Summary: Hermione learns more about soulmates.

A/N: Thanks for reading. I've been enjoying your comments. More of the mystery will be revealed in this chapter.

Chapter 4

Hermione had tried to get back to sleep so she could continue with Severus, but she wasn't able to. As she tossed and turned, her mind raced around, pondering her dream. She wanted to see her soulmate again. She felt an internal pull to him.

She lay in bed with her eyes closed for hours. When the first light started to seep through her windows, she knew it was time to give up. Classes would be difficult today because she knew she'd be exhausted. Thankfully, it was Friday, and she could rest during the weekend.

Who was she kidding? She had plans to move into the library for in-depth research on how she could save her soulmate. She rose and got ready. After a while, her shower over, her hair dried so it wouldn't frizz, and her robes on, she moved to the door. Her hand rested on the doorknob as she mulled over the box that the items Severus had left her were in.

Removing her hand, she went back into her bedroom and picked up the box. Heading back to her entryway, she opened her door and looked at the painting that was covering it.

"Dorlyth, may I ask you a question?"

The black dragon blinked at her lazily before speaking. "What is it you want to know?" she said in a deep voice.

Hermione showed her the dragon carved on the top of the box. "Is this dragon the same species as you?"

Dorlyth snorted a small amount of fire. "Of course, it is. That is me."

Hermione looked down at the carving. "I wish I could have seen you alive, Dorlyth. Both your painting and this carving show how magnificent you are."

The dragon's chest puffed up. "This painting is a good likeness of what I looked like in life."

"Dorlyth, what is the connection between this box and you?"

"We are both beholden to Severus Snape," Dorlyth explained.

"How can that be?" Hermione asked.

The dragon turned and settled as if she were getting ready to tell a long tale.

"Several hundred years ago I was a hunted creature. My lair was near a thriving town. It was a time when the people you call Muggles were aware of my kind. We avoided each other as much as possible because my kind was severely misunderstood."

Hermione chuckled, which caused the dragon to scowl at her.

"Do you want to hear my story or not?" she asked caustically, fire leaking out of her nostrils menacingly.

"I'm sorry," Hermione said quickly. "I meant no offense."

Dorlyth seemed appeased and continued. "I kept to myself, as most dragons are wont to do. I hunted away from the town so there would be no issues. I despise the taste of human anyway…"

Hermione raised an eyebrow at that.

"Anyway, I was in my cave one day, minding my own business, when I heard a mob of people outside my lair. I stuck my head out of the cave to see several hundred men with spears and swords facing my den yelling bloody murder."

"But why would they confront you? You could easily defeat them."

The dragon bent her head to Hermione in acknowledgment. "Thank you for the confidence, but I assure you, one dragon against three hundred men is not good odds for the dragon. Despite that, I was able to escape. Most of the mob did not survive." The dragon smiled evilly.

"I can't blame you for defending yourself, Dorlyth. What did you do after that?"

"I flew away. Homeless… scared… I didn't know where to go. I wandered for a long time before I came across another dragon. He was a Hungarian Horntail. He took me in. We dwelled together for two years. I thought he loved me…"

Hermione reached out and touched Dorlyth's painting. "What happened?" she asked sympathetically.

Dorlyth turned and snarled at Hermione. "He tried to kill me. He'd gone mad. He had become paranoid and was accusing me of trying to steal his possessions for months. He attacked me in my sleep!"

A tear fell from the dragon's eye and slipped down her cheek.

"He burnt my wings and bit my neck, trying to tear it apart. When he felt he'd succeeded, he left me to die. I lay there, my life force slowly seeping away from me. Suddenly, I felt magic surround me. My neck knitted together as a wizard chanted a spell over me.

"I've been watching you for days," the wizard said once he'd partially healed her wound. "That Horntail has been acting weird for months now, and I knew you were up here with him. I staked out a campsite close by so I could keep an eye on him."

"You were watching us?" Dorlyth asked in confusion. Her voice was raspy from her injury.

