A/N: I'm doing this on my phone so pray it works, ok? Lol

Love you all x

N.B: Doing this on a phone is impossible and stupid. That is all.

-0-

The walk was what she needed to clear the air and her head and she smirked as she noticed Michael following her where he could.

"You could have told me to slow down," she called as she stopped to let him catch up.

"Wha' kinda spy game would ah be playin' then?"

"I surely do not know," Hermione chuckled as they started again, much slower.

"She didna mean it, you ken?"

"I do," Hermione nodded. "Still hurt though."

"She wasnae happy wi' 'erself when ah left, an' all."

"Ah dinnae need her penance, Michael," Hermione said gently, grinning at his proud look at her very respectable effort. "And you do not need to give her excuses or reasoning."

"My Lady," he bowed his head. "We shall carry on as we do, then."

He caught her up on what was going on, not that there was much to catch up on but by the time she was at the Second Floor corridor, she was up to date.

"Thanks," she muttered. "I think we'll get you a portrait down here, as well," she mused. "That would be super handy for passing messages, if you are so inclined? As long as we can prevent everyone else from popping in for a look."

"I am honoured," he said genuinely.

"Oh," she said as he left, bringing him right back. "Is Filius around?"

"They left yesterday and will be back in a week for a few days and then leaving again for three, he said. Failing anything you wish from them."

"Thank you," she smiled. "Alright then. Lemme see to this. Can you tell Min that I'm fine and I'll be back in a little while."

She hissed the password that Harry had taught her and watched as the stairs opened slowly. She wondered at Albus, leaving Draco behind, especially down here on his own. She shook her head as her feet clattered down the stairs. It did not take her too long to make it to the entrance and she called out, in case he was busy.

"Draco? Draco, it's Hermione, you here?"

"Hey," he said from the door to his room.

"Hey," she nodded. He looked awful but she couldn't stop herself from looking him up and down. "Not going well, then?"

He disappeared and came back with a stack of letters. She frowned as he passed them over and thumbed through them. Scrawling script in nonsense was immediately apparent, but then underneath in similar handwriting that she knew to be Draco's was the resulting messages.

"Just tell me. Is she okay? What has happened?" Hermione asked quietly, before she got into it.

"Yes. I got her last letter four days ago even though I've sent two since and we were exchanging letters daily. You definitely did something to him and because he's not around, they're all getting antsy. They're doing -" He looked a little grey. "Pretty awful stuff. She said Aunt Bella is getting bored and she started to remember that Mum's still around. I don't like that." He swallowed. "I know Uncle Sev said she's powerful and everything but Aunt Bella is -"

"Why didn't Albus tell me? Why didn't someone owl?" Draco shrugged and Hermione growled as they sat down at the table while Hermione skimmed the correspondence. "Did he say why he didn't take you to this meeting?"

"He said there was no need for me to be involved. Uncle Sev wasn't best pleased but," he winced. "It's Dumbledore, ya know?"

"That's absolutely, bloody -"

She groaned and gathered up the letters in a pile. Despite not really wanting to take the time, she flicked through a few. The words Narcissa Malfoy had written made it clear that they needed to get to this meeting as soon as they could.

"Do you know where they are?"

"The Weasleys' new place."

"Remus closed Grimmauld, huh?" she grinned.

"How did you -"

"Did they say why?"

"No."

Hermione nodded and held her hand out over the table. He hesitated for a long moment before she nodded again for him just to do so and he sighed as he took it.

"Get dressed, I'll wait but do not dally, and then we're going to crash this meeting."

"But -"

"Draco, the main reason for this meeting is to rescue your mother. I do not know what Albus thinks this is but everything else is secondary to that. So get dressed, make yourself look like a Malfoy." He frowned. "Make it over the top if you want to," she grinned. "Cane, hat, whatever you want, but let's get on with it, okay? Meet me up by the Transfiguration classroom. We're going to rock this meeting and take it over."

