Chapter 21

(Egypt, 1995)

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The air was stifling as they made their way down the sandy road. Many people were coming back and forth with various things from the market they had just passed. Either selling or buying. Nobody paid them mind except for a child here and there who would stop and stare at them curiously.

Hermione had made sure that they were covered fully in brown cloaks to blend in with as well as some sturdy boots. Something that Severus had already been wearing. Dragon boots to be exact.

They had changed their appearance somewhat as well but hadn't altered the story. Nobody here really asked anything personal or even in general. Unless you were buying something.

Hermione nodded politely at an elderly who had given her a toothy grin.

The place was the same, yet for some reason, the trip felt a lot different than when she had first visited.

She shook her head and glanced over at the silent but watchful man beside her.

Severus had left his hair short but had no beard this time. He had gone for a light shade for his eyes since most would be too intrigued with the near blackness of them if he had left them alone. Hermione only changed the color and length of her hair. It was now straight and dark brown, the hair was a lot shorter than she had ever worn it, the tips of it barely touching her chin. Severus had only raised an eyebrow but had refused to comment on it. They passed a few more people before they began to dwindle as the sun began setting. The temperature dropped with the sun and yet it was a bit warmer here than it would have been in Britain.

Either way, the chill sent shivers down her back.

They had traveled for a long time so it had taken them a while to arrive near the village. Using a portkey was unsettling but it had transported them to Egypt a lot quicker than traveling the muggle way. Hermione pointed towards a small hut-like house at the end of the road. The house belonged to Halima.

It was small but the back of it was what mattered. That's where Halima spent most of her time at. Hermione couldn't see the lamp in front of the house, it usually was out in front to lighten the way even before sundown.

Once they arrived at the door, she knocked once and waited. Severus moved back behind her as he watched her back. The door opened in a flash of light. It was Amsu, who was holding the lamplight that was usually outside. Her tall form blocked Hermione's view but Amsu only smiled when she saw her.

"Changed your look did you, well come on in."

Hermione smiled and motioned for Severus, her fingers briefly touching his arm.

The instant they stepped in, the wards around the house could be felt. Hermione's magic gave her a shock and Snape just became a bit more careful as he fully covered her back with his body. His heat driving away what was left of the shiver from earlier.

Amsu disappeared behind a beaded curtain near the back of the room as she called for Halima, lamplight forgotten. Severus only stayed behind her and instead of talking out loud, he spoke through their mind link. One that was partially open and linked the whole time. To her, it was becoming normal, a little too normal in fact.

"I assume the wards are in place for the medicine?" he asked, his heat disappearing as he came to stand beside her.

"They weren't this strong when I was here. But according to my timeline that was only about three months and two weeks ago. Which means that…"

She didn't finish her thought once Halima came into the room with Gahiji and Amsu trailing behind her.

Halima only took one look at her and smiled. "Moswen, I figured you would have come earlier. I have been expecting you. A young one that is so smart would have eventually figured it out. Come, I'll feed you dinner first."

Hermione grinned and drew away from Severus to hug her. The smell of herbs was different than it was with Severus since Halima literally lived in a greenhouse. But it was a familiar smell. A welcoming one.

But one she hoped wasn't shrouded in lies.

Hermione turned towards Severus directed some of their attention towards him. "This is Professor Snape, he teaches potions at Hogwarts," she said, her eyes taking in the exchange. "Professor Snape, this is Halima, Amsu, and Gahiji. I met them when I first came here."

Severus bowed imperceptibly, surprising Hermione. He didn't smile but neither did he sneer or scowl. "I have heard much about your potions and have tried a few of them. I would like to discuss them with you, Mrs. Halima."

Halima gave him an assessing look before breaking into a laugh. She briefly glanced at Hermione before giving him a nod. "Halima, child, just Halima will do. Come, I have some fresh Baladi just out of the oven. Amus, the table. Gahiji, more chairs. Moswen, you know where the Fava Beans are, fetch me some."

Nobody questioned her as they went ahead in different directions. Severus stared at the little woman commanding everyone except him and raised an eyebrow when Halima called him. He sent her an amusing picture of a hen and chicks. Hermione suppressed a chuckle and headed outside; only to halt and gawk at what lay in the back of the greenhouse.

