Disclaimer: I simply play in J.K. Rowling's world for fun.

The Snake Charmer

Chapter 1: Decisions

Somewhere in Ireland…

The country road was washed in shadow. The air hung heavily and a fine mist left the three traveler's cold and soaked. They trudged wearily on, careful to keep their footsteps silent. They'd been traveling for miles on this mission. They could not Apparate for fear of setting off the wards that protected the cottage.

After three more hours, they saw a light flickering in the distance. Someone sighed in relief. They moved closer, slower now, keeping their wands at the ready. When they were able to clearly make out the house standing in the distance, they separated, stealthily walking around the perimeter, getting a sense of their bearings. This was an information gathering mission only.

There were only two doors in and out of the place that were visible. To get sight of the other hidden ones would require the use of their wands, and once again, they could not use them. This would be a dangerous place to be discovered if indeed this was the location of one of the safe houses. The flicker they had seen a mile or so back was indeed coming from one of the windows. The light danced eerily off the dirty glass and judging by the orange glow, was coming from a large fireplace.

A twig snapped. The three travelers knelt close to the ground, staying perfectly still, eyes alert, heart's beating madly. A loud crack sounded and four hooded figures appeared near the front of the house. Their robes and masks were unmistakable. Death Eaters.

The four men walked around the house, peering into the darkness. The travelers stayed low and did not move a muscle. Another twig snapped.

Two shafts of green light flew through the darkness, briefly illuminating the ground. The four Death Eaters converged silently, slipping through the blackness and found the source of the sound. They laughed heartily in amusement.

"Let's go. What a waste of time."

"You must not tell Master about this."

"Why not? He may find this rather entertaining as I do, do you not agree Lucius?"

"Indeed I do. However, we have more pressing business at hand. Let us retire."

"Very well."

The four strode away and the door to the house opened briefly, allowed them to enter, and closed.

For the first time in nearly five minutes, the travelers allowed themselves to breathe. Panting, Tonks willed her cramped muscles to move. She crawled toward the source of the spells and with relief saw that it was only a rabbit. Lupin crept to her side and let out a small sigh in thanks. Shackelbolt joined them and using hand signals, told them it was time to leave. The others nodded in assent. They crept back into the protection that the trees offered and took a much longer route to a place where they could Apparate. After six hours, they felt it was safe and with a loud POP the three travelers disappeared.

Number 36 Grosvener Place, Winchester

A meeting of the Order was held at the new headquarters. People crowded into the small space and stood in a circle. It was not nearly as roomy as Grimmauld Place, but it would have to suffice.

Albus Dumbledore stood, the light silver robes he was wearing pooled at his feet. He strode forward and all eyes were on him. Conversation ceased immediately.

"Good, welcome all of you. We have much new business to discuss. First, we have two new members that have joined us from the Ministry. The first is Mr. Adder, and the second is Ms. Salvadora. Both are apprentice Aurors and have proven themselves to be worthy of induction into our midst."

Polite clapping filled the small chamber.

"Would you both please step forward?" Albus inclined his head and both stepped to the center of the room. Albus removed the binding from their eyes and they blinked rapidly, having been blindfolded for the last few hours.

"You will each be required to take an Unbreakable Vow. Do you agree?"

Each nodded their head.

"Very well." Albus took Ms. Salvadora's wrist in his hand and she clasped his wrist in return. Minerva McGonagall stepped forward and placed the tip of her wand at the place where their hands intertwined. With a fluid flick, a blue light crept out and circled their joined hands.

"Do you, Abagail Salvadora promise with your magic and your life that you will keep the secrets of the Order at all times? That you will fight for what is good and right and against Voldemort and the darkness to the best of your ability? Do you swear to lay down your life if need be to protect all of the members of this sacred Order and promise to uphold the duties given to you?"

"I do."

"Conjuro Affectus Inductio Divinus!"

A white light glowed from their wrists and faded. Dumbledore let go of her arm and gestured for her to rejoin the circle. She stood next to Harry and he shook her hand enthusiastically in congratulations.

"Mr. Jeffrey Adder? If you please."

Albus grasped his wrist and Adder did likewise. A light blue glow illuminated around them.

"Do you, Jeffrey Adder promise with your magic and your life that you will keep the secrets of the Order at all times? That you will fight for what is good and right and against Voldemort and the darkness to the best of your ability? Do you swear to lay down your life if need be to protect all of the members of this sacred Order and promise to uphold the duties given to you?"

