Chapter Text
It’d been weeks, and the supplies were dwindling fast. Hermione had just finished taking the daily inventory and was on her way up to the headmaster's office. It wasn’t looking good. They had 2, maybe 3 weeks of food left, and there was only so much the scouts could do now that the supply routes had been found. She had a sinking feeling that today would be the day. Harry was going to lock everyone down in the castle and plan for some sort of final stand.
Hermione slumped at the idea as she trudged up the steps to a crowded office. Every available surface had people on it, sitting or leaning. She was right, Harry had gathered everyone. McGonagall currently sat in the headmaster's chair, but Hermione knew that Harry would soon take the seat so he could make his plans known. Right now, he was talking to Kingsley in a hushed voice, probably finalising plans before he faced the gathering crowd.
Hermione saw Professor Snape and made a beeline to him. He was wearing his signature black cloak that covered all the way to his scarred throat. Ever since Harry had saved Snape's life after he had been bitten, Snape had become a lurking presence in the castle, rarely far from Harry's side. Since then, everyone knew that if you had a problem with Snape, you had a problem with Harry. Hermione had been one of the first to agree to allow Snape to stay after Dumbledore's death. But she hadn't realised it was an agreement at first, a fact that now embarrassed her. She had screamed at Harry, claiming that they needed to do more for Snape to block the dark mark syphoning his magic. It hadn’t taken long for Harry to agree and help. They worked together to identify the mark's magic and trap it in Snape's arm with a thick metal bracelet. She might have said she saw it reflecting in the candlelight, but she knew that would be impossible. There was no way Snape would leave it on display for anyone to see.
Hermione nodded in greeting “Hi Professor, I have the list of leftover ingredients. We will have to decide after this what we will make” There wasn’t time for pleasantries anymore, so she tried to keep things clear and easy. Snape lifted his head, if she didn't know better, she might have thought he had only noticed her when she greeted him. But that would be foolish. Outside of Harry and perhaps McGonagall, he was the most powerful wix in the room, he would have known she was coming before she reached the stairs.
He nodded, practically blinded by gratitude for Snape. Hermione nodded back and quickly charmed a copy of one of the pages from her notebook and handed it to him. He took it and read it quickly. Sighing, “Does this include my personal stores?”.
Some might think that was unfair, as per one of Harry's rules, there weren't really personal items except for clothes. But she knew he didn’t mean it that way, and if others didn’t understand, they knew not to confront Snape.
Hermione tilted her head, flicking through her book “Yes, they're on the back under ‘Snape's Stores’. Although I haven't done a recount since Tuesday”
He nodded “You're welcome to do it with your rounds” Hermione's finger stopped.
“Alright”, she was in shock, no one went into his rooms alone except for Harry. Hermione had a feeling that the two of them were actually very good friends now, but couldn't be sure. If she were the betting type, she would say Severus was the only person who knew of Harry's plans, apart from her and Ron.
“Thank you” she said, sincerity clear in her voice. Severus gave a tilt of his head, she supposed it was all the acknowledgement she would get. She nodded as well and gave him a quick once over. A habit she had developed over the last couple of months.
She strode to where Ron was kneeling over the coffee table, discussing maps with one of the Greengrass’. The Greengrass sisters had been some of the first to come to Harry. Hermione would love to sit but she had more people she needed to speak with. She silently passed him a page with the list of the resources that would be helpful for the scouts or fortification, and a full supply list separately for him to review. Ron took the papers and rubbed his thumb over her hand. Hermione’s lips lifted, he was so consistent it shocked her sometimes. She tapped her fingers on his hand and then carried on.
People were getting antsy, and the chatting was slowly dying down. She just had three more people to deliver lists to, and luckily, they were all together. She stood in front of the headmaster's desk. Privately, she thought of it as the headmistress’s desk, but McGonagall had refused to take the position, so technically the desk still belonged to Snape, even though he rarely uses it. He is usually in his den instead, often with Harry. She placed three almost identical copies on the table, not wanting to interrupt. Harry was now chatting with Kingsley, but paused to nod at her. She turned and headed for her usual seat. She and Harry were the only two people who sat in the same exact place every meeting.
She was ready to take notes and then clarify plans and assign roles for each individual in the room. To be honest, it was a lot of work, but everyone was working hard. She pulled out the chair off to the left of the headmaster's desk and sat facing towards the centre of the room. She needed to make sure she could connect tasks to the right people. She knew that as soon as she pulled out her book and nodded at Harry, the meeting would start. Everyone else knew it too, they were looking at her, but she didn’t rush. Everyone needed this time, so she sat there for a couple seconds, taking in the group.
