It's been a week since Severus lost his job, his free access to the Ministerial resources and his pride to Mistress Grey. A week since the black bank of cloud loomed heavily above London. A week since it slowly begun growing towards the outskirts of the city, aiming for the first villages in Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Essex. Before long it would move even further, turning the sky completely dark all over the Isle.

Along with its gloom and heavy rain, it would bring the utter despair, the complete rejection of all ethics and the malicious violence that had overtaken London as the cloud shrouded every home. Severus had witnessed firsthand how easily the world could become unashamedly vicious under the lead of a heartless beast. Now it was his time to witness nature turning into a dangerous ogre.

Buried as the world was under a perpetual blackness, unable to enjoy even the greyness of a usual London morning, people were becoming distrustful and nervous. They hurried to run their errands and then hide in their homes. The ones who worked moved from one place to another through floo or apparition. Rarely did anybody occupy the streets anymore. The heavy downpour seemed unstoppable, the blackness absolutely consuming.

Three days after Severus lost his job the city was declared in a state of emergency. A partial lockdown came to undo the fragile psychology of the people. From six in the afternoon till six the next morning the city was under curfew. Only Aurors and Ministerial officers were allowed outside. No public transportation worked and the stores were all closed. People went to their jobs and harried straight home, not in the mood to socialize. If they did, that took place inside their abodes, as they were sheltered by the impending doom outside.

Everyone was afraid how this rain and darkness was affecting not only their emotions, but also their health. An interesting development was that most Magical People who reported at the hospital with weird health complications, due to over-exposure in the rain, were mostly Muggleborns. Equally disturbing were the reports of domestic violence which had skyrocketed, especially in the Muggleborn community, with the latter being targeted mostly by Purebloods. As for the birth defects in the same community which have boomed, no one could give a satisfactory answer.

It was as if this cloud had brought along with it a deep hatred for Muggleborns, as if it swore to eliminate them in every possible manner. Their freedom had already been compromised by the Marriage Law. Now they were also afraid for their lives and the lives of their children. The last straw would be to destroy their jobs, steal their ability to take care of themselves and their own.

End up making them slaves…

Severus' fingers warped around the Time-Turner inside his pocket as his eyes looked at the dark street. The paved road was glistening from the unabated rain. The sparse yellow lanterns were giving the darkness an eerie feeling. He looked up towards the blackness in the sky. Once again his vision failed to penetrate that veil. It was as if he was looking into the vacuum.

"Are you alright?"

Her soft voice made him exhale hard. He didn't even realize that he was holding his breath. As her hand wrapped around his bicep, his came up to encase it quickly. He gave her a soft nod and his gaze fell to the vibrant lights that were coming from the houses. That seemed to be the only sign of life in the empty street. "I am fine…you?" He said quietly.

Hermione pressed her lips. "I am fine. Severus, what is wrong? You've been gazing outside ever since we came in."

He sighed. "Forgive me."

She scowled. "That was not a reproach. I worry for you. I know you've been trying to penetrate that cloud every single moment of the day. Each effort is leaving you more enfeebled."

"I am just…observing it." He lied.

Hermione pursed her lips and decided to allow this one to slip. She tightened her hand around his arm and leaned her head on his shoulder. "You look utterly shattered. Please stop doing it. You need to find another way to approach it."

He closed his eyes. "Alright."

She nodded and kissed the side of his neck. "It is close to curfew and Harry hasn't come yet. Maybe he is too busy. You wish us to return home?"

He shook his head and kept his eyes to the street. "Not yet. Let us give Mister Potter a few more minutes. He is my only source of information."

Hermione nodded softly. "Okay."

After a momentary pause he looked down at her. "How were things at the hospital today?"

Hermione lifted her head and her silence made frown. He noted her pale features, the fatigue clouding her usually clear eyes. "Ward 49 got swarmed by Aurors who are still trying to get testimonies. The relatives are furious at how undiplomatically the Ministry has handled the cases. I know you won't believe it, but most of them are furious at your suspension and ultimate discharge. To them you are a hero." Her voice softened.

He smiled sadly at the windowsill.

"You are a hero to all of us…" She continued gently.

