Chapter 34

Disclaimer: Not mine. I just borrowed them for a while. I promise to put them back when I'm done. Oh, nope, no money either...just for fun. Once again, what events that are not mentioned that happen in the books is as it happened in the books.

I want to give a great big thank you hug to my alpha reader, Arabellabloodgood, Proulxes for the bit of Brit-picking, and to DuchessOfArcadia and EverMystique for combing through this and helping me clean up my many mistakes. I really appreciate it more than you can possibly know.

Thank you, Jay, for the beautiful banner. I absolutely love it!

Harry's arrival was fairly uneventful, except that Ron threw open the curtains and swatted him on the head to wake him up, which Hermione thought was juvenile. Fred and George had returned to their flat above their shop the day before, so Harry had been given their room for the rest of summer. Unfortunately, Fred and George left boxes of their products around, and Hermione, who should have known better, tried snooping in the twins' stuff, and ended up sporting a purple-black eye from a dangerous punching telescope.

And, of course, there was Fleur, constantly hovering about, doting on Bill and Harry, talking nonstop about her wedding plans and driving Mrs. Weasley and Ginny batty. Not that she didn't effect Hermione's disposition any...Hermione found herself groaning inwardly whenever Fleur droned on. She also hated seeing Ron mooning over Fleur and being pathetic whenever she was around, and even though Harry was able to control himself better, even he got all mushy about her in her presence as well. It was disgusting.

Harry told them what he'd been doing over the summer, that he'd be having private lessons with Dumbledore once school started and about the prophecy. Then Ron told him what he'd been doing. Hermione had been in shock that Harry knew near to nothing about what had happened to their friends, or the trouble that she'd been in, but then her incident in France was only briefly mentioned once in one article on several such attacks, disappearances and odd occurrences in the Daily Prophet, after the nice long article and the obituary for Madam Vance.

She'd watched Harry closely as they'd talked, scrutinizing Harry's tone of voice, watching his expressions and his body language for any signs of guilt or depression over the attacks, Sirius' death... anything... However, more than once, he'd scowled at her so she'd quickly recovered whenever she saw him staring at her, hoping she'd masked her concerns. But he seemed to be handling it well enough. He said he wasn't having the dreams anymore, but she wondered if he was telling her the truth about them being over. When Ron was called to help his mum, she thought it time to tell Harry about her parents, the attacks and Severus' warning.

"If you're going to ask me about Sirius, don't," he said before she said anything.

"No, well, but since you mentioned him...how are you doing, Harry?" she admitted. When he said "Fine," albeit a little curtly, she nodded and let the matter drop. "Harry, there have been... things...other stuff going on."

"What things?" he asked, still standing with his arms crossed.

"Well, not all of it has been in the paper," she said, and he turned his head slightly with his eyes narrowed as if not getting what she was driving at. "All right." Where to begin?

He sat down, and she looked up at him and inhaled deeply.

"Tell me what happened."

"Harry, first, it's not because of you," she said, and his forehead creased and his eyes narrowed. "There is a reason you were brought here early. I'm not sure how much to tell you, but hear me out, okay?" He nodded, and she began with the incident in France. To his credit, he listened, although she had to deal with quite a few of his outbursts and his pacing. She then tried to tell him about the others.

"So you're telling me that everyone was attacked?" he said, whirling on her. "Why doesn't anyone tell me anything?"

"What exactly do you think I'm doing now?" she pleaded.

"But they were attacked because they went with me to the Ministry!" he declared. "I fell for Voldemort's..."

"No! Listen to me, Harry," she interrupted him. "Madam Bones would've been a target anyway; she sides with Muggle-borns' rights in many of her judgments, and she's head of the MLE. She's considered a blood traitor. I heard Goyle calling her that at Hogwarts last year."

"And the rest...the DA...they wouldn't have been attacked if they hadn't followed me to the Ministry," he snapped back at her, his emotions starting to get riled up.

"You don't know that!" she shot back and then took a calming breath as she held up her hand. "Okay, it's possible, but think about it. Dumbledore's Army was about standing up against You-Know-Who...not just defying Umbridge...and learning how to defend ourselves. Neville even said it was about doing something real! None of our friends plan on staying neutral and hoping we come out unscathed. For most of us, this is our last year at Hogwarts and then we'll be out there," she pointed at the window, "...fighting." She dropped her arm and looked up at him, hoping he understood her.

He plopped down on the bed and stared at his hands. "But they were attacked because of me."

"No, Harry, they were attacked for standing up for what they believed in. They knew that Voldemort was going to attack the Ministry...I told them." His head turned sharply to glare at her, so she pressed on. "I told them about the dreams...that they were a connection. Everyone already knew about the one you had when Mr. Weasley was attacked. They thought it was because you have the Sight...you know...you're taking Divination. Anyway, they wanted to go. It was their choice. I sent the message through all the coins and they came. So it's my fault."

He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "But I'm..."

