Hermione sat up in bed confused. She was tousled and naked. Her lips felt sore and so did one side of her neck. The rawness she felt between her legs made her blush. Two red spots appeared upon her cheeks.
She reached next to her, but her palm landed on an empty bed. The smile faded away. Her eyes turned haunted and her features plunged. She looked at the empty side with sorrow. Then she dug under the covers to find her shirt, which he had removed last night so urgently in the heat of the moment.
She wore it and then found her panties thrown across the room next to the cupboard. Another smile adorned her mouth as she put them on. Those panties were solely lucky. He had torn several pairs during their love making. His ever present, demanding coarseness was sure to fire her up. His overpowering desire always stole her breath. No panties or bras could sustain his onslaught, yet these did.
She stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself. Her hair was absolutely ruffled and her lips puffed up. Her fingers feathered over a purple bruise between her jawline and her neck. Her other hand trailed down her stomach and lingered there. She frowned.
She had his love marks on her, but still they were much more discreet than other times. Last night he was surprisingly tender with her. Unexpectedly affectionate. Her lips twisted in mild dissapointment when she remembered her words.
"Did you truly tell him that you loved him, you utter fool?" She told herself.
She humphed and observed her eyes that couldn't lie. He loved her sensually, he loved her slow and she adored every moment….but he never reciprocated those words. She shook her head. Why was she so annoyed? Professor Snape was not famous for being overly emotional…or expressive. Even though she felt thwarted in him not returning those feelings and frustrated at herself for admitting them….she couldn't deny that his actions spoke louder than words.
The kiss he gave her after she revealed her feelings…that kiss had spoken volumes. Expecting more from him would be unreal. The dissapointment however lingered….one step behind the nervousness at his departure.
They didn't say much last night. She woke up confused and then happy to see him there. Trying to figure out how Harry managed to free him and what Severus was telling her about the vault key. Then she remembered her heart screaming in agony when he insinuated his death. After that she recalled few things. She kissed him, she pulled him in, she wanted to shut him up, to embrace him, to tell him she loved him and to have him…..Right then and there nothing else mattered to her, not even her previous need to scold him for his rudeness towards her when he was in prison.
So now she woke up knowing very little of what had taken place. She had to talk to Harry in order to learn more. The memory of his words about the vault in Gringotts and the selling of his home made a fierce comeback ….
She shuddered, the denial of that possibility even stronger than before. She abandoned the mirror and dressed up slowly. Then she took care to tidy the room and walked out. She lingered for a moment at the corridor, eyeing the door of his study. She raised her palm and remembered the magic he had passed through to her. The unholy ward that he had raised around that drawer. Even thinking about it made her stomach sink. She shook her head and went to the kitchen.
There she stopped, frozen in front of the empty tidiness of the place. There was no sign of his existence even if it was mirrored in all his possessions. No newspapers were discarded upon the counters. No cup full of strong black coffee steaming upon the coffee table. No wands discarded everywhere, neither elusive potion bottles occupying the coffee table alongside humongous academic articles. The place was spotless. It was as if his presence had been wiped out. A shiver made her flinch. Did he clean before he left?
She stood in front of his green lantern and gazed at it intensely. Asking it silently if it held any answers. Then her brows met in sudden reflection.
"Give me the news." She said softly.
The lantern sparkled and then brightened up. She saw the headlines of today's newspaper appearing between its flames.
"Chief Auror Harry Potter found unconscious at the Ministry's underground detention cells. Currently trying to recuperate from a Dark Spell assault. Severus Snape is the culprit." One of the newspapers read.
Hermione's eyes widened. "More." She commanded the lantern.
Another article came up. "Professor Snape, former espionage master and former Keeper Commander, recently arrested for assault, escaped the clutches of the Ministry. Commander Grey assures the public that her men are on the case."
"More." She muttered.
"Ministry unable to trace Snape. Keepers insist they have his trace, but there are doubts."
"Show me more." Her voice elevated and so did the speed of her heart.
