A Working Relationship

A Working Relationship


Disclaimer: All canon characters are the property of JK Rowling and those with whom she has agreed contracts. This story was written for practice not profit.


The Order Meets

Severus led the boys to the nearest empty classroom.

“Show it to me,” he demanded hoarsely.

Harry pulled the parchment out of an inner pocket and spread it hurriedly over the desk. He tapped it with his wand, saying shakily,

“I solemnly swear I am up to no good.”

Severus glared at him.

“I didn’t make it,” protested Harry. “It came this way.”

All three of them bent their heads over the map, scanning desperately for the dot labelled with Hermione’s name. After four or five minutes they were all forced to admit that she was nowhere to be found.

“She’s not here!” said Severus. He could feel his blood rushing round his body and it was coupled with an intense feeling of nausea.

“Where did you see her last?” asked Ron, in an effort to keep calm by being practical.

“My quarters… She stayed with me last night. I was summoned… the raids, you see. I was a mess … and she looked after me. She had breakfast there and I went to the Hall for mine. She was waiting for her laundry to come back so she could meet me for lunch. She can’t wear uniform around school now we’re engaged and her new clothes are still on order.”

“What are we going to do?” asked Harry. “Dumbledore’s still at St Mungo’s.”

“The Headmaster is dead, Potter. I thought Minerva would have told you that by now. He died this morning. Moody told the Aurors I’d poisoned him. That’s why I was stuck answering questions for the whole fucking morning, instead of protecting Hermione, as I should have been doing! I’ll kill the interfering bastard if anything happens to her because of this!”

“We’re having the meeting because the Headmaster is dead then?” asked Harry, still in shock.

“The Order needs a leader. That will be the main matter for discussion.”

“But we can’t sit around having a meeting,” protested Ron. “We’ve got to save Hermione!”

“We will Ron,” said Harry. “The Order will find a way.”

“We need to go,” said Severus, glancing at the clock on the wall. “We need to tell Minerva about this emergency before the meeting begins. We’re using the Room of Requirement. I’ll leave first. I can’t afford to be seen with you again today, so you two will stay here for five minutes before you follow on.”

He didn’t wait for a reply, but swept his way to the door in his usual fashion, leaving the two anxious teens to their worries.


The journey to the Room of Requirement was uneventful and Severus kept a firm grip of himself, in order to act as ordinarily as possible, to avoid attracting any suspicion. He made sure he was unobserved as he opened the door and slipped inside.

Inside it was bedlam. As far as he could tell at a glance, the entire Order was already present and in a state of high emotion. Albus had been well-loved, almost serving as an additional parent to most of them, and many witches and wizards present were not accustomed to being forced to mask their feelings.

Scanning the room quickly, his eye settled on Minerva. He cut through the crowd impatiently to get to her. She and Lupin were standing, beside Fawkes’ perch, talking to a couple in Muggle dress. With a sinking feeling, he realised that these must be Hermione’s parents. Somehow he was going to have to break the news to them that their daughter had vanished.

Minerva turned to face him.

“Ah Severus,” she said warmly. “We were waiting for you. I’m glad you’re early. I’ve been explaining to the Grangers about your arrangement with Hermione and about the Prophecy. Is she not with you?”

Severus felt the nausea sweep over him again. “I’m not sure where she is,” he managed, praying that she would pick up on the import of his words.

She did.

“How hard have you looked?” she asked, ignoring the Grangers’ confusion.

“I used Potter’s map,” he said. “She is nowhere on the premises. Dobby spoke to her last when I was engaged with the Aurors.”

“It’s happening then,” she said grimly.

“It would appear so.”

“Is this about my daughter?” enquired the Muggle man… Hermione’s father, Severus mentally corrected himself.

“I’m afraid so. She was working in the dungeons this morning and sent a House-Elf on an errand. When he returned he could not find her. Eventually he came to me and alerted me to her absence. I have used magical means to determine that she is not in the castle or in the grounds.

“Where is she then?” demanded Hermione’s mother.

“I don’t know where she is,” said Severus. “However I have a fairly good idea whom she is with. We have a way to go yet, Madam. The Prophecy did not suggest she would be in any immediate danger of death. If she can be found, I will find her.”