He made a face of understanding and stood. After a wobbly breath, he nodded sharply and disappeared to his room. Hermione sat back in her chair and groaned. Her earlier spat with Minerva was already fading and she regretted getting so worked up about it. Minerva's thoughts were just that and she should not have allowed it to hurt like that.

With that in mind, she got up and trudged back to Minerva's rooms.

"How bad?" Michael asked as she rounded the corner.

"Are you bound to me, like you are her?"

"Not quite but I do not think I could be forced to speak secrets to others now that you are joined."

"Albus is annoying me again. It seems he has skewed what they are planning on doing so now I have to tell her that we need to go so we can put a stop to it."

"Good luck," he chuckled.

Minerva had made good progress based on what was just left on her desk and Hermione thought a greeting while she assessed when to interrupt.

"Hi," Minerva said carefully, stopping as soon as she heard it.

"Hey," Hermione hummed as she leaned on the back of Minerva's visitor chair. They stared at each other for a little while and Minerva, this time, was the one to bend.

"I apologise again, Leannan," she said earnestly. "Unequivocally. For speaking to you like that."

"You didn't speak to me like that," Hermione said softly. "You've never spoken to me like that. Your thoughts spoke something and you were entitled to think it. I should not have -"

"No," Minerva said as she got up. "No, Hermione. Listen." She rounded the desk and took Hermione into her arms. The hug was tight and exactly what Hermione needed. "You are my love. My soulmate. I should not have allowed myself to get overwhelmed, for starters. I should definitely not have taken it out on the one person who holds my heart because she is safe to do so. So," she said softly, with a gentle kiss. "I apologise. Profusely."

"Then I accept, and offer my own," Hermione sighed against Minerva's shoulder. "I did not mean to -"

"I will not accept, nor receive an apology from you. There is nothing for you to be sorry about. My thoughts might be my own, but I was in the wrong and you were not. Let us end it there."

Hermione's arms wrapped around Minerva's shoulders again and she breathed quietly against her shoulder.

"What's going on, my love?" Minerva whispered. "Your thoughts are like a summer storm."

"Albus." Minerva tutted and the disappointment was almost overwhelming. "He's out there planning something with the order, instead of planning to save Narcissa. They're at Molly's new place and I have a terrible feeling he has been using this time to try and end the war. But the only way he knows how to do that is to use Harry." Hermione looked up at her with tears in her eyes. "He wouldn't, would he?"

"Darling," Minerva whispered and wiped away her tears. "I just do not know anymore. You and I both know that nobody is going to use Harry to end this war. You and I would die before we allow that to happen."

"We need to go then," Hermione whispered. "We both do."

"And of course, I will come with you," Minerva said quietly. "Even if I had not already gone through all of that," she waved her hand behind her. "And found that it is mostly nonsense, of course I will."

"I think I want to change," Hermione muttered as she looked down at herself. "I don't know what I have to wear but I feel like I want us to make an impression. What do they call them in the business world?" Minerva looked at her blankly. "Hostile takeover?"

"I know just what you mean," Minerva smiled. "A grand reveal, as it were. Come, I think we can make do with something that I will gladly gift to you. Later, I will contact Geraldine Malkin for something more befitting, alright?"

"Intriguing," Hermione chuckled. She hugged Minerva again and let it linger. "Alright," she nodded. "Lemme see then. I told Draco I," she shrugged. "We, would meet him by your classroom."

Minerva pulled her into her bedroom and threw open the wardrobe doors. She rummaged here and there for something she would not name but Hermione saw enough in her head to be intrigued.

"Here," she muttered as she threw a number of things on the bed. "This might -"

She turned and held up a set of jet black robes. The black seemed to suck the light from the room and the lining was a purple so deep it seemed to pulse against the darkness and down a pretty high slit in the leg. That purple silk lining would flash, just a little, when she walked.

