A/N: Woof, has it been a demanding six months! I kept working on little chunks of this all along, but between writing my dissertation, defending, teaching, research, reviewing manuscripts, and jumping through all necessary hoops along the way, my brain was exhausted. But it's a new year, the diploma's in the mail, and a new chapter is up and ready for you!

Thank you all for your continued interest and patience!

Bound to Him

Chapter 84

Severus eyed the young witch solemnly. "You're angry with me."

Well-spotted. Hermione raised her chin.

"You have every right to be," he cautiously continued, "but I would like to hear you explain why."

Not yet finding her voice, the girl lowered her eyes to the duvet.

Sighing, Snape settled deeper into the chair. "I realize I have not solicited your feelings near enough as I should have."

Hermione frowned at him. "You have."

He gave her a disbelieving glance. "Evidently not, given your comment a moment ago."

The girl heaved in a breath and looked away. "I'm just… frustrated. I say things to you, to Remus, but neither of you seem to believe me."

"Hermione, I believe you." Severus folded his arms when she merely shook her head in reply. "Do you not believe me?"

I don't know at the moment. Hermione pushed her fingernails into her arms.

"Is that why you fled the other night?" he asked. "Because you did not believe what I said?"

The quiet hesitancy of his voice caught her attention. At first, she felt guilty for causing him pain but quickly became annoyed by the question. "No."

"Then—"

"I left because I did."

His face twisted in confusion. "What?"

With a huff, Hermione shoved off the other side of the bed.

"I don't understand why –"

"Because I'm sick to death of apologies!" she hissed. "I'm not supposed to apologize to you, but you keep doing it!"

"That's not the same. You've done nothing that warrants –"

"It is the same! What you did to me was what you had to do to keep the both of us alive. You've done everything you can to protect me, my family, and my friends. I forgave you for hurting me and do not hold you at all responsible for it. I know you've heard me say that, yet you don't seem to hear me!"

"I have heard you, but that doesn't mean I can just ignore what I've done." Snape shook his head and slid forward in his seat. "I made poor decisions that night, and my actions continue to bring you harm."

Hermione crossed her arms. "If you're referring to the last time we had sex, I've told you repeatedly I was fine! Merlin, this is what I mean! You don't believe what I say!"

"How can I believe you unaffected if immediately after I was rough with you –"

The witch audibly scoffed.

"—you started having nightmares and attacks of anxiety about the night I raped you?"

Mouth parted in shock, Hermione felt her arms fall limply to her sides. "What?"

"You thought about them during your discussion with Lupin," he explained, "but you didn't tell me."

"That wasn't…" She swallowed, trying to get better hold of her voice. "That wasn't because we had sex."

He raised one eyebrow. "The timing is awfully coincidental."

"An awful coincidence, yes, but nothing more." Hermione took in a deep breath and looked to the ceiling. "I was scared, Severus. Scared they would catch you, or hurt you, or kill you. And I was alone. My best friends hate me, and I can only imagine what the Order thinks of me. I felt… powerless, having to listen to all the horrible things they said about you without being able to defend you."

She wiped her eye and leaned against the wall. "Tonks made me do a physical exam to keep my name out of her investigation. Even though it was Madam Pomfrey, it was still humiliating. I was terrified Tonks would find out about us, and it sounds pathetic, but when she confiscated the necklace you gave me… it just made everything feel worse. So, yes, when I saw the altar and the brainwashed masses gathering to worship a sociopath who didn't give a flying fuck about them, I couldn't keep it all contained any longer."

Severus eyed her carefully, then cleared his throat. "I'm sorry you –"

"Stop it!" she snapped forward, seizing the pillow from the bed and hurling it at him. "Stop apologizing!"

The wizard winced as the pillow glanced off his shoulder. "If I'd thought more carefully that night, I could have spared you some –"

"Do you think it matters? Do you think it matters if you had to torture me for twenty minutes or twenty-five? If there were ten Death Eaters present or only seven? Because it doesn't to me!" Hermione shook her head and lowered her voice. "Those details don't change what happened. You did what you did, and I survived. You helped me survive. That's what matters to me."

As he silently sat, the young witch fixed her eyes on his. "I need you to choose, Severus – am I your partner or your victim? Because I can't be both, and I cannot keep switching between the two. I know which one I prefer, but that means nothing if you think otherwise."

Suddenly aware she was standing half-naked in the Headmaster's bedroom, Hermione deflated back to the bed. She reached for the other pillow and hugged it to her chest. Looking toward the door, she murmured, "Whenever I think we're doing well together, you pull away – emotionally and physically. I'm tired, Severus."

Several seconds ticked by before the wizard cleared his throat. "Am I allowed to apologize now?"

She rolled her eyes. "I'd rather you just explain. I don't have the energy to figure out what I'm doing wrong."

"Hermione, you haven't done anything wrong." Severus rubbed his face in frustration.

"Then why?! You know more about me than any other person could ever imagine. You know my secrets, my faults, my fears, my crimes for heaven's sake. A lot of that, I realize, was out of either of our control, but I don't mind you knowing because I trust you! But I can't hear your thoughts – Merlin, I can't even read your expressions most of the time! I have to rely on you to let me in. Occasionally, you do – if I drag it out of you, or you feel guilty enough to level the field – but just as I realize the amount of trust you've placed in me, I find you've tossed me back out in the cold! If I've done nothing wrong, why do you always shut me out?"

Chest heaving, Hermione stared at the silent wizard. Her anger started to dissipate at the dejected expression on his face.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Don't apologize." Her tone was sharper than she intended. Grimacing, she gently stated, "Just… explain. Please."

Severus inhaled deeply. "I don't… I don't know how."

"Try. Just start somewhere."

He snorted disdainfully. After a long moment of consideration, he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I've spoken to you of my father."

Hermione raised her head, recalling previous admissions he had made regarding his childhood. "Yes."

"He…" Snape grimaced, averting his eyes to the wall. "When he punished my mother, he did not always use his words… or his fists."

The witch stiffened in comprehension. "He raped her?"

Refusing to meet her gaze, he nodded.

"You saw it happen?"

"Not…exactly," Severus exhaled. "The door was always latched. My mother must've warded it against me because there were no locks on the interior doors, but the walls were paper thin. I could hear it."

"How old were you?"

"It did not happen just once or twice," he frowned. "The earliest incident I recall, I hadn't yet started primary school."

A chill washed over Hermione as she remembered his odd breakdown in the cabin. "Is that why – the bedsprings?"

Wincing, Snape nodded his head. "I didn't mean to… conflate you with the victim my mother allowed herself to be. I was trying to reconcile myself with what I had to do to manage a Killing Curse, and it… brought forth memories of him."

