Disclaimer: Everything you recognise belongs to the incomparable J. K. Rowling.
Chapter Fourteen
They both took to their research with renewed fervour. The final few months of term saw them scribbling, calculating, and brewing in any moments they could snatch away from the hustle and bustle of life at Hogwarts. Hermione kept odd hours, using her prefect's badge to excuse late night trips to the dungeons and could be found scribbling in a certain leather-bound book at the Gryffindor table early in the morning, sipping coffee and nibbling on a crumpet or two, her plate kept warm with a charm. For the first time in her life, she wasn't worried about her upcoming exams (though when asked, she would make a show of nervousness to cover for all the research she was doing). Everything paled in importance next to her work with Severus.
Her world shook to its very core when Harry nearly killed Malfoy. She was horrified that one of Severus's spells was designed to do that to a person. She fought to separate the Prince from the Severus she knew but it was hard. Especially hard as she couldn't talk to him about it without getting Harry into trouble. But she managed, the daily contact they had helped. As did the book that warmed under her pillow most nights.
The exams were almost upon them when Harry burst into Gryffindor Tower one evening, panting with an excited gleam in his green eyes. Though not a believer in divination, omens, or portents, Hermione had awoken that morning with a bad feeling. It had been there on her morning run, it had dogged her throughout the day, following her to each class and each meal, and wouldn't even leave her be when she returned to the common room for the evening. It got so bad that she fished a pen from her bag and thumbed through her lab diary and, on finding a clean page towards the back, she scribbled I have a bad feeling, keep your diary on you today. Please, trust me on this. It felt like hours, though in reality barely half an hour had passed, before the book heated in her lap once more: Of course, I trust you.
And so, Harry running into the common room, gleam and all, struck her as the beginning of disaster. Harry did not prove her wrong as he left her clutching the Marauder's Map and staring at the tiny bottle of liquid luck clasped delicately in Ron's hand.
"What the bloody hell does he want us to do?" Ron looked at her completely nonplussed.
"Find Ginny and explain what's going on. I'll go and get my DA galleon." She rushed up the stairs to her dormitory, map and lab diary clasped firmly to her chest. Severus, she wrote, I don't have much time. Harry and AD are leaving the castle to look for a horcrux. Harry says Malfoy was celebrating and that we are to watch the Room of Requirement and your office. He thinks you've been helping Malfoy with his plan. I'll make sure I'm one of the people guarding your office. Please stay inside for as long as you can. We have Felix Felicis. I won't be able to write. Stay safe, Severus. I need you to stay safe.
That done, she fished her galleon from her bedside table and tapped the rim to form the words: 7th Floor, Girl's Bathroom. She tucked the galleon into the pocket of her jeans and fled back down the stairs. Ron, Ginny, and Neville were waiting for her by the portrait hole.
"I've sent the message out for us to meet in the girl's toilets on this floor. Ron, Neville, take a sip of potion and go guard the Room of Requirement. If something happens, send a message on the coins. Ginny, come with me to the bathroom. If anyone shows up, join the boys outside the Room of Requirement otherwise you can come with me to the dungeons." Ron and Neville drank the potion obediently before handing it to Hermione. "I'll let you know if Ginny is heading your way, or if Professor Snape leaves his office. I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." She glanced down at the map. "He's in his office and the seventh floor is clear. Don't be seen."
They clambered out of the portrait hole, ignoring the Fat Lady's warning that it was past curfew, and they split up at the end of the corridor with a whispered "Good luck." Hermione and Ginny quickly made their way to the toilets and ducked inside and, despite having checked the map multiple times, Hermione was relieved to see the dingy toilets were completed deserted.
"Harry is going to drive me batty one of these days," Ginny complained. "Gallivanting off at the drop of a hat with mad stories. If I hadn't recently had evidence to the contrary, I'd say he was a little too into what Malfoy's up to." Hermione couldn't help the giggle that escaped her.
"I may have thought that myself on occasion. Don't tell him I said this, but I think he's right about Malfoy." She knew he was right about Malfoy. "But I don't like to encourage him in his obsessions." She glanced down at the map and saw a small dot labelled Luna Lovegood heading their way. "Right, Gin, Luna's coming. Have some of this." Ginny drank a small sip from the bottle, saluted Hermione and left, giving Luna a cheery greeting on her way past. So much for keeping a low profile.
"Hello Hermione," Luna said with her usual cheeriness, she held up her galleon, "I got your message. What's going on?"
"Thanks for coming at such short n- notice," she stammered as her mouth filled with Luna's hair whilst the blonde girl hugged her. Once she was free, she tried again, "Harry has asked us to keep an eye on some things, he thinks something dodgy may be going on. We're to go down to the dungeons and see that Professor Snape doesn't leave his office."
