A/N: This ignores a good part of HBP as well as DH. Please let me know if you'd like me to continue this. It was something that popped into my head in the middle of the night.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my laptop, and I make nothing off this story. The characters belong to the great JKR and I wouldn't dream of stealing them. (Which is a lie I'd like to steal myself a Severus Snape on a daily basis.)

Severus Snape was a cautious man, he had no choice but to be. The rapid progression of the war over the last six months had done nothing to lessen that caution. Despite best efforts Voldemort had taken over the ministry completely. The Golden Trio had been on the search for the remaining Horcrux for nearing two years before she was taken. No one was certain what the remaining two would do without her brilliance. Dumbledore, as usual, had the utmost faith in Harry. Severus did not.

Standing at the window of his bedroom at Spinners End he sighed before glancing to the girl in her potion induced slumber on his bed, still wrapped securely in his traveling cloak. Albus and Poppy were scheduled to arrive via floo shortly. Pinching the bridge of his nose he knew things were going to get much worse before they got any better. He had done what he could to make her comfortable, the induced sleep would at least help her not remember the early after effects of the Cruciatis. He hadn't been able to do anything about the wound on her arm complements of Bellatrix, no one would be able to.

The sound of the floo activating pulled him out of his thoughts as he left the room and warded the door shut. Silent footfalls carried him down the stairs and into the sitting room where he glanced to the head of Albus in the flames. His only greeting was a simple question, "What was the last potion I prepared for you, and who was it for?"

"A vial of Felix Felicis to be passed on to a young man in need of a bit of luck"

Pulling his wand he removed the wards and stepped back to allow Albus and Poppy to enter, offering the matron a hand to take her bag.

"Oh Severus! Where is she? Are you injured as well?" Poppy was bustling about him the moment he'd relieved her of her bag, wand drawn and diagnostic spells weaving over his frame.

"This way." Leading the pair back up the stairs he removed the wards and opened the door, the room lit only by the crackling fire. "I've given her a dreamless sleep and bandaged her arm. The wound won't heal with magic..." Poppy continued to run her spells and he waved her off, "Merlin woman I'm fine...tend to the girl!"

Giving the younger man a look she snatched her bag and headed to where she was sleeping. "If you two would wait outside please?"

Severus opened his mouth to complain when Albus laid a hand on his arm and led him back out into the hallway closing the door behind them. "What happened Severus? How were you able to get her out?"

He began pacing, "I was called to...verify her identity. I had to let them torture her Albus, stand by and watch as they tried to pry information out of her. I don't know where or how she learned it, or if it was a natural defense, but after hours of torture she kept the Dark Lord out of her head. He had her thrown...quite literally mind you...into a cell. I convinced him to let me try, after an hour I informed him that she had died during the interrogation. As punishment for killing her before he had finished using her for entertainment he let Bellatrix have her fun with my person, and told me to remove the body. She can't be seen in public again Albus. If anyone were to catch word of her being alive, my own life will be forfeit."

"Don't worry my boy. We'll take care of it. I assume her staying here is out of the question?"

"Yes. I never know when he is going to send that rat to invade my home again. You'll need to move her as soon as it can be arranged."

"And we've no further information on what this last Horcrux could be? Or where?"

"You know I know nothing Albus! If I bloody well did I'd destroy the blasted thing myself!"

"Calm yourself Severus. I was merely asking. I'll arrange a safe house and send you the location. I trust you can take care of transporting her there? I'll be sure it's stocked and ready. Tell Poppy I've gone on ahead will you?"

With a simple nod he allowed the old man to show himself out before leaning back against the wall and closing his eyes. He wasn't certain how long he'd been standing there when he felt Poppy gently shaking him.

"Severus? Severus wake up. You can't sleep here in the hall all night..."

Opening his eyes he took a moment to focus on the witch in front of him. "How is she?"

"She'll be alright...I had to wake her, but she's back to sleep now. Would you like me to stay to administer the rest of her potions tonight? There are only a few she'll need to take twice more before morning..."

"No no. Go on. Is she at least...dressed now?"

"She is though she has kept a death grip on your cloak. Do be gentle with her. She's still quite terrified I think."

With a nod he reached out for her bag once more and led her back downstairs to the floo. "Albus went on ahead to set up a safe house for Miss Granger. I shall call if I...we need anything."

"Severus. Please take care of yourself... Are you certain you don't need anything else before I go?"

"I'm fine. Off with you woman." Ushering the matron through the floo he pulled the wards back up and dropped into his armchair heavily. Unbuttoning his frock coat, he slipped the cravat from its place around his neck and opened the top few buttons of his shirt. No sleep would be had tonight that much was certain. Summoning the bottle of fire whiskey from the table across the room, foregoing a glass he took a long draw wincing slightly against the burn.

After a second pull from the bottle he banished it back to the table and leaned back closing his eyes for just a few moments. Shrugging out of his jacket he banished it to the coat rack and settled a bit deeper into the comfort of the seat under his chair. No sooner had he begun to relax when the screams from the floor above wrenched him from his seat and had him taking the stairs two at a time. Damn Poppy! She should have dosed the girl again!

Flinging the door open he came to a halt at the side of his bed looking at the thrashing form upon it. "Miss Granger... wake up..." He didn't want to startle her too much, but he needed to bring her out of it as well. "Miss Granger!"

She hadn't responded and he contemplated his options. With a grimace he knelt on the bed and took her arms in his hands giving her a gentle shake. "Miss Granger!"

With a startled yelp she threw her arms around his neck clinging tightly to him. "P..p..professor?"

"Yes Miss Granger. You're safe now, though why Madam Pomfrey didn't give you a dose dreamless sleep, I'll never understand."

"I..I...asked...her not to." She held a bit tighter to the man who knelt stiffly on the bed his hands still on her upper arms. Pressing her face to the curve of his neck.

"I do need to breathe...if you could loosen your grip it would be greatly appreciated."

"Sorry sir." Her words came as a mere whisper as she let go of her former professor and scrambled back across the bed curling around herself and pulling his cloak back into place around her shoulders.

Reaching over to the bedside table he collected the bottles and read their labels. "You need to take your potions."

Uncapping the first one he measured out the dose and held it out to her, when she extended a trembling hand he sighed and leaned forward bringing it to her lips and tipping the contents into her mouth. The second potion followed and he set the vials back on the night stand. Clearing his throat he glanced to her again, "The...bathroom is directly across the hall if you should need it. Would you like dreamless sleep?"

Shaking her head she slowly lay back down with her head on the pillow.

"I'll be in the bedroom to the left of this one should you need anything." Standing he began heading for the door.

"Professor?"

Stopping he glanced back over his shoulder, "Yes?"

"Will you stay? Until I fall asleep?"

Running a hand over his face slowly he nodded. "If you wish." Picking up a simple comb he trasnfigured it into a chair and set it next to the bed. Bending forward he untied his boots and slipped them off and stretched his legs out in front of him. "Get some rest Miss Granger. Dumbledore is setting up a safe house and we will be heading there come morning."

"Yes sir." Knees drawn close to her chest and the weight of his cloak wrapped around her she lay silently on her side watching him until she drifted off to sleep.