Author's Note: Somehow, I have extra time, so instead of doing laundry, I'm going to write another chapter. I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter 4

When Hermione awoke, she was warm and comfortable. For a few blissful moments, she forgot what had transpired between her and Ron just a few hours earlier, but when she remembered, she grew cold. Turning herself on her back, she grabbed the pillow from under her head, placed it over her face, and screamed.

"Do try not to suffocate yourself, Miss Granger." Hermione stilled, her scream dying in her throat, at the unmistakable sound of the potion's master's voice. Wasn't she in Minerva's quarters? She kept the pillow over her face. He cleared his throat. "I've just been down to the Forbidden Forest," she bit her tongue to stop herself from saying something about it being forbidden, "to procure some ingredients for a tea I frequently make for Minerva." She tried to understand why he was telling her this when she had a pillow over her face. Of all the times for him to be conversational. He cleared his throat and continued, "There is lavender in the blend which is a natural calming agent. Should you ever find yourself in need of a calming, warm drink, I can provide you with the recipe." He stopped, was that rambling, and seemed to shuffle his feet. Her mind screamed at her to say something.

"Uh, thank you, professor," she tried to think of anything to say, "I shall keep that in mind." She was having a civil conversation with Professor Snape while there was a literal pillow over her face. What must he think?

"Well, good day to you, Miss Granger," he replied softly. He placed something down, probably the tea, on a table, and swept out of the room, his long robs whispering across the stone floor.

Hermione went to put her hands over her face in embarrassment but encountered the pillow instead. Stupid pillow. She huffed and laughed at herself. What an odd encounter with the dark man. A "calming, warm drink" did sound good at the moment. Pulling the blanket off of her, Minerva's doing no doubt, she threw it over the back of the sofa and made her way to the kitchenette. There on the counter was what Professor Snape had left – a tin of homemade tea. Picking it up and taking off the lid, she wafted the scent of lavender, chamomile, and something she couldn't place. Putting the kettle on to boil, Hermione finally allowed herself to think about the Marriage Act. She still couldn't believe it had passed the Wizengamot. She knew so many who had opposed the act, but the purebloods, and presumably many Voldemort supporters, pushed it through. And Ron! She couldn't believe the things he'd said to her! Weren't they supposed to be best friends? It was like she didn't know him! Feeling her anxiety starting to rise, she focused her attention back on making tea. To the now whistling kettle, she added a couple of scoops of the tea. The scent of the fresh and dried herbs and flowers mingled beautifully. She wondered at the spell that must have been used to keep the herbs and flowers fresh when the door to Minerva's quarters opened and the Deputy Headmistress herself walked in. Wordlessly, Hermione found another teacup and saucer and placed them next to her own. Hermione heard a deep breath and sigh from Minerva as she poured them steaming cups.

"Oh," Minerva sighed, "this smells like Severus' tea. Did he bring some by while I was out?"

"Um, yes, he did," Hermione said as she turned to hand Minerva her cup of tea. Minerva accepted it gratefully and gave her a smile. "Did you enjoy a walk around the castle grounds?" Hermione asked as they made their way to the sofa to sit.

"No, dear, why do you ask," Minerva asked pleasantly if not quizzically.

"You just look a bit flushed, so I thought you may have been out in the sun," Hermione shrugged. What she didn't mention was that Minerva looked rosy and like she was ever so faintly glowing. Like how one looks after basking in the sun for hours or, she giggled to herself, like a person who had been thoroughly snogged.

Minerva's teacup rattled slightly in its saucer a bit and she said, almost to herself, "No, no. Nothing like that." Minerva stared unseeingly into the unlit fireplace, a small, strange smile playing around her lips. She took a sip of tea and asked, "Well, as it is almost dinner time, won't you join us?"

"Thank you, Minerva, but I wouldn't want to be a burden", Hermione shifted in her seat. An opportunity to delay returning to Grimmauld Place would be welcome at the moment, but she would not be a nuisance.

"Nonsense, dear, you are always more than welcome amongst your professors. I dare say many of them would be delighted to see you and may argue about who sits next to you," she chuckled.

"Well, since you put it that way, I would love to join you! Thank you!"

After taking their teacups and saucers to the kitchenette, they made their way to the Great
Hall. The school was so quiet and still during the summer. While many of the professors had other homes to return to during breaks, many of them remained at the castle during the summers. It was a great time for them to revise lesson plans, continue their research, and rest from another school year.

When they arrived in the Great Hall, almost everyone was already gathered for dinner. Professor Sinitra was the first to see her and called, "Why, Hermione Granger! What a pleasant surprise. What brings you to the castle in the dead of summer?" She smiled and stood to hug Hermione. Surprised but pleased at this showing of affection from her strictest professor next to Professor Snape, Hermione hugged her back. Hermione did not answer, but merely smiled at her. After this, many other professors greeted her and gave warm handshakes or hugs as well. Professor Sprout congratulated her on her Outstanding in Herbology, Professor Flitwick squeaked about how pleased he was that she was continuing in Charms, and a man who introduced himself as Professor Slughorn shook her hand genially.

Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape entered the Great Hall just as the professors were all sitting down. As there were no students, the professors were all seated around a large round table in the middle of the hall. The four house tables were nowhere to be seen. Hermione sat beside Professors Sinistra and Slughorn, the older gentleman pulling out her seat for her. Dumbledore and Snape took the remaining seats which were almost directly across from her. As Dumbledore sat, Minerva to his right and Snape to his left, food materialized on the golden platters in the center of the table. Not realizing how hungry she actually was, Hermione began filling her plate with all manner of meats, vegetables, and other sides. There really was no place like Hogwarts for its variety of foods offered at every meal.

"So, are you ready for more advanced potions making?", the question had come from Professor Slughorn. "I'm looking forward to having you in class this term. I've heard you are a rather gifted student." He beamed at her.

Hermione's cheeks pinked and she felt rather confused. Why was he asking her about potions? "Thank you, professor. Are you looking forward to teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

Slughorn spluttered into his goblet and gave her an incredulous look. "My, dear!" He chuckled and patted her softly on the hand. "I will be teaching potions this term. I only did so for decades while being head of Slytherin house many years ago." Her fork stopped halfway to her mouth and her eyes snapped to Snapes. He was looking directly at her as Slughorn said, jovially "No, no, Severus will be teaching you the varied ways to defend oneself against the dark arts." Snape lifted his goblet, drank deeply, and stood up from the table. He whispered something urgently to Dumbledore and swept from the Great Hall. Dumbledore's eyes flickered to Hermione's for such a short moment she thought she'd imagined it and he continued his conversation with Minerva. Whatever he's said to her caused her lips to thin and her brows to bunch. She, too, looked up at Hermione. She gave her a pained smile and continued eating her meal. Hermione glanced at Snape's plate and saw that he had not eaten much before he left, and he did not look like he had any extra weight to lose.

Conversation, and wine, flowed freely around the table as dinner proceeded. All of her professors were more than willing to answer her questions about summer homework, though some smilingly rolled their eyes as they did so. Slowly, they started to exclaim about the time and make their way back to their quarters. When about half of those in attendance had left, Dumbledore stood to make his exit. He leaned down and whispered in Minerva's ear. At first, she just nodded but as he continued talking, she blushed faintly. How curious. Dumbledore straightened up, gave a nod in her direction, and walked out of the Great Hall.

"Well, Hermione, I believe I, too, will be turning in for the night. Will you be staying long?", she asked as she stood up.

Hermione opened her mouth to respond when Minerva, who had materialized at her elbow, answered for her. "As it so happens, I believe I will be in need of Hermione's assistance for a few days, so if she is amenable, she will be staying." Hermione nodded mutely. What a strange day she was having.

"Fantastic! We will see you around, Hermione." Professor Sinistra stood and made her way out of the hall.

"Come, Hermione. We must return to Grimmauld place and gather your things to let the Order know where you will be. And before you ask," she eyed Hermione with a small smile, "I will explain everything in due time." Hermione merely nodded and followed Minerva to her quarters.

S ~ H ~ S ~ H ~ S ~ H ~ S ~ H ~ S ~ H ~ S ~ H ~ S ~ H ~ S ~ H ~ S ~ H ~ S ~ H ~ S ~ H ~

Closing the door behind them, Minerva made her way to the living room and bade Hermione join her on the sofa. She sighed, "We need your help, Hermione."

"Yes, I had surmised as much."

Minerva sent her a look but continued on. "Severus was just called away to a meeting with You-Know-Who." Hermione sat up straighter. "He is called away much more frequently during the summer as he can more easily make his excuses as opposed to during the term." Here she paused and took a deep breath. She looked her in the eyes and reached forward to hold her hands firmly. "He often returns injured as the meetings, the summons as he calls them, are not always pleasant. You-Know-Who is a deranged individual and often does not accept logical reasoning for lack of new information on Severus' part." Hermione nodded at this information, shocked but not surprised at the cruelties Professor Snape routinely experienced. Looking deep into her eyes and apparently pleased with what she saw, Minerva pressed on. "Madam Pomphrey will be leaving this coming Friday to visit her sister and nieces and nephews. She plans to be gone for 3 weeks. She usually is the one who patches up Severus when he returns, but –."

Hermione interrupted, "You'll need someone else here who can be available to help heal him when he returns from these barbaric meetings", she said with venom in her words.

Minerva's eyebrows rose slightly, but she just nodded. "Precisely. Could we count on you, Hermione? I do not want you to feel pressured, but you are quite the talented witch, and you already know quite a lot about Severus' role in the Order."

Hermione sat there and pondered the request. Her gut reaction was to answer "yes", but she wondered what Professor Snape felt about this arrangement. "Would Professor Snape accept my help?", she asked. She didn't want the professor to feel pressured any more than Minerva wanted her to feel that way.

Minerva nodded, "It wasn't easy, but he knows he cannot safely heal himself many times after these meetings and has, rather reluctantly, agreed that you would be, and I quote, 'an adequate replacement for Poppy.' So, if your answer is yes, we can proceed to Grimmauld and retrieve your things."

Taking a deep breath, Hermione said, "Yes, he deserves help after all he has done for our side."

Minerva smiled, then, standing, took a pinch of floo powder, threw it into the unlit fireplace, and shouted "Number 12, Grimmauld Place".

Hermione squared her shoulders, rolled her neck, and followed quickly after.