Α/Ν: d'elfe as to your question I would like to think that Severus was gifted the Eleventh Key out of love also. Perhaps an unrequited love during his Death Eater days when he was too drawn into the dark side to understand that someone could have feelings for him. Maybe an ex lover who felt for him a little deeper than he'd ever learn. So they gave him a gift of protection.

-.-

The very next day Hermione was sitting on Ginny's couch, nibbling her bottom lip and picking her nails. Her stomach was twisted in a tight knot of apprehension. She looked at Ginny who sat across from her equally nervous.

"Where are the damned newspapers? Why haven't we got any news yet?" Hermione muttered.

"I send the owl for them. A bit of patience please." Ginny closed her eyes.

"I cannot be patient. He left in the middle of the night like a thief." Hermione's gaze frothed with suppressed anger.

"Because he obviously knew you'd try to stop him." Her friend reasoned.

"Well of course I would!" She rebuked.

Ginny shrugged. "There, you have your answer."

Hermione looked at her brusquely. "You think I would be wrong to do so? You think I am over-reacting?"

Ginny covered her eyes. "Calm down. Maybe we are both over-reacting. I feel nauseated even thinking about Harry being Under again."

Hermione pressed her lips. "Are you sure you didn't misunderstand what the Ministry told you?"

"You want to floo at the Ministry and ask for yourself? They entered the Underworld in the early morning hours along with several Aurors!" Ginny frowned.

Hermione sighed in defeat.

"Who knows what is going on down there…I cannot even dare to imagine." Ginny muttered.

"He sneaked right out…left our bed and tiptoed like a thief into the night." Hermione couldn't let go. Converting her unease into anger was not a usual course of action, however at that moment it made her feel better…more in control. She could focus her frustrations onto something concrete instead of the elusive Underworld that could claim his life….

…..The thought came to a screeching halt, making her grow pale.

Ginny noticed. "Are you okay?"

"Why did he leave me like that?" Hermione grabbed her forearms tightly.

"Give it a rest already. He left in order to follow his orders. Kingsley told them to go Under yesterday at the funeral. Him and Harry." Ginny waved her off annoyed.

Hermione scowled, more vexed than ever. "He didn't tell me."

"Because you'd try to stop him! I don't blame him." –Ginny retorted- "You can become too controlling sometimes and you know it."

Hermione glared.

"Don't look at me like that. You know it's true." Ginny rejoined.

Hermione stood up brusquely and begun pacing. "I swear at this moment I don't know who angers me the most. You or he?"

Ginny closed her eyes. "Maybe we should just take a breath and admit that we are both horribly worried about Harry and Severus? How about that?"

Hermione paused and looked blankly towards the fireplace. "He is not fully healed yet. I should have chained him to the bed and filled the house with wards."

"Listen to yourself. Do you realize how that sounds? You are not dealing with a child, but with an adult …A man who doesn't appreciate being bossed around by anyone, I am sure." Ginny pressed her lips testily.

Hermione turned to her furious.

Ginny tilted her head. "Am I mistaken?"

"Why did I come here tell me? To hear you berate me or to have some emotional support?" Hermione bit.

"I won't lie to you Hermione, forgive me. Especially now that I am so worried about my husband." Ginny admitted quietly and her fingers twisted nervously.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake Ginny! Harry's been down that hellhole less times than I can count in one hand and he always has vast protection from the Keepers." Hermione said flatly.

"And that is supposed to stop me from worrying?" Ginny stood up also.

"Additionally your husband is not recuperating from a heavy wound." Hermione rebuked.

Ginny gazed at her friend long and hard. Suddenly her shoulders deflated and she walked back, leaning against the wall. "Don't do this to me, please. Not now. We aren't going to have an argument about whose significant other is in more danger."

"Severus is not my significant other. He is just…he is my…he is ..." Hermione stumbled. She was positively fuming. Her feelings were running amok. She didn't know how to identify what she was feeling, never mind control it.

Ginny raised her hand. "Neither are we doing this silly denial game. Please stop…give me a break."

Hermione's eyes remained on her friend for several minutes, before Ginny's broken figure made her anger take a step back. Suddenly her focus shifted and she was surging with guilt. She came over and embraced Ginny. "Forgive me. I don't know what came over me."