Gut twisting, she scrambled onto her knees. "You're not like him."

The man shrugged his shoulders, then stood from his chair and moved to the window.

No! Don't do this, Severus. Hermione huffed in exasperation and slumped back on her heels. Don't shut me out again.

Only when she had given up on learning anything further, Severus cleared his throat.

"There isn't a day I remember where I didn't hate him. I thought myself superior to him. A great feat, indeed, to surpass an ill-educated, angry drunkard. I was so focused on hating him, on proving I was better than he was… proving I deserved the Prince name, that I was more than the unwanted spawn of a boorish, worthless Muggle. I was so blinded by that obsession, I couldn't see I'd sold my soul to two men who made my father look like a tantrum-throwing child in comparison. I corrupted myself for them in ways…"

Snape closed his eyes, mortified by his own confession. Exhaling slowly, he finally dared to look at the girl on the bed. "Until nine months ago, I could tell myself I was still better than he was because at least I'd never raped anyone. Until three weeks ago, I could say at least I'd never killed anyone myself. And now, I don't have much left to tell myself… except perhaps… that at least I apologized for some of it."

Hermione slid off the bed toward him. "Severus, I'm sorry. I didn't realize…"

He collapsed back into the chair and shook his head.

The witch slowly knelt in front of him, placing her forearms on his knees. "Thank you for telling me."

"The other night, I didn't mean to upset you," Severus explained. "Lupin accused me of taking advantage of the situation by influencing you through the bond. I couldn't prove otherwise. I wanted you to know I dislike having power over you."

Hermione grumbled under her breath before taking his hands in hers. "I know that. You should know better than to listen to Remus."

He gave a quiet snort. "Yes, well, I've been having a bit of an off month."

She smiled tightly and squeezed his hands. "I told him to piss off, you know. He tried to convince me of the same, but I know my thoughts and feelings are my own."

"You're certain?"

"Yes." Hermione moved to sit on the edge of the bed, aware of his eyes following her. "When you've had to step in to control what I say, I'm fully aware it isn't me speaking. It's not like the Imperius where it makes you feel and think like you want to do whatever –"

"When've you ever…" His face morphed into a bitter expression as he growled, "Moody."

"If you recall, it wasn't actually Moody teaching us," she corrected.

Severus scowled. "He probably used the same lesson plans, though."

"With this, when you make me say something, I hear myself say the words, but I know it isn't me," she explained. "I don't think you can actually control what I think. You can hear it, yes, but not control it. Unless, perhaps, you fully intend to? I don't know. But even when I… lost control of my desires and needed you to… I still knew something was wrong, that it wasn't just me. I could tell it was the bond putting images in my head."

He stared at her in concern. "Images?"

"Look, the point is I can tell when the bond is influencing me." Hermione tucked her hair behind her ear and slid her foot to rest against his. "Friday night, did you at any point want to have sex?"

Snape shook his head.

"Yet I did," she impressed, touching her chest. "So how could you be influencing me if you didn't want it?"

The wizard expelled a loud breath and bent forward. After a moment, he reached for her hand and pressed it briefly to his lips. "Thank you."

Hermione smiled and grasped his hand more firmly. "You're welcome."

The chiming of a clock interrupted their shared silence, and they released each other's hands. Breathing deeply, Hermione pulled her feet up onto the bed. "Can we… I don't want to go backward again. Can we agree to be more honest with each other?"

After nodding his head in agreement, Severus glanced at the bed and cleared his throat. "In the spirit of honesty, I'd rather we didn't..."

"I can't say I'm in the mood now, either," she agreed. "I'm exhausted. Tomorrow should be soon enough."

"I should let you get to bed, then."

As he stood, Hermione looked up at him. "May I sleep here tonight?"

"If you'd like."

She watched in confusion as he moved toward the sitting room. "Wait, where are you going?"

"I…" Snape stalled in the doorway. "The sofa…"

Hermione crossed her arms. "I understand we're not going to sleep together, but you don't want to just sleep together?"

"It isn't that, Hermione."

She noted his distressed expression as he glanced between the bed and the direction of the sofa. "Hold on. You mean… you've been here a week and a half, and you mean to tell me you've been sleeping on the sofa every night?"

Embarrassed, Severus sagged against the door jamb. "Yes."

"Why?"

He rubbed his neck and let out a deep breath. "That's where he slept."

Cracking a wry grin, Hermione glanced down at the bed. "Well, they have changed the sheets, haven't they?"

XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX

Minerva stepped behind her desk and gestured for Remus to take a seat. "Before I call a Council meeting, I need to know I have your support –"

"Of cour—"

"Ah, ah. Let me finish," she stated. "I don't know what it is you said to Hermione or to Severus, but I can see the impact it's had on them both. Hopefully it will push them to work through some things, but I do not appreciate upheaval at this moment in time. I would feel better going into that meeting knowing the four of us are a united front. So, I need to know now – do you have Severus's back?"

"I…" Remus sighed. "It's just… it will take some time."

Minerva crossed her arms. "Jeezus, Remus. We don't have time."

The man frowned. "What he's done… How can you look past that so easily?"

"I haven't looked past anything," she grumbled. "Believe me, I tore into Severus after what happened to Hermione. He offered no defense and has done everything he can to atone for it. It was an impossible situation, and his actions continue to haunt him. Hermione has forgiven him, and I think the rest of us ought to listen to her."

"How do you know he hasn't influenced her to –"

"Because if he were to influence her thoughts toward his person, it wouldn't be in a favorable direction," Minerva explained tersely. "He doesn't understand why she's forgiven him."

"That makes two of us," Remus muttered.

The Headmistress leaned forward, placing her folded arms atop her desk. "And you, Remus? What terrible things have you done? What might you be capable of, hmm?"

"Pardon?"

"What if Dumbledore had tasked you with his assassination? If he'd told you 300 lives depended on your willingness to cast the Killing Curse? Would you have told him to go piss up a rope, or would you have done as instructed?"

As he stared at her aghast, Minerva narrowed her gaze. "I want you to reflect on something for me, Remus. I want you to imagine what life would have been like if you didn't have your parents' love and support as a child… if you didn't have Dumbledore, Poppy, and myself protecting you as a student… if the only people who appreciated you did so solely because of your more dangerous abilities. If that had been your life, where would you be now?"

Lupin paled considerably.

Minerva sat back in her chair. "Reflect on that overnight, if you would. In the morning, tell me what you've determined."

"I –"

She held up her finger. "In the morning. Good night, Remus."

XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX

A small mass pouncing on her feet woke Hermione from slumber, and she blinked at the sunlight streaming in the multipaned windows. As the weight slowly crept up the bed, she smirked and peeked over her shoulder at the intruder.

A tiny dark-haired girl froze mid-crawl and began to giggle.

"Shh." Hermione pressed her finger to her lips. "Don't wake Daddy. He had to work late last night."

The tot clumsily mimicked the gesture before crawling closer and snuggling into the narrow space between her parents. Grinning, Hermione closed her eyes for a few more minutes' sleep.

"Ermph," Severus groaned. "Get off me, you mangy beast."

"Severus!"

The sound of her own voice startled Hermione out of sleep. Disoriented, she glanced about the dark room – sunrise was still hours away – and recognized it was the Headmaster's bedroom. Rolling over, she realized it had not been a toddler creeping into bed, but Crookshanks, who currently had his rear end plopped firmly on Snape's head.

Oh gods. Was I talking in my sleep? Horrified, Hermione prayed Severus was too asleep to notice, then slipped away to the lavatory. Sitting on the commode in the dark, she tried to recall the details of her dream.

The bedroom had been unfamiliar – really all she could remember were light-colored walls and flowers perhaps in the window? – but the little girl sparked a feeling of recognition. She had been beautiful with a mop of unruly, black curls. Her dark eyes had held a mischievous gleam, which could only have come from her father.

It was just a dream. She's not real. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her chest. The reality of their situation meant parenthood was likely nothing more than fantasy, but understanding that did not relieve the sorrow she presently felt. She was emotionally raw after the night – really, the year – she had, and the pleasant dream was almost worse than a nightmare. Sitting in the dark bathroom, it was now blatantly obvious to her what opportunities had been taken away from her.

She wanted children. She wanted a relationship in the open. She wanted peace. She wanted lazy mornings in bed and flowers in the window. She wanted a future, a life. And she wanted all of that with Severus.

After a quick silent cry, the witch splashed her face with cold water and returned to bed. Crookshanks greeted her with a purr, having commandeered half her pillow in addition to the wizard's head. With a quirk of her lips, she leaned down to kiss her familiar's head and scratched him under the chin.

While Crookshanks reveled in her affection, Hermione observed Snape's sleeping form. Even asleep, he was tense, as if trying to keep his body contained in the narrowest space possible. She wondered if it was because he wished to avoid touching more of the Headmaster's bed than was strictly necessary – it had taken a fair amount of prodding to get him into it after all.

I'm such an idiot. We could've transfigured the sofa or something. Of course, it may have nothing to do with Dumbledore. Perhaps he was concerned about colliding with her or crushing the cat when rolling over in his sleep. She also considered he could be subconsciously trying to protect himself after showing vulnerability earlier that night.

In her mind's eye, she could see him as a child sleeping in the same rigid fashion, hoping not to draw his father's attention. It broke her heart knowing he had grown up attempting to prove he was someone of value because no one ever bothered to show him he was. The few people in whom he had placed his faith – Lily, the Dark Lord, Dumbledore – either abandoned or betrayed him, so it was not surprising he found it difficult to wholly trust anyone.

Hermione rubbed her eyes and scooted a few inches down the mattress. She hesitantly touched his arm, wincing as he startled. With a muffled apology, she gingerly pressed on his shoulder, encouraging him to roll onto his back. When he did, she placed her head on his chest and snuggled into his side. As he settled back to sleep, she slowly smoothed her fingers over his abdomen.

The witch now understood Snape's reticence with her was not because he viewed her as an obligation but stemmed instead from his own trauma. Oddly enough, she was grateful she had not yet been courageous enough to tell him she loved him. If he had not believed she could want sexual intimacy with him without being influenced by the bond's magic, he would never believe her love was genuine.

Perhaps it was due to her wish that Severus share some affinity with her, but Hermione was convinced of his kinship with the Lynx spirit. Even if the totem meanings were a load of codswallop, she felt the description had granted her new insight into his character.

"Mmmph," Severus sleepily trapped her hand beneath his to prevent her fingers from moving.

"Sorry," she whispered, realizing she had been keeping him awake. She was pleased, however, that he did not remove his hand after stilling hers.

When his breathing again slowed, Hermione closed her eyes. It would require time and patience, but she was determined to show Severus she was not like the others. She would never betray his trust and would make every effort to protect and care for him. With consistent encouragement, he might accept her feelings for what they were and may eventually return them.

Just grant me enough time.

XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX

Hermione groaned when Severus started moving beneath her.

"Apologies," he rumbled; his voice roughened by sleep. "I need the lav."

"You'll come back?" She yanked his pillow down under her head and, hearing his grunt of confirmation, closed her eyes again.

Upon his reemergence from the bathroom a few minutes later, she rolled out of bed to make use of it herself. Catching her reflection in the mirror, she grimaced at a few blemishes on her face and the snarled state of her hair. She attempted to tame her hair and brushed her teeth before returning to the bedroom.

Half-propped against the headboard, Severus was locked in a glaring match with Crookshanks, who was still lounging on one of the pillows. The wizard looked up at her approach, prompting the cat to claim victory with a smug flick of his tail.

Amused, Hermione climbed on the foot of the bed. "Good morning."

"Morning," he returned quietly.

The witch debated what should be said as she cautiously crept closer to Snape. Squeezing herself in between him and Crookshanks, she hesitantly met his eyes. "How did you sleep?"

Sighing, the wizard shrugged his shoulders.

"Me too." Hermione took his hand and began playing with his fingers. "Do you regret telling me?"

Severus tensed at the question but eventually shook his head. "Not at present, no."

"I'm grateful you did. You know I would never reveal anything –"

"I know."

Recognizing his rising discomfort, the girl squeezed his hand. "Are we okay?"

Eyeing her nervously, Snape slowly responded, "Unless you feel otherwise."

"I'd like to think we are, but I'm asking you for your honest opinion."

He rolled his shoulders. "Then I believe we are."

"Good." Hermione waited a minute before asking, "Do you want to continue talking about how you feel?"

"Gods no," he grumbled.

With a smirk, the young witch turned into him. Placing a hand on his thigh, she whispered, "Would you care to just do some feeling instead?"

Severus swallowed heavily; his gaze creeping toward the gaping neckline of her shirt. "I believe I would."

"Good," Hermione breathed, stretching to meet his lips with her own. She smiled at the realization that he, too, had brushed his teeth. Whether it was habit or anticipation which led him to do so, she could not say, but she preferred to think it was at least partially the latter.

As they exchanged gentle pecks, Snape assisted her into his lap. Briefly halting their activity, he cast an irritated glance at Crookshanks, who stared intently back at the wizard. "Might it be possible to lose the audience?"

