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Severus Snape arrived at his destination both grudgingly and stealthily, under the cover of a Disillusionment charm. He swept his eyes around, taking in the scene. Number 8 Heathgate was a large, picturesque house surrounded by tall hedges and trees on a quiet posh street. Severus sneered at the display of wealth and privilege. There was no reason he needed to be here, he had tried telling Albus, but the old codger was adamant that a protection detail was necessary and that he, the Order’s spy, would not always be privy to all the Dark Lord’s plans. The fact that the headmaster was right about not being privy to all the plans just irritated him more. He crept forward, making his way to the tree directly in front of the house, a prearranged location. He angled toward a small patch of grass with flattened blades and whispered, “Phoenix.”
“Shite!” a startled voice whisper-shouted. “Merlin’s arse! Otter,” the voice Severus recognized to be Mundungus Fletcher replied. Severus smirked, then remembering where he was and why he was there, he scowled.
“Report,” he whispered curtly.
“Absolutely nothin’. Great bloomin’ waste of time, if you ask me,” Fletcher grumbled.
“Good thing nobody asked you,” Severus snarled, though he wholeheartedly agreed.
“Whatever. Here’s the cloak. Ta!” The crooked wizard passed an invisibility cloak to Severus who donned it quickly. The slight blurry displacement of the tree next to him in the shape of a man moved away and with an ear-splitting CRACK he disapparated.
A curtain in the front window moved and a pale face peeked out. Foolish girl, he thought. She knew that was the sound of apparation. She knew she was a target as Potter’s friend, if not as a muggleborn constantly outperforming pureblood scions. If that apparation had heralded a Death Eater, she would already be injured or dead, showing her face like that. Lucky for her, this Death Eater was on guard duty, not attack duty. He leaned against the tree and crossed his arms over his chest in ill-tempered boredom.
He wasn’t even supposed to be on the Order’s guard rotations. It was too risky with his place in the Dark Lord’s inner circle, which is why Albus agreed he should not guard Potter. Weasley was well-protected in a magical household with plenty of trained and partially-trained wands at hand. Granger, however, was at a disadvantage, living in a muggle home. Apparently, everyone else in the Order was either guarding Potter or busy elsewhere on this horrid Wednesday morning. Even Granger’s parents went off to work, leaving the girl home alone. He sighed. This was going to be an excruciatingly long day. He almost hoped his dark mark would burn, summoning him to the Dark Lord’s side so he could shoot off a Patronus to Albus and scarper.
Two-and-a-half agonizing hours into his four-hour shift, a door to the house opened and Granger pattered out into the back garden, barefoot. She was dressed in muggle clothes, astonishingly short shorts displaying long bare legs. Severus blinked in surprise and no little discomfort. The shorts and the tight tee shirt revealed a slim, curvaceous body that had apparently been hiding under a school uniform for the better part of the year. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Severus found the frizzing curls to be a comfort in its familiarity when everything else about Granger was quite unexpectedly different.
The girl was wearing headphones connected to a Discman in her left hand. She stood in the middle of the garden, her toes curling in the grass and her face tilted up to the sun with her eyes closed. Severus felt remarkably uncomfortable watching his student in a moment that seemed quite private. Suddenly she giggled and fiddled with the buttons on her Discman. He raised an invisible eyebrow as Granger stood tall, stretching her neck to peer over the hedges. Once she ostensibly was assured of her privacy (not!) she pressed a button and swung her hips and head, her hair lashing side to side as she suddenly yelled, “YOOOOO I’ll tell you what I want! What I really, really want!”
Severus flinched, startled, and glanced around quickly. He was standing by the front hedgerow and, looking past the wildly dancing and singing Gryffindor, he caught a glimpse of distorted motion just behind the back hedgerow. Granger’s eyes were closed and her body thrashing to the beat in her headphones, so she missed the powerful protego that Severus shot in front of her before a pale blue light smashed into it.
