—————H—————

The headmaster's office had never been the Order of the Phoenix's headquarters, or even one of its meeting places. But the remaining members of the original Order were still crammed in there.

Molly and Arthur sat on a sofa with Minerva beside them. Sirius was in a chair with Remus standing behind him, the former still not quite recovered from his ordeal. Alastor Moody stood with his back to the window, walking stick in hand.

Her husband stood at the mantel, turned away but listening attentively. Just beside him was Kingsley Shacklebolt, looking out of place. But there were so few of them left after the first war...

"Mrs. Snape," Albus said in his kindly, condescending way. "While I think it's fantastic that you've managed to get Sirius down to—what did you call it? 'Time served'? As brilliant as that is, Harry cannot be allowed to go to Grimmauld Place when the school year is done."

"Sirius is Harry's legal and rightful guardian according to the Ministry," Hermione argued, fighting the urge to pull the papers from her bag and shove them in his face. "And since he's a wizard, it's the best option to relocate Harry with him."

"For the best, but not the greater good."

"How so?" she challenged. "Sirius has done no wrong except try to avenge his friends. In fact, I think it's safe to say that I'm not the only one in this room who knew Sirius was not Secret Keeper before Lily and James were killed."

All eyes went to Severus and he sneered.

"I thought Black was a traitor as much as any of you. I think my wife is referring to our esteemed leader," he said casually, and Hermione was quite close to snickering.

All eyes swiveled to Dumbledore, who had the good sense to change his grin to appear contrite.

"I confess Lily and James did consider changing their Secret Keeper and taking Sirius' suggestion to appoint Peter. However, I did not feel the need to inform the Order of the change, as their location was to be unknown by all."

"And yet with a bit o' disclosure, Sirius coulda had a proper trial," Minerva pointed out. "He'd have gone to Azkaban, but not for so long."

"And maybe Harry could have gone with him when he was released," Molly added.

Dumbledore shook his head. "No. It is imperative that Harry return to his aunt's home."

"And why is that?" Sirius asked bitterly.

"Peter has escaped and is no doubt already trying to find a way to bring Voldemort back," Dumbledore explained, and Severus hissed at the name, clutching his left arm. "Pardon me, Severus. Tom."

Severus rolled his eyes, massaging his arm, as he drifted closer to his wife.

"I hate to point this out," Remus started, "but there have been others who've tried before him. In this very school. I must confess that Harry has told me much during our evening chats, and this was his only year at Hogwarts that he didn't encounter You-Know-Who in some way or another."

"Thank you," Severus murmured from over her shoulder, and Remus gave the slightest of nods.

Dumbledore sighed. "It is true, unfortunately. But that was not what we were discussing. It is imperative for Harry to return to the Dursleys because of the blood ward, the protection Lily Potter cast when she jumped between Harry and Tom."

"Blood ward?" Severus said condescendingly. "As in the bond of blood?"

"Indeed."

"Then you're a fool if you think that has protected Potter all these years. It's the fact that he's been in the Muggle World that has kept him safe, and now that he has been reintroduced to our world, it's null."

"Severus, you know that magic like that cannot be so easily broken," Dumbledore said as he glanced at Severus' arm. "The bond of protection is carried through Lily's sister. She took him in, and so the charm took."

"But she did so unwillingly," Hermione reminded him.

"He is her sister's child, left on her doorstep. She took him in willingly," Dumbledore said with certainty.

"No, I'm quite sure she didn't," Hermione retorted.

"I'd have to agree with H., Albus," Minerva said. "I was there. I watched her open the door, shriek and curse as she realized that the milkman had already been by."

"But she took him in," Dumbledore said with that twinkle in his eye.

"Just because we do something does not mean we do it willingly," Remus noted.

"Petunia Dursley has always been about her image," Severus said. "In fact, I believe the only reason she let me into her home was because the sight of me on the doorstep would make the neighbors talk." He caught Hermione's eye as she frowned. "Yes, dear?"

"When did you go to the Dursleys'?" she asked.

He bowed his head.

"It was ... after the funeral," he said softly. "I took Aurora. You were ..."

