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A/N: ummm…thanks for all the wonderful reviews so far and please keep them coming. Let me know what you think of this one!

Chapter Twenty-Four

When It Rains

Snape felt disoriented…confused. Had he been dreaming or was it real? It seemed real…it felt real. Licking his lips, he jumped out of bed and rushed to Hermione. Her eyes widened as he rushed her. She was too weak to retaliate…to fight free. He grabbed her by her waist with one hand and with the other hand he grabbed her wrist. Snape pulled her toward him…toward his bed and turning, he pushed her down on it. Hermione gasped in shock and confusion.

"Professor…"

Keeping a hold of her wrist while he remained standing placed her hand above her head. Her robe sleeve fell back revealing…

Nothing.

Severus visibly sighed. It was a dream…it was all a dream. He let go of her wrist and her hand dropped into her lap. He looked down at her, crossing his arms over his chest, resuming his usual stance.

"For what reason were you standing in the doorway Miss Granger? What exactly is it that you want?"

He peered down at her waiting a response. Hermione looked up at him. Snape's hair was tousled slightly from sleep. Hermione swallowed and looked down at her feet.

"I just spoke with Professor Lestrange and I wanted to apologize."

She looked back up at Professor Snape. His head was cocked slightly to the side curious as to what the little Know-It-All was sorry about.

"I…well, I should not have placed you in such a position as to feel like you have to give a piece of yourself to save me." She stood up. "I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you."

She was staring at Snape's feet when she spoke. Hermione didn't stick around to hear what he had to say. Instead she rushed passed him and through the door separating their rooms.

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"Where is the Weaslette? Aren't you supposed to be keeping an eye on her?"

Lucius looked down his nose at his son, no emotion showing from his son's words.

"Where Miss Weasley is and who is watching her is not your concern Draco."

Draco nodded and looked down at his feet as if ashamed. He knew better than to talk to his father in such a way. Lucius looked out at the lake where his son seemed fixed on. Draco knew why he was to meet his father there. He had a decision to make. Which path was Draco going to choose, because he did indeed have a choice to make. Was he going to remain on the path of a Death Eater…faithful to the Dark Lord? Was he going to turn spy for the Order of the Phoenix? Or was he going to join the Knights…like his father? If he chose the path of the Death Eater, Draco knew his father would obliviate him immediately. The Knights would not take any chances. They would not be discovered.

"Well, Draco, have you made your decision?"

Draco turned from the lake and looked up at the castle in the early morning light. Looking back at his father he looked down to his feet for a moment.

"Yes, father. I have made my choice."

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The class stood outside the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom waiting for Professor Snape to arrive. He often left the class out in the corridors before arriving to let them in. Harry and Hermione approached the class in the corridor at a slower than normal pace. Hermione had only been out of the hospital wing a day. She couldn't wait to regain her full strength.

Ron leaned against the wall glaring at Harry as he approached. Hermione had noticed they were not speaking, but knew she didn't really have time to get into that discussion with Harry right before a class where Snape was the professor.

"Hermione."

She heard someone call her name and stopped turning around with Harry to see who. Draco jogged up to her ignoring the knives of hatred Harry was staring at him. As soon as Draco was within reach, he reached up removing Hermione's bag from her shoulder.

"Thanks," she said softly. The entire DADA class seemed to be watching them, still fascinated by their "friendship." Harry was fuming by the time they reached the class. He still didn't fully trust Malfoy. Harry leaned on an empty spot of the wall next to Neville, arms crossed over his chest looking like a little boy who didn't get his way.

Snape stood far enough away from the class that he could see what was going on without them noticing. He watched Draco take Hermione's bag from her. He hadn't spoken to Lucius yet and he began to worry and wonder what path Draco had chosen. If he was on the path of the faithful Death Eater then his "friendship" with Hermione was not good. If he was on one of the other paths…well, the "friendship" still wasn't good in his opinion. Taking a deep controlling breath he swept toward the class as intimidating as ever.

With a flick of his wand the classroom door opened.

"Enter."

