Disclaimer: Most of the characters in this story are not mine, some I made up myself. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Author's Note: Here's another chapter. Please leave a review.


Chapter Twelve

Hermione fell on the stone floor heavily, bringing Arthur Weasley with her. "I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley!" she croaked through her constricted throat. Tears were still dripping from her face and she didn't try to stop it.

She tried to stand up, but she couldn't, which made her cry even more. In her third attempt, a gentle hand nested itself on her shoulder and she stopped. She forgot Severus was there. "Calm down, Miss Granger," he said in a whisper. Though hardly audible, Hermione heard it, her senses all tuned up. Hermione gathered her knees to her chest, while Snape carried Molly Weasley.

He made the sofa bigger like a bed and laid Molly gently. He did the same to Arthur. He hissed when his fingers came in contact with Arthur's skin to check his breathing. It was cold and sticky like that of a cadaver. They were almost dead. Their pulse were hardly noticeable and the breathing very slow.

Severus noticed Hermione walked slowly to his side. "What happened to them?"

He shrugged his shoulders which an unusual sight. "Probably a Dark Spell, but I don't know what." His left hand began to shake. The Dark Mark still stung with the previous encounter. Hermione didn't notice his hand and he was grateful for that. He willed it to stop, and it did several seconds later. "Stay here."

Severus went through the door which was adjacent to his Potions store. He quickly picked through hundreds of potions, choosing what he thought was the best remedy for the Weasleys. He was so calm it was almost abnormal. He drank a vial each of Pepper Up and painkiller as he went out of the storage room. Something inside him was angry. But not because of Voldemort. It was something else.

When he came back to the room, he found Hermione sitting on his favorite chair, her hands on her face. "Here, drink this," he said. Hermione looked up and her mouth twitched.

"I don't want to drink anything right now," she said blankly.

"Drink this or I'll make you," he threatened her.

She looked at him in her most beautiful eyes as though wondering if he was serious or not. But she took it anyway. She drank it and color came back to her cheeks.

"Feeling better?" Severus asked.

She nodded and Severus went beside the Weasleys and administered the potions he had brought with him. Hermione assisted. She lifted their heads a little as Severus gently tipped the bottles over and let the liquid flow down their throats. Like Hermione, some color returned to their skin.

"They will be alright now. We need to carry them up to the Hospital Wing and Poppy will--"

"Ginny!" she blurted out suddenly.

"I'm sorry?"

"Ginny! She's still there inside the house! And two other people I didn't know." She had been wanting to say this but taking care of the couple was important and she didn't want to distract him from it.

Severus' eyes widened. "Where did you see Miss Weasley?"

"Well, I didn't-- But I know she's there."

Severus considered this for a moment. "Very well. You fetch Poppy while I check for them."

"No!"

A vein ticked on Severus temple. "Just do what I tell you, Miss Granger, before you get on my nerves."

But she was stubborn. Fire was in her eyes. "I'm not letting you go back there alone."

Severus was taken aback. But he didn't say anything. "Very well!" he snapped. Drawing out his wand, he conjured a Patronus and pointed it to a space inside the room. Since the Final Battle, Severus had not cast an Expecto Patronum. But when he did, he did not show his shock. Hermione's eyes went to the professor's face. She was sure it was a doe.

The lioness looked at him with its very familiar brown eyes. Then in his softest of voice he said to the patronus, "Tell Poppy Pomfrey that Arthur and Molly are here. They need to be tended immediately. Then go to Minerva. Alert her of the situation."

The feline stamped its paws before obediently gliding on the dungeon floor and through the wall. He was thankful that Hermione didn't ask anything about his patronus. He wasn't sure what he would say if she did.

"Come on, Miss Granger." He beckoned for the fireplace.

"What about Vol--" She stopped. She wasn't sure if she could speak Voldemort's name in front of the professor. "What about him, sir."

"Hope that he's still there and unconscious. Wand at the ready, Miss Granger. I will go first. Wait for five seconds and then follow." She nodded again. Severus thought she wanted to say something before shouting, "The Burrow!"

o O o

The place still looked the same as it had moments ago. Furniture and other unrecognizable objects were upside-down and scattered everywhere. Severus scanned the house warily, looking for the ugly figure.

But it wasn't there. Damn. It had escaped! His plan was to go back here after taking Arthur and Molly to Poppy, and then capture Voldemort which must sound easier to say than do. He had been thinking of complex binding charms while he was tending the couple at Hogwarts. But now the Dark Lord had gone and Severus didn't know where.

At least he knew that the Voldemort was less likely to run around villages and curse everyone he saw. Still, it was no reason to take the situation in light consideration. Voldemort was inside bloody Potter's body and who knows what he might do with it. A series of gruesome theories ran on his mind and he shook it off quickly.

Hermione appeared five seconds later, as instructed. "Miss Granger," he acknowledged. "Never leave my side, understand? If you do, you'll do more than scrub cauldrons with a toothpick."

"Aye, sir." He was still treating her like a student and it irritated Hermione.

