Death's Dark Shadow
Chapter one: The Light Diminishes
Her eyes opened, welcomed only by darkness.
Hermione Granger, Head Girl who was about to start her 7th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, had woken up with a start. Immediately catching her breath, she glanced at the clock which displayed the time 5:48 am. Still early by anyone's standards. It was the summer holiday and Hermione was at home. All was quiet.
Normally even in the summer holidays she would have been woken up to the sounds of her parents eating breakfast, before they left for work. But that didn't happen anymore. Three weeks before the end of term, Hermione had been ushered to Professor Dumbledore's office by Professor McGonagall. The Headmaster asked Hermione to sit down and then proceeded to tell her why she had been called.
Her parents had been involved in an accident. They had been taken to a Muggle hospital and were asking to see their daughter. It was suggested that Hermione would go to Hogsmeade and from there on, floo to the Leaky Cauldron. Dumbledore suggested that she might take someone along for company. She had asked for Harry, but Dumbledore declined, saying it was best if a professor go with her.
"And I know just the person," he said. "Hermione, I suggest that you go to your room and get changed into Muggle clothes. We'll meet you at the main entrance."
With that Hermione left. Once she made it down the stairs, she burst into a run, tears streaming down her face. Her mind was racing with ideas of what could be happening to her parents.
Severus Snape had woken at his normal hour. With plenty of essays to mark, he made himself a strong coffee and with a sigh, started to mark.
It was during this tedium of marking he was interrupted by a knock at his door.
Snape sat back in his chair, took a gulp of coffee and bid them enter. The door opened and in walked Dumbledore.
"Good morning, Albus. If I had known I was to have visitors I would have at least tidied," he spoke with a hint of sarcasm.
"No need Severus, no need," He smiled at the Professor. "I am in need of a favour, or at least one of the students is."
Snape leaned forward, a favour. Which student would that belong to? He wondered.
"Of course, Albus. May I inquire as to whom and what is to be asked of me?" A sly smile crept on his face.
"Hermione Granger has received some very dire news from home. Her Muggle parents have been involved in a terrible accident and are now asking for their daughter. It would seem that she is required to go to a Muggle hospital in London. But I would ask that you would accompany her, as guardian at least." Dumbledore looked directly at Snape.
"I understand. When will Hermione be ready to depart?" he asked. The smile changed to a look of seriousness.
"I would imagine as soon as is possible. Can I suggest you wear Muggle clothes?" Dumbledore bowed and left the room.
Snape finished his coffee and walked into his private quarters. Muggle clothes wouldn't take too long to find and he was soon wearing a pair of black trousers with a black sweater. He fastened his cloak over the top and warded his door. He then left to meet Miss Granger, while tucking his wand away.
Professor Snape walked with his usual determination through the corridors. All the students would still be in class. So he walked them alone. Before Severus knew it he was at the main entrance. Hermione stood in her cloak, with Muggle clothes underneath. The thought of Dumbledore sending Professor Snape with her hadn't even crossed her mind. But all she wanted to do was get to London.
"Professor," Hermione bowed her head. "I…"
"Miss Granger," Snape interrupted. "It would seem that the Headmaster has seen me fit to escort you to your parents," he paused.
"I would be very grateful." She looked towards him, hoping to see some look of distain. But nothing was evident.
"Shall we go?" Snape gestured with his hand, guiding her out the main entrance doors.
The walk to Hogsmeade was uneventful. Neither Hermione nor Professor Snape spoke, both nervous and concerned at the same time. They flooed to the Leaky Cauldron, Snape had insisted that she hold on to his robes, while they did so. Preventing, of course any undue complications, he explained.
The Professor and Hermione arrived at the Muggle hospital, which was only a ten-minute walk from the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione kept walking ahead, eager to get to the hospital. But she would stop and wait for the Professor to catch up, which he always managed.
As much as Professor Snape loathed the Muggle world, he was fascinated by all the chaos. He was so amazed how the Muggles survived in such an environment that before he knew it he had arrived at the main doors. Although he had seen and done many horrendous things, walking into a Muggle hospital with their unusual idea of medicine was not very appealing to him.
Hermione almost had to drag the Professor into the hospital. She spoke to a lady on reception and was told her parents were in one of the wards. With directions on where to go she set off. Through the mazes of corridors; steps and boxes that went up and down (apparently called elevators, to Snape's amusement) they both arrived at the correct ward.
Hermione stared at the doors of the ward. She could feel tension building in her stomach. What would she do, say even? What state would her parents be in? Her mind was working overtime. She stepped back from the doors, to try and clear her thoughts.
Professor Snape watched this young lady, (the most intelligent woman in the whole of Hogwarts) stop dead in front of the doors. It seemed that all eagerness to see her parents had evaporated, she moved away from the doors.
"Miss Granger, are you well?" the Professor inquired with an air of concern.
Hermione snapped out of her thoughts by hearing her name spoken.
"Sorry, Professor. I…," she stumbled as if talking was even more taxing to her brain.
Unbeknown to both of them a nurse going into the ward spotted them.
"Can I help either of you two?" The Nurse enquired.
