A.N.: Here you go guys. Here's the next chapter for you. It will take your mind off that horrible date, I hope.

Thank you again to Justsare for betaing this chapter. I really appreciate it!

Chapter 33: White magic

By the time Severus found Miss Granger and the redhead snogging under a cherry tree at the edge of the village, Severus had thought the day could not get any worse. Seeing them like this was like being stabbed in the chest, repeatedly, and all he could do was stumble backwards and transform himself into his animagus form, as soon as he was out of their line of sight. Someone still had to watch those randy teenagers that had sauntered so far away from where it was safe, after all. Not that he wanted to witness Miss Granger's face being almost licked off by an over-enthusiastic and clearly inexperienced Weasley. The sight alone was enough to put him off of his food for the rest of the day. The girl did not seem to mind though, at least not enough to pull away, even though she seemed much more hesitant about this than her wannabe boyfriend. It couldn't be for the lack of experience, for Mr Weasley obviously had none.

Severus picked a hiding spot within the trees of the edge of the forest. From here he would not be seen, not even by Miss Granger, who was aware of his animagus form. It wouldn't do for her to witness him lurking around, while she made her first real experiences with… boys. He turned his head away, so that he was just aware of them from the corner of his eyes. Therefore he would be aware if there was any danger to her without having to witness any details. Because what he had seen was enough to make his heart clench in… annoyance? Angst? Jealously? He wasn't even sure what it was, that he was feeling. But did it even matter? Miss Granger was his, she was connected to him by their magic for Salazar's sake! She wasn't supposed to snog some stupid Gryffindor idiot on a crappy date and let him lick her face like a goddamn dog! It wasn't supposed to be like this, Severus realized, and he could have sworn that he felt his magic confirm this new train of thought. He was pretty damn sure that Kindred Magic was meant to be two persons together, exclusively, meaning that there was no room for a third, unwelcome intruder. But what was he supposed to do about it? The girl still wasn't of age and even then she would still be his student. But he could not endure this torture for another two years and he was pretty sure that their bond wouldn't withstand such a hardship either.

It must have been almost an hour before the two teenagers finally decided to head back towards the castle and Severus decided to follow them in his bird form, at some distance. By now, it was early afternoon and the village should have been brimming with children. Strangely enough, there were only a few trailing the streets now and then. Luckily the end of his shift had approached now too and therefore it was without having a bad conscience that he flew back to the castle, as he did not feel much like walking back in his thick robes. He could still watch Miss Granger's way back from a window sill and would be able to see any approaching attackers long before they would be able to reach his bond-mate. And if one of his former Death Eater comrades tried, he would rip them to pieces.

He had barely landed on the windowsill of his current DADA classroom though, as a house-elf appeared next to him, wringing his hands while focussing him with a nervous expression in his saucer-like eyes.

"Headmaster Dumbledore asks Professor Snape to join him at the hospital wing immediately," the creature squeaked and for a moment a detached part of his brain asked how the elf had been able to recognise him in his animagus form. He definitely was not able to answer the house-elf like that, not that he needed to. The message had been transmitted and that was all the little servant was expected to do.

He stared at the house-elf with his black eyes, before his beak started to peck onto the glass of the window. Luckily the batty-eared creature understood and opened it for him, so that he could fly inside and transform back without being spotted by a nosy colleague or student.

"I will head to the hospital wing right away," he announced and turned towards the door, his black robe billowing behind him. He wondered who had gotten himself into trouble now. It couldn't have been Miss Granger, as he had watched over her the whole time. And the knowledge that this was not about her, made him feel better, no matter what new problem lay ahead of him.

Ssssssss

Hermione and Ron had barely stumbled through the Fat Lady's portrait hole, when Professor McGonagall came to find them. Her face was grave and Hermione knew immediately that something must have happened, something bad.

"Professor?" she asked, looking at her Head of the House with wide, worried eyes.

"Miss Granger, Mr Weasley, are you alright?" she asked, her eyes looking them up and down.

"Sure," Ron asked with a puzzled expression on her face. "Why wouldn't we be?"

At that, Professor McGonagall's face took on a sorrowful expression. "There has been an attack, you see? An attack on Mr Potter."

Somehow it was like the rug under her feet had been pulled away. This was like the Triwizard Tournament again. "Harry? What happened? Is he hurt?"

The older woman sighed. "We do not know exactly. He is currently unconscious and at the hospital wing. Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape are there, examining him."