The girl cracked a grin and shooed the half-kneazle from the bed. With an affronted flick of his tail, Crookshanks sashayed toward the sitting room.

Hermione returned her eyes to the wizard beneath her. "Better?"

"Hmm, yes." Severus ghosted his hands over her hips and under the hem of her shirt. "I do, however, believe there's still room for improvement."

Summoning her courage, the girl pulled the garment over her head and tossed it aside. Leaning down, she whispered, "And now?"

"Much improved," he murmured against her lips.

As their kisses deepened, her hands gripped his hair while his began to wander. Severus groaned as she ground against his hardening member. Guiding her torso forward, he removed his mouth from hers and placed it instead on her breast. Hermione steadied herself on the headboard, biting back whimpers as his tongue thoroughly assailed first one nipple and then the other. Only when the sun peeked out from behind the greenhouses did his fingers finally delve beneath the waistband of her knickers.

XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX

"Nearly finished in there?"

"Unngh shit." At the Headmistress's shout, Snape broke his liplock with Hermione, who sank back against the wet tile in disappointment. "Can she not leave me be?"

"She cares about you," Hermione murmured, trailing a water droplet down his chest with her fingers.

The wizard sighed before yelling in return. "Just a moment, Minerva!"

"Don't rush on my account!" came the reply.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Don't suppose she'll piss off in the meantime, though."

Smirking, Hermione crossed her arms behind her back. "To be fair, her timing could've been worse."

"On that note… did you take –"

"Before joining you in here," she replied. "That's why I brushed my teeth again. You couldn't try to make it taste like mint or something?"

"I'll put it on my to-do list." Snape bent forward to kiss her again, then sighed. "If I don't go out there, she's liable to force her way in here. Like that damn cat of yours."

As Hermione giggled, the wizard stepped out of the shower and snagged a towel. Wrapping it about his waist, he vaguely noted the water being turned off as he hurriedly dressed in the bedroom.

Entering the sitting room, Severus found Minerva holding the ginger beast by its armpits and nuzzling its face. "Do the two of you need a moment?"

With a knowing smirk, the Headmistress set the half-kneazle onto her lap. "I could ask you the same."

"What?"

"Have a seat, Severus. We might as well wait until Hermione joins us."

The wizard hesitantly claimed the end of the sofa.

Minerva snickered at his expression. "I'm the Headmistress of Hogwarts, Severus. The castle wards ensure I know who is on my staircase, in my office, or in my quarters at all times. And that includes the bedroom. Ah, there you are, Hermione."

The blushing teen sat beside Severus and determinedly kept her eyes on the carpet.

"I'm glad to see the pair of you have worked things out," the elder witch commented, relishing in their obvious discomfort. "Did you at least find time for a spot of breakfast?"

"Yes," Snape replied tersely. Given the night they had had, he could find no patience for that particular line of mockery. He and Hermione had only engaged in one, admittedly lengthy, session of lovemaking, then took another snooze before breaking their fast. He had not expected Hermione to slip into the shower behind him, and they had barely managed a few minutes' snog before being interrupted. It was not as though they were some pair of randy teenagers shagging the day away while neglecting their responsibilities.

Except she is a teenager, you lecherous tit.

"Good." Minerva straightened, noticing the dark cloud forming over his features. "The Council meets tomorrow morning at ten in the Head Office. I've spoken with Remus, and he assured me he will have your back, Severus."

"I'd rather he remain in front where I can see him," the spy sputtered.

The witch ignored his comment. "I required him to do some targeted soul-searching. I trust he's thinking clearly now. I am confident that the two of us can convince the rest of your loyalty."

"Two?" Hermione interjected. "But I –"

"Will sit there quietly and let what happens happen," Snape finished.

"Severus is right. If you want to keep this," Minerva gestured between the pair of them, "secret, you cannot show unusual interest in his welfare. For the time being, your relationship must be confined to these chambers."

Hermione begrudgingly agreed, though she seized his nearest hand.

The wizard glanced down at his hand but made no effort to extract it from hers. "I presume I'm expected to be tardy to this gathering."

"Fashionably late, yes," McGonagall replied. "I'll need a few moments to set the scene before you step out from the shadows and throw everything into chaos."

Severus grunted and leaned back against the sofa. While listening to Minerva rattle on about the upcoming meeting, he tried to stifle his rising anxiety. In the matter of a day, he – the most wanted fugitive in Wizarding Britain – would stand before two of the country's most competent Aurors and likely the most bitter, paranoid former Auror left among the living. Very easily, he could find himself shoved into the dark corners of Azkaban or dismembered into tiny pieces before the noon hour even finished.

"Well, that's all I needed to say. Do either of you have any last-minute concerns?"

Besides the fact I'm relying upon a witch bound by an oath of silence and a werewolf, who would rip my intestines out through my anus if given the chance, to keep me alive and out of prison? With a sigh, Severus shook his head.

Hermione cleared her throat. "I know we agreed not to tell the Council about our relationship, but could we tell Tonks?"

"Severus?"

The man shrugged his shoulders. "If that's what you'd like to do."

"Then I'll request that she join us here following the meeting." Minerva stood and deposited Crookshanks onto the chair. "I will see the two of you tomorrow. Oh, Hermione – Miss Weasley was looking for you at breakfast. I told her you had fallen asleep in my quarters while assisting me with research."

"Oh, alright," Hermione replied. "Thank you."

The room remained silent after McGonagall exited to the Head Office as both occupants fretted about the coming revelations. This eventually led to each of them ruminating over their respective dreams from the previous night. Hermione, reflecting on the odd feeling of grief she felt for their imagined daughter, sank into Snape's chest. The wizard, who had suffered another night of helplessly watching Mad Eye Moody victimize Hermione, instinctively held onto her.

"Severus?"

"Hmm?"

Hermione hesitated as she considered her words. "Do you suppose there's a chance we might survive the War?"

An uncomfortable ache bloomed in his chest. "I'm not even certain we'll survive tomorrow."

The young witch stiffened and looked over her shoulder. "If you'd prefer not to tell Tonks, we don't have to."

"It's fine." He shook his head against the back of the sofa.

"I know I said I didn't want anyone to know, but I just thought… the other night, it felt good to talk through some things with Ginny, even though she thought it was Draco I was involved with. I was just thinking it might be nice to be able to talk to someone who knows the truth and isn't…"

"Old?" he supplied.

Hermione snorted. "I was going to say, 'isn't my professor'."

Severus felt the statement as a sharp jab under his ribcage and closed his eyes. "You don't have to explain, Hermione. I understand."

