"Every person who's ever attempted the Vires Tuas, has died in the attempt. All except one.
"Who, father?" And Severus's eyes met his in warning, but it seemed like Minerva earlier, there was no holding back the words that broke free from his lips with an awed whisper.
"Merlin Himself".
Severus carried her back to their rooms and they once more sealed themselves in to recover , though this time it was not without incident.
Before he could even reach their quarters he was cut off by an emerging Poppy, Pomona Sprout and Minerva. A low growl of warning rumbled in his chest, and he sped up his stride but it was no good, Minerva had obviously used one of the secret passageways known only to the head of the school or used her ability to apparate on the grounds as there was no other way that the trio of old Scotswoman could have overtaken Severus's large and purposeful stride.
"As if you think you could disappear with her after pulling a stunt like that young man!"
Poppy and Minerva were approaching Hermione with intent and concern in their eyes, but it was Pomona Sprout that eyed him almost warily. "Um... Minnie I don't think.."
There was still a low growl of warning rumbling in his chest and Minerva either chose to ignore it, or didn't believe it was aimed at her, but when a burst of flames licked the floor in front of him, she was only just pulled out of the way by a ungainly yank on the neck of her robes by the resident Herbologist.
It seemed she finally took stock of the thread of control he was hanging by then as he held an unconscious Hermione in in his arms.
"Don't be daft boy, let us help her, she's bound to be drained beyond belief after what she just did!"
"I don't need your help" He snarled through bared teeth, and it was more of a snarl than usual for the severe Potion's master, who was well known for his snapping and snarling demeanour well before the wolf side of him emerged.
Pomona was the one that got through to him though, the motherly Hufflepuff knowing just what to say and how to break his growling exterior without getting his hackles up any further than they already were.
"We know you don't need help lamb, No-one's planning on taking her from you, and no-one's doubting that the best place for her to recover is with you, but you can't take care of her very well if she's exhausted her magic now can you? Let Poppy check her over quick to make sure there's nothing serious and then we can leave you to care for her alright love? It'd make us all feel better, and it is Poppy's job after all isn't it Lamb? She's seen you through plenty of rough patches before now"
The warring instincts inside him receded enough for him to grunt out an apology, though the women waved it off as nothing, after all they all had known him since childhood and growling in anger was something of a trait of his for many years past, even if it now had a bit more of a feral quality to it.
"No harm done Severus, you only want to protect her and there's nothing wrong with that son" Minerva answered and placed a gentling hand on his shoulder.
He still trembled as he held Hermione tight in his arms, and allowed Poppy to run her diagnostics.
"I..." He began, then swallowed when the words got stuck in his throat. "Take your time love" Pomona said gently and rubbed his shaking arms.
"I hate it, when she's like this...weak. I just want her to boss me about, hair crackling and all righteous indignation as she gives me orders and puts me in my place. When I see her like this, it makes me think of how she collapsed in my arms when she first came back from Azkaban. Of all she went through, that I couldn't protect her from. It makes me feel...like a failure. I've failed to protect her"
"No Lamb, Never that" Pomona said as he felt the comforting presence of all three women around him. "If anyone failed that girl it was Albus, and he's paying for that right now, wherever what's left of his soul may be" Minerva spoke harshly, and Poppy rested a comforting hand on her shoulder. Recent actions aside, Minerva had been Albus's friend and colleague for years longer than any of them, and that kind of caring just doesn't go away overnight, even if they "royally fucked up" as Minerva had herself put it, half a bottle into a fine vintage of Old Ogdens.
Poppy's scans showed what they expected, a monumental loss of physical and magical energy, but nothing that time would not heal. "Keep her close Severus, your magical core is attuned to hers, you're feeding her recovery just by being close to her. Make sure she sleeps and don't let her skip on eating even if she feels nauseous, you hear me boy? I want 3 good meals a day in that girl, and not just junk food either" He nodded in acquiescence, and Minerva reached forward and gently pushed the hair back from the unconscious girls face.
"How much more can one soul go through" she whispered and none among them could answer.
The doors to their chambers shut with a deep rumbling noise and they all took a step back at the thrumming feel of the formidable wards that he put in place around the chamber door. Out of curiosity Minerva placed her hand upon the wall and though she did not get the shock that she was sure others would if they attempted such, even as headmistress she felt the almost shiver of warning that went through the walls of Hogwarts herself, telling her in no uncertain terms that she would not be getting through.
"Well Pomona, what do you think? Even Hogwarts is choosing them over me, I couldn't get through those wards if my life depended on it and the Castle herself has showed no intention to assist me if that's my aim" Minerva asked her cautiously and the woman nodded.
"Oh yes, she's tied to the earth that girl, and tied to him too. Their auras are that interwoven, one would collapse without the other"
"But what does it mean? Severus has always been brilliant, and he's a frighteningly powerful wizard in his own right, but the two of them together are producing feats of magic that haven't been known since..."
"Merlin & Nimune" Poppy answered softly and the witches shared a considering look with Pomona, who was more tied to the earth than any of them.
"While it's true that either of them, Hermione especially, could be descendants of Merlin, I think it's something greater than that...something more...primal"
"Primal?" Minerva questioned agog.
"Ancient" Pomona embellished, "While many people accept that Hogwarts is somewhat sentient and a powerful place in her own right, due in no small part to the founders who were all rumoured descendants of Merlin, many forget that the earth herself plays a huge part in the crux of Hogwarts power and that is the fact that she's built on Ley Lines, just like Stonehenge and many other focal points of power across the world"
"Are you suggesting that Hermione is demonstrating harnessing Ley magic? That's ancient earth magic, and incredibly dangerous she could be torn apart by it!" Poppy's concern was clear, and Minerva's worry wasn't far behind but it was Pomona's slowly shaking head that stopped their worry before it began.
"No, their ties run deeper than that. There's no malice in that girl, no darkness, and Ley Lines are fickle things, somewhat sentient in their own right and just as likely to destroy anything that would try and pollute them or harness them for darkness."
"Then what do you believe?" Minerva asked and was shocked when the softly spoken reply came back.
"I don't believe Hermione is taking the Ley magic, I believe the Ley magic is giving to her, I think it's a part of her and him and tied to them as much as their own magic. I think..."
She took a deep breath, as though she couldn't believe the words that she herself was about to utter.
"I think that the very Ley Magic has tied itself to them. I think..that they're guardians."