Harry of course, Ron, McGonagal, Kingsley, Snape, and the rest of the Weasley family. Fred and George, having just returned from a scouting mission where Fred was badly hurt, he was sitting next to Madam Pomfrey with George standing above him. Charlie, Bill, and Percy, who takes notes when she can’t, were all standing with their mother and father. She knew Percy would make his way to her when she made eye contac– oh, and there he comes, standing by her chair.
Daphne Greengrass and her scrying ball connected to her father. He was outside of Hogwarts, but tried to send help anyway. Luckily, it had not yet caused him or his family issues. There were also a handful of students and former students, including Zabini, Lavender, Pavarti, Padma and Luna. Ginny wasn’t here, she was, Hermione was pretty sure, with Draco Malfoy. He was the new spy for Harry and had probably already had a meeting with him and Severus, where Severus could rebuild Draco's mental shields. Harry didn't trust everyone to be able to keep it secret so he was only a part of small gatherings. She was sure Neville was in the gardens growing as many resources as possible. The last few people were the remnants of the Order of the Phoenix, Remus Lupin, Mundungus Fletcher and the like.
+++++
As Hermione's eyes swept past the room, Harry could tell she was cataloguing everyone and making decisions about who could carry out what, despite no plans being finalised yet. He watched her eyes dart around lightning fast. She was one of the few who had become sharper and more refined from the war. She stopped, eyes on his, lifted her book and nodded. The room sucked in a breath, and Harry stepped forward. The fact that she initiated every meeting the same way made it easier for him to deliver. It was why they had decided she would always be there last and Ron would always be there first. People dropped their guard around him more, and if anything was said, he would know. People raised their guard around her. She was precise.
Harry flicked his eyes to Ron, who knew what was coming and was trying not to look sick. “We have 2 weeks of supplies” he looked to Hermione, she confirmed
“Maybe 3 but that would assume no attacks and no more scouting.”
Harry nodded, “This is not sustainable. We have known this for a while, and it has become clear now that our supply lines have been bottlenecked and we do not have enough time or ability to truly regroup” He was grave but clear. Molly, who hadn’t cried for months, took a shuddering breath. “We have discussed this over the past week, and we have decided on a proposal to Voldemort.” People still flinched at the name, but who could blame them? He was more real now than he had been a decade ago. Harry could see Mondungus about to start spitting. He flicked a silencing charm towards him. They didn’t have time for bickering. “We are offering a truce in exchange for something Voldemort has been searching for. The sort of truce that will give him some power, but not absolute control… It is a good option,” a breath, “a great option.” Kingsley, who had been standing off to the right of Harry, tipped forward, an offer to speak for him. Harry lightly shook his head. “We are offering me.”
Silence
Pin drop Silence.
+++++
Not even Molly dared to breathe. Despite suspecting this would happen, Hermione froze, she stopped writing. A moment, two, she lifted her head, her expression not one of horror but something close. She caught Luna’s eye, whatever she used to think about seeing the future, these months had changed that. There was a reason Harry consulted with her more than Snape. She looked fine, happy even, Hermione stared questioningly at her. Luna tilted her head and nodded. Hermione sighed. It was as close to “he will be okay” as she was going to get. It was one of those hard things, seeing the future. She was grateful not to be Luna. All Hermione could think was that she hoped this would end well. And like the force of a wave motion rushed back into the room. People started talking, yelling really. Percy stepped forward above her, he had probably seen her acceptance and Ron’s lack of shock. “Enough”, he didn't speak loudly, but it rang in the room, like her, he had been given a rather difficult role, while she was to assign tasks, he was to control everyone. People didn’t like him for it, but he had good practice, and that's all that mattered. The room was quiet again, and Harry sat down.
+++++
On the chair, Harry could gain his bearings. “I will be his war bride, for lack of a better word” The room wanted to erupt again, but Harry lifted his hand “This is not negotiable. But what is, is the contract itself. It will be treated like a pureblood betrothal negotiation.” People's mouths had dropped open.
He couldn’t be serious?! But Harry wouldn’t joke about this, so it had to be true. The only person, outside of those he had told, who didn’t really seem surprised was Daphne. But she never let her emotions show like that, although Harry got the feeling she wasn’t surprised because she read it from Luna.
Regardless, it was time to plan.