Chapter 48: Into The Abyss

{A/N: Here's a summer heat inspired update...}

My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers Enjoy-S.S.

{"Screaming on the inside...I am frail and withered...Cover up the wounds...That I can't hide...Walls that lie between us

The saint within the sinner...I have lost the nerve...But it's all right...Carry the wounded and shut your eyes...All will be forgiven...None will rise...Bury the fallen and lead the blind...I will find the lost...Dead inside..."} Into The Nothing, Breaking Benjamin

Hermione Granger's Flat, Muggle England...

Mid-afternoon had been as eventful as always in Hermione Granger's Flat. Severus Snape had been sitting on the sofa as the summer's turned the sitting room into an oven of sorts, the various cooling charms had been of little to no use and as a consequence to such savage temperatures, Snape was half naked with the exception of his ebony silk boxer shorts as he nursed a bottle of chilled red wine. His lengthy raven hair pulled back into a pony tail to keep it from spreading more heat to his neck and shoulders. Hermione had been dressed in bikini yellow had been the color of choice for some reason.

The bushy haired witch also had her notoriously bushy brown hair tied into a pony tail of sorts to give her neck and shoulders comfort in the heat. Hermione sat on the sofa next to him, bitter about the dour wizard managing to get his pale hands on yet another bottle of wine. He looked at her through blood shot, hungry obsidian eyes as she moved about the flat, her nicely shaped figure parading around for him to see.

It had been a solid week since one of his episodes but Hermione knew that something could happen at any moment and being prepared she watched him a great deal for any signs of significant change.

"Are you just going to stare at me all day or are you going to get a new hobby?" asked Snape sipping his wine with a bitter expression of his own.

"Are you going to drink all day or are you going to help me find a cure for you?" asked Hermione folding her slender arms across her average chest.

She had been well toned for a young woman and developed into quite a looker from his school girl days, summer seemed to make her body look that much more inviting as Snape continued to stare at her.

"There is no cure for what I have." he replied finishing off the wine and getting to his feet.

Hermione noticed immediately that he had been sporting a rather impressive erection.

She got to her feet as well and made her way toward the kitchen.

"You could at least try to seek treatment Severus." said Hermione annoyed by his resignation to what was happening to him.

"And who would be able to assist me?" asked Snape making his way toward the fridge to obtain yet another bottle of wine.

"I would." replied Hermione taking the bottle out of his hands. "These black-outs of yours are getting worse, much worse than before...some times it's a full hour before I can get you to come out of it."

Snape looked at her for a moment seeing the ginuine fear in her eyes.

"I apologize for causing you to worry." he said stepping up behind her.

Hermione froze as she felt his hands on her hips.

"Severus." she said closing her amber eyes and embracing his touch.

The Potions Master kissed her on the neck and turned his attention toward the sink. As soon as the witch let her guard down, he turned on the faucet letting the clear water run unbeknownst to the witch caught up in his amorous ministrations.

In true Slytherin fashion, Snape filled a small drinking cup with some of the water from the faucet using his skills at multi-tasking, he was able to keep Hermione off kilter and fill the cup without her notice.

"You know, they say the temperatures are increasing due to a heat wave." he said making light conversation.

"Are they now?" asked Hermione still lost in what he was doing to her body.

"Mmmmhmmm." replied Snape squeezing her slender hips with his other long pale hand as he continued to kiss her in that spot just behind her ear that always rendered her powerless. "The weather man gave specific instructions to find a way to keep cool."

"Mmmmm." replied Hermione still unable to come to her senses. "Keep cool..."

Suddenly she felt a cold jolt as Snape poured the water into her without her notice.

"SEVERUS!" she shouted finding herself shivering from the sudden shift in temperature.

The Potions Master had the nerve to burst into laughter as he took off knowing full well the witch was primed for retaliation.

"If you think that you are going to get away with that git you have another thing coming." she said. "Accio Wand."

Not one to be out done Snape knew full well where this was headed.

He arched an eyebrow at her gall as the witch began firing water hex after water hex at him.

He dodged the first few easily then she conjured water balloons that pelted him from mid-air.

Laughter and a good deal of water filled Hermione's flat as they ran about soaking each other to avoid the heat.

"Give it up Granger, There is no way you are going to out last me." said Snape in a smug manner.

Hermione narrowed her amber eyes at the dour wizard. He was well verse in wand-less magic and could out duel her in seconds but she was determined to put the Slytherin in his place.

"I don't think so." she replied casting a few more water hexes. "You may be better at dueling Severus but I still have youth on my side."

Snape countered using his wand-less magic.

"So be it." he replied. "And as I recall youth is on my side as well."

He continued to chase the witch through the house, both soaked from their aquatic assault on each other.

Hermione had been in mid-hex when Snape cast a time charm and quickly raced over toward the witch he pinned her to the sofa and canceled the charm. The amber eyed witch glared at him.

"Cheater." she said in a mock bitter tone.

"Never said we had any rules to follow." he replied in his own defense.

