Dorothy Thompson once said, "Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow."

She forgot to mention she was lying, there isn't always a tomorrow.

The last six years, my life has always depended on courage, knowledge, and luck. This next year is going to require more then that. It's going to require remembering that I, Hermione Granger, probably won't live to see next summer. The final battle would be fought before then and there was slim chance that Harry, Ron, and myself would survive. Hell, Dumbledore hadn't even survived and without him we're fucked.

Harry, Ron, and I did get to finish our seventh year at Hogwarts. But, we are stuck living at the Order of the Phoenix headquarters under the Ministers, Kingsley Shacklebolt's, protection. Although, there is an upside. The three of us do get to begin Auror training. Contrary to what everyone thinks, I was actually going to go into Auror training after Hogwarts, whether the war was finished or not. I needed a break from the school setting, I'll go back to university at some point.

And here we are, sitting in the Ministry of Magic, waiting on Kingsley.

"What's taking him so long?", Ron groaned, in frustration.

"Really Ron, we've been out here for ten minutes. You're not going to die, so shut up!"

"What's got your knickers in a bunch?" The scowl on Ron's face almost made me grin, he was so easy to piss off.

"I'm sure it won't be much longer", Harry said, scanning the hallway. He was obviously bored.

About another ten minutes later, Kingsley finally emerged from his office.

"About bloody time!" Ron huffed. He must still be angry that I told him to shut up.

"Sorry, I had some things to attend to first", Kingsley said. "I will need you three to hand me your wands."

What? He can't be serious.

"Why, exactly, do you need our wands?"

"It's part of the Auror contract. I need to sync your wand to your contract." An odd expression passed over Kingsley's face as he said that.

"I've never heard of that."

"Neither have I", Harry added.

"It's a new rule we added. It's easier for us to track an Auror and to make sure they're actually working for the light."

"Let's just go! I'm tired of sitting here", Ron whined, as he handed Kingsley his wand.

"Well, we're safe here. It should be alright." It took me a moment to realize that Harry was talking to me. I guess he could read my unsureness all over my face.

"I mean what's the worst that could happen. We could just die." I don't think Kingsley appreciated my sarcasm, he looked kind of angry. His face softened up a bit though, when I handed him my wand. Good thing he didn't know I could use wandless magic, well sort of. It's sporadic really, I've only been able to do it for a few months.

"Thank you, now if you three will follow me." I've never really liked the Ministers office. While it is very safe, it could also be a death trap. You have to walk through two doors that are heavily warded, blocking out all sound to the outside hallway. You could be murdered in here and no one would ever know. I probably shouldn't be thinking about that now, seeing as I'm walking in here without a wand.

"You three are calm, correct?" Kingsley asked.

"Yes, why wouldn't we be", Harry asked, becoming suspicious now.

"Just wanted to make sure you three are in the right state of mind for this." Kingsley seemed very uneasy when he spoke. He led us the rest of the way to his office door and opened it. We followed him in.

Really, this was starting to freak me out. I just handed over my wand, I'm probably walking into the place I'm going to be murdered. You would have thought we would have learned not to trust anyone by now, Snape being a prime example. We trusted that traitor and he went off and killed Dumbledore.

Snape. Snape. Snape!!! Holy fuck! He's sitting at the chair in front of Kingsley's desk! What the fuck are Ron and Harry doing! They walked in here before I did and they're just standing there like idiots!

"Give me my wand!" I dove for Kingsley, but he grabbed me by my shoulders.

"Miss Granger wait!" Wait?! Kingsley are you fucking serious?! We are about to be murdered?!

"Miss Granger!"

What. The. Fuck. I know that voice, no, no, it can't be. There is no way. No way! I turned slowly and there was none other then, Albus Dumbledore, sitting behind Kingsley's desk. I must have missed him when I spotted Snape. But, he's dead. That's it, it's official, I've gone mad.

"Miss Granger." Dumbledore's voice was much softer now.

"Bbbut you're dead." Gods, I sounded like a stuttering idiot.

"I can assure you Miss Granger, I am very much alive."

"Bbbut bbbut, he killed you." My hand had a mind of it's own, I was now pointing at Snape, who was smirking at me.

"I know that's what we made it seem, but I am not dead, and Severus did not kill me."

Nutters, I'm completely nutters. I turn and look at Harry and Ron, who haven't said a word. Harry is slouched up against the wall, looking like he's going to vomit and Ron is the palest I've ever seen him.

"She's going to pass out", Snape said quickly.

Who's going to pass out?

"Kingsley, Grab her!" Snape nearly bellowed, getting out of his chair.

Why am I wobbling? Oh right, I must be the one passing out. Ah, yes, here are those lovely black dots......

"Miss Granger, swallow the potion."

