Professor Severus Snape had started to get regular headaches throughout the day and he was getting increasingly annoyed. "Poppy!" he stormed into the infirmary. "I need you to do a check-up on my brain."

"Worried it's fallen out?" Poppy joked.

Professor Snape scowled and angrily muttered "More like disintergrated due to sheer stupidity of my students."

"Whatever you say, Severus." she grinned before quickly waving her wand and performing a spell. Frowning, she looked at the results. "You have abnormal activity in your brain. Have you had any weird dreams?"

Severus struggled to remember his dreams but sadly they were beyond his grasp. "I cannot recall."

"I'd go and see the Headmistress if I were you. Might have to go to St Mungos for more tests." she grinned.

Severus could imagine the ridicule. Snapes finally gone mad! We'll never have to see him again! No potions for a year! Not on his watch. Nodding his head to Poppy, he strode out the infirmary with his robes billowing behind him.

Hermione walked without knowing where she was going. The Bloody Baron had been assiged first watch but as he had seen the Grey Lady (the woman he was desperately in love with) float past he had hurriedly asked her if she was ok to walk on her for a few minutes. Nodding her head he vanished into the walls. She was glad for the space. The news that demons were after her caused such a terror through her soul it felt as though everyone around her was a threat. She'd even took to using her mirror to turn corners so that she could see what was ahead of her before she turned. Approaching a corner, she got said mirror out and was about to tilt it when a dark shadow appeared on the wall. Rapidly turning around, she struggled to stifle a scream as she only realised it was Sirius.

"Oh Sirius!" she cried and she burrowed into his warmth so that she could pretend for a moment that nothing was going to kill her.

"Hermione?" he asked worriedly. He gently wrapped his arms around her and held her tight as sobs broke through her hard shell. It broke his heart.

Feeling like she could control her tears, Hermione pulled away from his warmth and harshly wiped away the remaining tears. Taking a deep breath she gave a shake her head before giving Sirius a big fake smile. "Hi, Sirius! Did you apologise to Severus?" she asked.

Sirius was unamused. Arms crossed, he stood watching her with one eyebrow up.

Seeing this, Hermione grimaced before trying to find a way to explain what had happened in Dumbledore's office. With a defeated voice she said quietly "Demons are after me."

Sirius blinked rapidly before scrutinising Hermione's face to see if she was lying. Seeing the hopelessness in her face he realised the gravity of the situation. "Why are they after you?"

Hermione mumbled and Sirius couldn't hear her. Sirius frowned. "You have a birth mole?"

"No." Hermione said tiredly. "I have a pure soul." She didn't want to deal with lots of questions at the moment, she just wanted to curl up in her bed and sleep for eternity.

Sirius was shocked. His Hermione was a pure soul. If demons were after her... His eyes turned wide and he glanced at her face. She already knew what happened to pure souls that were captured by demons - death. "They'll never get you." he whispered harshly.

Hermione merely shook her head and walked back down the corridor at a wandering pace.

Sirius wouldn't take no for an answer. Running after her, he grasped her shoulders and pulled her around to face him. "They will never get you. I will be at your side every second." he said avidly.

Hermione already knew that he would help her but hearing it made all the difference. She pulled him in for another hug. "Even when I'm sleeping?" she joked.

Sirius pulled back so she could see his wink. "Especially when you're sleeping." he said roguishly.

Grinning, the both of them walked to gryffindor tower.

That night she told Lily about the demons.
After Hermione had told her, Lily turned white and clutched the bedsheets tight. "Oh god." Lily moaned and shifted her eyes into the shadows as though imagining demons were already there.

"It's ok, Lily. I think Professor Dumbledore is going to just use the ghosts to guard me and I'll always have you guys to protect me." Hermione smiled though it was fake. It seemed Lily didn't like the idea of danger.

"Don't you worry, Hermione! I'm sure I've read somewhere that marmalade is an excellent demon repellent." Lily looked a bit sick at the idea and Hermione thought about how weird it would be to bathe in marmalade.

"I think I'll pass." Hermione said and soon after both girls were asleep. Both of them dreaming of purple demons running after them.

"Princess! We're gonna be late!" Sirius called as he watched Hermione slowly walk down the stairs. He could see purple bruises under her eyes. She must have had terrible nightmares... Sirius thought. Angry that demons could try and steal his Hermione he tried to cheer her up. "Good morning, miss" he said as she got closer, "I am your carriage for today." he grinned.

Hermione's eyes widened before she slowly came up to a stop in front of him. "I don't think so." she grinned before flouncing away "That would require you to pick me up and as I weigh-"

Sirius had heard enough talking. With a scoop of his arm, he grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her onto his shoulder in a firemans lift.