He stood next to the open door watching the students file in. He watched each one enter in turn…each student growing quiet when they passed him. Draco led Hermione to a seat up front and sat both their bags on the table. Harry chose not to sit with them, but sat on the other side of the room next to Neville. Ron sat with Seamus glaring at anyone who looked his way quizzically.

The door slammed shut and Snape swiftly moved up the middle aisle, robes billowing behind him.

"Today is a practical lesson."

He turned and faced the class, eyes landing on Hermione. She looked paler and weaker than she had that morning.

"Pair up and practice your nonverbal spells."

The sound of chairs shifting and students moving began.

"Miss Granger please bring your things up here."

Draco had been about to ask her to be his partner. On the other side of Draco, Blaise sat…eyes shifting curiously between Snape and Hermione. Hermione shrugged and went to grab her bag off the table, but Snape had already taken it and was sitting it at a table that sat perpendicular to the desk just like in his office. Slowly Hermione stepped up onto the small platform and sat at the table.

Snape was getting settled at his desk and grading papers…looking up occasionally to make sure no fights had dared to break out and that no one was using curses that were illegal or against school rules. He turned his eyes to look at the girl sitting at the table.

"Today's classes have obviously weakened your already weakened state considerably. It is best if you sit this practical lesson out. You may read or do whatever work you wish to do."

Hermione nodded feeling a slight shock run through her. Was Snape actually showing concern for her well being?

Well, he did give you a piece of his soul to save your arse, Hermione. Talk about putting a stopper in death.

Pulling out her Potions text, she began to re-read a chapter and work on an essay due next weak. Doing the Potions homework with Professor Snape sitting so close by reminded her of the days he taught the subject. She could almost admit to missing that, but he seemed so much different teaching the DADA classes. Everyone knew this was the position he had dreamed of…had desired. When he taught Potions it seemed very technical…robotic even. He put the directions on the board and walked around insulting anyone's work who was not from his house. The moment he stepped into the DADA position his heart and soul seemed to go into the subject. You could actually see that he enjoyed teaching it…though very subtly.

He shifted and stood up. Hermione's eyes followed him through the classroom correcting students and reprimanding those, like Harry, that verbally said the spells. Despite the apparent anger on his face at these students, she noticed the twinkle of delight behind those shadows. She found herself pondering his dilemma. How could she help him look the way he did before…like the Severus Snape she knew? She couldn't figure it out without knowing the details of the curse used…the conditions and what not. So far all she knew was that he was very unhappy with his current situation under this curse.

It was when Snape reached Harry that Hermione noticed Snape's shift. The hatred seemed to roll off of Snape…blaming the son for the sins of the father. There was just one problem—Snape's anger at Harry was not related to his father this time. Hermione sat there watching Snape harass Harry and Harry turn more and more red as the minutes ticked by. When Snape was done, he turned and walked off. Harry stood there for a moment looking at Hermione sitting up there by Snape's desk. It twisted in Harry's gut that something more seemed to be going on between the two, whether they were aware of it or not. He had never seen Snape actually protect a student, Hermione no less, in such a way.

Harry's mind flashed to the night Pettigrew escaped and Lupin turned into a werewolf before their very eyes. Snape had tried to protect them all, but Harry ran off out of Snape's reach toward Lupin. Hermione…Hermione he physically held back. Shaking his head as if trying to clear those most disturbing thoughts, Harry turned back toward Neville.

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Ginny stood at the French doors looking out at the dreary sky. It was growing darker and darker…clouds swirling overhead. The trees in the Forbidden Forest swayed in the wind. With a sigh she turned around grabbing her broom as Harry came down the stairs with his broom in hand.

"Sure you don't want to come watch practice," Harry asked Hermione.

Hermione was sitting in the study area at the table working on an essay with Blaise at the other end. Snape stopped his pacing and looked up from the book in his hand scowling. Hermione shook her head.

"Maybe after I regain all my strength Harry."

He nodded, understanding it would take time. With a wave, Harry and Ginny left their tower followed by their shadows. Hermione sighed and looked down at her essay correcting a paragraph. Blaise watched Snape resume his pacing and reading. He looked over at Hermione. As she leaned over her parchment, the Stone of Sangue hung from her neck swinging as she moved back and forward.

