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Disclaimer.
J.K Rowling went out one day so I took her characters out to play.
We ran around, they laughed with glee,
All this fun and she works for free!

We move along - Caution small scene of BDSM

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Hermione and Ginny arrived home shortly after Midnight. As she walked in the front door, Hermione saw a light on in the kitchen.

"Ginny, go straight upstairs, I'll be up shortly. I'd best see who is in the kitchen."

She all but pushed Ginny in the direction of the stairs, in case one of her parents would confront them both. It would be easier to adjust the truth with out Ginny's presence.

Walking into the kitchen, Hermione called out, "Evening, I didn't think you'd wait up." She hadn't looked to see who was there, but had surmised it would be her mother.

"Hello, love, how was your night out?" called Geoffrey. He was sitting in the breakfast nook drinking cocoa and doing a crossword puzzle.

"Okay I guess, Mum asleep?" Hermione was surprised, as her mother usually waited up until Hermione was home, claiming she couldn't sleep until the front door was properly latched.

"Probably," he replied. "Sit down Hermione. I need to speak to you about your friend."

Feeling a cold chill settle in the pit of her stomach, Hermione thought of all the reasonable responses she had worked out driving home. Looking at her father, she knew this was more serious than a late arrival.

"Ginny has decided to go home tomorrow, Daddy. She's not feeling too well." Hermione felt this was the safest route to take.

"Good. That's best under the circumstances. I had contacted her father by floo today. He was coming anyways." Geoffrey looked at his only child, his amazingly wondrous child.

"Hermione, tell me what is really happening in your world. No evasion. No vague Wizarding mysteries." He took a deep breath. "Is there some kind of power struggle that is threatening the Muggle born?"

"Why, Daddy?" Hermione had only made general comments about her school experiences. The adventures she and her friends had shared, had been down played to merely exciting, from terrifying.

"We got an owl from Dumbledore today, addressed to your mother and me. There's a letter each for Ginny and you as well." Geoffrey stood and walked to the back door looking out at the full moon.

"It seems someone is coming to visit tomorrow, to place stronger protective wards on the house and on our practise. We are to have, with our consent of course, surveillance 24 - 7 - 365." Walking back to the cooker to pour some now cold cocoa into his mug, Geoffrey gave careful thought to what he was about to say. Placing his mug into the microwave, he turned to his little girl and asked a question he could never have conceived of a few short years ago.

"Who is trying to kill you Hermione? Why are we in danger?" Cocoa forgotten, her father sat opposite her again. "Why isn't leaving Hogwarts an option?"

Hermione closed her eyes. All the years of keeping secrets; all the phoney journal entries Hermione made, so that her mother could read and think her life normal. If they only knew that, with the proper spell, the alarming truth was laid bare.

"Do you know who's coming tomorrow, daddy?" asked Hermione.

"Besides Arthur? A Professor Snape and Kingsley Shacklebolt." Geoffrey looked at the girl...no young woman, sitting at the table across from him. The look on her face had gone from the bloom of late adolescence to full worried adult in the blink of an eye.

"Right; where is my letter?" Hermione stood with the same determination she used working with the D.A.

"On the counter, Hermione; you haven't answered my questions?" Geoffrey was becoming concerned.

Hermione picked her letter up and opened it to read Dumbledore's spidery hand.

'Dear Hermione,
It appears that our year will be another exciting one.
We have invited a new member to join our team to help train your wonderful D.A. The experience and enthusiasm of our new staff member is sure to infect you all with renewed energy.
We will be meeting at the usual place, three weeks before the start of term, to organize and begin training.
Professor Snape and Kingsley Shacklebolt will be visiting your home on Sunday, to meet with you and your parents, to answer any concerns they may have. I have offered them some scant details under a separate cover.
Enjoy the rest of the holiday with your parents, Hermione. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Regards
A. Dumbledore.'

Hermione was taken aback. It was a very casual and personal letter from her Headmaster. Something must be afoot.

"Hermione, what is going on?" Geoffrey demanded. This was still his daughter and she was in his home.

