A/N: 5 reviews! Yay! You guys are guessing a lot of people, but all are roughly from the same category. Of course, I told one reviewer a bit ago that you would not know who it is for a long time, but I will tell you one thing: It is NOT Ron! (I'm sorry; he's not coming back from the dead). Not right now, at least. Oops! I'm revealing way way too much… I better such my freaking mouth! Enjoy, and PLEASE kindly review!

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Chapter 9:

Severus muddled over their argument over and over in his head. He was bitter about it; she of course loved him, but that was nothing to him if she didn't trust him. But then again, he wasn't very trusting of her either at this point. Damn! Severus grumbled to himself. Why can't we just share everything with each other? Isn't that what a perfect couple should do? Then again, he had no idea if even the perfect couple did that, and he certainly doubted he and Hermione were the perfect couple. But a couple, married for a year, nonetheless.

First off, he considered their personalities. Almost identical in nature, but not in context, and of course she lacked the dark part he had. But lately, it seemed she had that side to her also. They were both curious, stubborn as jackasses, had an extreme thirst for knowledge, determined, and at points sarcastic. Of course, Hermione possessed a much softer feminine side to all this. He, of course, was still the dark brooding figure, apt to drama, and never missed the chance to pass out a witty clip to anyone who deserved it. Oh, yes, that too: they both were quick to anger and quick to use their minds and tongues.

Most of these traits of course, were what brought them together, besides the physical attraction. Hermione…Severus thought dreamily. He reckoned he fell in love with her again and again everyday. Her sparkling eyes, luscious curls, and smoothly shaped cute face, full, kissable lips, and of course, her stubborn chin and meek smile. Not to mention her satisfying curves. Her laugh gave almost the same effect on him as a shot of Firewhiskey would, filling him from top to bottom with a burning, warm, and tingling sensation. Her hands were small and delicate, and her soft simple skin sent chills down his spine.

Of course, then there was the question of Hermione herself: why was she crazy about him? Severus Snape. He was her former Professor, for Merlin's sake, who was much more older than her. He supposed she liked that he was older; she had spoken before of how men her own age were wavering, immature, and inexperienced. This caused him to smirk a little in satisfaction. But really, what did she think of their relationship, if she stepped back and viewed it through someone else's eyes? He didn't even want to know, and he didn't give a damn. Enough said. He had to meet Harry and Lupin (which he sorely was not looking forward to seeing) in a few minutes in the study of Grimmauld Place.

"There you are Severus!" Lupin said in his usual disgustingly cheerful demeanor. Severus groaned out loud. "We've been waiting for you!"

"Joyous," he drawled sarcastically, but Lupin didn't take the hint. Instead he led Severus into the study, where Harry was already waiting, sitting with his legs up on the leather couch, a book resting on his lap, his eyes intent and face drawn in relaxed concentration. Severus, seeing him like this, realized how young he really was; Hermione's age, of course, but he suddenly became aware of how much Harry had been exposed to throughout his entire life. His relationship with Harry was at least tolerable, but he did not like Harry in any affectionate way whatsoever. He still saw his father in him, and that was one thing he just couldn't let go.

"Alright, since we're all here," Lupin began, "we can explain what we'd like you to help us with." Harry closed his book with a loud slap and sat up, and Lupin and Severus took their seats in two armchairs across from Harry. Severus waited coolly, but inside he was nervous.

"We are worried about Hermione," Lupin said finally. Severus raised his eyebrows.

"No…really?" he retorted sarcastically, not interested in them telling him something he was already aware of.

"Now, you know first hand, as well as myself and Remus, what Hermione's been through in the past up until now," Harry said openly. "We shall not doubt how well we all know Hermione, in varying degrees." Severus smirked at that. "We want to find out what she's up to."

"You never believed the university story?" Severus said questioningly.

"Of course not," said Harry matter-of-factly. Lupin nodded in agreement. "If Hermione was at the university she said she was at, she would be talking endlessly about it for hours upon end until we grew sick of her. And, as you know, this entire past year she's barely said two words about how she occupies her day."

"We want to figure out if she is doing anything, suspicious, and what it is," Lupin said, and Severus snapped around to look at him.

"Meaning?" he growled dangerously, but Lupin was unperturbed.

"Severus, we both know that you will be very bias about anything that questions Hermione's loyalties." Severus jumped out of his chair, fists clenched and jaw set grimly.