Humans didn't just go around watching dragons for days on end. At least none did that she knew of.

The wizard nodded his head. "I have an affinity for potions. I was hoping to collect some shed scales from the two of you when you were off hunting, but there haven't been any in your lair, so I've been keeping an eye on you both."

"That explains the odd smell…" The dragon looked at the human. "Did you kill him?" Dorlyth asked.

"Nay," the wizard replied. "I was concerned for you. He shot out of here so quickly I'm not sure I could have cast a killing curse and hit him anyway."

The wizard spent a long time working on my neck. It seemed like forever. Finally, I felt like I wasn't going to die. I stood up and spread my wings. I'd forgotten in all the insanity that he'd burnt them. I began to cry. My beautiful wings were burned to a crisp.

I felt a gentle hand on my chest and looked back at the wizard.

"I can help you with those, but you'll have to come to my home," the wizard explained.

"I was so distressed I just followed him. He could have done anything to me, but he had saved my life, and I trusted him. He told me his name was Octavius Prince. He brought me to his home, and good to his word, he gave me a potion. I had to take it for two weeks, and my wings grew back even more beautiful than before. That day, I vowed to protect the Prince family forever."

"That's incredible," Hermione said softly. "So, you've been protecting the family since?"

"Of course! The Prince family flourished with me at their side. I helped them build their reputation. Delfina Prince was a great artist. She painted me while I still lived and protected them. She also created the carving on the box. She keyed it to my life force, so it has protections set into it. It will guard whatever is placed within it."

"What an incredible story, Dorlyth. To think you've been protecting the Princes even after your death."

"My dragon essence was imbued in this painting."

"There are no more Princes to protect now. Do you feel…" She shrugged.

"I was unable to help Eileen Prince as she lived among Muggles. Had she not, that foul man she married would be nothing but ash. Unfortunately, she is gone now, as is Severus."

"Was there nothing you could do for him?" Hermione asked.

"I did what I could for him." The dragon snorted more fire before looking away.

"What did you do for him?" Hermione asked.

"You are not ready to know."

Hermione came closer to the painting. "Do you know how to bring him back?" she asked excitedly.

The dragon turned back to her and regarded her. "I see why you are a mate to Severus. Inquisitive, intelligent, decent looking for a human."

"You know we are soulmates?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"Yes, Severus told me as soon as he found out. He was beside himself at first, yelling about being soulmates with 'the know-it-all'—I believe that is what he said."

Hermione's eyes grew wide.

"Now, his attitude changed quickly, mind. He said he'd never really given you any thought before the prophecy, but once it had been uttered and he'd confirmed it, he began to get to know you secretly. He came to realize your good points, and it eventually made sense to him that you are matched together."

Hermione shook her head. "Honestly, we have to be soulmates, right? He'd never accept me otherwise."

"Hermione Granger, you have many qualities that complement my Severus. You are a good match for him."

They were both silent for a moment as Hermione processed what the dragon had related.

"Can you bring him back, Dorlyth?" she asked finally.

The dragon sighed. "I can do many things, but that is not one of them."

"Then what?" Hermione stopped when the dragon leered at her.

"You must study it out. I cannot give you the answers. When you know what I can do to help, we can discuss it."

Hermione sighed and regarded the dragon thoughtfully. Finally, she gave a sharp nod.

"Thank you, Dorlyth. I must go to the Great Hall for breakfast before class."

The dragon bowed her head and Hermione did the same. After placing the box back in her room, she left for breakfast.

oooOOOooo

Hermione was guiding the third-years through a Shrinking solution. They were currently adding the leech juice and she was wandering the classroom making sure this step was done correctly.

"Only five drops, Mr. Worley," she advised.

The boy drew his arm back to prevent the sixth from dropping into the cauldron.

"As you read yesterday, too much leech juice can cause this potion to become poisonous."

The boy nodded and continued. As she resumed her moving about the room a voice came into her head.