Ginny nodded. "It's okay. I understand this affects you equally bad."

Hermione closed her eyes. There was no use denying it. "It does."

"At least you knew exactly what you were getting yourself into when you got involved with the Professor. He is a Keeper, a Dark Wizard. The Underworld is his job. Harry doesn't belong in there. That is why the Ministry created the Keepers, so the Aurors wouldn't have to endure this kind of blasphemous magic." Ginny said quietly.

Hermione exhaled and cupped Ginny's cheeks. "You are right about everything. I knew about the Underworld when I got …involved with the Professor. I have no excuse worrying right now. However I am deeply concerned for him whether I want to or not…."

Ginny nodded sadly. "I know my dear."

Hermione forced herself to smile also. "No matter. Listen to me. Harry is a fighter, not a man to be underestimated. Trust in him please. Besides he has Severus' protection down there. He didn't go alone this time."

Ginny body seemed to let go and her head rested on Hermione's shoulder. "Thank you…" She exhaled.

"Everything is going to be alright." Hermione caressed Ginny's hair gently. .

"Everything is going to be alright." Ginny repeated and a shudder shook her whole.

Hermione squeezed her arms around her friend, dotingly. Then she forced herself to smile…to sound playful. "Hey, have I ever told you what Severus uses in order to protect himself and others when he goes Under?"

"Spells?" Ginny sniffled.

Hermione kissed her cheek with a sad smile. "No, try again."

"Potions?"

"I am sure he uses that too, but give it another go." Hermione urged, wanting to take her mind off Harry in some manner.

"The Dark Arts? Divination? Astronomy? Herbology? Transfiguration? Arithmancy? Alchemy? A bloody crystal ball?" Ginny blurted out.

"You said everything apart from Ancient Runes." Hermione rejoined.

Ginny looked up with a frown.

"Well Ancient Dark Runes." Hermione flicked her brow with a smile.

"They are…illegal." Ginny faltered.

"Oh Heavens! I must inform the Professor of that miscalculation straightaway! He will be shocked to know!" Hermione snorted.

Ginny's lips curled into a timid smile. "Potions, Dark Arts, Ancient Dark Runes…Hermione my dear, you got your hands full."

"Which I enjoy immensely." She replied in a singsong manner.

"I wonder if there is a Magical subject which eludes him?" Ginny frowned.

Hermione's brows met. "I doubt it. He is the type of man who would go beyond the call of duty in order to gain every ounce of knowledge the world can offer."

Ginny's eyes lit up. "The same can be said about you."

Hermione's countenance sobered up. "I know."

Ginny caressed her temple gently. "You are more alike than you wish to admit."

Hermione felt her heart faltering and she embraced Ginny tightly. "I know that too."

Ginny pulled back with a frown. "Hey, Hermione tell me honestly. No bullshitting this time. What is going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"Tell me the truth. You look unhinged, ready to fall apart at the seams. You don't look like someone who simply worries about an acquaintance…about a former Professor…about a friend with benefits." Ginny said quietly.

Hermione welled up and averted her eyes.

Ginny turned Hermione's face to her. Their eyes met gravely. "You feel more than your pride will ever allow you to admit, don't you?"

Hermione scoffed. "Of course I don't you silly woman."

Ginny gazed at her intensely.

Hermione shook her head. "As always you are reading too much into things. I worry about him…I want to help him, because he helped me too. That's all…I mean…you understand what I mean."

Ginny frowned silently.

"Right…congratulations. You just ruined my efforts to pick up your mood….bloody fool." Hermione hugged Ginny and bit her lip in order to swallow those damned tears that were choking her.

Ginny buried her head on Hermione's shoulder and the girls remained embraced for a long time, drawing comfort from each other, trying not to think what was happening in the Underworld. They stayed enwrapped until their hearts begun slowing down and Ginny's tears dried up. Until the aching knot in Hermione's stomach loosened.

That is when they both heard the fluttering of winds and looked up simultaneously, feeling the tension returning a thousandfold. The owl was standing there, with a newspaper at its claws. The women released each other and dove for the owl simultaneously. Ginny was faster. As she unrolled the paper, Hermione loomed above her shoulder trembling with apprehension.