"I do."

"Conjuro Affectus Inductio Divinus!"

Their wrists were bathed in white light. Dumbledore released him and he rejoined the circle, a wide smile on his face. The circle erupted in cheers.

"Yes, settle down everyone. A few things for you all to know. We recently received intelligence that the Death Eaters are planning a raid on a Muggle town. We aren't sure of the exact location yet, but we need to remain vigilant. Minerva?"

Minerva McGonagall stepped forward. "As you all know, a new school year is about to begin. We will require the services of a few volunteers to escort the students on the trains and up to the Castle gates. We also would like to keep a few more Order members on the grounds for extra security. Are there any volunteers?"

"What would the duties at the school entail?" Hermione asked. Harry and Ron looked at one another and rolled their eyes. Of course she would be interested.

"Ah. Yes. Well, for those who are qualified, we do have a few teaching positions open. You may interview with Albus if you wish to teach History of Magic, or Care of Magical Creatures. Professor Binns has decided to finally retire and Professor Hagrid is away on Order business. We also will have an assistant teaching position open for Potions. As you all know, Professor Snape has been quite busy lately now that the Death Eaters are more active and though he may object, he…"

"Minerva, may I interject?" Severus Snape looked around the room with a sneer. A few people groaned.

"Why yes. Go ahead." Minerva looked at him in surprise, a bemused smile on her face.

"I do not feel that I need an assistant. However, being that it has already been decided for me, I at least have the privilege of selecting said assistant. Do not submit your name if you have not gotten at least an "O" on your N.E.W.T. exam in Potions.I need to be able to trust that you at least have a rudimentary knowledge of what you are doing. Also, I will require you to spend a few weeks prior to term getting acquainted with the lab and assisting me in renovating it. That is all."

A few people snickered.

"I pity the poor sap that gets stuck working with Snape." Harry whispered to Hermione.

"I know." She answered honestly.

"Is there something you wish to share with us Potter?" Snape stared at him malevolently.

"No sir."

"Then I suggest you keep your comments to yourself."

Harry's eyes narrowed to slits. Snape still treated him as though he was in school and had some power over him. Not for long Snape. Harry thought to himself.

"Well, this meeting for now is adjourned. I would ask that Remus, Tonks, Kingsley, and Severus stay for a moment."

"In that case, I'm going to start dinner. Who all is staying?" Molly asked.

After she'd gotten a headcount she walked into the kitchen to begin preparations. The Golden Trio headed upstairs and the rest of those present either retired to quarters or Apparated away.

Dumbledore waited patiently for everyone to leave and then placed a silencing spell around them.

"Thank you for staying. How did the mission go?" He looked at Remus expectantly.

"It went better than planned. We were able to tell that the place was indeed occupied and while we were patrolling the perimeter, four Death Eaters arrived. They for some reason decided to circle the house and we kept low to the ground. They heard a twig snap and they shot curses that killed a rabbit. Luckily we weren't too close and we were able to leave undetected." Remus scratched his head absently.

"Thank you. Well Severus, your information has once again proved invaluable. Do you know how long they intend to occupy the house?" Dumbledore asked.

"No. I only knew that they were looking for an out of the way cottage in Ireland to serve as a temporary safe house. The Dark Lord has not let me in on his plans concerning its usage. You know as well as I that we have a limited time frame in which to attack. I will see if I can gain entry into the place and find its weak spots."

"Is there anything else that you have to report?"

"Not at the moment. It has been three days since I was last summoned. I am continuing to work on the Regenerating potion that he has requested, with simple modifications of course. He also wanted me to begin research on a new type of poisonous snake that was recently discovered in South America. He wishes to know if it will be of any use to him. I've yet to get my hands on a specimen but I do foresee a trip to South America. Also, he mentioned the need to recruit some new members. He is leaving those responsibilities in the hands of Bellatrix and Rudolphous."

Dumbledore rubbed his beard absently, apparently deep in thought. A few moments passed in silence and Severus tapped his foot restlessly.

"Very well. I'm assuming you have duties to attend to?"

"Yes." Severus clipped, anxious to leave.

"I will be in contact shortly."

Severus nodded and hurried away. He closed his eyes and felt the wards lower. With a rush of wind he found himself at the gates of Hogwarts. He trudged through the mud and up to the castle gates, limping slightly.