It was a plant near the back of the greenhouse. It took up almost the whole wall and had small little blue flowers scattered everywhere. It wasn't one she recognized, so it was intriguing. She picked up the bag of Fava Beans and gave the plant one more glance before heading back in.

Her curiosity often got her in trouble but it normally gave her answers too. But now was not the moment.

Before they sat down to eat they took off their clocks and bags; Hermione making sure to drop her glamours. Severus did too and watched in amusement as the women took in his true form.

He didn't seem amused on the outside but he did privately send her a smirk that nearly made her heart stop in sudden pleasure. He rarely showed others anything other than scorn, so, whenever he showed her this side of him, it made her feel happy. He even sent her a question or two on what was being served. She told him that it was one of her favorite meals here. He didn't question her again as he watched Halima magically cook.

They had dinner; Kushari and Baladi Bread with Karakadey juice. Something that Hermione figured he liked since he truly seemed genuinely surprised by the taste. He had actually eaten two servings to her surprise.

Amsu and Halima both had kept giving her looks but she had acted like she didn't notice them. That didn't stop them from being noisy.

Amsu would try and question Severus, who usually frightened everybody, about his work and how he joined her. Severus avoided answering her almost everything. Except for the part that he was Hermione's professor. Amus had given Hermione a very meaningful look before being swatted at by Halima.

Gahiji was the only one that had stayed quiet through the whole dinner. Something that was not missed by Severus. Hermione planned to find out why.

Later.

Maybe, if she remembered too.

Afterward, they all moved to the living room where there was plenty of seating. Halima instantly turned serious as she walked over to Hermione, who had sat down next to Severus. She gently took hold of Hermione's arm and pulled it close to her face, a frown beginning to form on her wrinkled forehead. "I know exactly why you are here, Moswen. But the answer you seek comes at a high price. Something that no wealth in this world can pay. But I know you and I know what you will do regardless of the outcome."

Halima did know Hermione. But the thing was, Hermione was changing every week, every day, and it didn't look like it was going to stop anytime soon.

Not if she wanted to see this to the end. Nothing could be overlooked but she would be a fool not to accept help from those with far more knowledge. But Hermione wasn't alone this time. The silent shadow linked to her was at her side.

So, he would be the one to witness every change.

Everything that slowly stripped her of the old Hermione. The one that Adrian and the others knew. But the ones that were being left behind were two other boys that she was trying to protect.

A part of her would always mourn the girl she had been or would have been.

Hermione stared down at the mark of the snake and felt another shiver slide down her spine. Whatever price she had to pay had to be worth it. There was no other option.

Harry's laugh ran through her memory. Of Ron bickering with them over matters that were never bad enough to destroy a friendship that had been forged in danger. Of Harry's starved face when he had come back years ago, of his sadness that still lingered when he glanced at any pair of parents. But those weren't the only memories that ran through her mind. Adrian, Marcus, Zephrine, Dimitry and lastly, Severus. They were worth it. She believed it, so, it would be okay.

At least on their end.

Something nudged her shields and wasn't' surprised when his voice came across clearly.

"Don't risk your life over this. It might not be worth it."The warning in her voice was a double edge sword. But I also know what you will decide."

Of course, he would know too. He was coming to know her far better than anybody else. But, was she coming to know him the same way? She swept those thoughts aside and looked directly at Halima.

"I will pay whatever price is needed. I have to destroy him and in order to do that, I must destroy what he has created. But if my blood is somehow powerful enough or even holds the key to it all, I will do ANYTHING."

Halima gazed at Hermione with a solemn look. She didn't discourage her and instead turned to Gahiji. "Bring the tent from storage and set it up as a medicine room as well as the larger tent for them to rest in. Amsu, go and fetch me what I need," Halima paused and looked over at Hermione. "Tomorrow, when the night sings, we will visit the being you seek. But for tonight rest and prepare."

..o0o..

