Chapter 20

A/N: I know I am testing the patience of you all who are asking me, "When are Severus and Hermione going to be able to be together?" I ask for you to continue to believe when I say that their time will arrive and to remember that the darkest is always just before the dawn. Again, to luvsev, my beta and cheerleader and also WriterMerrin, She-Who-Will-Not-Allow-A-Misplaced-Comma-To-Slip-By-Her, my deepest thanks.

***

The first meeting of the Heads of Slytherin and Gryffindor took place once again in the Slytherin common room after dinner. Regulus Black was seated along with Severus and Hermione, silently watching, observing the pair.

It was business as usual, at first. The past agreements and protections of certain parties were honored. Then, the discussion turned to more difficult and murkier areas.

"Miss Granger," said Severus, "there must be an accord made between the houses concerning certain areas of the grounds. Places, times, etc. I have drawn up what I deem to be an acceptable agreement. I understand that you must answer to your house. Therefore, your people will have a period of calm until the parchment is signed...after an agreement is reached, of course." He smirked as he waited for her response.

Hermione raised an eyebrow as she took the parchment and read it. The Marauders, namely James and Sirius, were going to have kittens! She would have to speak first with Remus before anything got out-of-control.

Hermione laid the paper down in front of her. "Severus, what is all this? Are you telling me that Slytherin has dared to regulate the whereabouts of Gryffindor Muggle-borns? Have the other two houses approved this agreement of their own Muggle-borns?" she asked angrily.

Hermione watched Severus' jaw clench. "You are not reading properly, Hermione! This has nothing to do with the other houses. Ravenclaws are far too cerebral to be a problem, and Hufflepuffs are too damn intimidated to go anywhere at night without nearly their entire house moving about in unison!" He tapped the parchment with his finger. "This is all about Slytherin and Gryffindor. Our houses cannot be trusted to be alone together without mayhem erupting. I have my duties to see to, and I don't need some meddling do-gooder telling tales to Dumbledore. Therefore, if harmony is to exist, if you want Slytherin to respect the past accords, then I suggest you be extra persuasive when dealing with your housemates. Potter and Black in particular. But I am not an unreasonable man. I am willing to negotiate on certain aspects of this agreement if it will help for there to be less animosity."

Hermione shot a look at Regulus, who did not flinch at the mention of his older brother.

"Very well," Hermione replied. "I shall see what I can do. Although, you will recall from previous meetings I had with Avery last year, I cannot guarantee anything. If your scheme is outright rejected, what then shall I say, or better yet, what shall I expect from Slytherin in return?"

Regulus leaned in and said swiftly, "Then Gryffindor can expect hostilities to begin post haste. We will target Mudbloods and make the others watch. Tell them to remember the Mudblood Danbury. That should make them see reason. The idea is to keep away from us. This accord," he said in a nasty tone, "is only a gift to placate your more hot-tempered and volatile housemates. And you can tell my brother that I had him especially in mind," he finished with a smile.

Severus rolled his eyes, and Hermione flashed a smile. She relished the flush of red that colored the younger Black's face. She leaned in and addressed him.

"You had better watch your mouth, you little pisher! You have a lot to learn about diplomacy if you are going to take over for Severus next year."

"Why do you allow this Mudblood to address you so casually, Severus?" he demanded.

"Because I do, and you do not have the authority to question my reasoning," he said softly as his eyes bored into Black's.

"Pity, isn't it?" Severus said coolly to Hermione as if Regulus weren't even present. "There is such disrespect for one's betters. I apologize for the manners of my colleague. He has still so much to learn."

"Quite," replied Hermione sharply. "Although, I must say, I believe it has to run in the family. I am forever having to remind Sirius Black of the same concept." She aimed a glare straight at Regulus.

Regulus' face nearly turned purple, but he sat firmly in his chair. Nearby, another Slytherin was sniggering in his chair.

Severus smiled malevolently. "Regulus deserved that comment for his rash behavior. Remember, Regulus, if you can't remember your place, there will always be someone standing by to remind you or take it from you. Who better to assist you in your retention than Miss Granger?"

