So sorry for taking so long to post this chapter. I hope you all enjoy, and as always- Please Review!

Chapter 25

Cedric Diggory's tragic demise left the entire castle distraught. The professors, students, even the portraits were worried about their future after learning the cause of the Hufflepuff Champion's death. Harry Potter was telling everyone he could that Lord Voldemort had returned, that they had fought in a graveyard, and that it was Peter Pettigrew who killed Cedric merely because he was in the way. For the third time in as many years, the school governors were considering shutting down the school, but Professor Dumbledore stood firm that Hogwarts was safe, if not the safest place for the magical youth.

Hermione was growing anxious as nearly a week passed without word from Severus. She had taken over his classes during the day and at night she would lie awake wondering where he was and what was happening to him. He's going to be fine, she continued telling herself, knowing that he would be because she remembered him being fine. But what if something goes wrong… No, she wouldn't let herself think it.

She was sitting in her living area, sipping a cup of tea while Minerva rambled on about her worries of the impending war, when a loud bang erupted from the other side of the door. Jumping up, she opened it to find Severus standing there looking disheveled. Before flinging herself into his arms, she halted when she noticed him clutching his stomach in pain. In a second, Minerva was at her side helping the Potion's Master into the room and onto the sofa.

"Leave Minerva," he croaked before his eyes closed shut as much needed sleep overtook him.

Whipping out her wand, Hermione performed a number of diagnostic spells over his sleeping form. Confirming that he wasn't fatally injured, she turned to Minerva and said, "could you please help me get him into his bed?"

The elder witch nodded in reply before the two women levitated Severus back to his bedroom and into his bed. "I'll take it from here, Minerva," Hermione said as she impulsively ran her fingers through his dirty hair. "I don't think he wants you to see him like this."

"I should let Albus know that he has returned," Minerva replied lying a hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "Take care of him," she added before making her way out of the rooms.

As soon as she heard the entrance door shut, she waved her wand shedding Severus of his soiled clothing. "Oh, Severus," she sighed when she saw the gashes all over his body. Leaning over him, she gave him a quick kiss on his forehead before running to the potion's stores. With her arms full of healing potions, she sat down on the chair next to his bed and began to administer them to him one by one. After coaxing his throat muscles to swallow the thick red Blood-Replenishing Potion, she turned her attention to his visible injuries. The skin needed to be cleaned before she could administer any topical potions, so she summoned a bowl of warm, soapy water and a sponge from the loo. For the next several minutes she scrubbed the dried blood and muck off his body being as gentle as possible.

When he was cleaned, she could easily see the amount of injuries he sustained. Shaking her head while trying to hold back her anger, she dripped some Essence of Dittany on several long gashes, a deep knife wound in his abdomen, and many other small stab-like wounds smattered about his torso and arms. Several more bruises and a few burns were found on his legs. She performed complex healing spells and watched as his skin knit itself back together before moving on to the broken ribs and his right forearm which was protruding at an odd angle. Taking a deep breath, she performed a spell to snap his bones back into place.

"Ahhh," he moaned when the pain suddenly awoke him. "What the hell are you doing to me?" he asked before leaning over the side of the bed and losing the contents of his stomach all over Hermione's shoes. "Sorry," he said before returning his head to his pillow and passing out once again.

Without a thought, Hermione cleaned his mess with a quick Scourgify and sat back down in the chair. She only moved from her seat to administer more potions while he slept the rest of the night.

"Hermione." She heard his voice croak, bringing her out of her half-sleep state.

"Lie still, don't move," she said as she stood and put a hand on his chest. "Several of your bones were broken along with an array of other injuries- cuts, bruises, burns... I healed as much as I could and have been giving you internal and external potions all night. "Are you able to drink this? She asked holding up a bottle of Skelo-Gro along with a pain relieving potion.

"Yeah," he replied as he attempted to sit up.

"Not yet," she countered, gently pushing him back down. She then handed him the bottles and cringed as he swallowed.

"I'm going to give you a sleeping potion now. You need to heal and the best way to do that is to sleep."

"I need a bath."

"I cleaned you up enough. You can bathe after you heal some more." Keeping her hand on his chest, she held the vial of Sleeping Draught to his lips.

"I need to see Albus." He pushed the vial away while trying to rise again but was clearly losing the fight as most of his strength was exhausted in the few moments of his being awake.

"You can't talk now to him now. You can barely move. I'll summon him here when you wake up," she iterated while trying to force him to drink the sleeping potion again.

Giving her an irritated look, he succumbed to his pain and accepted the potion. Within a few moments, he was fast asleep. Hermione laid down on the bed next to him and finally let herself drift off for a few hours of much needed rest.

She woke as soon as she felt him stir beside her. Reaching out, she placed her hand on his face to check for a fever. "How are you feeling?" she asked as he turned on his side to face her.

"Like I've been hit by a thousand Crucio's at once," he huffed a laugh as he grabbed his stomach once more. "Why does my stomach hurt so much?" He asked while grimacing.

"Looks like you were stabbed… with a knife, not a spell. Try not to move too much," she said as she rose from the bed.

"Could you bring me some water?" he asked as he attempted to sit up against the headboard.

Summoning a glass from the kitchen and filling it with a quick Aguamenti charm, she held it to his lips to help him drink.

"I'm not an invalid, I can feed myself," he huffed before cringing in pain once more.

