Hermione's New World

AN: Sorry if this chapter seems boring...please tell me what you like the most and the last...I've got a bit written for the next chapter, and who knows what will stay or get improved - and of course, elaborated on. Big thanks and hugs for all the awesome reviews I get for this story...I've got a new "adult" story out. Hermione and the Wraith...please read and let me know what you think. To see my lovely wraith, visit the HPFF site and look under Avanell 2, and leave your reviews at either/both site ;)

Chapter 13: Getting Used to a Whole Lot

Charlie woke up with one hell of a hangover. He reached over to a readied hangover potion and downed it in one gulp. Reaching for another vial, he tossed it at his brother’s bed. The two had both stayed over at Grimmuald Place, sharing a room together.

Bill grumbled waking up from the hit he took on the shoulder. “Bloody hell, mate. What time is it?”

Charlie laughed. “Early enough, or late enough when you’re usually up at this hour getting ready for another day on the dragon plains.”

“Yeah, keep telling yourself that.” Bill opened his vial and drank it. “So, what are you going to do?”

“About what?” Charlie asked.

“The lovely Mayla.” Bill replied.

“Don’t shite me, Bill. That woman is a menace.”

“Yeah, and you used to think Fleur was bad. But you have to admit, she is beautiful!”

“You don’t really want Fleur to hear that, do you mate?”

“Seriously, my dear brother, you should be warned. That woman doesn’t know the meaning of the word no.”

“Speaking from experience?”

“Bloody hell, no, but I have had the unpleasant experience of watching her work. And let me tell you, you have your work cut out for you. The last bloke she didn’t fancy nearly as much as she’s been taken by you, and that poor fellow was married, too!”

“Lucky for me, Hermione…” He was cut off by a rap on the door.

“Bill? Are you up already?”

Bill went up to let his wife in. He kissed her sweetly on the cheek. “Morning, love.”

She smiled back at him. “Morning. I just came to warn you that Albus is here, he wants to meet with you boys and your father. Molly and I have been up for nearly an hour, she went to fetch Arthur herself.” (author reminder…I can’t write the French accent! So just fake it in your reading)

Fleur had just turned to exit the room as Mayla popped her head in.

“Good morning, Weasleys!” She called out in a sing-song voice. She then walked in, never mind that Fleur was trying to close the door and walked straight over to Charlie, who was still lying in bed.

“Well, you’re certainly the early riser.” She giggled. “Now, we just need to get dressed.” She said not the least bit embarrassed about her own state of attire, which consisted of a baby-doll nightgown. It had magical birds chirping a sweet song on it.

“Mayla…” Fleur said in a strict tone. “I will not leave you in here while my husband gets dressed.”

Mayla pouted, then exited the room, but not without turning back to give the boys a wink. “See you downstairs, Charlie.”

Meanwhile, Remus and Tonks were enjoying a pleasant breakfast alone in the suite he was sharing with Sirius. Even though he wasn’t teaching there anymore, Albus had insisted that he stay there occasionally for Order business and to help students with NEWT preparation.

“Dora, I was wondering if you have noticed…well, the attention Sirius seems to be giving Mrs. Granger.”

Tonks nodded. “And Snape, too.”

“What?” Remus almost yelled.

Tonks smirked. “Didn’t you notice the way he was glaring at Sirius for staring at her?”

“Well, yes, but love, he always smirks at Sirius.”

“I know, but this might be different.” She said as she cut a piece of boiled plum and brought it to her mouth.

“How so?” He himself took a bite of his eggs and toast that he had scrunched together.

“Well, for one Rosalyn told me he, as in Severus, was an absolute gentleman to her when they were alone the other night.”

Remus frowned. “That doesn’t have to mean anything. Snape…Severus can be hospitable or friendly when he wants.

“I’d say he was more being friendly than hospitable.”

“But after all she’s been through, he could…”

“No, I believe I am right about it. Besides, you didn’t see her blush when she told me.”

“What?!!”