Severus took the cot that was nearest to the entrance, while Hermione took the one at the very end of the tent, it was the only one with flaps for privacy. She pulled off her bag and sat it on the night table that was beside the cot.

Halima had given them a tent that was a lot bigger than Hermione's had been when she had stayed. Severus spoke out loud as he opened the entrance flap. "I'll set some wards around the tent. I'll be back in a bit."

She only nodded her head but didn't turn around when the flap closed. Hermione stripped her clothes and put on a nightgown that was appropriate for the company. It was long enough that it reached the top of her knees and had short sleeves that had a bit of a fringe. It was also the only nightgown that Zephrine had packed her. Not wanting to think as to why she would do that, Hermione grabbed her bag of toiletries and headed to the connected bathroom. It was a bit big...The floors were probably charmed to absorb any water.

It also held a large marble tub in the corner. It was a very beautiful tub. She wondered why it was in a tent or if they had forgotten about it.

Not that she was planning to use it tonight. The night before, when they had still been in Little Hangleton, Severus hadn't slept on the only bed in the room they had been given. He hadn't said anything as he transfigured a cot and a makeshift tent that separated them. He had only said goodnight and had disappeared behind it. Hermione had lain awake for most of the night very conscious of the fact that he was just on the other side of the tent.

Which resulted in her in being really tired now. So much that Halima had held off doing whatever she was going to for the next night. Grateful for it, she took care of business and walked out with a brush in hand. Severus was back inside and had his own bag in hand as he walked around her and shut the door of the bathroom. Her hand trembled slightly before she pinched herself for her silliness and walked over to her cot. It wasn't like anything would happen. She was inexperienced, yes, but she had heard enough from others what tended to happen in a relationship.

She pulled down the comforter and slid under it. She would have preferred to sleep naked but she couldn't do it now. The orb closest to her dimmed as she flicked her hand at it. She rolled over and faced the wall of the tent as the door to the bathroom opened. The clean smell of mint and soap reached her as he passed by her. The tension between them becoming electric. She was very aware of him even though he was silent in his movements.

At one point she felt his stare. Forcing herself to ignore his stare, she closed her eyes.

But it wasn't long until she drifted off from exhaustion that she realized that the reason she was nervous because she expected something to happen. She wanted something to happen.

..o0o..

Morning came far to quick as Hermione stood outside the tent. Severus was dressing after taking a shower. Hermione had dressed in simple dark jeans and a tan shirt. Her bag and cloak in one hand, she waited for him to step out. It had only been the second night they had spent together and she didn't know how she would survive another night.

She had awakened from dreams that even now made her flush. Not wanting to accidentally share that bit with him she had only closed their connection for a while so that she could get some level of control over her wandering mind.

The tent flap opened and Severus walked out, his hair a bit wet from his shower. It was slick and shiny under the morning sun. Without thinking about it, she raised a hand and held a few strands in her hand. He stilled under her touch and watched her, his eyes holding a bit of molten heat and curiosity.

Her fingers slid through the wet hair without a problem before she gradually pulled away and smiled. "I always wanted to touch it. I know now for sure that you wash," she gave a laugh as his eyes narrowed. "Everybody thinks you wash it once a year. But I'm the only one that has seen it."

"You amuse yourself with the silliest things. It never does well to listen to gossip. No move along, woman." he said, his deep voice making her feel the heat in places that normally weren't so hot. But now she knew that his voice did it for her.

She gave him a pointed look before sauntering towards the back door of the house, very aware of his eyes following her. She opened the door to the familiar smell of Hawawshi. Her stomach growled with hunger. She really did like the meat pie.

The morning passed and evening came before she even knew it.

Halima had asked them to follow close behind her as they made their way out of the house. The sun was already setting as they followed her down the dirt road. It was eerily similar to the night that she had been bitten.

Her wand slid down her holster and into her hand. The holster had been another gift from Dimitry, who also had a similar one. Although, the one she had was set to match the color of her skin. Her real wand was tucked into her boots in case she was disarmed. It was instinctive more than anything.

