Desperately

DISCLAIMER: We all know i'm not J.K.Rowling.


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Chapter 4- A Million Ways


A Week later...


Hermione looked in the mirror of her private Head Girl bathroom. Bags were starting to form under her eyes from all the studying she was doing lately, her N.E.W.T.'s were only a couple months away.It seemed like she was now actually residing in the library, when on more than one occasion thats where she ended waking up from. Not only was there the stress of exams but now she had to deal with some crazed person who kept sending her these very disturbing letters. She made a mental note to speak to Dumbledore or McGonagall about the situation. Oh and not to froget the growing attraction to her mean, sarcastic, dark, mysterious, sexy...umm, mean...oh who was she kidding, she couldn't mask her growing feelings for the Head of Slytherin. A Slytherin. What was she thinking? Mungo's here I come!

Hermione sighed and brushed out her hair making it poof up more than it already was. Ughh, maybe she should just chop it all off seeing as how there was nothing she could do with it. Throwing the brush down she grabbed a nearby hair tie, pulling her hair up into a bun at the back of her neck. Thank goodness it was a Hogsmeade weekend and she had a chance to relax. Some butterbeers, a couple of chocolate frogs, and her friends. She smiled and headed out to her sitting room to grab her bag, then her wand. While walking down the corridor, she rummaged through her bag, making sure she had her sack of galleons, sickles, and knuts. She was suddenly knocked to the side, her eyes went wide, then she shut them as she tried to keep her balance, but failed. A hand wrapped around her forearm, catching, then bringing her back up before she could fall. Only when she was right side up again did she open her eyes, looking straight into a pair of cold, silver eyes. She narrowed her eyes but remembered that even if it was Draco he did help her just now.


"Thank you," she mumbled.


He just looked at her with cold eyes and stormed off towards a group of Slytherins waiting by the doors. They were all looking at her with distaste before following after Draco. When they had all gone she went back to her bag and finally finding her sack, rushed off to the doors, Filch checked her name off the list, and she hurried down to where the others were waiting. She smiled at her friends, greeting them, then they walked down the path to Hogsmeade.


Harry and Ron immediately broke off from the group when Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes came into view.


"Meet at the Three Broomsticks later you prats!" Neville shouted. Ginny smiled up at him then took his hand in hers. She had grown quite fond of the new outspoken Neville, the war had definately changed him for the better.


Harry threw his arm in the air, waving it to show that they had heard him. Ginny, Neville, and Hermione headed to Honeydukes in search of chocolate frogs and sugar quills. After buying a couple new sugar quills Hermione headed off to Florish and Blotts, being reminded to meet at the Three Broomsticks later. After scanning the shelves she found a very rare Potions book, it was old and battered looking with yellow pages. A smile as big as a Quidditch field appeared on her face, making sure she had enough money, she rushed off to pay. With her new book, The Death Stopper: Antidotes and Strengthening Potions, she left the book-shop and headed for a butterbeer with her friends.


As she headed down the street a couple of boys in the Slytherin house were smirking and walked past her, heading for an alley by Madam Malkins. Curiosity got to her and she followed them at a safe distance, hiding behind a couple of old barrels as she went. When they turned the corner she heard more voices and cautiously walked up. Peeking around the corner she saw a large group of people gathered round Draco Malfoy. There were mostly Slytherins but Hermione could recognize a couple of Hufflepuff fifth years, some Ravenclaw seventh years, and even a couple Gryffindor fifth and sixth years. Now she was really curious. Draco was talking to the group and Hermione strained to her him.


"Just be sure to wear these at all times and you will know when to meet and where." Draco was holding up some sort of silver pin.


"But how do they work?" someone from the crowd asked.


"Simple. When a meeting is to take place the pin will vibrate and emit a small red glow. When this occurs just say your passwords and the pin will say where to meet, along with what time."


"Passwords?" a Gryffindor, Hermione recognized as Miranda Davison, had asked.


"Each pin will be set to your own special password just like the portraits that lead to each individual Common Room," Draco sneered, "now everyone come on and grab a pin."


Hermione quickly ran back down the alley as some students started to head her way. When she turned the corner she rested her back against the stone building of the robe shop and waited until she saw some girls from Ravenclaw walk past. One of them was fiddling with her pin while the other was fastening hers on. Hermione glanced over and could now see what was on the quarter-sized pin. Two snakes were coiling around a phoenix, trying to crush the life from it's lungs. Her eyes widened, instead of going to meet Harry and the others she headed off towards Hogwarts. Dumbledore, she had to get to him and tell him what she had seen. Hoping that she wasn't over-reacting and that maybe Draco had started up a fan club or something.


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Running the whole way she was completely out of breathe when she finally made it to the stone gargoyle that protected the Headmaster's office. She grabbed her side and gasped for air, then drew herself up and tried to remember this weeks password.


"Rainbow Sherbert? Lemon Drop? Cherry Fizz?" the gargoyle moved aside and she bolted up to the old oak door. Shouting could be heard in the room. She knocked rather harshly on the door, the shouting ceased and she heard Dumbledore's voice tell her to enter.


