Hello my beautiful followers! In this chapter Severus casts the patronus charm. I am not sure if canon Snape learned it while in school and was able to cast one this young, but in my story he can. Thank you for everyone who has followed and favorited my story. Please don't forget to leave a review. It really helps me get out the next chapter when I know people are reading and enjoying it. Anyway on to the next chapter.

Severus was sitting by himself at the Slytherin table during breakfast. On his plate were scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. He picked up his tea cup and took a long sip. He took his tea black with one spoonful of sugar. He looked again at the Gryffindor table and scanned his eyes down the whole table and still couldn't find Hermione. He looked over at the entrance and no one came in. He was worried. Hermione is always on time and usually here before him. He kept on eating while keeping his eyes open for her. As breakfast came almost to a close he couldn't wait anymore. He hesitantly walked over to the Marauders at the Gryffindor table. He approached Lily and Remus and started shuffling his feet. He said nervously, "Um excuse me have you guys seen Hermione this morning?"

Lily said, "No Severus I haven't. I'm sorry."

Remus said, "Maybe she woke up late this morning."

Severus wasn't too sure about that, but it made sense to him. He nodded at them in thanks and walked back over to his table. He finished his tea and decided to go look for her. He stood up and left the Great Hall. He walked down the hallway and started heading toward Gryffindor Tower. As he was getting closer he saw something in the middle of the hallway. He walked quicker and saw that it was a girl underneath a pool of blood. He ran over to her and realized it was Hermione. He shouted down at her, "Hermione!" She didn't respond. He checked her pulse and found it still beating. He knew he couldn't leave her lying on the floor alone. He took out his wand and casted his patronus. He watched as what used to be a silver doe came out as an otter. He stared at it in shock. He shook his head remembering that Hermione needed his help. "I need help in the hallway outside the Great Hall near Gryffindor Tower immediately. Hermione Granger is past out on the floor in a pool of blood." He sent it to Madam Pomfrey and waited for her to arrive. He didn't know what else to do while he waited. He didn't know any healing spells, especially for something this large. He saw that her arms and hands were twitching slightly. He felt sickness engulf him. He knew what that meant. He had seen it too many times before. She was hit with the cruciatus curse. Finally he saw Madam Pomfrey come rushing towards them.

She gasped when she saw Hermione and said, "What happen here Mr. Snape?"

He said, "I don't know Madam Pomfry. I was coming back from breakfast when I saw her like this on the floor."

She tsked and shook her head. She levitated Hermione off the floor with her wand and walked her back through the hallway and past the Great Hall to the Hospital Wing.

Severus followed slowly behind. Even with Madam Pomfrey he still felt sick with dread. He was mad at himself for not trying to find her sooner. Once he found out who did this he would kill them.

Madam Pomfrey slowly lowered Hermione down on one of the beds. She turned to Severus and said, "I am sorry dear, but you cannot be here while I am healing her. Leave and come back later please once she is done."

He crossed his arms in defiance and said, "No I won't. I want to know she is okay. I am not leaving her side."

She scowled and said, "I am not telling you Mr. Snape. I am ordering you. Now leave now at once. The longer we argue the more in danger she gets."

Severus hesitated, but hearing that she might be even in more danger he quickly nodded and left the Hospital Wing. He didn't go very far though. He stayed outside the double doors and waited patiently. He would wait forever if he had to.

Madam Pomfrey quickly got right to work. She cast a cleansing charm on Hermione that made all the dry blood disappear from her body. After cleaning her up she held onto her arm and started the incantation vulnera sanentur. While she was saying the incantation the wound on her arm would not go away or get any better. She tried for a little bit longer, but still etched on her arm was the word mudblood. She stopped the spell and slowly dropped her arm in sadness. There was nothing she could do to fix that ugly word on her arm. It was used by dark magic and spells like vulnera sanentur was not good enough. She casted a body scan on Hermione and saw in great horror that her body was greatly compromised. She had internal injuries that would need a lot of time to heal and she had after effects from the multiple cruciatus curse that was casted on her. She went to the bookshelf of potions that she had and took out a blood replenesher, a potion to heal some of the internal injuries, and a painless potion to keep the pain to a minimum. She walked back over to Hermione and slowly opened her mouth. She forced the three potions down her throat while she stayed unconscious. Madam Pomfrey knew that one potion for her internal injuries won't be enough though. She will need more as the days went on. Her progress would have to be monitored and she could have after effects that just aren't being seen.