The witch eyed him for a moment. "Are you truly okay with Tonks knowing?"

"Yes."

Hermione frowned into his shirt. "You don't feel okay with it."

He peeked at her through one eye. "What do you mean?"

"You're tense."

"I'm not concerned about Miss Tonks." Severus let out a long breath as he stared at the ceiling. After a moment, he adjusted his posture and lowered his gaze to the girl. "I think it would be wise to be cautious of Mad Eye Moody."

"You don't trust him?"

"Not with our well-being, I don't," he replied. "I trust him to be hell bent on destroying the Dark Lord and all of his ilk."

Exhaling sadly, Hermione sat upright. "You're not one of his ilk."

"I don't think Mad Eye would share your opinion."

"Then he's an idiot," she commented, "but I promise I will stay away from him if I can. It isn't as though I've ever felt comfortable around the man anyway."

"Thank you."

Hermione smiled, then slowly stood while keeping hold of the man's hand. At his confused expression, she explained, "We never got to the actual showering bit."

"Miss Weasley –"

"Can wait until after lunch," she inserted, tugging on his hand. "She knows I don't like to leave a task unfinished. And that includes showering."

"Hermione…"

"Please? Tomorrow is tomorrow, and there's nothing left to do but wait for it to get here. We can spend the time brooding or snogging in the shower. Which do you prefer?"

Severus snorted but allowed her to pull him to his feet. "What about that actual showering bit?"

Hermione glanced coyly over her shoulder as she led him toward the bathroom. "We'll get to it eventually."

XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX

Minerva waited for Kingsley to settle into the remaining seat, then straightened her spine.

"Good morning, everyone. I thank you all for being here even with short notice. For the few of you who may be unaware, on the evening of the 19th of March, Albus Dumbledore swore me in to succeed him as Head of the Order. The official announcement was to be made at the next Order meeting… but that meeting never took place."

Some grumbling was audible from the corner of the room occupied by the Aurors.

"Before we go any further, is there anyone else who knows of my appointment as Head?"

Her eyes lingered a moment on Bill Weasley, who shook his head. "I thought it your information to tell, Professor."

As the rest denied divulging anything, Minerva exhaled in relief. "Excellent, because having had time to think, I'd like to advocate for a change in strategy. It has been suggested that the security and stability of the Order requires improvement –"

Moody grunted gruffly in agreement.

"—and I've assembled the lot of you here today so that I might propose an idea for doing just that." She steadied her gaze on the ex-Auror. "I have it on good authority, Alastor, that Riddle and his minions believe you will take up the reins."

A smug look appeared on his face for a moment before he narrowed his eyes. "And you want to what?"

"I don't think it's in our best interest to correct that misconception," Minerva replied.

"So, you want to use him as bait?" Tonks asked.

"Bait isn't exactly what –"

"She wants to use me as a mouthpiece," Moody interrupted, crossing his arms. "Mindlessly doing her bidding while she stays safely stashed away in her castle. Or perhaps, she –"

The Headmistress quelled an attempt by Remus to interject on her behalf, then cleared her throat. "Or perhaps she will explain what she wants to do if you were to listen and spare us whatever misogynistic thestralshit is about to tumble out of your mouth, Alastor."

As the two squared off, Hestia Jones and Madam Pomfrey glared in Moody's direction, while Tonks and Kingsley closed their eyes in discomfort. Hermione nervously clenched her thighs as she sat wedged between the Weasley twins, who hummed with anticipation. They had been on the receiving end of enough of the Scotswoman's rebukes to recognize the dangerous glint in her eyes.

"That's not –"

"No?" Minerva tilted her head. "Just how often did you question Albus Dumbledore before you mindlessly did his bidding, hmm?"

His mouth tightened, and he looked poised to respond when Tonks lowly warned, "Quit ya diggin', Mad."

"Now that we're all listening," Minerva moved on, "I mentioned I wish to strengthen the security of our organization. Included within that is protecting command. It is not because I want to insulate myself from danger, and especially not at the expense of your safety. An opportunity has presented itself – Riddle is in the dark as to the change in leadership. Casting a Lumos for him on the subject is not in our best interest."

The witch inhaled deeply and again fixed her eyes on Moody. "Alastor, I do not like putting you at increased risk. If you are opposed to being the public face of the Order, to keeping the extra attention on you, I will not mandate you do so."

"If you want me to act as though I'm leading this show, why invite the audience?" Moody countered. "This conversation could have been held in private."

"You might notice this is not a full Order meeting," Minerva smirked. "I assembled you all intentionally because I want to change the way this organization is run. I believe Riddle should be kept in the dark as to our inner workings, but you shouldn't be. Regrettably, this is an about face from the previous administration."

A slight rustling could be heard, and she glanced over her shoulder. A look of consternation had appeared on Dumbledore's portrait but still he continued feigning sleep. Returning her gaze to her living audience, McGonagall noticed Aberforth's unmistakable grin.

"This fight is about people, about recognizing that everyone's life is of equal value. I do not intend to sit behind that desk," she pointed behind her, "and lose sight of that. You all are talented, intelligent witches and wizards, and I would entrust my life to any one of you."

Though everyone else remained relatively stoic at the pronouncement, Fred and George gaped at her in shock.

"I want you all to trust that when you place your life in my hands, I have your interests at heart. I think the best way to accomplish that is to ensure you all have a say in what is decided. The final decision will be mine, but I will listen to all of you. Accountability is critical…in both directions. So, I would like to establish a War Council of sorts, comprised of you all. Together we strategize, evaluate options, and make decisions based on the information and experience each of you have. Whatever we decide to share beyond this Council would then be delivered to the rest of the Order by Alastor."

Rumblings passed through the room until Kingsley sat forward. "Are you looking for a vote here, Minerva? Because you have my support."

As several others voiced their agreement, McGonagall held up her hand. "Hold on. This needs to be an informed decision on everyone's part, so I must explain further before asking for a vote."

At her request, Remus distributed copies of the Vocare Fiducia description to each of the gathered members. Once they read through it, Minerva explained how and why it would work. "I meant what I said about accountability. After swearing this oath, no one could reveal – willingly or otherwise – any sensitive information about the Council, including our identities, unless it was agreed upon by the rest of us. In the event of my demise, the protection will remain fully intact, and you all would have the necessary knowledge to continue on in my role without losing any time or strategy."

"Why didn't we have something like this in place before?" Kingsley wondered.

The Headmistress looked first to the portrait of her predecessor, then flicked her eyes to Aberforth. "The answer to that question, I assure you, is not one you would like to hear."

After a few questions were asked regarding the mechanism of the oath, Tonks set down her copy of the text. "Well, I'm convinced. Mad-Eye?"

