WARNING: Very short chapter. This is the shortest chapter I think I have written thus far. I didn't want to do it but I didn't want to make you all wait any longer. I apologize for the length of the chapter and the length of time that you had to wait for it.

The Mysterious Guest

Severus hadn't been expecting anyone this morning, but that didn't mean that he didn't receive any visitors. He cursed silently. What had he been thinking when he let Hermione stay? He hadn't. He wasted no time in getting up. He transfigured his clothes into a robe waking up the sleeping beauty in the process.

Hermione gave him a sleepy smile, "Up already?"

"You need to leave now. Someone is here." He said briskly.

Her eyes widened slightly, but like Severus, didn't waste a moment in gathering her clothes. While she was busy getting decent Severus changed his fireplace so that she could floo to safety. Whoever was outside knocked again, this time louder.

"The fireplace will take you to Diagon Alley. From there you can apparate to safety. Promise me you won't waste any time getting back to the Ministry."

Hermione was on the verge of protesting. She wasn't ready to leave but knew she must. There was still so much they needed to talk about. She opened her mouth to speak, but Severus interrupted before she could say anything.

"Promise me you will go straight to the Ministry." He grabbed her shoulders giving her a long and hard look. "There is no time. Just do what I say. I cannot stand the thought of you getting hurt."

Hermione nodded. That was enough for her. "Be safe."

He nodded and pushed her towards the fireplace. The knock sounded again. Severus mumbled something to himself before heading out of the room. He didn't glance back to check to see if Hermione left but focused on instead clearing his mind of the previous night. By the time he reached the door his customary scowl was in the place, as was his foul disposition.

Opening the door he found none other than Draco Malfoy on the doorstep.

"It's about time you opened up." He grumbled, pushing back Severus and entering the house without really being welcomed in.

"I was asleep."

He snorted. "Surprising considering by this hour usually you will have been up for at least a good two three hours."

"I had a late night. What do you want Draco?"

"There have been some recent developments that we need to discuss."

Severus face did not change and he looked slightly bored. "Does the Dark Lord know you are here?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Of course. He sent me to get you. He requires everyone at Hogwarts. We are launching the attack tomorrow."

"Hmm so it has been moved up. Is this the recent development that you were referring to?"

He shook his head, "No but that was the reason that I told the Dark Lord I was coming to your house. Can we talk in the living room?"

"The kitchen. I still haven't had my morning tea." Severus led the way to the kitchen hoping that Hermione made it safely back to the Ministry. Things were coming to end and it looked liked tomorrow

-o-

As soon as Severus left the room, Hermione made sure all traces that she had been there were removed. She immediately went to the fireplace only to pause. Her curiosity got the better of her. She wanted to know who was at the door and she knew that Severus would be furious if he found out that she stayed, but she needed to know.

She cast a disillusionment spell just in case and crept to the door. She cast a spelling trying to enhance the sounds from the hall. She recognized the voice but couldn't decipher who exactly it was.

"We are launching the attack tomorrow." The mystery visitor said.

"Hmm so it has been moved up. Is this the recent development that you were referring to?"

"No but that was the reason that I told the Dark Lord I was coming to your house. Can we talk in the living room?" Hermione's heart stopped for a brief second until she heard Severus's response about getting some tea.

She remained hunched on the floor for a few minutes deep in thought. Her mind was trying decipher the little of the conversation that she was able to here and all the possibilities that the statement could mean. She came to one conclusion and that was that the Ministry needed to be prepared for tomorrow.

Tomorrow was the moment that they had been preparing for since the beginning. Hermione couldn't help but feel depressed. Tomorrow would mean the loss of so many people. Wars were neither forgiving nor kind. Her deepest fear was that she would lose Severus after only just being able to break through his frosty shell, or at least crack it significantly.

There were a lot of preparations to be made before tomorrow. She also had to come up with a good lie as to how she had come across this information.

Thanks for all those who are reading my story and sending me reviews of chastisement. It is actually those reviews that make me take time to write. I am a horrible writer and I ask for your forgiveness.

Thanks to my wonderful beta who always returns my chapters quickly. I will try my hardest to not make you wait so long.