Hello everybody. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

DISCLAIMER: None of this brilliant work belongs to me, but Mrs. Rowling.

Snape had shown up at the Headmaster's office, noticing the old man slumped painfully in his chair.

"You look horrible today."

Dumbledore smiled, "Always the one for pleasantries Severus."

The Potions master grimaced at the old man. "The girl is starting to catch on Headmaster."

The older man looked at him again. He sighed, rubbing his temples. Snape didn't think he had ever seen the man look so defeated.

"I understand my boy."

"I must carry out the task for him. There can be no way around it."

The older man closed his eyes, the light in his office starting to give him a slight headache.

"Has there been any news on young Draco?"

Severus started to pace about, "I have tried talking to him. He will not listen to anything I have to say. "

"We must keep a protective eye on the boy Severus. Young Mr. Potter has had his eyes on him today."

The Potions Master nodded. Suddenly, he felt very tired. He slumped into a chair across the old man.

They both sat in silence.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo

Hermione was absolutely delighted at what she had found! She had been permitted out of the hospital wing two days after her incident. A verbal lashing from madam Pomfrey was what she got on her way out the door.

Harry and Ron were helping her scan through the book she had purchased. They came upon many old artifacts that struck an interest. The book went into long detail about the founders of Hogwarts as well. And the items that they left behind.

It was odd that a Dark Arts book would hold information towards their school, making Hermione uneasy.

That night, they all three were sprawled out in their common room.

"So, what do you mean by this soul splitting thing?" Ron asked her, for the millionth time.

She sighed and rolled her eyes.

"It's how one becomes immortal Ronald. Voldemort, in trying to preserve his life, split his soul. But, unfortunately, I have to no way of knowing how many ways he has split it."

Suddenly, in the middle of their conversation, Harry let out a terrible moan of pain.

Hermione snapped her eyes in his direction and jumped to her feet.

She was beside his head, watching him press down on his scar. His forehead had broken out in sheen of sweat.

Ron stood over his friend, his face lit up with intense concern.

"Harry. Try and keep him out." Hermione whispered to him. She grabbed his hand, squeezing it, trying to be as helpful as she could.

Five minutes later their friend suddenly stopped struggling on the couch. He lay with his eyes open, fully dilated into tiny pinpricks. His breath was coming in and out in raspy currents.

Hermione sighed and gripped his hand tighter.

"Did you see anything in particular?" Ron asked Harry after he had calmed down a little.

His raven haired friend ran his fingers through his locks, "No. It was just Voldemort sitting beside his snake Nagini. He was speaking to one of his Death Eaters."

Hermione sat and listened to him, staring into the flames of the hearth. She realized that she had to speak to somebody..

Exscusing herself, she made her way to Professor Dumbledore's office.

She stood outside his office, slight trepidation laced across her features. Could he even answer the questions she had for him?

Would it even matter?

It was worth a try.

Raising her hand to knock, suddenly the door swung open.

"Good evening Miss Granger. It is quite a beautiful night don't you think?" Hermione stared at him, his eyes held there usual sparkle to them, her mouth tensed as she moved to sit in a chair across from him.

"Lemon drop?" He offered, holding out his hand to her.

She saw the blackness of his fingers, one looked like it was near falling off. She couldn't help the quick intake of breath from escaping her mouth. With haste, she looked away from his hand into his face.

"P-Professor, Harry had another one of his visions-."

"I gather, he has been having many recently, even dreams he doesn't really understand." Dumbledore said, cutting off her sentence.

Hermione chewed on her lip. "He has spoken to you about them then?"

He smiled, "He has indeed Miss Granger."

The girl moved her feet around, her eyes drawing themselves back to his cursed hand.

"You know what happened to your hand don't you sir?"

A pregnant pause hit the room; Hermione could swear she could feel the thoughts wiz about in her Headmaster's mind. Worry, curiosity, delight, and…fear. Or maybe, it was what she read on his face.

Standing, still not answering her question, he waded over to his window. He stared out into the night, the moon high in the sky, lighting up the Hogwarts courtyard.

"You are the brightest witch of your age Miss Granger; surely you can come to that conclusion yourself."

Hermione wasn't sure if the retort was meant to be sarcastic, or to confuse her even more.

"Sir, please."

He raised an eyebrow towards her.

"I have a very strong hunch that what I found on these things called Horcruxes.. is something very important. I've done more research, I can't work with much here, but I did find something in the book I brought back."

Hermione dug in her satchel, finding the book that was bound in white. Flipping the pages open to the Hogwarts section, she began.

