Characters are property of J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter Universe. Thankfully, she allows me to borrow them for a bit of fun.

Chapter 10

Reunion

A thick, choking fog settled over the forest like a blanket, making it impossible to see the ground from the air. It was the kind of fog that could make the most open of places seem closed off and downright claustrophobic. Given the way the mass stirred, it appeared to be a living, breathing, and immensely sinister creature. The swirling gray mist taunted him, calling to him like some wild siren to come within its grasp, so that he too could be swallowed up by it. He loathed it for the simple reason that it concealed from him what he was desperately seeking to find. He edged closer to the rolling haze, just skimming its satiny surface. He could feel the dampness settling on his wind-tousled hair and jacket, chilling him to his core. He didn't care. If anything, this was the punishment he deserved and he would endure it until he found her. He had been searching the forest for hours, but saw nothing. There were no traces, magical or otherwise, of Hermione. Severus toyed with the notion that she didn't want to be found, least of all by him.

The trip from Cokeworth to the Forest of Dean had provided him with ample time to think. As Severus flew silently over the frost covered rolling hills and the various slumbering villages nestled between them, he examined the man that he had become. Years of toiling for Voldemort had hardened him. Of course, given the nature of the terrible crimes he committed against Wizards and Muggles alike, he had little choice in the matter. He considered that, at some point along the way, he had lost some, if not all, of his humanity. That was never his intention, obviously, when he so foolishly bought into Tom Riddle's maniacal ideas. He went to him seeking, above all else, acceptance. Of course, the power and glory appealed to him as well, but not nearly as much as having a place where he fit.

His childhood, if it could even be considered that, had been wretched. His mother, while loving in her own weak way, never really seemed to be interested in him. Severus felt, on more than one occasion, that his mother resented him because he had what she would never have, a chance to escape. Eileen Prince was merely his mother because that was the role that had been forced upon her by his pathetic excuse of a father. Tobias Snape was an oppressive, drunken bastard. He choked the life from everything and Severus hated him for it. His father controlled every aspect of his life and his mother's. He was an alcoholic and verbally abused his mother. He flat-out refused to have anything to do with Severus when he was a child. The sodding man appeared to find delight in disappointing people and cutting them down. A trait, Severus noticed that he had unfortunately inherited from his old man. The day he received his Hogwarts letter was the day he realized he could break away from from his neglectful mother, his frightening father, and everything about his home life he despised.

Hogwarts, unfortunately, wasn't what Severus imagined it to be either. Apart from Lily Evans, he had no one to call a friend. He was a socially awkward child, but he was eager to please. Most of all, however, he wanted to prove his worth. Severus dove head first into his studies and excelled. This drive had the opposite effect of what he had hoped to achieve. His intelligence seemed to sequester him even further from the student population. It also made him a target for the likes of James Potter and Sirius Black. They were everything he wanted to be: popular, athletic and well-liked. He was ridiculed daily and it drove him to turn to the Dark Arts for retribution. It was a piss-poor excuse in hindsight, but there wasn't a damn thing he could do about that now. His interest in the Dark Arts would prove too much for his relationship with Lily. He eventually pushed away the only person who cared for him, and as much as he hated to admit it, he was partially responsible for her death at the Dark Lord's hand.

Severus finally came to the conclusion that he did not belong; that he had never belonged. In his mind, and as ridiculous as it sounded, there were two types of people, those who were sullied and those who fell in the middle of good and bad. He didn't fit in any of those categories. He didn't exist, in a sense, not anymore. He had a body, just like everyone else and he could feel pain when it found him just as he could also feel the occasional pleasures in life like the sunshine caressing his face on a warm summer day. He had all of the senses, all of the functions, everything that made him human, but he was just empty inside. There was nothing left but a bitter, calloused hull of a man, who had been aged well beyond his years by two equally manipulative masters and a less than glamorous past.

Much to his chagrin, something within Severus seemed to have come to life over the last few days. He would have liked to have blamed it on the fact that he was essentially free for the first time in his life. That wasn't the real reason, of course, and he couldn't deny that any more than he could deny he was a wizard. No, the real reason for his current state was somewhere alone in the godforsaken forest below him, or at least he hoped she was. Hermione Granger deserved an explanation, though Severus wasn't sure what he was going to say to her when and if he found her. The fuzzy-haired, highly insufferable, little swot from his tenure at Hogwarts seemed to be a fragment of the young woman he had come to care for. That was another thing that stumped him completely. He wasn't sure what it was about her that drew him in. He did know, with absolute certainty, that he was never turning her away once he found her. If Hermione Granger walked away from him again, she would do it on her own accord.