"Many witnesses reported appearances of dark portals upon the city's highest grounds last night. The shields the Ministry had placed against this cloud were reinforced today by some form of powerful Dark Magic. The black ash cannot penetrate through it anymore. Ministry officials feel optimistic about this new development. This was the job of the Keepers insists Minister Shacklebolt. Dark Art enthusiasts disagree. Snape's involvement is suspected."
Hermione leaned her head between her hands. All hell had broken lose while she was peacefully sleeping away. She gritted her teeth and opened her eyes. "Find me Professor Snape." She said solemnly.
The lantern sputtered weakly.
She exhaled angrily. Of course.
"Find me Ginny Weasley." She said stiffly.
The lantern flickered and Ginny's face came in view. "Hermione?"
"Are you alright?" She asked quickly.
"I am. And you?"
"I am fine, where is Harry?" Hermione waved Ginny's worry away.
"St. Mungo. We are both here in Ward 49.. He wanted to leave, but Miriam had a different opinion."
Hermione hesitated. "Was it Severus who attacked him?"
Ginny pressed her lips. "Listen I don't think it is wise to discuss such matters through magic. Not during these perilous times."
Hermione tilted her head. "Fine, I will come over."
Ginny paused for a moment. "Wait Hermione, didn't Miriam notify you?"
"About what?"
"The press has taken over the hospital. They are waiting for you to make a statement. Also the Aurors are here, waiting to question you." Ginny said quietly.
Hermione felt her back curling inwards. "Why didn't they come here then?"
"The Professor's home is untraceable." Ginny's features lit up cleverly.
Hermione mouth tilted up in a satisfied smile. "They cannot get him anywhere. They cannot even find his home."
"No…" Ginny shook his head.
"I want to stay in here just to frustrate the Ministry, just to see Grey writhe in fury." Hermione's eyes twinkled with hatred.
Ginny pressed her lips. "Don't play with you luck. Remember how angry the Professor was about your conversation with that woman?"
"I was equally angry with him." Hermione remembered.
"I know. You couldn't wait to scold him."
Hermione fell silent.
"Did you?" Ginny rejoined.
Hermione eyes welled.
Ginny frowned. "Wait…did you see him yesterday after he escaped?"
Hermione's eyes turned solemn. "We shall not discuss anything through this, remember? I am coming over."
"Be careful how you will approach the hospital. The Press is outside the doors and the Aurors outside Harry's room."
"I am coming over with every intention of talking to all of them." Hermione replied heavily.
Ginny didn't reply.
Hermione turned around and the lantern's flare diminished.
She buried her head between her hands and inhaled deeply. Severus was missing and she presumed that he was already Under. No one would be able to find him now…not unless he wished it. That thought made her stomach clench in trepidation.
What about those dark portals, the reinforcement of the shield….that must have been him….it must have.
She turned around, grabbed her bag and her coat. Then she looked at the fireplace. She wasn't going to floo from his home, not now that the Ministry was after him. She didn't want to allow Grey the opportunity to trace it or her. She was going to use the Muggle way to move about. With that last thought she closed the door and made her way down the steps.
His deep voice made her pause. "Please promise that you will remain here until I figure this out. I beg you."
She pressed her lips and rubbed her forehead. "I am sorry Severus….I can't."
As she wore her coat her eyes lifted up to the bluish hue of the new shield that towered over London. She saw the black terror of the cloud slowly moving behind it and all that vile ash gathering upon the shield. Her eyes turned to the road and she kicked the residue that had managed to pass through the previous shields. It had turned the grass yellow. All the flowers had withered. Nature was dying all around her.
A stray thought invaded her mind suddenly. If he went Under, maybe he wasn't alive anymore? Her heart missed several beats and her stomach tilted so violently she felt nauseous. You truly love him…you fool….She scolded herself. She grasped above the garments the Eleventh Key that adorned her shoulder with surprising ferocity. If there was one way to make sure he was alright, then this was it. She respected the antiquity and the power this Rune so much that it felt like sacrilege using it for anything…..anything less than this.
His wellbeing.
She pushed through it and felt her chest flooding with so many unspoken…so many raw and untapped emotions that she almost doubled over. A strong exhalation shook her body as she tried to keep herself up. It was strong. Consuming. Impossible to bridle. She pushed its magic outwards with the intention to call him with all her might. The world begun fading at the edge of her eyesight.