Hermione nodded, the heavy feeling in her chest growing. "Can we go and see him?"

"In a bit. I will tell a house-elf to fetch you, as soon as the Headmaster and Professor Snape are finished," Minerva McGonagall replied, unable to hide the worry in her voice. This sounded bad, really bad. If Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape were there to see him, then this didn't sound like Harry just had a bleeding nose from a quarrel with Malfoy. Up to now, Madam Pomfrey had usually been able to patch them up on her own. What had happened to Harry, that she now couldn't?

ssssssss

"Well Severus, do you agree with my assessment of the situation?" Albus asked him, his blue eyes focussing Severus with a scrutinizing gaze.

Severus sighed, rubbing his temples in the hope to drive away the headache that threatened to form just there. It was of no use. This wasn't good, far from it actually.

"He's been attacked with the killing curse," he said, his voice flat, even though he could feel the panic that was building up inside him. "The residual energy from the curse is lingering in his body, attacking him. Still, the boy should be dead, but I guess Mister Potter has a history of surviving life-threatening situations."

Albus did not even smile at his comment. Why would he? This situation was indeed grave. "Have you seen anything suspicious, Severus? You were on patrol duty, after all. I know you cannot have seen the attack itself, as I know you would have tried to protect Lily's son, but they must have hidden somewhere, waiting for the right moment to strike."

That was the thing. Severus had been so focussed on protecting his bond-made, that he had not been much more helpful than old Slughorn. The realization that his behaviour had almost cost Lily's son his life, made his stomach drop with guilt. It would also be his fault if the boy died from the curses' leftover energy that still flooded his body. "I haven't seen anybody," Severus confessed without admitting the fact that he had not really seen much else other than Miss Granger and Mr Weasley. "I'm sorry, Albus. Who found the boy?"

"Strangely enough that was Draco Malfoy," Albus replied, his blue eyes seeking out his, probably to judge his reaction. "Do you think it possible that your godson was the one trying to kill him? Could it be his attempt to get back into Tom's graces and save his family from his anger?"

Severus considered the Headmaster's words. It was possible, even though he was inclined to believe that the boy did not have it in him to kill another human being in cold blood. But who knew what pressure Voldemort or maybe his aunt Bella put on him? Maybe if he had been desperate enough?

"I do not know Albus, but I guess it would be possible. Do you want me to fetch the boy and interrogate him?"

At that, Albus shook his head. "No. I need you to stay here and try to help Harry. I know there is not exactly a cure against the Killing Curse, as it is not meant to be cured but… I can not help but hope that you still have the means to help him, that is... you and Miss Granger."

Severus looked at him with a puzzled expression. "What do you expect us to do? This case is totally unprecedented and I wouldn't even know where to start."

Dumbledore looked at him with a small smile. "I think calling the girl in question into the infirmary wouldn't be a bad start, don't you think?"

Ssssssss

"Miss Granger, the Headmaster asks you into the hospital wing," the squeaky voice of Squirmy, the house-elf, had announced, only minutes after Professor McGonagall had informed her and Ron about the situation.

"What about me?" Ron had asked, but the little servant had adamantly shaken its over-sized head.

"Only Miss Granger is asked to come," the little male announced, his chest puffed proudly. "Squeaky is tasked to take her there himself and without delay. The Headmaster sounded very urgent, Miss."

Hermione looked at her boyfriend with an apologetic gaze, before hastily jumping to her feet. "I am ready to leave right away, Squeaky. Will you be so kind as to apparate me?"

The elf nodded determinedly and as soon as Hermione had taken his little hand, they were gone, Ron's confused and disappointed eyes following her until she disappeared.

When Hermione reappeared at the hospital wing a moment later, the Headmaster and Professor Snape were already waiting for her at Harry's bed. Her friend had been moved into a private room, which could only mean that things were bad or at least ... complicated.

"Harry…" she whispered, staring down at her friend's lifeless form in dismay. Only then she remembered the Professor's presence and how rude it was not to greet them first.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor Snape," she said, unable to hide the emotion in her voice.

"What happened to Harry? What's wrong with him?"

She saw the men trade a look at her question and a moment later she saw the Headmaster nod.

"He's been attacked with the Killing Curse," Severus explained to her with a sigh.

Hermione's eyes went wide. "Someone tried to kill him? Who? How? And will he… is he…" She felt panic gripping her, her eyes trailing from the two men to her friend on the bed. Professor Dumbledore looked at her with sympathy and she could slowly feel him walking closer towards her.