Hermione woke—or was awakened—very abruptly. She stared out into the blackness enveloping the woods. The darkness seemed to have been intensified by the thick haze hovering ominously overhead. Exhaustion and anxiety had obviously claimed her sometime during the early morning hours and she went with them willingly. She did not anticipate, however, that she would have slept so soundly on the raw, unforgiving ground. Hermione noted that the forest was very quiet, very still and she secretly wondered why she had awoken. Then, she heard it. It was a soft noise, barely audible above the gentle lapping of the nearby water on the river's bank. Had she not been listening intently, she would have never caught it. It was a subtle rustling of the leaves on the forest floor, the sound of tiny twigs snapping and twisting as if they were being trampled underfoot. This wasn't natural like the night wind sweeping through the trees or some nocturnal beast meandering about. This was deliberate. This was calculated.

The pain in her ribs made stifling her labored breath difficult but she tried her best to remain silent. She listened closely. The sound was making its way closer to her, but was moving slowly. She argued with herself whether she should stay put or try to get away from whatever was producing the sound. Maybe it would pass, she thought. The sound bearing down on her made her dismiss this thought quickly. Her shaking knees made it especially difficult to stand. She had to get somewhere where she wouldn't be found by whatever was making that noise. Her injury eliminated the option of trying to run. She had to hide. She made her way slowly through the forest, looking for somewhere to conceal herself. She saw a fallen tree about fifty meters in front of her. Wincing in pain, she tried to increase her pace.

The sound grew louder and was now coupled by a chilling wind that made the hairs on the back of her neck bristle. She had to make it to the tree. Thirty meters to go and the sound was growing louder. It was unmistakable now. Footsteps. She was being followed. She looked around and saw the dark silhouette of a large man against the moonlight. He was ten meters behind her. She turned to face him. The man stopped. "Who are you? Why are you following me?" She was surprised at how her voice trembled. The man gave no response. "Who are you?" She turned and tried her best to put distance between herself and her pursuer. Probably due as much to her fear as to the weakness caused by her injury, she stumbled and fell to the ground. She heard the man's footsteps. He was standing over her. Fear pulsed through her veins. "Please! Whoever you are, I don't mean you any harm. Please, don't kill me."

"Kill you? Miss Granger, surely you know that if I haven't killed you by now, I have no interest in doing so. But I must insist that you keep quiet because there are some in these woods who would jump at the chance to do so…to both of us."

Hermione brought her hands to her mouth to keep from crying out. Of all the people she expected to come across in the woods at three in the morning, Severus Snape wasn't one of them. The fear in her body turned to ire. Forgetting her discomfort entirely, she flung herself off the ground and at Snape. "You have no right!" Hermione managed through her tears as she shoved him backwards. "You have NO right, damn you!" Hermione made to shove him again, but Severus caught her hands in his and with a swift motion spun her around, wrenching her arms securely behind her back.

"We. Are. Not. Alone," he whispered in her ear as she fought against his firm grip. Hermione froze, the hair on the back of her neck standing up, though she couldn't tell if the reaction was from his hot breath on her skin or the revelation he had just made.

"How right ya' are, Snape," a raspy voice called from the abyss in front of them. Severus pulled Hermione behind him, pushing her up against a tree in an effort to shield her with his body. The two of them watched as a tall man emerged from the shadows, flanked by a gigantic, brooding fellow on his left and two normal-sized individuals on his right. Severus recognized the motley crew at once. They were Snatchers and a superior lot at that.

Scabior was a gangly man with ratty, dreadlocked hair and washed out eyes. He had a crushing sense of confidence that rolled from him in waves. He had good reason. Scabior was one of the Ministry's most effect bounty hunters against those who had committed the so called blood crimes against wizardkind. It was obvious why Voldemort recruited him. He found those who, above all else, wished to stay hidden. The man beside him was unmistakable. There was no denying Fenrir Greyback. Greyback was bestial in appearance and rightfully so considering the monster that he was. The near-wolf was close to two meters in height, with jagged teeth and black eyes. When he didn't kill, Greyback passed to his victims a fate much worse than death.