Severus stayed behind her as he too kept a watchful eye. Gahiji held a few light orbs around them with his wand as Amsu held a large basket in one arm and a backpack. It only made Hermione wonder what about this price would result in Halima coming so well prepared. All that medicine was brought with them for a reason. They neared the place that the encounter had occurred. Halima laid opened the bag she had brought herself and pulled out a large snake. It wasn't alive as its body flopped around as Halima shook it out of the bag. The snake wasn't like the one that had bitten Hermione but it did look similar to it.

At first, nothing happened. The sky was clear so they could see a bit further out from where the orbs lit. The high grass only slightly moved at first. It wasn't long until something began moving through the grass. But Hermione wasn't afraid as it moved towards them. She walked around Amsu and Halima, after giving Severus her bag, to stand at the front but kept her wand. It was partially hidden by her cloak just in case it offended the Sphinx. Hermione felt Halima place a hand on her arm as if to caution her.

Discretion was the last thing Hermione felt like having. She wanted answers. The Sphinx finally stepped out of the tall grass, it's large paws seeming a little large for its body. The human face reminded her of a child but one glance at the rest of the body erased those thoughts. Hermione cleared her throat as she slid her hood back. "Hello, I'm Hermione. I'm the human you saved a few months ago."

The Sphinx cocked its head to the side making the hair around its head to shift forwards. It made the gold on its hair clink and glint in the night. "I know who you are, HUMAN. I have heard your voice and have smelled your scent from miles away. Even with the disguise, I knew it was you. But I was correct in calling you foolish. Foolish but brave if I'm not mistaken. You are here for something."

Hermione pulled away from Halima and slid her wand back into the holster. She quickly pulled the string holding the cloak up and let it fall to the floor as she showed the Sphinx the mark on her left arm. "I came because of this. Because a simple bite of a snake could not have done this. I have been told I have to give something in return for the answers I seek."

Eyes that almost glowed gold in the dark suddenly disappeared in a sudden burst of speed. It pounced on Hermione. It also created a circle of magic, isolating them from the others. Hermione instantly felt the link between Severus and her rip open brutally. It made her nose bleed. Something that the Sphinx zeroed in on.

"What do I do. Do I kill it." Severus asked, his voice dangerous in its calm. His fury concealed by years of practice. Hermione coughed as her lungs tried to function with the weight of the Sphinx on her chest. One paw had claws prickling through her thin shirt while the other was on her thigh. "No, if it had wanted me dead it would have done so immediately. Let it be," she said. Her eyes never leaving the Sphinx's.

He didn't leave her mind, his shadow blending into the background. That alone gave her more confidence to go through with it. The Sphinx lowered its head to hers and downwards to the scar. "I bit you as well. The saliva and venom I have now run through your blood. But so does whatever else I have bitten before. My saliva and teeth are impregnated with the blood of a Nundu."

Hermione froze. A Nundu? One of the most dangerous beasts in the wizarding world? How was she still alive?

The Sphinx must have seen were her thoughts must have gone since it only gave a nod. "Yes, human, I bit a Nundu that thought to challenge me. It also bit me in retaliation but neither one of us died. But the secret cannot be known to others that do not practice the magic of healing. The only reason the elder human behind you knows about it is that she is a natural born healer. The other two are of this land and bound to the secrets it carries. They are also linked to her. But you are an outsider. As well as the male you have brought. You will have to pay twice the price for that."

That made everybody around her give a shout of protest. Three out loud while the fourth echoed inside her head. She had known that Severus's presence wouldn't go unnoticed but what could she possibly give that was worth double? They had only brought so much money for the two weeks. What did she have of value especially for a Sphinx? The Sphinx lifted one of its paws off, the one on her thigh stayed put. The pressure on her chest began to dull the instant the weight was gone. It slowly backed away and Hermione stood up slowly, her thigh shaking from the rush of blood that was finally able to flow.

She didn't turn her back it as the Sphinx began circling around her. Its paws silent even though they were bigger than Hermione's head. "There is only one way that I will know if you misuse the information. Will you accept it?"

Saying no would probably end in her death or Obliviation by Halima. Hermione nodded. She had already made it clear that she would do anything. The Sphinx gave her an amused glance that made her hair stand on end. It wasn't like human amusement. It was what a predator gave its prey before killing it. The Sphinx circled her body again, making the others step away even further.

