Life had carried on as normal for Hermione after her encounter with Snape, so much so that the dream had been pushed out of her mind for last couple of weeks. She had finally finished sorting the book, taking satisfaction from placing the final one on the shelf. Although a little part of her was feeling lost as she now had nothing to fill her nights. Maybe she would put a laboratory in the cellar, the idea of trying to make some of the amazing potions she had read about was very appealing.

She exited the library, taking one last glance at the room a smile played on her lips as she thought of how the Professor would have been happy to see his books being so well looked after. He must have realised that she was the perfect person to bequeath them to.

She was exhausted, deciding that she would forego supper tonight and head straight to bed. She showered quickly, putting on her nightdress she turned off the bathroom light and headed for bed. She sat down on the edge of her bed, reaching for her brush, her eyes fell on the stone. The green glow coming from the stone on her bedside table made her forget about her hair, she held her breath as she picked it up...it was warm to her touch.

Swinging her legs up on the bed she lay back and began to turn the stone in her hand. Once again she felt relaxed and sleepy, her eyes so heavy she could barely keep them open and soon she was asleep.

She found herself in a cold room. there were no windows and candle flames made dancing shadows on the walls, which were filled with racks containing unusual metal instruments, chains and whips. Four large wooden tables fitted with restraining devices dominated the floor and in the middle a stone fire pit filled with ashes. Snape was sat on the edge of the pit, he stood as he realised that Hermione had joined him.

"Miss Granger." He slightly dipped his head in greeting.

"Professor" she replied, although her surroundings unnerved her she was pleased to see him "What is this place?"

"This is a place I would rather forget" Snape frowned as his eyes looked around the room.

"If that is so, why are we here?" She questioned.

"I have to show you what kind of man I used to be." He sat back down "Please, sit."

Hermione walked over and sat beside him, her nightdress riding up, the stone felt rough against her legs.

"This place was where Voldemort would bring anyone that he had no more use for. He liked to use muggle torture devices, it was the only thing he said they had got right. Yes, we have curses and ways of inflicting pain but he liked to use these things saying it was a different pain, a more protracted pain, so the torture would last longer." his voice was barely a whisper as he spoke.

Hermione nervously started playing with the edge of her nightdress, unsure of whether she was ready to hear more but it fascinated her at the same time. She had never thought of what Snapes life had been like before he became the potions master. She had heard bits and pieces of information but never had imagined that she would be listening to his version first hand. It struck her how difficult that this must be for him to tell her his darkest moments.

"I was all too ready to join him in here, I also took pleasure from inflicting pain on anyone I had the chance to." Snapes head lowered to his chest, as he sighed "You have to understand I was a different man back then, I had lost the woman I loved to Potter and in a way I had lost myself. I hated that Potter had the life that should have been mine. I was very bitter and angry, Voldemort must have seen how I relished in tormenting and torturing people in here and began to keep me close." He rose from his seat and began pacing in front of her.

"Over time he began to share more of his life with me, trusting me more and I have to admit I liked the feeling of power that the position gave me. It was not until he told me of his plans for the Potter boy and I realised that would put Lily in danger that I came to my senses. I am glad I was so close to him or I would never have been privy to what his intentions were." He stopped in front of Hermione, she could see he was trying to gather his emotions.

"I went to Dumbledore to beg for help, I was desperate it was my only hope to try to save her. I know I failed to protect her but in a way I saved myself in the process. It was the best decision that I ever made. Albus and I spent many nights in his quarters, he would listen to me ramble for hours. I do not think he ever spoke to anyone about me but he had a unshakable belief that I was not beyond redemption, although I still have my doubts, he always had faith in me."

Snapes voice was heavy with emotion," He was my dearest friend and fulfilling his final wish, for I to be the one to kill him, was the single hardest thing I ever had to do."

Hermione sat quietly staring at her hands trying to take in all that Snape had revealed.

"I don't understand why you have to tell me any of this." she said.

"You have to know everything, Miss Granger." Snape said " You have this image in your head of a man who risked his life on a daily basis just to help save everyone, someone brave and noble but I am not that man. I am capable of unspeakable cruelty and I need you to take me down from the pedestal I have been put upon and see the reality of the man I am."

"You do not have to explain, Professor, as you yourself said that was the man you used to be. I don't think that is who you are now." she said "I can see how much this pains you. but your actions since then have more than made up for how you behaved."

"Your compassion towards me may be misplaced, Miss Granger, who is to say I would not go back down the same route if circumstances arose"

He returned to his seat beside her and put his head in his hands, his black hair falling down covering his face. Without thinking Hermione reached out and brushed it behind his ear. She heard his sharp intake of breath and quickly removed her hand.

"The fact you can see what you became back then and you show remorse for it means you are not that man anymore. I truly believe that "

Taking her hand in his he spoke "I do not deserve your trust Miss Granger nor do I ask for it, but the fact you give it freely to me is more important than you can ever know."

He brushed his thumb over her knuckles and his dark eyes found hers "I'm afraid it is time for you to leave again."

She looked into his eyes as he began to dissolve in front of her and she was not sure if the sensation in her chest was from being pulled from the dream or if it was from being parted from him again.