Chapter 44

A/N: This is it! One last chapter before the wedding. I hope you like it. Thanks for being so patient.

***

The day finally came for the whole Weasley clan to officially move into Headquarters. They weren't supposed to move in for another week, but there had been an incident at Harry's house in Little Whinging. An impromptu meeting was held at headquarters, and Hermione was furious at the news.

The entire Order was there, except for Moody, who was on guard duty at the Ministry, and Mrs. Figg, who was watching Harry.

Hermione jumped up from the table and screamed at Mundungus Fletcher. "How could you?" she shrieked. "I work hard to accommodate everyone's needs and schedules so that the Ministry, the Death Eaters, and Harry can be watched appropriately, and you go off because you found a deal on some rusted-out cauldrons?"

She threw down her quill. Everyone was staring at her. It was still odd to see a near sixteen-year-old girl give the wrath of Merlin like any other thirty-year-old woman. Well, she was...she just didn't look it.

"Dumbledore," she continued. "With all due respect, if my services are not needed, then I will gladly relinquish this post. Otherwise, if I am to continue scheduling for these duties, I must insist that there be some sort of accountability for those who fail to take their work seriously."

"Here, here!" said Molly. She was just as furious as Hermione.

Lupin spoke up, "Hermione, don't you think you are being a bit harsh?" he asked.

Molly and Minerva jumped on him faster than a Niffler on a Galleon.

"Remus Lupin! Harry could have died!" screeched Molly.

"Yes, Mr. Potter now has to go before the Wizengamot. Because of the vileness perpetrated by some foul person, Potter has to answer for much more than just his sanity! If Mundungus had been there, Harry wouldn't be facing a tribunal!" Minerva shouted.

Dumbledore raised his hand. "I understand all of your concerns. I shall make sure this is taken care of. In the meantime, in three days hence, I must require the Advance Guard to go to Surrey, retrieve Harry, and bring him back here to Headquarters. I know it's early, but he can be another pair of helping hands, right, Molly?" he asked with a smile.

Molly nodded sharply in reply as Albus continued. "Now, Hermione, I will need you to consult your date book and make sure the Advance Guard is free for that night. The next morning someone will have to pull a double shift; I apologize, it cannot be avoided. Now, Arthur and Molly have some news they would like to share."

Arthur Weasley and his wife stood up and, with brave faces, announced that their son Percy had disowned the family and decided to take the Ministry's side in the matter of Voldemort's return.

"It has been a painful time; however, Molly and I feel you all should know, especially those of us who are at the Ministry and at times pass sensitive information to one another. It pains me to say, but my son cannot be trusted. He, until he comes to his senses, is lost to us."

Molly burst into a torrent of tears and excused herself from the room. Hermione followed her and comforted the mother as best as she could.

"You stay right here, Molly. I'll make you a nice cup of strong tea and put a little firewhisky in it. It's not easy for you, Lord knows, Molly. You are an exceptional woman," she said as she patted her arm.

Severus was watching her as she came back and fixed Molly's tea. She went back out and sat with her as she drank up and dabbed her eyes. "Oh, it's so hard. You raise them to do the right things, to look at the world with a fair mind, and you never think that your baby would become so cold-hearted!" she cried.

Hermione patted her and said, "We can only hope he will come to his senses soon and stay safe at the Ministry until then. At least you know you have one child not in danger."

"True," she said as she dabbed her eyes. "Hermione, you have a mother's heart, you know? You understand what so many others don't. I can't even talk to Arthur about Percy without him shouting. When he shouts, it makes me cry. Arthur isn't the shouting type! It frightens me so."

"Well, you can talk to me, Molly. I'll listen. In the meanwhile, we have so much to keep us busy. Then there's Harry to look out for. My, you know how that horrid aunt of his starves him! We're going to be cooking day and night just to get him fattened up enough to look good at that hearing and ready for school!"

Molly's mothering radar was piqued. She instantly forgot her woes and began to think of all the things they still needed to accomplish that summer before the wedding.

"I do want you and Severus to have a nice wedding!" she said. "Even if it has to be a short wedding and honeymoon. Have you decided what to do since the wedding is on a Tuesday?"