He crushed his pale lips into her soft pink ones. Hermione let out a moan despite herself. Snape smirked against her and she did her best to try and knee him in the groin.

"Watch it witch." he hissed catching her knee in time. "My equipment is more sensitive than yours."

"Don't I know it." she replied with a mischievous gleam in her amber eyes.

The Potions Master lifted the cheeky witch off the sofa and carried her toward the bed room. She lazily cast a scorgify on the flat as she wrapped her arms around her lover's pale neck.

Hours Later...

Hermione awoke devoid of her bikini with an equally nude Severus Snape laying beside her. They had seemingly rutted themselves into exhaustion that afternoon. The heat seemed to let up with the absence of direct sunlight beaming through the flat and the chill of night had been welcome. The familiar shaking beside the amber eyed witch had gotten her attention once more. Hermione straddled Snape's legs and tried to get him to focus on her voice. She had been having no such luck as the minutes passed and he seemed to slip deeper and deeper into his subconscious.

"Severus...we have to go to him." said Hermione with fear in her tone. "I don't know how to help you anymore."

Snape had remained unresponsive as the tremors continued to wrack his pale form.

Hermione used her wand on him and placed his boxer shorts back on him after a quickly dispensed cleaning charm and got dressed herself the same way. Severus continued to shake as if he was slipping further and further away.

The bushy haired witch levitated him from her bed and used an old port key to get her ailing lover to Hogwarts. Apparently Dumbledore had made it so that his office could be reached straight away should any need arise for his expertise.

The Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts, Wizarding World...

Dumbledore had been in the middle of viewing parchments when a nearly frantic Hermione arrived with Snape half-levitated and half-supported by the young witch. The Headmaster noted that the dour man had been unconscious as well. He got up from his seat and walked over to them immediately. His twinkling blue eyes filled with much concern for the younger wizard.

"Miss Granger, what's happened to Severus?" he asked helping her by taking some of the weight of the raven haired wizard off her.

"He's having another one of his black outs, but I can't wake him." she said her panic evident in her tone.

"Another?" asked Dumbledore observing the unconscious wizard. "This has happened before?"

"Yes." replied Hermione. "I've been managing them so far, he's even showed signs of improvement but...this is the worst he's ever been and the longest he's taken to recover."

Dumbledore studied the young witch for what seemed like the longest time. She had no doubt he had been accessing the details of Snape's condition from her mind.

"I see." he said softly. "We must get him to the infirmary immediately."

Hermione agreed as they both made their way through the floo to the said infirmary. Severus Snape was draped between them still unconscious and unaware of what was happening around him.

The Abyss...

Severus Snape found himself once more surrounded by darkness. His vision had been impaired as he stood in the coolness of the deep as if he had been transferred into the outer most regions of space. The emptiness had been unnerving even for Snape as he stood unable to see or move for fear of what had been beyond the small foot space in which he stood. In the black distance there was the sound of constant whispering growing louder and more profound as he focused his attention on deciphering the voices.

One voice had caught his attention immediately and filled him with rage as he took in the familiar hiss.

"S-S-Severus-s-s." it said.

"No." said Snape clenching his fists. "You are dead, Potter ended you."

"S-S-Severus-s-s." hissed the voice again taunting from the blackness.

"YOU'RE DEAD!" shouted Snape unnerved at the thought of something so vile as Voldemort surviving to do more damage to the world than he had in previous incarnations.

"YOU BETRAYED ME S-S-SEVERUS-S-S!" shouted the hissing voice belonging to none other than Voldemort. "YOU WILL PAY FOR YOUR CRIME AGAINST ME...YOU SHALL DIE FOR YOUR TREACHERY...S-S-SEVERUS-S-S!"

The Infirmary, Hogwarts, Wizarding World...

Poppy examined Snape several times. Aside from his usual cluster of physical scars and evidence of healed broken bones and muscle aches, he seemed to be healthy. There had been nothing the witch could do for the Potions Master physically anyway. Dumbledore noted the anomaly in Snape's magical energy. It appeared wrong somehow but he knew no one who had been able to help one with their magic, that field of medical study was not yet explored.

After several failed explanations and tests Poppy Pomfrey, Dumbledore, and Hermione Granger had been at their wits end when it came to what was ailing Snape. Minerva McGonagall had gotten word of Snape's condition and had come by for a visit. It had been quite some time since she had last seen the dour wizard, the last time being his trial for Albus' murder. She had yet to make amends for her accusations and subsequent abandonment of her favorite Slytherin git.

In truth Severus Snape had been like the unofficial adoptive child of her and Albus Dumbledore since his parents subsequent deaths and he became a ward of Hogwarts. While Minerva defended her Gryffindors tooth and nail, she developed a soft spot for the Slytherin mostly after his return to Hogwarts as a very young Potions Professor.

He had been quiet mostly reminiscent of the shy boy he use to be but there was no longer a glimer of hope behind his obsidian eyes. She guessed quite accurately later on that it had to do with Lily Potter's death at the hands of Voldemort. She would never forget the haunted look behind his obsidian eyes the day he ventured onto Hogwarts grounds as a full fledged adult.