Hermione took a deep breath and looked her father squarely in the eye.

"Father, there are things happening in this world that people do not want to know about. Terrible things are being done by prejudiced, wicked people to innocents and the Government chooses not to interfere."

"Our Parliament, Hermione?" asked her incredulous father.

"The Ministry of Magic. There is some interaction between the government of the Muggle world and our world, but there is little or no information given to the Home office about what is going on in reality." Hermione now looked like the adult she was thanks to the time turner use.

"There has been an incursion in the Magical world that is threatening Muggles more and more." Hermione chose her words carefully. "Harry Potter is at the centre of the fight against those who seek to take over. Ron and I have been involved since our first year. Ginny was deeply involved, as soon as she started school."

"You never told us," he shook his head, "because you were afraid we would remove you from Hogwarts. Are your mother and I in danger Hermione?" Geoffrey was still trying to understand everything that had happened since Hermione had started school.

"Possibly, yes." she answered honestly. "That's why Snape and Shacklebolt are coming."

"It's a lot to take in, Hermione. What do we do now?" Geoffrey wondered how to tell Susan what Hermione had shared.

"Lets wait 'til morning and talk to the pair who are coming; they really are best placed to answer." Hermione really didn't want to tell him any more right now.

"Alright love, lets sleep on it for now." Geoffrey put his arm around her shoulder for a squeeze as they both headed upstairs to bed.

"Oh, one other thing Hermione? Who took the last of my single malt whiskey?" he asked, just as Hermione was about to enter her room.

She turned and looked at him with her trade mark lower lip being held between her teeth; the adolescent once more. Her father shook his head and went to bed.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday morning breakfast was, as Phaelan predicted, very quiet. Food had been returned to the kitchens, in favour of Ice water and black coffee by the ladies of the castle. When Phaelan finally arrived, she looked over at her guests of the previous evening and wondered at the magic world where a hangover could still exist.

"'Morning all." she called. "Have a good sleep?"

Phaelan deliberately ignored the foul looks delivered to her from across the able. It didn't help that she was filling her plate with Eggs Benedict, lathered in sauce.

"Mm, delicious." she managed to say around a mouthful of food. Pouring herself a large glass of juice, Phaelan looked around the table. "Are you all finished already?" she asked, innocently.

"Ye're a guy cruel woman, Phaelan McKenzie," groused Minerva over her cup of black coffee. "Ye didna give us fair warning about what that stuff was like."

"I thought you were all seasoned drinkers, the way you were enjoying it ladies. It was never my intention to ... push you past your limits.' Phaelan smiled.

Several pairs of eyes narrowed at her conclusion. It was true, they had done it to themselves.

"Serves us right for trying to keep up with Sibyll." muttered Sprout.

The doors to the Great Hall opened once more, to admit Dumbledore and Snape.

"A very good morning to you all," called the ever effusive Headmaster. Snape just kept silent as he approached.

Moving to his customary chair, Snape made to sit down but as he moved he jingled. The ladies heads snapped up all round the table.

"Severus, give them up," demanded Hooch, arching her black eyebrow.

"Whatever are you talking about, Rolanda?" asked a nonchalant Snape, while filling his plate with the same rich egg dish Phaelan was finishing.

"Severus Snape, you know I don't carry anything near as strong as you, so stop your little game and pass out the phials."

"Ladies, I have not the foggiest idea what you are talking about. Are you sure you're not still befuddled from your evening of revelry?" Snape mocked, while making a great show of eating his breakfast.

Phaelan knew she was watching a well rehearsed pantomime. All the players understood their parts and were just waiting to jump in.

"All right, Severus. What do you need? Tell me now before I plant something that might actually be useful to the kitchens," opened Professor Sprout.

"Pomona, you are ever generous. What could I have you might possibly want?" teased the Potions Master.

"Severus?" growled Pomona.

"Well, I went through an inordinate amount of lovage this last term, perhaps two trays?" Snape looked up through his curtain of hair.

"Done," Pomona answered.

"Two tickets to a Chudley Cannons home game," offered Hooch.

"My choice of dates," countered Snape.