No answer…
Not even a feathery touch of his magic to answer her call.
She drew the Rune's power back and it grounded so hard she staggered. She grasped a tree bark to steady herself and looked up. Her eyes were teary and her vision blurry. He was not in this world anymore.
No.
That meant two things. He was either Under or….
He is not dead you silly woman!
Her nails clawed her bosom and she bit her lips. An expression of despair shifted upon her features. "You are not dead, no! I cannot find you. I don't know where you are, but you are not dead. You are hidden somewhere dark…where I cannot reach you. Only you can reach out to me now." She inhaled deeply and tried to swallow her tears.
She failed.
"Please come back to me and I promise to never tell you that I love you again. I will never scare you again….Come back to me…." Her voice halted with a sob.
She clasped her mouth tightly and fought not to cry.
It was impossible. The composed Hermione Granger. The most sensible of all her friends. The solid personality that was rarely shaken….now was in tatters. Realizing how real her words to him were yesterday made her mind melt in despair. She stayed there trying to control her emotions that were running wild. She was helping no one like this…neither him…nor herself. She needed to get herself together, if only for the sake of her sanity. It took her several minutes. When finally she felt a bit more composed she wiped her mouth and eyes with the back of her hand. Then she sniffled and looked up to his magic that was covering the sky.
How long would his shields work? She doubted Grey would strengthen them should they fail. Possibly she'd even rejoice at witnessing their collapse.
Hermione felt her eyes tearing up again and scolded herself. He was somewhere out there, inside a world she knew nothing about. She couldn't reach him anymore, neither to help him nor to tell him again the words that scared him….and that was aching her more than anything else, but she was certain that he was alive. He was out there fighting this…and she was going to do her part.
She took a couple of deep breaths, lifted the lapels of her coat up to her ears, dried her eyes and begun her long walk to the hospital with newborn determination.
-.-
Hermione knew how to enter the hospital without the Press figuring her out. She didn't intend to hide from them, but she wanted to speak to Harry first. When she reached the lobby everyone stopped their work in order to stare at her.
She buttoned up. "What is going on Dorothy?" She asked the receptionist.
"Miss Granger…I…we didn't expect you here today." The girl said timidly.
"And my appearance made you freeze over? All of you?" She met every pair of eyes bravely.
No one spoke.
Dorothy cleared her throat. "Uhm, after what happened with your fiancé…I mean Professor Snape…I mean the prison break…I mean…" The girl stumbled for words.
Hermione raised her hand austerely. "I assure you….I assure all of you" –She raised her voice- "That Professor Snape is doing exactly what he must in order to assist all of us."
No one spoke.
"Do any of you have any objections to that?" Hermione's voice was heavy.
Absolute silence.
"Then get on with your business…!" She commanded and walked to the elevators. When the doors closed behind her, she leaned back and let her breath out. She had been expecting a general uproar to the latest events….she wasn't going to pretend surprise. However she wasn't going to accept a single insinuation towards Severus' guilt. She felt her body tensing as adrenaline rushed through it. The instinctual need to defend him shouldn't surprise her either. Not after the words she uttered to him during their love making. As the elevator stopped, she flared her shoulders and got ready.
The Aurors were standing out of Harry's room indeed. With their long raincoats and their solemn faces. Three they were and she knew all them all by face, but not by name. Miriam opened the door of the ward and pushed them out of the way. She reached Hermione with an urgency that didn't go unnoticed. "Why did you come here my dear? Didn't Harry tell you they were waiting for you?"
"I knew." Hermione scowled.
"Then why didn't you remain hidden?" Miriam whispered as the Aurors begun approaching.
"I won't hide Miriam. Severus shouldn't hide either…not for doing his job, not for protecting us all. Grey should have been then one searching for the deepest hole to bury herself in, not us." Hermione spat.
Miriam shook her head nervously. "They are going to roast you. You are Severus' betrothed in the papers. Remember?"
"I'd never forget something I am damn proud to be." Hermione rebuked decisively.