He pressed her hand.

"You are a hero to me…" She whispered.

Her frowned at her.

She smiled. "Do you doubt that?"

He averted his eyes. "I cannot help anyone right now Hermione. I am useless."

She made to speak, but he stopped her.

"I cannot see any magical traces from the cloud, I cannot feel anything from it. What am I doing here, tell me? I should have been inside the Underworld, trying to figure this thing out." His voice was heavy.

"Severus listen to me…" She made another attempt.

"This is the first time in forever that I feel so insufficient." His eyes radiated a palpable dissapointment that troubled her.

She leaned close until her lips touched the corner of his mouth. "What if I tell you that I know you are going to solve this for all of us eventually? Does that help?"

His eyes seared through hers. "That sounds utterly ludicrous considering how fired I am currently."

She pressed her lips.

"It also sounds endearing." His smile was worn.

"I know that you are going to get us out of this. There is no one else who can tackle with this. Certainly not the current Keeper Commander." Her smile was heartwarmingly doting.

He reached out and stroked her cheek with his thumb. "You are the brightest ray of sun inside this sheer gloom, Hermione Granger. Never change."

She lowered her eyes and two red spots appeared on her cheeks.

"Miriam is lucky to have you by her side. Your patients are lucky to have you as their caregiver." He continued softly.

The deep vibrations of his voice made her curl into him. "And we are all lucky to have you by our side…" She faltered.

He tilted her chin up. "Try to make that sound a little more intimate."

Her lips broke into a timid smile. "I am lucky to have you by my side…."

He exhaled upon her mouth and closed his eyes. "That is better."

Her arms came around his shoulders and they remained like that until he gently pushed her back. He cupped her cheek and gazed at her solemnly for a few seconds.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She smiled confused.

He pulled out the Time-Turner and placed it in her palm.

She looked down and her lips parted. "Why are you giving it back to me?"

"I fixed it." He found her eyes.

"Severus, I….I don't know what to say. Thank you…the working ones are so rare outside the Ministry." She was at a loss for words.

"A rare gift, for a rare woman. I hope you won't use it to change what happened between us." His voice held a teasing trace that made her heart come alive.

She clutched his cheek. "I'd rather die than do that."

He pulled her in tightly. "Never say those words!"

Her breath hitched.

"You never speak those words to me…do you hear?" He hissed.

She nodded quickly. "I won't…I am sorry."

"No one will die on me, ever again!" He whispered with startling passion.

She felt her heart clutching and her fingers slithered through his hair. "Severus forgive me. Those words were inconsiderate."

He pressed his lips on hers fervently for a moment before drawing back. Then he looked at her deeply. "The world is falling apart again Hermione. It feels as if we are tumbling uncontrollably back in time. Returning to the era of the Dark Lord. I fear for you greatly. I won't deny it. What I saw under that church is beyond words. You said the girl who is pregnant was one of the first abductees, which means the baby belongs to one of her abductors. The birth defects have multiplied, the violence against Muggleborns is getting out of hand. This cloud, the Marriage Law…everything is connected, don't you see?"

"I can feel the darkness surrounding us. I see the malice in people's eyes. The distrust. The hatred towards Muggleborns. I fear greatly too, but I will be honest with you Severus. I will not hide." She frowned.

His smile was blue, but also proud. "I know, that is why you need more protection."

"More than the priceless Ancient Rune you gifted me with?" She reciprocated his gentle touch.

"More." –His hands tensed around her shoulders- "Go to work, help all those people, but when you finish come straight home. Go to Potter's house….anywhere you feel comfortable, but don't linger outside. Don't try to play the hero for anyone this time Hermione….I beg of you."

"I cannot promise you that." She scowled.

He closed his eyes and pressed his lips. "I know…I know how stubborn you are. I also know how noble and courageous you can be, that is why I fixed your damned Time-Turner. So you can use it to undo something silly you will most certainly attempt. Maybe it will save your life one day."

She looked at him long and hard before she snorted. "So you didn't fix it so I can turn back time in order to change the way I treated you back in Hogwarts?"

He humphed. "Be serious for once."

