I'm back to begin writing again. Unfortunately because of a lack of internet I will only be updating on the weekends (Saturday or Sunday) but this also means more than one chapter at once so there's a bonus.

Sorry if it feels rushed, I really needed to get this story back on track! Thank you for your patience and comments.

XXXVII

Severus Snape was the kind of man who constantly second guessed every decision he made. What would benefit those around him more? What would keep those important alive? What would be the best course of action when dealing with little witch's who relied on him to care for them?

He'd decided that separating himself from Hermione would be his best course of action in this instance. Discovering she was the biological daughter of one of his closest friends in school, finding out she was a Black, a pureblood. It had been too much, but now, staring at her as she was, forced into a magically induced sleep he couldn't help but regret that decision.

What if she didn't come out on the other side of this entirely sane? The spell that had been used would drive her body mad with a combination of pleasure and pain.

"How is she?" The voice was a familiar one and Severus cast a look over his shoulder to see the familiar visage of Albus Dumbledore behind him.

"When did the imposter take over, Albus, how long was it you before I was driven from the school?" His voice was flat, dead, he didn't care anymore, not if Hermione- his Hermione- didn't recover.

"It was me, for the most part." Came the solemn voice from behind him, he nodded, knowing that to be the case. The Dark Lord had no reason to drive Severus from the castle, or from Hermione. "She is a distraction Severus, you must see this now, if ever you could have." The old wizard was imploring him to see his reason, Severus would not be swayed. "She may die, and if this kills her what will you do? Will you sink into a depression and become useless to the light? I must know that you will continue to fight!"

"Does nothing else matter to you Albus?" Any righteous indignation he might have felt was sapped away as soon as it entered his mind. Any emotion he could conjure was immediate lost when he looked at the sweep of thick, dark lashes against soft, pale cheeks.

"It will not be a world worth living in if we fail now." Albus touched a hand to Severus' shoulder, who pulled away as if he'd been scalded by the elder wizard.

"I think you should leave." He'd never been so pleased to hear Potter's voice as he was when it rang out through the room. This was a public access to his chambers, a room he'd set up so her friends could visit her, without her having to be sent away to the hospital wing and taken from him. He really needed to set some sort of ward, he was realizing. Having others coming and going from his dungeons was beginning to grate on his nerves.

"Harry..." Albus trailed, Severus didn't look at them, couldn't be bothered to watch anything but the soft rise and fall of Hermione's chest.

"He's right, you need to leave." Came Weasley's voice chiming in on the matter. Severus wanted to feel annoyed that the boy was there, really, he did, but he could only feel the same way he'd felt since Hermione had been brought to him a week ago, completely numb.

"Come now, boys, you must understand..." He was cut off this time by Draco.

"No, you must understand, this war is not in your hands anymore, old man." He could feel the rage bubbling, Albus' magic begging to lash out.

"He's right, Professor. This is our war now, and we are going to fight it our way. When Hermione wakes up," Severus' head shot up at Potter's words, "and she will wake up, she will help us figure out how best to fight, and how best to win."

"I am the headmaster of this school! The leader of the Order of The Phoenix! I will not so easily be cast aside; you boys have much to learn if you think overthrowing a wizard of my stature will come easily." Severus snorted.

"Have you told the boy? Have you told him of his seats with the Wizengamot? Of his Lordship?" Severus finally turned to cock an eyebrow, his hand still curled around Hermione's. The look on Albus' face was all the answer he needed. "Of course, you have not. Potter, we have much to discuss. You will return later, after I have had a chance to rest."

"You won't disregard me like this!" Albus was fuming, Severus couldn't be bothered to care.

"Leave."

"I will have you banned from this school! This relationship is a gross abuse of your power over a student!" Severus turned back to Hermione, her eyelids were fluttering ever so slightly. Oh, but her rage at hearing something like that if she were awake would be explosive.

He promised himself in that moment he would never leave her side again if she woke up. If she did not lose her mind to the curse, he would never, ever give up what he had with the fiery little witch again.

"She is of age, Albus, and has been since this relationship began. I have the blessing of her family; the Grangers are no longer in the picture." He finally answered the elder wizard bluntly.

"If he leaves the school I leave." Potter spoke up and Severus turned to stare at him hard. "If you go, Hermione goes, if she goes, I go as well."

"Not splitting up the golden trio again, are we?" Severus smirked.

"And of course, that means I will go as well. And you know if I leave mum and dad will want to know why, you could lose Order members over this." The redhead sounded casual, relaxed.

"Father would not be pleased if I parted ways with this school, but it would be necessary. I've already defected, I see no reason to stay here without Harry."

"None of you will do any such thing." Severus turned back to see the owner of the feminine voice, her eyes wide. "You will complete your education if it kills me." Hermione groaned softly as her eyes fluttered open and her head shifted so she was looking at Severus, whose heart had subsequently dropped right out his arse.

"'Mione!" Potter cheered with glee, the witch gave a weak smile and nod.

"Yes, it would appear that is who I am, could we turn down the lights, please?" Severus immediately flicked his wand to that end. Hermione coughed, and he gripped her hand tightly. Albus still looked to be on the verge of conniption but Severus couldn't find it in him to care about anything but the wide caramel eyes staring up at him. "You are all incredibly loud. As for you headmaster, I am afraid you will be forced to sit this one out. It is no longer your place to control this war. We are coming of age, we are ready. It's time you let go of this power trip before it consumes you."

Albus had nothing to say to that, instead he stormed from the room, leaving a laughing Weasley and Potter behind. Draco rolled his eyes but came closer to Hermione's bedside.

It took everything in Severus not to curl over her in protective position, wanting nothing more than to have her to himself, to check her over and be certain she was well.

"Now that's out of the way I would like some time alone with my fiancé." It was a bit unnerving the way she hissed his former title, he'd been nearly certain she would be done with him after everything he had put her through.

"We'll come back later, 'Mi, don't be too hard on him." Potter chuckled, Weasley offered her a smile as he followed the other young wizard out. Severus could see it now, in his gait, in the way he moved. Potter was a confident young adult, he would grow into a fierce man if he carried on this path. Severus' eyes flicked up to Draco.

"He's going to annihilate the Dark Lord, he's been training ceaselessly. Feel better." Draco shocked Severus by pressing a kiss to the top of Hermione's head before he turned to leave. Her smile dropped to something more serious as soon as they were alone.

Merlin, he had a lot to make up for.