"Done."

"All right, no bed bath the next time you're brought in next to death. You can lie in your sweat until you can shower," Madam Pomfrey offered an odd trade.

"And no bloody enemas," Snape came back.

"Not unless it is life or death," she promised. He nodded.

"I'll spot you fifty points for the start of the school year," spat McGonagall.

"A hundred," Snape came back.

"Sixty," she said. "Seventy five," he said. "Sixty five and not a bloody point more," finished Minerva.

"I'll take it," sneered Snape. He looked over at Trelawney, who had unusually joined them this morning.

"What about you Sibyll?" wondered Snape.

"Alas, poor me, I have nothing to offer, Severus," She bleated, looking very forlorn.

"An hour of your time; at my convenience," offered Snape.

"Oh, well, I don't know, Severus. I don't usually offer my favours to men in return for..."

"No, no Sibyll. I'm not interested in your...Favour's...." Snape exclaimed, with an inward shudder, "Just a professional consultation."

"Oh well, if that's all," agreed Sibyll, with a disappointed sulk crossing her face.

Reaching into his robes, Snape pulled out a pouch that tinkled when he placed it on the table.

"For you ladies; full strength, fast acting and, well, almost free." Snape sneered at the sour looks bestowed upon him.

The women passed the pouch around, each pulling out a small phial of a noxious looking green potion.

"What's that?" Phaelan asked.

"Hangover antidote," answered Snape downing the last of his coffee. "Why don't you need it?"

Phaelan smiled, "I might tell you some day."

Dumbledore stood, after remaining unusually quiet during breakfast. Leaning over the shoulders of Phaelan and Snape, he whispered, "Please join me in my office when you're finished."

Standing, he nodded to the table and left. Phaelan was confused. Snape seemed to know what was going on, but was not forthcoming.

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Harry was in the kitchen brewing tea. He was leaning over the counter, head in hand thinking about the previous evening. Behind him, he heard a tapping at the patio doors. It looked to be a Hogwarts owl. Opening the door, he stood aside to let the bird enter. It flew to the dining room table and held out its leg to which two letters were attached. Harry took the letters and fed the bird some bread. Opening the door again, Harry let the bird leave and turned his attention to the letters.

"Ron, we have mail from Hogwarts." Harry shouted, putting the letter addressed to Ron on the counter. At that moment, the cell phone rang.

Picking it up Harry answered. "Hello? Hermione, listen, I just got a letter from Dumbledore....What? Both of you?....Yeah I'm just opening it now. Hang on." Harry ripped open the envelope. "It says Lupin is coming later today to see Ron and me. I have to go to Grimmauld place as soon as my aunt and uncle are home...no loss there....She is? Really. Why did your dad contact Mr Weasley?" Harry listened to Hermione relate what had happened when she and Ginny arrived home.

Entering the kitchen, Ron mouthed 'Morning' to Harry as he walked to pour his tea. Looking around, Ron spotted his letter on the counter. He brought it and his tea to the table. Listening in to the one side of the conversation, Ron opened the letter which was basically a copy of the one Harry had received.

"Alright Hermione, I'll call you later. Bye." Harry hung up.

"What's happening mate?" Ron inquired.

"Ginny's going home today." Harry sat at the table with Ron. "It has nothing to do with last night exactly. Hermione's parents got a letter from Dumbledore about a threat to them."

"Poor Hermione," breathed Ron. "Good news is, I can still stay here until you go to Grimmauld place." He smiled over his mug of tea.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phaelan and Snape sat in the Headmaster's office, going over recent developments.

"It appears the ministry has a spy for Tom in its midst Severus. Any thoughts?" asked Dumbledore.

"It could be any number of people. Phaelan's registration was hardly top secret. The form would have passed though a number of hands." Snape clasped his hands in front of him.

"Yes, too true," agreed Dumbledore. "Well, it's just one thing less we need to keep undercover then." He shuffled some parchment on his desk coming, up with a red bound book.

"This is for you Phaelan; the Ministry syllabus for Muggle Studies. You will be required to sit a qualifying exam for your teaching license and the questions will be taken directly from this." He indicated the red book.

