Twenty four hours Hermione had counted since she pulled him with great difficulty away from the Ministry stairs and those body bags. When she led him away from the Aurors who wished to take his deposition about what took place in the Underworld. A day since she managed to shield him away from Ministry officials and the Press in Ward 49, with the help of Miriam. They were given the most private room of the Ward hoping they'd keep the Ministry claws away from Severus for a little longer.

Just until he could talk again…

For since Hermione led him away…he was silent. Distant towards Hermione despite the passionately intimate moments they shared the previous day. Mutely detached towards the Healer who agreed to hide him on Hermione's request. Quiet even during Miriam's detailed probing of his wounds, which proved another point of worry for Hermione. She was medically experienced enough to know that the wound on his forehead, despite being rather deep and cutting his brow in half, was not dangerous. However his shoulder wound oozed not of blood but of evil black matter, which Miriam explained was directly linked to Dark Magic, despite also being heavily infected.

How many questions had she asked him yesterday? Too many and yet not enough as he answered none. The only thing he kept repeating was that Ebra had been right in comparing him with death. When Hermione recognized that he was in no condition either physically nor mentally to answer, Miriam took over. They dressed his wounds and took care of him to the best of their abilities. Miriam send a myriad of spells over him, but his shoulder wound persisted to be untouched by her magic. It was as if the Dark Magic that had seeped in his veins was not allowing her spells to help him.

When he finally fell asleep Hermione went down to the Potions Ward in order to study as extensively as time allowed about the Underworld and the Darkness that abounds inside it. When she returned her eyes were sore and her head was throbbing. However she had a better knowledge about the Underworld and also a new Potion that she wished to try on him. She sat down Miriam and they discussed its attributes in countering the Darkness of the Underworld by utilizing the abilities of Severus' Eleventh Key. Miriam looked at Hermione both in admiration and surprise as such a Potion was novel. A bold endeavor for certain to be tried upon the Professor's weakened body, but there was no other choice. Would it work? They couldn't tell for sure. How long would it take to show results? They didn't know, but Miriam trusted Hermione's abilities to the utmost. Therefore just before midnight they fed the Potion to the Professor.

Hermione sat next to him, quietly haunted by his image at the bottom of the Ministry's stairs. Bloody, defeated, carrying death by his side and upon his lap. Bleeding blackness, inside and out. She looked at him now sleeping heavily on the hospital bed. Covered with a light quilt, but yet his brow sweating. His lips were parted and his chest was undulating heavily. What wouldn't she give to go back to yesterday? To have him sealed inside that office in this very Ward and forbid him to enter the Underworld. What wouldn't she give to turn back time?

She closed her eyes and cupped his hand tightly. Then she leaned her head next to his pillow and counted his breaths. That lulled her to a sleep that was riddled with nightmares. When she woke up in the morning, he was still sleeping. He hadn't moved at all during the night. Even though her heart wanted to climb into the bed and curl into a ball next to him, the realist in her, the strong woman that she had developed in through the years forbade her to wallow in misery.

She stood up decisively and transformed into the brilliant Healer that she was destined to become by putting all emotions aside and concentrating on checking and redressing his wounds. Then she documented the progress of his health and fed him another two doses of her Potion. Lastly she run diagnostic spells all over him and with a failing heart she saw that his shoulder wound was still resisting all their efforts.

Overcome with disappointment she made sure that he was comfortable and then she escaped to the ground floor of the hospital, where she purchased a coffee and a newspaper. Now as she was sitting again next to Severus she felt all her concern about him being replaced by anger towards the reporters.

The article that was at the front of the page showed the five Keepers with three large X's on them. One on Maxine, one upon Conroy and one on Garret. Three out of five were out of commission. The Keepers were falling apart and the press seemed to be having a blast with that. Without thinking that this group was the only barrier between their world and the Parallel ones, they were satisfied enough to drag the abilities of the Keeper Commander through the dirt. They talked about his unwise decision to release Maxine from her duties, of the untimely manner he decided to send one of his Captains into the Underworld instead of going himself and lastly they tore him apart for yesterday's events. How he went in the Underworld to chase the kidnapper, but ended up losing the girl, his Captain and also wounding himself seriously. When Hermione read the name of the girl she felt her chest tightening painfully. It was the girl she had managed to save that fateful day in the alley. Now she was dead and the press was blaming Severus for everything. They spoke about his dark past, his role as a double spy, his despicable actions during the war and Dumbledore's death. Finally they were questioning the Ministry's decisions at recruiting him in the first place at such an important position.