"I know, you're the one identified in the prophecy: parents who thrice defied him, born at the end of July and marked as an equal. That means you have the power to defeat him, if you believe in the prophecy," she said, still hoping he'd listen and let her words sink in. "It's a huge burden, I know. But it's not the only reason people are standing up to Him. Neville's in it for his parents; Seamus for his real dad and his uncle; Cho fights for her mum, who's Muggle-born, and revenge for Cedric. Susan and Katie have personal reasons too...we all do. I do! I'm fighting for my right to exist!"

Harry stared at her, his expression hard to read. It seemed like he was taking it all in.

"If we don't win, I'm as good as dead. I am everything He hates; I'm a Mudblood, and Draco reminds me of that fact every opportunity he gets. I know I'm smart; I'm in the top percent of our year, and Draco hates that, too...that I best him marks," she said, trying not to blush. "I heard him grumbling about it enough to know his father... Well, he's under a lot of pressure at home."

Harry hung his head.

"I know you've had a raw deal, but Harry, I'm in this with you...all the way. I won't let you down, just like you wouldn't let me down. In fact, you have friends, Harry...real friends." She touched his arm to make him look at her. "Well, obviously you're the one with some power Voldemort knows not, right? But still, you need us as much as we need you. Together we're strong...you, me, Ron...we balance each other. Together, we've done some remarkable things. In the first war, Voldemort played on people's fears, wanted them to be distrustful of each other, afraid of their shadows. Divided and afraid, we are weaker. We can't be that way again...we have to stick together."

He nodded and looked at his hands again. "You're right."

She waited.

He continued to look at his hands and then looked up at her. "So now what?"

"We keep learning everything we can, like we did last year...only this time it's about life or death," she said, reaching over to squeeze his arm again. "We, Harry, all of us. Constant vigilance. If I could be attacked in France...on holiday...one set up by a Death Eater, then nowhere is safe. So until the time comes, when you have to face him again, we prepare, and we will be ready."

"Right," he said, the flash of determination back in his eyes.

Hermione woke up with the sun and smiled at the sleeping redhead on the bed across the room. For the most part, the last few weeks had been spent playing two-a-side Quidditch, much to Hermione's dismay, and helping Mrs. Weasley whenever she'd asked. It would have been a pleasant time for Hermione except for the articles each morning about people disappearing, odd accidents, and the daily reported deaths from suspicious circumstances or the Killing Curse and Dementor attacks. Sometimes, Bill or Mr. Weasley had bad news to impart when they arrived home each evening, and occasionally Remus Lupin made reports of werewolf attacks and maulings, some that didn't even make the Daily Prophet.

Even Harry's birthday had a sad shadow of bad news that cast a gloom most tried to ignore for Harry's sake. Both Ollivander and Florean Fortescue had disappeared, and Headmaster Karkaroff had been found dead in the Vozgian Province of Vologda in the Russian Federation, a month after she'd heard about it from Severus. Pricilla Colton, who was in Gryffindor the year above them, and her family had been found dead in their home.

Still, Mrs. Weasley had tried her best to make Harry's birthday as pleasant as possible. It saddened Hermione that even with all the bad news, Harry had told everyone it was his best birthday ever.

Hermione slipped from her bedcovers, leaned over Ginny's small desk, and pushed open the window, surprised to see a long-eared owl swoop in on her. The pretty, medium-sized owl held out a heavily-feathered leg for her to untie the scroll he was carrying, watching her with his yellow eyes. "Now who do you belong to?" she asked as she untied the ribbon, being extra careful not to pull on any of his feathers in the process. The owl clicked his black beak and fluffed his feathers.

"Yes, you're quite handsome," she said softly, offering him some of Ginny's owl treats. The owl hooted happily and accepted his owl treats eagerly.

She sat in the chair as she unrolled the scroll and smiled at the hand painted decoration of a phoenix sitting on a long thin branch of pomegranates and yellow flowers.

"Who is the letter from?" Ginny asked, apparently having been woken by the owl.

"It's from Luna asking if I would like to come over for lunch today or tomorrow," Hermione replied. "Odd, it's addressed to my house, not here, yet her owl found me."

"The Fidelius Charm...some owls are clever enough to get around it." Ginny scrambled from the bed. "I'll get a slip of parchment from Mum so she can come here."

Hermione jotted down a reply, while Ginny went to let her mother know that Luna might come over, then picked up one of Ginny's books, Handmade Magical Crafts: Charms and Transfiguration Spells For The Crafty Witch, and sat on her cot to read.

"Mum says it's fine for Luna to come," Ginny announced as she walked back into the room. She walked over to the owl and carefully attached the notes to his leg. The owl hooted and flew out of the window.

"Lovely bird." Ginny turned to face Hermione. "Now, what shall we do all morning?"

Hermione held up the book.

"Oh, no, you don't," Ginny said, laughing as someone knocked on the door. "It's gorgeous outside. And before you suggest reading outside, I'm going to suggest Quidditch!"