"That, we do not know, Miss Granger. We do know that your friend is not dead, which is a miracle in itself. Still, the residual energy from the curse remains in his body and it is slowly but steadily attacking him. We do not know how much it will be able to harm him."

Hermione looked at the man with a pleading expression, but he just returned her look with a sad smile. Finally, her eyes shifted to Severus, who still sat next to Harry's bed, his eyes dark, unfathomable orbs while he held back ramrod straight. "Is there nothing we can do?" she asked into the room, not sure which of the two men she was addressing. Both of them were known to have the answers and they wouldn't have called for her to come here alone, if it was just for her to say goodbye. That did not make any sense.

"There is no known potion that could help your friend," Professor Snape said calmly, while he focussed her with a steady expression. "As I earlier told the Headmaster this case is unprecedented, as the victims of the curse are usually killed right away."

She nodded her understanding, even though her mind refused to accept the possibility of Harry dying here, with her standing next to him, unable to help. "But you do have an idea, am I right, Sir?" she asked, her eyes focussing on the Headmaster this time.

Professor Dumbledore stroked his beard, while his eyes studied her with a calm, almost calculative expression. "I might, even though I cannot say if it's any good. Tell me, Miss Granger, how much do you know about White Magic?"

Hermione looked at the man with wide eyes, her mind frantically searching for all information she had read on the topic. It wasn't much, she realized in dismay. "White magic is usually associated with healing or protective magic," she said, looking at the Headmaster for confirmation. "It is a very pure form of magic though and therefore almost impossible to use."

Headmaster Dumbledore nodded with a pleased look on his face. "Exactly, Miss Granger. It is also the absolute opposite of Dark Magic and both forms of magic are stated to neutralize each other. White Magic was what enabled Harry to survive the killing curse as a one-year-old, his mother's wish to sacrifice her life for his protecting him from a curse that is known to kill its victim without delay and mercy."

Hermione nodded. Harry had told her about the protection his mother had bestowed on him. She just had not been aware that it had been White Magic. "So you think one could counter the curse with White Magic? Is that what you'll be trying to do, Sir?"

At that, the old wizard looked at her with a kind but sad smile. "Unfortunately it takes a pure and unblemished soul to cast it, Miss Granger, which is the reason why I find myself unable to do so. You and Severus on the other hand… I believe you have read the books on Kindred Magic, Miss Granger. You know that your connection is of the purest kind."

Suddenly, Hermione's eyes widened in understanding. Of course, this is why he had asked for her. "What are you suggesting, Sir? What do you need me to do?"

The man's blue eyes looked at her steadily, while his mouth formed a sad smile. "Kindred Spirits are only known to work White Magic on their bond partner," he started and Hermione became aware of Professor Snape's eyes that had come to rest on her, too. "You would probably be able to protect each other from the Killing Curse, if your bond was strong enough, but that would still not help poor Harry." He smiled sadly. "There might be a way to transfer the residual energy from the curse to another person though."

Professor Snape's reaction was immediate. "Absolutely not," he growled, suddenly rising from his chair. "I refuse to risk her life for one of your… experiments. This is madness, Albus!"

"It is," the Headmaster agreed with a nod. "But it's the only idea I have, Severus. Do you have another suggestion on how to save young Mr Potter?"

The younger man remained silent, while he stared at Professor Dumbledore with a hard expression. "I have not," he finally said, his eyes trailing over the boy on the bed. "But if I have to make a decision on whose life is more important to me…"

"I understand, my boy," Professor Dumbledore replied, seemingly unfazed by the other man's words. "It is your decision Severus, Miss Granger. I can not blame not wanting to risk your life for the mere possibility of achieving a positive result, especially if we could not even be sure if your bond would be strong enough to protect each other from such vile magic."

Professor Snape looked at him with a growl. "I know what you're doing, old man, and it's not working," he said, staring at the Headmaster with a cold expression. "Get out. I'd like to talk to Miss Granger alone."

Hermione looked at Severus in surprise and confusion, but the Headmaster did not object and bowed his head towards her Professor. "As you wish, Severus. I am going to wait for you outside and make sure that you are not disturbed."

She watched Severus look at the man with a dark expression, before the Headmaster retreated from the room a moment later. Suddenly it was just them and Harry - and Hermione could not help but wonder what the Professor had to say to her.