A battle commenced over Granger’s bopping head as Severus and his assailant, both invisible, popped up and ducked behind opposite hedgerows like a demented and deadly Whack-a-Mole game. A nasty curse crackled through the air toward Severus, which he batted out of the way, returning another nasty curse to its sender. Back and forth they went. Half of the curses, hexes, and jinxes sent from his opponent came toward him and the other half were aimed toward Granger. Severus was sweating as he blocked and parried both himself and the girl, who was none the wiser.
“If you want my future, forget my paaaast!” she sang, shaking her rear. Severus blocked said rear from being hexed right then and returned fire. He changed strategies then, deflecting spells from the girl only as he crept around the hedgerows, stealthily making his way toward their adversary. The curses slowed momentarily as the other wizard or witch realized Severus wasn’t in the same place anymore. Then a volley of hexes cascaded toward Granger that forced Severus to stop his advancement and strengthen the shield he was holding around her. “I wanna! I wanna! I wanna! I wanna!” Merlin! The girl was relentlessly oblivious! Isn’t she usually sharper than this? Severus wondered as he angled the shield to bounce the hexes back toward their caster.
That bought them a slight reprieve and Severus moved quickly and silently around the corner. He saw a blurry patch of hedge just ahead and shot a stunner at it, watching in satisfaction as the blurry patch sank to the ground. “If you wanna be my lover, you have got to giiiiive!” Granger wailed as he swiftly disarmed and bound the figure. He cast a silent finite and sneered as the disillusionment charm faded away to reveal a masked Death Eater. He flicked his wand and the mask skittered off the wizard’s face to reveal Jugson. Severus snarled at his dark comrade as he debated what to do.
He could kill the man and there’d be one less Death Eater to worry about. But if the Dark Lord ever found out…
“Slam your body down and wind it all around!”
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. It was impossible to think clearly with that caterwauling. In a fit of pique, he shot a silencio at Granger. Blessed quiet descended. Even the birds and insects were quiet, having retreated in fear over the wizard’s duel he had just won. Wand still trained on Jugson, Severus turned his head and looked over the hedge to see Granger looking wild-eyed and panicked, wand in hand.
“Stay your hand, Miss Granger,” he drawled.
Here eyes widened and she mouthed, “Professor Snape?” silently.
Rolling his eyes, Severus canceled the charm, returning her voice to her. “Indeed. Now, be a good girl and open the back gate for me, would you?” He disillusioned Jugson again and levitated him, guiding him toward the gate.
Granger’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, and she held her wand at the ready. “What do you call me when I’m getting on your nerves?”
“Granger, you’re always getting on my nerves. And everybody knows I call you an insufferable know-it-all. If you are really concerned about my identity, ask a better question.”
She huffed. “Fine. What potion did I brew in the bathroom in my second year?”
Severus snorted. “Polyjuice. And what a ridiculous little kitten you made.” She gasped indignantly at that. “Now, if you please, open the damn gate.”
She blinked, startled at his language, then complied. Once the gate was open, Severus directed Jugson forward and dropped him to the ground. He canceled the disillusionment spell on both of them and lowered his hood. The girl was staring wide-eyed at the wizard crumpled in the grass next to her bare toes.
“Who is that?” she squeaked, jumping a little at seeing Severus’ head floating above her.
He pulled off the invisibility cloak and summoned Jugson’s mask, directing it back on the other man’s face. “A Death Eater, that’s who.”
Granger paled. “He was here?” she whispered fearfully.
He raised a scathing eyebrow at her. “Obviously.”
She winced and rubbed her chest as she stared down at Jugson. “Why? Why come after me?” she asked.
Honestly, did her brains turn off during summer break? Severus crossed his arms and stared at her with both brows raised. “I’ll give you a moment,” he drawled sarcastically.
