Sorry for late update,(started a new job) also this is a short chapter and just a filler, I'm working on the next bit right now so Im hoping to get it finished soon. As always thanks to my beta and thanks for reading it.
"You're not going on your own with a bunch of barely qualified wizards!"
Shouted McGonagall angrily.
"A bunch of barely qualified wizards who defeated the Dark Lord when the order failed! We will be fine Kingsley, painful though it is to admit, I am confident in Potter's abilities." Snape replied evenly.
"They are capable Wizards, as are you Severus. Even so, I'm going with you, at least I can let you into the ministry legally." The minister was firm in voice, the look of determination he gave Snape clearly demonstrated his inflexibility in this matter.
"That would be very useful, Weasley was reluctant to abuse his somewhat tenuous position. However..." Snape glanced over towards the headmistress. "I will not allow Minerva to accompany the party."
"I beg you pardon?" The headmistress immediately interjected.
"No offence, but you're getting a bit old Minerva."
"How dare you... Severus that's incredibly offensive."
"It's kindly meant."
"Yet expressed in the worst possible manner. Do you have any social graces?"
Snape scoffed,
"What do you think? Don't ask questions to which you know the answer."
"It was rhetorical!"
"Then make it clear that you expect no response from me, I'm not playing grammatical or oratorical games with you now. I am resolute in this matter. I'm not having you place your life in jeopardy again."
The portrait of Albus Dumbledore coughed lightly and joined the conversation.
"Minerva, you are more than a match for any wizard. However your duty is to the school, you must remain here my dear."
His eyes stared through his half moon glasses down at the indignant woman's furious face.
"I understand that Albus, but excuse me if I show some reluctance to except Severus' statements that clearly elude to my galloping senility."
"That's not what I said, Minerva and you are quite aware of my meaning, I resent being forced to explain myself to you. Thankfully, there are few people in this world for whom I fear. In point of fact their are just two. I have no wish for it to become just one."
"Is that a very complicated way of finally admitting we are friends." The headmistress raised an eyebrow and eyed him suspiciously.
"Take it however you want Minerva just stay in the damn castle."
"Fine, I will remain at the school. I suggest Kingsley...Severus, that you Prepare for departure, at your request Minister the flue is open from my office and is at your disposal. Please feel free to check its security yourself."
The minister for Magic stepped forward and raised his wand in the direction of the fire. Checking its security for travel, while the headmistress continued to talk.
" The time is approaching, the others will be gathering at the entrance hall, bring them here and please Severus, keep me informed, because your safety is also of deep concern to me, as mine seems to be to you."
Snape inclined his head in acknowledgement of her comment.
Then swept away with Kingsley in and the Minister for magic strode through the corridors of Hogwarts with determination and speed. They halted outside Snape's rooms.
"I will only be a moment Kingsley."
"Sure thing Severus, I can wait." Kingsley stood like an unyielding statue against the wall. Content to wait outside.
Snape entered his rooms and quickly made his way to the Kitsune's gift.
He removed the revolver from its box, checked it was loaded and primed for use, then placed it in the inside pocket of his cloak.
"Kreacher!"
There was a sharp crack and the wizened old elf appeared.
"Yes Master?"
"For Merlin's good name, how many times? I'm not your master, no one is! If you even had a master it would be Potter."
Kreacher's low toned mumbling answered him, his large elf head inclined to the side as he measured his words.
"I'm sorry sir... summon Kreacher that's what you did. You summoned Kreacher like a master."
"Yes ... well no... no, I didn't I called for you, as a friend. We've been over this. I wanted to ask you if you would help me."
Kreacher visibly shrank back and trembled horribly.
Snape held his hand out in a calm down gesture, he spoke quickly to reassure the elf.
"No, no ...Kreacher, I'm not asking you to go back there. I will never take you back there."
Kreacher wrung his hands together and peered up at Snape nervously.
"What do you need?" He croaked.
Snape lowered himself to the small elf's level. Crouching on his haunches,
He gazed at the creature so aptly named. "Next time I call you... I need you to bring Hermione Granger away from where ever she is. Don't wait, don't ask just take her away. Bring her here. Protect her until I return."
"Will you return...sir?"
The wrinkle ensconced eyes, seemed to widen slightly with apprehension.
"For the first time in my miserable existence...I dare to hope. However should I not, please give her this." He handed a small envelope to the elf. The gnarled old fingers grasped around it, drawing it in.
"Then if I do not return, insure her safety. Take her to the Headmistress. Please be kind to her. I know you don't approve of her birth."
"Mud is cold. Her blood is hot, flowing with life. It makes the heart beat faster, enlarging the motivation for life. The fire that flows through those veins destroyed Kreacher's prejudice. There is nothing muddy or dirty about such purity of life, such a large heart. Kreacher will protect that blood with out masters asking. Knowing to protect Kreacher she would also."