The two other men Severus wasn't entirely familiar with, but knew them by name, as he taught both of them at Hogwarts. The ashy blond, Hadrian Corbett, was the typical Pureblood supremacist looking for glory. He enjoyed the thrill of the chase, but not nearly as much as taking down those who were foolish enough to resist or run. Hadrian was always searching for a weakness, trying to gain the advantage, and by the look he had in his eye, he was already sizing up his competition. Corbett also had a reputation. He was responsible for a considerable number of deaths, second only to Greyback of course. The smaller man was Micheas Ignavus. He made Peter Pettigrew look like a bloody noble. Unlike, Corbett, it was obvious Ignavus sought the monetary gain of such a job rather than the fame. He was a quiet man with sunken eyes and a hollow expression. Given his demeanor, he was not new to death and had become quite indifferent to it.

"We've been searchin' all over for that one, we have. Slick little Mudblood, she is." Scabior winked at Hermione before he flashed Severus a sinister grin. "Wasn't expecting to find a snake, though, was we, fellas?"

A howling laughter pierced the silence. Fenrir stepped forward, his wand trained on Severus. Snape remained unflappable. "Well, well. I suppose the Dark Lord must be desperate to find me if he is sending his dog on the hunt as well."

"You won't be such a smooth talker after I rip out your throat, Snape. Of course, that will have to wait until I'm finished with her." He nodded toward Hermione with a demented smile on his lips. "A shame to mess up a pretty face, but at least her looks will reflect the filth running through her veins."

"You won't lay a hand on the girl, Greyback. If you and your band of misfits leave now, I will allow you to tuck your tail between your legs and explain your failure to the Dark Lord. Take one step toward her, and I can't promise you'll live to tell about it."

"That's big talk for man outnumbered four to one," Scabior interjected. "From the looks of things, your little Mudblood girlfriend won't be able to help you much. Looks like Alecto's blade did quite a number on 'er, didn't it? I just wish I could have been there to hear 'er scream."

Snape and Hermione both drew their wands and pointed them at the group of Snatchers. The Snatchers erupted with laughter. Corbett's face turned solemn before addressing Severus and Hermione. "So that's how it's going to be, traitor? Very well, if you don't want to go quietly, we're more than happy to oblige your request to die."

Greyback was the first to move. He lunged at Hermione but was plucked from midair and hurled into a nearby tree by a Knockback Jinx from Snape's wand. Before Snape could refocus his attention on the rest of the group, he found himself incapable of movement. He had been hit by a Full Body-Bind Curse. He could hear the whoops and jeers from the group of Snatchers as they surrounded Hermione. She was doubled over in pain, but kept her wand at the ready. Her resolve impressed Snape as he realized that she was going to fight, even in her depleted state, but he was filled with pity because he knew that she was no match for three Snatchers on her own in her current condition.

The three men circled her, shouting slurs and threatening to commit unspeakable acts. Ignavus started toward Hermione, but she was able to send him soaring backwards through the air with a Knockback Jinx. She turned to face Corbett, who had made a sudden move for her. "Some fight left in you then?" He drew his wand and mocked her by bending low in an exaggerated bow before pointing his wand at her.

Before Hermione could cast a spell in Corbett's direction, a yell came from her left side. "Expelliarmus!" Hermione watched her wand fly out of her hand and into Scabior's. "Now, now, Mudblood. I guess ol' Snape 'ere hasn't taught you to never turn your back on someone that's trying to kill you." Suddenly, Hermione was knocked to the ground. The pain in her side told her that she had not been Jinxed, but had been struck. As she looked up, she saw Corbett standing over her, a demented grin on his face. He had taken advantage of her injury and punched her in the ribcage. Scabior walked over to Snape, who was still petrified. "Well, ol' chap, you know what happens next. Enjoy the show." He placed Hermione's wand in Snape's jacket pocket. "Hold on to that for me, will ya?" Scabior walked over to Hermione and pointed his wand directly at her face. "Move a muscle, Mudblood, and it's the end of ya."