Every step was agonizing. He cursed the foolish old man and cursed the Order. All he wanted to do was get back to his quarters and have a glass of brandy. There was a novel he'd been eyeing for the last few weeks but had yet to read. In fifteen minutes he was in his classroom, and with a pull of a book and a muttered incantation he found himself in his private lab. He checked on the Regenerating Potion that had been left in stasis and it appeared fine. He then lowered the wards and walked through a closet that led to his private chambers.

Upon first glance the room was cold. Living in the dungeons did have a few disadvantages.

He pointed his wand at the fireplace.

"Incendio!"

The instant warmth of the room was like the embrace of a woman after returning from war. Haggard he let himself sink into his favorite wingback chair, upholstered in green velvet. His robes were restricting.

"Divestio!"

His clothing disappeared and he spread out relaxing in the firelight. He looked down at his leg, trying to assess the damage. It wasn't anything that he couldn't handle himself. He'd treated his own wounds often enough.

"Accio Brandy! Accio Snifter!"

The brandy and glass flew into his hands and he poured a generous measure. He set the brandy down on the side table and took a long draught from the glass, sighing in contented pleasure as the liquid burned its way down his throat. A few minutes later and the glass was emptied. He pondered whether or not to retire to his bed but decided against it. The fire was entirely pleasant. He closed his weary eyes, falling into a deep sleep for the first time in three days.

Harry and Ron's Room, Headquarters

"So, are you going to volunteer at the school Hermione?" Ron looked at her and rolled his eyes.

"I'm not sure Ronald, how about you?" She glared daggers at him.

"Yes, I get through seven years of that place and can't wait to go back. Honestly Harry, do you want to go back there?" Ron's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"No mate, not a chance. Can you imagine, getting stuck with that greasy git?" Harry's face screwed up into his best Snape impression.

Hermione and Ron both laughed. He'd perfected the look during their 6th year.

"Well, I think it might be interesting, working at the school. I doubt that they'd allow me to be a teacher though." Hermione looked up at the ceiling, thinking.

"Well, you could teach History of Magic. I mean, I don't think anyone has read more books on the subject. Honestly, it's like there's a library in your head. I could barely keep awake with Binns." Ron smirked.

"I wonder what made him retire? I thought he'd be there forever." Harry wondered.

"Who knows? He retired seven years too late for us though." Ron agonized.

"Here, here!" Harry raised an imaginary glass in a salute and laughed.

"I agree that his class was rather boring, but the subject is interesting. We should all have an idea of what happened in the past. I learned a lot actually." Hermione interjected.

"Even you have to admit that you couldn't stay awake in that class 'Mione." Harry stared at her pointedly.

"Well…not all the time, no." A blush swept her cheeks. "I wonder what the requirements are for the position?"

"Why don't you ask Dumbledore? He'd tell you right quick if he wanted to hire you. I bet he would." Ron said.

"Well, I guess I'll just have to find out. Would either of you consider escorting the students to the castle?" Hermione prodded.

"I actually think there are better things for us to do, no offense. We're going to start our apprenticeships you know." Harry answered.

"Which of you has Lupin?" Hermione couldn't remember who had whom.

"I have Lupin, and Ron has Tonks."

Hermione nodded her head. "Oh that's right. Well, I'm sure you'll have fun with that. You're both so lucky that you've decided what you want to do. I'm still not sure."

For once, this Gryffindor wasn't years ahead of her housemates.

She'd gotten across the board "O's" on her N.E.W.T. exams, in every subject that she'd taken. The only other person to get as many was none other than the greasy bat of the dungeons, Severus Snape. Her friends never let her forget it either. She knew that if she'd continued with Divination that she would have beat him. She didn't need another reason for him to hate her though.

"Cheer up, you'll figure it out." A voice behind her caused her heart to skip a beat.

"Molly! You scared me!" Hermione looked at her wide eyed.

"Dinner's ready. I know its late, and if you all would rather just go to bed, that would be fine. I know we had a late lunch. Ginny's already asleep so you'll have to be quiet Hermione."

Hermione stood up reluctantly and followed Molly out of the boy's room. She felt rather full of energy at the moment, and not the least bit hungry. The gigantic portions that Molly continually fed them were enough to feed Hagrid. She knew it would take a long while for her to get to sleep.

"Molly? Would you mind if I read in the library for a bit? I'm not sleepy, honestly."