Severus, Hermione behind him, trudged through the wreckage and went in search of a red head. They failed to see any in the first floor and then decided to go up. There on the landing, as Hermione had told him, were two wizards laying spread-eagled. Based from their uniforms were Aurors whom Shacklebolt had assigned to watch over Harry. Severus quickly walked towards them. It was obvious they were already dead, their eyes looking up to the ceiling, blank and dull. But he checked their pulse anyway.

When he withdrew his hand, it was only then that he recognized who they were. Ryan Caparzo, a Hufflepuff, and Danny Jackson,a Gryffindor. They were both his student and both weren't troublemakers and seldom broke Hogwarts rules. They were a great loss no doubt.

Severus ran a finger on both their eyes to close them. "You know them, professor?"

He stood up. "Yes. In fact, they were once my students." Hermione gave him a sad look. Severus was determined not to meet her eyes. There was something in her eyes that troubled him. He felt that she could see more than what he allows her to, his façade. "Come along."

They searched every room in the house, but didn't find anybody other than those two Aurors. "I saw him rummaging through Ginny's things," Hermione passed when they were inside Ginny's room. "Maybe he was finding something... or just messing the house up."

They went out of the room. "It seems that Miss Weasley is not in the house, Miss Granger."

"Well, that couldn't be... Maybe he took her!" Blood left her cheek.

Severus frowned. "That is a possibility. But on what purpose?"

"Hostage, of course."

He shook his head. "That is less likely, Miss Granger. The Dark Lord would never hold a Weasley for ransom." Before she could say anything, he held up a hand. She looked insulted. The Weasleys were her family, after all. "I am not saying she is not valuable, Miss Granger. But that is what the Dark Lord thinks. He regards people such as the Weasleys a disgrace, a speck of dirt that he hates to touch. I have been in his service long enough to know his tastes."

That shut up Hermione. Severus continued, "I'm assuming Miss Weasley was not here when the event happened. How about George Weasley?"

Still fuming, Hermione said, "On a business trip with Lee Jordan to France. They're expanding."

Severus started to walk downstairs. "We must go back to Hogwarts. Minerva will send a message as soon as possible, I'm sure."

"What about Harry?"

He stopped and turned to face her. "You mean the Dark Lord."

Hermione shook her head unbelievingly. "Your logic amazes me."

Severus narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me?"

"Harry and Voldemort are not the same, professor. They may be in the same body but that doesn't mean you can equate Harry to Voldemort."

The corner of Severus' lips twitched a little. He turned around again and continued walking. "I already sent the message to Minerva, Miss Granger. In that message, I told her to inform the Minister and the Order that the Dark Lord has come back and his... spirit is inside Potter's body. It's up to him if he needs to relay this information to the media. There are advantages and disadvantages if the media finds out. So, I'm asking you to be discreet about it, Miss Granger, until we know what steps we should take next."

"I understand, Professor."

"Good." He was now in front of the fireplace. "Aurors will be flocking this place any minute now and I want to get out of here before that happens. Wouldn't you, Miss Granger?"

She nodded. Hermione realized that all this time Severus had been cold to her. What had she done to deserve that?

"After you." He beckoned for her to go first.

Hermione was about to enter the fireplace when she remembered something. "Professor..."

"Yes?"

"He... He told me he'll gather his Death Eaters."

"No doubt."

"And he doesn't care if they're in Azkaban."

o O o

It was as if a thorn had been removed from Hermione's chest when she saw a redhead sitting beside Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "Ginny!"

"Oh, Hermione!"

They hugged as though they hadn't seen each other for a long time. "How are your parents?" Hermione asked. She was expecting a good answer.

"Madame Pomfrey told me they hadn't woken up since they were brought here. She still don't know what spell hit them." And then suddenly, the barrier she had built around her broke. She was now with a friend who could comfort her.

Ginny cried for a long time.

"I don't know what I'll do if they-- if they--" She said through sniffs.

"They'll be alright, Ginny. I promise."

"Whoever did this, I'll make them pay."

If Ginny only knew.

Hermione stayed there with Ginny. Even though her body was so tired with tonight's ordeal, she wanted to be there with her friend. This was the time that Ginny needed her the most. Ginny had asked about Harry, and Hermione gave her an evasive answer. Apparently, Ginny had gone off to Diagon Alley to shop for her mother. She had stumbled upon Lavender Brown and both girls chatted for a while. Thinking that she was late for dinner, Ginny arrived at her house and the horrible scene greeted her.

"I was so scared, Hermione! The house was ruined in every place there is. And what made it worse were a dozen of Aurors, all searching the place. I really thought my parents were..." Her voice faltered.

Hermione wanted to tell her what really happened, but couldn't make herself to. She wanted to leave this part to some other, the Headmistress perhaps, or Severus. But nor her. She didn't want to tell her that she saw Harry, fully controlled by Voldemort. Ginny would go mad.

"Have you told George about this?" Hermione asked.

"Yes. I sent him a letter. But I told him mum and dad are alright now and are resting here in the Hospital Wing. I told him not to worry anymore. He'd be here by tomorrow morning."