"These books update themselves sir. Due to newer magic in the wizarding world over the last ten years, they now have the ability to do that."

Dumbledore chuckled and smiled at her. "Yes, I know. I was one of the one's who was adamant that they push that. I wanted children to learn the truth."

Hermione smiled as well, and continued on.

"S-Sir, I brought this up to you because-some of these artifacts are missing."

His head whipped up, his eyes connecting with hers. The blue in them were like swirling masses of clarity."

He started to pace, "What exactly has gone missing Miss Granger?"

Hermione fiddled with the pages. "U-Um, Salazar Slytherins locket, Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem, and Helga Hufflepuffs cup."

Dumbledore stopped pacing. He snapped his eyes back to hers. "You have indeed found something most interesting Miss Granger."

"Sir, I don't understand."

"Miss Granger, does it strike you as mere coincidence that these things have gone missing? All marking emblems of the houses of Hogwarts."

Hermione furrowed her eyebrow in concentration. "It would make a great deal of sense Professor, all the houses are there, except Gryffindor. The sword from our house."

"When Mr. Potter destroyed the Basilik in your second year," Dumbledore swiftly moved across the room and pulled the sword swiftly out of the Sorting hat, "he destroyed it with the sword."

Hermione put two and two together.

Almost jumping out of her chair, she gasped.

"It has poison on it! The Basilik's poison!"

Dumbledore looked at the sword in his hand, his eyes shining. "And…," he added, "You know; only a true Gryffindor can wield this sword."

Hermione was so thrilled; finally they had crossed a hill in gluing the big picture together. But, there were still so many questions. Her head was beginning to hurt her again when a voice cut through the fog.

"Mr. Potter destroyed Tom Riddles diary as well."

The younger witch's eyebrows shot up, her eyes connecting with his hand once again, but her brain finally realizing what she hadn't seen before. Standing, she leaned over his desk.

"S-Sir. The ring you had on your finger, was it a horcrux? Is that why your hand i-is-."

Dumbledore seemed to sidestep her question, having gotten up to retrieve Riddle's diary. He laid it down before her.

She felt a sudden chill sweep over her, wanting to look away.

He then turned and got the ring.

"This is Marvolo Gaunt's ring. I understand you probably are aware of who that is Miss Granger."

She sputtered, looking wide-eyed at the item. "O-Of course, it's legendary, it has been passed down through the Gaunts family, they were said to be descendants of Salazar Slytherin. It was told to be complete myth through the ages. Sir, Tom Riddle wore it didn't he? He was after all, the heir to Slytherin."

He smiled and nodded his head.

Hermione felt something very off about the ring. Like something crackle in the air around them.

"It has dark energy sir. I can feel it."

Nodding again, he turned and put the ring back in its protective confinements.

"It was cursed Miss Granger. When Tom Riddle put his soul into it, he cursed it so it would not be destroyed. I did not know this when I found it. In my sheer excitement and due to a weak man's temptation, I put it on."

Hermione was jaw dropped at what she had just heard from him.

"You put on a cursed ring sir? Surely, it could have killed you!"

Chuckling, he rubbed his hand. "It nearly has Miss Granger."

Hermione's eyes grew wider, what did he mean by that?

"We have found out many things here tonight, now I think it's time to return to your dormitory, I'm sure you're rather tired."

She didn't want to go, she had so many questions! She needed to know more about these Horcruxes that Voldemort had morphed his soul into. How many were there? Where were they? How many had been destroyed? There was the ring, and the journal, but what else?

Moving to leave, her hand was on the doorknob when her Headmaster's voice brought her head back around to him.

"I would prefer you not tell Mr. Potter about what we discussed tonight. He needs to know…at the right time."

She was confused at that statement, Harry should know now so they could start searching for these items. But, she didn't argue with him.

Nodding, she turned and left the office.

The hallway was dark. Hermione quickly took out her wand and muttered lumos under her breath.

Suddenly, in front of her was a dark figure, she grew wide-eyed and opened her mouth to scream.

A hand whipped out and clapped itself over her jaw.

She struggled, trying to get the person off.

"Miss Granger, cease your struggling, stupid girl!"

Hermione stopped and narrowed her eyes, bringing her wand over them, she saw it was Professor Snape.

She moved and ripped herself from his hold.

"What in Merlins name are you doing, strutting about in the dark?!" She squealed, fanning her face, trying to get her blood pressure to go down and her heart beat to go back to its regular rhythm.

"That is not of your concern." He said to her, snidely.

"I think it is Professor, when you all but attack me in the dark! D-Don't you have a wand?"