Their eyes saw the Headlines and their faces grew pale. Hermione grasped Ginny's shoulder for support. The moving image showed several Aurors leading a dozen disheveled women into St. Mungo through hundreds of reporters and commoners. She didn't see Harry or Severus anywhere. She read quickly. "Nine out of the thirteen missing Muggleborns were rescued today in a dangerous combined mission of the Aurors and the Keepers inside the Underworld. We haven't yet been informed about the survivors' health or if the remaining three are dead or still considered missing. We are expecting an official report any moment now."

Ginny's fingers opened and the newspaper landed on the floor. She grabbed Hermione's hand. "Where is Harry? I didn't see him. Shouldn't he have been there in the picture?"

"Calm down…" Hermione tried.

"Will they allow us to enter the hospital? They won't! They will have Aurors all around! The doors will be sealed to the public! I cannot go back to the Ministry and wait for news!" Ginny was becoming unhinged.

"Stop…wait." Hermione said firmly.

Ginny turned to her with haunted eyes. "Help me….please. Help me find my husband."

Hermione's features settled in resolve as she pulled her friend up. "We are leaving now. The hospital might be under siege from the reporters and the Aurors, but not for me. I can apparate straight in Ward 49. Come."

Ginny followed her with trembling legs and as Hermione wrapped her arms around her friend, she felt her knees unlocking. A nightmarish thought tried to invade her mind. What if the Ministry stairs were full of yellow body bags once again and the newspaper was ordered not to show them? What if Harry or Severus occupied one? Hermione gritted her teeth and held Ginny tightly as the world twirled around them.

-.-

Harry's cold fingers gripped his arm. "It's the Minister!"

Severus turned and saw Harry nodding towards the stairs. Surrounded as they were by a swarm of reporters, they were hidden from view, but his imposing height allowed him to see the Minister's escort which was following close behind.

What he saw made his skin grow cold.

He pulled his arm free from Potter and pushed his way through the flashing cameras and the demanding questions. The fatigue he felt from their trek in the Underworld and the emotional turmoil from discovering all these survivors inside that damned church were obliterated by his aching need to see better…. To make sure he wasn't dreaming.

He pushed the doors open so violently, they crashed upon the walls. He met the Minister and his esquires' mid-way down the great staircase, under the heaviest downpour he had ever experienced in his life. The Minister stopped in front of him as Severus' eyes met Maxine's arrogant regard.

"Professor…" Kingsley acknowledged.

"What is this woman doing here Minister?" Severus was unable to hide his fury.

"This is the first thing you choose to ask me during this hellish day?" Kingsley frowned.

Severus piercing stare remained on her.

"Honestly Master, you are not in a position to ask me any questions. Especially after what happened today." Kingsley raised his brow.

All the reporters who followed Severus were now creating a big ring around them, listening intently. "Today we rescued several of the missing women."

"Today Master you disobeyed me…." -Kingsley turned to Potter - "And you did too Mister Potter. The heads of two illustrious Ministry forces, both worked against my orders!" He barked.

"It is exactly because we did so, that all these women are safe now." Harry intervened.

"And that is what saves you from serious consequences, like losing your job." Kingsley rebuked.

Harry pulled back surprised. "We couldn't let the trace grow cold. Not now that we had the advanced vision of the Professor at full force after he was healed."

Severus rolled his scorching eyes back to Max, wordlessly.

Kingsley turned to Snape. "Master I gave you strict orders to check the Sixth Level and make sure this menacing cloud didn't originate from the Underworld. Now we have this damned supernatural veil covering the whole of London. It moved much quicker than expected. You solved one problem and created a bigger one."

Severus withdrew his eyes from Max slowly. "Forgive me for not understanding that the bigger problem was the cloud instead of saving lives."

"The problem above us may claim more lives than the ones you saved!" Kingsley raised his brows.

"I thought we were on the same page Minister. Apparently I have been mistaken." Severus' voice grew cold.

Kingsley straightened his coat and then looked above his shoulder. "I haven't introduced these gentlemen to you yet, have I Professor? They are part of the highest members of the Wizengamot. I am sure you recognize a few of them."