'Don't leave me!'

Hermione spun around and examined the room. All the students were concentrating on their potions. No one was really paying any attention to her. Her eyes roved about the room, searching for the voice she'd heard. Shaking her head, she began walking to the next student.

'Find me, my soulmate.'

Hermione froze. This was no student speaking to her. The dark voice of Severus Snape was reaching out to her. She should have known his voice from the first utterance.

She looked around the room again, searching for an apparition or anything that would explain the voice she was hearing.

'Bring me back!'

She stifled a gasp. His voice unnerved her, but she couldn't let the students see. She glanced around the room and noticed they were almost finished. She felt she could monitor the room from her desk. She made her way back to it and sat, looking over the class.

'Find me, Hermione.'

She felt rattled. The voice kept talking in her ear, begging for help over and over again. The class couldn't end soon enough. She had the students bottle their potions and leave them on her desk and they were summarily dismissed. Thankfully, this was her last class of the day. She put her head down on her desk as Severus' voice spoke once again.

'Find me, my soulmate.'

She breathed in and out evenly, trying to control her feelings. She wanted to run screaming from the classroom, but she knew that would solve nothing. She needed to pull herself together, go to the library, and research. Before that, though, she needed to do one thing. She wanted to hear the prophecy herself.

She continued breathing steadily until she felt calm. Getting up, she went to the cabinet closest to her desk and opened it. She removed a Calming Draught and downed it. Letting it do its work, she felt immediately better.

She turned and left, speaking to herself as she walked out of the classroom.

"Don't worry, Severus, I'll figure this out."

oooOOOooo

Hermione held a small paper in her hand as she entered the prophecy room. After its total destruction in her fifth year, the room had been slowly rebuilt. Most of the giant room still lay empty, but there was an area that was filled with shelving. Many of those shelves held prophecy globes on them.

Looking down at the paper, she found the shelving unit labeled E. She moved down the aisle to slot number twenty-three. There it was. The globe currently held dark grey smoke in it. SS/HG was scrawled underneath the globe.

Hermione's hand reached out and surrounded the prophecy record. It immediately began to glow blue. She lifted it and looked at it sharply. The prophecy recited itself to her as she gazed at the globe.

The maiden of knowledge returns to her beloved place of learning. She fills the void left by her departed soulmate. With study and determination, she will be able to bring him back to her. She will succeed if she does not despair.

Hermione's eyebrows knit together. The last line was not included in Severus' letter. Neither was the word 'departed' before soulmate. She huffed as she pocketed the prophecy. There really wasn't anything particularly new in what she had heard. She did resolve to not despair, as that would seem to be the thing that would make her fail.

She headed out of the room, determined to find out what she needed to know to see Severus Snape alive and in her arms.

oooOOOooo

As soon as Hermione got back to Hogwarts, she headed straight for the library. She now sat at a table perusing fifteen texts, trying to figure out which one or two she should bring back to her room to study more in-depth. She'd been in the library for hours and eventually asked a House-Elf to bring her a light dinner as she studied. She knew Madame Pince didn't like to have food in the library, but she also knew the librarian wouldn't say anything to her, as she trusted Hermione to never do anything to harm the books.

She took two of the texts and put them aside. Those could be looked at later. She pulled a large tome toward her. Looking at the title: Soulmate Magic, she opened the book and looked at the table of contents. This definitely was a publication she wanted to delve into, but at this point, it was a bit more detailed than she was looking for. She wanted something a bit more basic so she could understand exactly what it meant to have a soulmate.

Reaching for another book, she quickly put it on the pile after reading the title: The Power of Soulmates.

Her next choice was a skinny, red-covered book that was simply entitled Soulmates. She picked it up and felt magic surge into her. This was the right book to start with.

She was about to banish the rest of the books back to their places when Minerva came up to her and said hello.

"Hi Minerva," Hermione said with a smile.

"Soulmates, hmm?" Minerva said as she glanced at the titles on the desk.

