Snape could almost feel his life leaving him. The warmth and calm of the darkness were so inviting. If he had the strength to scowl he would have done – if only Granger would stop her wailing he would be free to slip into the abyss.

"No! Harry we can't leave him!" He could feel warm, soft hands replace the cold ones that were on his neck. He struggled to open his eyes, managing to only glimpse at Granger. She was blinded by tears, which fell onto his cheeks as she held his head against her. "You can't die Sir. Not after all you've already survived. I need you to live!" Her voice was stricken with panic. He drifted into a blissful unconsciousness for several moments, and when he returned, he was aware that he was being moved. He groaned in agony as the levitation charm slipped and his head tipped back, tearing his destroyed neck even further. Granger sobbed, fixing the charm as she powered onwards. "I will save you."

There were hideous moments of consciousness that rushed through him, bringing noises and pains every so often. He heard yells, curses and once a woman, weeping. He did not want to wake up. That would lead to questions and trails, and maybe even prison. He cursed Hermione and her foolish meddling. The plan had been to die and finally be done with it all, but she'd been too much of a know-it-all for her own good.

"Mr Snape?" A strong voice, which was not accustomed to hush, growled over him. He sighed inwardly, knowing that he would have to open his eyes sooner or later. His lids flickered open and he groaned heavily. Sooner or later. I wish it didn't bloody hurt so much. His eyes had grown accustomed to darkness and were not prepared for the assault of light. "Are you alright?" The voice asked. Severus was too busy grimacing in pain to identify the source.

"No I'm not bloody well alright, I should be dead." Or at least, that's what he intended to say, but what left his mouth was more of a garbled whisper. He paled at the sound of his own voice. That wasn't him, it should be smooth and biting but instead he sounded like a one hundred year old man with the mind of a baby.

"Try not to talk to much." Snape identified the man speaking and sent him a glare, which he hoped was threatening enough to send the message – he asked me a question you twat. He was surrounded by at least 6 healers, all male aside from one. They looked at him with unabashed interest. "You should really be dead by all accounts Mr Snape," Severus rolled his eyes in annoyance, "You're very, very lucky that Miss Granger found you in time." He huffed a little in response. Lucky indeed. "You've been in an induced state of unconsciousness for roughly 8 weeks. The poison from Lord Voldemort's snake, Nagini, has successfully been extracted, and now you are awake and have miraculously regained control of your blood works, we can begin the physical rehabilitation." Severus balked slightly at the sound of '8 weeks'. That would have been more than enough time for his name to crop up at the Ministry. "You will begin speech and physical therapy in two days time, all things considered, and until then we ask you kindly to remain in bed and to refrain from speaking." The crowd of healers began to shuffle out of his room. Severus spied a window looking out onto a grove, which was promising to the point where either he wasn't under arrest or they didn't think him capable of escape. "Now Mr Snape, you have a visitor who has waited very impatiently to see you."

The healer that remained pulled the door open to reveal a teary eyed Miss Hermione Granger. She rushed forward and began babbling,

"Oh Professor I'm so glad you're awake. You were under for so long we worried that you would never recover, and I tried so hard to save you, I really did. And I'm so glad I did. Harry told me that you were on our side all along and I knew it, I did. I think that's why I tried so hard to save you. I knew you were there for us, the patronus and the sword; it could have only been you." Her mouth snapped shut abruptly once she reached his bedside. Tears streamed down her face, which no longer showed any signs of the battle; aside from the new found darkness to her eyes. He scowled at her and beckoned her with one heavy hand. She looked puzzled but leaned in close. Her hair tickled his nose and memories of the battle washed over him. He shuddered and pushed the violent images to one side, before struggling to whisper,

"Am I free?" The words clawed their way out of his mangled throat and into her waiting ear. She turned to him, eyes glistening with tears both shed and unshed. Her head shook slightly, her hair dancing around him. He shut his eyes in pain. Why was she so happy when all she had done was condemn him to 70, 80 years more pain.

"Not yet sir. But you will be." He looked at her with eyes full of disbelief and pain. "I promise. I didn't save you for you to be locked away, I saved you because you are a good man and that needs to be recognised before you go." He scoffed slightly. "I do sir, I promise. Harry and I are working so hard. The ministry just needs one final push and they'll let you free." She paused, as if working up the courage to say the next words. "They want to see you memories sir, for themselves. Harry hasn't shown them to anyone, and they say they need a second opinion, in case he's been confunded or some absolute bollocks like that." Her voice grew tight with anger. Snape closed his eyes for a brief moment in contemplation.

"How many people?"

"I'm sorry sir?" He scowled, his throat already aching from use.

"How many will see?"

"Oh! Probably only the minister and one another," Her voice quietened, "Me." She saw his brow furrow as he worked it over in his mind. "Kingsley's the minister now Sir. I know he won't tell anyone." Snape nodded once curtly and she grabbed his hand and raised it to her lips. He snatched it away with a speed he didn't know he possessed and he saw her eyes flash with hurt. "I'm so sorry sir, I was just…" Her cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment. "I was just happy."