Long Time No See

The next morning Hermione was downstairs and working in the laboratory before Severus had even risen. He dragged himself out of bed around eight a.m., despite his urge to sleep for a week. He was tired of the dangerous work, but if getting less sleep meant the creation of the potion that could end it all, he would sleep when it was all over. If I live through it at least, he thought morosely. As he entered the lab, he wasn't surprised to see Hermione there already. She was writing in her research journal, with several tomes about potions spread out around her. He went about his own work, experimenting with different types of spelled-potion stabilizers. He made sure to set his cauldrons up at the far end of the room, away from Hermione. The average, everyday stabilizer took up to two weeks to make. The powerful ones he was experimenting with would take up to a month to brew to completion. Which meant that he needed to prepare them all, and plenty of each one.

They worked in silence for over an hour, until Severus had the main steps completed and was able to take a moment's break. "Hermione, there is something you need to do before I start assigning you to larger tasks. This potion is going be a two-person job at the very least, especially when we approach the final stages. You need to take the time and see the rest of the Order members...." She started to protest but he held up his hand to silence her and continued. "I realize you may not wish to see anyone, and if I were you I wouldn't want to see the lot of them either. But they are curious and worried. It would save us any interruptions if you got the 'reunions' over with so that you could give me... this potion your full attention."

For a moment he paused, cursing himself silently as he wondered what in Merlin's name had caused him to almost say such a thing. To Hermione's credit, she seemed to have missed that part. She still looked upset over the idea of seeing the rest of the Order. Gathering his sanity about him, he continued as if he hadn't almost said such a thing. "I realize it will be hard, that is why Remus and I have decided to accomplish this irritating feat in an Orderly manner. We will consult schedules and have them come by the house, one by one. That is, unless you feel up to getting it all over at once..." he said, raising an eyebrow as he waited for her to finally comment.

"Well, I can visit the Weasleys, but the rest of them can visit me here. There's no way I'd be able to luck out with just one Weasley wanting to see me. They would be too stubborn; I'm surprised you've kept them away as long as you have," she remarked quietly.

He smirked at her, a rare occurrence lately. "Very well, I will arrange for Remus to take you over to the Burrow after lunch. We'll notify the rest of the Order that if they would like to see you for a moment, they can come by tomorrow around noon. Anyone who can't make it will just have to live without assuaging their curiosity about the 'captive'," he replied, his words laced with snarky-ness.

They both went back to work after Severus wrote a brief note and sent it flying out of the room to Remus, just like the inter-office memos at the Ministry. Hermione acted as if this were an ordinary day as she continued studying the tomes before her. But in truth she was reeling inside, confusion and feelings vying for her main concentration over her research. It had been a miracle, nothing less, that kept her from showing her reaction to that little "slip-up" he had made earlier. Oh, yes. She had heard him just fine. She just didn't know what to think or do about it.

~{}~

Remus entered the lab quietly, seeing that Hermione and Severus were deep in discussion about some diagram from the tome that was opened in front of them. He waited until they noticed him before approaching. "Hermione, it looks like you'll be having lunch at the Burrow. After I sent the owl to Molly, she Flooed me and insisted that you eat lunch with them. Fred and George are going to close their shop for a few hours to be there, but Ginny will not be there. She was unable to postpone her classes at the university. Those French Deans of students are a bit strict about attendance, but you can write to her. Arthur's boss is letting him take a long lunch, so he will be there as well. Are you about ready to go?" he asked her, sad to see the nervousness in her eyes.

"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess. I just need to put away my things, and I'll meet you at the Floo in a moment," she said as she started to mark her pages and carry her things over to her desk. Remus accepted it for what it was: she just needed a minute to herself. He left the room to await her by the Floo in the kitchen.

Severus watched her put away her things at a deliberately slow pace. He could see the near-panic in her eyes, her quickened breathing as she tried to prepare herself for the onslaught of questions and 'Molly-coddling'. "You know, if you're moving slowly as an attempt to think of some escape from the madness that awaits you, you're wasting your time. You could simply tell them to have lunch without you, that you're too busy. It would make more sense to keep working on this potion," he offered, almost concernedly.

She smiled lightly at him as she picked up the pace and put the final things away at her desk. "Thanks, but I really should get this over with. If I don't, we risk an invasion that could very likely mess up this potion. Better to get it done with. I'll see you in an hour or so," she said as she made her way to the kitchen, leaving behind a very confused and irritated Potions Master.