Snape looked on, powerless to stop the atrocity that was about to be committed. Had he been able to move, he would have kicked himself for allowing himself to let his guard down. It was his own carelessness that had caused Hermione to be in this position. He tried to will himself free from the Jinx, but it was no use. His head had been turned and Scabior had been able to hit him with the full force of it. He wished that his eyes had at least been closed when the curse hit him so that he would not have to watch the events that were about to transpire.

Corbett bent down so that his mouth was right next to Hermione's ear. "I'm going to enjoy this, Mudblood. It's all your filthy kind is good for." He struck her face with the back of his hand. He viciously ripped open her shirt, exposing her flesh to him. He ran his fingers over her wound. "Alecto got you pretty good, didn't she, Filth?" Hermione shuddered with disgust as Corbett's tongue followed the line of her scar. He stood up long enough to unzip her pants and rip them from her body. His hands made their way to her knickers and he grasped them, about to tear them violently from her. Tears rolled down Hermione's face as her feet flailed, trying to fend him off. A foot connected with his face. "You'll pay for that, Mudblood." Rage filled his eyes as he flung his body roughly on top of hers. She cried out, but refused to beg.

Hermione saw out of the corner of her eye Scabior flying backward. Both she and Corbett looked toward the source of the Jinx. She couldn't see him, but she heard Ron's voice screaming, "Get off of her, you bloody bastard!" Corbett stood up to meet his attackers. His back was to Hermione when she noticed her beaded bag lying next to her. Without thinking, she reached in the bag and retrieved the Sword of Gryffindor. She grasped the sword with both hands, stood up, and plunged it into Corbett's back. As Corbett fell to his knees, gurgling for air, she saw Harry and Ron appear from the tree line. Ron came to check on Hermione as Harry sent curses toward Greyback, Scabior, and Ignavus. Apparently, the Snatchers had no interest in fighting now that the numbers had been evened. The three of them Disapparated and left Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Snape there with Corbett's corpse.

Hermione looked up at Ron, tears still in her eyes. "Thanks."

"No problem." Ron handed Hermione her pants and turned away as she dressed herself. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. I'm fine," she began, pulling a new shirt from her bag. "No real harm done. At least…not physically. Hey, where did you two get wands?"

"Harry packed a couple of spares. They're not so good as our others, but they'll do in a pinch." He turned his attention toward Snape, who still stood motionless. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I wish we had never left our campsite. We figured Snape had killed you already. How did you manage to freeze him?"

"I didn't do that. Scabior did."

"What?" Harry had joined them. "Why would Scabior petrify Snape?"

"Because, Harry, he's on our side. He always was."

Ron interjected. "Hermione! Don't you remember what the bastard did to you at Malfoy Manor? He was about to rape you before me and Harry disappeared!"

"No he wasn't, Ron. He was trying to distract the Dark Lord. Haven't you two wondered just how in the world you disappeared?"

"Yes, we have," Harry said. "We've racked our brains trying to figure it out."

"Well, Harry, I know you won't believe me, but it was Snape. If you promise not to hex him, I'll unfreeze him and let him tell you himself." Harry and Ron exchanged apprehensive looks. This had the potential to go south very quickly. "Well, do I have your word or not?" Hermione asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"I don't know about this, Hermione," Ron said wirily. "This could be a trick."

"Honestly, Ronald. How could this be a trick?"

"Ron's right, Hermione. This isn't a good idea."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It is a perfectly good idea. You want the truth and he has it. Plus, I'm not leaving him like that."

Harry moved between Hermione and Snape. The air around him crackled with magic. "He killed him, Hermione. He killed Dumbledore! I am not about to let him walk free!"

"Don't be dull, Harry. There is more to it than that. Now, let me pass." Hermione shoved past him and walked purposefully toward the frozen man.

"Hermione, Stop!" Hermione turned around to see Harry's wand pointed in her face. "You are not letting him go."

"Easy, mate," Ron cautioned. "There is no need to get all bent out of shape over this. Maybe 'Mione is right. Just see what he has to say."

"NO!"

"Harry Potter, look at me!" Hermione shrieked. "Have I ever told you wrong before? Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?"

"You know nothing about him, Hermione. You didn't see the way he murdered him, even after Dumbledore begged. He is nothing but a traitor."