Tonks waited to answer and took a sip of her juice. “She did indeed. Now the poor lass is still recovering from losing her husband, but I think she was hiding something. No worries, I’ll eventually get it out from her.”

“Not too soon, I hope?”

“No, just don’t go encouraging Sirius or anything. I don’t think she would want to give him any false hopes.”

“Good morning, Professor Snape.” Hermione called out to her father in his dungeon classroom. She wasn’t sure if anyone else was about, even though most students would never dare approach their Potions professor’s class before time.

“Good morning, Ms. Granger. Please do shut the door behind you.” He drawled. He waited as she did so. “Here to start your apprenticeship already?”

Hermione paused to let him put a locking and silencing charm on the door. “With class ready to begin in half-an-hour? No, I just wanted to make sure about our schedule, I don’t see you until tomorrow?”

Snape shook his head. “No, you’ll actually be starting tonight. Albus didn’t want anyone to see on your schedule that we will be meeting twice a week after supper, from 7:30 until around ten.”

Hermione nodded. “That makes sense. But what about…er,”

“The nights I might get called to a Deatheater’s meeting?”

“Yes…what should I do then?”

“Come anyway. We will be working on several potions that will need your attention, especially when I’m gone. I’ve already set the doors to both my classroom and quarters to open for you.” He paused for a moment. “You may also use them to have time with your mother, in case Tonks is about in their quarters and you need the privacy.”

“That’s wonderful! Thank you!”

“Yes, of course. Now, did you have the opportunity to speak with her?”

Hermione nodded again. “Yes, just after you gave me her message. Any other instructions?”

Severus smirked. “Yes.” He went into his office to retrieve something. He came back holding a cloak. “Use this invisibility cloak when you come in the evenings. I can’t have anyone seeing you. And I can’t always expect that Potter’s will be available.”

Hermione looked at him stunned. “You…you know?”

“I do. Don’t think I don’t know about all the times you three have gone cavorting off beneath it! Although I must say, Weasley really needs to remember how tall he is.”

Hermione laughed. “I’ll have to remind him of that again. Thank you.”

With that she turned to leave.

“Oh, and one more thing.” He said to her, causing her to pause at the door. “I really would like to see that blasted map again.”

As Mayla got out of the shower and prepared to dress, she thought of Charlie and how she would get him into her bed. She’d been wanting to meet him for awhile, as she’d figured that one of Bill’s brothers had to be as gorgeous as he was. And she was right. She always knew Bill was out of bounds, not only was he with Fleur but they had discovered him to be her Veela mate. Since the Veela blood wasn’t strong in either of the girls, it had taken awhile to figure that part out. Nor did Fleur know if she even had a mate.

Fleur had confided to Mayla that she realized it the first time the two made love. She had marked him unaware of what she was doing, and had been overjoyed at the discovery.

Mayla thought of the conversation she’d had with Fleur late last night and smirked.

“But Mayla, he is taken. He has a girlfriend.” Fleur told her as she lay down on her small bed.

The blonde veela laughed and went to fluff her pillow. “Like that’s stopped me before.”

Fleur frowned. “She is not like other girls, no, she is quite brilliant. She would hex you in ways you never thought of before.”

“But she’s just a muggle-born, you told me, she can’t possibly know how to.” Mayla remarked as she plopped down on her bed.

“You are mistaken, my cousin. She has helped Harry Potter on many occasions.”

“Oh? Is she an Order member?”

Fleur didn’t look like she was going to divulge any more information. In fact, she merely pulled her covers over her and turned for sleep. Mayla shrugged, then lay down herself, not bothering to cover herself up.

Mayla looked into the mirror one last time before going downstairs where another Order meeting was to take place. The meetings had been planned almost conference style, yesterday was more of an overview of recent events. Today they were to discuss strategies that could prove distracting for the Dark Lord, especially from Harry Potter. Professor Snape was supposed to join them at the end of the day, to listen and give his own input once his classes were done.

She shuddered as she thought about the man, event though she’d never met him. Hearing about the only spy the Order had within Voldemort’s circle was enough to make anyone cringe. She straightened out her robes, which she left open to show the stylish outfit she wore, and left the bathroom.