Hermione smirked as Severus gave Regulus a look that clearly said, "Take it like a man!"

"Now that we've finished with this evening's hysterics, may I escort you to the door?"

"Thank you," she replied.

Severus led her to the door to walk her out. "Regulus is a problem," she whispered quietly as they reached the door.

"I apologize for his uncouth behavior," he replied silkily.

She made her way out the door saying, "It has nothing to do with me. He's a liability!" she hissed.

She was on her own now. It was like this every week. Being ambushed in the dungeons by some Slytherin was par for the course. Although, she realized, as she got older, the hexes and curses from the Slytherins came faster and more fearsome. She was glad this night for all the training she had endured with Moody. She would be able to handle the pathetic attempts of some Death Eater wannabe. She made her way unscathed to the main floor where James Potter was waiting for her.

"James," she said in surprise. "I was expecting Remus."

"Ah, well, I am Head Boy now, Hermione. I shall be escorting you from now on," he explained.

"Not happy?" he asked.

"No," she replied peevishly. "I enjoyed meeting with Remus. It gave us the time to talk over things before I have to deal with your lot!"

James chuckled. "My lot?" he asked. "Last time I checked, you were a Gryffindor," he pointed out.

"Barely," she muttered. "And yes, your lot! Your friends, namely Sirius Black. That boy is a menace! And his brother is just as kind," she added sarcastically.

"Look," James said apologetically. "I know Sirius can be a prat at times. Hell, I've been a prat most of the time, but things are changing, Hermione, and some things are just not that funny anymore," he said seriously.

Hermione stopped and looked at him. If he didn't have those hazel eyes, Hermione would have sworn she had Harry Potter right in front of her. Her eyes watered, and she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"James, I think growing up will do wonders for you," she replied.

"I hope so, Hermione, I'm getting rather weary of waiting for Lily to notice me!" he said with a twinkle in his eye.

"You do rather fancy her, don't you?" she asked lightheartedly.

"Since the first day I saw her, but she was always with Snape hovering over her..."

"Don't," she interrupted.

"What?"

"Don't do that, James. Don't disparage Snape. They were friends. Best friends for years, before you ever came into the picture. And he loved her too. Don't make light of a relationship just because you can't understand it. She wanted him there, hovering, as you say. She cared about him," she said firmly.

"It's all done now, though," he said softly.

"Yes, it's all done now," she said angrily, thinking about Sirius and his selling out of his friends, and of what he would do in the future, killing all those Muggles.

They reached Gryffindor tower, and as usual, the group was assembled and ready to hear what had been discussed.

Remus took over for Hermione. She was glad to have him take over. She hated having to deal with Sirius and his mouth.

"Let's everybody calm down," Remus said loudly. Peter cuffed a few third years around the head and shooed them to bed.

Remus continued. "Now that we are hopefully alone, let's get down to business. James, Lily, I will need to speak with you both privately after we are through. Hermione?" he gestured towards her.

"Right. Well, I met with this year's Head of Slytherin." Boos and hisses erupted from the group.

"Honestly!" she snapped. "Do you think this is a game? A game where you can just take what you like and thumb your nose at the rest?" She glowered at everyone as she spoke.

"Every week, I take my life into my own hands for all of you! I don't need to make any arrangements with Slytherin..."

"...That's because you've been shagging Snivellus since you came here from wherever you came from," drawled Sirius.

Hermione smirked and said, "If that's true, then I'm glad I'm not the only one whoring with Slytherins!" she said accusingly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he bellowed as he sprang out of his chair.

Hermione closed the gap. "You know exactly what I'm talking about!" she hissed at him.

"Break it up!" Remus yelled. "We've more important things to do than to bicker amongst ourselves. Hermione's right. She's a dab hand with a wand. She doesn't need anyone's protection, but there are those who do. Now, why don't we hear what Hermione has to tell us?"

Hermione backed off from Sirius and took out the parchment Severus had given her.

"Things are changing at Hogwarts. As you all are now aware, Voldemort is on the move. Attacks, disappearances, and killings on Muggles and wizard kind alike continue."