"I remember," she said softly, recalling how James and Lily were not their only losses that night.

Severus nodded. "She was not pleased to see me, less so that I hadn't come for Potter, and that I had my own child with me. I went to warn her that Potter had best arrive at Hogwarts healthy and well-cared for. I doubt she listened, considering he was as small as I was when I started."

Molly was gearing up to rant on Harry's need for a good filling out when she was cut off by an eerily calm, "How did you get in?"

Everyone turned back to Dumbledore. There was no glint in his eye, no smile on his lips. His hands were flat on the desk instead of folded, his back straight in his chair.

"I knocked, she answered," Severus replied.

"Your Dark Mark shouldn't have allowed you near the threshold," Dumbledore said, his voice deepening with rage.

"Ah, he finally gets it," Severus said, taking one step away from Hermione's chair. "Blood wards, unless laden with Dark Magic, are not guaranteed. They rely a great deal on intent, and Petunia Dursley had no intention of keeping Potter."

"There was a letter left with Harry, explaining it all."

"And that was your way of sneaking him into the house? A letter? And did you think your words were suddenly going to soften that cold heart and make her love him as her own? She despised her sister because of a fluke of nature. Lily and I were freaks at every turn, and she refused to attend Lily's wedding because she was marrying a wizard. She'd have been surrounded by them. Has anyone asked Potter what his home life is like?" He turned to Hermione. "You can speak freely now. Do you remember?"

"Why do you think I was so intent on working Sirius' case?" she asked, not wanting to test her newfound freedom in front of the man who took it away.

"The boys said that they were starving him, put bars on his window," Molly said, wringing her hands. "And last year, when we met up with him in Diagon Alley, I overheard him telling the children why he ran off."

"Best that we go through with H.'s plan, Dumbledore," Alastor said, nodding in her direction while he looked at Albus. "Grimmauld's Secret-Kept, and it woulda kept working for the Potters if Pettigrew weren't the rat he is."

"Literally," Sirius grumbled.

"And I trust, Albus, that you aren't going to share its location with anyone of questionable nature?" Minerva asked, and Hermione nearly giggled at the way she arched her brow and crossed her arms, staring down at the older wizard.

"No, my dear, on that you can trust." Dumbledore's placid smile returned, and he eased back into his chair. "It appears that I have been overruled. I will concede that, perhaps, the blood bond was not as strong as I thought. Harry may go with Sirius so long as it is kept to those in this room."

"No," Arthur said. "I believe his friends should know as well."

Dumbledore hesitated.

"What's the matter?" Alastor asked.

"Why, it's the same issue he had twenty years ago: a snake amongst the lions," Severus growled.

"Oh," Remus said with a hint of bitterness, Sirius looking between the two men before looking at Hermione with confusion.

"A snake?" Arthur asked.

"Draco Malfoy has been making nice with Potter since the beginning of the year. When he can, anyway," Severus replied.

"You realize that Harry'll tell them anyway," Sirius pointed out. "Regardless of who they are, he's going to tell his friends he's living with me. How else will he keep in touch with them over the summer? And wouldn't his aunt and uncle give up the information the second one of them tries to contact him? That will just make them panic."

"And without Hermione's influence, they'll charge off looking for him." Molly sighed. "I'm going to miss that girl; she was good for them."

"Can't miss her too much," Sirius remarked, receiving a cuff on the head from Remus

"So long as the exact location is not disclosed to the children, would that suffice?" Severus asked the room in general. "Letters addressed to Harry Potter, Grimmauld Place will still arrive, and he may Floo to and from the Burrow without issue, I'm sure."

"What of Malfoy?" Arthur asked.

Severus smirked. "He's not foolish enough to extend or request an invitation."

"Then I think we've settled it," Alastor said.

"I believe we have, so long as those in this room are completely comfortable with the changes. I would hate for something to happen and we come to find out someone does not agree with the changes we've made to Harry's life."

No one said anything. No one even flinched. Hermione was pleased to know that Harry's choice in friends was not going to overshadow or sway the popular opinion that he needed to be away from the Dursleys.