Miriam exhaled "You dearest girl are out of your mind, stepping out in the public like this. Courageous beyond count, but also foolish."
Hermione's answer was a cold stare towards the Aurors.
"Severus would scold you for this."
"I know." Her lungs constricted.
The silence was brief. "It matters not anymore. You cannot back up now. Answer prudently. Don't provoke them."
"Why be so careful? I thought all of Harry's Aurors stood behind Severus." Hermione flicked her brow and eyed them menacingly.
"Not all of them as it seems. Some are rather keen to follow Grey's word." Miriam murmured.
"The Keepers don't control the Aurors." Hermione frowned.
"At this moment no one knows who leads and who follows darling. Grey has a long reach." Miriam wised.
Hermione inhaled and gave her a curt nod. "I know. I also know exactly whom she is holding by the balls."
Miriam paled. "Never speak such words in front of them!"
"I spoke those words straight to Grey." Hermione's regard was lofty.
Miriam took a step back and wiped her mouth with her palm. "I don't know what to do. Admire or admonish you?"
"Neither. Allow me to talk to them. Go inside. I will see you shortly."
Miriam looked at her and then at the Aurors for several edgy moments. Then with obvious hesitation she walked back to the ward.
That left Hermione with the three ominous looking men who approached her. She lifted her head up disdainfully. "Good evening gentlemen."
"The Army Nurse. What a pleasure." The one who looked like the leader tilted his head politely. He was a middle aged, well build man wearing a brown fedora.
"If you wish to address me Healer Granger would do." She tilted her head strictly.
"Very well. Healer Granger you must find out presence here rather unexpected." He continued with a heavy voice.
"Of course not. Your Chief is hospitalized in this ward." She rejoined calmly.
"We didn't come to see Chief Potter, but you." The man smirked.
"My? Why?" She said coldly.
"In order to discuss a few things about Professor Snape."
"Why didn't you come to his home? I was there." She said proudly.
Another longer pause. "We cannot trace the Professor's abode unfortunately. It seems to be unregistered."
"And rather undetectable to all of you from what I reckon. Well isn't that a pity." Her smirk was slow and calculative.
The Head Auror's eyes fell on her warningly. "Indeed. Therefore our next best choice was to visit your work."
"So now you found me. Tell me what can I help you with?" Hermione rejoined emotionlessly.
"Your fiancé was arrested yesterday for assault and battery…."
Hermione raised her hand austerely. "Let me stop you right there. The Professor was wrongfully arrested for defending a woman against her abuser. Chief Auror Harry Potter, his wife Ginny Weasley, the woman who was assaulted, several clients and I were witnesses to that."
"I am not here to judge the Professor, but to state facts." The Auror reprimanded.
"Those are the facts." She pushed back hard.
He gazed at her blankly for a few seconds before continuing. "Your betrothed escaped his detention yesterday, by using Dark Magic on the Chief."
"I learned." Hermione straightened her shoulders.
"From him?"
She humphed. "From the newspapers this morning."
"That is why you came here so early?"
"My friend happens to be hospitalized at the same place I work if you haven't noticed. I came for both." Hermione's look was fearless.
The Head Auror observed her closely. Then he spoke again. "Where were you yesterday between five and seven in the afternoon?"
"At the Ministry's detention cells and you know it. Arguing with my husband-to-be." She said flatly.
"Where did you go after you left?"
"Straight home. Mrs. Potter escorted me." Hermione looked unmoved.
"You stayed home all through the night?"
"Yes."
"Did you meet with anyone?"
"No."
"Talk with anyone?"
"No. I ate dinner, read a book and went straight to bed. I woke up early this morning." She said with remarkable calmness.
The Auror's eyes fell towards the love bite upon her neck and her stomach clenched. She had forgotten to cover that in her haste. He pointed at it. "You acquired this….recently?"
Her fingers caressed it almost tenderly. "What an imprudent question to ask a lady who engaged to be married."
The Auror's features settled. "Nevertheless important for this investigation. We need to know the Professor's whereabouts. Where you intimate with him yesterday?"
"Through the prison bars? What a ridiculous suggestion." Hermione smiled casually.
"It looks fresh." The Auror noted.