"Ahh Miss Granger just the woman I wanted to see."


"Headmaster, please, I have something urgent to tell you!"


"Go on then Miss Granger, of course, if you don't mind Professor Snape to be here, that is?"


Hermione whipped around and saw Snape standing by a bookshelf on her left side. She hadn't even realized he was the other person in the room, although all the yelling should have given him away.


"It doesn't matter Headmaster, in Hogsmeade..." Hermione proceeded to tell the Headmaster and Severus what she had seen behind the dress shop. When she had finished she looked over to Snape, who was standing with an impassive look on his face, then back to Dumbledore.


"Miss Granger don't worry yourself with such non-sense. It is probably just some type of club Draco has come up with, but I will have Severus look into it." Dumbledore gave the man behind her a quick look.


"Of course Albus."


"But...yes Headmaster," she sighed.


"I am glad, however, of your visit. Professor Snape has just informed me of a potion he is working on that requires an extra pair of hands. I informed him that the only qualified person I knew of to assist him would be you, Miss Granger."


Hermione smiled then gave the Headmaster a questioning look.


"It will of course count towards your N.E.W.T.'s scores should you decide to assist him."


"I would be honored to assist Professor Snape."


"Splendid! You will only be assisting him on the weekends, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. Is that acceptable?"


"Yes that's fine, i'll still have time to study for my other classes," She smiled at the Headmaster then at Snape,who scowled in return. She suddenly remembered those disturbing letters she had received during the week, "...umm, Headmaster, could I speak to you in private for a moment?"


"Of course Miss Granger. Severus, I still need to discuss some things with you, could you please wait outside a moment?"


With a nod towards the Headmaster, Severus swept out of the room and closed the door.


"Yes Miss Granger?"


"I..umm, well, Headmaster I have been receiving some very disturbing letters lately and I wished to ask for your council on them." She pulled some parchment from her bag and handed them to Dumbledore. His eyebrows rose slightly as he read each letter, some more disturbing than others.


"Miss Granger you should have brought these to my attention earlier."


"I know it's just I thought it might be some kind of prank at first, then the letters just kept coming," She bit her lip and looked down.


"There is not much I can do. I'll have someone put up extra wards on your portrait and windows, I suggest you have someone with you at all times. I will also set up the fireplace in your room on the Floo network, it will be able go to any other fireplace in Hogwarts only. There is no telling what is going through this person's mind and what he might do or be capable of."


"Yes, thank you Headmaster."


"Your welcome dear. Could you please ask Severus to come back inside on your way out...oh and Miss Granger why don't you summon Dobby to walk you back to your rooms, I'm sure he would love to get out of the kitchens." He winked and sent her on her way.


Severus came back into the room and sat down in one of the old winged chairs in front of Albus's desk, scowling at the old man.


"Severus don't look at me that way, you asked for my advice and I gave it to you. Miss Granger is more than qualified to assist you."


Snape grumbled and scowled even harder at Albus.


"Severus, I know I of all people, should not be asking you for any more favors but this involves Miss Granger."


Severus straightened up in the old chair, a slight look of worry crossed his features before he could hide it.


"What is it?"


"Miss Granger has been receiving some rather odd letters and I would appreciate it if you could construct some extra wards on her room. Along with setting up the Floo through her fireplace, connecting it to every fireplace inside Hogwarts, in case an emergency should occur. I would also like it if you could keep an eye on her, I will of course, be asking the other teachers to do the same."


"Of course Albus. Is that all?"


"Hmm...about this Draco business, talk to the boy and find out what he is up to. Ahh, yes, before I forget the book you asked about is currently residing in Miss Granger's bag. If I were you I would be more cordial to her when you are working together. Use that Snape charm I know is hiding in there somewhere."


Dumbledore smiled and Severus stalked out of the room, grumbling about hell freezing over, as he made his way to the Head Girl's portrait. Albus Dumbledore had to be the cruelest man in the wizarding world. Making Hermio...Granger his assistant when the barmy old man knew of his growing attraction to the little chit, and how he couldn't do a damn thing about it. Although it was not unheard of for a student to be with a teacher, especially at Hogwarts- -Dumbledore and Minerva were prime examples of that- -he wasn't about to add Pedophile to his already dark background. Although she was technically of age from when she had used the time-turner in her third year, that really made her around nine-teen or so now. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea on Albus' part, a small smirk appeared on his face as he reached Hermione's room. He knocked on the frame of her portrait, it soon swung open, he saw a look of shock and desire mix in her eyes as they settled on him. Severus smiled inwardly, maybe it wouldn't be so bad having her assist him and if he was lucky maybe he could convince her to 'assist' with his other problem as well.


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A/N: 'A Million Ways' by Ok Go was the song used. I couldn't decide on a song that fit this chapter so if there are any suggestions I would appreciate it. I only chose this song based on the end when Snape calls Dumbledore cruel for setting him up.