"It seems your friends have been diligent this time, Severus," Voldemort had returned only moments after Ministry officials had left the Malfoy home, being sure to send the other hostages directly to St. Mungo's. The Dark Lord sneered, "You forced me to react, Severus, and you've slithered away yet again. I have no choice but to let you leave and return to the school, and to your Mudblood, but I believe there will soon come a time when you will have to decide where your loyalties lie."

"How is she?"

McGonagall sighed heavily before answering, "It looks like whatever spell they used on her did some serious damage…she fell asleep not a moment after she laid down, and she hasn't woken since. It's been nearly twelve hours, Severus. I think her parents should be informed."

Raising an eyebrow thoughtfully for a moment before responding, Snape nodded, "Yes, you're probably correct."

"I'll go write them now."

Snape stopped her as she turned to leave, "No, I should tell them. After all, it was I who was with her."

McGonagall gave a sharp nod, "Right. I would try to get it out as soon as possible, so they will receive it sooner."

Snape cleared his throat, "I – I believe I should tell them in person. I'll go tomorrow around lunchtime."

Giving her colleague perplexed a look, McGonagall questioned, "Do you think it necessary?"

"Necessary; no. The proper thing to do; yes."

McGonagall sighed as she nodded before giving the man a faint smile and leaving. Snape watched the door close behind her, then fell into the chair beside the bed Hermione occupied and looked at the student; she was obviously asleep, although it wasn't a natural sleep – her chest was rising and falling much too slowly and her eyelids were fluttering rapidly as her hands twitched. Snape sighed and rested his hand on the back of hers, giving it a light squeeze; her skin was searing hot.

Madam Pomfrey entered the room; when Snape lifted his dark eyes to her, she was startled to see that they were red and filled with moisture. After faltering for a moment, doing a double take, she coughed softly, "Severus…you should get some rest."

He ignored her advice, but asked in an extremely hoarse voice, "What is it, Poppy? Do you – do you know?"

The Healer answered, "Yes, Severus. It appears Miss Granger was the victim of a very rare spell – I've only ever seen one other case; it's letifer ludo."

He didn't like the sound of that; Snape knew enough basic Latin to recognize that 'letifer' meant 'death'; he held his forehead in his palm.

Madam Pomfrey offered that she thought was a reassuring smile before she commented, "I take it you are aware that letifertranslates to death."

Snape nodded.

"Severus, do you know the meaning of ludo? It translates to imitate, or mimic; she will be fine, it will just take a few days."

"Damn it, woman, why didn't you start with that information?" Snape growled.

"As I said, you should get some rest."

Grunting in acknowledgment, Snape didn't respond.

Madam Pomfrey left with a quiet, "Good night, Severus."

With the Healer headed to bed, Snape moved to sit on the edge of Hermione's bed, taking her hand again. He gazed down at her and quietly spoke, "I'm so sorry. So sorry," Leaning over her, Snape brought his lips to the girl's forehead as he tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, his hand sliding down her neck with tenderness and care.

Bustling back to lock the doors to the patients' room, Madam Pomfrey stopped short when she saw through the small window of the door that Snape was pressing his mouth against Hermione Granger's forehead, his hand cradling her neck. The Healer smiled to herself, but didn't react in any other way; Severus Snape was acting in a way she had never seen him behave. She shook her head slightly and left, smiling to herself.

Returning to the infirmary at around six in the morning, Madam Pomfrey was in disbelief when she saw that Snape was still sitting in the chair beside Hermione's bed, bent over, his head on the mattress beside the girl.

Jolting awake at the sound of the door closing, Snape jumped slightly and looked around. He checked his pocket watch to see that it was early morning; needing to visit Mr. and Mrs. Granger that afternoon, Snape returned his forehead to rest on the bed for a couple more hours. He gave a small yawn before slurring, "Pompee, willoo get m'up at elvin pliss?"

Madam Pomfrey smiled knowingly and nodded, "Of course."

"How is Miss Granger?" McGonagall asked as she entered the hospital wing.

"No change," Madam Pomfrey replied.

Peering over the Healer's shoulder, McGonagall saw a hunched form donning dark robes at Hermione's bedside, "Wh – Who is that, Poppy? Is it Mister Potter, or perhaps Mister Weasley?"

Madam Pomfrey shook her head, "He hasn't left her side."

"What? Who hasn't?"

"Minerva, that's Severus," Madam Pomfrey said in a hushed tone.

McGonagall's eyes widened slightly, "Did you say he hasn't left her side?"

"Not once."

Madam Pomfrey lightly tapped Snape's shoulder at a quarter 'til eleven; he stirred and slowly sat up, saying, "Thank you, Poppy. I should clean up a bit before I leave."

The woman gave a nod, gesturing toward the bathroom, "Go ahead, dear."

Although he was hesitant about leaving Hermione's side, concerned that she might wake up and find him missing, Snape decided to quickly cast a cleansing charm on himself and his robes so that he wouldn't need to shower before visiting Hyde Terrace.

Snape insisted that Madam Pomfrey notify him if Hermione woke or her health state change, then he strode out of the castle and out of the school grounds; he Apparated at exactly eleven, arriving at the Granger residence seconds later. Unsure if they would recall him, he hesitantly rang the doorbell.