A/N: well...I'm trying to update faster ;) btw; I have a banner for this story :) yay! I've finally learned how to do them, hehe... ah well, anyway, on to the story ;) hope the chapter is good...

I Find Comfort In Pain

Chapter 21, What to come?

"No Ron! Absolutely not Harry! Don't you understand? This isn't what she needs right now, okay?"

The two boys looked at her with both puzzled and annoyed expressions.

"What Ginny? We just wanna see if she's okay!" Harry said, feeling it was best for him to speak. The young red head sighed as she crossed her arms over her not-so-flat chest. Harry blinked.

"Exactly! She needs to be alone right now, and she's asked me to please let you know that she's fine and doesn't want to be disturbed." Ginny explained calmly.

"What is she doing then?" Ron asked with a frown. Ginny rolled her eyes and concentrated on not thinking about what thoughts could be swirling around in her brother's mind.

"She's thinking; avoiding human contact." she finally answered. Hermione hadn't told her, but she guessed she was somehow connecting with Snape or something through that Connection of theirs. It still gave her the creeps, but she was wise enough to just accept it. What Hermione needed was support, not wind blowing in the wrong direction all the time.

"But…" Harry started, only to have her interrupting him.

"Really; she's fine. Why aren't you guys after Malfoy's blood or something? I'd love to have his head on a plate to dinner, even though the simple thought of it is revolting…"

"Urrgh…" Harry and Ron said in a union.

"What? Wasn't that a good line to put in? Ah, I forgot, we're not the bad guys, are we?" Ginny said innocently. Ron went red and gave her a disapproving look; not having caught her joke. Harry grinned as he shook his head; eyes sparkling. She smiled back at him and wished Ron could just sink through the floor, down to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, to spend some quality time with the ghost. Rumours were she'd gotten a fancy for the youngest Weasley male; and Ron was sure to never live that one down.

"I still want to know what's up with Hermione." Harry stated; not letting himself lose track of what they were discussing before.

"Yeah, she can't just refuse to see us." Ron put in. Ginny sighed as she stubbornly put her hands on her hips; pinning them down with her glare.

"Look; that's exactly what she can do, and is doing. Why can't we just go to the common room and wait for her? She'll come when she wants to, and she's not that injured. C'mon you guys!" Ginny said as she took a firm grip around both boys' arms and dragged them along towards their common room. They exchanged a grimace over her head as they finally gave up and followed.

"Stubbornness is something very common in your family, isn't it?" Harry asked innocently, being rewarded by a grin from Ron and a glare from Ginny.

"You'll just have to get used to it." Ginny said as she took a firmer grip around his arm. Ron grimaced and looked as if wanting to be anywhere but there. It wasn't as if he'd be missed.

It was pit black around them, if it wasn't for the light on the top of his wand making it possible for them to know where they put their feet.

They'd been walking for hours with no break, both unwilling to stop. But as the time passed, they finally had to stop. Marion was breathing with difficulty and holding her arms tightly around her stomach due to the pain.

"I'll light a small fire." Severus said quietly as he waved his wand; conjuring up a soft blanket for her to sit on. Marion nodded and flashed him a grateful smile. He awkwardly looked away and lit a small flame of blue fire to keep them warm.

"You can have some sleep; I'll wake you up when it's time to start moving again."

His words far away; Marion nodded only with the faintest of interest. The long walk with no break and the heavy exhaustion from having used up too much energy caught up with her as she lay down and closed her eyes; only to fall asleep within a second.

This left Severus with nothing but his own thoughts, not having her rapid breathing occupying the silence. He didn't feel any guilt for having dragged her along without a thought of her pain or exhaustion, which didn't surprise him. He felt numb, and his senses were overly sensitive. He felt that something was wrong; something was coming up. He needed to get back to Hogwarts; and very fast. Before anything happened, so that he could prevent it.

He just didn't know what.

Hermione woke with a gasp. What time was it? She looked around and remembered were she was. The hospital wing. She was now clad in a simple, white nightgown, which meant Madame Pomfray had found her asleep.

'How long have I slept?' she thought with a rising feeling of panic. She remembered that she'd looked at the clock after having lain down on the bed; clothes on. It'd been around 4pm then, and it was now near midnight. Hermione jumped up from the bed and almost shrieked as the memories from the day washed over her. Severus. Dumbledore. Malfoy. Dumbledore.

She'd been sitting in the hospital wing waiting for Dumbledore to come and fetch her, or at least ask her where Severus had gone to. He hadn't showed up though, but Hermione had lost track of time as she sat with closed eyes and concentrated on the sound of Severus' heartbeats beating in the same time as hers. At one time she'd thought she'd felt as if being light as air; all troubles lifted from her, along with the dull ache in her back. It'd disappeared though when she'd lost concentration. She'd cursed herself at her inability to keep her mind totally focused for a longer amount of time. It'd almost felt as if she'd somehow been…healed.