"Are you implying that my wife is helping the Dark Lord? That she is a double agent!" he snarled.

"Severus! Sit down. We are not implying anything of that sort about Hermione," Harry said sternly, and Severus sat down again, disgruntled.

"We are only considering every possible explanation to her strange behavior and secrecy," Lupin added gently.

"So we ask you," Harry continued, "if you know anything else that Hermione has said to you, anything, that might help us." Severus thought for a minute. Harry and Lupin waited patiently, thinking as well. Suddenly Severus remembered something.

"Wait," he started. Harry and Lupin snapped to attention. "I remember one thing she told me a long time ago, the day she found out her parents died. I don't know if it has any significance, but now that I think about, it's strange."

"What'd she say?" Harry asked. Severus rubbed his temples, trying to remember exactly what she said.

"She said, something along the lines, 'I can't fight back Severus, it's not in me. The only thing I can do is mend the damage he has caused,' or something like that."

"By he, she meant Voldemort?" Harry questioned, and both Severus and Lupin winced, unable to help themselves.

"Yes. I had told her the only thing we could do was fight back," Severus added.

"What do you think she meant by 'mending the damage'?" Lupin said thoughtfully out loud.

"Could she be trying to fight Voldemort all on her own?" Harry offered.

"Not alone." Harry and Lupin looked at Severus in surprise. "She's not doing it alone."

"What are you talking about, Severus?" Lupin said worriedly.

"Spit it out; is there someone helping her?" said Harry, clearly disturbed.

"I don't know who it is, but I have witnessed two meetings she has had with a man," Severus said carefully.

"Did you see who it was?" Lupin asked excitedly.

"No. I've never seen his face, nor do I recognize his voice." Harry and Lupin visibly sagged in disappointment. "When I approached her about him, she refused to tell me anything about him, what they were doing, or his real identity. All I know is that he is someone her age, and she seemed to know him pretty well, and he knows her from somewhere. He seemed pretty infatuated with her, but she has blocked his, well, I guess you would call it, advances." Severus took a breath; he hadn't told anyone else about this, and it still pained him, and it probably showed in his body language and tone of voice.

"Remus…" Harry said weakly, looking at the last remaining Marauder friend of his. Lupin saw the look on his face, and shook his head sadly.

"No, Harry, it is not Ron. Ron is dead. I saw his body myself when they took it away. I saw the scar." Harry instinctively put his hand to his own scar. At this moment, Severus felt sorry for Harry. Ron, however stupid and reckless he was, and a Weasley, he was a loyal and true friend to Harry, and now he was gone, and clearly Harry and Hermione still grieved for him. Wait a minute.

"Could what Hermione's doing be in some connection with Ron's death? Is she trying to get revenge?" Severus said, the thought bursting forth.

"No, Hermione has never been prone to revenge…but I wouldn't put it past her," Harry replied truthfully, and Severus had to agree.

"Well, what do we propose to start with first?" Lupin said diplomatically, and steered Harry and Severus back to the task at hand.

"I will look up in the files to see who from our graduating class at Hogwarts is not accounted for or is missing," Harry offered. "Maybe we can pinpoint who she's meeting with, if the man's whereabouts make any connection with Hermione."

"Great. I will talk with Albus and see if any mysterious or suspicious has come to the Ministry's attention, and think of possible leads," Lupin added. "What will you do, Severus?"

"I will…see if I can find anything in Hermione's belongings that can give us clues," Severus said uncomfortably. He really didn't feel like going through Hermione's things, but what choice did he have? "I'll also just keep my eye on her for the time being."

"Is that all?" Harry asked, looking at the other two men.

"No one else must know about this. We don't want anyone to suspect anything of Hermione," Lupin said sensibly. "Only Albus knows."

"Good. Then are we finished?" Severus said impatiently. He really didn't feel right leaving Hermione as long as he had already.

"I believe so," Harry said, sighing. And with that they went their separate ways. Harry went back to reading; Lupin went down to help Mr. Weasley with some chores, and Severus apparated back home, anxious about his wife might be doing with him gone.

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"Hermione?" Hermione stirred, and sat up, rubbing sleep from her eyes, trying to clear them as she fought her grogginess. Oh no! I fell asleep? What am I- She looked up and was relieved it was not Severus gazing at her.