Marlene McKinnon, a sixth-year, spoke up. "I heard Voldemort has enlisted the giants to assist him in killing Muggles!"

Frank Longbottom, another sixth-year, said excitedly, "I heard there are Death Eaters now amongst us, here at Hogwarts!"

Murmurs of concern and fear arose from the crowd. Hermione raised her hands and said, "All right, now! Settle down! I have an important announcement from Slytherin house."

"What of these rumors?" demanded Sirius.

Hermione weighed her words very carefully. "I want you all to listen," she said softly. "It is true that Voldemort is out there, and he is terrorizing Muggles and wizards, alike. He has many resources at his disposal and has not been wasting his time. There are things I cannot say now, until I speak with Dumbledore. But I will say this: do not cross Slytherin. If you are a half-blood or a Muggle-born, do not engage them. Stay away from them, or find a pure-blood in Gryffindor or in one of the other houses you know to be sympathetic to Muggle-borns. Now, to the matter at hand:

"I have a written agreement that I am to sign. Naturally, it carries all sorts of enchantments that will attach itself to the signer. I have been given a grace period to speak with you all and have been allowed to negotiate. This year's Head of Slytherin is most anxious to avoid any problems. The fact that he is willing to concede to some things and bargain with our house says a lot!"

"Who is it?" demanded Sirius.

Hermione looked at him with defiance written on her face. "Severus Snape," she said clearly.

The room erupted into shouts and swearing. Lupin jumped up and started to bellow. "Let's settle down! Sirius, stop fueling the flames! You know as well as I that Severus Snape is not one to act rashly. He is a calm and deliberate wizard."

"Exactly!" Sirius spat viciously. "He's a bloody opportunist. He'll have every Muggle-born at his mercy. I wouldn't be surprised if he started deeming areas of the castle off-limits to Gryffindor!"

Hermione's patience was at an end. "Sirius Black, would you for once just shut that trap of yours and listen? Do you not understand what is happening? There is a war out there, and it is seeping into Hogwarts! For your information, for all of you," she said as she swept her arm around, "that is precisely what Snape is asking. He has written a schedule for us to adhere to. Certain areas of the grounds after dark will be off limits on alternating days. Why is he doing this? He's doing this because he doesn't want anymore Laura Danburys!"

The wizards and a few witches fell into silence. Some witches, like Lily, began to whisper, confused. They had been blissfully shielded from the truth. Those who knew had not forgotten about Laura Danbury, the poor, sweet witch, weak in her magic, Muggle-born, who had been set upon, viciously beaten and raped, then had her mind Obliviated. She left to return to the Muggle world, and no one had heard from her since, and although everyone knew who was responsible, nothing had been done about it.

Hermione cleared her voice. "Now, we must come to an agreement and soon, for reasons I cannot divulge unless Dumbledore gives me the permission to do so. I have also been given an oath that all hostilities will be suspended until this time next week. The grace period will allow for us all to move about freely and reflect on our best interests. Please do not abuse the goodwill of Severus Snape. You know as well as I that he will have his hands full reining in those most vicious of his house. Do not antagonize them!" Hermione looked pointedly at Sirius and James as she said this.

Lily spoke up. "What about the rumors of Death Eaters at Hogwarts? Is it true?" she demanded.

Hermione licked her lips. "I will neither confirm nor deny that Death Eaters are at Hogwarts. As I said before, I must speak with Dumbledore before I can say anything more on these matters. Good night," she said curtly.

The meeting broke up, and Remus spoke with James and Lily privately. Frank Longbottom and his girlfriend, Alice Lambert, came up to Hermione.

"We want you to know that Alice and I are behind you one hundred percent Hermione," Frank said firmly.

"That's right," agreed Alice as she took Hermione's hand in her own. "I know that you risk a lot being Muggle-born. I think you are awfully brave. We will stand behind whatever you decide is the best. You know more about what is really going on than we do."

"We will make sure to keep those we can under control!" Frank said heartily. "Although, I can't pull enough weight to influence those older and more fervent in their ideas," he said wryly as he looked over at an agitated Sirius Black talking with Peter Pettigrew. "We both will pull our weight. You can count on us," he finished.