Hermione blushed. "Yes." She thought quickly as to what she could say. "This summer I was talking with a Muggle friend. She was saying she felt her husband and she were soulmates. It got me thinking as to what's the difference between what Muggles think of soulmates and what magical soulmates are."

"Auch, I can help you out if you'd like." She took the seat next to Hermione as the younger witch nodded.

"Muggle soulmates are based on magical soulmates. Where Muggles feel that their bond was preordained, we believe that not only is the bond preordained, but it is based on the magical core of a witch or wizard. A soulmate's magic recognizes commonalities in their mate. It recognizes a kindred spirit, as it were."

"But it's not blatantly obvious, is it?" Hermione asked.

"No, no, it isn't. Actually, not everyone has a soulmate. Few do if I were to be perfectly honest. Also, many never find that soulmate."

"So, how do you know you have a soulmate?" Hermione asked, leaning towards Minerva.

Minerva thought. "Well, you're attracted to each other like any normal couple. Usually, you find out with your first kiss. I think there may be a potion to determine soulmates as well. Have you come across any in your studies, Hermione?"

"I've heard of one, but I don't know what it entails."

Minerva nodded. "Anyway, that first kiss is very… powerful. It leaves the couple with no doubt that they're soulmates." She looked away, deep in thought. "So, there are basically three types of soulmates. The first are those who never know. They never meet their soulmate, or they never begin a romantic relationship with the other person. Or possibly they do, but it goes nowhere, and no kiss is ever bestowed.

"The second type is those who kiss and find out, but for some reason, they move no further with being soulmates. They either choose to ignore their bond, or they deliberately choose not to move forward with their relationship."

"But isn't the bond strong? Wouldn't it be difficult to reject?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, and no. The bond is strong, and the feelings about the other person never truly disappear. But unless the relationship is consummated, the bond is never fully formed, so the couple can do what they wish. If they don't move forward, they can love another. They can have a deep relationship with that person despite their bond with their soulmate. They can be happy with their non-soulmate."

Hermione nodded. "Wouldn't that be hard, though?"

"It would be, but as time goes along and the person spends time with their chosen, the feelings for their soulmate diminishes somewhat. As I said, those feelings never leave, but they become bearable and easier to ignore."

Minerva continued. "The third type of soulmates are the ones who consummate their bond. They become soul-bound and can never be with another person. They are fully devoted to each other, and their love is one of the strongest bonds known to wizarding-kind."

"What's that like?"

"It's quite involved. There are protections involved. The spouse can help a mate that's in danger by either being summoned to their location or even sometimes being able to protect them from afar. Sometimes there's a Legilimency aspect of the bond, where the couple can communicate silently and know instinctively what the other is feeling or thinking. Why I've even heard of a spouse bringing their mate back from the dead."

Hermione's mouth dropped open. "How… how did they do that?"

"I'm not sure, but it has to be a very specific circumstance." She thought for a moment. "It would be when the pair were separated prematurely, like when one mate dies of an illness, or they are killed in an accident. Or even if they were struck down and killed by another."

Hermione's eyes grew wide. She looked to the table to avoid suspicion from her colleague. She quickly controlled her breathing, which had become somewhat ragged. Looking back up at Minerva, she clarified.

"So, if a couple is split up prematurely, is there a way to bring that deceased spouse back? How can one do that?"

Minerva shrugged. "That, my dear, I don't know." She looked at the large pile of books on the table. "But I'm sure one of these books can probably explain that to you."

She reached out and grasped Hermione's hand. "I know you get absorbed in your research when you're chasing answers, Hermione. Make sure you come up for a breath now and then and also join us for meals."

Hermione grinned ruefully. "I'm sorry I missed dinner tonight."

Minerva waved her hand. "It's not an issue, but I don't want you to starve yourself because you're so absorbed in this." Her hand moved over the book pile.

Hermione chuckled. "You know me too well, Minerva. I did ask a House-Elf for something light earlier."