"Then since we all agree, we should have some refreshments. The elves made a splendid lemon cake for dinner, I'm sure there should be plenty left over."

—————S—————

"We should schedule it," Hermione said thoughtfully as she sat on the floor with her head against Severus' leg. She was surrounded by parchment, textbooks, her planner, and various colored inks, her disaster far too great to be contained to the couch where he was content to simply sit and make notes in his books, his ink floating off to his left, a second textbook doing the same near his head.

"Schedule what?" he asked absently, trying to figure out a downside to crushing a sopophorous bean rather than slicing it.

"The day you take my virginity," Hermione said, and he nearly struck through the entire page with his quill. He gaped at her, watching as she continued with her exam prep as if she had only asked him when he'd like to stop for tea.

"Shall we color-code it as well?" he asked, testing to see if she realized how absurd she was being.

"I don't think that's necessary," she said, before huffing. "No, I can't study Arithmancy at the same time as Runes," she muttered to herself, making a quick scratch with her quill over the first draft of her schedule.

Severus continued to stare at the back of her head, wondering if maybe the pressure of exams had gotten to her head.

Admittedly, they'd been getting closer to that happening than either of them had anticipated. While time alone was scarce with not just Lily, but Lupin and Black always finding their way to where they were, the time they did have together was used well. Hogsmeade was always a date, and there were times when Severus would rather brew or Hermione would rather read. But when they were feeling very much like normal teenagers deeply in love (though it had yet to be voiced), they were quite physical. It was about two months after Severus' birthday when the first article of clothing was removed, and two weeks after that when they mapped one another's bodies with a full view of the landscape.

He'd hated the experience, and hoped he never had to do it again with anyone else. Not because he didn't like what he saw, he was pretty sure that there was nothing better in the world than the sight and feel of Hermione. It was his own unveiling that he loathed. She may have seen him without a shirt over the summer, but it had been hot and miserable, and he didn't much care when he was certain she had no attraction to him to begin with. But fearing losing her attention when he bared himself, the scars on his legs and back from a rough childhood, had had him ruining most of the moments they had together. They would get to his disrobing and he'd find himself hiding behind his Occlumency shields. An argument would always ensue, same things said on both sides, and then they would redress and focus on academics while pointedly not speaking to one another.

It was always during these moments the others would find them, Black only gaining access to the lab when he'd sworn he wouldn't breathe a word to the other two.

But after each encounter, the subsequent was easier, and now if they were naked, he no longer thought of what she might think, he merely thought of her.

Intercourse was the last thing they had yet to broach, and while he admittedly initiated some of the activities beforehand (by her agreement only), he wasn't about to ask for that . He was perfectly content with all the other stuff they were doing.

Severus tried to fathom why she was trying to control the event, and when he simply couldn't understand, he said, "Hermione, I'm not sure I understand."

She looked up at him, a wicked grin on her face. "I want you to make love to me. But we should decide the best time to do so."

"Why?" he asked, still not sure he understood why she was so adamant. "All the other moments of intimacy we've had have been spontaneous."

"I've received dozens of letters from Delia since Oliver was born," she said, throwing him for a loop. "She carries on about how wonderful he is, how beautiful, and how she's so pleased to finally be a mother. But there are moments where she spaces out or dozes off. Lines on the parchment or blots of ink. And she tends to repeat herself. As wonderful as I'm sure motherhood is, I'm hardly ready for it. I am, however, quite ready to express my affection to you physically. As talented as you are, I need more."

Severus smirked, straightening his tie and sat a bit taller.

"I could ask Madam Pomfrey for the charm, but I've researched the best methods of contraception in the wizarding world, and the potion is considered the most reliable."

"And you want me to have adequate time to brew it," he said with a dawning understanding.

She smiled. "I have no doubt that it's no coincidence that the fourth through seventh year potion kits have all the ingredients to make the potion. And to find the recipe would be easy enough."

"I could just brew it ahead of time. It keeps for six months."