~{}~

Molly kept fidgeting. She had set the table a while ago, and just moments before she had laid out all of the food. Arthur, Fred, and George kept glancing at her, wishing she would calm herself, but they all knew better. They were all unsure about seeing Hermione, about what to say. The only thing that made sense was to act as if nothing was wrong, but that was proving impossible for Molly Weasley. She sat down for a moment, then popped right back up to look out the curtains again before remembering that they were arriving by Floo, not Apparation.

"Molly, sit down. Pacing and working yourself into a state won't help this situation. You heard Remus when he talked to us last time: she'll need some normalcy! The last thing she needs is for you to burst into tears and crush her in a smothering hug, which is exactly what it looks like will happen if you don't calm down this instant!" Arthur said a little forcefully. She looked at him, shocked that he had just about yelled at her in the same sort of way she usually yelled at him.

Her lip trembled for a moment, and she sat down and started to cry on Arthur's shoulder. "I just can't help it! She's like a daughter to me, and to think of what she went through...."

"I know, dear, I know how you feel. But you can't let her see you like this. Just keep in mind that she wouldn't be coming over for lunch if she didn't feel up to it. Calm yourself, and remember to act as normal as possible. That's what she needs from us, Molly, normalcy," he replied soothingly as she blew her nose into her handkerchief. Moments later they all turned to look toward the living room when they heard the tell-tale whoosh of the fireplace. Each member of the Weasley family took a deep breath as they prepared themselves to see her again.

~{}~

Hermione dusted herself off before checking her turtleneck sweater for the hundredth time. Remus laid his hand on her shoulder in a brief, comforting squeeze. He led her into the kitchen where Molly was fussing over Fred and George's hair.

"Really, you both should let me cut it. It's beginning to look a lot like Bill's hair, and surely you don't want your appearance to hurt your sales at the shop, or turn away the girls," she chided them.

Hermione smiled lightly when they finally "noticed" her entrance. "Hi, everybody, what's for lunch?" she asked quietly, trying not to laugh at the obviously staged conversation they were having.

Molly approached her and carefully hugged her, muttering, "It's good to s-see you, dear. Lunch is ready – why don't you take a seat?" Molly walked back to the table to sit down, taking a deep breath as she did to keep the tears at bay.

Fred and George greeted Hermione cheerfully as they normally would, both of them trying to not look at her too much.

Everyone passed around food as they filled their plates, all of them awkwardly silent.

Hermione kept tugging at the collar of her turtleneck, just to make sure it was covering her scars. Molly kept looking over at her every time she tugged on the sweater, wondering why she was wearing something so warm. To attempt to stop herself from staring, she got up to refill everyone's tea. After refilling everyone's glasses to the brim, she sat down, only to jump up and blush with a startled, "Dear me!" Unbeknownst to her, the twins had placed a Muggle whoopee cushion on her seat.

Everyone started laughing hysterically over her reaction and the embarrassed look she had on her face, and Molly faced her sons and tried to give them a stern look. But she started to laugh a little herself when she couldn't achieve a proper "you're in trouble" look. After that moment things went a lot more smoothly, and it really started to seem almost like old times.

That is, before the owl and the Panther Patronus swept in through the window. The owl held a glowing purple envelope, which was a sign of trouble for the Order. The Panther circled around Remus and Arthur, signalling their need to be at Headquarters immediately.

~{}~

Remus opened the envelope, his hands a little shaky. He read it aloud to the quiet and nervous group at the table. It read:

URGENT: ALL SENIOR MEMBERS ONLY

SS

Hermione and the twins watched as Arthur and Molly went upstairs to quickly change into more practical clothes. Remus sat quietly with the three, though he had a piece of parchment and was making some notes about ideal locations for the Order's new headquarters. It was important to set that up, but it would be difficult to find a place to suit their needs. A few moments later Arthur, Molly, and Remus left the Burrow to help Severus out. Hermione, Fred, and George moved to the living room to wait and see what might happen to them all next.

A/N: I would to thank everyone for their patience as they waited for this update. *Pause to duck the food being thrown at me...* ;p I will be adding the rest of the chapters asap... and you'll be happy to know that I am currently writing the final chapter! Chapter 22 ;) So you have much more to come! Please be kind and review... Thank you! *HUGS*