"I guess I'd better study it then. When is the exam?" asked Phaelan as she took the book and riffled through the pages.

"You will receive notice in the mail. I would wager they will schedule you quickly, to try and discredit you." Dumbledore looked at her over his trademark glasses. "You won't disappoint me, I'm sure."

"I will endeavour to bring honour to the school sir." Phaelan smiled. She expected it to be a breeze.

"Now," continued Dumbledore, "Severus, I know you have a task this afternoon but I want you to take Phaelan to Hogsmeade to set up her mail box and expense accounts. It shouldn't take long."

"If I must, Headmaster." Snape huffed, as if the task were physically exhausting. "Are you ready Miss McKenzie?"

"I just need my bag with identification and so forth. It'll just take a minute." Phaelan answered.

"Do hurry then, I have business to be about," Snape responded, assuming his imperious sneer.

"I'll meet you at the front doors," Phaelan snapped back, "If there's nothing else Headmaster?"

Dumbledore nodded his release and she left to get her belongings.

"Severus, must you be so harsh?" asked the old man.

"If I am tasked to keep her alive, I will choose the manner in which it shall be conducted." Snape stood. "There is already a charade to be acted out between us; I plan on making it believable." Snape nodded to the Headmaster, and left to wait for Phaelan.

Phaelan entered her rooms, ostensibly to get her wallet and bag, but she took the time to seek out the special case, containing her personal protection. She wasn't about to head off without some means of self-defence. She chose; the small knife with a sheath which fastened to her arm, a larger retractable knife in her bag, along with a retractable baton. Lastly, Pepper spray, concealed as cologne. Taking a look at herself in the mirror she took a deep breath and prepared to meet the Wizarding world.

Snape paced before the front doors; ten minutes he's had to put up with a female's need to preen today. He turned once more, to see her coming down the stairs. She appeared so guileless, too wholesome for the task assigned her. Intellectually, he knew differently but his body kept betraying him. 'Down boy' he thought, 'she was drunk last night.'

He took a deep breath, "About time. You'd think I had all day." Snape snarked, as he led the way out the front doors, which were open to the summer breeze.

Phaelan sneered at him. "A gentleman always offer's his arm to a lady." she chimed, "Don't you have any etiquette where you come from?"

Reaching out, Snape grabbed her arm and pulled her back to face him.

"Listen and listen well. We are about to play a very dangerous game. I for one, do not choose to die today. I have things to do." He took her face in his left hand before continuing.

"Do you know anything about Dominant Submissive behaviour Miss McKenzie?" Snape raised his eyebrows expectantly. She nodded.

"Very good," Snape purred, driving tremors down Phaelan's spine.

"You have just become a submissive in a group that defines the culture in its most extreme. Play your part well, or there will be consequences. If I am not satisfied with how you behave today, I will teach you and you will learn," threatened the Death Eater Snape.

Phaelan was momentarily stunned. She had not seen this Snape before. He was intimidating and thrilling. She felt the excitement ripple through her and tried to tamp it down.

The Potions Master was sensitive to the slightest change in his olfactory environment. He sensed the change in her pheromones and was puzzled.

Snape released her. "Follow one step behind at all times and address me as sir." he snarled over his shoulder, as he walked away.

"Yes sir." she replied meekly, and fell into step.

The walk to Hogsmeade was silent, as each gathered their thoughts. As she entered the village, Phaelan felt she had stepped into a story book. Buildings with walls askew, yet apparently sound in structure. Cottages, with picket fences surrounding small gardens, strewn with colourful flowers. Merchant signs hanging out over the street, with the traditional symbols of their trade displayed.

The first shop they entered was Gladrags, a clothing shop, where Phaelan obtained a catalogue and set up an account. Likewise, at the local book shop. The post office took a bit longer, as she was going to receive mail from overseas, but it was finally settled.

"I must visit the apothecary, to set up my contract for the coming year," advised Snape, as he dragged her down the street.

They stepped inside the shop and Phaelan thought she would loose her breakfast. The sensory overload of smells, threatened to overcome her. She had to get outside.

