Never Piss Off a House-Elf

Hermione dragged herself into the kitchen for the assuredly protracted lecture Molly would give her. Minerva had given her a quick hug, and Hermione sighed. Her friends were elsewhere, and the Order had scatter to the winds again, even though she knew they'd be back for dinner.


The kitchen door was open into the hallway, and the back door to the outside was also open. Hermione looked from the door she had entered to the back door, but then she felt a strange tug.


Don't even try to escape. She's already started lecturing me. You start for that door and I'llcome after you, the voice in her head said. Hermione looked to her fiancé and glared. She knew that Severus Snape had great Occlumency and Legilimency powers, but she wasn't counting on him using it on her.


"Hermione, what do you have to say about this?" Molly said, her voice pinched and high.


"It didn't go how I had planned," Hermione said, her eyes trained on Molly's. The older woman pursed her lips and shook her head.


"Hermione, you shouldn't have done anything until you'd come to the Burrow," Molly said, and Hermione looked at her incredulously.


"And when I arrived at the Burrow earlier, I saw the feather and was summoned here. I noticed that no-one left me a note or contacted me. Please don't pick a fight with me, Ma'am," Hermione said, her voice a bit cold. Molly was one of her favorite people, but it had been a long day.


"Hermione, did you speak with Albus? What can we do to fix this?" Molly said, changing tacks.


"We don't, Madam," Snape said, and Molly glared at him. "We have already spoken to Albus. This is binding. Perhaps if your youngest son had taken the initiative. . . "


Molly blanched. If Ron had set things right with Hermione, she'd be planning yet another Weasley wedding. After Severus said that, things quickly degenerated into platitudes and tears, at least on Molly's part. Hermione was busy examining her betrothed. He'd come to her aid, albeit probably for his own hearing, and he was bemusedly listening to Molly's ranting and tears. Finally, Molly threw up her hands.


"I have a dinner to make. But I want to speak with you about this later, Hermione. And if either of you have need of advice, Arthur and I are at your service," Molly said in a tired voice. "Hermione, please send Ginny in."


Hermione froze in her escape. "Um, I don't think she wants to see me right now. I said something she didn't like. But I'll see if I can find her."


Severus and Molly watched Hermione leave. The woman turned to the Potions Master and glared at him.


"Have you anything to say for yourself?" Molly asked, hands on hips.


"Don't burn dinner in your anger," Severus said, leaving to follow Hermione. They needed to talk again.


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"Ginny, your mum's home and she wants you down in the kitchen," Hermione said, standing outside the door to the bedroom she shared with Ginny. She could hear Harry and Ron in there as well, and she felt her loneliness acutely. "I'm sorry, Ginny, Ron. You know how much I love your mum. I didn't mean what I said."


Silence greeted her. Hermione laid her head against the door. She sighed heavily, and great big tears welled up in her eyes.


"Not that I haven't had a long day, one that changed everything I ever planned for myself. No, I said something that you two took the wrong way, so you run and hide. Well, I can't run and hide. You're fucking cowards. Can't even face me to accept a sincere apology. Damn it, you're my friends. MY FRIENDS!" Hermione sobbed against the door, her body shaking in fear and anger. She sobbed and sobbed until a pair of strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her away from the door, turning her around until her face was pressed against soft, black robes. She looked up and Severus Snape was staring down into her eyes, black burning into honey.


"We need to talk, and you need to be away from this place. Close your eyes, Miss Granger," he said, wrapping his outer cloak around Hermione, shielding her as she felt the strange magic.


POP!


The door opened and Ron peered out, his eyes wide and red. He looked up and down the hall, seeing the little puff that disapparation left behind.


Turning back into the room, Ron scowled blackly.


"They've left. Together."


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AN: Short, I know. The next one will be longer, and set at Spinner's End. More house-elves and discussion. Maybe someone's honor will even falter.