She leaned close to his ear. "I am serious. I'd undo so many things. I'd stop myself from setting your robes on fire, I'd bother you much less in class and I'd cheer on Slytherin during Quidditch…surreptitiously." She winked.

He shook his head with a smile. "Your prudent exterior hides a wild heart, but that is what makes me fear for you even more."

She kissed his cheek and leaned her head on his shoulder, happy for extorting a difficult smile from him. "I will be careful, but I won't be afraid and I won't hide from anyone."

His heavy arms fell around her shoulders. "Heavens help you my sweet, because I won't always be there to do it."

She pulled back with a frown. "Was that a threat?"

"The truth." Came the honest reply.

She paused and caressed his temple. "I on the other hand promise to be here to help you…always."

"Don't use that word." His voice dropped.

"Always…" -She insisted, unaffected- "It is a simple, but honest word Severus. I know it means a lot to you, but so it does to me. Nothing would ever stop me from being here for you."

He shook his head. "Don't…." There was pleading in those tones.

"Am I making you feel uncomfortable?" She raised her brows.

He didn't speak.

"Is it easier to play around words? Do you want me to tell you instead that I will always be here because I am bound to you by the Laws of Men?" She said somberly.

His lips turned down.

"Or I would it be even easier to say that we are bound by Magic. That all this…..whatever it is we have between us was beyond our choice? Will that be honest?" Her brow creased.

He exhaled and closed his eyes.

"I don't know what you wish to hear. How you wish to label what is happening here, but know Professor that I am not a woman who plays around. Either with the feelings of others or with mine. As I respect myself and my choices, so do I respect the people I choose to bring close to me. Therefore I will be brutally honest to you…." She lingered.

His eyes found hers.

The pause was short, but full of tension. "I have feelings for you and I am strong enough to admit it. I won't name them, unless you show me equal bravery. Are you strong enough to admit yours, whatever they may be? Or do you feel inclined to revert back to the safety of easy justifications? That I used to be your student, that all this is inappropriate, that it was beyond your choice, a weak moment….you have so many options to make yourself feel better. But will they represent the truth?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

She smiled. "What is the truth Severus?"

He pulled her to him and their lips touched. He stopped there breathless from her words, his heart drumming, but nothing could come out. She was right. He was a coward….Instead of speaking to her as honestly as she did he remained still. His fingers slid over her nape and pulled her in for a deeper kiss. He didn't know if he wished to convey what he felt or he wanted to shut her up, but her honesty was intimidating. So instead of speaking he touched her as affectionately as his heart allowed. Her initial rigidity disappeared when his kiss became more daring and her arms wrapped around his shoulders pulling him down for more.

She opened up for him like a flower and he signed upon her lips in relief.

When they pulled apart they were both breathless. "Had you not given me such a kiss, I would have been hurt by your silence."

He nodded. "I know."

"You saved this by a hair's breadth." She run her fingers above the angry scar that was cutting his brow in half.

He leaned his forehead on hers. "Don't ask for more than I can give now Hermione. I am in over my head."

"In all the areas of your life. I am aware." She kissed his temple.

"Allow me time to find the answers…to everything." His deep voice became a soothing whisper at those words.

"A fair request." She closed her eyes.

"Thank you." He allowed several minutes to pass quietly as they enjoyed each other's presence.

Finally she spoke. "What are you going to do after we leave this pub?"

His eyes turned to the black sky. "I will go Under. There is no other way."

Her shoulders became stiff and her arms held him tighter. "I hate to admit that you are right. I don't want you to go there Severus. I am scared for you, but there is no other way. You are the only one able to figure this out. You do need to go Under."

"Yet he can't."

The voice by the door made them both look up.

Hermione drew back, but she kept Severus' large hand between hers. "Harry." Her features lit up.

"Welcome Mister Potter. You are late." Severus offered him a seat.

Potter took off his coat and sat down heavily. "I was delayed. Things are not good Professor."

Severus removed his hand from Hermione with a gentle squeeze and then leaned closer. "Meaning?"

"Well since the last time we spoke, things took a tumble for the worse." Harry wiped the rain from his brow with the back of his sleeve.