It was later that day that Snape appeared at Order Headquarters with his robes billowing about him. He strode into the room with an air of confidence, not minding that the Order members were in deep discussion.

Charlie and Kaitlyn, another new member, were whispering in some secret debate. Mayla frowned at the attention Charlie seemed to be giving this other woman, but then she remembered hearing that Kaitlyn had a younger boyfriend. In fact, Kaitlyn was a half-blood, so she couldn’t be Charlie’s girlfriend.

Charlie happened to look around the room as Snape walked in, catching Mayla’s eye. She winked at him. He frowned, then turned his attention to the Hogwarts professor.

As the room hushed, it was Arthur Weasley that gave accounts of the day, letting Snape know the ideas that others had made, specifically those worth pursuing. The professor kept a frown on his face the entire time. “And what idiot thought that devising a plan to take place in Hogsmead might be most fruitful?” He asked with a sneer.

A man about Bill’s age lifted a wavering hand.

“And you thought picking a location where students frequent was a good idea? Have you any idea how many students sneak out on non-visiting days and could most easily be captured? I should point out, that most of these foolish students are fourth and fifth years, trying to impress their peers. Never mind that on occasion, Harry Potter is one of these students.” Not to mention Hermione, he thought to himself.

The man lowered his hand as Tuk, who was the notekeeper for this session, crossed out the idea on the “list”.

Snape went over and snatched the list out from in front of Tuk and read the rest. He glared at the group once he finished. “None of these are worth pursuing.” He turned to Arthur, who was the leader of the group meetings. “Perhaps you and I should go discuss other ideas.”

Arthur nodded, his face slightly red with embarrassment, and he dismissed the others. Snape watched as he noticed a young blonde woman, who looked a bit like Fleur and as if she had Veela blood in her, give Charlie a look. He scowled, knowing about his daughter’s relationship with the young man. Lucky for Charlie, he seemed to ignore the young woman. I’ll have to keep my eye on her, Snape thought disdainfully. He and Arthur then went to a more private area, which was in the basement near the Black family’s collection of Dark Arts books.

Snape wasted no time. “I have another idea,”

He quickly went over the basis of an idea forming since earlier when Hermione had shown up at his class for fourth years. He hadn’t time to discuss it with her, as she would need to be involved. “If Hermione agrees, which I am sure she will most willingly, we’ll need to bring her here for one of the upcoming meetings.”

Arthur raised a brow. He knew full well that Hermione was an Order member, but she, along with Tonks, Sirius, and Black, were currently focusing on other matters with Dumbledore. Snape and Arthur were supposed to keep the group at Hogwarts updated whenever necessary. Arthur also had noticed Mayla’s attentions to Charlie, and wondered if Severus had already noticed after having been in the woman’s presence for only a few minutes. He sighed inwardly, things could get messy. And the Order could do without any problems that might ensue. Still, Hermione was a force herself. And it looked like her research with Charlie during the summer would come into play sooner than they all thought.

Hermione sighed in frustration at the papers she was in the middle of grading. School had just begun and Snape had already given his famous back-to-school in-class paper on the very first day. But he was right…most of the students were Dunderheads. Am I really so like him to think that? She wondered. Sighing, she went to tackle the rest of the papers.

After a few more were done she decided to take a quick break and brought out a snack she’d made herself from the kitchen in the common room she shared with Draco. Her thoughts quickly went to Charlie. She missed him already. She sat back in her hair and remembered their time in the Weasley’s broomshed, just after she learned her father, the one she’d grown up with, had been killed by Deatheaters. Happy thoughts quickly turned to sorrow and tears came flowing out of her eyes. She still couldn’t believe it. He was gone. Just after she found she had another father, her biological one.