"Want to run some magic over it in order to determine the exact moment I made love with Professor Snape? Be my guest. I am sure the press would love to hear about how you are harassing an innocent woman with such demeaning sexual remarks." She glared.
One of the other Aurors grasped the leader's arm. "I think that is enough."
He dithered, but pulled back. "Very well. Did you meet with Professor Snape after you left the Ministry?"
"No."
"Did you hear from him?"
"No."
"Took any messages from him?"
"No."
"Do you know of his whereabouts?"
"No." That was the first time she spoke truthfully.
The Auror scribbled something on his notebook and nodded. "We would appreciate if you didn't disappear like him whilst this investigation is taking place."
"And it is an investigation ordered by your Chief?" She tilted her head.
"It is independent." The Auror rejoined.
Hermione's brow lifted.
"Chief Harry Potter is considered to be too emotionally invested on the accused. The Auror Commissioner decided to allow the Keepers to lead the investigation." The Auror replied.
"Why don't they use their men instead of you?" Hermione felt her blood freezing.
"They don't have enough people to spare. The Wizengamot allowed Commander Grey to choose several Aurors in order to lead her enquiry." The Auror said aloofly.
Hermione composed herself. "Very well."
The Auror's eyes seared through hers for several tense moments. Then he turned around. "We might need to speak to you again. Will you register the position of Professor Snape's home so we can do so?"
"Of course not." -She scowled- "I am not married to the Professor yet. That is his property and it is up to him to reveal it. You can find me either in my home or here."
The Auror frowned deeply.
"I am not going to run away. Don't worry." She scoffed.
With one last penetrating look the Auror bowed his head curtly and walked to the elevators. Hermione observed them for several seconds before entering the ward.
Ginny was sitting next to Harry who was reclined in bed. Miriam was standing by the window with her arms crossed and her eyes deeply thoughtful.
"We heard everything." She said solemnly.
Hermione humphed and turned to Harry. "They took the leadership out of your hands."
"They are suspecting my involvement in Snape's escape. I was half expecting it." His voice was quiet.
"It seems like Grey has taken the lead not only in Severus' investigation, but over everyone." Hermione rubbed her eyes feeling tired.
They all looked away at that.
Hermione came close to the bed. She touched Ginny's shoulder. "How are you?"
"Considering they called me first thing last night in order to tell me that my husband fell to Black Magic….I am rather collected." Ginny's smile was sad.
Hermione turned to Harry. "Are you hurt?"
"He took care not to hurt me much, but he had to make it believable." Harry pressed his lips regretfully.
"He is alright dear. Nothing but a few minor reminders this morning. He will be released by late noon." Miriam chimed in.
Hermione clasped Harry's hand. A faded smile formed on her lips. "Thank you for helping him."
Harry pulled her and she sat down next to Ginny. "He helped us all these years."
Hermione's eyes dampened.
Harry pressed her hand. "Never doubt that I will support him. No matter our personal grudge…I am behind him all the way."
The first tears formed in her eyes. "He needs all the support he can have. It seems like the very hounds of hell had been released on his path."
"And so they have. Grey." Harry's regard turned dry.
"Do you have enough men to help him, if he seeks your assistance?" Hermione looked up nervously.
"I do. Grey may have gotten several of my men, but most of the force is still behind me. So is the Minister." Harry looked up with a smile.
"Dare I hope this can be turned around?" Hermione hope was still alive in her heart.
"With Severus in the Underworld and with us out here…you can be sure we will defeat this darkness." Harry rejoined.
"Unless Grey brings everything to a halt." Hermione said quietly.
"Why would she want to hinge the progress Snape will undoubtedly make in the Underworld? Doesn't she want this cloud to be crushed?" Ginny frowned.
"I am not so sure." Hermione looked at her hands.
That brought silence to the room, which she had to break least she went mad.
She turned to Harry again. "Was it him who reinforced the city's shields?"
"Most definitely." Harry's face lit up.
"Does anybody else know?"
"Shacklebolt and several Ministry officials who are with us. Some from the Wizengamot might know also. The rest suspect it. Even Grey must know." Harry tilted his head apologetically.