"Well, we are going to spend the night here and return to Hogwarts in the early morning. Then we'll take the weekend and stay at Hogwarts in Severus' quarters. Minerva and Filius have gladly offered to take over for Severus in case of any emergency. Severus is going to become conveniently ill, and I will be going home to spend the weekend with my mum and dad for my birthday. My, all the subterfuge!" she said as she laughed.

They went back inside to rejoin the meeting, and the two witches sat by their wizards.

"Molly, Hermione," said Sirius. "We were just talking about the continuing downfall of the Ministry," he said light-heartedly.

Albus smiled. "I've been officially kicked out of the Wizengamot as Chief Warlock and Chairman of the International Confederation."

Molly gasped. "How can they do that?"

"Very easily, Molly," Arthur replied. "Dumbledore is losing nearly everything by standing by Harry. They've even stripped away all his honors, even the Order of Merlin."

Hermione looked at Dumbledore in alarm as he smiled and waved it off, saying, "Just as long as they don't take me off the Chocolate Frog Cards, I shall still have hope left."

***

Harry's arrival was not a happy reunion. He was surly, angry, and very upset when he found out that Hermione was an Order Member and could not tell him anything. He was angry about the Dementor attack and Dumbledore's distancing himself from him as well.

After the hearing, Harry should have been happy, but all he was, was angry, furious, and hurt that Dumbledore wouldn't speak with him. It was so hard to try and get Harry to understand and just accept things for what they were. He yelled constantly and was moody as hell. He spent time with Sirius and Buckbeak, leaving Ron alone with the twins and Ginny while Hermione worked on her scheduling. She couldn't believe it when Molly told her that it was the last week in August and that they had shopping in Diagon Alley to do.

Hermione really didn't need anything. Although she would keep up the pretense of working hard in the dungeons, the only real classes she was taking were Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts. She stayed and readied her trunk and prepared to release Rita Skeeter. She placed the jar in her rucksack and walked into Muggle London a good long ways and released Rita in a secluded spot, leaving her wand next to her. It still had an anti-jinx spell on it, so Hermione wasn't fussed. She walked out of Hyde Park feeling free.

The thirtieth of August was a terrible day. Minerva came in a rush, and Hermione was the first Order member to see her. Harry rolled his eyes and stomped away while Ron silently joined him.

Minerva took Hermione by the arm and led her quietly to the side. "Hermione, Molly needs to call up everyone she can for an emergency meeting: all the Advance Guard and senior members. We'll meet tonight at seven. Oh, and I believe it is Miss Tonks' night for guard duty. You'll have to switch her off with someone else, perhaps Podmore," she suggested. Then she left as swiftly as she came.

That night, the senior members and the Advance Guard met. Albus informed them that he had received Educational Decree number twenty-two that states the Minster has the right to hire instructors at Hogwarts if the Headmaster is unable.

"Surely, it can't be that bad finding a Defense teacher?" Sirius said incredulously.

Dumbledore sighed. "It has been nearly impossible. We all know that Tom placed a curse on that position. After so many years, everyone knows it is cursed," he said sadly. "I've even considered just giving it over to Severus, but Tom's envy would be monstrous. We can't lose him."

Hermione wrapped an arm around his. He stiffened and shifted his eyes towards her as she looked at him with worry. She felt his hand on her leg, under the table, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

Arthur spoke up next. "I know this will come as a shock to some of you, especially you, Remus, but Delores Umbridge will be the Defense teacher this year."

Lupin fairly growled. "They can't be serious!" he snarled.

"That old cow?" Tonks blurted out. "She's evil, that one. She's prejudiced against anyone who isn't purely human. I daresay she wouldn't even count me as fully human!"

Hermione watched as the temperamental Metamorphmagus' hair turned a blazing red. She felt badly for Remus. The witch was horrible. After Lupin had quit teaching at Hogwarts, his status as a werewolf had spread. The Wizangamot had passed Umbridge's anti-Werewolf legislation, and Remus had been unable to find steady work ever since. It was also another bone of contention between Severus and the two ex-Marauders. Sirius blatantly called out Severus as the reason that law passed and for Remus' misfortune. Although Remus was not as vocal as Sirius was, he did harbor ill will towards the Dark wizard. Hermione braced herself for yet another chapter in the ongoing saga.

