Disclaimer: HP isn't mine.
A/N: To anyone who is reading Fear in a Handful of Dust: I am still continuing the story, but need a bit of a break. And I have too many plots running through my head to just focus on one story right now. Hope you enjoy this one!
The four poster bed had never seemed more welcoming than it did now. Hermione Granger collapsed gratefully onto the maroon duvet, cradling her wand close. It was nearing dawn already; Hermione had lost track of time in the Library, as was often her wont. Madam Pince hadn't been pleased to leave a student alone with precious books earlier that evening, but she'd grudgingly allowed Hermione her space and time.
Being Head Girl had serious advantages, Hermione mused. She had free rein of the castle. Funny that she wasn't so keen as Harry to wander about the stone corridors at midnight, yet she was the one with special privileges. All she wanted was her books. The heavy leathern tomes had always been her friends when she had no others...but now, her accumulation of knowledge had a clear, specific purpose.
Hermione Granger was going to become a Death Eater.
Or, more precisely, she had studied so intensely and kept such meticulous notes all summer because Hermione Granger was going to become a spy. She needed all the information her brain could withstand.
She'd gone to Snape, a former spy himself, just a week shy of the new term. She'd informed him coolly of her plan, and, though leaving out the finer details, she had been utterly frank. When she was finished speaking, Hermione had smoothed her robes and waited for her professor to react. He'd been scornful initially, then mocking, then finally furious when he realized her stubbornness was as deeply-rooted as his own. Hermione maintained her composure through it all, though allowing herself a grim smile when the anger on Snape's features finally faded to resignation.
Professor Snape was beginning to grow on her, she thought drowsily, slipping under the heavy coverlets. He's a foul sarcastic man. But a good ally. She absently stowed her wand up her sleeve. Soon, was Hermione's last coherent thought, before she rolled over and fell into a fast dreamless sleep.
The next morning dawned gray and drizzly; Autumn was fast approaching. Hermione awoke groggy, but by the time she slipped into her shower, she was already doing exercises to jumpstart her brain. 'Wiggenweld Potion...let's see. Horklump juice, one pint. Flobberworm mucus, seven Chizpurfle fangs, honeywater...' A relatively simple potion-they'd brewed it First Year-but it wouldn't do to forget even one recipe.
After completing her morning ablutions, Hermione settled down for her customary twenty-minute morning meditation. It was her form of Occlumency: she had used part of last summer to build a fortress in her mind, practicing so intently and thoroughly that she could see clearly the most minuscule details. Once she had mentally constructed the foundation, Hermione had worked ceaselessly to create a true palace of memory, attaching her thoughts, emotions, and beliefs to specific paintings, halls, rooms, and objects within that fortress, hiding her secrets quietly in dark safe places. It became easier with time, and by now Hermione was so adept that she sank light as a feather into her meditation.
The minutes passed easily, and Hermione felt far better when she rose from her position by the window. She donned her 'Harmless Well-Meaning Hermione' mask, and joined Harry and Ron at breakfast, laughing and teasing playfully, glowing and carefree on the outside. But Hermione's heart clenched painfully as she watched Ron spear an enormous sausage and stuff half of it into his mouth, and heard Harry snorting in laughter next to her. These boys were her rocks, her joy, her exasperation and heroes. She would do anything for them.
oOo
Severus Snape eyed the small group of NEWT-level Seventh Years chopping ingredients gloomily. They weren't as much fun at this age-harder to intimidate than the smaller ones, and their essays took longer to grade. Though if he were honest with himself, he actually enjoyed reading up on the students' research; they were all at least mildly intelligent, and a select few made honestly brilliant proposals.
He began pacing about the room, winding about steaming cauldrons containing various potions. Arion Caelius, one of his Slytherins, had chosen to study poisons and antidotes, and had already discovered three previously unknown uses for hemlock. The quiet Ravenclaw Ellen Spordle was working on a potion with the same effect as an Obliviate spell, but for specific time periods only. And perhaps the most genius of any in that group, Hermione Granger-
No. He wouldn't think about her; it would only bring a fury that would look suspicious.
Except it was difficult not to think about something that was trying to catch his eye.
He glared at her. Hermione returned with a small wink. Then she raised a single holly leaf, and let it flutter slowly into her potion. Severus stared, motionless, his thoughts forming like molasses. Holly and glitterbug eyes, when mixed, could cause only-
BOOM!
Her cauldron exploded, wafting thick smoke through the entire room. Eyes streaming, the professor waved his wand to disperse the steam, revealing a bright pink Miss Granger, and a group of scowling students. 'Oops," the witch said into the silence.
