*Harry Potter and all affiliated persons places and objects are the property of JK Rowling, her publishers and Warner Brothers. Catherine is an original character of my own creation."

Requiem for a Sinner

Chapter 2 :Circumstances

Beyond our control.

Everything was so still, so blissfully silent, that for a moment Hermione thought she might have died. It surprised her how little an effect the idea had on her. She sat, so perfectly tranquil in the pale yellow light, watching over Snape, now that everyone else had fallen asleep in the waiting room. Even Dumbledore was curled up on the floor, snoring softly. Ron and Harry lay on opposite sides of the large lumpy couch, while Mr. And Mrs. Weasley slumbered peacefully in two arm chairs.

Doctors and Nurses walked by the window, or rushed quietly this way and that, in their long white robes. It was as though St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies had forgotten about the potions master asleep in the bed.

It was strange to see him like that. So pale against the sheets, his lice infected beard had been cut off and his body scrubbed down upon his arrival. But still he was only a shadow of the spiteful nemesis he had once been to Hermione. Seeing him so weak and vulnerable stirred feelings of anger in her, but when she examined those feelings she couldn't quite place the root of the feeling. She only knew that at that moment she would have given her right arm to see him leap from the bed and insult her in that sarcastic biting way to which she had become so accustomed.

Perhaps it was because the doctors had all stared at Snape, completely at a loss for what to do to help him. Maybe it was because not even Dumbledore knew what was wrong, what had happened to Snape. Maybe it was the wrinkles that were now so visible on the Head Masters face, or the fact that the twinkle in his eye was nearly gone. But most likely was the fact that Hermione Granger was getting her first taste of how far beyond anyone's control Voldemort was, the terrible idea that if he could do this to one of the strongest, most stubborn person she had ever met, what chance did the rest of them have against Voldemort.

She looked over at the potions master, so much skinnier than he used to be, so frail looking. The only reason she could be sure he was still alive was the small rise and fall of his chest. it was hard to imagine ever being afraid of this man. All she felt now was the overwhelming urge to protect him.

However this was not the issue foremost in Hermiones mind at the moment. She held in her hand a letter that she had received that morning and had been putting off opening until now. It had become quite obvious that she wouldn't be sleeping that night, so she sat with the unopened envelope in her hands, debating with herself whether or not to open it.

"Come on Hermione, get on with it," she urged herself quietly, "no time like the present." Although her hands were shaking slightly she gently tore open the envelope. The sound cut through the silence like a bomb exploding. Nervously she looked up, half expecting some one to barge in and ream her out for making so much noise. No one came. Gently she slipped the letter out of the envelope and began to read.

My dearest Hermione,

I pray this letter finds you well my love. I am doing fine, because I always carry the memory of you around with me. You picture stays by my bed, so that I may dream of you during the night, and so that you will be the first person I see when I wake up in the morning.

Hermiones breath caught in her throat, and she considered not reading the rest for a moment. But she had passed the point of no return, Viktor's oddly neat and ornate writing was calling to her.

..........I wish I lived in England, so that I could always be near you, Hermione you can never understand how much I miss you, and how much my heart aches to know that you are so far away.

His English, though it had always been better written than spoken, was perfect, Hermione had the sneaking suspicion that perhaps he hadn't written this letter by himself.

........I can not wait to see you again, I hope that I might travel to England this summer, so that we can spend some time together. But until then, please know that you are always in my heart, and that I love you no matter how far away you are.

With all my love, forevermore

Viktor.

Hermione folded the letter in her lap and bit her lip nervously. The thing she hated about her situation with Viktor was that she was not in control, which she needed to feel safe. The way he professed his love to her was enough to make her run away screaming, because it was unpredictable, uncontrollable and something she didn't understand. She was terrified of this thing that she didn't understand.

Her head pounded and her heart was beating a mile a minute. Desperately she searched herself for answers and found nothing. The whole situation was maddening, did she love Viktor? Did she even like Viktor? Thoughts and feelings swirled around and around in her mind until she threw the letter to the ground in disgust, determined to put it out of her mind.

"Catherine!"

A cry from Snape made her jump. It took her a split second to realize what was happening. Hurriedly she darted across the room and sat cautiously on the edge of Snapes bed.

"Catherine!" he shouted again. This time he opened his eyes and sat bolt upright in bed. "Catherine, oh thank God you are here......" He looked directly at Hermione.

"No professor-"

"Please Catherine, just let me talk I have to tell you something." Franticly he groped for her hand, and held it in a sweaty grip. Hermione was too terrified to move. "I- I-I killed him."

Hermiones heart dropped to her knees. "What?" she managed to squeak out.

"I didn't mean to Catherine, please believe me." Tears began to spring from his eyes. Suddenly the door of the room opened wide. A bewildered looking Ron stepped inside and gave a questioning look to Hermione.

"Quick!" she shouted at him "Go get a doctor!" Ron stared at her dumbfounded and still. "GO!" she roared. Ron came back to reality and bolted from the room, waking up the sleepers in the waiting area.

"Please Listen!" Snape demanded shrilly. Hermione turned back to him, unsure of what to do.

"Okay, it's okay. I'm listening."

Tears were still streaming down the professors cheeks but he managed to speak through sobs. "He shouldn't have been there. I told him to leave, but he wouldn't listen."

"Who?" asked Hermione as Dumbledore rushed into the room followed by the Weasley's and Harry.

"I told him I would hurt him if he didn't leave.........I-I-I warned him. Why wouldn't he listen?"

"Who? Who did you hurt?"

Snape didn't seem to hear her. " Oh," He groaned "What have I done? I'm so sorry Catherine, I'm so sorry........" He dissolved into incoherent sobs. To Hermiones shock she found herself reaching and embracing him tightly.

"It's okay," she cooed in his ear as if he were a baby "It's all going to be okay." A hand placed gently on her shoulder told her that the doctors had arrived. Gently she released the still hysterical Snape and went to stand at the back of the room in a state of shock.

It occurred to her that Harry was asking her questions, but she just gave him a blank stare at told him she didn't want to talk. Ron was there two. As the doctors eased Snape back to sleep she saw Ron pick something up off the floor and read it. For some reason she didn't realize that he was reading Viktor's letter.

As the doctors ordered them out of the room Ron shoved he piece of paper gruffly into Hermiones hands.

"Glad to see he's doing well." he said, even she didn't miss the bitterness in his voice. But it hardly seemed to matter as Snapes door closed behind them. All there was to do now was wait and pray.