Disclaimer:  Harry Potter and all related stuff do not belong to me nor will it ever, they belong to the goddess JK Rowling.  I do not make any money off of this, and I really have no money anyway, so please don't sue.  I just do this for pure enjoyment. 

a/n: Look, the long awaited chapter.  I apologize to you all for having to wait so long for an update.  I hope it is worth it, but if not then keep in mind I wrote this after 4 hours of sleep and about 36 consecutive hours of Militant Suffragettes.  My brain is slightly fried. 

Please Review since I won't know how good or bad this is without your input.  Flames will be packaged and sent to the Suffragettes to use as they please. 

So, without further ado, here is the next chapter. 

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"...Here mouse, I can't see you, but I can smell you.  Watch out, I am the great Atilla the Kneazle, I fight mighty giants and make elephants climb mountains huh, where'd that come from? do not hide from me, I will find you, and I will make you play chess with me chess?  Why can't I be a normal cat and just eat mice, instead of playing with my food? You think that that puny hole will save you?  Ha ha ha.  I'll get you my pretty, and your little rook too.  Hey, where'd you get the door?  No, don't lock it."

….Click….

Atilla's eyes popped open.  What was that?  She'd been having a wonderful dream until the door clicked. 

DOOR?!?!?!?!

It was way too early for Hermione to be home; why had the door clicked?  Shrinking back so that just her head was sticking out around the bookcase, Atilla watched the door.  Slowly it opened and a head poked around.  Atilla relaxed; she knew him.  But she did not leave her hiding spot; just because she knew him didn't mean she liked him.  He was a friend of Hermione's and had visited before.  What was his name?  Wait - the last time she'd seen this wizard, Hermione had been throwing him out of her flat.  Hermione had been yelling something at him - what was it?  Oh yes, "You try to touch me again Colin Creevey, and I swear you'll wish you hadn't been born.  Now get out of my house!  If I ever see you in here again I'll turn you in to the Ministry for attempted rape… after I've turned you into a rat and let my cat play with you."  That's right, his name was Colin.  What was he doing here, especially after Hermione had thrown him out?  Maybe she'd better stay hidden for a little bit longer. 

Crouching back even further and wishing herself invisible, Atilla watched the strange scene unfold. 

Colin waved out at the hallway and two strange men followed him into the flat.  One man held a large jug of liquid, and the other a wad of bundled-up rags. 

"Where should we put this stuff?"  Asked the man with the rags. 

"Oh, down the hall in the bedroom.  And shut up, I'm trying to think."

"The bedroom… right."  Rag man and his buddy walked down the hall and into Hermione's bedroom.  Atilla watched as they came back to the living room empty handed. 

"How do you suppose he knew where her bedroom was?"  Jug man asked his friend. 

"How do you think I knew?"  Colin sneered, "that girl is as loose as a cheap prostitute."  Atilla wasn't quite sure why, but that didn't sound very nice.  She had a strong urge to jump at the mean man and scratch his eyes. 

"Ha ha, she's loose as a cheap prostitute. Ha ha, get it?"  Rag man elbowed Jug man in the ribs.  "Boy I wish I could find a chick like that."

"Okay, shut up.  I'm going to use this dict-a-quill to write a suicide note in Hermione's hand writing, and then I'm going to go light the pile.  I need the matches, and then I want you both to leave the building.  Make sure no one sees you."

"Yeah, yeah, we know."

"What are you writing in the letter?"

"Just that she is leaving this cruel world behind.  She can't take the pain of being unappreciated.  All anyone ever thinks of is her brain.  Well now the world must deal without her.  She doubts anyone will miss her.  Goodbye.  That sort of thing."

"Oh."  

"Alright, the letter is done, give me the matches.  Now, both of you leave, and remember no one must see you."

The two men left and Atilla watched as Colin walked down the hall to the open door of Hermione's bedroom.  "Here's what you get for throwing me out.  Now I've joined some real wizards and have people who appreciate my talents.  And as a parting treat, I'll leave you a photo of me lighting the match that will burn your dreams.  Pulling out an instant camera he set the timer, then levitated it out in the hall and walked into the room.  Atilla didn't see what he did, but she heard a loud PHOOWMPF.  She saw something drop out of the camera and then saw Colin run out of the bedroom, grab the camera and run down the hall and out the door, pulling it shut behind him.  It was then that Atilla smelled it.  Smoke, coming from Hermione's bedroom.  Atilla ran down the hall.  The closer she got to the bedroom the hotter it was.  Stopping at the doorway she glanced in.  Hermione's bed was half up in flames, and they were spreading quickly.  Glancing down Atilla saw the picture.  Quickly grabbing it up with her mouth, she ran back into the living room.  Was there anything else she should save?  She didn't think….Wait, that book, the one Hermione had been writing in lately.  Running over to the coffee table, where Hermione had set the book after writing in it last, Atilla dropped the picture on top of the book and then grabbed both firmly in her mouth and ran to the door.  It wouldn't open.  She turned.  Flames were dancing out of the bedroom.  Wait - the kitchen window: there was a tree right next to it.  She ran into the kitchen, hoping that Hermione had left the window open that morning.  Glancing up she saw that yes, it was open.  Carefully jumping onto the counter, so as not to lose the book or picture, she walked over to the window.  There was a small ledge that she could fit on, and about two feet away was the tree branch.  Atilla hesitated: could she make the jump holding the book in her mouth?  But then glancing back she saw flames in the living room, heading toward the kitchen.  That decided it for her.  Stepping out onto the ledge and walking along it until she was at the point closest to the tree branch; she paused took a look around and then took a flying leap. 

