Disclaimer: I own nothing, my friends.

Several days passed by. Hermione was completely numb to the fact that anybody and everybody was trying to console her from the insidate that took place merely three days earlier. She had been to speak with Madame Pomfrey several time, who, as it happened, was the resident psychologist and well as medi-witch. Nothing helped. No matter how many times she was told that her current state was unhealthy, she didn't care. Feeling nothing was easier than feeling anything at all related to the death of her parents.

The staff gathered in the staff lounge, discretely discussing Hermione's condition. Seemingly, everyone was very worried.

"Her walls have been put up too far, Albus. There's nothing that I can do." Poppy said sadly, sitting and letting her head fall into her hands. Albus nodded and let out a rather shaky breath.

"It must be done, then..." He said, and turned to look at Snape, who looked startled.

"What?" He asked blankly.

"You must brake through her walls. You know how...you've done it before." said Minerva, crossing her arms indifferently over her chest. She'd not show it, but she was extremely concerned for her star student.

"I'm sorry...since when was I dragged into this? This doesn't concern me in the least." Snape countered, backing up and holding up his hands, palms forward infront of his chest.

"Severus, it must be done."

"Has it occured to any of you that the doing of this may result in the possible or attempted suicide of a teenage girl?" He asked darkly.

"Severus! Really!" said Professor Sprout, glaring at him. He shrugged.

"I am only speaking the truth."

"It must be done..." Repeated Albus.

Snape sat across from a book-indulged Hermione in the library. Only a few students sat in the squashy chairs around them, but they quickly got up and left as soon as he had made himself comfortable. He knew for a fact that he was going to regret what he was about to do, and tried to delay it. Hermione didn't notice him when he sat down, nor did she seem to notice when he fixed her with an intense stare, holding a contest with her downcast eyes.

"Yes?" She asked blankly after a few moments. Her quarked an eyebrow at her. "Sir..." she added when he didn't answer.

"You're slipping in your classes, you realize." He said, picking up a book out of the pile she had next to her and opening it. There was really nothing scholastic about the book, which was odd for Hermione.

"Hmm." She grunted and turned a page indifferently. He sighed audibly and tossed the book back into the pile, earning him a nasty glare from their librarian.

"Listen to me. This must stop. Now. You're not listening!"

"Sure, I am." She mumbled and turned the page again. He growled and reached across the table, yanking the book from her hands.

"Hey--!"

"Listen! The loss of two lesser known muggles is not going to stop the world from turning!" He knew that it would hurt her--and him later--for saying this, but as Albus had said, it needed to be done. Hermione fixed him a look that might have shot daggers.

"Don't. You. Dare." She hissed angrily.

"Don't dare what, Miss Granger? Speak the truth? Your parents were muggles, and you rarely saw them anyway." They were both on their feet now. What happened next, no one would have been able to predict. Hermione's core temperature dropped, and she found it extremely difficult to breath. Snape grew a tad bit worried when her face turned a deep shade of red, and she gasped for breath.

"I-I...Can't--breath!" She panted, reaching out for him. He grabbed her by the arms and they both fell to the floor. "How--how..could you?" Tears flodded her eyes, making it nearly impossible to see. The man in front of her was a mere blur, and it was getting even more difficult to retrieve air.

"It had to be done..." He stated simply. "Breath, Hermione. Breath." His hands rubbed up and down her back gently. "It's not healthy to not feel anything. Your teachers and collegues are worried." Her chest rose and fell rapidly, but the air was beginning to thin and she was able to breath a little better. He removed his hands from her back, but she inched a bit closer.

"Don't stop now..."

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Emmy Rossum's 'Don't Stop Now' inspired it.

Don't Stop Now:

Follow you close four steps behind.
Part of me knew all of this time.
Pushed it down deep, kept it so small.
To help me keep these fragile walls,
From crashing down around my feet.
Don't make a sound, just let you be.
Lost in her face, can't turn away.
This final blow helps me let go.

Don't stop now, I need this to hurt.
Burn it into my mind.
No more second guessing anymore.
This is how it ends.
So don't stop now, get my head on straight.
And if seeing this is what it takes,
Please don't stop it now.
This will be the last time.

This darkened street you go to hide.
Illuminates you are not mine.
These tears run cold, my body numb.
I am not whole, what have you done.
It all makes sense, the disconnect.
Too many words we left unsaid.
But still I stare frozen here.
Until the curtains close.

Don't stop now, I need this to hurt.
Burn it into my mind.
No more second guessing anymore.
This is how it ends.
So don't stop now, get my head on straight.
And if seeing this is what it takes,
Please don't stop it now.
This will be the last time.

I need to see this through until this final bow.
Illusions gone, the show is done.
So don't stop now.

Follow you close four steps behind.
Part of me knew you are not mine.