"Take your top clothes off, human and kneel. What comes next will bond your magical blood to me and your soul to mine. It will not affect your natural lifespan but it will change you physically since the magic of being is not suitable for the body of a human. That also means that if anybody else uses your blood, we will know. But it comes with the answer you seek. Your blood can be used to heal or break even the darkest of magic. But use it too much and it will kill you. If you do anything that doesn't follow the rules the magic between us, it will break and kill you."

Hermione would have trembled but it would have shown weakness; she had a feeling that it soon wouldn't matter. She removed her top and when she received a pointed look so she unstrapped her bra as well. It left her bare to the elements and to the eyes of those watching. She had never been so naked in front of so many people before. Especially two men. One that was becoming to mean more to her every day. She shivered but not because of the chill in the air.

No, it was because she knew that she was defenseless in front of a being that could kill her without even trying. Hermione kneeled down on the sand and left her arms hanging down. Her magic began to act out. Something that appeared to amuse the Sphinx greatly.

It wandered behind her and was so silent that Hermione would have turned around except that a scream ripped from her throat. She felt claws rip down her back back. The pain was so intense...

Her eyes burned with unshed tears, which made her vision blurry. She didn't know if she was standing up or laying down.

Everything burned.

Her blood boiled and her hair felt like it was burning. She didn't know how long it kept going but at the end, she vaguely heard the Sphinx speak in a grave voice.

"Do you accept?"

Hermione yelled, screamed and finally answered.

"Yes."

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Hermione floated in a sea of numbness that occasionally faded away to be joined by pain so immense that it tore her apart all over again. The teeth, the claws, the burn, had become everything she knew.

Until nothing else mattered.

But finally, she was able to sleep.

To heal.

With the man with eyes as dark as the marks that appeared on her skin. Dark like the night that passed. Like the darkness that beckoned her.

But still, she slept.

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"How long is too long?"

"Are you sure that she will wake?"

"Only time will tell. All we can do is watch and listen."

Hermione moved her fingers first.

Then her toes.

They were all intact. She opened her eyes next and noticed the orbs of soft blue light floating over her. They danced in a song of healing as the light helped mute the pain from any bright light. She tried speaking but her mouth was suddenly a bloody sand temple. It made her gasp, gaining the attention of those around her. Severus appeared above her, his face gaunt and his hair very greasy. His eyes drank her in as he slipped ice cubes into her mouth. The ice instantly melted in her mouth and she greedily took more. It finally quenched her immediate need for water and she closed her eyes as her back pains made themselves known again. She blinked a couple of times but even her eyelids felt sore.

She tried lifting her upper body and cried out. It felt like her back skin was on fire one second before Severus pushed her back down. "Don't get up just yet. Breath through the pain. Halima, the flask."

Some shuffling could be heard before Severus took the flask and lifted her head slightly so that she could drink it without choking on it. The potion was vile, the liquid so thick it was like trying to drink bread batter; she fought the impulse to spit it out. But the potion began working almost instantly. Her back pain began to wane, the burn slowly fading away to a dull ache. Hermione grabbed Severus's hand before he could draw away and made him turn to her. His jaw was set tight as he looked down at her.

"Help me up. I'm going to go numb if I don't get up soon," she said, her hand still holding his lightly.

Severus didn't listen to her and instead lifted her up into a sitting position instead of actually getting her up on her feet. The move made her back muscles cramp but she hid it from him.

Halima appeared by his side with two pillows in hand. But Hermione shook her head. She didn't want to aggravate her back until she took a real good look at it. Halima only gave her a warm smile despite not meeting her eyes. Hermione glanced up at Severus and was frozen in surprise at the fury in his eyes, she hadn't realized that his self-control was so thin that he was letting Halima see the extent of his rage.

Their depths glinted with suppressed rage and something she was still not ready to face. At least not in front of the others. She tried talking to him through their link but was brought back short when she realized that it was closed on his side.

Instead of facing him and his emotions she turned to Halima who hadn't moved. But this time she waited for Halima to look up. They were shrouded in regret and worry. But underneath it all, they held great respect.