Hermione smiled. She was proud of how decent and brave Neville's parents were. She wondered if she would ever be able to tell him just how good and decent they had been before they were taken from him. She didn't know much about Neville's past, just that his parents were dead as a result of fighting against Voldemort, and he was raised by his Dad's mother: a menacing woman he called "Gran." She shook her head of those thoughts. She would go crazy if she thought of it now. She smiled at them and said as steadily as she could manage, "I thank you and appreciate your support."

***

"Headmaster, Black is going to be trouble," Hermione announced.

The Order of the Phoenix was meeting in Dumbledore's office. Hermione had finished giving her report of her meeting with Severus and Regulus earlier that evening. Dumbledore had agreed it was only for the best that Gryffindor agree to the accord handed down by Slytherin.

"Except, Hermione, make one change, just to let them know you won't always be so agreeable. It's just good diplomacy," he said, smiling.

"Which Black?" rumbled Moody from his chair in the back corner.

Hermione turned to face him and gave a snort. "To be quite honest, they both are going to be burrs in both Gryffindor's and Slytherin's backsides," she said ruefully. "Although, I must say, I rather enjoyed Regulus' dressing down by Snape. He had the audacity to call me a Mudblood and got Snape's temper flaring. Snape was so mad; he let me do the dressing down. When Black had the nerve to try and talk back, he was slapped down like an errant pup!" she said with a laugh.

Dumbledore smiled. "Both Sirius and Regulus have that Black streak of audacity in them that causes them to speak first and think later...no offense, Phineas," he said to the late Headmaster Black, who was growing apoplectic in his painting.

"Headmaster," said Hermione.

"Please, Hermione, call me Albus," he said.

Hermione smiled. "Sorry, Albus. Habit. I received first hand information on the activities of Voldemort. He has created an army of dead creatures and has begun to mark his followers," she said quietly.

Dumbledore sighed. Kingsley, Minerva, Remus, and Moody each looked at her shock and then at Dumbledore in fear.

"Is this true, Albus?" asked Minerva.

"An army of the dead?" repeated Moody.

"Albus, this cannot be!" protested Kingsley.

Dumbledore shook his head. "I am sorry, but it can and is a reality. The complete truth is far worse, I'm afraid."

He looked at Hermione and said, "How trustworthy is he? Don't say his name. I know who you must be getting this information from. I just need to know, is he reliable?"

"He was terrified, Albus. He was so terrified that he was at the point of giving up hope. He said Voldemort is truly evil and fears that he cannot be stopped. I think he can be trusted, for now. I want to say that he will always be trustworthy, but things can change," she said sadly.

"That is very wise, Hermione. Tell me, has Voldemort begun marking my students?" he asked suddenly.

Hermione's mouth opened. So did the others.

"Marking?" whispered Minerva.

"Yes." Hermione heard her voice confirm it, and she felt she had somehow betrayed Severus by doing it.

"It's the Mark of Death that Voldemort has taken to lighting up the houses where he has killed," Dumbledore answered.

"The Morsmordre?" asked Kingsley.

"Yes." Dumbledore looked at Hermione, and his eye twitched. "Have you seen it?"

Hermione swallowed. "Yes. It looks like a black tattoo with a skull and a snake coming out of its mouth. I went to touch it, and he went berserk. He said to never touch it. It is how Voldemort calls them. He places his finger or a wand on the Mark, and it sends a burning signal for all of them to Apparate immediately to where he is. Apparently, they don't even know where they are headed. There is no need for the knowledge of destination!" she whispered in a shocked voice. "Furthermore, Voldemort also has trained them and has given them the key to control and subdue their enemies."

"Why did he take this Mark?" growled Moody.

"He said he and another boy were taken to Voldemort, and they were marked. It wasn't anything he was expecting. It was either take the Mark or risk defying Voldemort and face death," she explained.

"He should have died!" shouted Moody as he shook with anger.