"Just can't believe they'd hire someone so vile!" said Molly.

"I'm sorry," said Hermione. "But how is she qualified to teach Defense?"

Moody snorted.

Arthur spoke up, "Anyone, the law says, that the Minister of Magic determines is fit. That is what makes her qualified."

"That, and the fact she is Fudge's Senior Undersecretary, not to mention she literally thinks the wizard can do no wrong," said Minerva sarcastically.

"What it comes down to," interrupted Albus, "is that we all will have Fudge's eyes and ears inside Hogwarts. She will be doing much more than teaching, if that. She will be keeping tabs on everyone. Severus, I expect for you to be most helpful and engaging, but I'm sure you knew that already," he said with a smile.

"Yes, Headmaster."

"If Snivellus hadn't let his hurt feelings get in the way of all this, perhaps Remus could have had the job!" Sirius shouted angrily.

Hermione closed her eyes. Here we go again!

Albus raised his hand to silence the group who had begun arguing amongst themselves. "Please, all of you! We cannot undo what has been done. Perhaps we can use this to our advantage. Allowing Fudge to have Umbridge at Hogwarts may temper the hostility, push back the campaign I'm sure that has started to have me sacked."

Hermione's eyes darted to meet Dumbledore's.

"Miss Granger, we will need your help most of all. You have to keep Harry's temper under control. She will try to goad him into acting rashly, then use his anger against him later. You must try and help him to see reason."

"I shall do my best, sir," she replied.

***

The first of September came, and Hermione was nervous about the new school year. She had been named Prefect and had special privileges that came with it, which would make her comings and goings easier. She did not have to take Potions nor half of her courses so she could assist with the Order. She explained to Harry and Ron she was in an accelerated program that gave her more one-on-one time with professors, and since she said she wanted to become a Potions mistress, she now lived in the dungeons.

The morning they set out for Hogwarts was grim. Arthur, Molly, Sirius, and Hermione were exhausted from sitting in the kitchen after being awakened at four in the morning.

Hermione was awakened with Molly shaking her.

They all sat around the table sincerely hoping he was right.

***

Harry and Ron didn't like the idea of Hermione living in the dungeons. It didn't seem necessary. They sat on the Hogwarts Express as Hermione argued that this was all a part of her schooling and would help her education.

"Besides, the Order needs me," she replied quietly.

"Well, you are good with Potions, spells, and all that," said Ron generously.

"Thank you, Ronald," she replied.

Harry looked angry, although he always looked angry these days. It was strange for Hermione. For her, it was like seeing James in a bad mood all the time.

"Harry, she said as she put her arm in his. "Harry, I need your support. I can't do all this without you. You have to understand how much the Order needs me. Who would suspect a student, especially me, helping Snape?"

"I can see your point, Hermione," he said finally. "It's just I feel so alone, more alone than ever. Now, you aren't even going to be with us, anymore."

Hermione looked at Harry; his green eyes were so sad. She could read them as well as she had been able to read Lily's. She placed her hand on his opposite cheek and made him face her.

"I'm always with you, Harry," she said. "I want you to know that everything I do for the Order ultimately leads back to you. I want you safe."

"I can take care of myself!" he yelled. "Look at what I did this summer...fucking Dementors were after me and Dudley, and I fought them back and took care of it. Why can't anyone see that I am capable of taking care of myself?" he fairly shouted at her.

"Because this is bigger than a few Dementors, Harry," she said urgently. "There are many dark and evil things out there that you haven't even heard of that can kill you and everyone you love."

Harry interrupted her. "Then why do you know about it, Hermione? How's it that you know all this stuff and I don't?" he demanded.

Hermione licked her lips. "It's not that I know everything and therefore I can deal with it all. These things are so terrible and horrific that it is taking the entire Order to defeat them all. So, it isn't that I alone or a whole group of people are saying, 'Harry Potter can't care for himself, he's too fragile'...no! It's that there is so much danger where you are concerned, so concentrated...if it were me or Ron or Ginny, we would be treated the same," she reasoned.