"I see you are up," she said after a moment.

"Yeah. Thanks for uh, patching me up," he said weakly. Hermione got up, and realized she was still undressed, with just Sev's shirt on still.

"Um, I'm going to change. Just, sit down," she said firmly, and he reluctantly sank carefully into the chair she had just been sitting in, and once she was satisfied he was settled, she went into the bathroom, taking some clothes with her. She freshened up, and when she came out, he was gone. Panicking, she dashed out of the room. She found him not too far off, trying vainly to get down the winding staircase at the end of the hall, and obviously in pain, judged from the curses leaking unbidden from his mouth.

"Where do you think you're going?" Hermione said crossly, folding her arms across her chest, looking like an over-bearing mother hen.

"Out…of, here," he answered huffily, and grimaced as he tried to bring himself back around.

"Mobilicorpus," Hermione said simply, holding out her wand, and the still awake and very angry man rose in the air flat as a board. As she guided his floating and cursing body, she couldn't help but laugh. He never cursed this much when he was younger. It was quite comical.

"Would you put me down? I am fine, and I refuse to be your goddamn prisoner!" he was yelling, but she ignored him. He was wrong.

"You're not going anywhere," Hermione said cheerfully, then changed her tone. "I will not have you running around. You will be killed!"

"I will not," he grumbled, just to be contradictory, but he knew she was right.

"Hermione, I'm, I'm sorry about, earlier." Hermione set his floating form back on the bed, which she had cleaned, and sighed. He sat up.

"You do not have to keep apologizing, I told you that. You were, vulnerable, and lonely, and couldn't help yourself." He bowed his head, ashamed. She gently tipped his chin up so they were eye to eye, and gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek. He closed his eyes.

"You are a good friend to me," she whispered. "And I will never forget that you are helping me repair the damage the Dark One has caused."

"Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think it will work?" He watched her face as she bit her lip in concentration. He remembered she always did that when thinking hard.

"I don't know, really. But I've put enough into this to sure as hell try to make it work," she said finally, her jaw set determinedly.

"As am I," he said softly, putting his bandaged hand over hers in support. He wanted their project to work as much as she did.

"I know." They sat on the bed like that in silence for a few moments, enjoying the quiet. This was interrupted by a loud 'bloody hell!' that came from downstairs.

"Shit!" they both said in unison.

"We have to hide you," Hermione said, helping him up. "That's Severus. He can't know you're here!" She led him down the hall and found a deserted room they never used and brought him into it. It was an old guest room with its own bathroom, the colors of the room and its accessories being black and mauve. It was dusty and smelled old, but fit for her contact to hide in.

"Like I want him to!" he said, his voice getting high-pitched.

"Okay, no sound, no movement, nothing. I'll be back to check on you when I get a chance. No sound, understand?" she said firmly.

"Yes! Yes, now go, before he suspects something," he said hurriedly, and Hermione exited the room and went down the stairs quickly to greet her husband.

"Shit!" came Severus's angry voice again, and Hermione walked faster.

"Sev! What's happened?" And what met her sight was a very intriguing scene. Severus had tried to travel home by Floo, but forgot that the kitchen fireplace was blocked, so he was stuck behind the grating, in a very uncomfortable position. It was really quite hilarious.

"Well?" came an indignant growl. "Aren't you going to get me out of here!" But Hermione was laughing so hard she couldn't answer. "Goddammit, woman! Stop laughing and get me out of here!" he snarled, and Hermione kept laughing, and tears were pouring down. She finally managed to get her wand out and giggle out a spell that removed the grating, and Severus tumbled unceremoniously out, covered in soot from head to toe and looking very embarrassed and angry indeed.

"Severus, how could you forget about that fireplace?" she said, still laughing through her teeth. He had no answer and turned red in the cheeks. She began laughing again, and Severus was getting angrier by the minute, but by now it was mocking.

"Is there any way I can get you to shut up?" he said out loud almost to himself.

"Prob-probably not," she gasped out, holding her stomach. Severus finally couldn't take her uncontrollable laughter any longer and crossed swiftly to her, took her in a tight embrace, captured her mouth in a demanding kiss, soot and all.

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A/N: Okay, little attempt at some humor. Just put it into a mental picture of Sev in a ball and wads of robes stuck in a fireplace…priceless.