He sneered at her, his features pale in the dim light of her wand.

"Easier to catch students sneaking about the halls. They expect me when they see a light."

She shook her head, clearing it. "And I'm sure you scare them half to death as well."

He didn't say anything to that comment, but continued to smile.

"How many points can I deduct this time Miss Granger, Hmm, 50? 100?"

Her jaw dropped, literally.

The words left her before she could stop them. "Y-You absolute horrible man! T-That's completely unfair and ridiculous! I was talking to Professor Dumbledore!"

His sneer dropped, his face now alight with anger. "Now add a detention to those 100 points lost Granger."

Hermione gripped her wand tight, grinding her teeth. 'No. Hermione, it's bloody illegal to hex one of your own teachers. Just say 'yes sir' and walk away.'

She defiantly raised her chin, "Yes Sir."

Hermione stalked off leaving a smirking Snape in her wake.

He opened the door to Dumbledore's office. The old man was at the window, his hands behind his back. His shoulders were slumped, his head hung low.

Snape became concerned and went over to him. "Headmaster, is something wrong? You summoned me. Has your hand been hurting you?"

The old man picked his head up, still staring out the window. He had never been the sulking type, but in privacy, he came apart sometimes. He after, was also very much human.

"Severus, you must hate me, for what I ask of you."

The darker wizard sucked in his breath at what he said. He knew Dumbledore sometimes got into this mood when he had a lot on his mind.

"Miss Granger knows about the Horcruxes, she has quite the advanced amount of knowledge on them."

Snape sighed and sat in a chair, "That damn girl has always been too smart for her own good."

Dumbledore looked at him and sighed as well. "It was bound to happen Severus. I told her not to tell Harry."

Snape eyed him wearily.

"She did help though, we were both wrong before when we said that there were a few Horcruxes. I think there is quite a few more than a few."

Severus was thinking exactly how many was he talking about?

"Tomorrow, I'm meeting Horace Slughorn, I think there are pieces to this puzzle that he'll have."

The Potions Master nodded. He looked up at the ceiling, wandering how much more he could take of all of this.

The Headmaster smiled sadly, seeing the emotions that were never seen on the man in front of him pass his features.

"Have you been summoned recently? Anymore news?"

Severus shook his head, "Things have been relatively quiet..for now. I have been keeping an eye on Mr. Malfoy, he has been disappearing recently. "

"Do you expect him to try anything yet?"

The younger wizard didn't answer him, "He doesn't confide in me."

"Continue to keep him in your sights my boy."

Severus closed his eyes, threading his fingers over his forehead in slight annoyance, specifically to this new news. "Should I tell the Dark Lord about this turn of events? I do still have to watch Granger."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Hermione was simpering in the common room, her friends watching her.

"I can't believe he gave you detention, what a bloody prick." Ron said between grated teeth.

She nodded and turned a page of her Transfigurations book.

"Did he say anything to you Hermione?" Harry asked her.

She would have to lie, she knew that. But, how she wanted to tell them! They were so close to solving this! Then, they could get down to actually finding these Horcruxes.

"He was only trying to comfort me about Harry, telling me we are living in perilous times."

She hoped that they believed her lie.

They did. Why would they have reason to doubt her?

The next day flew by without incident, but Hermione felt like her mind wasn't really in any of her classwork. There was the occasional scolding of Harry at the table; he had gone on a rant about Draco Malfoy again.

Harry was absolutely sure he was a death eater. He always saw him skulking off to odd places, and he looked thinner than he used to be. Hermione had honestly grown tired of hearing all of this. Her nerves were already on edge enough.

There was nothing she could say though to suede him of his thinking. She only hoped that he wasn't just shoving all this off on Malfoy due to petty fights throughout their school years.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"I will be teaching you more on Occlumency." He said to her, after the awkward spell between them.

"Professor, why do you teach me useful things when I'm supposed to be serving detention with you? Isn't this supposed to be a punishment?"

He scowled at her, stepping closer.

"I could have you scrub every inch of every lavatory in this castle Miss Granger, and then, I could have you scrub every classroom, if that's what you'd rather do."

She gulped and vigorously shook her head.

"Now." He said, backing up a little.

Hermione wasn't prepared…

"Legilimens!"

Flashes of dances soared through her mind. Her parents. Her friends. Death Eaters. Dark Marks. Malfoy. The Horcrux conversation. Bellatrix Lestrange. Crucio!

She whipped her head to the side, trying to conjure up a fake memory. She thought of a great lake with flowers growing on the banks, her parents smiling up at her as they picked one of the lovely Heather's for her. In her vision she saw a man in black watching them, his eyes dark as night.

