Hermione woke up in her bunk bed. Disoriented, she lurched up to see the morning sun shining into the tent. Huh….I could have sworn I didn't fall asleep here. Attributing this thought to her stress levels for the past few weeks, she rose and padded over to the tent entrance on bare feet, noting that Snape seemed to have already gotten up. The morning air was warm, the birds were singing, and spring seemed to have truly made its debut. She stepped outside happily, still clad in an old t-shirt, boxershorts, and with her hair in a wild tangle. But she had long ago given up caring about her appearance, so she simply enjoyed the lovely morning. There was a fire crackling merrily a little ways from the tent, with a dark shape sitting next to it. Of course he manages to look sinister even when the sun is shining. She thought with amusement, and walked over to him. She sniffed. "Sir….are you cooking breakfast?" Severus glared at her. "Well if I had waited for you to make breakfast I would have been out here all day." He said, then wordlessly handed her a plate of…omygod eggs and bacon.

She was happy – this was the first time he had made breakfast for her during their entire mission. He's trying to make me feel better about my blunder with the elf yesterday, how nice! She thought dreamily. Severus on the other hand was praying that the breakfast would prevent her from remembering she had fallen asleep almost literally on top of him. Please don't let her remember please please please…."Say, Severus, did I go outside at some point tonight? I had leaves in my hair when I woke up." Shit. "I do not make it my habit to observe your nightly activities, Granger," he said smoothly, not looking at her. Her empty plate clattered to the floor. "I remember!" Oh dear god, please no. "Professor I believe last night we….cuddled." She said awkwardly. But she had learned in her relationship with Viktor to be honest and direct when it came to these things. That was why, to this day, she was able to be more open about her feelings. The only reason she had not told Severus about her feelings was because he was her teacher and because she thought he would have no interest in someone so young.

He stiffened. "I assure you the fault lay with me. Forgive me for my inappropriate behaviour, Ms. Granger." He still didn't look at her. He felt awful; he had taken advantage of an innocent young girl last night by giving in to his feelings of wanting to hold her. He felt weak, and that feeling was not something he liked. Hermione crouched next to him and put her arm around his shoulders. "You know, I rather enjoyed it. Perhaps we both needed it." He remained quiet. She sighed. "Can you at least be honest and talk to me?"

"I feel like I am pushing my feelings onto you, and that you, a naïve child, will not be able to say no." He said quietly. Her heart sped up. Feelings?

"I may be young, but I have had enough experience to know when I want to say no and when I want to say yes. Sir, with all due respect, I would appreciate if you could let me draw my own conclusions about what is and what isn't appropriate between us." She said calmly.

He frowned.

"I am your teacher!"

"I like playing dirty."

"Ms. Granger!"

"Call me Hermione"

"I refuse"

"Why?"

"You are a child!"

"You're and old man then."

"Watch your tounge with me, Ms. Granger."

"I said call me Hermione. You can whisper it in my ear when we-"

"MS. GRANGER!"

She grinned cheekily at him, but her eyes shone with warmth. "I like you, Severus," She said, her wide brown eyes too close for comfort. "May I derive from your inner conflictions that you like me to?" He opened his mouth to answer her, when the silvery form of a patronus approached them.

It was Dumbledore's, and not a shape either of them recognized. It cut their conversation short when it opened what looked like a mouth and said "Hermione, Severus, there has been a sighting west of here. Please hurry and go there, you may catch them yet. They have changed course – they are no longer heading in the direction of London." Hermione looked at Severus. "They're trying to get rid of us trailing them by using a new route. We need to go now!" She ran back to the tent, her hair flying.

Five minutes later they were back at the shack they had been at yesterday. Hermione cast the spell she had invented – a dark ribbon appeared to mark the trail of the dark magic within the wizards. They began to follow it, occasionally dissaparating to reappear a few kilometers further away. They were able to cover a decent amount of ground until the trail led them to a small village. "Where are we exactly?" Inquired Hermione. Severus looked around for a sign. Welcome to Little Chalfont it said just before the entrance to the village. "We seem to have come to a bustling center of commerce and political activity." He said in serious, teacher like tone. Hermione saw the sign, and raised an eyebrow. "It seems so sir," she said with a smile. "It seems very quiet though – shall we follow the trail further?" He nodded.

They walked into the town. It was abnormally quiet for a Thursday morning. The shops and cafes all seemed deserted. "Where are the muggles?" asked Hermione quietly, but Severus was just as mystified. They continued on through the eerie streets. Severus was about to make a comment when Hermione held up a slim finger.

She pointed to the street junction they were approaching. The wind carried the low sound of voices from that direction. Hermione looked around for a place to hide, for it seemd the people they had been pursuing were heading in their direction. She saw a medium height hedge, towards which she pulled her surprised partner. Grasping his black jacket by the shoulder, she forced him into a crouch next to her. They were now shielded from the streets, and Severus could not help being distracted by his partners proximity. Focus, he told himself, and listened to the approaching conversation. Footfalls landed heavily, punctuated by sinister laughter.

"- Dark Lord said that he wanted to send the message tonight. Good thing we now have a willing…subject for him to use as leverage."

Hermione exchanged a worried glance with Severus. They had come too late, Voldemort already had a squib in his grasp.

"We will need to apparate back in haste. Where are Avery and Nott with that dammed elf?"

Scratch that. The squib was still nearby, not yet with the darkest of all wizards. Since Avery and Nott were still not back yet this meant these 3 Death Eaters had no idea Hermione and Severus had been following them. Hermione looked at Severus in question. He nodded and withdrew his wand from his pockets. Hermione eased off her backpack and also drew her wand.

They stepped out, wands aloft, facing the open street before them.

A few seconds of silence, after which they were bombarded with a series of nasty hexes.