"I suppose that could work," she said thoughtfully. She sighed, and then looked at the papers around her. "But it would be quite nice to know. I mean, what if we decide to do so in the middle of exam time?"

Severus gave a loud "Ha!" which earned him an angry, confused glare. "Hermione, I'm already aware that there won't be so much as a hug during exams. It's our O.W.L.s. You were a terror last year with just basic end-of-year testing, I'm fairly certain I will not find you attractive for the first two weeks of June."

" Thank you for that, Severus," she grumbled.

He loved it. He loved provoking her in little ways, and it didn't take him long to realize he always had. From their earlier, barely-existent friendship, he loved goading Hermione just enough to fluster her. It was far too early to think such things, but he thought it anyway: he wanted to fluster her for the rest of their lives.

There was a loud knock on the door.

"Clothes on! We're coming in in five—" Black shouted through the door, and Severus waved his wand at it before the idiot could get to four.

Black took in the scene and sighed. "Blimey, you two are the most boring people in a relationship I've ever seen. You're always so proper. Where's the fun?" Black asked as he hopped onto a tabletop, grinning mischievously.

"Not everyone feels the need to be naked all the time, Sirius," Lupin said with a sigh, offering an apologetic smile to Hermione before sitting by Severus.

"Lily's not coming?"

"She, er, had a date," Lupin said, glancing at Black.

"Did she finally accept a date with James?" Hermione asked.

"No," Lupin sighed.

"Which is precisely why I'm here with Moony and not tagging around with the much more exciting two. James is in a snit. Lily is currently walking the grounds with a Hufflepuff. Don't know his name, think he's a seventh year. Looks..." At this, Black got noticeably uncomfortable.

"He looks like you, Severus. With glasses," Lupin said.

"And clean hair," Black added swiftly.

"Unnecessary, Padfoot," Lupin admonished.

"Do I dare ask why you call each other such foolish names?" Severus asked, seeing Hermione tense out of the corner of his eye. So, there was something significant about the names. Did she know?

"Just names we came up with. Some have deeper meaning than others." He sized Severus up. "If I were to give you a name, something no one would relate to you, I would pick—"

"Padfoot," Lupin said in warning.

"Snake," Black said with what Tobias would call a shit-eating grin.

"How original," Severus sneered.

"Well, let's see you come up with something better." Black huffed and crossed his arms.

"Prince," Hermione said. "For your mother."

"I would never associate 'Prince' with you," Black said. He then frowned. "Wait, Prince. That's an old wizarding name. You're half-blood?"

"Yes. A half-blood Prince, if you will." Severus rolled his eyes. "Though only if my mother sheds her husband's name and reclaims hers."

"Huh," Black said. "Interesting. Wormtail thought you were Muggle-born."

"Does it make a difference?" Severus asked, feeling Hermione's hand snake up his leg in comfort. "The four of you thought I was less than all of you. Is that why you were so keen on making my life hell? I existed?"

"No," Black said vehemently.

"Yes," Lupin said. "But not in that way. It had nothing to do with blood status."

"Social status, then," Hermione spoke up. "After all, I boarded the train in hand-me-downs as well, but from a middle-class family. I didn't have a Muggle name, but a wizarding one that hasn't been heard in Britain for some time. It never occurred to you lot that I might be poor o—" she was cut off abruptly, and Severus was on his knees in front of her. Her eyes locked on his and soothed her until she breathed easier.

"Blimey, are you alright?" Black asked.

"She's fine," Severus said as Hermione ducked her head and rested it against his chest. "An attack, is all."

"What causes that?" Lupin asked. "This is the second one she's had this year."

"It's nothing," Hermione managed to say, lifting her head to wave them off. "I get them from time to time. Always have"

"And there's no cure for it?" Lupin asked.

"Only time," Hermione replied, and he held her just a bit more snuggly. He wondered how much time she would need, the image he'd glimpsed of himself fuzzy at best, and fading from his memory. He knew he was older; he just didn't know by how much. He just hoped she wouldn't have to wait too long.

—————H—————

He just needs time, Hermione thought to herself. He just needs time to process, and then things will be fine.

And she really, really wanted to believe that.