Shit, what happened? Damn it, whoever is giving me this potion is rubbing my throat, hope that wasn't the draught of death I just drank. Mmm, they must have gave me a calming draught, I could just go to sleep.

"Open your eyes Miss Granger."

"Severus, is she alright?" Albus asked from behind the desk.

"Yes, I just gave her a calming draught. Miss Granger should be more relaxed once she comes to."

Maybe I'm dreaming? Yeah that's it. I'll open my eyes and I'll be in the musty Order Headquarters. Let me just peek an eye open...Well, I never thought I'd see Severus Snape hovering over me...

"How do you feel?" Mmm, there's that silky voice I remember. "Miss Granger."

"Alright. Tired?"

"Yes, I gave you a rather strong calming draught."

"Oh."

Snape pulled me gently off the floor, pushing me into the seat he was sitting in. You know, for a murderer, he was being rather nice.

"Explain", Harry croaked out.

Explain what? Ah yes, why there's a dead man and his murderer sitting front of us. I knew that. Snape conjured a chair from the coat rack and sat next to Albus and Kingsley.

"I know this is very over whelming for the three of you, but we decided today was the day that you knew the truth behind my 'death'." Albus said softly. "Well, as you know, I had become very ill when I placed that cursed ring on my finger. At first, we thought I was going to die. But, as talented as Severus is, he was able to brew a potion to remove the curse and cure my illness."

"I saw Snape throw the killing curse at you", Harry said, quietly.

"Yes, yes. I'm getting to that", Albus continued. "I had forced Severus into a wizards oath, I wanted him to kill me if I was going to die from the curse. It would prove his loyalty to Voldemort. I believe that sent Severus into a panic, he produced me with the healing potion a week later. I still thought it was a good idea for Severus to prove his loyalty to Voldemort."

"Why?" Oops, did I just say that out loud?

"Well, Miss Granger, I see we have finally found our voice", Snape said, with a stupid smirk on his face. "Voldemort had been questioning my loyalty for a while. I could only feed him so much useless information before he started getting suspicious."

I just nodded, this story was become very interesting.

"So, we planned for my death to be faked and for Severus to be the one to take my life", Dumbledore continued.

"But, Harry saw you get hit with the killing curse." I almost forgot Ron was here, until he said that.

"What you saw was very good aim and very good acting, not to mention the use of a potion that made it appear that I wasn't breathing or had a heart beat."

"That could have gone horribly wrong. I mean, one false move and you could have been hexed in the face! Not to mention Harry came close to killing Professor Snape as he ran from the tower!" Really? I don't even mean to be talking, it just keeps coming out.

"How much of that calming draught did you give her, Severus? Hermione almost sounds drunk" Kingsley's said, eyebrows raised.

"It appears too much. She'll be alright, once we get her back to Headquarters and she sleeps it off."

"We had thought about that, Miss Granger", Dumbledore interrupted. "We both had placed protective shields around ourselves. I'm not sure how much they would have helped though."

"What now?" Harry seemed to gather some of his senses.

"You four will begin Auror training as planned", Kingsley's said.

"Four?" Ron asked, still quite pale.

"Yes. Severus will undergo training with the three of you. We have told the rest of the Ministry that it is too dangerous for the three of you to train with the other entering Aurors, which is true. But, it allows us to have Severus train with you three."

"While in training, you will be paired into partners, but still working together", Kingsley added. "We thought it would be best for Harry and Ron to partner up and Severus and Hermione to be partners."

I don't know whether to object or be thrilled. I could listen to Snape's sexy voice all day! But, I may have to hex his sarcastic ass.

"Miss Granger?" Albus called.

"Hm, what?"

"Did you just hear Kingsley? You and Severus will be partners. We thought you two would work well together, having similar interests."

"Mmm hmm."

"We will also be joining you three at Headquarters, although we have been there the entire time", Snape added.

"How? We have been there everyday since we left Hogwarts and none of us have seen either you", Harry said.

"Grimauld Place has many secrets you are not aware", Albus' eyes twinkled through his half moon shaped spectacles as he spoke. "We were able to create a section to the house that no one else knows about, you three will be staying with Severus and I while no one else is in the house."

Well, that's interesting. I'd have so much to say if I could keep my eyes open. I can feel the draught swirling around in my head. I can barely stay awake, let alone think.

"I believe we need to get Miss Granger back to headquarters. We can discuss everything else later, once she's coherent", Snape said.

"I will bring the Auror contracts by Headquarters later." Kingsley seemed so far away when he spoke.

Oh, oh! Someone just picked me up. Mmm, whoever this is smells like cologne and aftershave. I instinctively wrapped my hands around their neck and felt silky shoulder length hair.

-Review Please! This is my first "first person" piece, so bear with me. Once again, i tried to come up with a plot that was a little different. Let me know what you think!