Severus was expressionless as the High Judges, saluted him tersely.

"They are here because they are deeply concerned about the cloud which threatens our city and about your failure to obstruct its progress."

"His failure? He didn't even get the chance to estimate what this unholy magic is all about!" Harry interposed angrily.

"Silence Mister Potter, for these people aren't happy with your rebellious nature either. I wanted to visit the survivors before calling you into my office to announce to both that you are under suspension until the Wizengamot investigates today's events and how much your actions have endangered our city."

"We are being suspended for doing our jobs!?" Harry snapped.

Severus grabbed Harry and stepped in front of him. "Silence Mister Potter." -Then he turned to the Minister- "This has to do with me and no one else. Leave Potter out of it."

"Didn't Mister Potter agree with your idea to enter the Fifth Level despite my orders?" Kingsley said crossly.

"Mister Potter followed my orders." Snape rebuked.

"His duty is towards the Ministry, not you Master!" One of the Judges said disdainfully.

"My word inside the Underworld overrides the Minister's by rule. The Chief Auror didn't know prior where the gate I opened would lead. He found himself in the Fifth Level and under my commands. Mister Potter didn't have a choice, but to follow my orders." Severus' comeback didn't take any arguments.

"So you take full responsibility?" The Minister said coldly.

"Yes." Came the unwavering answer.

Kingsley crossed his arms and turned at the solemn figures behind him, who gave him a quiet nod. "Very well then. Under this new information I am pleased to reinstate Mister Potter back to his duties."

"It was the Professor's insight that saved these women! This is unfair! Professor tell them the truth!" Harry thundered.

"Silence Mister Potter!" -Severus gaze fell on him heavy, making him fall silent again. Then he turned to the Minister- "I assume you have a replacement for my seat?"

"We were all thankful that Miss Grey was able to step in so readily. She is the most experienced Keeper…after you." Kingsley titled his head.

Severus pursed his lips and met her eyes stiffly. "I see."

Her response was a raised brow and a sly smile that made his back crawl.

"Excuse me Minister…." Severus pushed past Kingsley and his escort and walked down a few steps until he came face to face with Max.

"Master…" She drawled and offered him her hand…to kiss.

He looked down at her from the bridge of his long nose. "Congratulations are in order, as I am told."

"Thank you." She sneered and withdrew her hand.

"So lucky of us that you were so readily available to take over…." His words were saturated with loathing.

"I'd do anything to help my people. The Keepers have come completely undone. One dead, one wounded, one improperly fired for shady reasons, you got suspended. This group needs an able hand to reform it." Her arrogance was prickly.

"And they found you…" He said dismissively.

"You sound conceited in your defeat. So unlike the noble Snape the world wishes truly existed." She whispered leaning closer.

His jawline flexed, but he remained silent.

"You kicked me out of your office once, remember?" Her voice crawled with revulsion.

"I'd never forget something that enjoyed doing thoroughly." Came the derisive rebuke.

She tensed and her features lost their playful tease. They became grave and gloomy. "You thought you'd keep that office forever, you arrogant fool. Now it is my turn to tell you to get the hell away from my face." She spat.

"Temper Mistress Grey. You don't want to let emotions control your actions. That'd be ill-advised for the new Keeper Commander." He pulled back and smiled.

Her eyes were spewing fire. "You do understand that as the new Commander I have the right to fire you, correct?"

His features shadowed. A low murmur spread all around them and the flares from the cameras went wild.

"Minister what is going on here?!" Potter thundered.

Severus raised his hand. "Mister Potter I will ask you one more time to be silent. Allow the Commander to express herself." -He turned to her calmly - "Well Max? You've waited long enough for this. What will it be?"

Max straightened her shoulders haughtily. "By the power assigned to me from the Ministry I hereby release you of your obligations with us Master. Your reckless actions have caused this menacing supernatural cloud to run amok, setting the lives of our citizens at risk, which I find intolerable."

Kingsley seemed to have lost his composure at those words.

The murmurs exploded into unintelligibly shocked exclamations.

Severus tilted his head. "As you wish."