She did not look comforted and the observant portion of his mind noted the way the husband and wife kept contact.

“Severus, I’m going to call this meeting to order. We’re a few people short, but doubtless they will arrive before we get down to making any firm decisions. Remus, would you escort the Grangers back to their suite?”

“I’m not going anywhere,” announced Mr Granger forcefully. “We didn’t ask to be in the middle of all this, but now that we are, I will not be left in the dark!”

Minerva looked rather thrown.

“If I might interject,” said Remus thoughtfully. “It would not be inappropriate for Mr and Mrs Granger to stay as Hermione’s representatives. They are confined here for the duration after all and they already know more than some of our members.”

“What is your view Severus?”

“They are Muggles, not children. I cannot imagine they would be anything less than loyal to their daughter. They are of a scientific bent which may prove useful.”

“Well!” said Minerva. “You may stay for the moment. If there is anything you would like more information on you might ask one of us afterwards.”

She moved to the head of the table and tapped her water glass. The sound shimmered through the babble and all were silent.

“I’d like to call this meeting to order,” she said briskly. “Please take your seats and refrain from any chattering.”

People shuffled into seats with a minimum of fuss and Snape noticed Weasley and Potter slip in through the door and take theirs. As was customary, the younger members of the Order bunched together. Harry, Ron, the Weasley twins, Longbottom and Ginny. Luna was in the place where Hermione ought to have been.

“Most of you will be aware that the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore departed this world this morning. He was a great man. He will be greatly missed. Sadly however, our mourning must be delayed. Matters press in on us from all sides. The Dark Lord grows ever more powerful and we all know what kind of world he seeks to build. Last night he ordered raids on two families connected with this school and wiped them out. Today one of our own young members has disappeared from Hogwarts. Hermione Granger was last seen shortly before lunchtime.”

She paused for a moment to allow the gasps to die down.

“As most of you are aware, Hermione may also be the figure of a prophecy, made here recently. It is not stretching the interpretation of the words to surmise that she has been taken to the Dark Lord.”

“It’s not stretching the words of the Prophecy to surmise that Snape has led her over to his Master!” shouted Moody.

Ron opened his mouth to protest at this, but was beaten to it by Severus, who rose to his feet pointing his wand at the ex-Auror.

“If you had not attempted to have me taken into custody over Albus’ death, I would have been with Hermione and she would not have been taken from me,” he said, in his deadliest tone. “If I do not get to her in time, you will pay the price.”

“Please calm down,” said Minerva, as Moody levelled his own wand at Severus. “This will get us nowhere. The first matter of business today is to attempt to find a leader in whom we can all trust.”

“We need to find Hermione!” cried Ron.

“I wouldn’t fuss over that Weasley,” said Moody. “If a Gryffindor goes to the bad then there’s nothing to be done. Remember Pettigrew!”

Ron went white with shock and fell back in his chair.

The whole room went silent as Severus trembled with suppressed rage.

Eventually he spoke.

“My work with the Order is over,” he said quietly. “I have done my best for the campaign these past eighteen years, but I find I have reached a point where my personal obligations must take precedence. I promised Albus that I would take care of Hermione and I fully intend to do so. This task may prove at odds with the role I have played for you for so long, but I shall endeavour to see that the Prophecy works against the Dark Lord’s interest if I can. I am wasting valuable time and I will now take my leave.”

“And we’re just going to sit here and let him crawl off to his Master!” jibed Moody.

“Yes we are,” said Arthur, suddenly. “I don’t believe for one moment that either Hermione or Severus have betrayed us. Severus has helped us immeasurably in the past and is carrying out Albus’ wishes now. He is only one man though and, as a consequence, can only do so much. He has made his choice and I cannot help but wish him well.”

There was a squawk from the other side of the room where Fawkes sat. He spread his wings and flew to Severus, landing on his outstretched wand arm. Snape moved the arm to accommodate him more comfortably. The Phoenix sang and for a few seconds the air seemed sweeter. Everyone watched the sight, transfixed as Fawkes nuzzled Severus, the bird’s brilliant plumage contrasting with the monochromatic Professor’s hair and clothing. Then he vanished into thin air. Severus turned and left without another word.


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