AN As always I do not own Harry Potter. JK does. She meets the former Severus Snape

Act of a Familiar X

"What do you have to do Hermione?" Luna called while rushing to catch up Hermione.

"I need to learn about him. His time here Luna. I know Thanantos's plan now. She wants me to free him but I need to understand everything."

Luna smiled. "Let's begin in the Great Hall then."

The witches moved down the stairs, waiting for them to align up at times. Moving in the wide passageway, Hermione remembered moving about the students, going to their classes.

Luna paused as the doors opened, revealing the large room with four long rows of empty tables.

Moving down, Hermione paused at the spot she sat with Harry and Ronald. A feeling of friendship envoleped her, remembering Ron stuffing his face as she admonished him. "Ron, there will always be food here!"

Luna pulled her and soon they were behind the Head Table where the Headmaster and her professors sat when at meals. "Sit!"

Hermione came to her senses and realized the chair pulled out was Professor Snape's.

Sitting down, she gasped out, eyes closed and let the imprints fill her.

She found herself in her third year in his eyes looking down at them. How could he protect them without revealing his true purpose.

He focused on Granger. The chit was clever enough to figure out his puzzle during her first year, helping Potter to defeat Voldemort. If he could only teach her properly, she could be a witch to contend with.

Sighing out, he finished his meal leaving immediately regretting the words long ago about her teeth. But he had more important business to contend with and hurting a student with his stinging words were not one to think about.

She glanced over to the empty large where the Headmaster sat falling into what was shown to her.

The hall was completely silent as the students ate, the Carrows at his side. The increase of students hexed at their hands were growing at an alarming rate and Poppy, the medi-witch already complained and all he told her was to worry about her work and leave him to minding the school. Despite his promise to protect the students to Dumbledore he failed, forced to turn a blind eye. He hated it.

Hermione slumped at the table and Luna allowed her to rest, pulling out a thick bar of chocolate.

After a few minutes Hermione pulled herself up and took the offer of chocolate gratefully. "Where to next?"

"The Astronomy Tower." Luna dreamily replied.

Hermione froze. She knew what she would see there. "Luna, I know what happened there. Harry told me."

Luna grabbed her hand firmly. "We need to go there."

Hermione allowed Luna to drag her up and fell, strong emotions overtaking her.

Shit! Albus standing there with Deatheaters cackling and noticed a shimmering when Albus glanced to a corner and realized Potter was there hidden.

Bella coaxing Draco to perform the deed and watched as the young wizard could not do it and appeared holding his wand out, the Unbreakable Vow forged with Narcissa fully in control. Not that it was any different from what he promised…..

"Severus!" Albus spoke. "Please…"

Wand pointed and the Killing curse sent out, watching the body of the Headmaster Dumbledore falling over the ramparts of the Astronomy tower.

Hermione fell onto her knees, a feeling of disgust of death and forlorn, a promise completed in more ways than one.

"Noooo!" Hermione shouted out panting. She knew of what happened based on Harry's words, but the turmoil of emotions in the memory. Hatred, disgust, and then acceptance of his doom.

Luna watched her friend fall to the floor, waiting patiently for Hermione to revive.

Twenty minutes later Hermione came to and pulled herself up panting. "I'm going to free him tonight!"

Luna picked her friend out and held her, tears falling. "What do we have to do?"

Hermione held her. "Only me Luna. Go back to Neville and think of Headmaster Snape and what he did for us. His sacrifice. I'm going to tell the others and free him!"

Luna watched Hermione rush from the tower. "She'll be disappointed." She whispered out.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

She visited everyone from the Order and they agreed to the plan. Midnight it was and they would think of him…

Hermione stood outside the Shrieking Shack, pail in hand and entered.

Her Ex-Professor watched her enter the room. "I told you not to come back!" He snarled out.

Hermione conjured up a hard scrub brush. "Quiet now! I'm setting you free!

She bent down to her task, scrubbing at the pool of blood in the room and it did not go away.

Severus observed her. "My blood is protected by the Heritage. You need to do something more to make it go away. Why do you care anyway?"

Hermione realized the truth in his words sitting up and looked at the pool of blood, pulling out her wand. "I know you Severus. I can do this." Pointing her wand to the floor and closed her eyes.

"Solvo quos irretitus in cruor!" She shouted out and scrubbed again pleased that the blood began to give way. Soon the floor was clean and she glanced to Headmaster Snape and waited.

The blood disappeared and she watched her professor and took a chance. "Severus, you are free."

Minutes passed and the semi-solid form watched her on the floor panting looking up to him. "I'm not sure what you want but I am still here." He murmured.

Severus watched her in interest. "I thank you for removing the blood but I am not free as you said."

He floated over to her. "My destiny is to stay here and the penance I deserve. Nothing you do will change the Fates in that."

"Why do you do this?" He whispered out. "I was nothing but cruel to you."

Hermione pulled herself up. "I know you Professor Snape. I know you had to do what you needed to and learned of you. I'm sorry …."

He watched the witch rush off and went to follow her. Out the door of the Shack and onto the path and toward the castle.

"Miss Granger!" Snape shouted and she stopped and looked back.

"I'm free of the Shack. I am away from it. I am free to roam the grounds now!"

Hermione stilled. "Not what I wanted Professor Snape."

Severus allowed a small smile. "Only you would have tried Miss Granger. Thank you for my freedom. Doomed I am but at least I am not stuck to that place!"

Hermione watched the semi-solid form move past her.

Thanantos suddenly arrived and landed on her shoulder. "It is time you visited his quarters and learn the final piece."

"Everyone of the Order thought of him when I cast that spell. I did not free him alone." Hermione murmured.

Thanantos picked at her hair. "Such love for a man hated. I felt it and suspect he did as well."