Anijade - Black Hole Chaser

Hermione struggled not to make a sound as the man in the cloak appeared. The two wizards immediately drew their wands, prepared to protect their ill-gotten gains. She was still trying to figure out how they knew about Muggle weapons, much less smuggling them into the Wizarding world. Grabbing the closest item, Hermione found her face buried in a drape that reeked of Doxycide, and it made her a little light headed. Apparently the Dark wizards recognized the man since they lowered their wands slightly. "What are you two on about in here? Don't even have proper wards up. Anyone could catch you," came the deep voice and Hermione strained to recognize it. Perhaps the Doxycide was addling her brain as well.

"It's not like many people are gadding about this area at night," Borgin defended himself; he didn't like the goings on as it was, but being called on his gaffe wasn't the highlight of his night. Avery frowned at Borgin and growled. "Don't get so historical." The cloaked man chuckled at the common malapropism but was wise enough not to correct him. Avery continued talking to the man as he glared at Borgin. "We're missing some of the weapons; somehow they've gone missing and you know He won't be pleased." Sighing, the cloaked man looked around the room, managing with what Hermione was sure was a hooding charm. Turning to Avery, he spoke. "So how many exactly are missing and how soon can they be replaced?”

She watched as the three wizards got busy counting the guns, terrified of making a sound. Surely there has to be a way out of here without getting caught or hexed in the back? Hermione was getting used to the odor, but the urge to wee was making her wiggle. In the dark she was unable to check her footing and stumbled over something, causing her to fall. The sound caused all three wizards to draw their wands, and the one in the cloak moved in her direction. Thankfully the shadows were able to hide her, or he wasn't looking very hard, because all he did was grumble. "Merlin's maggoty haggis! Borgin, why would you stack glumbumble parts so haphazardly back here? Are you just begging for an explosion?"

Borgin made a move to pick them up, not even bothering to apologize or explain himself. He was stopped by a wave from the cloaked man. "Don't bother. We have to get these to his Lordship before we're all punished. Get back to counting." Both Avery and Borgin gave him mutinous glares but got back to work, knowing they would be thrown under the bus should there be any complaints. Twenty minutes later the count was done with Avery giving the final accounting. "Alright then, the total miscount is fifteen short, but Borgin here assures me he can get the replacements no later than tomorrow night." He gave a warning glare to Borgin, who gave the hooded man a reluctant nod. "You're both lucky, you know; with his Lordship’s triskaidekaphobia, you could have been in for a world of pain." At that comment both wizards started and then nodded. All the Death Eaters knew that hitting the number 13 in any instance meant worse punishment than just doing something wrong. Satisfied, the hooded wizard nodded.

"Alright then, take them and go, I'll meet up with you at the Serpentine for an Ogdens before we're called." Glad to be off the hook, the two wizards shrunk down their smuggled goods and quickly Apparated out of the shop. Hermione heard the hooded man sigh before moving closer to her hiding spot. "Still taking chances, I see, Miss Granger." Being called out by name sent shocks through her, and she struggled to get back on her feet. The hooded man bent slightly to reach down and pull her up, her mouth agape in surprise. "So, now you have an idea of what's really going on. I trust you'll pass the information on to Potter and his ilk?" Hermione could only nod in wonderment. The hooding charm ended, and she found herself looking up at Professor Snape's face. "My, my, I have managed to stun the know-it-all. Close your mouth, Miss Granger, I have to get you out of here in case anyone comes looking for Avery or Borgin."

Still silent, Hermione found herself being held tight, and they vanished with a pop. When they reappeared, she had managed to regain some of her wits. "But I don't understand! You're... you're one of them." Sneering, Snape shook his head. "Use that marvelous brain of yours, Granger, for some original thought. If I were truly one of them, don't you think I would have offered you up to Him?"

Hermione's mind whirred at both his compliment and his logic. "You might have a point there, sir. So all this time--you've been on our side? Why haven't you let anyone know, for, I don't know, support?" Snape rubbed his face in frustration and sighed. "And when would have had time to call up this said support? I am under near constant observation and must keep up appearances. I am limited in how much I can assist the Order."

Now that she really thought about it, it did make sense; there had been rumours of Death Eaters living at the castle, and Hermione imagined that it must be very frustrating for the man risking so much to help them, if he was really helping them. "Alright then, what should we do?" She couldn't help but wonder if he knew how important his response was to her.

"I can take you as far as the stream, and then you've got to get back to Potter and Weasley. Tell them what you saw. I strongly doubt they will believe that I am trying to help, though. Come on, then, I don't have much time before I'm called before the Dark Lord."

She nodded, still mulling over all she had learned in a very short amount of time. Part of her wondered if it was really safe to trust him. Thinking back, she remembered the Headmaster showing total trust in the Professor, but Harry had told her about watching the professor murder him. What was real? The guns were real; she had heard the plotting before the professor had arrived. So that would be the information she would pass on, about the Muggle weapons being used by Dark wizards. That could be useful, and for now she would keep how she knew that a secret, until she had more time to think things through.

"Alright, Professor, we should go. And thanks for taking care of me… again." Hermione added. Snape gave her a short nod as they Apparated away.