Hermione was going to groan, 'again', but the door opened and Ron and Harry strode in. "I'm up for another game," Ron blurted, tossing a Quaffle at Ginny. She caught it easily as Harry plonked himself down next to Hermione.

The owl returned and landed on Harry's knee. Hermione removed the note as Ginny handed over an owl treat. "Luna must live really close," Hermione replied.

"She lives on the hill," Ginny said as Hermione showed Harry Luna's reply.

"Okay," Harry said with a grin. "So we can get a few rounds of two-a-side Quidditch until Luna shows up." He pulled the book out of Hermione's hands. "You can learn how to transfigure socks into puppets later."

Once again Hermione found herself on a broom, trying not to fall off, protecting the basket Ginny had placed in a tree, while Harry and Ginny battled for the Quaffle. Across the 'pitch', Ron protected another basket magically suspended in the branches of another tree. Harry snatched the Quaffle from Ginny and both of them shot forward. Harry feigned right, then swerved left which gave him room to chucking the Quaffle at Ron's basket. Ron fell for the ploy and barely managed to tip the Quaffle away from his basket, but flew into some branches of the tree, getting tangled up for a bit.

Hermione laughed as he pulled twigs and leaves from his shirt and hair. Then Ginny got the ball, and she was heading for Hermione with Harry flying right behind her. Hermione momentarily panicked as her broom shimmied, and she turned too sharply to compensate. When Harry lunged, trying to grab the Quaffle from Ginny just as she was about to throw it, Hermione tried to move to intercept and lost her balance, grasping her broom tightly as she slid off the handle. Hermione hung from one hand, screaming for help as her fingers, slick with nervous sweat, began to lose their grip. Neither Harry nor Ginny got to her in time... her broom seemingly to pull upward and away as her fingers slipped further...

"Arresto Momentum," Luna cried out loudly, pointing her wand at Hermione, and her fall slowed down enough for her to reach up and grasp her broom.

Somehow Hermione managed to scramble back onto her broom. Hermione angled her broom down and landed with a thud, slightly winded. "Thank you, Luna."

"My pleasure," she said, clasping her wand with both hands. "Now, what lives in mistletoe?"

Hermione gaped at Luna in disbelief. "Pardon me? Oh, right," she said, smiling at Luna's bright yellow pinafore dress and lace bobby socks. Harry and Ron landed and walked up to them, with Ginny touching down a moment after. "Erm...? Oh, gosh Luna, I know fairies sometimes lay their eggs in mistletoe, and Bowtruckles eat fairy eggs...that's not right, is it?"

Luna smiled and cocked her head. "Nargles live in mistletoe, but I know you don't believe me. I do like the leaves in your hair, Ron. Did you put them there on purpose? I prefer flowers, but then I suppose leaves are more masculine."

Harry started laughing at Ron's expense. "That's Luna all right. Hi."

"Hi, Harry," she replied back. "Well, what would you ask me, Ron?" Luna asked, turning to face him.

"Well, what are Nargles, and why do they live in mistletoe?" Ron asked. Everyone started laughing, Luna loudest of all.

The rest of the afternoon was more to Hermione's liking. After lunch, they talked about current events as they played a few rounds games of Muggle Snap, Gin Rummy and Patience, and Luna brought them up to speed on some of the things printed in The Quibbler.

The day after the book lists arrived, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took everyone to Diagon Alley. Bill had brought Hermione and Harry gold from their Gringotts vaults so they would not have to wait in the long lines or have their orifices probed by the Goblins. Hermione had been quite relieved to receive the small pouch of coins, particularly because that meant that her parents had relented on allowing her to return to Hogwarts, and, more importantly, they were not cutting her off financially. However, they were not as generous as they'd been in the past, so she knew that she'd have to budget herself carefully to make the money last. At least she'd had plenty to buy schoolbooks, school robes and three new blouses as well as sufficiently restock her Potions kit. She was certain that her Aunts Alberta Granger and Cornelia DeRynk would send her new jumpers, scarves and mittens for her birthday and for Christmas, so she'd have everything she needed for the new year ahead.

Hermione had been shocked at the changes in Diagon Alley. So many shops were closed, and there were all sorts of vendors in the street. And the incident with Malfoy... that still rankled with Hermione, but not nearly as much as it did with Harry, who was absolutely certain that Draco was now a Death Eater. Hermione had replayed her disastrous encounter with Borgin over in her mind, and her utter failure at subterfuge, wishing she'd thought about what she was going to say to him before entering his shop. She was a horrible liar, she knew it, and apparently no good at all at subterfuge, considering Borgin had read into her the moment she'd stepped foot in his shop.