"What is going on?" Hermione offered him a glass of beer.

He drunk several sips before putting it down. "Grey is happening."

Severus stiffened and Hermione noticed.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"She does nothing about the Darkness that has covered the city even though it is her job. She attends meaningless meetings, looms over Kingsley and exchanges whispers with members of the Wizengamot in the dark. She even organizes a damned gala in the midst of all hell!" Harry snapped angrily.

"A what?" Severus asked in disbelief.

"A gala for the most prominent citizens of London to meet the Keepers. She plays a very strong diplomatic game with both the Wizengamot and the reporters. She will try to gain the public to her favor. She says the Keepers remained obscure for too long. Now that she is Commander it is time for the commoners to know what they are paying for. Who is protecting them from the Dark Arts."

"And in the meantime the Darkness is expanding." Hermione frowned.

"What is Kingsley saying about the cloud? Isn't he forcing her to find its source?" Severus rejoined solemnly.

"She entered the Sixth Level several times and found nothing. She scoffs down on you Professor, saying that you were delusional when you saw that cloud down there." Harry looked at him sadly.

"This is serious." Hermione pressed her lips testily.

"The Keepers are becoming useless under her command Professor. Kirke and Conroy and Oswald are valuable officers, but they are afraid. They fear they will end up fired like you." Harry added.

"So now we have nothing to protect us from the Darkness and all this violence that has been unleashed under it." Hermione covered her brow overwhelmed.

"No...we are now completely unprotected from the Underworld. My Aurors are unable to activate Dark Portals without substantial help from the Keepers and Grey won't do it." Harry run his fingers through his hair.

"What about the Minister?" Hermione asked.

"He is under someone's grip. He doesn't speak, but I know Kingsley and he isn't acting like himself. I think Grey has a hold at someone from the Wizengamot and they in turn hold Kingsley. Grey insists the cloud doesn't originate from the Underworld so the Minister is forced to throw the ball in our court. The Aurors are now in charge of finding out the source of this magic." Harry said somberly.

Severus brows met as he looked towards the table. "You won't be able to find anything in this world."

"We haven't! We've flown in and around this thing more times than I can count. When we go inside we become so disoriented that we exit in a completely different place, miles away. Any kind of defensive spells we send out to it are being swallowed. It seems to be unaffected by our magic…This thing doesn't belong to our world, exactly as the Professor says. Grey either knows it and hide that fact or is stupidly unaware and happy she has taken the Professor's place." Harry looked at him.

Severus leaned back and crossed his arms thoughtfully. "Never use stupid with the name Grey in the same sentence Mister Potter. That would be unwise."

"Then she is playing with us! Only the Keepers can deal with this kind of Magic and now they are disabled. One is still recovering, one is dead, one is afraid for his job, you are fired and their current Commander is reassuring us that she can do nothing about it. The world is becoming very unstable and nobody is trying to help. This cloud affects people negatively Professor and you know it. Have you any idea how many calls are coming in our offices daily about abuse between Muggleborns and their suitors? Many Purebloods are using this law to procure themselves with Muggleborns whom they end up using as sex slaves. Heavy verbal altercations, psychological abuse, physical abuse and downright rape are being reported every day. This darkness is making people act violently towards each other. It feeds off hatred…" Harry seemed overcome as he described the hell that was going on in London at this very moment.

Severus and Hermione looked at each other.

"They brought down the only hand that could do anything about all this and now they are having a damn good party!" Harry barked and finished his beer.

Hermione flared her shoulders. "You are wrong. They didn't bring Severus down. He is here and more than willing to do whatever he can to help us."

"He can't Hermione. I told you the moment I came in." Harry looked at the Professor intently.

"Have they banned me from using Dark Magic?" Severus already knew the answer to that.

"Until the Wizengamot investigates your case, you are banned from doing practically anything. We are ordered to arrest you the moment your trace fires up." Harry's voice filled with guilt at those words.

"I see." Severus scoffed.

"You find this funny?" Hermione scowled.

"I find this development interesting, but rather expected." Severus rejoined.

"You could pretend not to notice Harry." Hermione turned to her friend.