"Oh my god," Hermione whispered. She gaped and reached out tentatively to touch it. It was so soft, but firm, somehow. "Min, these are beautiful, why don't you -"

"I bought them after Severus was already on staff here. I realised as soon as I put them on, one, I looked just like him - our complexions are the same, you see." Hermione snorted. "And two, my skin tone would not allow that slit to be appropriate." Hermione giggled. Minerva was so very, very, white. "So, I did not ever wear them. I can certainly alter them to suit you, though. There are some enchantments on them. It is worth noting," she warned. "That they are resistant to Transfiguration; they can be, but they will argue with you." Hermione snorted. "They will never rip through regular use and they are also, somewhat, resistant to spell damage. We'll have to adjust them just a little," Minerva ran her hand over Hermione's arse. "I am not blessed in the places you have been. But I think they'll allow that."

Hermione laughed.

"Are you kidding?" Minerva smiled as she shook her head. Hermione just stared at the robes in awe. "Help me then?" Hermione smiled. "I don't think I've ever actually worn proper robes."

"Come here, love," Minerva smiled. "They're not difficult, but I will be glad to."

Sure hands pulled off her shirt and undid her jeans. Hermione hadn't meant that she needed help undressing and Minerva knew it. There was a twinkle in the woman's eye as she slid her fingers under the waistband of Hermione's jeans but she did no more than that. Instead, she stepped back and nodded for Hermione to drop them. As they fell to the floor, Minerva breathed out a long sigh.

"I think I will forever be pinching myself that such a beautiful person," she met Hermione's eyes. "Inside and out, chose to love me."

"I do choose," Hermione nodded. "Every day for all our days."

Minerva rewarded her with a kiss that lingered as she ran her hand down Hermione's side.

"Utter perfection."

"Your eyesight must be bad," Hermione chuckled. "There are plenty of imperfections."

"No, love. My eyesight is just fine. Now, if you look here?" Minerva showed her nothing, as far as Hermione could see, until she pulled it closer to her face.

"Oh," she chuckled. "Now my eyesight is bad."

Minerva drew her fingers down the almost imperceivable seam and Hermione grinned at the memory they both shared. There were two pieces but neither was incredibly complicated and after a little widening in places and shrinking in others, it wasn't too long before they'd managed to fit it to Hermione.

"Let me take a look at you."

Hermione stepped back and Minerva stared.

"What?" Hermione asked. "What do you think?"

She blushed as a particularly lewd set of images flashed through Minerva's mind. Without a word, Minerva gripped her neck and kissed her hard. She let it build and build as a sure hand slid between the slit in her skirt and caressed her bare thigh as they came to rest against the bed post.

"You are utterly stunning."

Hermione couldn't help her grin. She watched while Minerva changed into complimentary robes and then, just before they left to meet Draco, she snagged the back of Hermione's sleeve.

"Wait," she muttered. "Let me -"

She pulled Hermione's hair back and fixed it atop her head. She pressed a long kiss to the back of her neck and nipped it as she stepped away.

"Alright," she smirked. "Now we are ready," she muttered as she wandlessly did up her own hair in the usual bun. "Let us find Mr Malfoy."

-0-

"Holy shi -" Draco swallowed the words at Minerva's look and fell into step beside them instead.

"Thank you, Mr Malfoy," Minerva mused as they walked. "You look rather dashing, if I do say so myself." She softened as he sighed. "How are you doing?"

"I am worried," he shrugged. "I want to get Mum out of there. She's fine as far as I can tell, but they're," he groaned. "Like unsupervised toddlers with wands. They're -" Minerva's step faltered as she recoiled and Hermione steadied her as she felt what Draco was feeling.

"Hang on a minute Draco," Hermione muttered. She grabbed Minerva's arm and pulled her around so she was between them. "We forgot, didn't we?" Minerva had tears in her eyes and kept looking at Draco. Hermione cupped her face. "Min?" The woman blocked and swallowed back a sob. "Breathe. You taught me how to turn it off, remember? I'm doing the same. It's right there." She pressed her hand onto Minerva's chest. "Take a deep breath and find it. You won't be able to cope if you go to this meeting and you can't stop it."