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Severus turned, hearing the quiet fwoowf that meant someone was coming through the fireplace in the potions lab.  Griping his wand tightly he watched the flames turn green, not relaxing until he saw Professor Dumbledore's head.  Putting his wand back in his pocket as Dumbledore climbed out of the fireplace and brushed himself off, he asked, "Albus, to what do I owe this pleasant interruption?"

"Ah Severus, at work early I see.  And what are you currently working on?"

"You know the answer to that already Albus.  What have you come to tell me today?  I really need to keep working."

"Severus what I have to tell you may take some time.  Do you have some tea, or better yet hot cocoa?"

Sighing inwardly Severus led Dumbledore to his office and put a pot of water on. 

"All I have is tea, no…hot cocoa.  Would you like milk or sugar with your tea?  Shall I be mother or you?"

"By all means you, Severus.  This is your domain after all, and you make such a wonderful mother.  Oh, and sugar please, no milk; do you by chance have any biscuits?"  Severus wasn't sure, but he thought he saw a slight twitching upwards of Dumbledore's lips before hr got them under control again.

After pouring their tea Severus sat across from Dumbledore at his desk. 

"What was it you wanted to talk to me about Professor?"

"As you know Severus, we currently have spies in the employ of the new dark quasi-lord."

"Yes."

"Yesterday one of them reported back to me with some very important and unsettling information.  The first bit was that a former student had joined to dark forces, a former Gryffindor to be exact, and he bares a grudge against a fellow Gryffindor, a student a couple years ahead of him.  Apparently he is thinking of executing a very violent revenge on his target.  Unfortunately since our source only garnished this information by questioning other people working for the "Master" as he is called, we do not know the name of this man, nor do we know the nature of his revenge.  We do however know the name of his target… Hermione Granger.  This makes life even more dangerous for Miss Granger than ever.  Since the "Master" wants Hermione to be his new potions master, she is already in great danger.  This attacker will only add to it.  Obviously since the "Master" wants Hermione to work for him, they will keep her healthy and sane, but not much else.  The dark powers will go to any lengths to make her join them.  I fear for her."

"Why is she not here under your protection as so many others have been?  Unless you… wait… the history of magic position.  You don't want her to know she is in danger so you have offered her a position to keep her safe without telling her anything."  Severus was indignant, it was cruel to not tell someone they were in great danger.  They could walk right in to a trap and not even know it.  "You must tell her Albus, it is not safe or fair to keep her in the dark.  She could be walking into danger as we speak."

"I will tell her as soon as she comes to Hogwarts.  If I tell Hermione now she will possibly not come.  She had a large hand in helping end Voldemort's reign, she will feel capable of battling the new lord.  But, she will not succeed.  He is too powerful at this time, and he is largely insane."

"What if she decides not to come to Hogwarts to teach?"

"We will deal with that issue if it should come to that, I do not believe it will."

"Very well Professor, I will trust your judgment.  Yet, I wonder, why did you tell me all this?  What else do you have to tell me?"

"I have two more things to tell you Severus.  First, the "Master" is after you as well.  He fears you because of your in bringing down Voldemort, and because apparently you know who he is.  He wants you dead, and his hireling have orders to capture you and bring you to him so that he might torture you and then kill you.  Second, I wish to put the safety of Miss Granger in your care as soon as she arrives at Hogwarts.  But, I do not wish her to know that you are guarding her.  I do not believe she would take such information well." 
"And what if I do not agree to this task?"

"I must ask you to do this for me Severus, I can not make you, but you are the only person at this school who I trust will be able to keep Miss Granger safe.  I need your help Severus."

"Very well Albus, when Miss Granger reaches Hogwarts I will turn guard dog.  Would you also like me to sit-up and beg or roll over?"

"No Severus, just guarding is fine.  Though it would be interesting to see you sit up and beg."

Severus gave Dumbledore his best you'll be getting detention soon glare, but all the Headmaster did was chuckle.

"Well Severus, that you very much for the tea, I won't take anymore of your time.  Have a good day."

"Good day Headmaster."  Severus glared at the back of the still chuckling Headmaster as he walked out to the dungeon, then turning on his heel went back to the potions room to work on his neglected potion.  And if one listened very closely they might have heard him muttering something like "sit-up and beg, indeed!"

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Well folks there you go, a new chapter.  And I thought I wasn't going to be able to put one out until after I graduated.  Now, there are no guarantees that I will get another one out for a bit, but we shall see.  You never know.  I hope you liked this one. 

I would like to thank all of you for your patience throughout my time of no writing. 

I am currently spending a lot of time working on my Senior Thesis, and so have had to focus on the Militant Suffragettes of Great Britain from 1905 to 1914, and therefore have not had the time to write more exciting things.  Sigh.  But it will all be for a good end.  I will have a BA in History for Pacific Lutheran University and I will get the chance to figure out just exactly what it is that one does with a History degree.