"I'm surprised you haven't been scouring the restricted section about that stone, Granger."

She looked up for a moment with a look of confusion. Blaise waited for the light bulb to click on in her head. It happened in seconds. Hermione's fingers went to the stone feeling it. Reaching down next to her, she pulled a book out of her bag—a book she forgot she had, a book she got detention for.

Hermione skimmed through the information she already knew. As she read through what she didn't know she found nothing alarming or disturbing in any way. It wasn't until she got to detailed history and details of the meaning behind the ingredients needed for the spell—the human blood.

The key ingredient for the Stone of Sangue to work is blood of the heart. This is literal and metaphorical in meaning. The giver must extract the actual blood from his heart, or technically over his heart. Typically husbands gave the Stone of Sangue to their wives, especially in times of war. The giver's heart must belong to the receiver in order for the stone to have all aspects of the blood of the heart. Without it, the spell upon the stone will not work. One such case aided in proving this. In 1295, Lord William James had most unfortunately fallen out of love with his wife and in love with his mistress. Before leaving off for war Lord James gave both women a Stone of Sangue. While he was away battle came the way of the village he left his wife and mistress in. Most of the village was murdered and burnt to the ground. His wife was found in the rubble, dead. His mistress was found only feet way beneath the rubble completely unharmed…

The sound of a book hitting the floor caused Snape to look up with a scowl as if about to jump Hermione's case for disturbing his thoughts. She looked slightly paler than she had lately.

"Sorry," she mumbled as she bent down to pick the book up with shaking hands. Blaise watched her place the book back on the table. He recognized the book and knew what she must have just read. His eyes shifted to Snape before returning to his homework. Hermione took a deep breath before grabbing her DADA text and heading toward the sofa to read a bit.

Hermione wasn't halfway through the first page when she realized what she would have to do. She needed another look at the Mirror of Erised. What she read in that book disturbed her—it indicated that Professor Snape had actual feelings for her. Lifting her eyes up from her book she watched him pacing before the fire, reading. He suddenly stopped pacing, turning his head toward her. The look of anger and hate on his face made her avert her eyes quickly back to her book. She hoped when she got the chance to peek at the mirror again that it would show her something different…anything that would allow her to ignore just the idea of Professor Snape having feelings for her beyond the hate he had always shown. If the mirror still showed her his image, indicating he was her heart's desire…well, it held so many implications.

The rain poured from the sky, beating against the French doors and pattering on all the windows. It was a sound that lulled Hermione to sleep. Harry and Ginny stepped into their tower soaking wet with a soaked Rabastan behind them. Severus, who had been sitting at the other end of the sofa reading, looked upon their wet bodies with disgust.

"Where is your guard Miss Weasley?"

He stood up and began to walk toward the group.

"I don't know sir. Professor Lestrange was seeing us back to the tower while Mister Malfoy took care of something. I don't know what."

Ginny walked passed Snape, dripping water along the way. Harry ignored Snape's questions and was already halfway across the room to Hermione, who was stirring awake. She sat up, cheeks slightly rosy where the sleep still clung to her.

"Harry," she said with a wrinkled nose. "You are dripping water everywhere."

"I don't care," he said with excitement in his voice. "I think I know where to find one of the horcruxes."

His eyes twinkled with excitement and delight. Hermione could understand why, but at the same time it disturbed her. His was excited about the prospect of destroying another piece of Voldemort's soul. Hermione's face lit up.

"Really?"

Both Snape and Rabastan had heard Harry's words. Snape's head snapped around facing them across the room. He did not look happy. The thunder rolled across the sky as Harry nodded his head. Hermione stood up.

"Where? When do you plan on going?"

Harry looked thrilled she seemed to be ready to go on command.

"I think it's possibly at the old Riddle house. And how about now?"

Hermione smiled. It seemed like a logical place to find one. She felt a renewed enthusiasm and energy pulse through her. Patting herself to make sure her wand was on her, she grabbed her robe off the back of the sofa and with a swirl put it on. Harry put his broom against the wall by the French doors and together they began to walk toward the exit fully expecting their shadows to follow them.

