do not talk to anyone about tonight until I return in the morning."

Hermione felt a pang of annoyance, but understood.

"Ok," she said softly, looking in his eyes; his face was completely passive. He turned on his heal to leave, with his signature billowing robes. "Be safe," she added softly, not sure if he could even hear her. He paused at the door for a brief moment, but continued without looking back, shutting the door sharply behind him.

She looked at the potions but knew she wanted to take a bath before even thinking about going to bed. Her head was throbbing and spinning. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, supporting her weight with her arms on the bed. She slowly took a step, letting go of the bed. She felt okay. But as she stepped with her other foot, her head had such a painful throb that she stumbled and fell.

'Please don't let anyone have heard me,' Hermione pleaded silently, not wanting to see anyone. But no luck. She heard steps in the hall and a knock on the door.

"Hermione?" a voice she recognized as Remus asked softly.

"Fuck," Hermione whispered. She didn't want to see anyone. She decided to ignore him.

"Hermione? Are you okay? I- I heard a crash," Remus asked. He sounded so genuinely concerned and gentle. Hermione's resolve crumbled.

"Yeah, I- I fell down…" she trailed off, trying to stand up. Remus opened the door and walked to where she was on the floor. Silently, he helped her to her feet.

"Remus…I'm so sorry for what Snape said back there. He had no right."

"It's quite alright, you should not feel the need to apologize. I was, ah, a bit aggressive shall we say?" he said lightly as he helped her sit in a chair. She met his eyes and could see worry as he looked over her various injuries.

"I'm okay, I just haven't used his healing potions yet," she said with a weak smile.

He returned it, but then his face got serious.

"Hermione, what happened tonight?" he asked gravely. Hermione half-wished she could tell him, but was grateful she couldn't at the same time.

"Well, I- I would tell you but Snape asked me to wait until morning, if you don't mind," she said sheepishly. Remus didn't look convinced, but didn't push. She had never been so grateful for his understanding nature.

"Just know if you ever need anything, you can come to me," he said with a smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Always, Remus. Thank you for your concern," she said sincerely.

He looked at her for a moment and sighed.

"Goodnight, Hermione. Please do feel better," he said softly as he left the room.

"Goodnight, Remus. Thank you."

Before Hermione knew it, three weeks had passed since that night. There was only one week until they all headed back to Hogwarts. She headed down to breakfast from her bedroom at Grimmauld Place. All her wounds were completely healed and she felt physically back to 100%.

As she walked in the kitchen, Sirius greeted her with a warm smile and ushered her into a seat next to him. The only other ones in the kitchen were Kingsley and Mrs. Weasley, who were looking at her concernedly. She was used to it at this point.

When Severus had returned from being summoned that night, he had come upstairs with Remus, who refused to let Severus come and get her by himself, to wake her up from her wonderfully deep sleep. They brought her downstairs without a word to the library where most of the Order members awaited to hear what happened. Harry, Ron, and Ginny were not allowed in because they were still not technically members yet. Severus had explained with few details how he managed to get her away from Lucius Malfoy, but had to take her to Voldemort where Severus had convinced the Dark Lord that she would act as a spy for him and give information to Severus.

That had not been received well. Hermione cringed to think how everyone would act if they knew what really happened.

"She is too young!"

"This is too dangerous!"

"There had to be some other way."

"She can't be expected to take any part in this!"

Hermione and Severus had exchanged looks and quietly let everyone rant until they were done. It felt weird, but when they exchanged looks, they both understood what the other was thinking. They had shared a moment. It wasn't exactly friendly, but it was mutual. Hermione found it oddly comforting. Someone out there half-way knew where her head was at.

Sirius broke Hermione out of her reverie with his infectious laugh as he finished telling a story on Remus back in the old days. Hermione smiled and continued eating. Sirius looked disappointed that she hadn't found it as funny as he, but like everyone else, he assumed she was still just a bit off after being tortured and almost raped by Lucius Malfoy.

Remus came in looking as if he had just rolled out of bed with his clothes wrinkled and his hair ruffled, but smiled warmly at Hermione all the same. She returned it with a bit more heart. Remus sat down across from her and Sirius and began to chat with them.

It was then that Severus swept into the kitchen. Hermione felt her stomach clinch a little. She hadn't really seen him since the meeting with the Order. She didn't know if he was avoiding her because he felt awkward or because he felt it would be safer for her. And they had never really talked about what happened. Hermione was almost able to convince herself it never did happen. But unexpectedly being in the same room as him again brought her back to reality.

She expected him to ignore her and to just talk to Kingsley or something, but it was quite the opposite. Ignoring everyone else in the room, Severus walked directly to Hermione.

"Might I have a word with you? In private?" he asked impatiently, as if he were in a hurry, ignoring the look he got from Kingsley who was convinced Severus had failed to do all he could to help Hermione.

Before Hermione could respond, as her breath had caught in her chest, Kingsley cut in.

"I'm sure whatever you need to discuss with Hermione is a matter the Order can be aware of," he said coldly.

Severus snapped his eyes away from Hermione who still hadn't moved.

"I assure you, if I wanted to discuss this with the whole Order I would. But I am asking to speak to her in private," Severus said through gritted teeth. Kingsley took a deep breath as if he were about to start into a rant.

"Kingsley, it's okay," Hermione said standing up. "Honestly," she added. Kingsley still looked unhappy. Mrs. Weasley and Sirius looked like they wanted to say something but were unsure. Remus just looked at Hermione with concern. She smiled at all of them reassuringly.