It warmed Hermione in ways that only could be described as a grandmother's praises. "Moswen, I didn't know the extent of the price the Sphinx would ask. They usually don't ever get involved with us Wizards unless there is a treasure to guard. But I regret the pain it has caused you. We almost lost you. Was it worth it in the end?" Halimas asked, her eyes filled with restrained tears she refused to shed.

Hermione smiled. "I don't regret it. I knew the price would be great. Their standards are black and white. They wouldn't share something so powerful without gaining full control of the person. Yes, the pain was something that was by far the worst I have ever experienced aside from death; which I haven't. As for your last question; ask me when it's all over if it was worth it."

Halima finally gave her a real smile and moved aside when Severus pulled the string to the flap to open it. Behind it was Amsu and Gahiji, both wearing worried faces that seem to brighten a bit when they saw her.

Amsu smiled but Gahiji stopped mid-step and looked away, his neck turning red. What? Hermione looked down and noticed why. She was wearing a small towel like fabric that only covered her chest. It was held up by a thin string on either side. They hooked around her shoulders but if she moved the wrong way… At least she had soft pajama bottoms on. They were definitely not hers either. They were black and were large on her frame.

Acting like she hadn't seen him turn red, she gestured with her hands. "How long was I out for?"

Amsu spoke up before Halmia could. "Only five days. We haven't been open to the others around the village so we have caught up on chores and whatnot. We mostly took turns watching you and taking care of your back. The Sphinx left right after telling us a bit more of what the bond between you is about. She also told us the second part of the price."

Gahiji nodded his agreement but refused to look in her direction. Halima gave a clap and motioned towards the others to leave. "Let's leave her alone. I'm sure Severus will tell her everything she needs to do. We need to open for an hour or two but lunch will be ready by then."

They waved at her and walked out, leaving her alone with Severus. He had been quiet the whole time, leaning back against the post. Hermione met his eyes and was shocked to see his eye slowly lose the last shred of control, his eyes becoming more intense by the second. Hermione tried not to show her surprise and simply raised an eyebrow. She didn't know why he would be so bloody mad.

Her defiance seemed to trigger him because his eyes narrowed to slits and he walked over a few steps and in a sudden burst of speed had her hanging over his shoulder.

Hermione fisted his shirt in outrage.

How dare he!

She protested his manhandling and hit his back with her fist. She opened her mouth to curse him and demand to be put down when his hand swatted her bottom. She froze, her mouth falling open in total surprise. And pleasure. But it was all wiped out by her rage as well as the dull ache coming from her back.

"Severus!"

"Don't. Be quiet."

Fuming in silence since she didn't want to get swatted like a child again she saw him head towards the bathroom and waited until he gently set her down on the sink to shoot him a glare. But when she really read his eyes she stilled.

Under all the rage was a large amount of fear. Fear for her.

Oh, Severus.

She would have leaned over to embrace him but he halted her before she could. He turned her head towards the mirror with his long cold fingers. At first glance, she was horrified and in awe.

It looked like one swipe of the Sphinx's claw marks ran from her left shoulder all the way down to the small of her back. But while they were thick, the skin wasn't raised like a regular scar. No, what stole the show was what the inside of markings. Every claw mark that had split her skin was about an inch wide and inside of them were loops of dark ink-like words in a language she didn't understand. Her skin around the edges made it seem even more pronounced.

But now that Hermione looked closer she noticed something in the reflection. Her eyes. They weren't muddy brown anymore. They held a hint of goldish color in her pupil. It was jagged but she knew for sure that she had never possessed the distinctive trait.

Severus pulled her face away from the mirror and made her look directly at him. He stayed silent as he finally opened the link. She wasn't prepared for the tsunami of emotions that slammed through her. Anger, fear, desire, and joy. Joy because she was alive and awake. Fear of what he had watched. Anger for her foolishness. But lust? For just looking at her? Unbelievable but true. But underneath all of that was a warm feeling. The feeling she kept avoiding.