"I'd love to pretend, but I'd lose my job." Harry rebuked.

"If that saves the city and clears the cloud then so be it!" Hermione sounded angry.

Severus clasped her hand gently. "No, I don't want Mister Potter to be out of the Ministry. I need him in there. Think prudently, not with your heart."

She pressed her lips in disapproval.

Harry leaned back. "I am doing the best I can Professor, but my best in this case is not enough."

Severus pursed his lips thoughtfully.

Hermione humphed and rubbed her forehead. "Someone must talk with this woman. Everything goes through her as it seems."

"Grey?" Harry scowled.

Severus' nose flared.

"I've tried to speak to her privately many times. She treats me like an inane five year old. Kingsley keeps to himself, the Wizengamot backs her up, the Keepers fear her and the Aurors have no power over her. Who will talk to her?" Harry asked in frustration.

Severus turned to her apprehensively.

She bit the inside of her bottom lip to keep quiet. The Gryffindor in her was too difficult to silence.

He noticed. "I am very aware of that look in your eyes Miss Granger. I've seen it plenty during your school years. Whatever it is you are thinking…seize it…seize it right now." The warning was clear.

"Harry cannot talk to her, the Minister won't, the Wizengamot for some reason can't, her Keepers dread her…and I dare assume you are banned from her premises. You got any better ideas?" She raised her brows.

Harry looked at her mutely.

"You are not going to talk to Grey! Not as long as I have a say in it!" Severus stood up abruptly and walked towards the window.

"You don't have a say in it. I am a free woman. This is a free country. I have a choice to speak to whomever I wish." She turned to him.

"I suppose you expect to reason with her. Make her see the light? Enforce some Gryffindor honor in her?" Undeceive yourself. You will end up becoming a target." He drawled.

Hermione scowled. "Your sarcasm is not helping us. I am trying to find a solution."

He eyes burned through hers. "You are not talking to Max. For whatever noble reason your brilliant mind has set its eyes upon. You are not approaching her, you are not speaking to her, you are not even thinking of her. Stay-away-from-her! I won't ask again."

Hermione stood up also. "You are not asking. You are commanding me. What is wrong with you? What makes you fear her so much?"

He walked up to her and clutched her shoulders. "Grey won't come within five miles from you Hermione. Do you hear me?"

She seized his forearms. "I only wanted to speak to her about you. To clear up this mess. Maybe make her see that it is for the best of all of us to allow you to return to your job. Nothing more than that." Her fire was extinguished when she witnessed how much this was affecting him.

"You are to go nowhere near her!" He spat.

She remained mutely shocked, trying to understand him. Trying to figure out what scared him so much about her. That is when raised voices, engaged in heated argument came from outside the room. They all looked up and then towards each other. They heard a female plead, a male curse, something breaking, a large crash and then tears.

Harry dove first for the door, followed closely by Hermione and then came Severus.

-.-

What Hermione saw froze the blood in her veins. It was a young woman, no more than twenty five sitting down, with her nose bloody and her cheek bruised. Tears were etched upon her face and she was reaching up to stop her assailant who was preparing for another attack.

"What in the name of hell are you doing?!" Hermione threw herself between the girl and the older man without a single thought.

Harry sensed the tension overflowing from the Professor and raised his hand to stop him. "I have this. If you use any kind of magic while you are suspended the Wizengamot will have you imprisoned. There is an active trace on you now. Don't make it flare up."

Severus gritted his teeth and looked at Hermione. "Seize telling me what not to do…and act Mister Potter before that man bashes the head of your best friend in!" He spat.

Harry held Severus with difficulty as he raised his wand. "You! Step away from the women!"

The older man looked up and when he saw Harry he smirked. "Well if it isn't Dumbledore's Golden boy. Head Auror Harry Potter! Ha Ha!"

Harry tightened his grip on the wand. "A step back…now." He commanded heavily.

The man who was holding the girl's hand, twisted it viciously. "What are you going to do if I deny Golden boy?"

Hermione placed her hand above the girl's trying to protect her. "Leave her alone you utter brute!"

Severus tried to push Harry away, but the Auror managed to keep him in check, if only just barely.