But even going over the items she could remember in the shop, the only things that stood out in her mind were the lovely opal necklace on display, the hand of glory, the black obsidian glass orb labeled a Readers Eye, a few skulls of various animals and the wall clock that looked surprisingly like Mrs. Weasley's. Mr. Weasley thought that the only item Malfoy could be interested in was the old Vanishing cabinet. Hermione wasn't so sure. Since the Malfoys were in league with Voldemort, they'd have nothing to fear from the evil wizard, so why would Draco have need of a Vanishing Cabinet?

One morning, feeling restless, Hermione asked Mrs. Weasley for a task to keep her busy, and was asked to help Ginny and Ron degnome the garden. Unlike Ginny or Ron, Hermione was grateful to have an outdoor task: it took her mind off the problem with her parents, the questions over the items in Borgin's shop, the Malfoys' odd behavior, and got her away from the overly solicitous Fleur Delacour. Not that she had anything against the girl, but she was really trying too hard to make the Weasleys, especially Mrs. Weasley, like her. So much so, it was bloody annoying.

She decided to check under the tomatoes Mrs. Weasley grew along one wall of Mr. Weasley's shed, when Hermione caught a bit of conversation happening between Harry and Mr. Weasley.

Mr. Weasley's voice carried out from the open window, "It's just that growing up with those relatives of yours, I imagine that they wouldn't have told you about, erm... certain changes that happen as you come of age."

She knelt down and lifted aside a bit of growth laden with ripe tomatoes to peer underneath.

"Mr. Weasley, you really don't need to worry about telling me any of this, Uncle Vernon covered all the basics for Dudley..." Harry started to reply. "And I sort of overheard him..."

She spotted a gnome and practiced her nonverbal, wandless Summoning Charm to bring it to her outstretched hand.

"Yes, I'm sure he had, but there are certain things a young man should know," Mr. Weasley interrupted him, clearing his throat. His voice sounded somewhat strained with nerves to Hermione. "What you and your friends did in the Ministry this last June was remarkable," Mr. Weasley stated, his pride evident in his tone. "I suspect you'll have a few members of the fairer sex interested. But that can also be a problem..."

She stifled a laugh as she caught the gnome easily enough and stood up. Taking hold of its legs, she began twirling it.

"Young ladies, a young witch, well, they sort of... Well, they Bloom, Harry, in a manner of speaking, when they turn seventeen, and you'll take notice," Mr. Weasley was saying. "It's just that, young men have these... urges, Harry, and not all of us are capable of controlling them. However, if you are aware in advance of the, erm, greater attraction, the Allure, then, er, you can... resist certain," he made a sound as if clearing his throat, again, "rule breaking and prevent the outcomes of those actions."

"Er, okay?" Harry said in a slightly strangled voice, clearly uncomfortable with the 'talk' he was being subjected to. Hermione could almost feel his blush coming through the wall. "Right, condoms," he said.

She heaved the gnome as far as she could, adding a nonverbal wandless Repelling Charm for good measure. Oh, this is priceless, she thought, feeling a bit embarrassed to be eavesdropping, but unable to just walk away as she bent down to snatch another gnome who'd come out to see what was happening.

"No, no, I don't mean to condone it, but you young wizards," the Weasley patriarch stammered apparently uncomfortable giving Harry the 'talk.' "You're famous now, well again, Harry, and a prime target. I've seen it before...they will be attracted to you because of your fame which can heighten the, er, allurement, you see. You'll have to, er, be cautious with the young witches...be on extra alert..." He paused briefly before continuing, "so you don't get caught or you can end up in a sticky wicket."

Hermione stifled a laugh as she twirled the gnome to make it dizzy. Odd, him being so uncomfortable considering he has six sons. Surely he's had practice enough. But then he was talking to Harry, who technically wasn't his son.

"Right, so I shouldn't...I'll be careful," Harry promised. "Control my urges and wear protection to avoid any sticky wickets."

Hermione smiled as the gnome went flying in a high arch, way out into the field.

"No, no. If you keep your wits about you that should protect you well enough," Mr. Weasley said, apparently not understanding Harry's comment about protection.

She stifled another laugh as she grabbed the next gnome. It struggled in her hand, pounding on her fingers with its tiny fists.

"Right, okay, sure," Harry said, obviously heading off having to explain what he'd meant by protection.

Hermione could just see trying to explain condoms to Mr. Wesley; he'd want to try some, and Mrs. Weasley would have a fit, most likely.

As she twirled the gnome by its feet above her head, Hermione could almost see Harry trying to hide his embarrassment. She'd look up contraceptive potions and charms once she got to school. Surely the wizarding world had something to protect guys, or would it all fall on the girls to make sure happy little accidents didn't happen.

"Good, excellent," Mr. Weasley said. "The important thing is to keep your wits about you."

"I will," Harry said solemnly, but Hermione could detect the inflection of a suppressed smile in his voice. "I won't get snagged into anything, and I won't get caught."

She used the momentum to fling the gnome out into the field, adding her Repelling Charm again. It sailed out of sight. Three down.

