A/N: Hey guys I know its been awhile but shit happen in my life and its been taken its toll on me and well I'm sorry. I really have to thank Wahnsinn und Hass, I had the whole chapter hand written but I just couldn't type it up so she did it for me. So thank you :) I hope you enjoy it. And as always yes I know the grammar is crap I'm planning on fixing the whole thing soon hopefully.
Moving Past Death
Chapter Three: Aftermath of the Dark
Severus watched as the slim figure of the girl he had once thought of as an insufferable child retreat down the darkened street leading out of the small muggle town and even farther away from the grim and musty twelve Grimmauld Place. Today had been quite unusual.
Severus had been out raged when he thought of, his childhood enemy, Black violating the once innocent girl. He had always known that the Granger girl was special since her first potions class. Truly it amazed him to see a child so young that could retain so much knowledge. He couldn't believe that a muggleborn child could learn so much in the matter of weeks they had before the arrival feast. His first thoughts were that she had to be a pureblood or half-blood at least learning these skills since birth. But at last he knew it was true that the little twig of a girl was a muggleborn that seemed to have more knowledge of the magical world then peers two years ahead of her.
He knew she was special in her first year solving his logic riddle. In the years that fallowed he knew the girl would be a detrimental part in ending the Dark Lord, she was the only one in the entirety of Hogwarts that could keep her head and logic even if there would be a battle to fight. He knew she would get things done rather than twist her thumbs like Weasley but she wouldn't rush off unprepared like Potter.
So this sight plagued him, watching what he had come to think of as the hope of Hogwarts darting into the shadows to hide from him, or more importantly from him knowing the truth. He felt a pang in his heart to protect the young girl- no young women. He corrected to himself.
He was jarred out of his thoughts by a rough clearing of someone throat. He turned his attention from the now empty street to the young boy standing next to him, Draco Malfoy. "You shouldn't worry, Sir. She'll be heading to the park. Hermione and I weren't done talking tonight when you interrupted."
"Why would I worry if the little chit believes she can handle herself if anyone chooses to attack her." Severus said trying to tame his voice to sound indifference, and schooling his features to a look of boredom.
"I know we are Slytherin Uncle Sev," Draco smiled at Severus scowl at the old nickname his godson used. "But when it comes to Hermione it's hard to be the icy bastards we've been taught to be. Something about her that brings out the sentimental Gryffindor in me."
Severus glared at the poor boy in front of him. "If the girl get attacked it will not be on my hands."
"She is capable of protecting herself, Uncle." Draco said not detailing his reasons for this fact. He did not wish to spill another one of her secrets tonight. "Even if she was in trouble she would never ask for help. She believes she is not good enough for anyone's help."
"She believes she's not good enough? What a ridiculous notion. What harm could she have caused anyone in this world?" Severus asked clearly not understanding what was wrong with the girl.
"She doesn't want to trouble anyone, to make a fuss." Draco sighed. "When Sirius and I tried to talk to her about it she closed up. She's hard to read because she's been acting for most her life and the one person that was able to get through her barriers is now gone. I know this is a lot to ask but try not to piss her off too much. If she gets to frustrated and feels like the world is about to close in around her she will curse or hex anyone around her with out a thought in mind."
"She's only fifteen she can't use her wand outside of school." Severus said as an automatic response.
"To the muggle and most of the Wizarding world yes she is fifteen but in third year she used a time-turner, she stretched the use of it and know she is legally seventeen years of age. She went to the Ministry two months ago." Draco shrugged. "And Uncle Sev I wouldn't underestimate her, she fierce with a wand."
"Do you forget I'm the one that taught you almost everything you know?" Severus sneered. "Don't expect me to be scared of a little girl." Snape took a moment to look over his options. He could go chase after the girl, making her retreat from Headquarters or he could let Draco find her and get her back to the Order for protection. "Go and talk over what you need to, make sure Ms. Granger makes it back by midnight."
Draco nodded that his godfather was going to let him and his friend have sometime alone. "Should I tell her that when she gets in she should expect a meeting with you?" At Severus nod Draco started to walk off down the same street that Hermione had went. "Have a goodnight, Sir." Draco said over his shoulder.
