-Sorry for taking so long, again. I would like to say that my e-mail is now cooperating with me and I am able to send update notices. If you would like to receive one, just e-mail me.-

---

"What did Dumbledore want to talk about?" Hermione asked.

When Severus had returned to the kitchen Hermione had already left. So obviously he had gone in search of her.

"He was basically telling me not to be distracted from our task," he answered as he lay back down next to her.

Hermione had not waited long before going to back to her room. She swore Maria had been about to give her some form of a sex talk. So she bolted and waited in her room for Severus to get back.

"There isn't anything around here. What could possibly distract you?"

"It's not what, love. It's who."

"Surely Dumbledore doesn't think that you would start something with Mari-. You're not talking about Maria, are you?"

"No."

"But…Well actually I guess we have been acting rather like that since we've come home. Sev, you aren't in trouble are you?"

"No. Dumbledore just wants to make Maria happy."

"At least he doesn't know about our marriage," she said, smiling.

"Hermione," he said, and would have continued if Maria had not barged into the room.

"Severus!"

"Not now."

"No, look!" She thrust a newspaper at them. "You know all those countries that were represented last night. Well this morning over half of them signed contracts saying that they wouldn't have anything to do with Dumbledore. Samuel looked into it, going off that wine thing, and the ones who did not sign were ones that could not or didn't drink. Two of the women were pregnant, a few had medical conditions, us, and the Minister of Argentina. You were right. The only common connection that we could find was the wine!"

Severus skimmed through the article, with Hermione reading over his shoulder. It was true. The Order had just lost so many possible allies. It was an unexpected blow that they had not planned on dealing with. Severus hadn't been back in the loop long, but even he knew that. He hated to imagine Dumbledore's reaction.

---

Later that day Maria left for Order Headquarters, leaving the rest of them in Bulgaria. Everyone was panicked, they could tell that from Molly Weasley's floo. They had people going to headquarters from all over the world. Some who had not been allowed before. Hermione and Severus stayed put because, even though the Order members were trusted, they weren't to be seen.

"What do you think the potion was?" Hermione asked, as they all sat around the kitchen table.

"I don't know, but Severus did a damn good job spotting it, or we all might be pledging allegiance to you-know-who at this second," Matthew said.

Severus scowled across the table. Hermione knew he hated to be thanked, or at least have attention centered on him.

"Well do you think it will wear off, or are they going to remain thinking that Dumbledore's wrong?" Hermione asked.

"No idea, love," Severus answered. "That's the next step, I suppose. I hate just sitting here, though. I wish we could have gone to the meeting. Now we'll only get Maria's watered down version."

"No, I'll get the watered down version and you'll get the whole story."

"I don't think so," Samuel said. "Dumbledore set her straight about that."

"I don't believe that's the thing to worry about right now," Matthew said. "We are running dangerously short on allies. With all the countries that just signed peace pacts, you know that other nations will be influenced."

Hermione sat a little straighter. She hadn't thought about that.

"What about those who are already aligned with us?" she asked.

"Who knows? Anything could happen."

---

When Maria returned it was told that she would be leaving. They were moving her to a more high profile place. They would all be staying and trying some damage control, and finding out more about Michael Morgan. The Order knew hardly anything at the moment. The countries that had signed the peace pacts refused to talk with them. The only good thing they could find was that the countries who had aligned with the Order were not turning their backs.

Severus, it seemed, was also in charge of finding potions that could possibly have been used. They weren't entirely shocked by this. Besides that, Maria was going to cut her hair and leave it for Hermione. Polyjuice potion was going to be needed when she went anywhere, and this way it wouldn't be so suspicious.

"It's all so sudden," Hermione said to Severus later that night.

"It was bound to be. This is a rather large thing to be sprung on us," he answered.

"At least Maria will be gone."

"Hermione, early I was trying to-," he growled at a knock on the door.

"Come in," Hermione said.

Maria walked in. "I'm leaving in the morning. If I don't see either of you, I just wanted to say bye."

She gave Hermione an awkward hug and then went to kiss Severus on the cheek. When her lips touched him, however, she was shot backwards.

"What the hell was that?" She asked. Only her lips weren't able to move, so Hermione and Severus would have had a hard time understanding, if they hadn't been saying the same thing. Severus and Hermione shared a startled look, before looking at the door Maria slammed on her way out.

"Severus?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not entirely sure."

"Not entirely? So you have some idea?"

"Not really. But I want your opinion on this theory."

"What theory? Severus, stop going in circles."

He smiled at her, causing her to scowl. "I'm teasing you, love."

"That's not like you. Are you feeling all right?"

"I think it has something to do with our little marriage ceremony," he said, not answering to whether he was all right.

"I suppose that would be the most obvious answer," Hermione said, and collapsed onto her bed. He sat down next to her "I feel weird as well."

"Weird how?"

"Like I wanted to hurt her."

"Maybe it's some sort of side effect of the spells they cast."

"Do you think it's permanent?"

"I'm not sure, love."

"We can research later. That tribe I mean. That's probably the best way to go about it. What do we tell Maria?"

"We don't. Hopefully she'll be gone by the time we wake up."

"Anyway, you were trying to tell me something before she came in."

"I was trying to-," he sighed when he was interrupted again.

It was Samuel. "Do either of you know why Maria can not move her lips?"

"No," Severus answered.

"She wrote down that it was your fault."

"She must be delusional as well."

"I see," he said. "Well, I'll let you get to sleep then."

Severus muttered something under his breath and then turned back to Hermione.