"I am not opposed," he begrudged.

"Alright," Minerva took in a fortifying breath. "There is one more thing you should know before consenting fully. Before I reveal it, however, I must insist that everyone keeps their head and wands remain sheathed. Is that understood?"

"Circe's sake, Professor," Tonks exclaimed. "Just what are you planning to spring on us?"

"There is a thirteenth member I would like to include within this Council." Surreptitiously fingering her wand, Minerva nodded toward the entrance to the private quarters.

Time seemed to slow as Severus Snape dropped his Disillusionment charm and stepped out from the shadows.

Practically in unison Moody, Kingsley, and Tonks leapt to their feet, wands in hand. Though Snape raised no defense himself, Madam Pomfrey hustled in front of him with her own wand drawn. She managed to deflect a hex from Moody, sending it careening into the top shelf of a bookcase. The occupants of the nearest portraits dove out of sight behind their frames, while pages blasted out of books fluttered noisily to the carpet.

Remus, glancing nervously at the Headmistress, similarly put himself between the Aurors and the wanted spy.

"REMUS!" Tonks shrieked. "MOVE!"

Hermione's heart thudded with the desire to protect Severus. Fortunately, she was prevented from violating his earlier instruction by George, who instinctively shoved her behind his twin and bodily shielded her flank.

"I said WANDS AWAY!" Minerva angrily slashed her own wand, casting an Expelliarmus Magnum strong enough to send every brandished wand clattering against the bookcases.

Moody, who had charged forward, took the brunt of the spell and was knocked backwards. Having stored a second wand within a compartment of his wooden leg, the false appendage was yanked out from under him, upending him harshly on his backside.

"You treacherous bitch!" the retired Auror wheezed.

Raising an eyebrow at his comment, McGonagall calmly summoned the disarmed wands to her – which caused Moody's wooden leg to inch further away from the struggling wizard – and placed them in a pile on her desk as she had done with many a group of students caught dueling on school grounds. "If you would all listen –"

"He's a fugitive, Minerva!" Kingsley snapped.

Desperate to see, Hermione managed to push her way out from under the Weasley twins, who were understandably distracted by the chaotic turn of events. She noticed the furious expression painted on Tonks's face – as well as the flame red hue of her hair – but was relieved that no one had made any motions to retrieve their wands.

With a deep groan, Moody propped himself up on his side. "You're harboring a murderer! You can't –"

"SILENCE!" The Headmistress raised her wand but did not cast anything further. "Severus Snape did not murder anyone. While it is true that Riddle ordered the assassination, it was Dumble –"

"MINERVA, YOU SWORE AN OATH!"

Everyone flinched at the portrait's unexpected roar, except the Headmistress. With a quirk to her lips, she half-turned to face him. "Good morning, Albus. So good of you to join us."

"YOU –"

She held up a hand. "I did swear an oath, yes. Very carefully at that."

"You are violating your –"

"I think you'll find I'm doing exactly what I promised. You of all people, Albus, should recognize intent matters most when it comes to magic."

"You knew very well what I required in that oath – you clarified it extensively!"

"Mmm, yes," she nodded. "I distracted you with innocuous questions while devising a response that would be to my advantage yet still satisfy you. Given your proclivity for that method, I'm surprised you didn't notice."

The painted blue eyes held no twinkle as they rapidly moved back and forth with his attempt to discern what she meant.

Amused by his confusion, Minerva clasped her hands together in front of her. "If you recall, Albus, the oath I swore was to never reveal what you told me to any individual who was not informed of it outside of this office. Given, however, that we are all presently inside of this office, I am free to reveal whatever I damn well please."

The portrait – and a handful of living persons – gawped at her pronouncement.

"Minerva!" Alastor growled. Struggling to right himself, his biological eye focused on the Headmistress while the mechanical one remained fixed on Snape.

The elder witch exhaled quietly as she returned her attention to the gathered Order members. "Though Riddle wanted the assassination, it was Albus Dumbledore who commanded Severus to kill him –"

"WHAT?"

"Impossible!"

"You CANNOT be serious!"

Minerva tightened her mouth at their vocalized disbelief. "Albus was dying, the result of a fatal curse he triggered when he donned a ring belonging to Riddle –"

"Why would he…" Bill Weasley trailed off as Hestia Jones placed a hand on his arm.

"It was corroding him from the inside out and would have killed him before Christmas," the Headmistress explained. "To spare himself the pain, to prevent further consequences of senility, and to protect Severus's position as a spy within Riddle's ranks, Albus demanded Severus kill him. With the Killing Curse, specifically."

"The fuck…" Tonks whispered, pressing her knuckles into her teeth.

"The assassination was planned well in advance by Albus, Severus, and myself and was controlled as best we could manage," Minerva continued. "We chose after curfew over the holiday to minimize the number of students on campus, and the Astronomy Tower because of its distance from dormitories and staff quarters. Albus intentionally allowed the Death Eaters onto school grounds in order to witness the event and had the house elves remove all the Floo powder to prevent any unauthorized travel. Severus deployed non-lethal means of distraction and diversion to further constrict the Death Eaters' access and limit the risk of injury to student, staff, or Aurors. Upon receiving his signal that they had gained access, I sent the emergency summons to the Order…before Albus had even returned to the castle."

A deafening silence followed her explanation as all eyes slowly shifted between McGonagall and Snape. No one dared speak until the seething likeness of the former Headmaster hissed, "You had no right, Minerva!"

The witch rolled her eyes. "As Head of the Order, I have every right to share whatever I want with whomever I want."

"You were never meant to…" Albus huffed loudly and snapped his eyes to the side of his frame.

"I am fully aware the only reason you saw fit to tell me of your impending demise, Albus, was because Severus refused to carry out your ridiculous plot unless I was enlightened to it beforehand."

"You are jeopardizing everything!" Dumbledore's portrait snarled.

"From where I stand, Albus, you were the one who put us all in jeopardy," Minerva returned forcefully. "All those years, keeping everything to yourself, keeping us all in the dark until you needed something from us. And we naively tripped over ourselves to please you, put our lives at risk for your unchecked whims! The Order wasn't about us; it was about you and Tom Riddle, locked in an epic game of chess, each trying to out-maneuver the other with the fate of the Wizarding World at stake. But what both of you fail to notice is those pieces you shove about the board – those are people. Living, breathing people. You see them, you see us as nothing more than tools to be utilized in your game."