Max turned to Potter. "I also wish to Congratulate Mister Potter for saving all those women by risking his life and the life of his men. He followed the former Keeper Commander in a world he has no experience with, forced to follow orders that endangered everyone. Despite the controversies he brought everyone back to safety." Her smile was fake, but huge.

Harry's features settled. "Liar! She is defaming the Professor! She is spreading slander!" He grumbled, but the Minister's heavy hand and burning eyes stopped him.

Severus didn't wish to hear anything more. He made to leave, but she stopped him. "My greatest wish is to have you on your knees…in my office…showing you who really controls the game now Master." She whispered in his ear.

"I'd rather die…" Came the hard rebuke.

"That can be arranged." She spat and pushed him away.

He gazed down at her disdainfully for several moment before turning around.

He walked past a furious Harry who was barely controlled by his men and stopped in front of the Minister. Silently demanding.

Kingsley came close and whispered. "Forgive me. My hands are tied."

Severus gave him a curt nod and the reporters opened up in order to allow him free passage. The entrance to St. Mungo was completely silent now…yet bristling with tension from all sides.

Severus entered the hospital and stood mutely at the empty reception for several moments. A few nurses and healers were looking at him from the sidelines, somberly. He pressed his lips feeling his nerves fraying at the edges and walked towards the elevators to Ward 49.

The only thing he wanted to do now, was check on the health of the survivors. Everything else had to wait.

-.-

He found himself locked in Hermione's arms the moment he stepped foot out of the elevator. No words were necessary as she squeezed him hard enough to take his breath away. He paused and felt all his recent anger and consequent disappointment softening almost instantly. His arms lingered over her shoulders for several moments. She felt his reluctance and pressed her face on his chest. He exhaled and enfolded her tightly, leaning his cheek on the top of her head. He counted inwards, focusing on what was truly mattered the most. When he opened his eyes, he met Ginny's teary countenance.

"Mister Potter is well. He is currently giving his report to the Minister. I am sure he will welcome your presence immensely." He forced himself to smile and knew he failed.

It was okay.

He observed Ginny disappearing behind the elevator doors and turned his attentions to the slightly trembling figure of Hermione. He scowled and pulled back, trying to see her face. "Miss Granger?"

She allowed him to cup her cheeks, but her nails dug possessively in the fabric of his coat. "You are alright…." She muttered overawed.

His brow clouded. "Of course I am alright. Why wouldn't I be?"

Her features became hard. She glared at him. Then suddenly she slapped his hand away. "You left me in the middle of the night!" Came the first angry accusation.

Miriam who was looking at them with a thoughtful smile withdrew shaking her head.

Severus pulled back surprised. "I had to work…"

"You could have told me!" She hurried to turn around in order to hide her tears.

"I didn't want to worry you." He reached out to touch her shoulder.

Another slap on his wrist stopped him. "You snuck out because you knew I'd try to stop you!"

"You would have made my life hell for it." He pursed his lips.

"That is beside the point!" She snapped.

He took a step closer. "Hey…look at me."

She didn't.

"I said look at me…" He span her around.

Her bottom lip was shaky as she was trying to swallow her tears.

He cupped her cheek and frowned. "Why are you angry at me?"

She pushed him away, but stubbornly stood his ground. "Because I thought I'd find you in a body bag this time, you utter fool!" She hissed.

He pulled her to him and his heart throbbed. He closed his eyes and kissed the top of her head. "I sincerely never meant to worry you."

She sobbed stiffly in his arms for a few moments, before embracing him madly. There they remained until her breathing calmed down. Unused as he was at offering comfort, he thought it would have been hard. Instead it felt so inviting for his soul ….warm and soothing…a place he could have called home if he dared. A place he'd like to die when his time came.

She pulled back and dabbed her fingers under her eyes. Then she looked up at him. Her smile was bitter. "I am sorry…I shouldn't have acted so immaturely. I am better than this…I just…" She was at a loss for words.

He smiled. "It was nice witnessing this side of you, instead of the always cautious swot I knew so well from school. A little bit of emotion can stir even the coldest of hearts."

Her brows creased. Her hand pulled him down from the nape until her lips captured his in a gentle peck. "You are soaking wet." She whispered.

"I know." He closed his eyes.