"Excellent," Severus said sarcastically and grabbed Hermione by her arm, leading her forcefully from the room. Hermione wondered if he was angry at her for some reason. She hadn't discussed that night with anyone, though Harry, Ron and Ginny had been asking relentlessly.

He pulled her upstairs to her room and shut the door as he put a silencing charm around the room. He then turned to her and looked her over, making her stomach clench again.

"How are you wounds? Are they all healed?" he asked though his voice lacked warmth.

"Yes. Yes, they're fine, thank you," she said awkwardly. He said nothing.

"Well, I don't think you dragged me up here to ask how I am. So what is it?" Her voice sounded sharper than she intended. An odd expression shot across his face for a split second but disappeared before Hermione could analyze it. He looked like he was about to speak but still said nothing. Hermione began to feel uncomfortable. And then faintly annoyed. He hadn't even talked to her for weeks, and left her in the dark. Then she got mad.

"What is it with you? I mean, you have hardly looked at me these last three weeks! Why are you avoiding me? I know this is awkward, but the least you can do after what I've gone through is to keep me informed!" Hermione was surprised all that came out. She was breathing hard, trying to regain her calm.

He then looked at her as if sizing her up, trying to determine something. He finally spoke.

"The Dark Lord has summoned us. He has a mission. He considers it a test of loyalty," he said, ignoring her outburst though he looked faintly annoyed.

"What? I mean, what's the mission?" she asked after a moment. She decided it was better to leave her anger until later if it was this important.

"What? You don't want me to defend myself for my actions these last weeks? I thought you were quite angry with me," he said somewhat mockingly. She couldn't believe he was acting like the same old dungeon bat.

"Well, I find life-and-death marginally more important than you acting like a twat," she shot back sarcastically, but then gasped a little at what she had just said.

Instead of looking angry like she expected, an amused smirk danced on his lips.

"Well, I'm glad you can put your emotions aside for more important things. Even more important than me acting like a twat," he repeated her words, making her blush slightly.

"So, you were just messing with me? I think I have proved, if nothing else, that I can override my emotions to do what is needed. I think you're well aware of that," she said coldly, hinting for the first time what had happened between them. The second it came out, Hermione regretted how it sounded.

His amused smirk disappeared, but he didn't look angry either. She couldn't place the expression on his face. Wounded? Shocked? Ashamed? She couldn't tell. He quickly recovered though.

"Very well," he said coldly, "We are leaving here shortly. We are to travel to Romania where the Dark Lord has arranged a meeting for us with some leaders of an order of vampires. He wishes us to try to recruit them to His cause." (A/N: this is NOT going to turn into a vampire story)

Hermione's mouth fell open in surprise. Vampires were incredibly strong and dangerous, and not known for their benevolence toward other creatures or even their own kind.

"Judging from your expression, you are aware this is quite dangerous. Which is why you will allow me to do all the talking, but you will still have to accompany me. The Dark Lord wishes to know you will do whatever I or He asks," he finished. Hermione didn't speak for a few moments.

"What about everyone else?" she gestured indistinctly to the rest of the house. "Surely they won't be okay with this, let alone allow me to go."

"No, surely they won't. I have discussed this with Albus, and though he does not like it at all, he has entrusted you in my hands for this," he said flatly. "Discretion is key. Dumbledore has not told anyone. A letter with an explanation will appear to the rest of the Order after we have left. We will not announce our departure," he said as if explaining a lesson plan. Any other time, she would have found his tone patronizing, but her mind was elsewhere. This was dangerous. Very dangerous. "Do you have a problem with this?" he asked.

"I do not like lying to them," she said as steadily as she could. "But I see why we have to."

"Good. And as for why I have avoided you these last weeks, I thought it would be safer for you if I was not around you while be summoned, or else he may ask me to bring you," he said matter-of-factly. But then his voice softened. "And I thought my presence may be…stressful," he finished in a strained voice.

Hermione said nothing. She was surprised. He was concerned? Hermione assumed nothing could ever faze the Severus Snape. And here he was, looking uncomfortable as he awaited a response.

"Well, I appreciate the sentiment," she began slowly, "but I would still prefer you be straight with me. I know you find me difficult to say the least, but I would hope by now you could at least see that I am not a little girl. I can handle the truth, and I would prefer it." He considered her words carefully.

"That seems fair," he conceded. Hermione gaped at him. Did she just…win?

"Thank you," she said cautiously, as if she was afraid he would take it back.

Their eyes were locked on each other. Hermione felt like they were sizing each other up. She got an odd tingle up her spine. She was having a personal moment with Severus Snape, for Merlin's sake. She was sure it was rare to see him like this.

"So, what do I need to take with me? What do I need to know?" she asked finally.

"Bring nothing but your wand, but do not keep it out. You would not want to offend them. And you know as much as I know when I say that we are to go there and tell them exactly what Voldemort told me to say. Then we await their response and leave. As soon as possible," he explained.

"How long will we be there?"

"My hope is for them to respond immediately, so we can leave and be back tonight," he said. "One last thought. You may want to change into something that shows as little skin as possible. They can sense your pulse, and if they have to look at the skin they know they can easily tear into…let's just say vampires aren't known for self-control," he said, glancing at her bare neck and shoulders in her tank top.

Her stomach clenched again as he looked over her.

"Right," she muttered, turning around to her dresser to pull out a pair of jeans and a long-sleeve shirt; she made sure it was one that would mostly cover her neck. She turned around with her clothes in hand. He still hadn't left. "Um, I need to change."

"I'll wait for you downstairs at the door. Remember, don't alert anyone to the fact that you're leaving," Severus said as he left her room, quietly heading downstairs.

I have gotten questions, and this is NOT going to turn into a vampire story. Just a mission.