"Everything I did was for the Greater Good, Minerva – to dismantle Voldemort. If you cannot see it, perhaps I made a grievous mistake in appointing –"

"Do not insult my intelligence, Albus," she growled. "You are upset because you expected I would merely be an extension of your arm, so you could still control things from beyond the veil. I'm certain most of us here questioned why you appointed me second-in-command instead of Alastor, but it was because he wouldn't be here to listen to you whenever you deigned to drop a nugget of wisdom. He wouldn't come to you, seeking your advice, or question 'What Would Albus Do?' whenever faced with a decision. Well, surprise! Neither will I."

Moody, having regained his footing – as well as his wooden foot – with assistance from Kingsley, narrowed his eyes at the fuming portrait. "Is this true, Dumbledore? Everything she says?"

The Order held their collective breath as the painted face reddened.

With a faint rustling, Dilys Derwent leaned forward in her portrait. "My, my, Albus. Have you discovered you are unable to lie to or about the current Headmistress?"

"Since he won't answer, I will," a gaunt-looking Headmaster spoke. "She speaks the truth. A great many of us witnessed Dumbledore's dealings with the poor Snape boy."

As both Severus and Moody scowled at the last descriptor, Dumbledore whirled about in his frame. "EVERARD! You are bound to maintain the secrets of this office."

"Ay, we are duty bound to maintain discretion regarding the current Headmistress; that is true," a wizard with a scraggly beard commented. "However, maintaining discretion of deceased former Headmasters is more of a recommendation than a requirement."

A tall, lean man raised a quill in his portrait. "Especially when said Headmaster not only risked the integrity and protection of this institution but abandoned his post as well."

Albus turned to glare at his accuser. "Vindictus, you level grave falsehoods. Everything I have done was in service to this school –"

Minerva failed to stifle a snort.

"—and I no more abandoned the position than I swore allegiance to Voldemort!"

"Professor Veridian has only provided an honest interpretation of your actions," Dilys protested.

"We took a vote before they stuck you up here, Dumbledore," Phineas Black interjected. "By a tally of 47 to 19, you're a ratbag undeserving of our protection."

Ignoring her younger counterpart, Dilys continued her explanation. "You ended your own life, forcing a distinguished member of the staff – who should have had the privilege of your protection – to effectively sacrifice his own life in the process. And you did so with little regard for the security of the students and staff or the stability of this school."

"Minerva was informed, and I had every confidence she would be named my successor."

"Every confidence, eh?" Phineas Black smirked. "I find that potion difficult to swallow given you threatened to murder Headmistress McGonagall just to keep Snape submissive."

Hermione and several Order members gasped at the revelation. Minerva, paling a few shades, whipped her eyes in Snape's direction. "Severus, you never told me that!"

"Couldn't tell you much, could he?" Phineas taunted. "In my day, it was the Head of Slytherin who would be able to talk himself out of an Oath of Silence, not Gryffindor. Clearly standards have dropped under the Dumbledore administration."

With a pained expression, Severus averted his eyes from their searching stares.

"Hoooly Merlin, Morgana, and Morwen," Tonks sighed, fisting her hands in her crimson locks.

"You think that's shocking," Phineas sneered at his great-great-great-granddaughter, "wait until you hear what –"

"STOP!" Minerva pointed at the portrait.

Another heavy silence fell until Kingsley cleared his throat. "I'd like to hear what he was going to say."

McGonagall straightened her spine. "Nothing else will be revealed until after the Vocare Fiducia is in effect. You know enough now to make a decision. Severus will be included within the Council, so if that is an insurmountable obstacle for you, I will excuse you from the role. Unfortunately, due to obvious reasons, it will require obliviation."

Hermione bit her lip as the gathered members exchanged nervous glances.

Touching Severus's arm, Poppy raised her chin. "I'm not entirely certain why you included me, Minerva, but I would be honored to accept."

"As would I," Aberforth stared challengingly at his brother's likeness.

"I am as well," Hestia Jones agreed.

Without looking at Tonks, Remus uttered, "You already have my support."

The young Auror, perched on the arm of a chair, flicked her eyes between her boyfriend and her mentor, who had yet to speak. Rubbing her palms on her thighs, she murmured, "So, you'll want us to pretend to hunt him, though we know damn well where he is. Like with Sirius. Though, you know, Sirius didn't actually kill anyone."

"Not for lack of trying," Minerva sputtered, drawing curious glances from the Aurors. Remus and Severus, meanwhile, shifted in discomfort.

After fiddling with his fang earring in quiet reflection, Bill Weasley sat upright in his chair. "You can count me in, Professor."

"Well, if Sir Willy-am's in…" Fred began, earning a cautionary glance from his elder brother.

"We're in," George finished. "'Mione, what say you?"

Hermione hesitantly nodded. "Yes, I'm…in."

"Dora," Remus quietly pleaded.

"I'm game, I guess," Tonks decided before facing Severus. "You're lucky the powers that be decided I wasn't man enough to lead a manhunt. Upton wouldn't be able to find his prick in a dark room."

Chuckling under his breath, Kingsley tipped his head. "Given what was revealed, I have no qualms in working with Snape."

Having nodded appreciatively at each consenting member, Minerva trained her eyes on the grizzled ex-Auror. "Alastor?"

Moody heaved a sigh and strode forward. Though she watched him carefully, the Headmistress did not stop him from approaching the Slytherin spy.

Standing only inches from Mad-Eye, Severus forced himself to maintain eye contact while also keeping his shields lowered. He knew the man was no Legilimens but still possessed a knack for detecting deception.

"That protection spell would prevent anyone from leaking information?" Moody asked without looking away from Snape.

"Yes," Minerva ground out.

"And nullify any listening charms?"

"Yes."

Moody stared intently into Snape's face for several more seconds before stepping away with a grunt. "I'd rather keep my eyes on him than stumble about blindly while the lot of you hide him."

Severus let out a long breath of relief and glanced at Minerva, who picked up the collection of wands from her desk. She held them out for their respective owners to reclaim. "Well, then. Let's get on with it, shall we?"

At her prompting, the thirteen Order members formed a haphazard circle and drew their wands. Though no one commented on it, the wary glares exchanged between Moody and Snape did not go unnoticed.

Once everyone was ready, Minerva clasped Moody's hand over their crossed wands. She whispered her Secret into his ear, which he vowed to Keep, then released his hand and stepped back. A faint strand of magic extended from her wand to his as he faced the center and shared her Secret with the group. The ex-Auror then turned to Kingsley, repeating the process with his own Secret.

The shimmering magic twisted intricately, looping around each wand as a new oath was overlapped upon the previous one. When at last Minerva became Severus's Primary Keeper and shared his Secret with her Council, both ends of the magical thread tied together, forming a network reminiscent of a spider's web that soon disintegrated from sight.