Minerva's eyes widened and she rose to her full height and did as she was asked. They stood together for a little while until Minerva rolled her neck and sighed.

"That's better," she nodded. "Thank you Leannan."

Hermione nodded but Minerva wasn't done. Minerva hesitated and then reached out and squeezed Draco's shoulder gently.

"We'll get her back, lad. We will."

"Thanks," he managed, gruffly.

Hermione let then have a moment and then placed her hand on both their shoulders.

"Good?" They nodded. "Okay, off we go."

As soon as they stepped out of the gates, they discovered another problem.

"Um, has anyone ever been to -"

"Balls," Hermione groaned. "Okay, I'm going to Grimmauld. Min, will you stay here with him? Don't stay in the road -"

"Ha!" She rolled her eyes. "This is not my first war, darling. And -" she blinked. "Oh," Minerva chuckled. "Not the first time we've been apart, either." Hermione frowned and realised that contrary to their argument, they had been apart before. They'd be apart when she'd gone down to Grimmauld the last time. "I'm sure Mr Malfoy and I will keep each other safe."

"We argued about it before, too, didn't we," Hermione chuckled. "Go back inside, yeah?"

Minerva snorted as Hermione stepped forward to kiss her but she faltered at the last moment. Draco gallantly turned to look at something so Hermione grinned and pecked Minerva's lips instead of what she had planned. As she left, she just heard Minerva's amused voice directed at him.

"Not a word, young man. Not a single word."

-0-

The quiet snap of her reappearing heralded her arrival like a doorbell. The door was flung open and she was suddenly on the end of a very angry wand.

"Sirius, it's me."

"Bloody hell! Damn, you look fit." She scoffed and he shook his head. "Are you alright? Is Harry -?"

Hermione waved him off.

"What's going on?"

"Wait -" he said. He stood up and cautiously pointed his wand at her again. "You're a -"

"Dragon-type thing." Hermione grinned as she understood. "You're a -"

"Hopeless romantic?" Sirius grinned. Hermione laughed and looked at him pointedly. "A complicated third of a whole."

"Oh," Hermione smiled. "That's a really lovely way of putting it." He blushed but nodded. "What's happened?"

"So, Albus tried to force his way into here. Remus wouldn't let him, there's been some words exchanged. Dora's forced to choose and she wants to help, but -" He scratched the back of his neck. "We're a bit on edge."

"Bloody hell," Hermione groaned. She scrubbed at her face and shook her head when he invited her in. "No, it's best I don't if Remus is already wound up," she mused. "Tell Tonks to do nothing until I've spoken with her, alright? You are not beholden to Albus - Bloody - Dumbledore." She suddenly realised how that sounded. "Actually, obviously, Remus is where your pack stops, I just mean you guys don't have to be part of this if you don't want to. I am on my way there with Min and Draco. We're about to take over, I think. This mission was never about the Death Eaters, or ending the war. It was about rescuing Mrs Malfoy before something happened to her. Albus has turned it into something else and I am growing increasingly unhappy with him. He keeps threatening to put Harry in danger" Sirius growled. "And I won't stand for it." She suddenly realised he had asked her about Harry too. "I don't know how Harry is, I don't even know where he is?"

"Already there?" Sirius shrugged. "I thought -"

"Oh," she blinked. "Oh, we've been gone for a while, haven't we?"

"He went there when we didn't find the locket."

"You know -"

"Harry told us," he shrugged. "Eventually, anyway. When he realised that we didn't understand. Makes me think a bit better of my brother, let me tell you."

"I bet," she said gently. "Do you know what has happened to it?"

"No, but I spoke to Kreature." He made a face. "We've come to an understanding, as it were. He said that he thinks Mundungus might have pilfered it, but that skinny git has conveniently disappeared. So now we're up the proverbial creek."

"Alright, listen, do you know where Molly's is? And can you tell me, so I can go and sort this?"

"Sure, hang on." He went back inside and came back out with a parchment. She read it and burnt it in her hand. "Blimey," he blinked.