A light finally glimmered in her eyes and her hand stilled on her chest. “Ohhhh. Right.” She blushed and looked away. “Sorry. I’m just…caught off guard.” She fumbled in the tight little pocket of her shorts and pulled out a small vial with a shaking hand. She popped the top off and raised it to her lips, downing the contents.
Severus furrowed his brows and held his hand out imperiously. Granger dropped the vial in his hand and looked at her toes. He held it up to his nose and sniffed, noting a hint of peppermint. Calming Draught. “How much of this have you been taking?” he demanded.
She shrugged. “I haven’t been keeping track, really. Madam Pomfrey said it was okay to take what I needed.” At his stony look, she blushed and continued. “Well, erm, I take it when I have nightmares and when I can’t get…it…” she gestured to her chest, “…out of my head.”
Severus glanced at her chest, remembering well the curse she had received at the Department of Mysteries only a few weeks ago. Retusum Ferrum, also known as the Blunt Blade Curse, was a particular favorite of Dolohov’s. The girl was lucky he recognized it when Tonks had hurtled into the hospital wing with her over her shoulder. Together, he and Poppy had stopped the slow-moving internal incisions and cleared out the internal bleeding. He was well aware of the potion regimen Poppy had put her on, seeing as he had to special-brew two of them.
“And how often are you having nightmares?” he asked.
Granger glanced at him then looked down again. “Every night,” she whispered.
Severus sighed. “You are aware, are you not, of the long-term effects of taking too much Calming Draught?”
It was Granger’s turn to sigh. “Lethargy, confusion, and general brain fog,” she predictably recited. She looked up at him again. He raised his brows pointedly and she covered her face with both hands, groaning, “I knooooow.”
“As I am confident that Madam Pomfrey did not give you enough to overdose yourself, I feel it is safe to presume you have been brewing your own?”
She nodded miserably behind her hands.
“Desist.”
She nodded again, dropping her hands, and whispered, “Yes, sir.”
Severus replied with a curt nod, confident she would follow his order since she foolishly placed blind trust in figures of authority. He scowled down at Jugson. Killing him was out of the question, now, with Granger as a witness. Turning the man over to the Aurors was also nixed, as he could not allow word to get back to the Dark Lord.
He looked at Granger again. “You are aware, are you not, of my role in the Order of the Phoenix?” he murmured.
She looked up at him with wide eyes. “You’re a spy, right?”
He nodded. “As such, I have to walk both lines. Do you understand?”
“I think so, yes,” she hesitated.
“Then you will also understand that I cannot turn in one of my comrades,” he said quietly.
She gulped and glanced back at her house. “But what about…” she trailed off, clearly concerned for her safety with Jugson back out in the world.
“I believe it would be a good time for you to visit the Weasley family,” he suggested.
“But my parents – ”
“Will be encouraged to take a summer vacation post-haste. Now, go get your trunk and be quick about it.”
She scooped up her Discman and headphones from the ground where they had fallen earlier and scuttled back into the house. Severus looked down his nose at the masked man at his feet. Jugson was largely an impatient man and not likely to be one the Dark Lord would task with anything important. Killing Granger or kidnapping her to lure Potter would be considered an important task. No, it was likely he was working on his own here, trying to gain their lord’s favor.
He crouched down and shoved Jugson’s left sleeve up, revealing his dark mark. He placed the unconscious wizard’s wand back in his slack hand. With a controlled weaving motion of his wand, Severus moved the ropes binding him, allowing them to slither around his body, forcing his right hand to cross over his ribs and push the tip of his wand into his dark mark. With great power and control, Severus carefully guided the apparation spell from his wand to Jugson’s.
There was a loud CRACK and, in an instant, Jugson was gone, transported directly to the Dark Lord. Since he had remained invisible for the entirety of the duel, nobody would know it was he who sent the Death Eater back to his master. However, if it came up, Severus thought he could easily rationalize his actions as the other wizard getting in his way and complicating his dual duties. Both Albus and the Dark Lord should accept that if they wanted him to remain in his current position at Hogwarts to spy on each other.