Hermione felt her throat narrowing and threw the newspaper aside. Then she reached out and cleared a few tendrils from his pale face. When yesterday after their heated encounter he looked ten years younger, now he looked twenty years older. There he was then…being dragged through the mud once again for trying to do his job. The Press didn't speak about the critical state of his health nor of his brave efforts to save the girl. Only about his failed commandeering and his mistakes. She pressed his hand and closed her eyes. She felt a surge of tears rising but the voice of Miriam stopped them.

"Stop reading that gossiping trash. It isn't doing you any favors." She said matter-of-factly and begun checking on Severus.

Hermione pulled back and rubbed her eyes. "Someone is undoing the Keepers from the inside out Miriam."

The Healer looked up with a raised brow, as she checked on the Professor's wounded brow.

"One of them is dead, one is comatose, one is fired and their boss is a mess." Hermione looked at him and choked. She stopped talking.

"Their boss is going to be fine. Pull yourself together." Miriam chastised.

Hermione stood up and walked towards the only window of the room, which overlooked London. "Did you read the article? They make him appear not only evil incarnate, but also damned incompetent."

Miriam humphed. "Whoever wrote that article has a thing for the Professor, mark my words."

Hermione pressed her lips. "He is being targeted….they are all being targeted."

"Maybe, but that is not for us to solve. We are here to heal him. Let the detective work be done by the Aurors who I am certain are cursing you right now for hiding him away. He is the only witness they have about what happened down there Hermione."

She turned around and looked at his ghostly features. "He needs to recuperate. You think he'd be able to tell them what happened? Didn't you see him yesterday? He was unable to speak."

"Or maybe unwilling." Miriam wised.

Hermione gazed at her long and hard. "It feels like he has left part of him back at the Ministry's stairs….back in the Underworld."

"They are all like that honey." Miriam looked up sadly.

Hermione swallowed hard.

"All the Aurors that I have treated, all the men and women that fight for the freedom of others…they leave part of their souls were death has taken place. I dare assume the same stands for the Professor, despite his extensive experience with death next to Voldemort."

Hermione lowered her eyes. "I know." She whispered.

"How can anyone who has a soul be cold against murder…in this case double." -Miriam continued quietly- "And we know that he has a soul."

Hermione's eyes stung.

"There is a special division in Ward 49 for these cases and you know it." Miriam reached out to touch her hand.

Hermione nodded. "Yes."

"They help the men and women who have undergone severe psychological trauma."

Hermione walked over to his bed and reached out to caress his hair. "And you think he is a man that would willingly visit a Mental Health Healer?" She smirked.

Miriam lips curled down. "No, even though he certainly needs it."

Hermione shook her head. "What he needs now is to mend. He needs us to break through the hold that Dark Magic has on his shoulder. Everything else comes as a distant second. The Ministry's need to speak to him and his need to speak with an MHH."

"Then you have to support him, because he unquestionably needs you."

Hermione's breath caught. Was there even a question about that? "He stood next to me when I was at my lowest. I will not abandoned him Miriam."

Miriam inhaled deeply. "Even if he tries to push you away? We all know Professor Snape, especially when he decides to close up tight and I think that is what happened yesterday. He chooses not to communicate with us…"

"Even then I will be there for him." Hermione said resolutely.

Miriam smiled. "Hermione dear you are a brilliant diamond, which I don't know if he deserves. I know how nasty this man can become and I don't want him to hurt you."

Hermione pressed her lips. "Don't…Miriam…please."

The Healer humphed and waved her off. "Anyhow despite the severity of his condition I fear not about him. He will get round it. Most do. That is true especially for the Professor. He is not your average wizard." Miriam offered.

Hermione leaned back to the headrest of the bed and twisted one of his tendrils around her finger thoughtfully. "I know that I reacted headfirst yesterday when I took him away. I am aware that he is a key witness and that he needs to discuss with the Aurors…but still I couldn't let him be exposed in this manner. Not after seeing how broken he looked."

Miriam crossed her arms. "You feel for him, don't you?"

Hermione looked up frozen. She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again. Then she looked at his calm, but pale features. Her finger grazed his jawline. "I don't know what I feel, but I know that I don't ever want to see him this broken….again."

"Unfortunately when you accepted his application for the Marriage Law, you also accepted taking on all his burdens, which aren't few." Miriam rejoined.

"I didn't sign up for all this." Hermione sulked.

"I suppose you didn't, yet here you are. Next to him." Miriam smiled.

Hermione closed her eyes. She remained quiet, but her hand tightened around his without any hindrance. Then the first tears sprung from her eyes and she was unable to stop them.

Miriam came over and clasped her shoulder. "Cry my dear…tears can be healing."

