Hermione knew the castle should have been close to deserted. George spent most nights in the Room of Requirement and Harry visited every few days. Poppy and Hagrid remained on the grounds.
"How do you know?" Hermione asked as they rushed toward the Floo.
"One of the House Elves popped in and informed me a wizard had walked into the castle through the front doors. The Infirmary had been sealed to protect Severus."
Minerva gripped Hermione around the wrist as they entered the Floo together, "The wards will accept you if we are in contact," the older witch explained quickly.
Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to breath in any of the ash as they travelled. She did not like Floo travel at all.
Hermione fell out of the fireplace in her haste to get to the Infirmary. The rising panic drove her to break into a run before she was out of the Headmaster's office.
Minerva called for her to wait, but Hermione ignored her. Her thoughts were dominated by the idea that Severus was helpless in his unconsciousness. She did cast a Silencing spell on her feet and a Disillusionment spell over herself so she could approach her destination stealthily.
Hermione paused around the corner from the entrance to the Infirmary to listen. She didn't hear anyone attempting to break through the doors by force, which was reassuring.
She peered around the corner cautiously, only to be greeted by an odd sight. A wizard sat in a chair next to the closed doors, reading a newspaper.
Hermione cancelled both spells and kept her wand partially raised. He didn't look like a Death Eater, but she wasn't taking any chances.
"Hello?" she called out uneasily.
The wizard looked up and smiled. His black hair and dark eyes reminded her strongly of the grumpy wizard in the next room. He tucked the newspaper away and stood up as Minerva came running down the corridor.
"Hello," the wizard said politely, "I'm hoping to speak to Miss Hermione Granger."
Minerva would have reprimanded Hermione quite sternly if she had been able to catch her breath. She was too old to go running along the corridors like a child!
"I am Hermione Granger, and you are?"
The wizard inclined his head to both witches, "Forgive me, I am Arcturus Prince. I couldn't find anyone on the lower floors, so I asked a House Elf where Severus Snape or Hermione Granger would be. I didn't mean to intrude."
Hermione regarded him warily, "Prince? As in Eileen Prince?"
Arcturus inclined his head, "Yes. Eileen was my half-sister."
"Why were you looking for me?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"I wish to speak to Eileen's son, and I have been led to believe that is not possible without your assistance."
Minerva moved forward to take charge.
"Minerva McGonagall, Professor here at Hogwarts," she extended her wand hand politely. Instead of shaking her hand as she expected, he turned her hand and placed a light kiss on her knuckles.
"My pleasure, Professor," he replied with a mischievous smile.
"I bet you were in Slytherin," Hermione observed as Minerva moved forward to allow their entry into the Infirmary. The older with was blushing, which Hermione found interesting.
"Ravenclaw, actually," Arcturus replied easily.
"But the Hat tried to put you in Slytherin?" Hermione continued.
Arcturus smiled, "It did; but I preferred Ravenclaw."
Hermione slipped past Minerva to ensure she reached Severus as soon as possible. His hands were under the blankets, so she rested the back of her hand on his forehead for a moment.
"Arcturus Prince is here to see you," she said quickly as his eyes opened, "Claiming to be Eileen's half-brother."
Severus had assumed the Aurors would come for him soon. A new family member was less threatening, and possibly more annoying.
"Thank-you, Miss Granger," Severus said quietly as he sat up. He already had his wand in his hand, so he did not waste any time transfiguring his hospital pyjamas back into his black robes.
Minerva updated Arcturus on the limitations Severus was dealing with, to give her colleague time to sit up and assess the newcomer.
"A Soul-Bond is extremely rare," Arcturus observed, "I have never met a couple with one."
"I can't find much information on them, either," Hermione offered. She perched on the end of the bed once Severus had swung his body around, so he could meet the wizard on his feet.
"Severus, this is Arcturus Prince. Arcturus, this is Headmaster Severus Snape," Minerva introduced, with a slight emphasis on the title.
Hermione watched the two wizards briefly shake hands with interest. They had similar colouring and moved with a natural grace.
"The resemblance between the two of you is striking," Minerva observed.
"Poor bastard," Severus offered.
Arcturus scoffed, "I was going to congratulate you on your great luck in sharing my good looks."
Hermione fetched a pair of chairs, as neither wizard was willing to back down from the subtle staring contest. She wasn't sure what to do while they were speaking; she couldn't leave if Severus wanted to remain conscious.
"Have a seat, Miss Granger," Severus invited quietly.
"You're supposed to call me 'Hermione' now," she reminded him.
Severus ignored the comment, "You are of the Prince family?"
"I am the result of a liaison between Lord Octavius Prince and a Muggleborn witch, two years before he was married to your grandmother," Arcturus explained, "I was accepted in the family once Eileen was born and confirmed as his Heir."
Severus regarded him critically, "I never heard Mother speak of a half-brother."
"Eileen's mother is a nutcase, and she knew better than to mention me. My mother and her family moved to America when I was eighteen; I moved in with Octavius and his family. Whenever Eileen needed to get away, we would go into the Muggle world. She adored the cinema."