"Good, excellent," Mr. Weasley said, clearly pleased by his response. "Well, then." There was a sound of hands being clapped together once, and she could visualize him bouncing once on his heels as he looked at Harry with a cheerful grin. There was a slight pause as Hermione squatted down to see if any more gnomes were hiding in the tomatoes.

"Another thing, don't be surprised if Ron starts showing certain... signs. It's going to be his year, this year, I'm glad to say," Mr. Weasley said.

Signs...what signs, for what? Hermione mulled over what he'd said, confused by the choice of words. She spotted another gnome watching her intently. Stupid things. She grabbed it, and it bit her finger, making her swear softly as she stood up.

Harry didn't respond right away, either, possibly as confused as she'd been. Hermione twirled the gnome as quickly as she could to make it dizzy.

Finally Harry asked, "His year...? What signs?" slowly in confusion.

"He comes of age this year! Every young man looks forward to his coming of age," Mr. Weasley said as if that explained everything.

Hermione smiled and chucked the gnome as far as she could with another Repelling Charm to send it flying. She couldn't even see where it had landed.

"Right, he'll turn seventeen in March," Harry replied.

"Yes, he'll achieve his full potential as he comes of age," Mr. Wesley said. "He'll have the flairs the start of next year most likely, but the teachers...they'll know how to harness any mishaps until he gets a hold of his magic in March. But don't worry, Harry, it will happen to you, too, next year. I just wanted you to be aware and prepared."

"I don't think I understand," Harry said.

"Oh, yes, you wouldn't have... You see," Mr. Weasley faltered, once again sounding a bit strained. He cleared his throat. "As young wizards, when we approach the age of seventeen, our bodies react to the changes in our magic. We experience surges in our magic. Don't worry, they go away once you reach seventeen. It's why the age seventeen is considered to be an adult in our world."

There was a long pause. "Okay, right then," Harry said in a slightly strangled voice, again, and Hermione felt sorry for him.

She'd read about the Surges and that wizards and witches came into their full powers, their full innate strength, when they approached seventeen. In fact, she had been looking forward to it, and it explained why her magic had felt rather strong lately. Except she hadn't had any surges as described in the books. No random uncontrolled bursts of magic, possibly like the ones she'd had as a child. At least none lately that she'd been aware of.

Hermione heard the door open to the shed and ducked out of view, so neither Harry nor Mr. Weasley would see her and think she'd been spying on them.

"Rise, Severus."

Severus felt a vibration in his pocket as he rose. He kept his head slightly inclined as if to show the pale-faced wizard with the inhuman red eyes his complete reverence, to hide his grimace. The activation of the Protean Charm couldn't have come at a more inconvenient time. He hoped that the message would hold until he could leave the Dark Lord's presence.

"What have you to say for yourself?"

"My Lord." He looked up into the red eyes, forcing himself to maintain a calmness he didn't really feel at the question. "Considering the recent events, and the previous request you made of me, I am at a loss as to what exactly you are implying." He cocked his head ever so slightly.

"Where are they?!" the Dark Lord snarled.

"The children from Potter's little club were all relocated by the Order, and as I've said, I'm not privy to their new locations. Well, except for Potter and the Mudblood, but as Dumbledore set the Fidelius Charm himself, he was quite thorough. I am unable to even hint at the location." The Dark Lord bared his teeth as he flexed his head side to side, but didn't say anything, so Severus pressed on. "As for the new location of the headquarters, all I can say is that the previous one is not trusted at the moment, and the new location is likewise protected by Dumbledore himself, and I..."

"Cannot say, I KNOW!" the Dark Lord shouted in frustration as he slammed his fist on the armrest of his chair. "I want to know where they are hiding! Can no one hazard a guess?"

"My Lord," Bellatrix purred, leaning forward on her knees and gazing up at the Dark Lord with a deeply longing adoration in her crazed eyes. "I have tried to follow the one Weasley boy, but he returns to his flat every night. And the twins, they live above their shop... neither go to their parents as far as I can tell."

"The twins play cat and mouse with you, Bellatrix. They wear Sneakoscopes around their necks and have turned wristwatches into Foe Glasses. They simply Apparate twice before going to their parents," Severus explained. "Their oldest brother, William, wears the same."

"I know they wear those tricksy devices," she snarled at Severus. "But even idiots slip up."

Severus smirked at her. "They know they're being followed, and they are being cautious."

"ENOUGH!" the Dark Lord snapped. "Severus, you told me the old man was cursed and that it was eating away at his flesh. When will it consume him?"

Severus resisted the urge to smirk. "He is still battling to contain the curse in his hand. However, it should reach his heart by Christmas." Severus had finally developed a potion to slow the progression of the curse, but it would not cure the old man's hand.

The Dark Lord's eyes flashed and his lips pursed. "Christmas. No sooner? And the source of this curse?"

Severus fixed the image of a snuffbox, one that belonged to the Black family, firmly in his mind as he slowly shook his head. "I'm not sure of the actual source, but he did say he tried to open it and was hit unexpectedly. He summoned me immediately, and I did try to contain the effects, but as I've said, it will not last long. The curse is strong and will eventually kill him."

