Okay, this is my first full length Dramione story, ever. I'm trying to keep it from being too OOC and I'll try and update often. Please tell me what you think!

Hermione Granger was never completely alone. In times when Harry was off staring lustfully at Ginny and Ron was being a git, she often found she could find comfort in the library. It wasn't just a place to find answers to Harry's latest problem or research the exact use of a Erumpent's horn; no, it was a comfort, a place to go and throw oneself into a book while Madam Pince scolded first years for ripping pages. It was a home away from home, cliches and all.

Since finding herself stuck at the Burrow until Ron, Harry, and her could escape to go Horcrux hunting, she had to make due with what was given to her. In between washing the sheets and cooking casseroles under Mrs. Weasley's ever watching eyes and packing for herself and the boys, she found time where she could sneak a book (that she had read a dozen times before) and stow away for a few precious minutes as she let her mind wander to faraway lands, unburdened with the trouble of her own.

This was what she was doing when her name was hollered, interrupting her precious peace.

"I'm coming," she said crossly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear as she made her way downstairs. She was rather surprised to see not only the Weasleys and Harry, but Lupin as well. A second glance and she noticed they were minus Bill and Mr. Weasley.

"There you are!" Mrs. Weasley said with relief, as if Hermione had stunk off on her own to go after Voldemort.

"What's going on?" she looked directly at Lupin.

"Yeah, good question. What is going on?" Ron echoed. Hermione surveyed the expressions on everyone's faces, but they all seemed as confused as she was. All except for Lupin, who was wearing a blank mask, deliberately expressionless. All at once her mind was bombarded with thoughts of the worst that could have happened. The Ministry had fallen. The Death Eaters knew where they were were breaking through the protective enchantments. Voldemort had slain all the Muggles. The last one, the worst, the one she wouldn't let herself think over: they found her parents.

Her breathing hitched as she thought of her parents, screaming as they were tortured, blood pooling around their bodies as they protested that they did not know a Hermione Granger, or a Harry Potter and all they wanted to do was go on their trip to Australia. Their sobs silenced as the green jet of light hit them square in the chest, their mouths open in never ending screams.

She started as a hand was placed on her arm. She looked up to see Ron, peering at her with concern. You okay? he mouthed. She nodded, forcing a smile. Her horrible thoughts must have been obvious if even Ron had noticed. Get a grip Hermione she commanded.

"Before Mad Eye," Lupin swallowed, "died, the Order was approached by several individuals looking to make a switch over to our side. After months of intense investigation, we confirmed that yes, their requests were genuine. Today, they have been scheduled to arrive by Portkey at various times at a nearby location. We have people there waiting to bring them back here," Bill and Mr. Weasley must be waiting for them she realized.

"Who exactly are they?" Ginny asked. Lupin's gaze darted to a spot just above her head.

"You'll see when they get here," he replied, glancing at his watch. "Which should be any minute now,"

"I have a bad feeling about this," Harry whispered, right as the door swung open to reveal a slightly frazzled Mr. Weasley and a Theodore Nott. Hermione grasped for the wisps of memories she had concerning the dark haired boy. He was smart, his father was a Death Eater, he was unnervingly quiet, and one of Malfoy's friends, and he apparently wanted out of the family business.

"Theodore," Lupin said, nodding to him as he walked farther into the room.

"Remus," Theo replied, nodding slightly in his direction. There was an uncomfortable silence in which they all stood, staring at the smirking boy in front of them. Mr. Weasley stood behind, glancing out into the yard every few seconds.

"And what made you betray daddy and come over to our side?" Fred finally broke the silence, crossing his arms. Nott's smirk simply widened.

"I believe I should wait to share that particular piece of information-and anything else you want to interrogate me about-until my equally traitorous companions arrive," Lupin blinked.

"I was not aware that you or the others knew of each others wavering loyalties," Lupin commented.

"Oh, they're certainly not, they're still under the impression that they're the only one who made the choice to," he paused," discontinue their service. I, on the other hand, was able to deduce from their mannerisms and tell-tale signs of nervousness that I was not the only traitor," they all took in a minute to digest this. Hermione looked at Not warily. She didn't like how his intelligence went far past memorizing charms and dates; no, Theodore Nott was smart in the way that he could practically read your mind in an instant, and keep that information for his own purposes. On instinct she didn't trust him, but she quickly scolded herself. No matter he personal opinion on the boy or how honest to goodness creepy he seemed, the point was he was making the effort to do the right thing, and she had to acknowledge that.

"They're here," they all looked to the door as Tonks strode in, beaming as she walked over to Lupin and kissed him on the cheek. She looked back towards the vacant doorframe and rolled her eyes.

"You can come in now," she said. "Drama queen," she muttered as Blaise Zabini swaggered in, hands in his pockets and a bored expression on his face. They all stared at him, his arrival even more shocking than Nott's.

"Late to the party as usual, Zabini," Blaise finally noticed Nott, who had took a seat at the table and did a wild double-take.

"Nott?" he shook his head, then grinned. "Bullshit. It's not a party till I arrive," Nott snorted. "But seriously, what are you doing here?" Nott lifted an eyebrow, managing to summon all the judgement of the world and put it into that one eyebrow lift.

"Getting Quidditch tips from Potter," he said dryly.

"Bullshit again. You can't play Quidditch to save your life," Zabini said. The corner of Nott's lip jerked upward.