"That's good, Please don't go hungry." The older witch stood. "Well, I'd better be off. I have some reading to do before I turn in for the night."

Hermione reached out and grasped Minerva's hand. "Thanks, Minerva. You have actually gotten me a lot farther along in my research than I expected to be."

"Any time, my dear."

Minerva squeezed her hand and was off, walking to the library door and out of it. Hermione watched her go, then turned back to her book pile. She picked up Soulmates and placed it on the discard pile. She felt nothing as she did so. Reaching out, she grabbed Soulmate Magic. Feeling the magical tingle, she knew this was the right book to be researching.

Banishing the rest of the pile back to their shelves, Hermione looked at the clock. Her conversation with Minerva had gone on for a lot longer than it had seemed. As she noticed how late it was, fatigue seemed to overtake her. She looked down at the book in her hands. She knew she'd find answers within it, but her mind was feeling fuzzy from the lack of sleep she'd had the night before. She felt the best thing for her to do at that moment was to go to bed. She caressed the dark-brown cover and traced the golden words in the title. The information in the book would wait until tomorrow. Right now, she needed rest. She got up and left the library with the book clutched to her. She had a lot of reading to do. Luckily, she had no papers to correct for the weekend.

oooOOOooo

She felt kisses on her neck. She tilted her head so it could continue. Her whole body tingled at the reverent worship. Slowly opening her eyes, she found Severus kissing her lovingly as they sat on the sofa in her sitting room.

"Severus," she whispered.

"You left so quickly last time," he replied as he continued to kiss her neck.

"I didn't want to. I was furious and frustrated when I awoke in my bed all alone."

She moved back a little so she could turn and look at her soulmate. "I've never felt anything like that before. That kiss… it was so intense." She looked down and blushed. "I never wanted it to end."

Severus leaned in and captured her lips. A jolt shot through her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. She hungrily returned his kisses as she opened her mouth, inviting him to enter. His tongue tangled with hers, and she moaned in ecstasy as he kissed her with devotion. The kiss went on for what seemed like forever as their passion grew and grew. Finally, Severus pulled back reluctantly, breathing heavily. She too was out of breath as her eyes met his.

"We can't go too far," Severus said.

"Oh, but I want to."

"I do too, but I will not subject you to being chained to me forever until I am alive again."

"Severus…" She looked at him with concern. "I wouldn't be chained to you."

He gave her a rueful smile. "I know if we bind ourselves when I'm alive, it wouldn't chain you, but now… you would be chained to me. You could never love another."

"I know, but I would gladly accept that to have our bond completed."

Severus grasped her hands. "You need to be patient. We will complete this bond! We just need to work everything out first."

She smiled then, and Severus arched his eyebrow at her, asking without words what she knew.

She blushed before speaking. "Did you know Minerva is quite well versed in soulmate lore?" she asked.

"I had no idea." He settled back on the couch and pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her into him. Her hand came up and rested on his chest as she related what Minerva said.

Severus was quiet for a minute after her explanation.

"So, the soul bond itself can save me," he said after mulling everything over. "But we are not married."

Hermione rubbed his chest. "I know. I have a book about soulmate magic that I need to research to see if I can find how this magic can be used. I hope this is the answer, Severus."

He nodded. "You will figure it out. I know you will." He squeezed her lovingly.

She reached up and turned his head towards her, kissing him softly.

"Mmm," she said as she pulled away. "I don't think I'll ever get tired of that."

Severus smirked at her. "Nor I. You are magnificent."

Her hand came up and caressed his face. "I want this to be real, Severus. I won't stop… I won't…" A lump formed in her throat, keeping her from continuing. A tear slowly trickled down her cheek.

He kissed her tear away. "You will prevail. The prophecy says you will."

Hermione's face was filled with determination. "I won't stop until I find the answer and we are together, Severus."

His lips descended on her, and she felt comforted by his loving kisses.