"Very well," the Dark Lord said, but it was clear by the absentminded tone of his answer that his thoughts were elsewhere. "Go." He turned Severus. "See that he dies this year. I grow tired of his constant interference."

As Severus bowed to leave, the pendant in his pocket vibrated again. Bloody hell. He walked casually through the manor, his stride long and purposeful to hide the urgency he felt. Once he passed the main gates, he Disapparated for a bend on the dirt road partly hidden by a thick growth of tall grass and sages near the small beach house and pulled off his Death Eater robes and mask. Thankfully, the pendant still showed the message. Holden. Sighing heavily, he shoved his mask into the hood of his robes and rolled the black wool into a tight bundle and walked confidently to the front of the house.

Serena Wilkes opened the door before Severus even closed the gate to the small front garden. "He's Marked," she cried out.

"Will you hush, woman," he snapped, walking across the flagstones quickly and brushing past her. "Never announce anything like that out in the open," he hissed, and she recoiled in shock. "You'll draw too much attention."

She hung her head and moved aside. "Darias is with Raithe and Tammorah in the lounge."

Severus turned and opened the door to the adjoining room. Darias Kennecott moved aside as he came through the door, greeting Severus politely but solemnly. Raithe Macrae was sitting on the sofa, letting Tammorah Merkle hold a cold compress to his left forearm. "Don't do that, you silly girl, he'll feel it," Severus sneered and walked over to the young man. "Show me."

Miss Merkle removed the compress as Severus put his Death Eater garb on the side table, and he withdrew a small jar of ointment from his pocket. "Here. Use this. But keep in mind that each time you touch it, He can feel you do so. And don't push your finger into it, it's like calling him."

Mr. Macrae nodded as Miss Merkle opened the jar for him. "My dad caught me entirely off guard. We were supposedly going to the Malfoy's for dinner. Tammorah and I were hoping to have her father talk to mine, since she said her family was invited, too. Only it wasn't dinner, it was my Marking ceremony! I haven't even had my initiation. Draco Malfoy, that snot, stood up for me and just like that...I'm in."

"He's not the only one," Mr. Kennecott spoke up. Severus turned around to face the young man leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. "Grantham is to be marked, too. I've been trying to work with him on his Occlumency, but I don't know if he's strong enough. Duane, he has managed to avoid it so far, but his dad told him if he doesn't take the Mark his mum will be killed for 'turning him against their master.' He wants to run before he's cornered like Raithe was. Aldebaran is supposed to be marked this summer, and he's scared. He turns seventeen in two months, but his father told the Dark Lord he doesn't want to wait until Christmas for his son to 'join the ranks'! And Raymond knows he'll have to take the Mark next summer after leaving school. That only gives him a year."

"And you?" Severus asked, although he already knew the answer.

Mr. Kennecott turned his head to look at Miss Wilkes. "My dad thinks Serena and I are traveling in Europe. Duane's initiation is to hunt me down and bring me back for my Marking ceremony. I Confounded a Muggle who looks like me to go to France and then travel by motorbike through Europe, ending up somewhere in Italy. Cost me a bundle too."

Severus scowled. "That's a huge risk, considering that Mr. Macrae here knows you are here in Wales."

"I intend to have you Obliviate me," Raithe stated gloomily. "Then Tammorah and I are going on a 'search' to find Darias. At least I'll be away from here and I won't have to..."

"Idiot!" Severus snapped, cutting off the young man. "The Dark Lord's reach is as far as France if not to Spain already, and since you've been Marked, he can sense you wherever you go." Mr. Macrae hung his head, staring at his arm as he sighed heavily, and Severus forced himself to calm down a bit. "But I will Obliviate you. However, your ability at Occlumency should've been strong enough if you'd practiced harder. You will need to learn to segregate your thoughts, formulate half-truths and carefully arrange your words so that you can mask your true thoughts."

"But that means I will have to bring in Darias?" the young Death Eater said, well asked, as if pleading that it wasn't so.

"You can always say that you couldn't find him," Severus suggested. "But that means that any communication or contact between you will put you and Mr. Kennecott in danger...you, of the Dark Lord's wrath; Mr. Kennecott, of being marked for death." Severus turned to look at the girl on the sofa. "Which reminds me, Miss Merkle, I believe you're father is looking for you as well," he told the girl, and she merely nodded, her eyes downcast as she watched Mr. Macrae apply the ointment.

"Her father wants her to marry Tiberius Flint!" Miss Wilkes stated, standing next to Darias.

"I know Claudius and Lividia Flint are staunch supporters, but I also know Drusilla Flint wants her grandson, Tiberius, to marry her dear friend's granddaughter, Catherine Chittenden," Miss Merkle said sadly. "But my parents want to elevate our status by forcing me to marry Tiberius instead of Raithe."