"I know nothing of him, you say? Well allow me to educate you, Harry. I know Snape was tortured after you and Ron were sent here. You know why? Because he gave you a Portkey. Go on, turn out your pockets."

"There is nothing in my pocket," Harry snapped as he ran his free hand over the front of his jacket. Fuming, Hermione stomped over to where he stood and thrust her hand in the left pocket. She pulled out the silver paperclip and held it up to his face.

"Really? What would you call this, then?"

Harry paled, lowering his wand. "I…I don't kn-"

"Shut up," she interrupted. "I'm not finished with you. You want to know what else I know? I know that Snape is no longer Headmaster. That post now belongs to Lucius Malfoy. I know that because I went with Snape to Hogwarts to warn Professor McGonagall. I saw him with my own two eyes, right before Alecto Carrow nearly killed me. She would have succeeded had it not been for Professor Snape."

"You mean you've been with Snape all this time?" Ron asked, clearly boggled.

Hermione turned to Ron. "Yes, I have been with him for the last two days."

"Bloody hell. All this time we thought he did you in."

"Yes, well he has done the exact opposite, actually. He has been discovered by the Dark Lord. He is being hunted just like the rest of us, maybe even more so given the nature of his offence." Hermione turned to look at Harry directly. "Harry, I don't know what you saw on the Astronomy Tower, but there is more to it than you realize, I am sure of it. I am asking you to look past that, and listen for once. Set aside your prejudice for a few moments. Please. "

Harry ran his hand through his disheveled hair. He looked ill. Hermione had presented a fair argument in Snape's favor and had even produced the device that saved their lives. He finally shook his head and pointed his wand at Snape. "Finite."

As soon as Severus was free from the hex, he stalked up to Harry and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. He lowered his face, so that he and Harry were eye to eye. "I had better never see your wand turned on her again, Potter. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes."

"Excuse me?"

"Yes, Sir."

He released Harry's shirt and turned to Hermione, eyeing her carefully. "Are you alright, Miss Granger? Did he hurt you?" Severus said, nodding in Corbett's direction.

"I am well enough, Professor Snape. More harm came to him, than it did me," she said, turning to look at the dead Snatcher. "Do you know who that man is? I have never seen him before."

Severus walked over to the man lying face down on the ground. The sword of Gryffindor was still lodged securely in his back. Snape pulled the sword from the Corbett's torso before driving it into the ground to remove all traces of his blood. "His name is Hadrian Corbett. He was a former student of mine. A Pureblood. The Dark Lord spoke of him often."

"Was he a Death Eater?" Ron asked.

"No, Mr. Weasley. He was not. Though, I have no doubt that his ultimate goal was to take the Mark."

Severus walked over to Hermione, handing her the relic and her wand. "Keep the sword safe. It must not be seen." Hermione sheathed her wand and placed the sword back in her bag. "We cannot stay here. They will reassemble and return."

"We have a camp set up not far from here," Ron offered, pointing into the tree line. "It's a bit of a walk, though."

"That isn't good enough. We need to get out of the forest completely. Miss Granger, are you able to Disapparate to the safe house?" Both of the boys gaped at Snape. The fact that he was being civil was nearly as frightening as his ability to intimidate.

"What safe house?" Harry questioned. He didn't like to be left out of the loop and he certainly didn't like to follow the orders of the man he was convinced was a traitor.

"I believe so, yes," Hermione said, shaking her head.

"Then that is where we shall go."

"Wait a minute, now. What bloody safe house is he talking about, Hermione? We can't go to Grimmauld Place, the Ministry knows about it."

"Harry, just trust him please." Hermione reached out and grabbed Harry by the arm. "Professor, I don't know if I can get the both of them there in one piece."

"I'll take Weasley if you can manage Potter," Snape said with a sneer.

"Fair enough, Professor. I'll see you there."

Hermione tightened her grip on Harry's arm and closed her eyes. With a thunderous crack, the two of them vanished. Severus looked over at Ron, who was looking ill at ease. "Take my arm, Mr. Weasley," he drawled lazily. "Do not let go because I do not have time to put you back together should you Splinch." Ron grimaced but complied. With a loud pop, the unlikely duo disappeared.

Author's Notes:

As always, reviews are welcomed and appreciated. Thanks to all for reading and I hope you all enjoy.