The girl was troubled. She was friends with the famous Harry Potter, an honorary Weasley, the Gryffindor princess, in the lead to be her years Head Girl and… and it had all been an act, Severus could see it now. The eagerness to prove herself, the way she portrayed herself as a perfect role model when in reality she was trying to keep herself hidden, to hide her parents secret, to avoid looking weak. He had been the same way in his youth, which is what drove him to the Dark Arts it was a way to protect and defend him, a way for him to gain power.
His downfall was the seduction of the raw power that the arts gave off, the adrenaline when he would make a new spell and get praise for it being vindictive and destructive. These qualities drove him to the Dark Lord, to watching a man he looked up to eventually kill his childhood friend, Lilly.
He looked at the small wall clock in the library as he heard the front door shut. It was midnight exactly; trust the girl not to want to face the mean git of a potions master. He stormed through the house, everyone that was over earlier had either left or were sleeping in the extra rooms, Potter and most of the Weasley family had decided to stay for the night. He found her in the kitchen with her head in her hands. It looked like she was deep in thought.
"You know I can feel you staring right?" Hermione asked in a quiet whisper, her head not even moving.
He lifted a questioning eyebrow but said nothing, instead choosing to move forward into the kitchen, taking a seat across from her. "You are aware of your surroundings Ms. Granger, most teenagers aren't."
"I always have been, it's a necessary skill to survive." Hermione shrugged. "So I'm guessing by the lack of late night watchers you gave them a cover story. If they knew I was with Draco I would have been pulled back here by my hair and locked up, so what is it?"
"Instead of Draco you met a young witch at the dinner for "girl talk" as the Headmaster had decided it was called." He smirked. "I imagine it wasn't far from the truth. My godson can be quite feminine at times."
"He tends to be vain, yes," She said chuckling a little. "But he's a good friend, very loyal."
"Except for tonight when he betrayed your secret to me." He watched as her face went to being very open showing her emotions to an icy mask.
"He believed that he was doing the right thing for my welfare. It was wrong to tell you but he thought I was in danger." She shrugged her shoulders again. "It's not like what he said matters, no one will find out." She set him with a glare.
"Ms. Granger it's my duty to know if you are in danger or not when you go back home. Are you?" He asked.
"No, I won't be in danger anymore because I won't be going home, this place is my new home." She shook her head. "You're not going to tell the others." She stated it as a fact not a question. "I don't need their help, I can protect myself thank you very much."
"I heard something interesting concerning that. Draco said you can be very dangerous with that wand of your." Like her last statement it wasn't a question. Her head rose a fraction of an inch in alarm. "How is that exactly? No matter how much you have learned from that DA of yours, there has to be a better reason for him to believe you would beat me in a duel."
"Since second year I have been looking into the Dark Arts." Their eyes locked on to each other. "You should know that magic is not all black and white, it lies in a shade of grey."
"You stupid insufferable witch, those spells are dangerous, they seduce, harm and kill but worst of all it gives you power, addictive power." He growled at her. "You are not stupid by any means, why would you even attempt them in your second year."
"Why?" she asked irate. "'Why?' you ask. I spent most of my life getting the shit beat out of me then I come here and I get praised by the teachers and I'm blissfully ignored by my peers. Then I became friends with The Boy Who Lived and the stupid Philosophers Stone happened. Since then year after year I had to see Harry and Ron go up against some of the darkest people and creatures alive and barely make it out with their lives. You want us to be able to beat the Dark Lord with the pre-approved spells, hexes, and potions, I don't think so." She took a deep breath to calm herself, to stop herself from smacking him. "Draco, your godson, grew up with stories of the Dark Lord and how he was better than mudblood filth. And now…" her voice shook with emotion "…now he has to get burned with the Dark Mark and bow down to your master." A bitter laugh rose from her throat. "He was even allowed to know his assignment beforehand, to prepare for it."
"He's receiving the Dark Mark, when?" He asked urgently he had to be able to do something about this.
"We believe after August 16th, his birthday, but we are not positive." She shrugged. "I'm going to talk to the headmaster about the Order helping to protect him."
"You believe your Headmaster will protect him, with who Draco's family is?" Severus asked unconvinced.