"Well, you're not, are you?" he snapped at her. "You have no idea what I feel like. Seeing Cedric die, almost getting killed twice in one night, facing Voldemort...I went through all of this, and now, no one is telling me anything!"

Ron and Ginny looked at her desperately. She was tired. There was so much she wished she could say to make him understand, but she couldn't.

"Harry," she said quietly, "you need to trust us. Please, trust us. In time, you will know what you want and need to know. Just please, trust us...trust me."

Harry turned and looked out the window. They all stayed quiet for the rest of the trip.

***

It was pure hellish torture that first night. Hermione tossed and turned, knowing Severus was so close and the wedding was less than three weeks away. At night, she began to explore herself more intimately. Her hymen was thick and firm, not flimsy as it had been at twenty-two when she had lost her virginity the first time. She stopped taking the hormones; she wanted to be as ready as possible to be taken by Severus. She was feeling concerned a little; after all, he wasn't a young boy her age. He was a man, larger and older-looking than she was, but at the same time, it was what really fascinated her about him. She knew the young Severus Snape; now she was going to have to learn about the older Severus Snape. It added an air of mystery and a bit of lust when she could feel how solid and firm he felt when she allowed her hands to wander over his woolen cloak. She could hardly wait to have what she imagined he looked like now under his robes on top of her...

***

The next three weeks were awful during the day as well. It seemed that no matter what she and Ron did or said, Harry was determined to butt heads with Umbridge and snap at anyone in sight who upset him. He was in detention more than he wasn't, and the added pressure of missing Quidditch practice and the angry threats from Angelina, the team captain, or the furious lectures from McGonagall, due to his nasty temper, didn't seem to faze him or jar him from out of his mode of self-destruction.

One morning, Hermione opened up her copy of the Daily Prophet and saw a headline that caught her eye.

Ron leaned over and read with her.

"Podmore? Isn't he one of the..."

"Shush, Ron!" Hermione hissed.

Ginny and Harry leaned over. "What does it say?" Harry asked.

Hermione took a breath. "Sturgis Podmore... has appeared before the Wizengamot charged with trespass and attempted robbery at the Ministry of Magic... Podmore, who refused to speak in his own defense ... sentenced to six months in Azkaban."

"But why him, Ron?" asked Harry. "I mean, if they were going to frame someone, why not get your dad, or Kingsley, or Tonks!" He looked at Hermione. *

"Anything you care to add?" he asked pointedly.

"No," she replied coolly. "And I don't appreciate your tone, Harry Potter."

"I don't appreciate being lied to," he quipped.

"Harry, no one's lying to you!" she hissed.

"Then tell me you knew nothing about this! It said it happened on the thirtieth of August. Anything you'd care to share?" he asked.

Hermione got up and gathered her things. "I've better things to do with my time than argue with you about the same old nonsense," she said angrily.

She left them all there, knowing they knew she hadn't told them what she did know. How could she? She was an Order member, and they weren't.

She spent the weekend before her wedding bunking with Ginny and spending time in the common room. She found it a nice change, and Harry especially seemed to appreciate having her in Gryffindor tower. His attitude lifted from resentment to happiness quickly. It was obvious that Harry wanted Hermione to stay for good. It saddened her to think how short-lived his contentment would be.

***

It was late Sunday night, and Hermione was helping them all with their Astronomy homework when an owl came peeking at the window.

"Isn't that Hermes?" asked Hermione.

"Percy," Hermione answered. "He said to be on the look out for 'yours truly'; there's an announcement of some sort being made."*

Later, that evening around midnight, just as they were packing it up, Sirius' head popped into the fire. He lingered to have a very interesting discourse with Harry about Delores Umbridge and her position there as teacher and to ask Harry if he wanted to meet up with him for a Hogsmeade weekend. Harry declined the offer and was uncomfortable about it. Hermione remained silent, but fumed that Sirius had the nerve to suggest that Harry was less like James than he thought. Hermione decided she would have a chat with Sirius about Harry and James.

A/N: The italics with the * at the end are words that belong to JK Rowling. The others are my own. The reference to Dumbledore and the chocolate frogs is a modification of Rowling's words in OotP.