"Yes, much in the same way that you are absolutely incompetent when it comes to deducing that your friends are just as traitorous as you are,"

"Wait, what? Friends? As in it's not just us?" Zabini said, surprised.

"Once again your over inflated ego keeps you from arriving at the correct conclusion at the same time as the other boys and girls," Nott sighed at Zabini's blank expression. "Yes, it's not just us,"

"Well who the hell else?" Zabini paused. "No, it couldn't be-" Nott nodded. The two stood in silence, seeming to have a silent conversation while the rest of the room's occupants looked on.

"Excuse me, but who the bloody hell are you two talking about?" Ron asked impatiently.

"Oh, hello Weasley, didn't see you there," Zabini said, grinning crookedly. "Long time no see?" If there was one thing worse than Nott's unnerving intelligence, it was Zabini's cockiness. He was known for sneaking crates of Firewhiskey into the school and shagging every available girl. He wasn't House prejudice either, there had been many a time when Hermione had walked into the Common Room only to find a girl sobbing over Blaise Zabini, saying that he promised she was the one and how could he do this to them? She had always rolled her eyes and continued on her way-in her mind, anyone dull enough to fall for Zabini's good looks and charm was dull enough to expect him to actually mean any of the things he said.

They all looked up as a figure stepped daintily into the room, Hagrid standing outside behind her.

"Bloody hell," Ron hissed as Pansy Parkinson scrunched up her nose and threw a look of disdain at the half-giant lumbering in the doorway behind her. She flounced over to the table, only to let out a shriek at her fellow Slytherins already sitting there. Everyone grimaced. She probably caused a crack in the window Hermione thought absently, her brain not fully grasping the bizarre event taking place right in front of her.

"Nice to see you too, Parkinson," Zabini grinned up at her as he fished a silver flask out of his pocket, taking a swig. Pansy didn't move, her mouth still hanging open. "I would close that if I were you sweetheart, the flies might get in," Zabini said in a low voice, reaching his hand towards her face. The stunned expression disappeared and was replaced with one of annoyance as she slapped his hand away.

"What are you two doing here?" she demanded huffily, placing her hands on her hips.

"I reckon the same thing as you, betraying our families and our heritage and all that," Blaise mused. Nott smirked.

If there was one Slytherin Hermione loathed more than Malfoy, it was Pansy Parkinson. She was a female form of pure nastiness. It was as if all the bad traits of Zabini and Nott had been extracted and put into her. She was petty and rude and snide and all the qualities of a stereotypical mean girl. She had often heard many of the Gryffindors compare her to a pug, but Hermione felt like that was stretching it a little. Her nose did have a somewhat pug-like quality to it, but even she had to begrudgingly admit Pansy was pretty (after all, Malfoy didn't date ugly girls).

"I hate to interrupt this little conversation, but seriously? Parkinson?"

"Ron!" Mrs. Weasley glared at him. "We don't speak to guests that way! It's rude!" Ron blanched.

"Guests? Guests? When did we ever invite them into our home?" he looked towards Lupin. "I don't give a damn how much you investigated how genuine they were in wanting to join us, I don't trust them. None of them," he said darkly.

"Feeling's mutual Weasel," Pansy said, glaring at him.

"Ron, I assure you that they are in no way-"

"How can you be so sure? What about Snape? You were pretty sure about him too, weren't you?" they all stood there, frozen as Ron's statement sunk in. Zabini took another swig from his flask, reminding Hermione painfully of Moody. Pansy bit her lip. Nott tapped his fingers on the table. Fred and George, for once, didn't make a sound. Ginny twirled a strand of hair around her finger until it turned purple. And Harry stood, staring into space.

"We are sure," Lupin said quietly. Ron didn't make eye contact, looking guiltily at the floor.

"Oh I'm sorry, is it a bad time?" at once they all looked to the door, where Astoria Greengrass was standing idly with Bill. She glanced around the room, her eyes stopping at the table full of Slytherins.

"Welcome to the reunion, Little Greengrass," Zabini said.

"Astoria! What on earth-"

"I believe I have the same business here as you, Pansy, unless you are a prisoner of the Order?" Greengrass said, taking a seat next to Nott.

"Where's Daphne?" Astoria stiffened at the mention of her elder sister.

"Daphne is too dim to know of the danger she is in, and I plan on keeping it that way. My sister does not involve herself in things of this nature," she replied icily. Hermione had little to no contact with Astoria. She was two years younger than her and the model Slytherin: cunning, ambitious, and smart. During Prefect duties she had occasionally run across a dimwitted Gryffindor or Hufflepuff who had got into an argument with her, only to find themselves sprouting horns or turning purple. Her elder sister was pretty and stupid, known for her shags and the never-ending question as the why she was even placed in Slytherin in the first place (Hermione decided it was based purely on her pureblood family). Astoria was known for hanging around the lot of Slytherins in her sister's year and her general snarkiness she seemed to have picked up from Pansy.

"Oh look, it's a roomfull of all my least favorite people," Ron muttered under his breath. Fred and George snickered as Harry grinned.

"Not quite Weasley," Nott smirked at him. Before Ron could reply, Kingsley walked in, his expression blank. He looked over to the table full of Slytherins and nodded. He stepped over beside Lupin to reveal a thin, pale figure. Harry stared, his mouth hanging open. Ron started choking on air. "No way," the twins whispered in unision behind her. Hermione herself was in a state of pure shock as Draco Malfoy sauntered in, his dress shoes clicking against the floor and echoing in the silent room.

"Miss me?"

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