"That's good."

Ginny looked at her friend worriedly. "You look worse than me, Hermione. I'm sorry if just noticed it now, but I think you really need to rest."

"You think so?"

She nodded. "Uh-huh. I can manage it here now. Thanks to you."

"Are you sure, Ginny? Maybe--"

"Go!"

"Alright!"

They exchanged smiles before Hermione left. As Hermione walked through the silent corridors she had trodden a thousand times, she realized she didn't want to go back to her rooms. She suddenly changed her path and started to walk towards the direction of the Astronomy Tower.

As she sat on the cold ancient stone, Hermione let her muscles relax. She stretched her upper body and let out a sigh when her joints and the bones on her neck popped. Yes, it was a terrible ordeal. One that would no doubt keep her awake for many nights. First, Ron, and now, Harry. Her life was like a story book she had read as a child.

The sky rumbled, and Hermione quickly sat straight up . Even for a few moments, she forgot everything as she watched in amazement the lightning play in the dark sky. She could smell the oncoming rain.

"Enjoying the show, Miss Granger?"

Hermione almost fell from where she sat. She would have fallen from a hundred-foot tower if not for the hands that had held at her hips. In fact, she wouldn't fall at all if it wasn't for his voice. She turned her head and looked at him, as though annoyed.

"Professor!"

She freed herself from his grasped and stood up. Severus met his gaze with his cold one. "Care to tell me what you were doing on the edge of the tower, Miss Granger?"

"Definitely to commit suicide, Professor." He stepped back a little and she composed herself. "How long have you been here anyway?"

"I was here before you came."

"You didn't even bother saying hi," she said sarcastically. "And you had to scare me like that?" His lips twitched, but he wasn't apologizing. "I'll go then, Professor."

But before she could walk away, Severus caught her wrist and pulled her back. Out of nowhere, he demanded, "What the hell were you doing there?"

Hermione blinked her puffy eyes. "What do you mean?"

"What were you doing at the Burrow alone?"

"I-- I wanted to check on Harry."

"Without company?" His voice was dangerous now.

This irritated Hermione. He was acting like an overprotective parent. "Well, how in the hell should I know that-- that creature would be there?!"

"You mean, Potter?" It was his turn to look smug. "Your logic amazes me."

Hermione had nothing to retort. Suit yourself. When Hermione did not reply, Severus continued, "You should have gone back to Hogwarts as soon as you realized what was happening, Granger. You were with Potter long enough to know what to do."

"I'm sorry if I've been stupid, Professor. It won't happen again," she said, acid dripping on her words.

She wanted to go away but Severus' grip on her wrist was firm. She pulled on her arm but he wouldn't budge. Severus drew her nearer to him. "Never do that again, Hermione."

His eyes bore on hers, and they seemed to be like that for a long time. Hermione realized Severus was just as tired as she was. Small stubbles were on his face. He had rid himself of his black coat and what he had on was just his white undershirt and black trousers. The buttons near his neck and on his cuffs were undone. But he didn't look old.

It was then that the coldness he'd been directing towards her since earlier that afternoon had melted. Her heart beat wildly and she swallowed. Hermione remembered when she was at Burrow and saw what happened to Molly and Arthur, she wished Severus was there with her. That he could somehow make her feel less scared.

And it was true. For the last months, he had been nothing but a comforting companion. He had seen her in her weakest form, and he didn't leave her. He could have chosen not to, but he did. He was nothing as to what she had seen him when she was a student. He wasn't heartless at all. Only cautious of whom to put his trust upon. And for Hermione, she almost felt honored as she considered herself as this dark man's friend.

"You still haven't told me why you were there, Professor."

Severus looked away and walked towards the edge of the tower. Hermione watched as how beautifully his body stood there, his clothes being ruffled by the winds. His left hand shook again, as it had when they were at his private quarters. Hermione didn't voice out her concern as she knew the Potions Master wouldn't like it.

His fingers went to his forearm. Severus spoke, "Remember about that theory I told you about? That dreams can be used as portals to other dimensions, specifically that of the living and the dead?" Not waiting for an answer, he continued, "I was sceptical about it until now. But seeing the Dark Lord again, and inside Potter's body as you had said... It felt like a nightmare.

"I was in my office when the Mark hurt suddenly. If my theory was true, then I thought the Weasleys, whom he's living with, were in danger. I flooed to the Burrow and then found you there in front of the Dark Lord, accepting death." There were more things going on in his mind he wanted to say to her, but he couldn't. Do you know how much it pained me to see you waiting for death, Hermione? I have lost one before and I'm not losing you again.

He looked at the distant sky, reveling in the wonder of nature. After a while, Severus felt Hermione stand beside him. His shaking left hand felt warm instantly and it stopped. Her hand intertwined into his and her presence spoke of comfort and safety.


Author's Note: Thanks for those who reviewed. Really appreciate it. And I'm sorry if my chapters are a little short. Product of a poor imagination. Please leave a review after you've read so I may know if I'm writing good stuff or not. Thank you.