"Take a step back or I will fire! You are already under arrest for physical assault!" Harry barked.

The older man's dark eyes glimmered with menace as he grinned. "This woman is my property. I applied for her under the new Marriage Law and she accepted me as a suitor. Now she belongs to me!"

"And that means that you can beat her black and blue?!" Hermione protested furiously and tried to disengage their hands.

The man turned the girl's hand again and she hollered in pain. "Oh, isn't it the lovely Princess of Gryffindor? The new apprentice Healer of Ward 49. The one who protested so fervently against the Marriage Law. Are you defending little Candice? Well, of course you are, what a silly question. You and she are so much alike. Muggleborn, stubborn, proud and you both ended up having Pureblood suitors. Shouldn't your suitor keep you on a shorter leash? You mingle too much in the business of others."

Severus pushed Harry aside, but before he could take a step the Auror got in front of him again. "Don't Professor. He is not worth being arrested for. I am here!"

The man's hateful eyes pierced Severus. "Ah…of course your suitor is the fired Keeper Commander… Voldemort's right hand. Restraint your filthy Mudblood before I do it for you, Snape!"

Three things happened at the same time then and nobody would have been able to prevent them. Hermione tried to unlock the man's hand from the girl's wrist. He raised his hand to smack her and Severus proved faster and stronger than Harry.

The Pureblood got bulldozed against the wall with a brutality that left Hermione mute and trembling. Severus' fists assaulted the man's face, sides and stomach with such unrelenting violence that the girl started screaming. The final punch broke the man's nose and knocked several teeth from his mouth as he dropped upon the floor like a rag doll.

Hermione embraced the girl tightly and turned to him. "Severus stop! No…!"

It was too late. The man was beaten to another dimension and Severus' trace had flared up.

Harry turned to him angrily. "I told you to allow me to handle this!"

"You were taking too long…." Severus straightened his sleeves calmly.

"I told you to stay out of this!" Harry rebuked.

"You told me not to use magic. I didn't." Severus raised his brow.

"Take Severus away! Hide him! I will look after the girl!" Hermione thundered and her eyes found his. Her heart faltered and rushed invisibly to shield him the same moment that the room lit up.

The Aurors appeared in a clear ring, pointing their wands straight at him.

"No…" Hermione choked.

"That was quick." Severus said dryly.

Harry raised his arms. "Don't shoot! Lower your wands! All of you!"

Everyone froze. The Aurors, Hermione with the girl in her arms, Harry and Severus. Only the grunts of the bloody man on the floor were heard as he was slowly coming to.

"Sir…" Goldhorn addressed Harry - "The Commander's trace…it flared up."

"Speaking of the obvious." Severus sneered.

Harry closed his eyes in abandonment. "I know Goldhorn…I saw it…we all did."

Hermione pulled the girl up from the shoulders. Then she looked at the Aurors. "I will explain what happened exactly gentlemen. Professor Snape, Mister Potter and I were having a quiet gathering until we were disturbed by a violent quarrel that was coming from this corridor. We decided to check it out. That is when we became witnesses to a brutal physical abuse towards this poor woman. We decided to intervene. Then you arrived."

Rabbot the Auror closest to the violent Pureblood was making an effort to pull the man up. "As it seems the Professor decided to intervene with equal violence. How did this guy end up beaten to an inch of his life?"

Hermione tightened her arms around the girl and scowled. "Shouldn't you be asking also how this girl ended up beaten black and blue? The Professor stepped in at the last moment, before that filth attacked again. He saved both the girl and me! He did nothing wrong!" She was unable to control her voice as the unfairness of the situation was choking her.

"Hermione stop." Severus' eyes were solemn.

She turned to him. "I will not keep silent while they snuff the truth and they punish the innocent!" –She then turned menacingly towards one of the Aurors who was ready to bound Severus- "Why wasn't that man's trace flaring up before our intervention?! Weren't his actions illegal?"

The Aurors looked at each other mutely.

Hermione humphed disdainfully. "You are all a bunch of hypocrites! This woman is not this man's possession! He doesn't have the right to treat her like an animal!"