Professor Dumbledore heard of what happen and came to the Hospital Wing. He saw Madam Pomfrey looking over Hermione and said, "What happen here Poppy?"

She said, "Based on her injuries it looks like Hermione was attacked by another student in the hallway this morning. She has a lot of internal injuries, her body is still twitching, and her arm will continue to have an ugly word carved into her arm. I tried to heal it, but it won't go away Albus."

He sighed and shook his head in sadness. He said, "It's a shame though. She doesn't even belong in this time and she comes here and gets attacked. Based on the word on her arm it was probably someone who is turning to the dark Poppy. I will have a word with her once she is awake. I notice that Mr. Snape is waiting outside the door. Is she decent enough for you to let him in or does he still need to wait?"

She really didn't want him to come in, but Hermione was sleeping and was stable for now. She sighed and said, "Yes Mr. Snape can come in, but not for very long."

Professor Dumbledore opened the double doors and let Severus come inside the Hospital Wing.

Severus quickly rushed over to the bed and said, "Is she okay Madam Pomfrey?"

She replied, "For now, but I am not sure how she will be later when she wakes up. She does have some internal injuries that I am worried about and she obviously still has after effects from the cruciatus curse."

Severus shouted in anger, "Those bastards."

She glared at him and said, "Watch your language Mr. Snape. We don't use those kind of words."

Professor Dumbledore said, "Do you know who did this to her Mr. Snape?"

He said, "No sir I'm not for sure, but I believe it was Regulus Black and Rodolphus Lestrange. They attacked us a few weeks ago on our trip to Hogsmeade and now they wanted their revenge."

Professor Dumbledore said, "Aren't they your friends though?"

"Not anymore. I stopped being their friend when they threatened us. Hermione didn't deserve any of this. They targeted her because of me and I will never forgive myself."

Dumbledore clapped him on the back and said, "It was not your fault Mr. Snape. The people who did this will get in trouble and you don't have to worry about it. Don't do anything drastic Severus. I know it might be difficult for you, but you cannot retaliate."

He scowled and crossed his arms. "I refuse to just stand by and do nothing. They deserve to get what they get. They nearly killed her Headmaster. How can you say that?"

Dumbledore said, "You have a hopeful future ahead of you. Do not get distracted by built up anger and revenge. Hermione wouldn't want that. She would want you to let it go and let us deal with it. Do not get yourself sent to Azkaban."

Severus slowly relented and uncrossed his arms. "Can you give me a few minutes alone with her?"

Dumbledore smiled at him and said, "If it's okay with Madam Pomfrey then I don't see why not."

Severus looked at Madam Pomfrey hopefully. He wanted to sit by her bedside and hold her hand and be able to talk freely without people watching him.

Madam Pomfrey said, "Alright that's fine Mr. Snape, but you only got a few minutes, plus you know you have to get to class. You can't just stay here all day. I will let you stay for five minutes, but then you have to go."

Severus nodded in thanks. He watched as they both left through the double doors. He sat down in the chair next to her bed. He reached out and held her hand. "I am so sorry Hermione for all of this. I didn't know they were going to attack you again. You didn't deserve any of this my love. I wish I was there. I would have protected you. I would have fought them for you. If I had known I would have stopped them before they even got to you. I pray that you will be okay Hermione. I need you to be okay. I love you so much." His finger slowly traced the word that was engraved into her arm. "I can't believe they would do this to you Hermione just because you're associated with me. I think we need to stop seeing each other once you get better. I don't want them to target you again. You deserve better. Now you are scarred forever because of me. I am so sorry Hermione. So so sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am and how much I blame myself." He felt tears enter his eyes. He hasn't cried since he was a little boy, but they started falling at just the thought of her being attacked. He covered his face and started crying in his hands.