Against The Odds

Chapter 12 - Trouble afoot

Fall was already waning into winter and the air was now frigid. Hermione and Severus had spent many nights together after that intial night at the ball, but they managed to keep their love affair secret, because outside of closed doors they argued constantly.

A familiar owl flew into Severus' office as Hermione graded papers while Severus worked on essays. Severus grabbed the parchment from the owl and read it over quietly before cursing under his breath. "What is it," Hermione asked softly.

"Potter tells me that there's been a breakout of Azkaban. Antoin Dolohov has escaped, along with a couple other Death Eaters. The Ministry is keeping it quiet because they want everyone to think they've got everything under control," he stated with a heavy sigh as he pushed the parchment to her.

Hermione's brows furrowed as she read the information he had just told her. "Who would do it," she asked.

Severus shook his head slowly. "They're going to be questioning former death eaters who didn't go to Azkaban after the war. I'm betting odds that we'll be their primary suspects," he growled as he pulled some firewhiskey from his desk drawer and poured a glass for himself and Hermione.

"Do you think it's a setup to get you guys put into Azkaban," she asked as she took a sip from her glass. Just the idea of losing Severus made her heart ache.

Severus sighed heavily and sipped his drink. "I'm not sure. I don't know who would be against us, except for the ones that were safely locked away in Azkaban," he replied.

That made Hermione's blood run cold. "So all the death eaters that have it out for you are now on the loose," she asked with wide eyes.

Nodding slowly, Severus finished his glass and poured another. "The ones that survived anyway," he stated with a shake of his head. "If they find out about you, it will put you in danger," he added quietly since he hadn't put a silence charm on the room, which he should have done. 

Still holding the letter, Hermione stood up and motioned for Severus to follow. "We have to let Professor Mcgonagall know. This implicates the children as well, Severus," she stated as she waited for him to join her.

Rolling his eyes, he finished his glass and stood up before following Hermione south the door and up to the Headmistress' office. Upon entery, Hermione hurried to give the Headmistress the letter after a brief greeting. Minerva read over the letter with a tight frown set upon her lips. "Why in Merlin's name are they keeping this quiet," she asked after putting a silence charm on the room.

"They're a bunch of dunderheads, look who they have working for them," Severus barked.

"Without Harry, We would be in the dark," Hermione snapped back, not liking how he was talking about her best mate.

Minerva shook her head. "Do you think there's a mole inside of the Ministry," she asked.

"Of course I do and we could have one here for all we know," Severus then replied angrily. It wasn't usual to see Severus afraid and that made Hermione afraid.

Hermione paced the floor some and frowned. "Right now, we just need to lie low. Listen and watch for suspicious activity," she finally stated. "Someone is bound to slip up if they're working here," she added.

Severus and Minerva agreed and Hermione took her leave. She needed a walk to clear her head. On the way outside, Hermione bumped into Dillon, who dropped his letter onto the ground. "Oh, I'm sorry," Hermione said as she picked up the letter and handed it to him. "Who's that," she asked.

"Jace Hargrove is my cousin, he's a bright and ambitious bloke," he stated proudly as he tucked the letter into his pocket. "I was going to the owlery to send this to him, care to join," he asked, holding out his arm to her. Hermione nodded and ignored his arm as she began walking, "Since I have no siblings, Jace has always been like a brother to me," Dillon stated as they walked along the path.

Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "I know, I'm an only sibling myself, but my friends are more family to me than my own family," she lamented as they reached the owls and he picked one to send his letter. "Why not use your owl," she then asked, remembering that he had a sleeck black screech owl.

"He's sick at the moment," Dillon stated as he sent the bird off with the letter. "The nurse in the infirmary says he should be good as new soon though," he added in an upbeat tone.

Nodding in thought, Hermione smiled softly. "I hope he feels better soon. I do need to get some dinner though before I get back to grading, thanks for the walk," Hermione stated as she headed back down for the castle.

She didn't dare send an owl to Harry so she jotted down the name, Jace Hargrove onto a piece of parchment and hid the writing with a spell before setting it in a drawer in her desk before heading down to dinner. Severus gave her a quizzical look as she sat beside him, because he saw her leave with Dillon, but she just shook her head to say that now wasn't the time.

Once dinner was through, her and Severus headed to their rooms to make it look like they were going to bed. Hermione the set a silencing charm on her room after inviting Severus in. She then gave him the rundown of her talk with Dillon. "Never heard the name. Are you going to see Potter," he then asked.

"Yes, and you're coming with me," she replied with a smile as she activated the floo and warded her room.

After some grumbling, Severus followed Hermione through the floo and stood in Potter's livingroom, brushing the soot from his robes. Harry and Draco were on the couch drinking and looking very stunned as the pair exited the floo. "Harry, does the name Jace Hargrove mean anything to you," Hermione asked without so much as a hello first.

Harry furrowed his brows and shook his head, but Draco looked stunned. "Malfoy," Severus asked slowly.

"His father was a death eater and Jace was all for joining when he heard about me. He was willing to do it though," Draco stated with a disgusted look.

Hermione and Severus shared a look with Harry. "Dillon says that this guy is his cousin," Hermione stated as she took a seat on an armchair.

The four sat in silence for a moment. "You dont think Hargrove planned the prison break, do you," Draco asked Harry.

Shrugging, Harry ran a hand through his hair. "He's the only suspect. However, if we go after him now, that could put Hermione in danger with Dillon," he stated in almost defeat.

"Tell them I tipped you off," Draco stated.

"It will still be suspicious seeing as how Hermione just learned of this information," Severus stated coolly. Hanging his head, Draco gave a small nod.

"Okay, but we can't just let this guy waltz around Hogwarts and put Hermione in danger," Harry then stated.

Hermione huffed. "I'm right here! And trust me, I can handle myself," she stated with a shake of her head. "Harry, just start a mild investigation on him and we'll go from there," she stated as she went back to the floo and left. She was annoyed that they were treating her as if she wasn't there and couldn't take care of herself.

Severus was quick to follow her and scowled once they entered her chambers. "Would you mind telling me what has gotten you so angry now," he growled, not understanding her anger.

Instead of replying, she pulled him into a heated kiss and they proceeded to make love without anymore discussions that evening.