Harry and Ron sat in the Gryffindor common room. They hadn't spoken since they got back from accompanying Snape, Hermione and Hagrid to the hospital wing.

"Why do you think Hermione joined the dark side?" Ron asked, twiddling his thumbs.

"I have no idea. She hates those people, we both know that." Harry looked up from staring at the floor.

"What if she didn't join." Harry said suddenly.

"What? What do you mean, Harry, we saw the mark, Hermione has the dark mark on her arm!"

"I know that, but I mean, what if Hermione was forced to join?"

"What would you-know-who want with Hermione? She's a Gryffindor for Merlin's sake! She wouldn't even harm a fly." Harry nodded. Silence had taken over again. Ron sat up straight in his chair.

"Do you think Snape has something to do with this?" Ron asked.

"Snape?"

"Think about it Harry. Hermione gets detention with him, she goes and both of them disappear for a day. When she comes back, she's grumpy and not in a mood to talk with anyone. Then Snape wanted to stay at the hospital wing to talk to her alone, he rushed us out."

"You have a point there, Ron."

"Duh." Harry narrowed his eyes at Ron for that.

**********************************

Snape stood there and watched Hermione sleep. Why Voldermort had chosen her for a replacement was beyond him. He sighed and walked out of the room.

"Will you be returning?" Snape jumped at the voice. He was so caught up in his thoughts he didn't notice Madam Pomfrey standing at the doorway.
"Yes, I am going to go back to my office to grade a few papers. I will return later." Madam Pomfrey nodded and let Professor Snape leave.

When he sat down in his chair, something happened. He was transported back to that cement room again.

"Well Severus, now I suppose you will see how serious I am."

"I already knew how serious you were, my lord."

"You didn't seem to."

"I have a question."

"What might that be?"

"Why Hermione?" There was a pause. Snape leaned up against the wall and crossed his arms.

"Isn't it obvious? She's close to Harry and is devoted to any task given to her."

"You're asking her to kill Harry?"

"You didn't figure this out before?"

"She was trying to scrape the mark out of her skin today, my Lord."

"You don't think I knew that already? She'll do it."

"But why her? Why not another Slytherin that would be more faithful?"

"You're telling me who to get to kill Harry? Severus, Severus, Severus." There was a sigh.

"I thought you didn't want Harry killed." Snape glared.

"I may dislike him, my lord, but I don't want any student of mine to die." There was a growl then Snape was sent soaring backwards until he felt the safety of his chair behind him. He noticed himself back in his office as fast as he went the first time. He was worried, worried that Hermione might actually try to do something. He knew better. He'd have to keep a watch on Hermione just in case. He shook his head, trying to get the thoughts out of his mind, as he went back to grading his papers.

***********************************

The next few weeks went by slowly for Hermione, Harry and Ron. They had spent much time together in the hospital wing, waiting for Hermione to be o.k. to be released. Hermione didn't talk as much as she used to, instead she softly cried. Harry always sat by her, trying to get her to talk as Ron stood by the nearest wall and listened, putting in a few words every now and then. Snape had come in and put a vanishing charm on her mark so it wouldn't be visible, unless it started to hurt again. That helped Hermione a lot. Harry and Ron spent their time when they weren't with Hermione, avoiding Snape when they could. They noticed that he was more grumpy in Potions than they've ever seen him before. The first night Hermione was allowed out of the hospital ward, Dumbledore announced, at dinner, the trip for the upper years to Hogsmeade that weekend. Harry and Ron smiled with delight. Hermione, remembering her orders she had gotten, just smiled.

"Aren't you excited, Hermione?" Harry asked, grabbing the chicken legs that were in front of him.

"Yes." Hermione already had food on her plate, but wasn't eating it. She picked at it and made a face before getting up and leaving the room without warning.

"Where's she going off to?" Ron asked, shaking his head in her direction.

"I don't know." They sat for a minuet before getting up to go follow her. As soon as they were out of the dinning hall, Harry put a hand out and stopped Ron.

"Maybe she wants to be alone." Harry said, Ron thought about it, but he took a step forward.

"I don't know Harry. She seemed kind of worried. Do you think she'll be alright?" Harry shrugged. As soon as Harry let go of Ron's arm, Ron walked down the hall. Harry stood there for a second thinking. 'I wonder what got into him. Yesterday he didn't want to be by Hermione, now he's worried?' Harry shook his head before running after Ron.

"Where do you think she'd be?" Harry asked.

"Where do you think?"

"Library" Harry and Ron said in unison and smiled before taking off at a run for the Library. It was the one place that they both knew would cheer Hermione up.