"I wish I had kept him here with me. I wish I had found a way to stop him from entering that accursed world. I wish I didn't see him sitting upon those stairs holding the hand of the dead girl and cradling the head of his dead comrade on his lap. I wish I hadn't seen him so unresponsive to me. This scares me Miriam…it scares me a lot." Hermione whisper was broken.

Miriam nodded. "I understand."

"I wish I could make him talk to me." Hermione wiped her nose angrily with the back of her hand.

"You need to allow him to process what happened in his own time. Allow him to reach out to you in his own time."

"I don't know if I can do it. How easy is it to see him like this you think?" Hermione shook her head in denial.

"You are one of the bravest witches I have ever met Hermione Granger. You have accomplished so much and you can do even more, especially for someone you obviously care deeply about." Miriam said gently.

It took Hermione several moments to collect herself and even more to reply. She ignored Miriam's probing about her emotions and looked up. "Did you discuss with anyone from the Ministry about what happened?"

"The Minister considers declaring the city in a state of emergency after the attack yesterday." Miriam's voice turned solemn.

"In that case we shall be on duty twenty four seven." Hermione scowled.

"Maybe you should ask for a leave." Miriam looked at her carefully.

"When the world is falling apart I will go and hide away? Listen to yourself. I won't do that." Hermione scowled.

"Yet you are doing the very same thing for him, whose abilities is very important for the world at this moment." Miriam retorted.

Hermione rubbed her eyes. "It is not the same. He is heavily wounded. I am not."

"Wounded you may not be, but you could be in danger. Muggleborns are being abducted, they are being killed. There are thirteen women missing. Who is telling us they are not lying dead in some Underworld level? Who is telling us you won't be targeted? You are Muggleborn, a famous Witch on your own accord and now you are also connected with Severus Snape." Miriam rebuked.

"I have to take care of him and of his Captain. Did you forget that we have to work Death Magic on Conroy soon?" Hermione said firmly.

Miriam's lips turned down. "I haven't forgotten, I assure you."

"Severus fights for the right cause and I will fight also. I will not hide out Miriam." Hermione said sternly.

Miriam looked at her long and hard before a smile formed on her lips. "There is the Hermione Granger we have all gotten to admire and love."

Hermione looked at him and her eyes filled with sadness. Without answering to the heartfelt compliment she expressed her worry. "What am I doing wrong with the healing potion Miriam? His temperature was elevated during the night and so was it this morning."

Miriam turned to the Professor also. She pointed her wand at him and his temperature appeared in a hazy cloud above his brow. "A hundred…an expected temperature from such a serious wound. As for the potion I told you that it is novel, but it needs him to allow it to use his Dark Runes in order to fight off the infection caused by the Dark Magic that has entered his blood stream."

"Cannot we activate his Runes by force?" Hermione looked at him solemnly.

Miriam pressed her lips. "We might had been able to do that, had he been a weaker wizard. Impossible to activate such complicated protection schematics without his permission. He created this intricate magic in order to protect himself even when he is unconscious."

"Then all we have to do is wait for him to wake up…and until he does we get to see his wound festering and him burning with fever." Hermione pushed her hair away from her eyes. Her incapacity to help him was making her angry.

Miriam arranged the sheets around him and then went over to Hermione. She engaged her arm. "Have you given him the potion this morning?"

"Double dose. I documented it on his medical sheet." She pointed at the bottom of the bed.

Miriam pressed her lips. "He is well tucked in, well taken care of…and we are doing nothing but mopping around in misery around him. I think you need to escort me to the cafeteria so we can get a cup of coffee."

Hermione shook her head and disentangled Miriam's hand gently. "No, I need to stay with him."

"You need to take a break. Trust me…I have healed this man countless times. He has a spectacularly strong disposition. Now come…" She engaged Hermione again and made for the door.

Hermione hesitated for several seconds. She looked at his calm breath, his sweaty brow and the paleness of his face. No, she didn't want to leave and yet there she was following Miriam towards the cafeteria.

-.-

An hour later, when they exited the elevator at Ward 49, there was commotion coming from the end of the corridor. Exactly where the private room of Severus was. Miriam and she exchanged a concerned glance and then took haste. When she threw the door open she saw Severus sitting up in bed, coughing like mad and Harry offering him a glass of water. She felt her blood boiling instantly. "What in the name of hell are you doing here?" She yelled.

Harry looked at her surprised. Severus didn't even turn.

"Apparently I found your hiding place Mione." Harry composed himself quickly and glared at her.

She strode to him angrily and pointed at his chest. "Nobody invited you here. Get out!"