Molly studied her face and gave her nod of assent. "Just be sure you get to bed at a decent hour."

"Yes ma'am." Hermione saluted and Mrs.Weasley smiled tolerantly.

Hermione skipped down the stairs and made her way into the only place she knew she could be alone, the library. It held loads of books and many titles that she'd yet to explore. She perused the bookcases leisurely and a red leather volume caught her eye. It was a bit dirty and she had to rub the dust off to read the title. Potions for Masters Level IV

"What the hell?" She mumbled to herself and pulled the volume. She sat in a tattered red overstuffed chair near the fire. She opened the index and read the brews contained within the book:

Ashwinder Antidote…pg 8-19

Adder Antidote…pg 20-35

Blood Replenishing Potion…pg 36-49

Borsch Brew… pg 50-78

Coercian Draught…pg 79-102

Corinthian Cocktail…pg 103-128

Draught of Living Death.. pg 128-167

The list went on and on with many complex potions that she knew they'd never learned in school. The only one that she had any idea how to make was Polyjuice. It was a difficult potion to brew and to this day she wondered how she'd managed it in her second year. Hmm…what to learn? Her eyes continued scanning and widened in surprise when she saw Wolfsbane…pg 494-567. Her curiosity got the best of her and she turned to the page scanning the lines quickly and inhaling in surprise. It was the most complex potion she'd ever seen. The ingredients alone took 9 pages. It was truly a miracle that Snape continuously brewed it for Lupin.

Hours later she finished reading the last page and tried to commit the entry to memory. This was not usually a problem, but the steps were complex. It would take a great deal of study to know all of its intricacies and commit them to her mind. The reading left her exhausted and she raised her arms over her head happily. This was exactly the point of these late night reading sessions. She yawned and slid out of the chair, only then noticing that the sun had risen. Her hand flew to her mouth in shock. She couldn't believe she'd stayed up all night.

Hogwarts, Dumbledore's Office

Albus watched the sun rise slowly in the sky. This was his favorite time of day for many reasons. The first being that it was quiet and most people were still asleep. The second, that it was extremely beautiful. The third, that it reminded him that hope still existed in the world. Light was shining over the Earth once again, and the light of the sun, like the light of the heart, could never be truly extinguished. With an audible sigh he turned from the view and sorted through the papers that cluttered his desk. School business was endless. Letters from parents made a great stack alone. Then there were all the financial papers, letters of complaint, various court date papers, letters from the Ministry, teacher concerns and requests. On and on. This was definitely the worst part of his job.

Not one to avoid duty, he tucked into the first stack on the right. After several hours, he'd managed to deplete it of everything that was urgent or had been sitting there for two weeks or more. It was nearly lunch time. He rose and stretched his hands over his head. To the Great Hall, he thought to himself.

He decided to walk there rather than use the Floo. The empty halls seemed unnatural, as they always did during the summer. He silently thanked the walls that had protected those that he cared so desperately for and provided shelter for all of the young people that would soon be in charge of changing the world. Hogwarts was a haven, one that he would protect to the very best of his abilities. He knew very well that the youth would inherit the earth and the old would die off. He fervently hoped that the battle might be won so that more students would return to the castle in the years to come. The spirit of the castle was entirely dependent on those that dwelled within. Very few people truly understood that.

He walked into the Great Hall and decided that the ceiling should be light and sunny. It had been a dark and stormy grey for far too long. He clapped his hands and the sun shone bright and beautiful through a stained glass ceiling. He smiled appreciatively and decided to dine at one of the students tables. There was no one else present, so it didn't really matter.

"Cupcake?" he asked quietly.

POP.

"Yes Headmaster, how can I serve you?"

"I'd like to have some fish and chips and do bring me a pot of my favorite tea, will you?"

Cupcake squeaked excitedly. "Yes I will be getting it now sir. Anything else Cupcake can do for you?"

"No, thank you Cupcake."

The bandy legged house-elf bowed low and with a wink, disappeared.

Marvelous creatures, Albus thought to himself.

In a moment's time, a lovely meal appeared on the table in front of him. He tucked in with delight.

Hogwart's Castle, Dungeon

Severus Snape paced the length of the cellar in agitation. As always, he was in a foul mood. Minerva had woken him at 7 o'clock and found him in a rather compromising position. He had to remind himself to never sleep nude in front of the fireplace again. She'd clucked like an old hen and made him feel all of eleven years old again. It was not humorous.