"But why would we do that?" Luna asked. "Professor Snape's a good man. He's always nice to me in class."
"I happen to agree, but, in this instance, I have a feeling that it's best to do what Harry suggested. Have a sip of this." Luna took a small swig from the bottle of lucky potion and Hermione did the same, tucking the single remaining portion into her pocket. "Shall we?" Hermione asked, suddenly brimming with confidence that this was the best possible plan.
"Let's!" Luna replied, her voice the odd combination of dreamy wistfulness and self-assuredness it always was. They clasped hands and ran off down the corridor, Hermione resisting the urge to giggle. They made their way through the castle with barely a glance at the map and taking seemingly random detours that took them out of harm's way. Or at least out of the way of prowling teachers and ill-meaning poltergeists. The staircases were all in their favour and the portraits pretended not to notice them. Hermione had never had an easier journey through Hogwarts.
"In here," she whispered to Luna and pulled her into an alcove opposite Severus's office. "We should be safe here for a while." She put up some privacy wards; the alcove would seem empty from the outside but they would be able to see and hear what was happening in the corridor. She slid down the wall and sat with her feet against a plinth displaying an unkempt suit of armour. They whiled away an hour or two, Hermione listening to Luna's stories of adventures with her father, until the galleon warmed in her pocket. She scrambled to get it out and read: Malfoy got past us. And then a moment later: Death Eaters in castle. It faded quickly, replaced with: Stay with Snape.
Hermione knew that she should be feeling anxious right now but she could feel Felix humming in her blood. She stood, relaxed but ready and saw Luna do the same. They didn't have to wait long. They heard the shouting before they saw him; Professor Flitwick was yelping about Death Eaters in the castle. They stepped out of the alcove as Professor Flitwick burst into Severus's office. Terrified speech, a dull thump, and then Severus was in the corridor.
"Professor Flitwick appears to have fainted. See to him." Luna rushed into the office but the Felix told Hermione to hang back. Severus stopped dead when he spotted her.
"Hermione, I -" She cut him off. She knew deep down what he had to do, she wasn't about to make him say it.
"Here," she handed him the tiny bottle, her hand lingering in his, "please, drink it." She watched as he tipped the liquid into his mouth, his eyes never leaving hers.
"I want you to trust me … No, I need you to trust me." His dark eyes pleaded with hers.
"I've never trusted anyone more," she all but whispered. His eyes were no longer pleading. They were liquid with longing, drawing her fire to her skin. Desire pooled deep inside her, hot and familiar.
"Oh, fuck it," he said. The small glass bottle shattered on the floor as one of his hands slipped around her waist, pulling her flush against his hard body. The other gently resting on the back of her neck, entangled in her curls. He leant towards her and she felt like she was falling into his eyes, falling into him. And then he was kissing her. It was swift and chaste but his lips were soft and warm. And just like that, it was over, and the man she loved was running away from her and into danger.
Deep breath.
And another.
She ran into the office and crouched by her Charms professor. Now was a time for action.
"Enervate." The professor stirred a little and Luna helped her Head of House into a sitting position. "I think we need to get you to the Hospital Wing, sir." Hermione grabbed a pencil from the pot she knew was on the desk and quickly transfigured it into a stretcher. They got the professor onto it and began to make the short trip to the infirmary. They were the first ones there. Luna calmly answered Madam Pomfrey's questions whilst Hermione helped the Mediwitch get the professor settled onto a bed.
She wanted to rush up to the seventh floor; she wanted to help. But Felix had other ideas. She went to the storage cupboard and began stacking a trolley with potions: blood replenishers, pain relievers, burn salves, dittany. She piled bandages on another trolley and wheeled them both into the centre of the room, in easy reach of the beds closest to the door.
She waited, ready to direct people to beds.
Still, she waited.
And then came the sound of clattering feet from all over the castle, and with it, casualties. She assessed people as they came in: people with minor scrapes could wait; serious cases, like Bill Weasley, went straight to Madam Pomfrey; herself and Luna dealt with some of the less serious issues. Soon Professor Bagshot was among them as well, cleaning wounds and sealing them, resetting the odd broken bone. She was well practiced after all.
Eventually, things started to settle down. Or they did until Harry appeared in the room. Hermione couldn't quite believe it. Severus had done it: he'd killed Professor Dumbledore. Her world should be crumbling but she could feel the fire burning fiercely in her core. It gave her the strength she needed. She trusted him, she'd told him so. She planted her feet. Squared her shoulders. And when it was her turn to provide explanations, she gave the best performance of her life.