Then, to her horror, the image changed to them lying bloody on their living room floor. Their skin had been slashed. Limbs twisted in horrible ways. Hands clutching the other. They lye in a puddle of their own blood, cuts were lashed all over their arms and legs. To much, it was too much..

"No!" she screamed. Pushing him from her thoughts.

Snape stared at the panting girl.

"A talented Legilimens will produce scenarios, torturous scenarios."

She was clutching her chair, shaking profusely, the images of her parent's torn apart bodies floating in her vision.

Bile rose up in her throat. Not having enough time to turn or move, she leaned in front of her and vomited all over the floor. The images still swirling in her mind. She sobbed, breathing heavily, hyperventilating.

"Miss Granger, calm yourself."

Snape pointed his wand at the pile and it disappeared.

Minutes rolled by until she could properly look at him. Her eyes were burning from crying, and she thought she saw…pity on his face.

"You must differentiate the truth from a scenario."

Hermione was still trembling, but not nearly as bad.

"P-Please sir. I don't want to do this tonight. I-I'm h-having trouble trying to concentrate. M-My parents-." Her voice broke on a sob that choked its way from her throat.

He rolled his eyes and turned around, sitting at his desk.

"Then leave Miss Granger, I won't try to teach you anymore."

Fury bubbled in her veins at what he was saying. "I want to continue, I just am distracted tonight."

"No. Not again. I won't waste my time teaching someone who clearly cannot learn it."

She suddenly felt the room tilt with her rage. Standing unsteadily, she walked to his desk, and withdrew her wand, pointing it square in his face.

A dark look crossed his features.

"Gra-."

"Legilimens! She screamed.

She was weaving through his memories. Visions of school appeared out for her to see. His years at Hogwarts. She saw crowds of people she knew. Sirius, Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and…James Potter.

Another memory came forth as the 4 boys had their wands up, laughing amongst each other. Hermione could see Professor Snape strung up in a tree. Then, the image vanished, moving to his marking ceremony. She cringed when she watched the tip of Voldemort's wand press into the flesh of his arm. He didn't move though, didn't make a sound as he was branded for life.

She heard screaming then as she was ripped out of that memory and thrown into another one. She gasped and realized she was in the event of the murders he committed, proving himself loyal. She watched as he pointed his wands at the wizards. Killing them all. Then, he came to the girl-the mudblood. He pointed his wand at her and..

"Enough!"

She was flung out and thrown across the floor.

'Oh god…What had she done?'

Looking up, she had never seen Professor Snape look so furious in all of her years. He came around the desk, and she put her hands up whimpering, saying she was sorry.

Snape ignored her and bent low, retrieving her robes. Yanking her up, he slammed her into the door. She cried out and tried to writhe free, but he had moved to where his knee was pressed into her stomach, almost in between her thighs.

Hermione was mortified at the position they were in. The only thing she noticed, other than his knee was, his eyes were alight with fire, percolating intense hatred for the witch before him. But in them, she found intense emotion. Flickers of mortification, guilt and shame seemed to aperture out of him.

"I-I-"

He clapped one hand over her mouth and squeezed. Tears welled up in her eyes and overflowed. Oh god, she was going to die this way, he was going to kill her in his office and she would never be found.

His hand was quivering against her mouth. She shook her head, tears falling onto his fingers.

Snape was in a red rage. Lost in his fog of complete anger. He had her pinned completely against his door, his knee pressing uncomfortably into her belly.

His eyes surveyed her face. She was crying heavily, her chest shaking with sobs. He opted to throttle her. How dare she do that to him?

Then again…he had pushed her too far as well.

He suddenly, removed his hand from her lips.

Moving his knee, he realized just how close he had actually been to his student. Drawing back quickly, he ran into his desk.

"M-Miss Granger, forgive me. I lost myself."

Hermione was slumped on the floor, still shaking from sobbing. She looked up and saw that he had his fingers twisted in his black hair. His demons written all over his face.

Snape didn't know what possessed him to behave in such a way. But when he looked in Granger's eyes, overflowing with tears, he was reminded strikingly of Lily, and an intense wander to if this was how she felt when she thought she was going to die.

Hermione picked herself off the floor with the doorknob as leverage.

She flattened herself against the wood, afraid he'd attack her again.

His hands shaky still, he flicked his wand at the door and it opened.

Running out, she collapsed not far from the office and sobbed. Wrapping her arms around her knees. But, as she cried, images of haunting eyes ran across her mind's eye.

Oh! Anotha chapter.

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