"That god awful residue stopped passing through. His shields are helping us tremendously." Hermione frowned.
"Indeed, if you count that since yesterday the crime rates have dropped significantly." Harry rejoined.
"So it is not hurried to surmise that the ash this cloud spews helps to fuel the fury in people." Hermione's eyes passed from all of them.
"I for one am convinced." Ginny said calmly.
"Me too." Miriam added.
Harry tilted his head.
"So instead of the whole Ministry uniting behind Severus in order to assist him fight this off…they decided to launch independent investigations on him. Instead of thanking him for reinforcing the city's shield they point their finger at him! Instead of recognizing his value they call him a criminal once more….in every way, but openly!" Her voice broke as she stood up angrily.
"Hermione…things will be cleared up soon enough." Harry attempted to reason.
"How? When? He is buried somewhere no one can reach! We don't know what he is going through, we cannot be sure he will find the cloud and we can't be certain that he will even come back to us….alive." She stumbled at that last word and felt her knees unlocking. She sat heavily on a chair.
Ginny came over to her urgently. "Are you alright? Can I get you something?"
Hermione dabbed the back of her finger under her eyes. "I am not the one in need of help. Severus is…."
Harry pushed back the covers and stood up. Miriam made to go to him, but he shook his head. Then he walked up to Hermione. "Atrocious as it may sound we are not equipped to help him."
Hermione's fiery eyes fell on him. "So we left him alone to go Under. How chivalrous of us."
"Hermione no one can enter the Underworld without the escort of a Keeper….and they are currently under Grey's command." Harry said quietly.
"How about you? Why didn't you go with him?" Hermione sounded more accusing than she wished.
"Then who would control the remaining Auror force that is unblemished by Grey's venom?" Harry said openly.
Hermione closed her eyes and felt her heart faltering.
"Do you understand how dire our situation is?" Harry insisted.
She nodded halfheartedly and silence drew heavy for several seconds. "Can you find him?" Her voice was barely heard. Her whisper was broken.
"No." Harry averted his eyes.
"Can his Keepers?" Hermione looked up with a glimmer of hope.
"Grey's Keepers now." Harry noted.
"Conroy…he will help…Oswald…certainly." Hermione hurried.
"If you manage to talk to them without Grey figuring it out." Ginny pursed her lips.
"Which I doubt will happen after the heated discussion you had with her." Harry added.
"You can call on them…ask their help. Conroy will come!" Hermione said excitedly.
"He is still recovering."
"Come on, call Oswald! Do it!" Hermione insisted.
"Even if I did, Grey would be on our trail in the blink of an eye. She would stop us." Harry made an attempt to rebuke.
Hermione exploded with anger. "You don't want to help him! You act like the Minister! You say you want to assist him but only by playing blind. You don't act…you pretend not to see what he is doing. Do you consider that help?!"
"I have to control the Aurors…" Harry tried to reason.
"Like Shacklebolt. Release him Mister Potter, but I know nothing about it. That is what he said right? Or something close to it. You are doing the same Harry. You know he is Under and you pretend ignorance in order to allow him to act….but you don't try to actively assist him." She barked.
Harry pulled back, shocked into silence.
Hermione was trembling and her eyes were streaming. "You helped him escaped…bravo…but what you are doing now will lead to his demise. He needs more men down there with him. He cannot do this alone!"
Ginny tried to calm her down. "Sit down, please…"
"No!" –She shook Ginny away- "I need to get out of here. I need to take a breath of fresh air."
"Hermione wait. Let me do this properly. Let me find the best way to approach his Keepers without letting Grey know…let me…" Harry hurried after her.
She opened the door. "Do what you think is best Harry….and I will do what I think is best."
"What is that?!" He yelled behind her.
"I will go find Oswald myself!" She hollered and made it to the elevator before they had the time to stop her.
With her body pumping adrenaline, the need to help Severus became critical. If Harry didn't intend to act quickly, then she would. She would go to the Ministry, at the fifth floor, open the doors of the Keeper offices and she'd speak to Oswald. He'd help her. He was Severus' friend. She didn't care if Grey was there. She didn't even care if that awful woman understood Hermione's intentions. She was going to address the sense of the Keepers and hope they'd follow her. That at least one of them would come in order to assist Severus Under.