That same look had been in his eyes when he had been on trial.

Minerva sighed as she ran her trembling hand across the seemingly sleep wizard's forehead. He had been sweating rather profusely and felt hot to the touch. She had heard the many theories that had come up concerning the younger wizard's aliment but none had ever considered the possibility of it being a mental affliction.

"Have you tried to heal his mind?" she asked looking at the others with new found conviction.

Dumbledore considered it.

"That would require a good deal of magic, and the mind is where one manifests the anchor to project magic out into the world." he said amazed at her suggestion. "Perhaps that is what is causing the anomaly in Severus' magic."

"How do we heal his mind?" asked Hermione with an arched eyebrow.

"Well we can't oliviate him." said Minerva thoughtful.

"What if we send someone to sift through what ever is causing the disturbance?" asked Hermione. "You know to unlock his mind."

"That is a brilliant idea Miss Granger." said Dumbledore approving of her initiative. "But also a very dangerous one...I'm afraid Severus' current mental state and already mistrusting nature mean that not just any one can venture into his mind."

"I'll do it." said Hermione. "I know him well enough...and he trusts me which is a lot more than I can say for any of you...no offense."

"None taken." replied Dumbledore contemplating once more.

"Albus, you cannot be seriously thinking of letting her do this." said a concerned Minerva.

"What other choice do we have Minerva?" asked Dumbledore. "Like it or not Miss Granger is the only one who might be able to reach Severus."

"You just said yourself there is no telling what is going on in that poor boy's mind." said Poppy chiming in. "How do we know that Miss Granger would fare well in there?"

"We just have to have a little faith." replied Dumbledore with a twinkle behind his blue eyes as he looked over at Hermione. "Miss Granger is Severus' best chance to beat this otherwise it will kill him straight away."

That earned a few collective gasps.

"Kill him?" asked Hermione shaken by how serious this was becoming.

Dumbledore nodded.

"Whatever is causing this is poisoning Severus' mind and slowly killing him with his own magic." explained The Headmaster. "We must reach him and put an end to this before it becomes any worse."

"Then I am ready when ever you are." said Hermione determined to aid Severus in any way that she can.

Dumbledore nodded.

"I didn't doubt it." he said with a small smile. "Severus means a good deal to you, I understand."

"He does." admitted Hermione without shame. "He means the world to me."

Minerva was stunned by this admission but said nothing. Her favorite Gryffindor had just stopped short of confessing herself to be in love with her former Potions Professor. Dumbledore smiled at the Transfigurations Professor and turned his attention back to Hermione.

"You don't have much time Miss Granger." he said getting down to business. "This projection spell is an ancient one and is quite limited, you have precisely eight hours to find whatever is poisoning Severus' mind and destroy it, you should be able to use your magic as long as you are in sync with Severus' magical flow...you must destroy whatever is causing this before the spell wares off and you are transported back here."

Hermione nodded.

"I got it Professor." she said.

"Severus was a former death eater, highly suspicious and greatly destructive." said Dumbledore. "There is no telling how he will react or what his mind's defenses will put up...tread carefully."

"I will." replied Hermione. "I'm ready."

Dumbledore sighed as he took one last look at Hermione.

"There is one more thing Miss Granger." he said. "If Severus manages to kill you in his mind, you will remain dead once the projection spell is canceled."

Hermione's eyes widened as she looked over at her sleeping lover. If this was the only way to save him she would do whatever it took to make him well again.

"I'm ready Professor." she said again with determination behind her amber eyes.

Dumbledore nodded.

"Do be careful Miss Granger." said Minerva in warning. "And keep your wits about you...Severus is not to be taken lightly no matter your current connection to him...he is still a Slytherin after all."

"I will Professor McGonagall." replied Hermione with a small smile. "Thank you."

Minerva nodded once in her direction. As much as she hated this, she knew it was the only option to save Severus from whatever this was. And despite her protests, Hermione was determined to save her wizard even if it mean the cost of her own life, such was the Gryffindor way.

"Good luck Miss Granger." said Poppy Pomfrey monitoring Severus as she looked up at the young witch. "Do come back safely."

"Will do thanks Madam Pomfrey." replied Hermione before she turned her attention back to Dumbledore.

"Good luck Miss Granger." he said with his blue eyes twinkling. "I look forward to your return."

"Thank you Professor Dumbledore." she said. "For everything."

Dumbledore nodded and she took her position a safe distance from the others and closer to Severus.

"Remember my words, Miss Granger." said The Headmaster then he waved his wand and cast the projection spell. "Mentis peregrinus."

Hermione closed her amber eyes as the world around she shifted and eventually distorted. The last thing she recalled outside the flashes of everyone in the room's familiar faces was a bright light blue glow and then nothing. She had by all accounts passed out during the trip. The trouble was in her unconscious state she had no idea where that trip had taken her.