"And you are frozen." She murmured and a silent spell left her lips.

He found himself surrounded by the most welcoming heat, which quickly dried him out. "Thank you." His smile was genial.

She took his hand and led him to a visitor's bench. They both sat, hands held tightly. "I read the newspapers. How are you?" She murmured.

"Considering what happened today…I could have been far worse." He looked down thoughtfully.

As his clothes were now dry she noticed that his shirt started forming a small bloody spot exactly were his shoulder wound was. She reached up scowling. "Is this blood?" She drew back his shirt to check.

He grasped her hand and brought it to his lips. "It is nothing. I am alright, believe me."

She staggered for words, but instead she found his eyes.

He felt his heart stirring and gave her palm another tender kiss. "Tell me about the survivors. How are they?"

She swallowed and looked towards the doors of the Ward. "In a terrible psychological condition all of them, but their lives are not in danger. Five of them have signs of amnesia, and all of them have been sexually abused… repeatedly."

The muscle of his forearm tensed.

"One of them is two months pregnant. We cannot get any information out of her. She remembers nothing. All of the relatives have been informed and we are expecting them to arrive any minute now. Things aren't going to be easy here. I need to stay and help Miriam."

"And so you shall." He said quietly and leaned back. He closed his eyes and kept her hand under his chin protectively. His arm drew her closer and her head rested on his wounded shoulder.

"Things won't be easy….but what matters the most is that they are alive." She added quietly.

"I know." He whispered.

"What matters the most is that you are alive." She murmured and he heard the pain in her voice.

He held her tighter even.

She closed her eyes. "What happened down there?"

His brow slowly filled with shadows as he remembered…..

What happened down there?

The Underworld happened and it was so much clearer now…so obedient to him…so cooperative after his latest eruption….the lucid trail captured all his senses….he saw the trace so much brighter in the church…he reached the altar…but the trace didn't end there…it was alive around the borders of the floor in a perfect square… pulsating like an independent entity that was aching to live against the laws of nature. The explosion that came out of Potter's wand surprised all as the floor receded.

Then the fall….the dark depths, the pain from his shoulder. The voices above promising them help….Potter inquiring about his health. Seeing the trace leading to a solid rock, pulsating around the borders again of another invisible door. The explosion this time came from his wand and it shattered the rock to a myriad pieces….

….

Then came the repulsive smell….the cries of fear….the embraced bodies searching comfort from each other….faces black with dirt, indiscernible features, torn clothes, bloody mattresses, chains on the wall, the smell of urine and feces, the proof of decay and death…of suffering…

….eyes wide with horror.

He remembered grabbing the first skeletal body he found closer to him and fighting not to gag. Then came the voices to their rescue…the help….the return to the light…re-entering their world. Counting the living…reporting on the dead. The ones who would arrive to their world later….for there was hurry….they could do nothing more for them….they were long gone…they were rotten souvenirs of the nightmares that took place under that church.

…..

"That is what happened down there, Hermione." He felt tired to the bone.

Her arm tightened around his stomach and she kissed the side of his neck. "I am sorry for what you saw, but I am damned proud of what you did." She said strongly.

He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Apparently you are the only one who is proud of me today."

"What do you mean?" She frowned.

He didn't get a chance to answer as they heard the bell of the elevator. They both looked up to see Harry coming out, holding Ginny by the hand. Severus pursed his lips and looked towards his boots.

He waited.

"Why did you take full responsibility about what happened today? I was equally disobedient if not more. It was not fair that your payment for saving so many people was losing your job." Harry said solemnly.

Hermione looked up with a deep scowl. "What?" She lost her breath.

He pressed her shoulder tightly and turned to Potter. "There are forces at work you are not aware of Mister Potter. Be wise and let them unfold."

Harry pressed his lips angrily. "Had you not taken full responsibility the Minister wouldn't have placed you in suspension. Grey wouldn't have fired you."

"What is done…is done." Severus said quietly.

"Why didn't you let me take the fall with you?" Harry's countenance was taut.

"Because of your eyes Mister Potter." Severus said and a ghostly smile formed on his lips.

As Hermione's hand squeezed his warmly, he saw Potter's eyes welling….and that for him was more enough.

-.-