Her news did nothing to improve upon his mood.

"Severus, I know that you weren't expecting to work with Harry on this, but there really is no other way. The boy needs to learn to block his mind."

"We have gone over this Minerva. Potter will learn nothing from me. He lacks discipline and his temper and arrogance prevents him from learning."

"Severus, you know as well as I that you are the one that should teach him. The animosity between you is a gift."

"I fail to see your reasoning."

"You know what it is like to have the Dark Lord in your mind. You know the extent of Potter's grief and anger towards all Death Eaters, yourself included. If he can get over his emotional barriers enough to block you, he may stand a chance."

"I don't have time for this. We have already done this!" Severus raised his voice, his black eyes flashing dangerously. He pounded on the table in front of him for emphasis.

"Stop acting like a child. This is not negotiable." Minerva glared at him and Severus had to force himself to calm down.

"When?" He asked reluctantly.

"In a few days. Albus will let you know the time and place." Minerva clipped.

"Is that all?" Severus was shaking in anger.

"Yes, good day. Do try to relax. This will also be good for you."

Severus growled and her face disappeared from the fireplace.

Damn Potter. Damn Albus. Damn Minerva.

He ran a shaking hand through his black hair. He knew that he would need to use a Pensieve once more, and this time keep it under lock and key.

"That prat will not get another look into my mind. This time I will be prepared."

He walked over to the metal cabinet and unwarded the doors. He searched the shelves briefly and found the wormwood. He extracted the bottle and turned to a silvery potion that was bubbling merrily on one of the burners.

Damn Lupin.

Number 36 Grosvener Place, Winchester

"Breakfast! Everyone up!" Molly's voice called through the walls. Her voice was met by a variety of reactions, ranging from "Please not now." to "Bloody Hell."

Hermione had no more than an hour in bed. She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed, noticing the way her hair had become a haystack. Faint shadows hung beneath her eyes.

"Someone should certainly pay more attention to that awful hair!" The mirror criticized. "Take a shower for goodness sake!"

Hermione glared at the mirror, at herself really. She'd never get used to talking mirrors. "Oh, do shut up." She muttered under her breath.

Before the mirror could throw another insult at her she left the room. It was a bother that she didn't have her own bathroom, but it was a small price to pay for safety. There was a shared lavatory at the end of the hall. She was happy to know that she had beaten everyone else there.

She shrugged out of her pajamas and warded the door behind her. She stepped into the shower and let the hot water relax her. Showering was one of the highlights of her existence. She loved the feel of the water tracing her skin lightly and loved that good clean feeling that accompanied her throughout the day. It was her favorite escape.

She'd been in the shower for five minutes when she heard pounding on the door. "Can I please have some privacy? Honestly, I haven't been more than five minutes!" She called out annoyed.

The knocking continued and she hastily finished. She brandished a robe and opened the door angrily.

Ginny stood on the other side, her eyes wide. "Ginny, what is it?"

The younger girl pushed Hermione back into the bathroom and warded the door behind her, placing a silencing spell as well.

"God. I can't keep letting this happen." Ginny muttered and slid onto the cold tile floor.

"What? What is it? Ginny?" Hermione sat in front of her cross legged, taking in the sight of Ginny's tear-streaked face.

"I keep having these…dreams. Nightmares really. They won't stop." She lowered her eyes and a few fresh tears squeezed out, rolling down her cheeks.

"What nightmares?" Hermione didn't know anything about it and they'd been sharing a room for over a week.

"You have to promise not to tell." Ginny looked up with a determined glint in her eye.

"You have my word, you know that. What is it?" Hermione reached out and took hold of Ginny's hand. She squeezed it.

"Him."

"Him, who?"

"He who must not be named."

Hermione let out a breath of air that she didn't realize she'd been holding in.

"We all have nightmares about him Gin." Hermione tried to keep her voice calm. She didn't want to divulge her own terrifying dreams.

"No. Not the same way. I mean, I know you do…but this is different."

"Why? What are they about?"

"Remember my first year? The incident with the diary?"

"Of course." Hermione nodded her head.

"Things happened. Things that no one knows about." Hermione studied the girls face. It was passive on the surface but a coldness crept into her voice.

"Can you tell me?"

Ginny shook her head.

"Please Gin? I can help you. I want to."