"I don't think he'll have a choice, even his parents will be out for his blood when he refuses to join the Dark Lord." Hermione reason with him.
"Can you communicate with him?" He asked.
"By owl as you saw, it's normally safe but if he's in danger or if it's an emergency we have this." She placed a plain silver band ring on the table. "You say a warming charm and whatever message you want to display and it will warm the other ring and display the message on the inside of the ring. Whether it's his location or if he has a meeting with the Dark lord."
Severus had picked the ring and examined it. "Impressive I imagine you created it." She nodded. "It will be helpful with him."
"I just hope he doesn't have to use it."
It hadn't even been a week, when she felt the ring heat up for the first time. Hermione had been eating diner with the Order before the scheduled meeting that night. Hermione knew this was urgent and swiftly got up from the table, excusing herself to the drawing room.
'Hurt bad, Alley behind Mags, needs help.' The line was written in tiny script around the whole inside of the ring.
Her hands were shaking but she clutched them together around the ring and headed back to the dining room. "Professor Snape I need to have a word with you. Now! Its important."
"Ms. Granger that's not how to speak to a teacher," Professor McGonagall scolded. "You should know better."
Hermione turned to one of her favorite professor with a glare on her face. It wasn't a matter of respect, Draco was hurt and God Dammit she was not losing another part of her 'family'. "Professor I don't really give two shits right now." She turned back to Severus. "Snape, drawing room, now!" she barked and strode out of the room leaving an icy chill behind her.
"It seems I'm wanted. Excuse me, Headmaster." He nodded to Albus and followed Hermione but was stopped by his voice.
"Perhaps I should-" Albus had started but Severus had cut him off.
"No! I will handle this." He said in a voice that lead all to believe such matters were finished. He walked into the drawing room and closed the door behind him leaving it in a stony silence.
Hermione was in her cloak, with her wand out and pacing back and forth.
"Is it-" Severus was cut off by Hermione holding a hand up.
"Wait." She warded the door and cast a silencing charm on the room so the order couldn't eavesdrop on them. "There. Yes. It's Draco. He's hurt badly I have to get to him but I don't know what shape he's in. I'll bring him back here; can you get healing potions and whatever else we might need to help him and put them in my room. Tell Dumbledore I'm bringing in someone injured and that he is to not react or do anything till I say alright?" She asked not really caring about the answer, or the fact that she was ordering her Professor and her Headmaster around like she was above them. Right now all that mattered was getting Draco back safely.
"I'll go get him it will be safer." Severus said dreading the fact that this 6th year had come up with a plan to rescue his godson in mere seconds.
"No you can't, if he denied the Dark Lord there could be Death Eaters there and we are not risking your position with Him. I'll go it's final." She took a deep breath unwarded the door and took down the silencing charm. "I'm going now I should be back within 15 minutes to a half hour depending on how bad he is. If not, something went wrong and we're screwed royally."
She ran out the front door as the door to the dining room was opening.
"Where is Ms. Granger going?" Dumbledore asked when he came in to see her retreating figure.
"She has been communicating with Draco Malfoy for the past few years and it seems that they are friends. She found out earlier this summer that he was supposed to join the low level Death Eaters and was given an assignment. She receive word from him just now that he was hurt and she's going to bring him back here." Severus watched as Dumbledore's eyes flashed with fury.
"How dare she this is the Order's Headquarters. He can't stay here, he may not be true to our side, Severus."
"My godson is injured and that girl is trying to save him because if I did I could be discovered. Which she pointed out, be grateful she went out or you could be out a spy." Severus hissed at him.
"You have an unbreakable vow to me not her." Albus said in a huff.
"I don't give a damn about the unbreakable vow if it means young Draco's life. You shouldn't either Headmaster." Severus spat out the man's title like it meant nothing. "Or did you forget that you have a vow to the children not just Potter and Weasley." At that Albus had the decency to look ashamed. "I have to gather healing supplies put them in Ms. Granger's room and hopefully meet them here before they get back. I've been told to tell you to not make a fuss when they arrive or you deal with Ms. Granger's wrath." He then nodded to the door leading over to the dining room. ""I advise you to tell them someone injured is coming to stay with us but not who it is unless you want Potter and Weasley in a rage. Start the meeting let he children stay and don't let anyone leave that room."