With those thoughts she opened the back doors of the hospital. Intending to slide through the dark alleys in order not to be traced by the reporters she walked fast under the heavy darkness. Floo and apparition would alert Grey and she wanted to delay that, at least until she reached the Ministry's doors.
What she didn't know though was that she was never going to reach her destination.
-.-
Severus was standing in front of the destroyed window, of the burned church at the fifth level. Observing quietly the mountains of despair at the distance. He was frozen there for so long, he had lost track of time. He felt the silence of the fifth level all around him. No disturbances whatsoever, the magic of that level was quiet…asleep. He didn't want to wake it up and face its nightmares again, but maybe he had no choice. He couldn't see anything from the sixth level with a naked eye. No humongous cloud formations, no movement…nothing.
Was it possible that Grey had been correct? Was he delusional from high fever when he saw that damned vision? Doubt started taking roots in his heart. He could open a portal and enter the sixth level…then he'd be able to see better. His stomach clenched in negation. No one with half a brain entered that terror without proof. That world awoke everyone's worst nightmares. It was a vast woodland, with black trees that never died, a sky that felt heavier than a wet blanket and a ground that seemed to suck you down. There were nightmares hidden between the trees, millions of them…and they all took each person's worst fear. The whole world was like an interminable boggart that could devour your very soul. No one could enter that place and get out sane. No one apart from the one's that had protection. Severus' felt the Eleventh Key on his back tingling. Even he could be assaulted when entering the Sixth Level…even with his powerful Rune he was in danger of never making it out of there alive. He'd first lose his mind, then he'd drift endlessly inside the thick forest…and finally he'd die at some dry creek. Forgotten by the real world.
The bogeyman resided inside the sixth level and Severus was not in a hurry to see him….again. He swallowed heavily and turned around. A warm blast of air blew the ashes of the burned building around him. Such a rare occurrence in this place. Even the Underworld seemed to be affected by what was taking place up there with that cloud. Even this level seemed to act differently somehow.
He remained quiet for a few more minutes before deciding that the truth wouldn't reveal itself to him. He had to force it out and that meant waking up this world too. He didn't intend to enter the sixth level without making sure the cloud was coming from it. His eyes got lost in the black mountains….the Highlands of desolation….and the forlorn world behind them.
He lifted his hands and with an elegant motion that could belong to a dancer he summoned two enormous light bolts. They travelled fast across the wasteland, brightening up the whole world around them with their remarkable brilliance. Waking it up slowly. He watched them as they reached the mountains and then got lost behind them.
And he waited, counting inwardly. Feeling the world around him stirring. The magic sipping through the ground and up his shins.
The luminance of his spell threw long shadows at the dark sky…the shadows of the infinite forest but only that. There was nothing back there as it seemed.
After a few seconds when he felt the darkness spreading around him and taking form he got ready to summon a portal and leave for the fourth level.
That is when two things happened simultaneously.
His Eleventh Key shrieked in pain and his light bolts illuminated the basis of a massive black cloud that seemed to be circling from the very depths of the sixth level. It seemed to blend with the blackness of the sky, getting lost in it.
Severus' hand grabbed his shoulder and he groaned in pain. He could tear his eyes away from that colossal tornado, not even the pain from his shoulder blade. There was only one thing that could make his Key ache so. "Hermione?" He complained.
He told her to stay home, didn't he? She didn't listen to him. Fury awoke in his heart next to terror as the darkness of this level begun twisting menacingly around him.
He closed his eyes and tried to find her threads. The ones he could find from anywhere in the world, apart from the Underworld.
There was nothing…only the pain…the heart wrenching ache.
As the black poisonous tornado in the sixth level rotated slowly and the darkness of this level exposed its claws of death, Severus mind was already focused sharply on what mattered the most. The heat that started rising from the lands that begun burning around him meant nothing in view of this new despair.
"Hermione…." Her name rolled painfully out of his parted lips. He called the dark portal and left before those claws could tear him apart… before that brimstone could burn him alive.
-.-