"Now, what were you going to say?" she asked.

He looked at her, prepared to speak, and then backed down. Not now, not yet.

"Severus?"

"I don't remember, love."

Hermione smiled at him. "I hate when that happens. I'm going to get my pajamas on."

"I'll be back in a moment."

When he returned to the room Hermione was already under the covers and reading. He grabbed his book off of her bedside table and climbed in next to her. After about an hour he turned to look at Hermione again. She was asleep with you book resting on her chest. He smiled to himself and moved it, then turned out the lights.

---

Maria was in fact gone when they woke up. The others, however, were all awake and eating.

"She still couldn't move her lips when she left," Samuel said, as if expecting them to confess to something.

"Did you never figure out what happened to her?"

"No. No we didn't," Matthew said.

"I hope it isn't permanent," Hermione said, although everyone in the room knew she was lying.

An owl at the window stopped further discussion on that matter. Matthew went to the window and gave the owl a piece of toast.

"It's for you, Hermione," he said and handed it to her. "It's from Headquarters."

Hermione tucked it into her pocket to read later and poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Severus, this also came earlier for you," Samuel said. "It's about the extent of what they need you to find out about this potion. Also, they have a small assignment for you, Hermione."

"I'm not helping Severus?" She asked.

"No. I mean I am sure you can help, but they want you to help with decoding something."

"Decoding?"

"Details are enclosed," Samuel said, and handed her a thick envelope.

"Okay, then," she said. She looked at Severus, but he just shrugged. The other guys were acting very strangely and Hermione wanted to get away as soon as possible.

---

When Hermione did get away she was even more uncomfortable. It was like the atmosphere of the house had changed overnight. Which was strange because she figured that when Maria left the house would become more comfortable. Trying to ignore it, she went to the library. Severus had said he would join her after he showered.

She sat as close to the fire in the library as possible and opened her letter first.

Hermione,

We were just checking on how you were holding up. Maria, that woman who you were staying with, is here. She's an absolute nightmare, Hermione. I really don't know how you put up with her. I've never felt so little in my entire life. She's also been saying the worst stuff about you. Ron would like to ask if it is true that you and Snape are sleeping together. I told him he's being ridiculous. I wish you were here. We wish you were here. Just let us know how you are. If you want, I'm sure we can get you back here. Even if you can't come to school with us. We love you, Hermione .

Harry and Ron

Hermione sighed to herself. They hadn't changed at all. After writing a brief letter telling them she was okay she opened her assignment. A three page packet written in English and a seven page packet written in some other language.

Miss Granger,

I have spoken to your old Professors and was assured you could help me with this. My name is Henry Clover. I work with a branch of the American Ministry that deals with the translations of old texts. This was owled to me about three weeks ago from a friend of mine in Luxembourg. She is unsure of the language. It was excavated from an archaeological site a few months ago and she had just gotten around to processing it. The reason I have sent it to you is because other objects excavated along with it were full of powerful magic. Not dark, just powerful. We think they might help. Even if they don't, I am sure they would still be useful sometime in the future.

There has been no work done on it so far. So I am sorry that I can't be anymore use for that. Just to let you know there is no pressure on you to finish this. It is not that urgent, but anything you can figure anything out, that is great. Attached to this letter I have languages that are similar to the text. None match perfectly so my theory is that the text is in an ancient form of one of these dialects. If you have any questions don't feel shy about writing me. I look forward to meeting you in the future.

Sincerely,

Henry Clover

Hermione read through the letter one more time and then glanced at the endless list of possible languages. She really hoped they weren't expecting this anytime soon.

"Hermione?"

She looked over. "Hello, Samuel."

"I need to talk to you about something."

"All right," she said. Something about the way he was talking was making her uncomfortable, that and the fact that he kept moving closer and closer to her.

"Maria said you were confused about some things."

"Like what?"

"About the way the world works. Right now she is working on getting Severus back to England. I'm not sure why she's interested in him, but there you go. I am here for your comfort. This isn't going to be easy for you, obviously, but she would like for you to understand that grown-ups have their games and children have yours."

"Don't tell me you believe that, Samuel. That I am a child."

"No, but I do believe that Maria should get what she wants. She has become like a daughter to me."

"I'm still not sure I understand what you're getting at."

"Just let Severus go back to England without any fuss."

"Dumbledore wants him here."

"And I believe he has made it clear that neither Hermione nor myself is going anywhere. Who do you people think you are? Some sort of gang? You are not in charge. Albus Dumbledore is. We may have been MIA for awhile, but even we know that. We have been involved in the Order much longer than you and will not allow you to think that you may control us. Maria may want me back in England, but I assure you that it will not happen. You may as well get used to the fact that the only person we take orders from is Dumbledore," Severus said from behind Samuel. "You will also desist with the harassment of Hermione. She has done nothing to you and if I hear any more complaints about her or from her, you can rest assured that you will regret it."

Before Samuel had a chance to say anything, Severus grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her from the room. These people were really starting to get on his nerves.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I wonder if it's something in the water?"

"What?"

"It was a joke. They all seem to be out to get me."

"I noticed that as well. Don't worry about it. They probably all just get bored out here by themselves."

"You won't leave me, will you?"

"Of course not."

He led her to her bedroom and lit the fire.

"Who was the letter from?" Severus asked.

"Harry and Ron. They were just checking up on me. They're suffering through Maria."

"Too bad."

"Be nice, Sev. No one deserves her."

-Again, sorry this took so long. Any questions or comments review or e-mail me.-

-Slytherin Girl-