She wondered if that made things easier, but death could hardly be easy. No, it just made things more comforting. To know that she had another parents to go to. And Snape…Severus seemed willing to be that person. Despite having been such an evil git to her and her friends, she’d welcomed him eagerly. Accepted him. She smiled, wiping the tears away, at how eager he seemed to welcome her into his life. Well, to a point. But she wasn’t picky, and she knew life had been hard for the spy.
Rosalyn was lost wandering the halls, trying to find Severus. Actually, she was trying to find Hermione, but she couldn’t just go asking anyone where her daughter was without raising suspicion. Almost a week had passed since school began, and Hermione had spent most of her time helping out professors such as Minverva and Severus with their duties. She had tried to hide it from her classmates, but it had taken her fellow seventh year Gryffindors to figure out that she wasn’t in most of their classes. The professors had worked it out so that she only appeared in each class once a week and made herself available for tutoring during several study periods for the younger students.


Rosalyn tried to figure out where she was, she knew she was in the dungeons. How difficult is it to locate Severus? She mused to herself. Sirius, who had been trying to talk with her back in the great hall, had offered to show her the way. She politely declined, assuring him that she knew the way. She knew that he liked her, but didn’t want to lead him on. She was still getting over her husband, and that incident had led her to meeting the man who had fathered her precious daughter.

Her eyes lit up when she saw two students up ahead. “Excuse me, could you tell me where Professor Snape’s classroom is?” She asked when they drew nearer.

A dark skinned boy with flowing ebony hair gave her a slight smirk as his eyes looked over her form. She hadn’t gotten used to wearing robes, a black set with red embroidery that Tonks had lent her, and they were left open showing her muggle clothes. Black slacks and a grey, wool sweater that were rather form fitting. Black heeled boots completed her ensemble.

“Well, of course we could show you, Ms. Grant. But what’s the rush?” He asked with a gleam in his eye.

His tall, gangly companion with sandy colored hair snickered. “We could always show you say, more interesting classrooms.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary.” She said, her nerves obvious. “But I do need to speak with Professor Snape. He…he’s expecting me.”

“Oh, I doubt that.” The dark one replied. He reached for her hand and yanked it toward him. “Why play with an old professor, when you can surely play with us? We could give you…something…to write about.” He snaked his other arm around her curves. “You look like a woman with an appetite.” He snarled in her ear.

“Enough!” A voice called from down the hall. Severus Snape was upon the boys in a flash. He could have hexed them on the spot, but knew of their fear of him.

“Professor…you’re back…” Blaise said astonished. He knew that his head-of-house was called the night before to a Deatheater’s meeting.

Snape grabbed them both by the arm and threw them against the wall. “Mr. Zabini, Mr. Nott, you will not bother Ms. Grant during her stay here. Do I make myself clear? Now, we will be discussing your actions later…in the Slytherin common room.” He hissed.

Rosalyn had nearly fallen as the one holding her was forced away from her. Thank god! She cried to herself. She watched as the two boys scampered down the hall. “Oh, Severus, thank you!”

The potions professor turned toward her, his anger still visible on his face. He grabbed her hand and stalked down the hall, forcing her into his classroom. “What on earth made you come down here alone?” He asked once he closed and locked the door behind him. “The dungeons are not safe, especially for a muggle like yourself.”

Rosalyn looked as though she might burst into tears, but she forced the back. “I was looking for Hermione. Sirius…he offered but I didn’t want him to come with me.”

Severus crooked a brow. “No? He usually is considered charming company, but I never found him attractive.”

She laughed at his comment. “I…I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I didn’t realize…”

“Ms. Granger, these are highly dangerous times. Most of the young students of my house come from Death Eater families. Had they known you were a muggle, well, let’s just say I might have been too late.”

Rosalyn gasped. How could she have been so stupid?

“Now, Hermione is in my private lab. I will show you to them. They connect to my private quarters, you will use the faculty exit to return to your rooms when you are ready.”

She nodded, and let him lead the way.

Now that you've read the chapter, please also let me know if you'd like Hermione and Charlie to meet up again soon...at Order Headquarters or Hogwarts? Any thoughts on how Mayla should find out who Charlie's girlfriend is? I haven't figured it out YET, so any ideas might just motivate my muse ;)