"Alright. Here," she consented, handing him the glass and letting out an involuntary chuckle when he got more on his chest than in his mouth.

She dried him with a quick wave of her wand as he grumbled, "would you help me to the bath now?" Nodding, she put her arm around his back to help him stand and let him lean on her as they walked across the room. She added some healing potion to the warm water as he sunk into the tub.

"So, do you want to tell me what happened?" She asked as she began massaging shampoo into his hair.

"Not yet. I'll tell you after I can wrap my mind around everything that happened and is about to happen."

"I understand," she said as she continued to help him wash himself. Neither of them said another word as he relaxed in the soothing water for almost an hour. When he was ready to get out, she helped him up and dried him off.

"I'm all right, please fetch my robes," he told her making himself sound healthier than he was.

"Where are you going?" she asked, shocked that he was ready to leave his rooms.

"As I said before, I need to talk to Albus. My robes, please," he added motioning with a wave of his unbroken arm towards the wardrobe.

"He can come here," she replied while fetching his clothes.

"I wish to attend breakfast, as well. Go back to sleep, Hermione. I'll come back before class begins." He spoke as she helped him slowly put his layers of clothing on.

"No, I'm coming with you," she said before transfiguring a spare bedsheet into a sling for his broken arm. "I want to be there and hear everything that you tell him."

"You don't want to hear it," he said as he fussed with the sling's knot at the back his neck before following her into her bedroom.

"It was terrifying," he said softly as he sat on her bed watching her change her clothes. "He didn't look like he used to, he now looks like a cross breed…"

"Between a man and a snake," she finished for him. "He was frightening, like the devil incarnate."

"Yeah," he replied staring out the window into the murky lake. "When I last knew him, he had a sliver of humanity. Now, he has none."

"He has cheated death one too many times to be anything more than a soulless monster," Hermione added as she coaxed him to stand up before making their way into the castle halls.

"I'm glad you're okay, Severus," Professor Dumbledore said when they walked through his office door.

"Okay is one way of putting it," he replied under his breath.

"You're standing here… albeit looking a bit worse for wear. I'd consider that 'okay,'" the Headmaster said before pulling Severus into a gentle hug. "Thank you again, my boy," he added in an almost inaudible whisper.

"Good morning, Hermione," he added, letting go of Severus and enveloping her in another hug. "I'm glad you came as well, there's something I would like to speak to you about."

Without another word, Severus sat down in an armchair next to the hearth. The heat from the fire felt nice against her cold skin as Hermione sat across from him.

"As soon as I arrived, he tortured me for not returning at the moment of his summons," Severus began as soon as all three of them were comfortably seated. "I was under the Cruciatus Curse for over an hour before any questions were asked of me. When he let up, I was able to tell him that I stayed behind at Hogwarts in order to make you believe that I was on your side, and thus securing my position as a spy. He spent the next few days keeping me under close observation as he rifled through my mind at random moments. Continuing to torture me throughout the entire ordeal, he attempted to lower by Occlumency Shields. Needless to say, no amount of pain can make me falter…

I don't remember every detail of what happened to me. I was knocked out several times and woke up in immense pain. Do not worry, I did not reveal anything he cannot know."

"What about Harry?" Albus asked, breathing out a sigh as he stared at a portrait in the corner of the room.

"The only plan he revealed is his desire to kill Potter. He believes that he can stay corporeal only if the boy dies by his hand. He also spoke of what happened in the graveyard, and is trying to learn why their wands refused to attack each other."

"Because they share the same core," Hermione stated impulsively.

"Tail feathers from Fawkes," Albus added with a nod in the direction of his phoenix sleeping on his perch across the room. "I spoke with Harry about their unique situation the other day," he continued catching Severus' surprised look. "He also mentioned that Voldemort can touch him now because he used his blood in the Regeneration Potion, removing the protection bond that Lily bestowed upon him at the time of her death."

Severus looked deep in thought as he stared at the phoenix. Then he rose from his chair and walked towards the window, staring out at the grounds.

"What is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Hermione asked Albus.

"I would like you to become a Death Eater in Voldemort's inner circle as another spy for the Order of the Phoenix."

Severus snapped out of his daze and in an instant, was standing above the Headmaster. "No. Absolutely not."

"Severus, this is not your decision. We need all the help we can get," Albus replied turning his head up towards the man towering above him. "And Hermione has already been through this war. She knows what is going to happen."

"Exactly. She has already been through this war. She doesn't need to do it again," Severus roared. "I will not allow it… and I will not help her."

"Of course, you will help her. You love her and want her to live through this. Not to mention, you have been training her exceptionally well. I have watched your sessions. She is a brilliant duelist and Occlumens. She is a perfect candidate and I would not ask anyone else."

"You wanted me to train her," he yelled waving his left arm in the air. "You wanted me to train her for the sake of staying alive if she's still here when the Dark Lord returns. Not to put herself in his presence… to put herself in danger every single day…"

"Quiet, the both of you." Hermione's mind was in a fog as she listened to the two men argue about her future. "This is my decision. Not yours," she added as she let out a heavy breath with a look towards her lover.

"What do you say, Hermione?" Albus asked, giving her a sympathetic look.

"I'll think about it," she replied as her leg began to shake. "I want to help the Order as much as I can, but becoming a Death Eater is something that's never crossed my mind. I'll give you an answer in a few days," she said as she bit her lip and stared at the flames licking the sides of the hearth.