Severus had heard about it, of course. "Claudius may think that such an alliance will promote his interests, but if Drusilla wants Tiberius to marry her friend's granddaughter then the matter is already settled. Drusilla controls the wealth of the family, not Claudius, although he likes to make every one think he does." In fact, the old shrew is also friends with Augusta Longbottom and Niharika Patil, he thought smugly. And if she's favoring Tiberius to marry the Chittenden girl... Interesting.

Miss Wilkes squeezed Mr. Kennecott's hand. He smiled at her, and Miss Merkle looked more hopeful. "So what do we do now?" the young man asked.

Severus thought about the situation for a moment. Damn, didn't my Head of House duties end with their leaving school? "Mr. Kennecott, you'll stay here with Miss Wilkes. Miss Merkle will return home and be the dutiful daughter. I'll see what I can find out about Drusilla's arrangement for the union between her grandson and the Chittenden girl and imply that Miss Merkle would prefer an agreement with Mr. Macrae." Maybe I could sway Narcissa to support the union as well? A gently applied Inception Charm would do the trick. And Lucius' mother, Winifred Malfoy, is on good terms with Drusilla Flint. He hated being involved with the pure-blood intrigue; it was bad enough dealing with the Dark Lord's and Dumbledore's demands.

"Mr. Macrae, after I Obliviate you, you are to go to France and pretend to follow this tourist to Italy. You'll be summoned in a week or so, and you'll report that you were unable to locate Mr. Kennecott. You may or may not be subjected to the Dark Lord's displeasure, but I assure you, you will survive it if you are. Once you return home, you will request further tutorial with me in the Dark Arts. I will have planted the idea that you would be a good prospect for such instruction. During the time we have for your instruction, we will work on your Occlumency skills. Are we agreed?"

"Yes, I agree," Mr. Macrae said with a small smile. "Maybe Duane and Raymond can join us?"

"Mr. Hartshorne, yes, he needs further lessons in Occlumency, especially if he is to be Marked," Severus replied, wondering how he was going to propose the arrangement to the Dark Lord. "But I'll have time during the school year to continue Mr. Urguhart's and Mr. Aubry's instruction." Mr. Urguhart was already fairly proficient, but Mr. Aubry was not. "However, I will need to spend time with Mr. Thortenson as well, since both you and he are going to have to face the Dark Lord from here on out." At least he could work with the young men in his basement potions lab. The Rat, Wormtail, was not allowed down there, and it was impossible for him to eavesdrop through the thick door at the top of the stairs that led down to his lab.

Severus grabbed his Death Eater robes and mask, then led Mr. Macrae and Miss Merkle outside and Apparated with them to a street in Manchester, one that closely resembled his own neighborhood. He searched Miss Merkle's memories using Legilimency and carefully removed all recent memories of Mr. Kennecott's house.

He turned to Mr. Macrae and said, "Play along," as the girl recovered. When Miss Merkle was once again herself he added, "Why do you wish to study the Dark Arts under me?"

"Because I want to be as proficient as you are," Mr. Macrae stated.

"Very well," Severus said. "If the Dark Lord approves, I'll tutor you."

The young man nodded, and Severus turned to the girl. "Miss Merkle, I do believe that you should go home. I have things to discuss with Mr. Macrae," he said with curt politeness. She nodded and Disapparated. Severus nodded to Mr. Macrae, and he nodded back, affirming his readiness. "Legilimens." Severus entered the young man's mind, Obliviating all recent memories of Mr. Kennecott's beach house and reinforced the order to follow Mr. Kennecott to France. When he was done, he broke the connection and carefully outlined requirements and obligations the young man would have to accept to be his apprentice in the Dark Arts.

They parted ways, Severus going to the the Order headquarters to make a report to Dumbledore. Alastor Moody and Dumbledore were none too pleased with Severus' report, and, as he had expected, Dumbledore all but dismissed the young men as a loss. Kingsley, however, remained quiet, listening to his information with neutrality. Kingsley did, however, mention that he thought that Andromeda Tonks knew Catherine Chittenden's daughter-in-law, Elise, well, which pleased Severus. If the witch did, Augusta could talk to Drusilla, and Andromeda could talk to Elise, and thus he'd have two witches unknowingly supporting his little situation.

Severus was not ready to give up on his Slytherins, knowing that when it came down to it, they would still fight on their side. But convincing the old man and the crazed ex-Auror would be futile: Dumbledore distrusted Slytherins...Severus being the only exception; and Alastor distrusted anyone who'd accept the Mark...whether they'd been forced to or not.

Severus Apparated to the Burrow. He wanted to find Nymphadora, and Arthur had said the girl was with Molly. He approached the house, and Molly ushered him inside. Nymphadora was sitting at the table, her nose red and her eyes puffy from crying. Oh Circe, more female hysterics. "Molly, please forgive me for the presumption, but I haven't much time," he said as he placed his Death Eater robes and mask on the table and drew his wand, "but I need to speak to Nymphadora, privately...Order business."

