All rights to Harry Potter and the characters go to JK Rowling.

This is my first fan fic so be kind :)


Chapter 1 - Knocking on death's door

He knew it. The end was near. Gasping for breath Severus Snape lay on the cold dusty floor of the shrieking shack. The searing pain of the venom forced him to drift in and out of consciousness. Snape groaned, he just wanted the torture to end. His breathing was shallow and his vision was blurry. A bright light began to fill the room, this was it.


She staggered into the remains of the shrieking shack slamming the door behind her. The darkness was consuming and she could feel her heart beating loudly in her chest. Leaning on the door she took a deep breath. She was safe, but for how long. She was about to continue walking further into the house when she heard a small groan come from the side of her. She froze, she wasn't alone. Drawing her wand she shone the light cautiously across the floor. A small puddle caught her eye. The red glistened in the light of her wand. Lead lifeless on the floor barely centimeters away from the puddle was her former potions master. Her wand hit the floor as she gasped.

She froze not knowing what to do. His robes were sodden in blood. Her knee's became so weak that she collapsed on to the floor beside him, tears began trickling down her face.

She sat there in silence for a while simply staring bemused by what was in front her, but then she took his limp hand into hers.

"You were a brave man Professor, you didn't deserve this" She whispered to the silent room.

Placing his hand gently back on the floor she ran her fingertips slowly over his forehead, he felt cold.

A soft groan escaped his lips startling her. She swiftly withdrew her hand.

"P-p-professor c-c-can you hear me?"

He made another groan.

"Sir it's Hermione, you are safe now, try to stay with me okay"

Adrenaline began pulsing through Hermione's body. Scanning the floor she spotted her wand.

"Accio Wand"

Her wand now in her hand she started muttering and incantation. The large wound on Snape's neck closed slightly, the blood flowing from his neck began to slow.

"Ferula"

Bandages began to carefully wrap themselves around his neck. Her hand then dived into her pocket to retrieve her bag. Ferreting through she recovered a small bile of potion she had made whilst on the run with Harry. Slowly she poured it into Snape's mouth.

Hermione was unsure whether Harry had completed his task, but knew she had to get Snape out of the shrieking shack if he was going to live.

"Professor, I've given you something to help your heart keep beating, it's not going to do all the work, so I need you to try to stay with me okay. I'm going to get you out of here"

Hermione pointed her wand towards him and he arose from the ground. Walking along the winding dark passage, Snape carefully levitated behind her. Peering outside the end of the tunnel it was quiet, Hermione knew it was now or never.


Snape was aware something was happening but was finding it harder and harder to grasp on to reality.


Bursting through the large oak doors of the hospital wing, Hermione began scanning the room for an empty bed.

"Madam Pomfrey quick it's Professor Snape, he.. he is badly hurt" She shouted across the hall.

"Place him down here dear"

Madam Pomfrey pointed to the only spare hospital bed in the wing.

Tears once more began trickling down her face. She watched as Madam Pomfrey dashed around the wing gathering various potions and equipment. She had seen too many innocent people die, she couldn't bare to see another. After what seemed like a century Madam Pomfrey finally stopped and turned to face her. Hermione held her breath.

"He is a very lucky man Miss Granger, you got him here just in time" Hermione exhaled in relief.


Snape continued to drift in and out of consciousness, and for a moment he could have sworn he had heard Poppy Pomfrey's voice. The pain in his neck had seemed to have eased. His eye lids felt heavy. It all went dark again.


Hermione hadn't left Professor Snape's side for the rest of the evening. Madam Pomfrey had insisted that it was fine for her to leave, but she couldn't, she had to sit with him until he woke up. Looking up from the book she had found lying around, she gazed down upon her former Professor. His features seemed softer, the stern potions master seemed a distant memory to the man who lay before her. He was finally at peace, he could be free. The large hospital doors swung open banging against the stone wall snapping Hermione out of her thoughts.

"Where is he, where is the Coward", A thick Scottish accent bellowed across the vast hall.

Professor Minerva Mcgonagall stormed over towards Professor Snape and Hermione, without thinking Hermione sprang from her seat putting herself between Mcgonagall and Snape.

"Miss Granger I'd advice you to step aside!"

Hermione did not move.

"I shall not ask you again Miss Granger, away"

"No" she said timidly.

"No?!, Miss Granger this matter does not concern you now move"

"Professor you need to let me explain, he isn't who you think he is!" she protested.

"Then who is he Miss Granger other than the man who killed our beloved Professor Dumbledore, the man who betrayed us all, the man who served Lord Voldemort?!"

Hermione took a deep breath, she needed to convince Mcgonagall of his innocence.

"He is a brave man"

"Brave, do not make me laugh Miss Granger, Snape is many things but he is not brave"

"You have him all wrong Professor, would you call spying on the Dark Lord to keep Professor Dumbledore one step ahead not brave?"

"I think you have your facts wrong Miss Granger, Snape was spying for Lord Voldemort not on him, why else would he have killed Professor Dumbledore"

"because Professor Dumbledore asked him to"

"Ridiculous!, why would Professor Dumbledore want to die?!"

"Because Dumbledore was cursed, with only perhaps a year to live. He wanted an honorable death, not one of a fool"

"Even if that was the case Miss Granger, why would he chose Snape of all people?"

Hermione knew she had caught Mcgonagall's interest.

"Dumbledore had found out Draco had been instructed to kill him by Voldemort, Dumbledore being who he was didn't want that kind of thing hanging over a young boys head, so he told Snape it should be him. He trusted him"

"We all knew Albus trusted Snape but never knew why, I suppose you are going to tell me you do"

"It was all because of Lily Potter"

"Lily Potter?" Mcgonagall repeated.

"From childhood Snape had never stopped loving her. Dumbledore used Snape unrequited love of Lily to his advantage. He knew that Snape would help him protect the last traces of her, he knew he would protect Harry."

A confused expression appeared on Mcgonagall's face. Hermione knew what she was thinking as she herself had thought the same, was Snape even capable of love?

"This meant that when Snape killed Dumbledore, Voldemort trusted Snape completely, meaning he could continue to protect Harry"

"Is this all true Hermione?" Mcgonagall's tone had softened.

"All of it"

It was clear the Mcgonagall had no reason to argue anymore. After all why would Hermione lie. Silence fell between the two women as they both looked at Professor Snape.

"I..." Mcgonagall paused " I have one question Hermione, how have you come to know all of this?"

"Snape had shared his memories with Harry previous to his near death, Harry then naturally told me, he truly is a brave man Professor, we have judged him so harshly all these years when we knew so little"

"Indeed Hermione, well I can see he is in good hands, please tell me when he awakes"

"Of course Professor" Hermione went to sit back down.

"But be warned there will be a full trial into Snapes involvement with Voldemort, so any evidence you can gather will be vital to Professor Snape's swift release"

"I will do everything I can to help"

"You are a very kind witch Hermione, lets hope Professor Snape shows you the same kindness some day"

With that Professor Mcgonagall left the hospital wing.

Hermione slumped back down in her chair. She look down at Snape, and lent forward. She carefully took his hand into hers.

"I promise you this Professor I will do all that I can to help you, you have been such a brave man sacrificing you own life to save so many others, you deserve to be free"