Albus nodded but he didn't look very happy about being pushed around. "That's fine but Severus we will have a discussion about this along with Ms. Granger."
Ten minutes later he had set everything up in Hermione's bedroom and pacing in the drawing room watching as the clock moved so daringly slow. Hermione came in the room Draco's arm wrapped around her waist but the boy was barely conscious, and bleeding heavily.
The girl was almost dragging the boy. "Professor Snape stop staring agape and help me now!" She practically yelled at him. She pushed Draco to him. "Here take him upstairs." He nodded and did as she said. When they were in her bedroom she stripped his clothing and started to explain what she did in the alley. "He was barely conscious he couldn't make a complete sentence. He had transfigured his tie into a mental bowl and put his memories of the night in there. 'Just in case' he said. Stupid boy." she muttered the last sentence more to herself then to him. "They used Crucio of course, almost all the cutting spells I know, several burning hexes one that literally is burning him from the inside out and his mind is not responding, either they did the mens arca archa curse or he is shutting himself out from death. If it was the mens arca archa curse it was triggered for when someone either entered or tampered with his mind. It wouldn't be hard to do." She had thought of the idea herself many times before to place on herself so if anyone but herself tried to draw memories or use Legilimens she could literally shut her mind down.
A wizard drafted into the World War II, created the spell to spy on the 3rd Regime. He created the spell to place on himself to render himself useless little did he know that years later his son would find the notes on the spell and sold it to the highest bidder. His son was now a Death Eater and it was largely known within the Death Eater community today.
"There's going to be long term effects unless…" Hermione trailed off her finger smoothing out Draco's hair.
"Unless what?" Severus asked. Hermione didn't answer. "Unless what Ms. Granger!"
"I have to get a book from the library you heal as many cuts and bruises as you can it will help in the long run." Before he could protest she was out of the room.
Severus had healed all the visible cuts and bruises. He was patiently waiting, not patient more like pacing the room waiting for the girl to come back. He stopped in mid step and turned abruptly towards the door. So he was facing her as the door opened. She had changed into loose fitting pajama bottoms that covered to mid thigh and a tank top. In her hand was a thick leather tome, "Transfero Pestifer is the spell I assume you've heard." She placed the book on the bed. She checked Draco's vital signs and made sure he was comfortable.
"It's pure legend no one's actually used it." Severus scowled picking up the book, he opened up to the marked page.
"Not true. A part of the spell is that neither is able to speak of it. Ingenious really so that people can't keep cheating death." She took the book from his hands. "This is the only book that has the spell and most witches and wizards don't do it because it involves blood of the caster and the injured." Hermione went to her bedside table and removed a knife. Severus opened his mouth to protest. "Don't even think about it. He's my family and he's not going to suffer just because you think it's too dangerous. If you don't like it get out."
His eyes softened nodding at the young woman in front of him. "Thank you, Hermione," He said squeezing her arm.
She nodded. "He will be out for twenty four to seventy two hours. Monitor him and if he has any pain give him a mild pain potion nothing more. I on the other hand will be out for a maximum time of two weeks depending on how bad the pain is. Do not give me any potions and do not use magic on me under any circumstances till I wake up." She looked at him and smiled sadly. "I will save him. I know he's important to you Professor Snape."
"I believe you have the right to call me Severus. You are putting your life on the line for my godson."
"Well then, Severus," she smiled at the name. "If you would stand over there, I'll get started." He stood by the door as she crawled on the bed next to Draco. "Ready?" she asked. He nodded and she took a deep breath.
'The injured becomes healed
And the healed becomes injured
Blood from the healthy' she takes the knife and slices her palm letting a stream of blood to rises she placed her hand above his mouth letting a few drops slip in. 'Cleanses the injured' a field of blue glow illuminated Draco.
'Blood from the injured" she ran the knife over Draco's left hand. She leaned down and carefully licked his wound drawing the blood into her mouth. She grimaced at the copper taste.
'Wounds the healed' as she said the last line, a gold glow engulfed her. Hermione grabbed her wand and cast the spell, "Transfero Pestifer". She blacked out as the blue and gold lights entwined with each other.