Molly nodded in understanding and walked toward her kitchen. He made a sweep of his wand with a wide flick, saying, "Muffliato," to assure their privacy, ignoring Nymphadora's glare. He wasted no politeness and got to the point. "I need your intervention. You know I have a small group of Slytherins on our side," he said, and she nodded.

"Go on," she said suspiciously.

"Drusilla Flint wants her grandson, Tiberius, to marry Elise Chittenden's daughter, Catherine, but Claudius Flint is pushing to have his son marry Merkle's daughter, Tammorah, to promote his interests. I also know that Tiberius has not accepted the Dark Mark, and so far the Chittenden's are remaining neutral, doing as little as possible but trying to avoid the Dark Lord's attentions," Severus explained quickly.

"And my mum says that Drusilla Flint is not as much a supporter as many people think," Nymphadora said, her eyes narrowing at him in suspicion. "Could it be that her grandson isn't either? If Drusilla is trying to help her grandson stay out of the Dark Lord's clutches, she wouldn't want him married to the daughter of a Death Eater, would she? What's your interest in this?"

"Tammorah Merkle is in my group of Slytherins, and she's involved with Raithe Macrae, another of my group. He's been Marked, and I need them together," he stated, and the woman inhaled in surprise, but he pressed on. "I know your mother is on friendly terms with Drusilla Flint's daughter-in-law, Elise. If your mother would assist in making sure that..."

"Your two underground Slytherins are engaged?" she finished for him and he nodded, to which the girl's eyes widened in surprise. "So that will give us another... Can you trust him?" Nymphadora asked. "Macrae... Macrae. Macrae is on our watch list. Ashton has him, I believe."

Severus nodded. "Yes, I trust them." Well, he trusted him more than her, but with them engaged, if he was seen speaking to the girl, none would question his intentions, especially if the Dark Lord approved the summer apprenticeship. "Macrae brought his son, Raithe, to the Dark Lord, and he was forced to take the Mark...and two more in my group will be as well. I trained them in Occlumency myself, and they are proficient enough to be useful. They know the risks involved and what is at stake." The fact that most Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs thought all Slytherins were evil grated on Severus's nerves. He was more determined than ever to prove everyone wrong. "I know that Drusilla Flint is also friends with Augusta Longbottom and Niharika Patil, and they are both supporting our side in this conflict."

Nymphadora nodded. "Yes, Augusta Longbottom supports Dumbledore wholeheartedly, and the Patils are traveling to India to elicit help..." She paused and looked out of the window, then turned to look at him. "I'll see what I can do."

"I also ask that either you or Kingsley take watch over Raithe Macrae, Grantham Thortenson and Duane Hartshorne if their names should come up. I don't want them given to an Auror who will not understand the role these young men will be doing," Severus said, rising from his chair.

"I'll see what I can do," Nymphadora said.

Severus ended his Soundproofing Charm.

"Severus, will you stay for lunch?" Molly asked.

He shook his head as he picked up his Death Eater garb. "I regret that I cannot. Molly, thank you. Nymphadora, contact me if there are complications."

As he turned to leave, Hermione Granger opened the door. He stared at her, his eyes sweeping from the tiny freckles that dotted her nose to her warm amber eyes and down her body, lingering a bit too long on her bosom, before flicking back up to meet her gaze again. She was nearly as tall as he was, about five foot five was his best guess. The majority of her hair was caught in a band just behind her left ear, which left several softly curling tendrils to frame her face, and she wore simple gold hoops... He mentally berated himself for ogling her. "Miss Granger."

"Professor Snape," she said warmly. "How nice to see you. Is everything all right?"

Remembering that he was being observed, he drew himself up to his full height. "Of course it is. Please move aside so I may pass."

Hermione backed down the short steps and watched him as he followed her. "Are you having a nice summer?" she asked when his boot touched the bare earth path, and then she winced at her own question. "I mean," she added softly, "are you doing all right?"

He kept his posture straight and rigid, but his lips quirked slightly. "It has been a very busy summer. I really must go." He paused and looked over her shoulder, scanning the area... They were alone. "You are on His list," he said, allowing his concern to reflect in his voice. "He hasn't declared you a target, yet, but he asks about you. Please be careful when venturing out, or better yet, stay close to the house and within the wards."

"I will, I promise," she said, and he believed her. "You be careful."

His mouth twitched again at her concern. "I always am," he said as he walked away. He saw Ginevra approaching so he Disapparated before the girl would think anything had occurred between him and Hermione.

~ T. B. .C. ~

Author's Notes:

On to sixth year! As a note to everyone reading this, if I don't mention something that occurs in the books...it happened as it did in the books. If I do mention it, I've changed it, added to it or am mentioning it as reference to where we are in the year. I'll be doing more behind the Harry-scenes in the next few chapters again, and there will be more Severus and Hermione moments in the following chapters. Thank you to everyone still reading this and sticking with me.