Deep Down the Dusty Path of Darkness

by The Bickering Kingdom

Set Fifth Year/No Umbridge. Dark Hermione. When Hermione returns to Hogwarts her fifth year the change in her should be visible for all to see, but it isn't. The only one that sees it is Snape, reluctantly he offers to help her back from path she's on to have the offer rebuffed. When he notices how deep Hermione has delved into darkness, - Full Summary inside.

1. Prologue

Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Harry Potter.

Prologue

"How could you let her get in this deep?," it is a question that is laced with unspoken accusations and coldness, Severus has heard that tone before from Albus and yet this time it stings like a slap to the face. The feeling only lasts briefly before its replaced with anger.

Why was it up to him to stop her getting in this deep?, he wasn't her head of house or one of her friends. Maybe if they had noticed her changing before their eyes or hadn't so willingly left her to her own devices then today never would have happened.

But today had happened and nothing anyone did now could change the events of today.

The look in Albus's eyes tells Severus that now isn't the time to voice that the blame doesn't fall squarely on him.

"When I first realised what Miss Granger had gotten herself into I tried to help her, she didn't want it. When I realised how far she'd actually gone I tried to control the situation an up until today I had."

He knows that Albus wants to hear it isn't the girl's fault that she was unwillingly dragged down the path she's on, but that isn't true. Because Hermione Granger choose everything she did, the three people who died today were dead because of the choices she made.

And now both of them are stuck with choices she made, he through trying to make amends for past sins and her for wanting to prove she was just as good if not better than the Purebloods who mocked her.

"The best thing to do now is to handle the whole thing the best we can," Albus tone sounds tired and first the time Severus's sees an old man before him. "Find Miss Granger you know her better than anyone else right now and bring her back, tell no one else about what has happened today. Tomorrow I'll make an announcement at breakfast that that there was an accident in the potions classroom that has ended with you and Miss Granger being admitted to the hospital wing."

"What if Potter and Weasley want to see her?," Severus asks, not being able to stop the frown that comes whenever he utters the word "Potter".

"Then you better get her back here before I run excuses of why they can't hadn't you then Severus!".

Severus doesn't need to hear Albus tell him that the conversation is over and he should get on with the task assigned to him.

So leaves and the questions that burn in his mind aren't asked, what happens to Hermione when he does bring her back? and how is Albus going to cover up the fact there are three Aurors laying dead his quarters?.