Opening the door, Phaelan exited and walked to the side of the building, lest she toss her cookies so to speak. A few deep breaths and she began to feel normal. It was then she remembered, she hadn't told him that she had needed to leave. Shit! Turning back, Phaelan intended to brave the shop once more. As soon as she turned, Phaelan walked into a solid wall of masculine chest.

"Well, what have we here?" The silken tones reminded Phaelan of Severus, but they were far more sinister.

Looking up, Phaelan beheld cold steel blue eyes that held no hint of warmth. She quickly stepped backwards to get space between her and the newcomer. He followed her. Phaelan kept moving, looking side to side quickly, to get her bearings. At the same time, she had her arms behind her, ready to release her knife as protection. Suddenly, she heard a voice call out.

"Brother, what do you dally with?" Snape approached the stranger. "Ah, I see you have retrieved my property, Lucius, thank you."

Snape walked to Phaelan without expression and struck her full across the face, sending her sprawling. As she sought to make sense and recover he stood over her.

"What did I warn you about? You dare defy me in my domain?" he demanded, as he watched her gather herself while on the ground. 'Let her play the game.' prayed Severus.

Phaelan managed to pull herself upright. "Forgive me, please sir. The odours, the fumes; I was not strong enough." She fell to her knees before Snape. "I have shamed you before your friend."

"Severus, I had no inkling. Show it to me," demanded the blue eyed man, as a sinister smile crept across his face.

Phaelan took a moment to regard the other man. He was coldly beautiful; blonde hair drawn into a pony tail; perfect tailoring and accessories. A fairy tale brought to life, except for his eyes.

Snape grabbed Phaelan by the hair at the nape of her neck and dragged her up before him. She kept her eyes downcast, as was correct for a submissive. He pulled her back against him and began a story which she was only dimly aware of, as he had begun to massage her breast. It was nonchalant; one might say an after thought. She became aware his attention had moved to her other breast, with his other hand. Suddenly, she felt her nipples being pinched painfully and she gasped aloud.

"You dare speak without my permission in the presence of your betters?" Snape demanded as he pinched even harder.

"Please sir, please master.....relief," she begged. The way he had grasped her, she could not kneel. The tears sprung to her eyes. Suddenly, she was released and she fell to her knees again. She was only vaguely aware of the blonde man leaving.

Before approaching her, Snape looked around. He walked over to the woman crouched on the ground, expecting tears of pain and shame. Instead, he became aware of her arousal; piquant and rich in the air.

"Phaelan...." Severus began, a confused frown replacing his usual scowl.

Looking at him with dry eyes, Phaelan tried to find words; they weren't there.
Phaelan could look at him no longer. She shook her head.

"Forgive me; I should have made it known, at least to you. I will tell Dumbledore he needs to find another" she now started to break down. "I'm sorry."

She became aware of strong arms gathering her up and walking out of town. They entered a structure which seemed to have a life of its own. Severus sat her on a bed. Suddenly, she saw a glass of water appear before her which she took and sipped.

"How long have you known?" inquired Snape.

"Since I was about 14, I guess." Phaelan sighed. At Snape's look she continued. "I had a coach who believed in corporal punishment." He looked confused.

"I was in figure skating, thanks to mommy and her dreams. It was fun sometimes but......" She sighed. "I had a world renowned coach who thought nothing of having me skate around the rink nude. If I had fallen during a jump or two, I had to sit on the ice while nude. If I disobeyed his strictures, I was paddled with a cut down hockey goal keeper's stick."

"How could someone like this be allowed to continue to teach you?" Snape was appalled.

"He brought home the gold medals. In the end that's all anyone wanted." Phaelan hung her head in shame. "I started to enjoy it."

"Phaelan, you have no need to feel shame over what you could not control. You were a child." Snape tried to picture the confidant woman before him, as a teen.

"What will you say to them when we get back to the castle?" she knew it was over.

"Them?" Severus snorted, "They have no notion of what it is to be used; to do things to survive as a person." Turning to Phaelan, her took her hand and pulled her to the door.