"Harry." Lupin was looking down the stairs at Harry. As Harry and Hermione had reached and passed Snape and Rabastan, Snape reached out wrapping his arms around Hermione and pulling her back against him.

"I don't think so," he whispered in her ear.

"This time I am going with you Harry," Lupin said walking down the stairs. Hermione had finally stopped struggling in Snape's arms and relaxed back against him.

"It's wise of you to stop struggling. It was quite a weak effort," he whispered again. His words brought the desire to get away again and she fought against him. His arms wrapped around her tighter.

"Let her go," Harry demanded.

Snape's head napped up to look at The-Boy-Who-Lived.

"Why Potter? So Miss Granger can follow you to her death again?"

The silence lingered for a moment. Everyone in the room looking at Snape as if he had just grown a set of snakes out of his head.

"Her strength is not up to par yet. She will not be going with you on any little adventures."

Snape turned her around toward the stairs leading to their rooms and forced her to walk them. As she was pushed along she heard Lupin speaking to Harry.

"We need to talk Harry. This needs to be organized and planned."

Rabastan knew that Lupin and Harry needed this time alone to talk and followed Snape and the unwilling Hermione up the stairs. Once they all entered Severus' room and shut the door, he let go of Hermione. She turned around and glared at him with all her might. Anger…frustration…furiousness rolled off her and shot out her eyes like a deadly spell. Rabastan took a slight step back and slowly moved away from her line of sight. He had already been at the end of one of her moments during her "capture" and he didn't particularly want to be there again.

Her fists were clinched at her side as she turned to head straight back out the door. Severus, rolling his eyes at how predictable she could be, flicked his wand locking the door against her…and only her. She recognized the purple light that hit the door and whipped around angrier than she had energy for.

"Why are you doing this!"

Severus' eyes narrowed slightly as he stepped closer.

"To keep you safe Miss Granger. I should think that was obvious."

He turned and headed toward his bathroom. He stopped at the door and turned around.

"You won't be able to leave out your bedroom door either. Just to warn you before you try."

Turning, he entered the bathroom shutting the door. Within seconds the sound of a shower running began to blend in with the sound of the rain on the windows. Slowly walking the couple of steps to the bed she sunk down on it, too exhausted to walk any farther. She wished she had all her strength back. She was tired of being weak. She stared at her hands in her lap for a few moments, fiddling with them. Finally, with a sigh, she looked up at Rabastan watching her.

"Why does he hate me? Is it because I'm muggleborn?"

Rabastan could see the disappointment in her eyes—as if she had always looked up to Professor Snape and for him to hate her for her blood made him appear so evil. Rabastan shook his head in disbelief she would believe that.

"You can't actually believe that, Princess."

Rabastan stepped forward. Reaching down he picked the Stone of Sangue up and observed it for a moment before dropping it back on her chest.

"I was just leaving Severus."

Hermione quickly turned to find Severus Snape standing in the doorway of his bathroom…hair wet as evidence of his shower. His eyes were narrowed on the scene before him. Rabastan swept out of the room. Hermione watched him open and close the door, anger welling in her at how easily he had accomplished that task. The door, she knew, would not allow her out. She was staring at the door longing for escape when Snape stepped in, blocking her line of sight. She looked up at him and sighed unknowingly.

"I am sure you hate me for this Miss Granger. I am not new to being hated by students, but believe me when I tell you it is necessary. I am only trying to keep you safe."

The rain beat against the window…the thunder rumbled across the sky.

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The rain poured down drenching their part of the earth. A boy walked across the grounds, not bothering to keep the rain off him…not caring. As he passed by the lake the Giant Squid leaped out of the water twirling in the air, enjoying the rain as it splashed back into the water.

The boy stumbled toward another figure…a figure that stood under a tree by the lake, cloak up hiding his face from the rain. The boy's white blonde hair clung to his face and head. He stumbled forward toward the other figure and dropped to his knees, bending over as if sick. Water dripped off his face as he took deep breathes. He shook his head as if answering a question.

"No, I can't." The stormy grey eyes looked up pleadingly through the rain…searching for his salvation. "I can't do it…please father…help me…I can't."