'Detention tonight at 8 o'clock, Miss Granger!' Severus snapped. He swept his gaze across the assembled adolescents, all looking frazzled. He decided a small allowance wouldn't harm his fearsome reputation. 'Out, all of you. Dismissed! And don't forget your updates need to be in my hands by Wednesday, no later than three in the afternoon.' Then, casting a stasis charm on the remaining potions, he shot one last acid look at Miss Granger's back, who had smirked at him as she headed out the door.
Damn Gryffindor women and their smirks.
That evening, a knock on his office door came promptly at eight. Severus, who had been bent over a stack of Third Year essays on the properties of bezoars, scowled. 'Enter,' he said curtly.
Miss Granger appeared, looking excited, but controlled. She began without preamble. 'It's time, Professor Snape.'
He feigned disinterest. 'Well? What's your big idea?'
Hermione moved forward. 'Let's pretend you offered me a seat, shall we?' Without waiting for an answer, she sank onto one of the spindly chairs he seemed to favor. 'I am going to send Lucius Malfoy a letter. I've already drafted it here.' She passed him an unsealed roll of parchment.
Severus accepted the scroll without opening it. 'Why not start with Draco? You could use him as a buffer initially.'
'That's precisely what I want to avoid. I need Lucius to know I'm serious. Besides,' Hermione added, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully. 'Draco isn't crafty enough to realize the benefits of being friends with Mudblood Hermione. It would be too much work, and look suspicious to other students. I'll have to go through Lucius to get to Draco, I think.'
'As you wish,' said Severus, flinching slightly at the word 'Mudblood'. He stood, nonchalance forgotten. 'You really mean to go through with this, then, Miss Granger?' He asked, piercing her with his gaze. 'No second thoughts?'
'No.'
He sighed. 'I didn't think so. Very well.'
Severus Snape took his time reading the letter. He'd hoped to make the witch uncomfortable, but she seemed perfectly at ease on her chair. He carded long fingers through his hair. It was very good. Maybe enough to gain her an interview with the Dark Lord. He was even-dare he think it?-impressed. It wouldn't do to let Miss Granger know that, of course, so he glanced up.
'It isn't dreadful, Miss Granger. They might not even kill you straight off.' Said Severus in his most biting tones.
But Miss Granger smiled as though he'd complimented the eloquence of her prose. 'Gratitude, Professor. I'll send it off this evening.' She rose smoothly, and gathered her robes about her. 'I shall keep you posted. Good night.' Hermione retrieved the letter swiftly, stowing it in her sleeve.
And she sailed to the door with that exasperatingly smug smile lighting her features.
'Luck,' Severus called grumpily, swiveling back to his paperwork.
oOo
Lucius ran his fingers lightly over the books in the Malfoy Library. There were thousands and thousands of them. Even he, who'd devoured books like candy since boyhood, hadn't made his way through a tenth of the collection. Hmm...he mused. Should he try out Foundations of Stone: Salazar Slytherin's Records of Hogwarts, or Madam Regula's Riots & Roses? Deciding on the former, He pulled the heavy tome from its place, blowing a sheen of dust off the cover.
He had just reclined in his favorite armchair overlooking the East Gardens when his house elf, Dorry appeared with a letter and a bow. Lucius Malfoy's fingers didn't brush the silver platter when he plucked the letter up. He turned it over. A triskelion seal, interesting. He dismissed the elf with a wave of his hand, still examining the scroll curiously.
oOo
Hermione J. Granger, Hogwarts Student, to Lord Lucius Malfoy, Order of Salazar, Keeper of the Nine Keys:
I extend to you my apologies for the abruptness of this letter, though I hope you, Lord Malfoy, will grant me pardon once you have read what I propose.
You and I were natural enemies, belonging to opposing factions, and in the past many harsh words have been exchanged by us both. I can only excuse myself on the grounds of my youth; I, being innocent and malleable, believed without question the lies of certain powerful witches and wizards. I have done much reading and thinking, and grown past this weakness. We cannot agree in all respects-though how many intelligent people do? However, I have come to see the hypocrisy of the so-named Light side, the unjustices and the ill-masked cruelties. Why should one type of magic be so forbidden? The Dark Arts, I have come to understand, are not evil; they are simply another branch of magic to be studied and perfected, like any other. I trust you agree in this matter.
Now, on to my proposal. The will has come upon me to aid the Dark Lord in his cause for the rights of Dark wizards. It seems only just. The Dark Army would greatly benefit from this, specifically due to the information I could bring, as well as other assets I will not reveal here. Will you meet with me, Lord Malfoy? There are many questions I would ask of you, and, I hope, many questions you wish to ask of me.
I most eagerly await your reply.
Hermione J. Granger
Thanks for reading! Please, review if you liked it and want more :)
~Vanya