Snape remained motionless for a few seconds, trying to take in the elf's garbled words.
He opted for a very simple "Thank you."
Raising himself up he turned and left, hoping against hope that the little elf would have no need to act.
It wasn't long before the young group of wizards were huddled together in the entrance hall of the castle. Neville and Luna stood silently hands entwined. Their countenances pale but determinedly facing the rest of the group.
Draco was slightly agitated, his pale thin fingers tapping urgently against his folded arm.
"For God's sake Draco stop fidgeting." Harry finally growled at him. "Your making me nervous."
"I just really need a smoke."
Groaned Draco.
"Snape's coming, he's got the Minister with him. " Ron whispered digging Harry in the ribs.
Harry looked up to see the Minister and the professor approaching.
Draco's fingers trembled quite dramatically, Hermione reached out and took his nearest hand in hers.
"You don't need to smoke. We are all in this together." she whispered.
Draco squeezed her warm palm, grateful for the pressure, that was dulling the need to feel a cigarette between his fingers.
Snape swept a dark look over the group, and stood before them with his arms folded.
"On time, I'm somewhat impressed.
The Minister for Magic is accompanying us to the ministry. Your aid in entering the department of mysteries is no longer required Mr Weasley. However your assistance in other areas of this operation will doubtless be invaluable." Snape raised a sardonic eyebrow at this, and watched Ron squirm slightly.
The Minister broke the uncomfortable silence that followed.
"I feel the best approach would be to floo straight into the ministry. I have secured this avenue of transport myself and I have no reason to believe it has been tampered with. So lets make our way to the Headmistress' office and avail ourselves of her fire place.
They set off silently towards the office, with Kingsley leading the way.
Snape trailed at the back of the group. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Draco.
"Miss Granger, Mr Malfoy is a big boy now, he hardly needs his hand holding." He commented dryly.
Draco flushed and tried to drop Hermione's hand. She held on grimly and said, "I beg your pardon professor, but I'm holding Draco's hand to keep it away from the cigarette packet I know he's got in his pocket, plus I need a little bit of solidarity in comradeship too, so it was mutually beneficial."
Draco scowled at her immediately.
"I would ask you to help your Godson professor, but I fear you have a similar addiction." She said snidely.
"Hermione I'm not going to smoke ok? Let go." Draco requested. He was not enjoying the heat of his Godfathers gaze.
Hermione let go of Draco's hand mid walk. Nobody had listened to the heated interchange or turned round to see what discussion was taking place. It was therefore of complete surprise to the others when Snape over took the minister at great speed dragging Draco along by the hand.
"What the hell Sir!" He growled angrily as he felt his arm pull at the socket.
They overtook the others by a good distance, reaching the third floor first. At the stone gargoyle Snape stopped abruptly, bumping Draco to a halt.
"Alright, hand them over Malfoy."
"Bloody hell, why should I? I'm an adult it's legal!"
Dropping his hand from the crushing grip, Snape frisked Malfoy's pockets.
"Because if I don't get a cigarette in the next five minutes I'm going to hex the lot of you." Swiftly he pulled out the packet from Draco's robes.
Draco let out an angry snort and yanked the packet back off him with lightning speed. He smirked at his Godfathers surprised face.
"Here, you can have one." He removed one from the packet and held it in front of Snape's face.
"Where are your own?" Draco asked.
"I forgot." Snape growled grabbing the cigarette from the outstretched hand.
"I would save it for later sir, they are catching up. Hermione wouldn't like it."
"And that concerns me why?" Snape snarled.
Draco regretfully placed the pack back in his robes.
"Your going to kill each other, you do know that don't you?" He said smiling a knowing smile that made Snape want to smack it off his face.
"I don't know what your implying."
He said sharply, turning his head to the direction of the footsteps fast approaching.
"Don't worry I'm not going to steal your girlfriend, and she doesn't like smokers... Just so you know. You might need some of those little muggle sticky things instead."
"Why you impudent little..."
He broke off as the Minister approached him.
"Trouble already Severus?" he asked.
Snape pocketed the cigarette quickly.
"Not at all Kingsley, my godson is just a little provoking at times."
Draco smiled broadly at the Minister
Who shock his head in a puzzled way.
"Are either of you going to go in?"
"Certainly... " Snape stepped forward and uttered the highly inappropriate password "Cherry lips."
The gargoyle rotated aside in response to a password, displaying the circular stairs.
"After you Kingsley." Snape moved to one side, gesturing to the troop to go on.
For a second he allowed his gaze to pause on Hermione, as her arm slowly brushed past him. She disarmed him completely with a knowing smile.
It was only as he followed her up the stairs that he realised the cigarette in his pocket had gone.