A great clattering and thumping from inside drew his attention and Severus ran through the door, concerned that Jugson had not been alone after all. Following the sound, Severus rapidly navigated through a kitchen and sitting room to the bottom of a staircase where Granger’s trunk was laying haphazardly on its side. The girl herself was standing in the middle of the staircase, back pressed tightly to the banister, on her tiptoes and squealing.
“It got away from me!” she explained as he took in the scene. Severus bent down and righted the trunk. It was remarkably heavy.
“Did you pack your entire library?” he groused.
“…Not quite,” she said sheepishly. “But rather close to, I suppose.”
Severus rolled his eyes and flicked his wand at the trunk, lightening it. “Come,” he said, “I will take you to the Burrow.”
“Wait!” Severus’ lips thinned in impatience as she ran back up the stairs and returned a moment later with an orange squash-faced cat cradled in her arms. “Okay, now I’m ready,” she said.
“If you’re sure?” he asked, sarcastically.
“Yes, sir. I’m sure.”
“Good. I am going to side-along apparate you. Grab my arm and hold on tight.” He held his arm out for her, securing his hold on the handle of her trunk with his other hand.
She reached toward his arm then fumbled with her cat who clearly was not interested in apparating. The orange ball of fluff was twisting and turning, trying to get away.
“Crookshanks!” she scolded. Then in a cajoling voice, “Come on, Crooksy, it’ll be okay. Just…let…me…urgh!” she caught the beast as it tried to climb up her chest and over her shoulder.
“Oh, for Merlin’s sake!” Severus exclaimed, impatiently. “Come here!”
Granger hastily stepped forward, still wrestling the cat. Severus wrapped his free arm around her and pulled her tight, startling an “eep!” out of her.
“Do try not to move,” he snarled. “I’d rather not deal with a splinching.” And on that note, he disapparated, yanking girl, trunk, and cat along with him through compressed folds of space to land in the Burrow’s front yard.
In a matter of seconds, four people came bursting out the door, wands first. Molly, Arthur, and Bill Weasley were not unexpected, but Severus was surprised to see Fleur Delacour with them. The Weasley’s immediately lowered their wands upon realizing who had just rudely apparated to their front door. Severus’ eyebrow crept up as he saw Bill gently lower Delacour’s wand and whisper something to her. Interesting.
A heavy weight leaned into his side and Severus realized he was still clutching Granger to him. Her forehead was pressed into his ribs and she groaned, “I don’t feel so good.” She lost her grip on the cat who leapt away with an indignant yowl.
Severus dropped her trunk in alarm and grasped her shoulders, turning her away from him quickly. “Aim away!” he commanded just as she retched, spilling the contents of her stomach on the ground.
“Oh, you poor dear,” Molly cooed while the other three grimaced sympathetically. “Was that your first side-along, then?”
“Yes,” Granger rasped. “I don’t think I like apparating.”
“You get used to it,” Molly assured her. “Also, it’s easier when you’re not the passenger.”
Severus let go of the girl’s shoulders as it appeared his robes and boots were no longer in danger of being befouled. “If you’re quite through, I must be on my way.” he said. Looking at Molly and Arthur, he gave them a brief rundown of why he was offloading Granger on them and added, “I will inform Albus.”
At the Weasley’s nods of agreement, he began to turn away only to be stopped by a small hand on his arm. He looked down at Granger, who was gazing up at him in undisguised appreciation.
“Thank you, sir. If it weren’t for you, I’d be…” she grimaced.
“I’m well aware of what you’d be,” he intoned. Dead or worse.
She squeezed his arm in gratitude then dropped her hand. “You’ll let my parents know where I am?”
“If that’s what you want,” he said with a smirk. “What you really, really want.”
Still smirking wickedly at her bright red face, he spun on the spot, his robes swirling around him and disapparated.
The End