"Alright, I'm off. Take care, okay? It would be alright if you readjusted the wards again."

"I think Remus already had that idea, yeah."

"Okay. I will not be offended if we, I, am not on that list, okay?"

"I'll tell him."

"Oh, Sirius," she called as he was going back inside.

"Hmm?"

"I meant what I said about Severus, seeing as he will be there," she said quietly. "If you just talked to one another, you'd see that your torture is not that different from his. So," she looked at him as he stared. "Lay off him, okay? Like I told Harry. You never have to like him, but you will be cordial."

He said nothing else and she disappeared back to Hogwarts.

-0-

When they hit the ground outside a rather nice looking house in a quiet suburb of Ealing, Hermione stood up straight and waited. Minerva tangled their fingers together and made Hermione falter.

"They might as well know," Minerva muttered. "Despite what we are about to do, they are nearly all my good friends. They have been, for longer than you have been alive. My self-consciousness aside, I will not hide this from them, no matter the opinions they have."

Hermione adjusted her grip and they waited. The door opened not too long later and Albus strode out.

"Minerva! Hermione, oh, and Mr Malfoy. It is a surprise to see you."

"Is it?" Hermione muttered. "Why would it be a surprise to see Draco when this mission is about rescuing his mother? I also told you to mind your own business if Remus decided to alter his involvement. Both times, you have decided to ignore me."

Albus faltered as Minerva's hand squeezed hers. She didn't need it, she had left her feelings on and she could feel his regret from a mile away. But also his disappointment. She stepped forward and leaned into him.

"This is about her. Not your misplaced notion that maybe we can just nip this in the bud, Albus." She stepped back. "At the very best, I'm going to believe you were trying to protect him. Because if I think the worst, Albus, you will have betrayed all that we are."

Albus clasped his hands behind his back and stepped away.

"Minerva, would you please -"

"Don't look at me," she muttered darkly. "I'm wi' her."

He sighed and Hermione pulled Minerva past him and trusted Draco to follow. They stepped inside the house and smiled as Harry looked up from a long dining room table and rushed up to hug her. He was trembling and full of fear and confusion.

"They're talking about -"

"It's okay," she whispered. "Whatever they were planning, we're not doing."

"I don't want to go. You said that I don't -"

Hermione looked at him and then at Minerva. Her anger was making her fingers twitch and Minerva pulled Harry away from her and into her own arms.

"It's alright, sunshine," Minerva said softly. "Nothing is going to happen. You're not going anywhere." He sighed into her shoulder as Minerva ran her hands through his hair as she rocked him slowly. Hermione couldn't help being fascinated at the line they had drawn between her and her friends. Minerva gave a look that indicated that she thought it amusing also. The problem, however, was much more apparent as Harry's pain joined their bond. She rolled her shoulder so she could cope with a full room and then spun to address the room.

"Good afternoon," Hermione snapped. She stormed to the front, where Albus had clearly been holding court. She nodded once to Severus, who returned it, and then looked out over the room. "Whatever you'd been planning, you can forget it. Harry is not going. This is not a battle, it is a rescue mission. The time for battle is later."

"Who died and made you boss," a man at the back of the room called.

Without missing a beat, Hermione's wings shot out with a crack. Her hands caught fire and then, as Harry stepped away, into Draco, so did Minerva's.

"I did." They stared at her and then a few of them turned to look incredulously at Minerva as well. Three more cracks of Apparition heralded newcomers, then two more after that. Remus, Sirius and Tonks came in, closely followed by the Twins.

"Blimey, Mione," Fred grinned, as only he could do. "We are only here for dinner!"

"Should have bought some sausages," George muttered.

Hermione grinned and doused the fire and her body shimmered as her wings went away. Minerva hugged the twins happily and Hermione turned back to the rest of the room.

"The time for half-baked ideas is over. We are going to win this war but we must do so carefully. We are not storming the stronghold of the Death Eaters without knowing what is going on. We are not disregarding the life of an innocent to further our cause."