"It's so….wrong Hermione."

"That's ok, just tell me."

Ginny looked at her and then sighed in defeat. "Just, don't say anything 'til I'm done, ok?" Hermione nodded in agreement.

"You know that I was communicating with Tom Riddle through the diary? It was friendly talk at first. I was lonely and didn't know a lot of people. He seemed so nice, like he understood everything that was going on with me. He seemed so understanding, and so wise. I felt myself becoming attracted to him, I couldn't help it. Then there were times that I felt so strange. He was talking to me, but it began to seem like he was really there with me. I thought I was going mad and I didn't want to keep talking to him. I shut him out for almost two weeks. But I kept dreaming of him, what he really looked like, what it would be like if he was real. I returned to the diary and he told me that he'd missed me so much and that he loved me. I told him that I loved him too." She stopped talking.

"That's not a crime Ginny. You were young, and he was manipulating you."

"There's more."

"Ok." Hermione waited.

"He always told me that he loved me, and then he started saying things that seemed really…wrong. Things that were sick."

"Like what?" Hermione felt herself getting angry but knew she had to keep it cool.

"Like…he wanted to taste me. He said he wanted to touch me. He told me…how it would be if I let him. At first it didn't seem too bad, it seemed normal, I guess. Then it started getting strange. He'd tell me how he wanted to tie me up and hold me down. He said I'd like it. He told me that it would be so sweet to hear me scream. He wanted to put a knife inside of me. He said he wouldn't cut me, he just wanted to feel my fear. He said being afraid made it feel better."

Hermione felt bile rising in her throat. That sick bastard!

"One time…he told me to take off my clothes and lie on my bed. He said he would take care of the rest. I was really scared but I was also kind of excited I guess. Well I did what he said and nothing happened. I felt myself getting sleepy…and then…" Her voice cracked. "Then he was there with me. It was so real. He was on top of me, pawing at my body, grabbing me so hard. It hurt. He pushed me down and smothered me. He bit me, my neck and breasts and I was bleeding and I begged for him to stop. But he wouldn't. He hit me. He said that all girls were sluts and I was just a slut and told me to open my legs. I screamed and told him no and then I noticed that he had a knife in his hand. I couldn't move. He…put it inside of me and it hurt so bad. Then he took it out and showed me how much I was bleeding. Then he unzipped his pants and…forced it inside of me. I screamed and screamed but no one came. The pain was unbelievable. Then I woke up."

Tears were falling from Hermione's eyes. She was shocked beyond belief.

"When I woke up, I was alone on my bed. But there was blood…everywhere. I was bleeding from there. I don't know how it happened. There was no one else in the room."

"Oh Ginny!" Hermione pulled the girl towards her and rocked her and Ginny began to sob helplessly.

"Now, I keep having the same dream over and over. It won't stop. I don't know what to do. I'm so scared."

"Shhh. It will be ok. We'll find a way to make it stop, I promise you."

The two girls sat together, holding onto one another for dear life and crying for at least an hour. When the sobs finally ceased, Hermione pulled Ginny to her feet and embraced her fiercely.

"You ok now?"

Ginny nodded.

"Do you want to be alone or do you want breakfast?"

"I think I need a shower." Ginny admitted.

"Do you want me to stay?" Hermione asked softly.

Ginny seemed to contemplate that. "Would you mind?"

"No, of course not."

Both girls took off their clothes and hopped into the shower, taking turns spraying each other and generally having a good time. After half an hour the entire bathroom floor was soaking wet and half the room was filled with bubbles.

Knocking at the door forced them to get ready quickly and both girls left the bathroom together after performing a simple cleaning spell.

Harry stammered as he watched them leave and looked into the bathroom and back towards the girls, trying to comprehend what had been going on.

"Women." He uttered and with a nod of his head set about his business.

Hogwart's, Dumbledore's Office

Severus sat down with a sneer and gazed at the twinkling old man in front of him. Time had seen him in this office many times, in much the same position. He didn't have time for this. Several experimental potions were in stasis in his private lab and could not rest unattended for any great length of time.

"Well?" He asked impatiently.

"Would you care for a lemon drop?" Albus asked him nonchalantly.

"I have pressing matters to attend to…" Severus forced his voice to be calm.

"Well, then. Minerva and I have been talking and we both think that in addition to Harry, you might wish to teach Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley."