"Our mission is ours alone. What happens between us while executing our orders, is for us alone to know. They can go bugger themselves." He looked into her eyes with conviction waiting for her response.

"Alright, I agree. We need to talk more about how I am to deal with the Death eater's though." Phaelan felt the knot in her stomach loosen.

Snape nodded, as he led the way out under the Whomping Willow and back to the castle.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snape and Shacklebolt agreed to meet at Grimmauld Place prior to apparating to the Granger household. Kingsley had arrived first and awaited Snape's arrival on the front stairs.

"Ready old man?" asked the affable dark skinned auror.

"Let's get this over with," grumbled Snape.

They apparated in tandem, arriving almost simultaneously outside the Muggle home. Snape walked to the front door and knocked. After a short pause, the door opened to reveal Hermione Granger.

"Miss Granger, are your parents home?" requested Snape, in his best professorial voice.

"Yes sir. Please follow me." Hermione assumed a pose of superiority in her own home. She showed the way to an inner parlour, where her parents were seated before the fireplace.

"Mum, Dad this is Professor Snape and Kingsley Shacklebolt." she announced, as the men entered the room.

Geoffrey Granger stood to greet the two men, extending his hand, which they took.

"This is my wife Susan; she is Dr. Granger, as am I." Hermione's father felt the need to ensure the equality between he and his wife, was understood. The short visits they had made to Diagon Alley, made clear the place of married women in Wizarding society.

"Madam, Sir," began Snape, "You have, by now, read the headmaster's letter and I assume you have come to terms with the situation."

"Terms?" exclaimed Geoffrey. "How does one come to terms with the thought of a megalomaniac, who finds the existence of people like my daughter, an abomination? How can we quietly go about our business knowing our only child could be killed or enslaved by this man?"

Turning his back on the two men Geoffrey, fought to get his temper under control.

"Dr. Granger, your daughter has become a target for the forces of the Dark Lord, not solely because she is Muggle born," said Snape. "Even if she had been a pure-blooded witch, her intelligence and abilities have set her above others. Her choice of friends and willingness to fight on the side of light, has thus made her a very real threat to his victory."

"One of the tactics the Death Eaters use to demoralize and weaken the Muggle-born, is to seek out their families. They are kidnapped, tortured or murdered; sometimes all three." Shacklebolt explained. "The tactic is calculated to cast fear in our world and to turn sentiments against the Muggle born. It has had limited success, unfortunately."

"The Headmaster feels that you are in the greatest danger, due to the nature of the involvement of your daughter, in the movement against him." Snape crossed his arms in his copyright manner. "Our preference would be to remove you from this country altogether. If you are anything like your daughter, however, this option would probably not be acceptable to you."

At that moment, the flames in the fireplace turned green. Shacklebolt and Snape had each drawn their wands and pointed them at the hearth.

"Wait, we're expecting Arthur Weasley." call Susan from the sofa.

Arthur stepped through into the room, unsurprised at the presence of the two wizards. He had been briefed by the headmaster earlier that day.

"Severus, Kingsley." Arthur nodded a greeting to the pair. "Just here to pick up Ginny." He smiled at the Muggles, but he could see they were upset. "I'll just let her know I'm here." He walked out into the hallway and called up the stairs.

"I'm sorry, gentlemen. We have no reason to take our anger and fears out on you." Susan rose from her seat. "Can you explain a little of what you are about to do?" She felt a change of subject was in order, to defuse the situation.

What no one had realized, was that Hermione had stood outside the room listening to the conversation. When Arthur had come through the floo, she had taken the moment to move into the kitchen with a thought to making coffee.

Going through the motions, she let her mind analyse what was said. Once she had set the kettle on the gas stove, she sat in the nook. This was all her fault. She had put her parents in danger. Every adventure with the boys, every know it all gesture in class, her very existence, had placed her loving family in jeopardy.

"Hermione, I came to say goodbye." Ginny had just walked in. "I'm so sorry that I spoiled our time together."