Hermione squealed and hastily beat against his back. "Put me down! Everyone can see my knickers!"

Sirius grinned before patting her on the butt. "Very charming knickers they are too." They had green leprechauns all over them. After a few minutes of embarassment Sirius decided he'd had his fun and instead carried her in a piggyback.

"Much better." Hermione said happily. Deciding to get her revenge she kicked his sides. "Move donkey! Faster!"

"Donkey?" he said in mock offence "I thought I was a stallion!" he neighed.

"Shush donkey. Take me to the great hall." she commanded.

She got no reply as Sirius was too busy running towards the great hall in the hope that she would squeal in terror like before. She felt so good against his back and it made a weird fuzzy feeling in his stomach. Both grinning they reached the great hall.

"Thankyou donkey. I'll see you later." Hermione said cheerfully.

"You're not eating with us?" Sirius asked frowning.

"Nope, I have to tell Severus and Abraxas about the demon problem." she said.

Sirius put a fake smile on his face before replying. "Well... have fun!" he said enthusiastically.

Hermione looked at him weirdly before she left towards the slytherin table. Had he been too enthusiastic?

Severus and Abraxas were eating breakfast when a commotion started just outside the great hall.
Abraxas caught words like 'horse', 'donkey' and 'neigh'.

'Severus caught words like 'hottie', 'new girl' and 'fun'.

"How has a horse and a donkey got into Hogwarts?" Abraxas asked confused.

"What are you on about? I thought it was Sirius was having fun with the new girl." Severus muttered also confused.

"You mean Hermione?" Abraxas said shocked.

Severus grew pale. Of course! The new girl is Hermione! How could he have been so stupid? Though he could see how. She had been with them so much it felt as though she'd always been a part of their lives and that she hadn't had a life before them. Sirius and Hermione? he thought sadly.

"Speak of the devil." Abraxas said as he noticed Hermione enter the hall and make their way towards them. "I'm sure it's not true." he muttered in a low breath to Severus.

"Doesn't matter if it is." Severus said scathingly back.

Abraxas snorted in reply and Severus glared at him.
This was what Hermione sat down at. "Well, I can see we're all happy here." she said amused. The fights between these guys were always comical.

"Of course we are." Abraxas said smoothly. "Now what's this I hear about you and Sirius?"

"As subtle as ever." Severus smirked before looking at Hermione over his teacup. "Well?"

"He just gave me a piggy back ride to the great hall if that's what you mean." she smirked. "He makes an excellent donkey."

"I've been telling him that for years yet he still doesn't believe me." said Abraxas.

"Guys, there's something I need to tell you." Hermione whispered.

Instantly both boys thought about scenarios.

"Wait, don't tell me - you're in love with me and want my children. It's alright, Hermione. You can have my children." Abraxas said.

"Your modesty knows no bounds, Abraxas. Let me guess, you're actually a weasley in disguise." Severus said.

"That's even more absurd."

"More absurd that Hermione being in love with you?"

"Yes. Everyone is in love with me."

"How very optimistic."

"You're just jealous, Severus."

"Of course I am. Who wouldn't want your superior wit?"

"Exactly." Abraxas nodded failing to hear the mass amount of sarcasm in the sentence.

"Guys! I'm afraid I'm not in love with you Abraxas, and no, Severus I am not a Weasley in disguise. This is serious." she said struggling not to cry. How she wished one of their ideas were true she thought bitterly. It would be a lot easier.

Seeing her distress, both boys became worried and immediately reached for each of her hands.

"We're sorry Hermione, what's wrong?" Abraxas asked gently.

"According to Professor Dumbledore..." she took a deep breath "Demons are after me." Hermione saw them stare at her blankly, "Because I'm a pure soul."

Severus paled considerably whilst Abraxas clutched her hand even tighter.

"Oh god, Hermione." Abraxas choked out.

Severus' mind was whirling. Oh merlin! Another girl I like destined to never be mine! She's going to die!

He gave himself a mental slap. She is not going to die! We're going to protect her...

From demons?

From hell itself if necessary.

"They won't get within 100 metres of you Hermione." Severus said.

"We'll never leave you alone." Abraxas chuckled lightly. "Me and Sev will walk you to class."

Hermione smiled at her two best friends. Not many people would have stood beside her in her own time, it seemed chivaly hadn't died yet. "I love you guys." she joked and began eating a little of her breakfast.

"So it is true! You are in love with me. I knew it." Abraxas said.

"She is blatantly not." Severus snarled back.

"She just said she loved me! You're just jealous."

"Am not. Who would want to be in love with a ferret like you?"

"A ferret? How dare you! Who'd want to be in love with a sourpuss-"

Hermione grinned behind her teacup. Atleast somethings carried on as normal.