One Last Try [HP Jamione fanfic]

38. Fearless

A/N: All the love for the last chapter was so nice!! Hope you guys like this one too :D

11th August 1977

Hermione Apparated to Diagon Alley in secret, having snuck out of Prewett Manor straight after breakfast while the rest of her family were otherwise engaged.

Fabian and Gideon had taken Marlene to visit with Molly and her young children. Iphemia was at some fancy pure-blood tea for the society ladies that Hermione was infinitely glad she'd not been invited to this time. Geraint had disappeared before breakfast with no explanation, and Hermione was convinced it was because of the Order.

She'd received a short letter the night before from Regulus confirming that he had been marked. Luckily the letter had arrived after Lily, Dorcas, Alice, and Frank - who'd been staying since she and Lily came back from the Potters - had left so there were no awkward explanations needed. After she'd gathered her thoughts and convinced herself once again that this was the best - and only - way to take down Voldemort once and for all she'd written him back. She had decided now would be the best time to meet with him and Severus as it was the perfect chance to get the enchanted, identifying tattoos she'd been planning, and to discuss future plans for their subterfuge.

She hurried down the street, robes held tight to her body and hood pulled over her rather identifying auburn curls. She glanced around before pushing the door open to the quiet little cafe hidden beside Twilfitt and Tattings that had opened a few years previous and hadn't been there by the future Hermione had come from. She spotted Regulus and Severus sitting in what looked like an uncomfortable silence at one of the tables; for all that they were both her friends, and fellow Slytherins, they'd never really been that close with each other.

She ordered a cup of chamomile tea at the counter, assuming she'd probably need the calming drink, and then headed over to join them at their table. She sat in the final available seat, smiling a small, tight smile at the two boys, knowing her stress was probably showing. She never felt her mother's Slytherin heritage running through her veins more than when she spent time with either of these two.

"Regulus, Severus."

"Prewett." They both greeted her, weirdly in sync.

She just raised an eyebrow, and politely thanked the server who brought over her tea. "Privacy charms?" She muttered quietly once the server had left. Severus nodded stiffly, and waved his wand in a complicated pattern, muttering so quietly beneath his breath that even with her enhanced hearing Hermione couldn't understand what he was saying.

"Why did you call us both here, Prewett?" Severus enquired, glancing briefly at Regulus before returning his focus to her. "Surely we didn't need to meet just to confirm that Black has been marked?"

"Snape's correct. It could be dangerous for you to be seen in public with either of us now. I'll have to stop being seen with you in Hogwarts next year."

Hermione sighed, and shrugged, finally dropping the hood covering her hair and face, "My face isn't well enough known for the barista to be able to identify me to anyone, I wore my hood up walking along Diagon, and I assumed Severus would be wise enough to include feature distorting charms in his privacy charms."

Severus scowled, "Of course I included them." He snapped sharply, insulted Hermione would suggest he may not have.

"There you go then." Hermione gestured, flicking her fingers in Snape's direction. "We should be fine."

"I feel 'should' isn't good enough with your and our lives on the line, Hermione." Regulus insisted, dark eyebrows furrowed over his grey eyes - identical to Sirius', but so much more serious. He'd switched to her first name as he was wont to do when he felt she was being difficult.