"Teach them what?" Snape could scarcely keep the annoyance from his tone.

"Occlumency of course." Albus said as a matter of fact.

"I do not have the time nor the patience for such an endeavor. I'm afraid you will have to do it." Severus refused to meet the headmaster's eyes.

"Severus…I need you for this. Surely you can spend some time over the summer with them? It could very well come in handy later on. Think of the possibilities…"

The old man was shameless, moving people around like pieces on a giant chessboard.

"Albus. You know that I will do anything that you order of me. Do not ask me to do this." He could not keep the plea out of his voice.

"I'm afraid that I have little recourse. I do not wish to order you to do anything. I only want you to look at this from a different perspective. You know full well that when the final confrontation comes, most likely those three will be facing Voldemort directly. If he is able to break through their minds and discover our plans…that could be devastating to our cause. Not only that…but if one of them should be apprehended by the Death Eaters…that could bode very badly if they were unable to withstand the invasion of their minds. How many secrets would be lost?"

Severus looked up into the watery blue eyes of his leader. He had to look at this differently, he knew that.

But The-Boy-Who-Lived, the Know-It-All, and The Weasel? It would be torture.

"What if they weren't kept apprised of our plans or given false plans and images? That would keep our strategy safe." Severus tried to slither his way out of the situation…but to no avail.

"I'm afraid that would be impossible. I've kept Harry from knowledge before, in the interest of keeping him safe, and very nearly lost his confidence and trust because of it. He is the only one that can defeat Voldemort and I cannot keep him from our strategy when he is the key to everything. His friends are so close to him that he would tell them the truth and then we are back where we were, come full circle. They need to learn to block their minds. I'm not asking for you to make them Legillemens."

"Good, because that would be impossible."

"Are you sure you wouldn't care for a lemon drop?"

Severus sighed and rose from his chair, knowing that his efforts had been fruitless. "No thank you Albus. I need to check on some of my potions."

"Very well. They will be visiting the school in a few days time to begin training. Oh, and Severus?"

"What?" His patience was nearly broken.

"I do believe I've found a new assistant for you."

"Who?" Snape turned around, his eyes wide. Who in the world would be fool enough to want the job? He'd made his requirements clear, knowing that no one in the circle could meet them.

"Miss Granger."

Snape nearly choked. "What do you mean Miss Granger? I specifically stated that my assistant would need an "O" on their N.E.W.T. exam."

"That's what she got Severus."

Shit.

"She really applied for this position?" Severus held his breath.

"No, not officially."

"Then what do you mean she is my new assistant? I'm sure she's most pleased to be rid of me and my class."

"Well, she's applied for a teaching position, but you know full well that she needs to be an apprentice first. That leaves only one position open here for her."

Snape laughed, an odd sound coming from the somber man. "You ask her Albus. If she wants to work with me, I'll have no problem with it." Severus was completely confident. He'd spent the last seven years teasing her mercilessly, calling her a know-it-all, and deducting as many house points as he could from the impudent little witch.

"I'll speak to her and let you know Severus."

"You do that. Good day headmaster." Severus strode confidently from the room, his cloak billowing behind him.

Miss Granger indeed.

The Burrow

Hermione sat at the table and watched the mayhem around her with amusement. Fred and George were in full riot mode demonstrating their latest products with a variety of interesting noises and effects and Ron wasn't helping matters by being their guinea pig. Mrs. Weasley was bustling about the kitchen, after having just extinguished a fire. Mr. Weasley was trying to put a muggle wrist watch back together with a hammer, and Ginny was practicing spells, alternatively lifting various plates of food into the air and feeding herself. Harry and Bill were still upstairs doing god knows what and Hermione was observing the lot with a pleased expression on her face.

Just then, the morning post arrived. Two owls flew in, a large tawny owl who carried a letter to Hermione, and a grey owl that carried a small parcel for Mr. Weasley.

Hermione slipped the letter off of the owl's leg and gave it a bit of bacon as a tip. It hooted in appreciation and flew out the window.

The letter was from Hogwart's and bore its seal in the traditional red wax. She broke it eagerly and read the contents:

Ms. Granger,

I received your inquiry regarding a staff position here at Hogwarts. While I'm sure that you will undoubtedly make a wonderful History Of Magic Professor someday, I'm afraid that the requirements for such a position would entail a three year internship. It goes without saying that all other teaching positions require the same or equivalent field experience along with several recommendations. That being said, we do have one position available that you qualify for. Attached to the next page is all the pertinent information about the position. I hope that you will consider accepting it.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster

Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Hermione frowned as she read the letter and with great trepidation turned to the second page.