"Innocent," someone scoffed.

"Speak," Hermione insisted. "When has Mrs Malfoy wronged you."

"Well she's a -" Hermione waited. The culprit, a man she did not know, looked from her steely gaze to Minerva's then to Draco. "She -" The wind fell from his sails as nobody else in the room joined in and he sat back quietly.

"Good, now shut up." Hermione snapped.

Hermione!

Minerva's emotions bristled at the lack of manners but Hermione decided it was a small price to pay for stopping herself from ripping their head off. Minerva snorted at that thought and Hermione looked up to see the woman's eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Hermione -" Molly said hesitantly. "What are you -"

"We are all swearing new oaths today. To a renewed force to win this war. If you do not wish to swear anything to me, your memories of this will be bound and your ability to speak of it will be taken from you. It will not hurt, and you are welcome to choose this, but that is what is happening."

"What are you?" Kingsley asked quietly, echoing Molly's unease.

"As soon as we are done, you will know."

The room went quiet for a long time while she waited. She could feel the tension quite easily, despite her gift being off, but it was only when Moody stood up that she prepared for a fight.

"I'll swear it," he nodded. "Easy as you like it."

She nodded and glanced around the room while she processed her surprise.

"Only Moody?"

"Us, obviously," the twins said.

"And me," echoed Bill.

"Boys -"

"Mother, stop being silly. This is Hermione -"

"With wings!" George said helpfully. "She's got her own chocolate frog."

Hermione blinked.

"What?!"

"Didn't you know?" Fred grinned. "They gave out chocolate frog cards if extinct, mythical creatures -"

"Will you get on with it!"

Hermione chuckled and beckoned Minerva to her side.

"Alright Moody, alright. Fred, I actually think Ginny has one, will you remind me? I had forgotten." Minerva joined her and she leaned into her a little. "I want you to try as well," Hermione muttered. "Start with the twins. I have a feeling how much love you have for them will help. It's anyone's guess as to where they fall in the hierarchy. If it works, we'll do them together. Maybe you do the three Weasleys boys and I'll do everyone else?

Minerva's eyes widened and she nodded.

"Do I have to do anything?"

"I don't think so. I didn't, I just explained what it means to them and then, they just have to trust and take your knife. Just check that their mark appears. You can see them now; if it doesn't work then it doesn't."

She nodded and Hermione beckoned Moody over while Minerva made her way back to the twins.

"Take this and know that you are now part of our family and you will be treated as such. I expect you, in turn, to treat those within our family the same. I will never force you to do anything but the nature of families is that you will be asked to help. You will also receive help if you need it. Okay?"

Moody nodded and offered his hand.

"This is not a pact sworn in blood," she said gently as she took out her knife. "Take this. It will not hurt. But know that you are now a part of something greater."

"Ah know," he muttered, motioning to his magical eye. "I can see."

She smiled and offered her knife and he took it carefully. He hissed as a sigil she had not seen before appeared over a scar on his wrist.

"It does not usually hurt," she muttered.

"Old scar; nerves aren't quite right," he winced.

"Here," she said, withdrawing the knife and taking his hand. "Let me take it from you."

She squeezed his hand and the tension he carried with him every day left his good eye. The magical one that usually made her dizzy as it flitted about the room fell still and his big, broad shoulders dropped.

"Thank you," he whispered as she withdrew.

"Thank you," she nodded. "I've got you now. In these moments, you can let go a bit."

She watched out of the corner of her eye while Minerva turned to the twins and did the same. Kingsley got up and came over to her to follow on from Moody and she glanced away for a moment to explain it to him and when she looked back, the twins both reached forward and grabbed the knife at the same time. She chuckled as the three of them paused and Minerva peered over their hands with a broad smile. Hermione chuckled and looked up at Kingsley.

"Thank you," she muttered.

"I would not have let anything touch him," he said softly. She acknowledged it with a nod and leaned closer.