"Miss Granger! What do you think you're doing?"

Hermione swung around and realized she'd been on her way out of the quiet room. Madame Pomfray stood in the doorway leading to her office wearing a disapproving look..

"I have to see the Headmaster! I though he would come, but I obviously was mistaking. I have to tell him something important. It's about…."

"Hush! The Headmaster has been occupied, and he didn't want to concern you, but Mr Potter…."

Hermione's head shot up as she stared at the nurse with a worried gaze. Nothing concerning Dumbledore, Harry and 'didn't want to worry' were any good news.

"What? Tell me, what is it?"

Madame Pomfray sighed and shook her head.

"The Headmaster wanted to see you anyway, and I suspect it's about young Mr Potter. You can floo from my office, dear."

Hermione rushed past her and quickly threw the green powder placed on Madame Pomfray's desk into the fire.

"Headmaster's office!" she said out loud; speaking clear. With a swirl of green flames, she made her way to his office.

----

"Ah, Miss Granger, glad to see you awake, and healthy, I trust?" Dumbledore greeted her with a less twinkling gaze. Hermione looked around and saw Harry sitting with his head in his hands on one of the three chairs in front of the desk. The second one was occupied by Ron, and she guessed the third was for her. Slowly she went over to her friends and sat down at the gesture from Dumbledore.

"It has been a hard day filled with unfortunate events, and it seems it will only get worse." he started. Hermione swallowed but straightened as Ron gave her a comforting smile.

"Even though young Mr Malfoy has behaved badly many times, I find it hard to expel him, but he left me with no other choice. In this case not even his father can make the ministry disagree with my solution."

Hermione nodded and kept quiet; awaiting the real news.

"Harry came, only hours after I had dealt with Mr Malfoy, and what he had to say… Would you like to tell it yourself?" Dumbledore said, turning his gaze to where Harry sat. The boy nodded, but looked down at his hands rather than into Hermione's eyes.

"I had a dream…no, vision…again. It's…it's not very good. Voldemort is planning something…and he…well…he's found a way to break the wards around Hogwarts… Not all of them, but…"

Hermione blinked but breathed calmly.

"So he's planning on attacking Hogwarts? It's kinda obvious, but…when?"

To her question there was no answer, and she felt how her stomach clenched. This meant they had to prepare now; they had to get ready.

"Better safe then sorry..." she whispered more to herself than to anyone in the room.

"I need to contact the Order, and would you three mind to try and re-gather the DA?" Dumbledore said as he stood up, eyes gazing down at them solemnly.

"Yes, of course sir." Hermione answered quickly. Her mind felt numb, but she had to fight it. Things needed to be done. Harry and Ron stood up and dismissed themselves, along with Hermione, but she turned in the doorway; catching Dumbledore's attention.

"Sev – Professor Snape; I know where he is. Well, not exactly, but…" She took a deep breath as Dumbledore gave her a gesture to continue. "It's five miles south of Hogwarts, somewhere in a tunnel, but he's on his way out."

"Thank you, child, I will send out members to search for him. I'm afraid there is nothing left for you to do for him, but we need you. Go and help your friends. I trust I can rely on you?" Dumbledore said with a barely hidden expression of relief.

"Of course sir." Hermione answered as she left and closed the door; making her way down the stairs to catch up with Harry and Ron.

"I can't believe this…what if…what if this is the final battle coming up?" Ron said amazed as Hermione joined them. She gave Harry a worried gaze, but he only smiled as if exhausted.

"You won't be alone out there…" Hermione started, but she stopped as she met his gaze.

"I know 'Mione. I wouldn't survive a second without you two beside me."

Ron gave him a half-smile; unsure what to say.

"Me neither, mate." he finally dismissed.

Hermione shivered. It was something to think about, these new events. A final battle? The knowledge that it was going to happen had always made her restless, but she'd always thought they'd be prepared, that they'd have either several months to train their skills in duelling, and the possibility of an attack from Voldemort without their knowledge; of him taking them with surprise, she'd given that a thought too... Both ways were horrid, in a way, but this? Not knowing when, only where. It made her feel sick; made her want to hide under her bed to never emerge. She didn't know what was to come, no one did, and she felt alone. Alone and powerless.

I need you.

A/N: hmm...anyone sensing what's gonna happen? ah, well, never fear! I have some twists left, I think... ;) trying to avoid the clichés no one can stand... well... review? plz?

hugs and kisses to all my readers and reviewers :D

yay!