Harry pushed her hand away. "What are you doing, care to tell me? You took the Professor away from the Ministry before anyone had a chance to talk to him. Then you hid with him in here expecting what? For the world to forget what happened?"

Hermione humphed and went quickly over to Severus. "Your presence here is not appreciated by anyone."

"I don't need an invitation when it concerns Ministry affairs and you are hindering them!" Harry rebuked hard.

Hermione held the glass in order to help Severus drink and glared at Harry. "That is exactly the reason I led him away from the Ministry yesterday. I knew you would all tear him apart after what happened. Have you read the damn newspapers this morning?!"

Harry turned around and rubbed his forehead. "The Ministry is not a gossiping newspaper Mione. There was a double homicide yesterday inside the Underworld and the Professor was the only witness. He is also happens to be the only man able to lead us down there. You cannot hide him! We need him!"

"And he needs to recuperate!" Hermione retorted angrily.

Severus pushed the glass away and closed his eyes in exhaustion.

"He doesn't have the time to do so! He needs to come with me and give his deposition, especially since he blew half the fifth level off the map yesterday along with all the evidence." Harry threw his hands in the air exasperated.

Hermione's eyes thinned on him. "Just…stop…" He hissed.

"You are lucky they allowed me to come here alone and they didn't bring over a whole brigade to lead him back to the Ministry." Harry crossed his arms vexed.

Hermione turned to Severus who held his head on his hands. "Severus?"

He looked up tiredly.

"How do you feel?" She knelt in front of his bed.

"Like a Thunderbird crashed on me." He croaked and squeezed his eyes tight.

She touched his shoulder gently. "How bad is the pain?"

Harry scoffed and turned to Miriam, as if needing support. The older Healer raised her brow testily at him and shushed him.

"It's throbbing…." Severus replied.

"Open your eyes please and look at me." Hermione stood up and cradled his chin.

He did so, but instantly he tried to close his eyes again.

"Do you feel dizzy?" She took out her wand and with a silent Lumos then tip lit up.

Severus' nod was soft. "Mildly."

"Open your eyes." Hermione commanded.

He opened them and she pointed the light at them. As she observed how the iris was reacting to the light she noticed that they weren't the utter blackness she always thought they were, but a very dark brown. Those eyes would have once offered her utter terror, yet now as she was looking at them she felt her heart twitching with the need to embrace him. She tightened her lips and forced herself to remain professional. "You clearly have a concussion, but that is not your most serious problem. As the Auror Chief here has probably recognized your shoulder wound is rather dangerous. It is heavily infected Severus and despite my efforts to counter the Dark Magic in it with my Potions your body is resisting."

Severus swallowed heavily and closed his eyes again.

"As you can see the man is profoundly wounded Harry. He barely talked to us since I took him away from the Ministry. What do you think he would have told you?" Hermione tilted her head austerely.

"This man is a soldier, not a baby Mione. He doesn't need pampering. He needs to do his job." Harry barked.

"This man needs to mend before he collapses upon all of us. Then his job will never be done!" Hermione rebuked.

Harry threw his hands in the air. "You are not listening Mione…."

"No you are not listening. Look at him!" -Hermione pointed at Severus- "He can barely stand, never mind talk! I studied the Dark Runes in order to create an antidote for the Dark Magic that is infecting his blood and still I didn't manage to heal him! If you try to take him away from the hospital before we manage to offer him proper care….he may…." Hermione stumbled for words and felt her eyes watering. Her gaze was fiercely engaged with Harry's.

Severus looked up solemnly for the first time since she found him yesterday. "What kind of potion did you use on me?"

Hermione inhaled sharply and turned to him. "One that enhances the power of your Protection Schematics…the Eleventh Key. The only Dark Rune able to counter the Darkness of the Underworld."

"It didn't work." He said solemnly.

She shook her head and quickly dried out her eyes. "No."

He nodded and pressed his hands on his knees.

"You know why it didn't work Severus…" Her nails dag on her biceps.

His eyes were grave, but he didn't speak.

"No potion will work with your Dark Rune unless you allow it to be activated. The magic you have created around you is so intricate that I cannot penetrate through it." She tried not to sound accusing, but her fear for his health was making her more assertive than she wished to be.

"I know." He pressed his lips.

Hermione came over and clasped his knees. "Severus activate your Dark Rune please. I have already given you a double dose not so long ago. It will work fast on you. Your wound is very infected, in danger of becoming septic. You are running a fever and have a heavy concussion. You need to help us, in order to help you."

His hands lingered above hers for a moment, but he didn't touch her. He slowly stood up and steadied himself by the railing of the bed. "I will not."

Hermione pulled back feeling more hurt than she had bargained by his clear dismissal. "Why in the name of heaven not?"