"Now, you do not have to," she winked.

The rest followed shortly after and once everyone, including Molly and Arthur had sworn their loyalty to either Minerva or Hermione, she relaxed.

"These bonds are created in love, not in fear. I will never hurt you for my gain, I do not know what the penalty for betrayal is, but it will be costly if I have anything to do with it."

"What about -"

Min, who is she?

Hestia Jones. Fantastic auror. Great student.

Hermione smiled and got just a hint of annoyance back at her teasing that Minerva would always be a teacher. Hermione nodded for Hestia to continue. "What about those who aren't here right now?"

Hermione glanced over them. Aside from this woman and the man next to her, who'd spoken earlier, Hermione and Minerva knew the rest by heart; mostly because it was Moody, Kingsley and Bill and Severus. Of the meetings where they'd had with a rather large turnout, this was incredibly small.

"Where is everyone else?"

"A few could not make it," Kingsley said. "A few more have withdrawn to be with their families after the Ministry has all but fallen."

She nodded.

"Well, at this stage, this is who we have. If you would like to nominate someone to join, I will consider them. I know that every one of you, in this room, is loyal to this cause. I know it as I know my own name. Even those I do not know well." She nodded to the two of them. "So, for now, we will proceed with only the people in this room unless there is some extenuating circumstance to add more. Alright?"

"What about them?"

Hermione didn't even have to ask.

Deadalus Diggle. Capable, but a bit thick in moments.

There was a pause.

Obviously.

Hermione bit back a smile as Remus snarled at him and pulled Tonks into his side but Hermione interrupted before the arguing could begin.

"Remus and his pack will not be swearing fealty to anyone. And anyone of my house that dares to speak, or think, ill of them will answer to me."

He swallowed and nodded and sat back in his seat. Hestia smacked his arm and rolled her eyes and Hermione finally decided they were ready to get underway.

"Harry?" He nodded. "Go get the others, will you?"

He raced out of the room and just as predictably, Molly stood.

"No," Hermione cut her off. "You do not get a say on this Molly. Their place is above you; they will be here."

Minerva stepped over to her and took her hand. Hermione looked up into her eyes and heard Minerva's softest voice.

She is still their mother, Leannan. Be gentle with her.

But -

Imagine if someone put our child in harm's way, mo gaol. There would be no reasoning with either of us.

Hermione considered this and sighed.

"Molly," she said gently. "No harm will come of them being in this meeting. Their future is at stake. They know more of what is going on than most of you. They deserve to be heard."

"Hey!" Ginny grinned as she came into the room and hugged Hermione and then Minerva as well.

She lingered by Minerva's ear and whispered something that even Hermione couldn't hear but she heard the squeak from Minerva and the giggle as Ginny stepped away and tangled her hand in Harry's.

Bloody cheek of the woman.

You're blushing.

Minerva slapped her side and stepped away, pulling a face at Ginny as she stood next to them. Albus, she noted, had taken up a seat at the back where he was watching with sad eyes.

"Right," she said quietly. "Here is what we know, feel free to add anything I don't seem to know and then, we will form a plan to take a small group to Malfoy Manor. Slip in, rescue Mrs Malfoy and part of their library and do a bit of reconnaissance."

"But -"

"Yes," she said quietly. Deadalus did not seem to be very bright and she heard a snort from Minerva that confirmed her observation.

"Well, I mean, Harry, Mr Potter -"

She felt, rather than saw, Harry sink into himself and Ron, Ginny and Draco stood in front of him. Remus, Sirius and Tonks flanked them and Minerva stood in front of them all with a scowl on her face. Hermione knew she would not have to say anything.

"If anybody would like to discuss Mr Potter," she said in her most dangerous tone. "They may do so wi' me."

An uneasy feeling settled over the group and she sighed. Again.