Hermione rounded on him. "And what exactly would that have accomplished?" she spat. "We can get more inside information this way! If it hadn't been for the courage of this one wizard, we wouldn't know for sure if Death Eaters were on the grounds. Well, they are, and now we know for sure!"

Minerva sat down shakily. "Albus, I insist that we begin recruiting immediately. If this is true, we must prepare the students, especially the seventh-years. Only Hermione and Remus have been trained so far!" she said urgently.

Albus turned to Remus. "What did James and Lily say?"

"They were in full cooperation. Lily will also be watching out for the Muggle-borns in Gryffindor."

"What about James?" asked Dumbledore.

"He will handle Sirius and Peter. That will be priority number one," he answered.

Dumbledore sighed as he sat down behind his desk. "We have already been recruiting among those witches and wizards who are alumni and those sympathetic to our cause; however, we have already experienced setbacks. There has been infiltration, and some members were killed this summer," he reported.

"Anyone we know?" asked Remus.

"No, but it is making recruiting that much more difficult!" he said in frustration. I fear most of our number will have to be among the young; others are just too terrified for their families. And there is this issue that Hermione brought up that is continuing to complicate matters."

"What?" asked Remus fearfully.

"Don't you worry, m'boy," answered Moody confidently. "You and Miss Granger have already been trained to defeat it if it is cast."

"The Imperius?" Hermione and Remus blurted out at the same time.

"Yes," said Dumbledore. "Who knows if the person is lying when they say they have been Imperiused?"

"Veritiserum," said Hermione.

"What?" asked Kingsley.

Minerva and Moody looked at her strangely. Albus rescued her.

"Veritiserum is still in its infancy, Hermione. It is not ready for testing, and we are unsure of its full effects. The Ministry is still debating its use."

"What was she talking about?" asked Remus.

Albus smiled. "As usual, our Miss Granger is on top of the latest breakthroughs in the Ministry. A potion, named Veritiserum, has recently been created. It compels the person who takes the potion to speak only the truth. I think Muggles have an equivalent known as Truth Serum?" he asked.

"Yes," said Hermione nervously.

Albus continued. "The curses Hermione eluded to earlier, there are three that Tom is using. Two have already been used by Slytherins inside these very walls. The first, the Imperius, compels a person to act against their will. The other is the Cruciatus Curse, which causes unbearable and agonizing pain to those upon whom it is cast."

Hermione spoke up. "Albus, he told me that is how he controls them all. He has subjected them to these curses and also has instructed them how to cast them."

Minerva shook her head. "This is appalling! Albus, I implore you, we must bring Filius and Pomona in here and begin recruiting immediately!" she insisted.

"Minerva!" snapped Moody. "You must be cautious, especially with the young. Only those who can be trusted...as much as any young person can...should be approached. As foolhardy as Sirius Black is, he would no more turn over to Voldemort than I would!"

Kingsley looked at Albus. "Should we begin now?"

Albus looked so very sad and tired. "I fear we have no choice," he replied.

***

After the others had left, Hermione stayed to speak with the Headmaster. "Albus, he says that Voldemort is planning to come to Hogwarts," she whispered.

"Yes, Hermione," he replied. "I am aware of the fact. But, I must say I am most pleased with your relationship with Severus. I was afraid we would lose him. It seems the friendship you and he forged as children has strengthened over time."

"I am frightened for him, Albus," she confided. "I love him. What am I going to do when I finally am able to go home?" she asked.

"Let's deal with one thing at a time, Hermione. For now, let's focus on getting through this final year with no major catastrophes," he said with a smile.

Hermione left his office feeling lighter for having gotten the heavy load of knowledge off her chest, but scared for all of them. She knew everyone else's futures, but what about her own? Would she even live to see 1981?

Curfew was soon, but she needed to get out of the castle. She walked as she thought over everything that had been said in the meeting. She found herself roaming by the hillside overlooking Hagrid's hut. She stood there with the fall breeze blowing her robes around her. She looked up into the sky and watched the clouds slowly creep along, the water from the river that deposited into the Black Lake rambling along its course. She wanted nothing more than peace, for there to be no Voldemort, no war, no death, but it was useless to want what could not be, what could never be.