He didn't let her focus too much on it as he showed her what happened after she passed out. Them treating her right then and there. His struggle with himself and his emotions. Wanting to lash out at somebody and to help her alone. He showed her everything and nothing at the same time. But what snagged her attention was the last part.

What the Sphinx said at the end.

"I now see what she wishes to battle. It will take a lot out of her. Change her in ways nobody could possibly understand. Wizards think that just because one they can read the mind they know everything. No. That is not how it works. Tell her when she wakes that she will have to relieve every death that the creature she hunts has committed. For every piece of his souls, she will catch a glimpse of the monster within. This will affect her. Change her. The question is. Can she hold on till the end?"

Hermione recoiled. Both on the outside and inside. It was true that reading a mind wasn't the same but she was to relieve them? Every single one of them? Hermione glanced up at Severus, never realizing that she had looked away in first place. He didn't look at her with pity but with understanding. Of course, he would understand. He had walked both sides. He knew what Riddle was capable of.

But it seemed like he had forgotten something important.

She touched his shoulders and made him lean forward. "Severus. I told you this a long time ago. Might not have been so long for you but I did say that I wasn't like Riddle or Dumbledore. I will do whatever I can before asking any of you to do it for me. I chose this. It might be more than I can chew but believe me when I say that I got this. I will see it to the end. The instant the Sphinx mentioned you I knew I would agree no matter what. Do you know why? Because as I get to know you more and more, I fall a little deeper each time. I might not know much of you before I met you but the man you are right now is who I need and want. So, please don't be mad. Don't shut me out."

Hermione watched his eyes shift emotions. The turmoil inside of him finally calming as he gave a small nod. She smiled, pleased that he hadn't held on to his anger and fear. She pulled him closer and he met her halfway, his other hand settling on her waist. The kiss was sweet and full of life. It made her feel like she could take on the world with him at her side.

..o0o..

Two days went by fast. All Hermione did during that time was drink potion after potion. Halima and Severus not once letting up. Hermione had also spent many hours reading. Something that she had missed doing. That part of her would never go away no matter what eventually did change. Severus had been by her side the whole time and had even cracked a smile or two with Halima.

At the moment they were both getting ready to turn in for the night when Hermione grabbed the purse off her nightstand. She pulled out both Horcruxes. She brought them over to the table in the middle of the tent and set them on it. The ring that belonged to Riddle and Salazar Slytherin's locket. Both of which contained a piece of Riddle's soul. Both had been created with the murder of a person. But who? And how was she supposed to figure it out?

Severus walked over to her, his eyes on the Horcruxes. "Are you well enough to try it?" he asked as he leaned against the table. Hermione nodded. "I want to do it now in case my recovery time is too long. I don't want to carry two of them around for much longer. That's too dangerous."

He only gave an inclination and pulled out a scalpel. She didn't even ask where he had kept it hidden and took it from his hands. She was already wearing a short sleeve shirt since her back was strong enough to handle fabric over it. There was no need to change or to prolong it. She set the locket in front of her as Severus pulled his wand out just in case. Hermione set the sharp end of the scalpel against her skin near the snake bite. She hissed as the scalpel cut through her skin and she watched the blood flow down her arm and onto her palm before it dripped down onto the table and locket.

At first, nothing happened, her blood just pooled around the necklace. She frowned and was about to pull her arm back when her blood moved.

It MOVED.

The locker seemed to absorb the blood as well. Hermione used her arm that was already flowing with blood and brushed her fingers over the top of the locket.

A shriek filled her head and ears before complete blackness overtook her vision.

She fell and fell...

The scream became clearer the faster she fell until she realized that she had closed her eyes.

She opened them and froze.

She was looking up into the eyes of a man in his early twenties. He was smiling down at her despite the wind slapping them both in the face. But his smile was hollow. His eyes blank as he stared down at her. Hermione watched as a few bits of snow fell onto his hair. She didn't want to do this but she needed the money for food tonight or Ella wouldn't let her stay another night.

So, she forced a smile and grabbed his arm in invitation.

To which he accepted with vacant eyes.

...o0o0o0o...

Thanks for reading, enjoy!

4/10/19

Vanee