As the spell finally released, the Headmistress staggered back a step and pressed her hand on her desk. Everyone else was too distracted by their own energy depletion to notice, save for Severus. She waved off his look of concern, then quipped, "Now I understand why the Wizengamot opted not to adopt the use of that charm."

"Well, that and the fact the lot of them wanted to retain their ability to gossip like schoolgirls," Phineas stated dryly.

XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX

Once refreshments had been served and everyone was mostly recovered, Minerva leaned forward in her seat. "While there are many things we need to discuss… one conversation needs to occur before anything else."

As the others focused on the Headmistress, Hermione chanced a look at Severus. His face was blank, though he had a white-knuckled grip on the edge of the window seat he had claimed. She wished she could escape from between the Weasley twins and move to sit at his side. Especially since she knew exactly what was going to be discussed.

"What Albus neglected to tell any of us is that he knew damn well how Riddle was able to return."

"What?" Mad-Eye scowled.

"Minerva, I insist you – "

With a quiet flick of her wand behind her head, a shade fell over Dumbledore's portrait, silencing his protest. When Phineas chuckled loudly, a second flick of her wand shaded his portrait as well. The remaining Headmasters took the hint and either quietly left their portraits or feigned sleep.

"Before his first disappearance," Minerva continued as though nothing occurred, "Riddle managed to create several horcruxes."

It was immediately apparent who had prior knowledge of horcruxes. The three Aurors, Bill, and Aberforth looked decidedly horrified, while the others glanced about in concerned confusion. They quickly joined in the communal sense of nausea, however, upon being informed.

"And he's created multiple?" Kingsley queried. "I didn't know that was even possible."

"Do we know how many?" Remus asked.

"Not for certain," Minerva responded, "however, Dumbledore thought seven were created, two of which have been destroyed."

"Seven?!" Tonks gasped. "Good gods, why!"

"I'm unsure –"

"Complete mastery," Bill mumbled under his breath.

The Headmistress paused mid-reply, then leaned forward. "What did you say?"

The eldest Weasley shifted nervously as every pair of eyes suddenly locked onto him. "It was just a guess, but… perhaps You-Know-Who was seeking complete mastery over Life and Death."

While everyone else waited for further explanation, Severus finally dared speak. "Undoubtedly that would appeal to the Dark Lord, but why have you drawn that conclusion?"

Bill rubbed the back of his neck. "The goddess Isis… Legend has it she was guarded by seven scorpions as she searched for the remains of her husband, Osiris. There was some thought these may have been horcruxes, that rending her soul into pieces allowed Isis to bring about Life from Death, resurrecting Osiris and producing by him an heir. Some believed this is how she became the Mistress of Life, Ruler of Fate and Destiny with magical prowess that surpassed even Ra.

"There was no evidence to support it, of course, but that didn't stop certain persons from trying to accomplish the same. Enough so that we had to take precautions when working in the Egyptian tombs because there existed the possibility we'd encounter a horcrux amongst other dark objects. One of my predecessors died rather gruesomely after coming in contact with one."

"As would have Albus, had it not been for Severus and the timely treatment with Angelaureus," Minerva commented.

"Angelaureus, eh?" Bill flicked his eyes to Snape. "Too bad you weren't in the tombs with them, Professor. He might've stood a chance."

The Slytherin shook his head. "It would only have delayed the inevitable."

"Well, that explains things," Aberforth sighed. "Undoubtedly, my brother knew of that particular legend."

"You said two were destroyed," Hestia spoke. "What is necessary to do that?"

"Something violent and deadly enough to destroy the object beyond all magical repair," Bill answered. "It's more difficult than you'd think since the horcrux is sentient in a manner. It protects itself from destruction. If one was found in the tombs, they'd use contained Fiendfyre to eliminate it."

Hermione felt queasy as she pictured Harry engulfed in flames.

"Is that what was used for the first two?"

"Basilisk fang for Riddle's diary. As for the ring…" Minerva turned to Severus, who replied, "Gryffindor's Sword."

"The sword?" Mad-Eye scoffed.

"The diary was…" Bill blanched as his eyes flicked back and forth between McGonagall and Snape. "Ginny was… that was a horcrux?"

The twins stiffened, sharing a worried glance over Hermione's head before looking to their elder brother.

"I'm afraid so," Minerva nodded sympathetically.

"Since when has a sword been deadly enough to render anything beyond repair?" Moody barreled on, either ignoring or oblivious to the Weasleys' turmoil.

Hermione frowned at the question and closed her eyes. Something in the back of her mind was nagging at her. Suddenly, it came to her. "The Sword of Gryffindor was crafted by Ragnuk the First, the goblin king."

"And?" Moody glanced at her in irritation.

"Goblin-made items take in that which make it stronger," she replied. "Harry used it in the Chamber of Secrets to kill the basilisk. It must have… absorbed the venom somehow."

"An extraordinary sword," Severus muttered under his breath and cast a dirty look in the direction of Dumbledore's covered portrait. As if hit by an unseen spell, he froze for a moment, then narrowed his brow and leaned forward. "The legend you spoke of, Mr. Weasley… did you mean seven horcruxes would grant complete power, or tearing the soul into seven pieces would?"

"Making plans, are you?" Moody snarled, earning himself a rebuking glare from the Headmistress.

Bill shook his head at the question. "Seven horcruxes, Professor. Seven splits. Seven tethers to the living realm, allowing the original soul – the eighth piece, I guess you'd say – to return from Death and ferry souls across at will."

"Seven were intended," the spy whispered, looking to Minerva. "Not six. Seven."

"Why does that make a difference?" Remus asked, glancing between them.

Minerva inhaled deeply and straightened in her seat. "It might not, or it might mean if we dally about long enough we'll have an eighth horcrux to find."

"Eight?"

"This is where it becomes more difficult," she gave a sad sigh. "Riddle's diary and a ring belonging to one of his ancestors were destroyed by Potter and Albus, respectively. We highly suspect his pet snake is a horcrux given the great care with which he treats it. Three others, we haven't a clue what they could be. Albus and Potter were secretly searching for them this year, but neither has yet to share anything related to their excursions. Hermione, I would like you to keep an ear out for anything Potter may divulge. I suspect we may have better luck in that quarter, at least until Albus gets over his little snit."

The young witch nodded, then glanced bitterly toward Dumbledore's portrait.

"Why not ask him outright?" Moody questioned. "Instead of all this sneaking about, wasting time."

"Because we recently became aware that Albus knew the identity of a seventh horcrux – one which Riddle never intended to make." Minerva set her palms flat against the desk to ground herself. She kept her voice calm as she stated, "Harry Potter."