Authors Note: I don't own them I just play with them.

When Redemption Finds You

Prologue

She knelt by his side. Placing her hand over his shredded neck, her hand quickly became enveloped in his blood. She lowered her head, touching his forehead with her own. "Oh Professor, Oh Severus." She exhaled and shuddered. "I can't let you die. Not now." She whispered as she began to shake. Tremors vibrating through her body as she inhaled to speak again. "You may hate me if you survive Professor but I hope you will find happiness in your restored life." Hermione focused on controlling her breathing as she continued to lean over Severus. She reached out with her magic, searching for signs of life in him. She found the faintest of faint remnants of his own magic working tirelessly at keeping his heart beating. There you are, she thought as she focused on the feeling of his fading magic and sputtering heart. With a final deep breath, Hermione pooled her own magic in the pit of her stomach. Feeling her own essence gather what little strength she had left after the last 14 hours of non-stop battles. She reached for every bit of energy, soul, and magic she could, pulled it together until it was a burning sphere, seemingly ready to pull her apart if she didn't release it. Leaving her left hand on Severus's neck and placing her right over his heart, Hermione forced the burning sphere up from her stomach, through her chest, and felt it split and course down both of her arms causing a pain she could only equate to the Cruciatus Curse. She felt as if her very blood vessels caught fire and incinerated her from the inside out. She felt every vessel in her arms shatter like glass and then burn in waves until she passed out and felt no more.

Chapter 1 Sacrifices

"Ron, where is Hermione?" Asked Harry. They were leaving the Great Hall. It had been hours since the final battle ended. Harry and Ron had been mourning with the rest of the Weasley's. Their eyes burned with sleep deprivation and hours of tears. Hermione had run out of the Great Hall once the re-enforcement Aurors arrived.

"I'm not sure? The last I saw her she was talking to herself and heading for the whomping willow?" Ron scratched his head with both hands and brought his hands down to rub his face trying to gain some clarity and focus. Then he inhaled sharply and looked over at Harry with big sad eyes. "Snape… She went back for Snape, Harry!" He turned to bolt but Harry grabbed his arm. "Wait Ron, you should try to find McGonagall. Have her go with you. Hermione respects her and will listen to her. Hermione is bound to be terribly upset if she is out there with Snape."

Harry continued on to find a shower that worked. Most of the dorms had been demolished during the battle. A few students had told him the Hufflepuff prefect bathroom was still operational on the 3rd floor and that makeshift beds were being made in a few spare class rooms down the hall from the bath. Harry couldn't think. Wouldn't stop to dwell on the fact that it was all finally over. It was too soon. It still seemed surreal. Like the last 24 hours was a dream that he would soon wake up from. He had lost so many friends. So many people died for the cause… No, he couldn't think about anything right now. He just wanted to wash away the caked on blood, dirt, and grime that covered his entire body. He just wanted to take a shower. Just feel it all wash away.

Ron and Professor McGonagall found the whomping willow immobilized confirming their suspicions that Hermione had indeed went back to help Professor Snape. As they dropped down into the tunnel and began walking towards the shrieking shack. Professor McGonagall asked, "Mr. Weasley, What happen to Professor Snape? I know the Dark Lord killed him but Harry seemed to know how he was murdered. Where you three there?"

"Yes, Voldemort set Nagini on Snape. She attacked his neck pretty vicious like and he bled to death. Right in front of us." Ron got a faraway look in his eye and couldn't stop the tears that followed. It was all too overwhelming. Too many emotions to process.

A piercing guttural scream filled the tunnel and a wave of magical aftershock rippled down the hall and over their bodies. Ron and the Professor were pushed against the wall by the aftershock and their throats closed at the sound of what they knew must be Hermione screaming. The scream seemed to last forever. Ron instantly had a flashback to Malfoy Manor and the tortured screams he heard when he and Harry were locked in the cellar.

Suddenly they were released from the oppressive force that held them captive. They both took off running down the tunnel at full tilt. Ron reached the door first and threw it open. Hermione lay on top of Severus. Her upper body draped over his chest with her arms uncomfortably trapped between their bodies. An aura of power still pulsed around them. Cocooning them in a bubble of lavender and pink pulsing fog. The fog seemed to be seeping into the both of them. The cocoon was becoming smaller and smaller and as Ron and McGonagall stared at the sight before them. Neither Hermione nor Snape moved or made a sound. Ron stepped forward and McGonagall grabbed him by the arm and jerked him back.

"No Mr. Weasley, we cannot touch them. Not until the Vora-Eros is completely absorbed. Dear Merlin, what was Hermione thinking…" McGonagall stared in disbelief.

"What is it Professor? What is Vora-Eros?" Ron whimpered quietly.

"I haven't' the time to explain it just now. I need you to send a patronus to Madam Pomfrey. Tell her we need two strong Aurors to come to the Shrieking Shack and for her to prepare a king size bed immediately." McGonagall started casting silent charms towards Hermione and Snape so Ron stepped out of the room to send his patronus.

Minerva mentally shook herself.

When Ron re-entered the room the fog was gone and Hermione and Snape were wrapped in a sheet lying side by side but still touching. "Professor, what has happened? Is Hermione ok? Why have…" He stopped mid-sentence as he noticed Snape's chest rise and fall. Ron stared until it happened again and he gasped loudly and looked at McGonagall with wide eyes. "Professor, it can't be? I saw Snape take his final breath. The blood…"

"Shhh, quiet Mr. Weasley." McGonagall gently chastised and held up her hand to silence him. "Hermione performed an ancient Greek incantation. One only read about and theorized. It is said to invoke the powers of the God Eros, and bind a loved one to life if they are only a whisper from deaths door. It is very old magic and really only been examined in theory. The incantation is supposed to restore your loved one to full life but at great personal risk to the caster." McGonagall was kneeling down next to Severus's head and with her right hand tilted Hermione's head into Snape's shoulder. "They cannot be separated until one of them wakes. To do so, would possibly kill them both." McGonagall was staring at Hermione with a thoughtful concentration.

"Loved one? Professor, what are you talking about? This is Hermione and Snape! They hate each other; there is no loved one here? Ron exclaimed, looking bewildered and color rising to his ears.

"Things are not always as they seem Mr. Weasley. Do show some maturity and tact." Snapped McGonagall. "Hermione may have just given her life to save Severus's. Show some respect for her sacrifice, however misguided it may be. She used a spell of love that centers on family bonds. Not just in the sense of man and wife but also as in father and child. Whatever Hermione's feelings are towards Severus, they are based in some form of deep love. Otherwise she would not have been able to cast the spell successfully."

Ron continued to stare at Hermione and Snape in confusion.