"Guys," she said quietly. "You are thinking about this like there are no consequences. Think about it in human terms. You want us to do what?" She beckoned Harry over and held him in front of her. "Send him off to YouKnowWho and hope that ends the war? You think, if Harry goes there and gets captured, you think Tom Riddle will just give up and live in peace?" She stood with her hands on Harry's shoulders. "Some of you fought alongside his parents. Some of you were their friends? You want to just hand him over and hope this ends things?" Remus and Sirius and Minerva all growled and Hermione smiled. "I will tell you something that you all may not know. Those oaths you swore to me placed you under my protection. Though you cannot see them, you each have marks on your wrist showing your allegiance to me. Most of yours look the same, but Harry has a different mark. One that signifies he is not only under my protection, he is part of my," she shrugged. "Inner circle, I guess." Her voice dropped and she stared one by one at the members who were sitting around Molly's breakfast table. "And if any one of you even thinks about harming a hair on his head, or giving him up to our enemy, I will make my justice long and slow. Do I make myself clear?"

The majority of them nodded and she made eye contact with Albus at the back of the room. She arched an eyebrow and he sighed and nodded.

"Right." She ruffled Harry's hair and grinned at the huff she got in response. "Molly, can we please get some tea going and then we'll begin properly."

Molly jumped up and busied herself summoning a legion of mugs. In all honesty, she looked as if she was happy to be of some use and Hermione turned to face her friends.

"Find a seat or whatever," she muttered to them. "Remus." She smiled in thanks. "You are welcome to stay or not."

"We'll stay," he nodded. "It's okay."

"May I hug you, young man?" Minerva asked quietly before he could move. "Considering this new thing, and what is going on in your life, I do not want to -"

Remus blushed and yanked her into his arms. She laughed and he hugged her tightly for a long time. Hermione winked at Tonks as she was subjected to the same and watched as Sirius looked around the room and met Snape's eyes. They stared for a little while before Sirius took a deep breath and nodded cordially. If Snape was surprised, he did not look it, but he did nod back. She caught his eye as he looked away and winked at him.

As expected, he rolled his eyes but there was just a tiny upturn of his lips as he asked Draco something when he sat down beside him.

Fred did as she had asked and Ginny and he were bent over the table talking while George teased Ron for his longer hair. Just a normal night at the Weasley's, no doubt.

"Before we start, is anyone on a time crunch?"

"I have to go in at six, but I think I'm the only one," Hestia said.

"I don't need to be, but I'll probably go with her," Dedalus said.

"I don't have to be back until tomorrow," Bill smiled. "So I'm staying for the night."

"Ok," Hermione smiled at Molly as she started making tea and sat down. "Where's the map we made?"

"I've got it," Draco said quietly.

Hermione looked up sharply at Albus and bit her lip instead of unloading on him like she wanted to. She wasn't quite sure what to do with him. At this point it was almost like he was actively working against them and she couldn't help but prickle angrily at him.

Breathe, we are here now, my love. We will deal with him later.

And what about him sitting here, hearing our plans? What then, love? What if he -

There was a long pause before she felt something settled in Minerva.

Then our retribution will be swift and merciless.

Hermione looked up in shock, over the top of the few heads mingling by the long table, at her love. Their eyes met for just a second before Fred muttered something that made Minerva laugh. The love she had for the twins was beautiful to watch and Hermione let her revel in it while she turned back to see Severus watching her.

"How have your holidays been so far? I think freedom suits you."

"Small talk?" he drawled.

"Not if you are not interested," she chuckled. "And only while we wait for tea."

He acknowledged it and a little mirth shone from his eyes.

"In that case, they have been adequate so far. I have a series of potions brewing though," he sighed and she felt a stab of worry. "It would be better for this to be ended."

"I know," she said quietly. She didn't dare let on that she knew anything at all. "We're going to deal with that today. We'll have her out by the end of the week."

He nodded as Molly bustled over with teas and the majority of people sat down.

"Now," Hermione said after whetting her whistle. "Knowing what I expect. How are we going to do this?"

There was a momentary pause and then, with her hand hot on Minerva's thigh as they sat beside each other, the meeting finally got under way.