The enquiry startled Snape, for a brief moment was lost for words. But Hermione spoke, breaking the silence.
"Yes if you could. My parents Mr & Mrs Granger were admitted yesterday. They…I…," Hermione stumbled over her words again.
"Your parents are right through these doors. You can go in and see them, but they are connected to a few machines so try not to be alarmed. It'll be alright." The male nurse responded. "Would you like me to take you to them?"
"Thank you," Hermione managed.
Snape watched as Hermione was walked through the doors to where her parents were. He waited patiently outside, wishing he had brought something to read with him. He still had no idea why Dumbledore had selected him to do this duty. His silent thought was interrupted by shouting and the frantic sound of equipment being moved. He looked through the window and saw many people in the same uniforms running to a particular part of the ward. He realised that for some poor soul this would not be good. It wasn't until 10 minutes later he found out.
The ward door opened slightly. Professor Snape noticed her straight away and from the glazed look on her face. The poor souls had been named. He thought a prayer for their safe passage and hoped like most they suffered none.
Hermione walked from the ward. Her mind was in total shock. Her face stained in tears, once for happiness and now for grief. She could not comprehend what had just happened. The Doctors had said there was nothing they could have done. The nurses offered their condolences. Hermione had been given time with her parents, but all too soon the porters arrived. As she walked through the ward doors, the rest was a blur.
Snape managed to catch her as she collapsed.
He picked her up and placed her on a nearby chair. Her body moulded to his like that of a young child. She was in shock, from what he could tell.
The ward doors opened again, this time by a female nurse. Two gurneys were pushed through, bodies cover by blanket. The nurse noticed Snape and the person with him. She went back into the ward and a few minutes later she returned through the doors. This time, she was carrying a bag. Snape saw immediately what it was and intercepted her. Miss Granger, he thought, could not handle any more.
"I have some personal affects of the Grangers, I have to hand these over to their daughter." The nurse said.
"As you can see, Miss Granger is in no fit state, can I take them until she is ready." Snape ushered.
"Well of course, this was everything that was on them at the time." She handed him the bag. "Oh and this," as she handed him an envelope. "Is a letter arranging when the bodies can be picked up?"
Snape took the letter. Had they no idea what this poor girl had been through and now they wanted to talk about getting rid of the bodies. Snape was viewed by some as a callous, unfeeling bastard. But even he wouldn't do this. Professor Snape said goodbye to the nurse. Making sure no one was around he cast a quick spell, to shrink the items of the bag and tucked them into a pocket. He looked again at Hermione, her eyes were still glazed over. She was totally helpless and in his care. He decided that Hermione needed to be somewhere safe and this hospital was not it.
He walked over to her and sat down in the chair (beside her).
"Miss Granger," he whispered. There was no response.
"Hermione…I am going to take you somewhere safe, away from here." Yet again there was no response. He cupped his hand under her chin, bringing it to face his, looking into her eyes. "Do you understand?"
She blinked. Snape took that as a yes. He helped her stand up and guided her out of the Hospital. When they got outside, he wrapped his cloak and body around her. Thankfully, he thought, it was only a quick walk back to the Leaky Cauldron.
They soon got back and he apparated them both to 12 Grimmauld Place. The portrait of Mrs Black started shouting curses as soon as they arrived. Molly Weasley was working in the kitchen, when she heard the portrait screaming. She walked into the hallway. There in front on her was Professor Snape and Miss Hermione Granger. Snape was removing Hermione's cloak from around her neck, while whispering in her ear.
"Professor," Molly called.
"Mrs Weasley, would you be so kind as to escort Miss Granger to her room?" He asked in reply. "I will explain later."
"Of course, Professor," Molly walked over to Hermione. "Let's get you upstairs, I think you need a lie down."
Hermione allowed herself to be guided onto the stairs by Molly. As she ascended them, she could not help but look at the Professor. Her eyes pierced his with their stare.
Snape watched Hermione go upstairs and to his surprise her eyes locked onto his own. Hermione carried on moving up the stairs, the look was finished as suddenly as it had started. The Professor moved to the kitchen, he wanted to be away from her and he needed a stiff drink. Now where is that firewiskey, he wondered.
Mrs Weasley came down the stairs ten minutes later. Hermione was easily settled and asleep shortly. Molly guessed that she had had some sort of shock for her to be in this state. But she couldn't imagine what had caused such a drastic reaction. When Mrs Weasley walked into the kitchen, she found Professor Snape drinking a glass of firewiskey, by the looks of the bottle his fourth. A bag was also sitting on the kitchen table; it had the name of a muggle hospital on it.
"Oh my," gasped Mrs Weasley.
The Professor looked up at her, for a second she thought he had been crying. But that thought was quickly thrown to the back of her mind when she realised the seriousness of the situation.
"I am afraid that Miss Granger had the unfortunate pleasure of watching her parents die." The professor stated. "And these," indicating the bag. "Are her parents last belongings."
"Does Dumbledore know what happened?" Molly asked while she decided a strong cup of tea would be needed.
"No, not yet. I thought it best she brought here, it was the closest place I could think of," he said.
They both sat in the kitchen, sipping their tea in silence.