Harry clutched her by the arm. "Don't do this now please Mione. Don't make things worse for all of us."

"Worse how? They are arresting Severus for saving my life…for saving this girl's life! They are going to insult his reputation even more! They will call him a criminal…defame him, much like they did at the hospital! Enough! Do you hear me?! That is enough! All of you!" She hollered.

No one spoke. They all seemed frozen…Severus more than anyone else.

Harry squeezed her arm. "This goes beyond my power, do you understand? I need to arrest him or else I lose my job too. We cannot afford that."

"As if you are helping now…" –She scoffed- "Look at what they are doing to him again!" She felt her eyes welling and allowed one of the Aurors to lead the wounded girl aside.

"I know…give me a chance to speak to the Minister about all this. Let me do it properly, not by running away and hiding. The Professor needs to surrender. He will be arrested along with that filth. I will lead him to the Ministry myself. Please trust me to deliver Mione." Harry's eyes were pleading.

She looked at him long and hard. "No, I will not allow him to be taken." Then she stepped in front of Severus. "If you take him, then you take me too!" She said bravely.

No one moved. They were all searching an answer from the Head Auror.

Harry looked at the Pureblood who was coughing up blood. "We will arrest everyone who got involved in today's events and report back to the Ministry. Mulberry and Hawthorn tie that filthy Pureblood, Bovin you will escort Miss Granger and the wounded girl back to St. Mungo. Fenrin you help me escort the Commander back at the Ministry." He said authoritatively.

The last Auror scowled. "How about me?"

"You stay here, write a report about the events that took place and take testimonies from the other guests of the pub. I will expect you back at the Ministry when you are done." Harry's tone was dry.

Fenrir winded. "Shall I bind the Professor or shall you, Sir?"

Harry sighed in defeat. "I will do it."

Hermione shook her head and closed her eyes. "What you are doing is unfair…Severus doesn't deserve this kind of treatment!"

A pair of strong hands fell on her shoulders and span her around. Then she was pulled into his chest. He tucked her head above his heart and his fingers run through her hair. "You will do me a favor now Miss Granger. You will escort this girl to the hospital and you will put the Gryffindor in you to sleep. There are somethings that we cannot control. This is one of them."

She wrapped her arms around him. "Someone is targeting you…they are trying to destroy you." Her voice was barely heard.

"They are trying to destroy me, the Keepers, the Muggleborns, peace, the world as we know it….There are lot of things we don't know yet Hermione. Please do as I am asking. Mister Potter will help me." He whispered on top of her head.

She inhaled his scent deeply and felt unwilling to let him go. "I will not remain idle in the hospital, I will try to get to the bottom of this. I swear."

Severus kissed her forehead and then pushed her away. Then he offered his hands to Potter who bound them with a gentleness Snape was not expecting. "Don't set anyone's robes on fire until I get back." He smirked at her.

She flared her shoulders. "I will set the world on fire unless I get you back."

She saw his eyes lighting up and the smile on his lips becoming softer, but before she could enjoy that beautiful expression he offered her, his image melted into a twirling mist that finally disappeared along with Harry and the rest. She turned to the Auror who was holding the girl up. She took a shuddering breath, straightened her shoulders, steadied her aching heart and forced herself to smile.

"Come…let us go to the hospital. We shall mend you and this kind man will get your testimony. Is that okay with you?" She said softly.

The girl leaned her head on Hermione's shoulder and nodded. "Yes…thank you. Thank you for everything."

"Don't thank me young lady. Thank the man they arrested….." Hermione's voice was bitter.

"The world is going mad Miss Granger. Please don't worry. All of us know…we are on your side." The Auror said and she heard the sadness in his tone.

She looked at him long and hard. Then she turned to the girl and kissed her sweaty brow. "Let's go." She muttered thoughtfully. The frustration she felt in her heart about Severus' unlawful arrest was muted by her determination. There was only one course of action.

She was going to face the woman who fired him, the one who most definitely was behind his arrest….the Dark Witch who hung like a black shadow above Severus ever since Hermione moved into his home.

Maxine Grey…the new Keeper Commander…..

-.-