Severus was blinded by the glow that filled the room, but he heard the scream coming from the bed. He stumbled over to it and he could feel the aftermath of Dark magic pulse out from the two bodies that lay unconscious. He checked Draco first with his wand, healing the cut and checking his vitals. It seemed everything was fine with him, his body was healthy and his mind wasn't closed off anymore.
He pulled away from Draco when he heard Hermione moan in pain. Her body was trembling and bruises were forming against her pale skin. Severus felt his heart clench looking at the woman in front of him. She did all this to save one boy. He wrapped a thick blanket around her and smoothed away the stray hairs that stuck to her sweat-drenched forehead. "Thank you," he whispered to her unconscious form.
Severus made his way to the dining room where the Order meeting was being held. When he walked in, all fell silent. He scowled at everyone who glanced at him.
"Severus how's our guest and where is Ms. Granger?" Albus' asked with a welcoming smile that Severus knew it was fake. The Headmaster was angry that Severus had agreed with a little girl rather than him.
"Draco is doing fine, rather remarkable. Thanks to Miss Granger he should wake up in the next few days." He said easing himself against the wall exhausted. He was so exhausted that he didn't even take pleasure in the shocked expressions on Potter and Weasley's faces.
"Was it you, that used the dark magic? The backlash reached down here." Remus asked offering a cup of black coffee to Severus.
"No it was Ms. Granger." He said simply, taking a sip of his coffee. Now he almost laughed at the look on Albus' face. Pure horror.
"But she doesn't know the Dark Arts or Dark magic. Who would teach her? Unless you…" Albus trailed his sentence off.
"No it wasn't me. There are these remarkable things called books which I only know, one Gryffindor that actually takes time to read them." He sneered at the Headmaster. Why in the world would he teach a teenager the Dark Arts when he knew how much trouble it led him to?
"Hermione couldn't create a backlash that powerful." Remus said slightly amazed and horrified at the same time.
"Mione's the smartest witch of our year, of course she's powerful." Harry said, Ron nodding with him, looking between the adults at the table.
"No Harry I couldn't create backlashes that powerful I doubt many here could." Remus shook his head.
"She is very powerful for her age, she did a very dark spell, and combined with her high emotions and want for the spell to work. I am not surprised. Hermione deserves respect more than judgment." Severus demanding tone chilled everyone except for one person, Mrs. Weasley.
"Severus did you just refer to Hermione by her first name?" she asked glaring at him.
"Severus what did you do?" McGonagall asked her voice in a warning tone.
"She risked her life to perform that spell, in reality it could have killed her because very few people even heard of it. Yet she used it to save my godson from having permanent damage. I believe I can call her whatever I wish." Severus hissed at the table.
"What I don't get is why she saved the kiddy Death Eater anyway." Ron said scowling at the plate in front of him. "The world would be better off without him in it."
"You ignorant child, do you have any clue why he was hurt so bad." Severus rage flared. Draco was far braver than Weasley. "He refused to take the Dark Mark in front of the Dark Lord, his father, and others."
"He was in Tom's presence? Dear Merlin how did he get away?" Surprise was evident in Albus' voice.
"He and Hermione knew that he was going to get summoned in front of the Dark Lord soon, they thought his birthday. I assume they created a port key or something so he would be able to get out of it if need be."
"Brings us back to the question why Hermione brought him in." Harry said. He wanted to know why his best mate was hanging around scum like Malfoy.
"They've been friends since the end of their 4th year I believe." He smirked at Potter. "She and him are very close, he was the one that met her the other day."
"Looks like Little Hermione," Fred said.
"Has been hiding things," George said.
"Things from us,"
"First a relationship with Sirius,"
"An unknown friendship with the spawn of the devil"
"And her talent for the dark arts,"
"What else is the know-it-all hiding from us?" George finished.
"We'll just have to talk to her when she comes down." McGonagall said sending Severus a glare.
"Actually because of the spell she is going to be out for the next two weeks or so because she literally took on Draco's injuries but on a lesser extent and did a powerful spell. She is like a newborn baby, that weak and her magical core is non-existent. She needs to recharge and to rest." Severus sighed. "We'll just have to wait and see for when she wakes up."