Hermione stood and walked over to the red haired girl, who was her closest female friend. "Oh Ginny, we had some laughs; some good shopping too." Hermione smiled trying to lighten the mood.

'I don't think your parents said anything to my dad. He hasn't said anything." Ginny looked confused.

"There's more going on here than just you, Ginny. I'm trying to figure it out too." Hermione grabbed her friend in a bear hug. "I'll see you at Grimmauld Place soon." she added as she let Ginny go. With a small wave, Ginny left to floo home with her father.

The kettle was boiling on the stove. Hermione walked over and poured the water into the coffee press. She took down cups and saucers. From the larder, she brought out the company biscuits. Good imported chocolate biscuits and buttery shortbreads. Everything was laid out perfectly for company, just the way her mother preferred.

"I'll just turn the power off at the mains." She heard her father open the cupboard where the electric panel was hidden. At that moment, everyone seemed to invade the kitchen. Hermione looked over to see her parents standing together, her father's arm around her mother. The two wizards looked around and finally looked at her. It was as if a dam had burst within the young witch and everything she had hidden for years, overflowed in tears.

"I'm so sorry. Mum, Dad, I never wanted anyone to hurt you. It's all my fault; I should never have been such a show off; I should have just shut up. I should have just done enough to get by, just kept to myself, like I used to at school here." She threw herself at them in desperation.

"Please, do as they say. Just go away somewhere safe. You're dentists; you can make a new life away from me. I'll be alright. Please; it's all my fault." She dissolved into heaving sobs, inconsolable at the thought of her parents being in peril because of her.

Her mother pulled Hermione into her arms, tears flowing down her cheeks as well. Geoffrey put his arms around the two most important people in his life, at a loss how to make it all better.

"Miss Granger, you could no sooner change the person you are than stop the sun from rising every morning." Snape, though he would never admit it, was deeply moved at what he had just seen.

Hermione turned her tear streaked face towards him, still gulping back her sobs.

"The cream always rises to the top. Your brilliance would have shone through, it could never be repressed. You could not help but choose to be part of the fight to end oppression. It is in your very nature. You were placed in Gryffindor for a reason; do not try to be a Hufflepuff. It does not suit you. You are your parent's child."

He looked at Hermione for a moment more, before turning to Shacklebolt, "Come we'll start upstairs."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Minerva and Dumbledore were strolling along the bailey, arm in arm, enjoying the summer sun. The silence shared more meaningful than chatter. A shrieking noise shattered the air as it echoed off the walls around them.

"Gracious, Minerva what's that? Has the castle inherited a Banshee?" Dumbledore asked as he tried to place the sound.

"No, Albus. That particular noise started shortly after you gave the syllabus to Ms McKenzie." said Minerva archly,

Dumbledore looked at her in confusion. The sound came again, closer this time, just ahead. He and Minerva walked forward and looked around the corner. There, in one of the large cut out openings, sat Phaelan; a book in one hand, an apple in the other,

She appeared to read a passage and suddenly burst into laughter. Not a light titter but a great guffaw of laughter.

"Ms McKenzie, what ever are you reading to cause such merriment?" asked Dumbledore.

"Oh, Professor's, I didn't know you were about, sorry if I disturbed you." Phaelan smiled.

"It's this syllabus, you gave me. I don't know who wrote it but it's so ridiculous, it's funny. I mean, and I quote,

'The Automobile has become the common religion among Muggles the world over. Families purchase bigger automobiles as their family size increases. Obviously, the bigger icon is a phallic symbol, announcing the prowess of the male of the family. In fact many families now may own two of the revered icons and can be seen at worship together, ritually bathing the automobile on weekends. One wonders what other practises might be enacted in their homes, if Muggles encourage children to enjoy squirting water on each other, over their representation of successful fornication.'

"What imbecile wrote this shit? You can't seriously expect me to use this drivel as a guide line to teach by." declared an exasperated Phaelan.

"Unfortunately, the ministry exams are based directly off this book, as is yours and the imbecile in question is currently our Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge." Answered Dumbledore.

"Heavens preserve us from an self-described, intelligent politician." responded Phaelan.