"And when Mother was exiled from the family?" Severus prompted.
Arcturus frowned, "I sent a few owls to Eileen; the one letter which returned ordered me not to contact her by owl ever again. Once your birth announcement appeared in the Prophet, I found her address and send a few letters, but she never replied."
"Did you ever visit in person?" Severus asked pointedly.
"Once," Arcturus replied, "Eileen was clearly annoyed with my presence and asked me to leave. You were a few months old at the time."
"Tobias started hitting her within a week of the wedding," Severus supplied flatly, "She was probably terrified one of the neighbours would tell him she had had a visitor."
"I provided a Muggle Post Office address, but she never replied," Arcturus said sadly, "I would have helped, if I had known."
"Mother was far too stubborn to accept help," Severus mused.
"A trait you inherited," Hermione mused aloud.
Severus frowned but could not refute her observation.
"The Prophet indicated you two became engaged recently," Arcturus recalled, "Are you always this formal?"
"The Betrothal was accidental," Severus replied shortly.
Hermione reached out to pat him on the shoulder, "Severus thinks I am annoying," she said to Arcturus, "He saved my life two years ago, thinking he was offering to adopt me. I was actually of age, so our magic interpreted it as a betrothal. We didn't realize until I saved his life last month."
"I suspect my House Elf had something to do with the strength of the bonding, too," Severus conceded.
Arcturus nodded, while wearing a small smile, "Well, if my nephew is not interested, there is another member of the House of Prince who would be interesting in courting you, Miss Granger."
Severus stiffened, and Hermione felt a surge of jealousy which was not her own.
"You are old enough to be her grandfather," Severus pointed out coldly.
"So?" Arcturus replied easily, "Age differences in the Magical world are quite common."
Hermione tried not to giggle at the thunderous glare Severus levelled at his uncle.
She could not resist the temptation to tease him, "If Severus insists on dissolving our Betrothal, expect an owl from me."
Severus was clearly appalled.
"Just so I can see the expression of horror on his face again," she added.
"Hold onto this one, Severus," Arcturus advised, "She suits you."
Hermione recognised the disbelief on his face; the slight rise of one eyebrow and tightening around the lips.
"How?" Hermione wondered.
Arcturus leaned back into the chair, so he could appraise the couple, "The reputation of Professor Snape has spread across Britain. Your involvement with the Riddle character has ensured children hide and adults avoid you. Yet, you, Miss Granger, are not intimidated at all."
"I blame the Gryffindor tendencies," Severus commented.
"I'm not the only witch who is at ease with Severus," Hermione laughed, "Have you ever met Luna Lovegood?"
Arcturus smiled in anticipation, while Severus made exasperated noises.
"Her father writes the Quibbler," Hermione explained, "And Luna is incredibly perceptive, and yet oddly naive at the same time. She's in Ravenclaw."
"So, my options are you or Miss Lovegood? No wonder I plan to remain a Bachelor forever," Severus said dryly.
"Not while the Soul-Bond is in place, Mister," Hermione rebuked, "Have you had your bandages changed yet today?"
Arcturus watched the young witch check his neck while he tried to wave her away. Within minutes, his nephew was being tucked back into bed with plenty of grumbling about 'nagging witches with too much time on their hands'.
Arcturus was sure the grumpy wizard appreciated the care, despite his constant complaints.
"So, why are you visiting now?" Severus asked once fresh bandages were in place.
"Octavius is very ill; he does not expect to live for another month. Though I was acknowledged as the Heir to the Prince House a few years after Eileen was exiled, I don't want it. You are the rightful Heir, and I'm here to get your opinions on the matter."
Severus scowled, "Lord Prince? It sounds as bad as teaching."
Arcturus shrugged, "A bout of Dragonpox as a child left me unable to have children, so I can never give the bloodline an Heir anyway. I am sure I could convince Octavius to acknowledge you before he passes."
"And Lady Prince?"
Arcturus smiled, "Placing you back into the line of succession would piss her off no end. If she had a heart, I'd say she was at risk of a stroke."
"Why not make Severus your Heir?" Hermione suggested, "Then, when he is ready, you can pass it along?"
Arcturus nodded, "That was going to be my next suggestion."
Severus sighed, "I'm not going to be able to escape from this, am I?"
Hermione reached out to grip his hand, "A Lord's seat in the Ministry can't be worse than teaching First-Years. Imagine the changes you could help make in there!"
"Idealistic to the last," Severus mused aloud.
"She is right," Arcturus said casually, "And it would make my century to be present when you introduce your Fiancée to the current Lady Prince."
"She's that bad?" Hermione wondered.
"Definitely; she still refers to me as the Half-Blood Bastard."
Severus smirked, "I've heard worse directed at me."
"Can I mention you to Octavius?" Arcturus pressed.
Severus sighed. "Yes. I look forward to seeing the reaction when the Wizengamot hears about it."
Arcturus smiled, "That will create a memory worthy of a Pensieve."
Hermione listened to their conversation turn to Eileen, who had passed away while Severus was in his Fifth Year. She wondered how close the loss had occurred to the incident at the lake but was wise enough not to ask.