Chapter 27: Owning up to Responsibility

Two days after they returned from the death eater gathering, Albus called an Order meeting, Hermione sat silently next to her husband holding his hand under the table. They told the Order of the final battle plans, about what happened at past meetings and then Moody spoke.

"We have kept an eye out for any new recruits and there have been no reports of other random deaths." The death eaters in the room looked around at each other knowing exactly what he was talking about.

Hermione was the first to recover, "That's because he wasn't a new recruit, but we don't have to worry about him anymore."

"What are you saying Mione?" Remus asked.

Hermione looked at him with knowing eyes and said, "By his orders, He was taken care of at the last meeting."

"'Taken care of' what is that supposed to mean?" Moody asked

"I was given an order and I fallowed."

"Orders?" Poppy asked.

"Hermione…" Severus warned.

"No Severus, brotherhoods are based on loyalty, trust and honesty, they have a right to know." Hermione said, she relayed the meeting events concerning herself and Connor. "I was doing nothing but fallowing orders."

"And getting revenge," Alastor said.

"So what if I was, put yourself in my shoes Moody and tell me that you wouldn't have done the same thing," she was now standing leaning on the table.

"I wouldn't have gone so far as to kill him."

"You would have if given the opportunity, you are an auror and it's in your blood to deliver justice, that's what I did for my parents who were wrongfully killed."

"No you got revenge."

"They were my family Moody! The way he described his actions were enough to make me sick, so yes I lost my temper just a tad, but do not tell me that you would defy a direct order from a man that only has to think your death to kill you."

"I would have fallowed my morals!"

"So you're telling me that if Albus fallowed the same methods as Voldemort that you would have defied an order?"

"If he did I wouldn't fallow him."

"Not if you believed in the cause." Draco jumped in.

"Alastor, Hermione that's enough, what's done is done."

"No Albus, who's to say that the witch won't turn on us in our sleep or turn on us at the war?"

Hermione had enough, she drew her wand and in the blink of an eye, she was holding Alastor at wand point, "My loyalties lie with Harry and they will until I am dead and buried, the only one in this room that I would turn on is you, you insufferable idiot!" Severus quickly grabbed her and pulled her away from the auror.

He whispered in her ear, "I told you not to take the offer Hermione, this is what I feared would happen, you have to control your temper." She leaned into him and took a deep breath, the two were oblivious to the fact that the entire room was looking at her in shock, and no one had ever seen the usually controlled Hermione loose her temper like that. Hermione eventually got her temper under control and she sat down next to her husband and didn't say another word the rest of the meeting.

"This is why I warned her about giving in, her temper would flare up given the chance, she means what she says but it just comes out wrong."

"Comes out wrong, she could have killed me."

"I do believe that you brought it upon yourself to believe that Hermione wanted to kill anyone, yes she wanted revenge but I dare every person in this room and say that they wouldn't get revenge for any loved ones lost, given the opportunity; I am positive that Potter will."

"He's right; I want to avenge my parents." Everyone stayed silent knowing he was right; they would avenge their lost loved ones. They avoided the overly sensitive subject the rest of the meeting and then they left when they were dismissed. Hermione knew that she had crossed a line with Moody tonight but she wasn't going to say so, he provoked her.

Severus was called upon once again two weeks later, it was almost Christmas but he didn't care. The Dark Lord was handing him a special assignment that he would have to tell Hermione about in minimum. She wasn't going to be happy but Hermione would understand. He would be home for both Christmas and Valentine's Day so she couldn't complain.