Assistant Teacher of Potions

This is a paid part time staff position.

Duties include assisting the Potion's Professor with day to day operations including the following:

Teaching remedial Potions courses

Assisting with grading

Keeping up to date inventory of all stores

Brewing and supplying healing Potions to the Infirmary

Lab Setup

Keeping Labs Clean

Proctoring Exams

Assisting and tutoring students during Labs

Substitute Teaching as required

Other miscellaneous duties as needed

Pay is 20 Galleons per month.

There will be a 3 month probationary period after which a salary review will be conducted.

Includes Private Quarters and all meals

After a period of 3 years, a teaching credential will be awarded

Excitement and dread flooded her in equal portions. This was an opportunity of a lifetime. Teaching credentials after three years! Hermione let the excitement claim her first with an accelerated heartbeat, but the dread soon followed. If only it was in another department!

She couldn't imagine working that closely with Snape. He wasn't a tolerant or forgiving person and he had made her life hell for seven years. Even after she had consistently gotten every question right in his classes, even after brewing near perfect potions, he refused to give her any credit at all. His perpetual sneer and horrid attitude made her ashamed of her abilities. He alone had an uncanny ability to hurt her pride, for he was someone that she respected, albeit grudgingly. She'd cried many tears over the dreadful man but had never let him know of the power that he held over her. She would rather die than give him the satisfaction. But why would he want her to be his assistant?

"What you got there Mione?" Ron asked with his mouth full.

"Honestly, were you raised in a barn?" She looked up at him with disgust.

"I'm not sure. Mum, was I raised in a barn?"

Mrs. Weasley took in the sight of her son and gazed at him appraisingly. "Well, your room is no cleaner than a barn."

Everyone at the table snickered and Ron's face turned a delicate shade of red.

"You asked for it Ronald." Hermione stated, looking smug. "If you must know, I received an offer from Hogwarts."

"What kind of offer?" Fred and George asked in unison.

"An assistant teaching position." Hermione answered haughtily.

"Wait. You don't mean…in Potions?" Ron stared at her his mouth hanging open.

"Yes, in Potions."

"You want to spend all your time trapped in the dungeons with that greasy git?"

"I haven't said I was going to accept, now did I?"

"Thank goodness. You scared me!" Ron laughed.

Hermione bristled but had the good sense not to continue the conversation. "I'm going to go for a walk."

She stood up from the table, ignoring the looks that were darting around the room and hurried outside into the fresh air. Would it be so terrible to accept the job? She'd always wanted to be a teacher, and Potions was an exciting subject. There were few classes that challenged her, and Potions was one of them. Not everything could be learned in a book. There were certain techniques that were required to make a perfect brew, things that had to do with concentration and mood that very few students were able to understand let alone achieve. It was hard to say how much knowledge she truly grasped. Snape had never been fair, nor awarded her any praise for her efforts, but she'd been the only one in her year to get an "O" on her N.E.W.T. The woman from the ministry proctoring the exam had been astonished by the results she'd managed to achieve and had congratulated her heartily. But Professor Snape was another matter. She'd tried everything she could to prove herself but it never seemed to be good enough.

"I bet if I was in Slytherin, he would act differently." She muttered under her breath.

She wandered aimlessly, lost in thought. One question plagued her mind more than any other. Could she deal with being Snape's assistant? She longed to say yes but doubt held sway. Could she put up with his jibes and sneer's and nasty attitude and not lose her mind? It was difficult to say. That man had a gifted tongue and could give a good dressing down to anyone.

On the other hand, she was confident in her abilities and knew that she would do an excellent job. She would be permitted to stay at Hogwarts, and it wasn't as though he would get away with the same amount of verbal abuse that he had used while she was his student. It was a staff position and the pay was excellent. He would have to treat her with at least a little respect, right?

She sat on a rock and looked out at the horizon. Taking in a cleansing breath she squared her shoulders and resolutely made her decision.

I apologize for the Latin. All spells and potions are translated to the best of my limited ability.

"Conjuro Affectus Inductio Divinus!" "Swear good intentions oath"

"Incendio" To start a fire

"Divestio" To take one's clothing off