"Whatever strength is left in me and in this accursed Rune will be activated only when I reenter the Underworld. I will not waste it on a Potion." He said and straightened his body with a pained expression.

Hermione shook her head confused. "What in the name of Merlin are you saying? Are you intending to enter the Underworld while you are in this mess?"

Instead of an answer he walked to the chair and picked up a clean shirt that she had brought him from the house.

Hermione looked at Harry who tilted his head seemingly pleased. Then she gritted her teeth and turned to Severus. "Wait a minute!" She raised her hand.

He turned to her as he was buttoning up his shirt.

"You are not going to use your Eleventh Key in order to heal yourself, but you will use it in order to enter the Underworld?"

He raised his brow at her and took his leather coat. "Very well Hermione. Ten points to Gryffindor."

Harry smiled.

Hermione scowled deeply and reached him in two steps. She leaned over and grasped him by the lapels. "Look at me." She spoke in a low tone.

He looked at her coldly.

"Severus, are you refusing to be healed right now or is it my idea?" She whispered.

"Two people died because of me down there Hermione. My first priority is not to heal myself, but to find out who killed them." He retorted, but his voice was low also.

"If you don't heal yourself, you might die down there, have you thought of that?" Hermione's brow clouded and her fingers twisted around his coat possessively.

He remained immovable.

"If you die down there you will help no one…." She jerked him angrily.

He reached up and clasped her hands tightly. "Let me go Hermione." He said sternly.

"This is about what Ebra said, isn't it? This is some stupid crusade…some ulterior need to sacrifice yourself for others once more…just because you think that anyone who approached you dies." She hissed.

His jawline flexed. "They do."

"You will die in there you fool….unless you allow my potion to work with your damned Rune!" She jerked him again harder.

His hands tightened around hers and they were burning hot. "If my damned Rune works for your Potion I will have no strength left to go in the Underworld today. There is no question to my choice."

Her eyes jumped nervously all over his face and she didn't know if she wished to slap him hard or kiss him at that moment. She released one lapel and touched his brow. "You are burning up…you bloody fool."

He closed his eyes and lowered his head. "Let me go…." His whisper had a decisive hardness in it that made her shudder.

She turned to Harry, directing her wrath at him instead. "If anything happens to him I am going to kill you Harry. That is a promise!"

Severus' forefingers caressed her palms.

At feeling the first sign of affection from him she inhaled sharply and turned to him eagerly. "Please don't go."

He closed his eyes. "Trust me."

"For such a clever man, at this moment Professor you are acting like a complete idiot." Hermione whispered and felt her eyes watering again.

"And you Miss Granger are rude." He rebuked, but the hardness had retreated from his voice slightly.

She pushed him away with grunt of frustration and took a step back. "I cannot convince you to see reason, can I?"

He shook his head and tried to fix his belt. "No."

She crossed her arms and caressed her shoulders, feeling utterly helpless. "You cannot even buckle yourself up and you think you will be able to save the world."

"Don't drip venom…it doesn't suit you." He chastised.

"I am trying to shake you back to your senses!" She snapped.

"You found the wrong time to do so." He pursed his lips and walked past her.

"You are not leaving yet!" She yelled and then rushed to the side table. She pull out of the drawer three small bottles and came over to him- "Not until you take all three of these at once."

"What are they?"

"Antibiotics for your infection. If you are unwilling to allow my Potion to work to your benefit then at least you are going to take these before you leave!" She commanded, trying to hold back her tears.

He took them from her, uncorked them and drank them in one go. Then he offered back the bottles to her. "Are you finished berating me yet?"

She took them and twisted them in her hands, biting back her tears. She was so angry at him, yet she was also unable not to admire his resilience. It took a lot of courage to stand strong with such a heavy concussion and a very dangerous combat trauma, ready to enter the fires of hell once more with little to no consideration for his health. She straightened her shoulders proudly. "Yes…I have finished Professor…."

"That is a wise choice Miss Granger." He said coldly.

Hermione felt her heart torn as she saw him walking to Harry and opening the door. "After you Mister Potter."

Harry gave Hermione and eloquent look that made her shiver with fury. Severus didn't even look at her as he closed the door behind him.

Hermione was trembling hard and her nails were digging on her forearms as she was putting up a great effort to keep herself from breaking. It was Miriam's hand on her shoulder that send her over the edge.

"He is going to be okay darling." Miriam said quietly.

Hermione cupped her mouth and a choked sob escaped her as she envisioned the whole world falling into ruins right before her eyes.

As for the darkness in the sky…it was looming above the city, approaching Ward 49 faster than Severus was walking out of the hospital doors.