"Suck me dry.
My blood is bruised and borrowed. You thieving bastards.
You have turned my blood cold and bitter,
Beat my compassion black and blue."

Tool  "Ticks and Leeches"

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

"Ah, miss Hermione!"

            Hermione looked up from her musings, and saw the kindly, bearded face of Albus Dumbledore.  She smiled up at him, and jumped to her feet, extending both her hands in friendly greeting.  Albus pressed her hands gently.

            "I was just speaking with your friend Ron.  He's been having some …interesting experiences."  He turned his spectacled gaze closely upon her.  "And he tells me you have been to see Professor Snape.  Was your experience interesting as well?"

            Hermione thought about how she would answer his question.  "Professor Snape clearly explained why my snake tracking potion would not work, because we would need the snake in question first.  He also showed me his Dark Mark, and told me a little about it.  It seemed he was considering using it to track down Voldemort."

            Dumbledore eyes lost their twinkle, and took on a heavy sadness.  His voice betrayed the weight of his years.  "Yes, I thought he was considering that.  The Mark has been sleeping for almost 20 years now.  I think it is becoming more of a burden to him each day he carries it.  Since the return of Voldemort it has started to fight ours spells once again.   The snake sleeps, but it desires to wake, and serve its dark master once more."

            "So it is a living thing" 

            "Yes, it is a magical creature, of sorts, designed by Voldemort to summon and control his followers.  Snape alone of the Death Eaters was able to fight it, most likely because he helped create it.  Oh, and one other thing." He smiled gently at her. "I believe it is time for dinner." and she knew that he would tell her no more.  "You must come join us"

            "Alright, Professor Dumbledore"

            Hermione followed him through the familiar hall of Hogwarts.  A number of the paintings on the wall waved to her, and a few addressed her by name.

            "Welcome back Hermione dear!"  A well-dressed Victorian woman called, picking up her little shaggy lap dog, and waving one of its paws at her in greeting. She smiled and waved back at them. 

            "Why look, she's all grown up!"  A bearded man in the portrait a crossed the hall called to the lady and her dog.  "I remember when she was just a first year…" their voices faded as Hermione and Albus entered the great hall.

            It was almost Christmas.  Candy canes hung suspended in rows above the tables.  A few taller students were jumping up and seeing who could grab one.  Albus chuckled as he walked passed them, and with a merry wave of his wand, the peppermint sweets were lowered so that everyone could reach them if they wanted to. 

            Hermione fought the strong urge to retreat to the Gryffindor table, as Albus led her up to the teacher's table.  Flitwick, McGonagall, Sprout, and all the other professors greeted her warmly as she sat down, and soon she was deep in conversation. 

            "So what is young Harry planning to do about the most recent muggle attack?"  Professor Sprout asked her.  She was referring to horrible Death Eater killing spree in Manchester that had been all over the Daily Prophet, and the muggle news.  Eight girls had been raped, killed and their bodies left lying in the middle of Castle Street. 

            "Well, we have no way of tracking Voldemort, and no motive behind his muggle killings other than pure spite- it' s much the same as you all remember from back in the seventies.   Harry would love to just confront him face to face again, but Voldemort has not been seen since the tri-wizard tournament."

            "Why the blasted Ministry still refuses to believe that he is back," muttered Flitwick.   "No one has proved to have seen him, indeed."

            "The giants know it is him.  They are itching to get back at him for deceiving them into believing his lies" Madam Hooch supplied.  The giants had been brought out of hiding to join the battle, but had spent two years cooling their heels, while Voldemort eluded everyone.   His powers grew, and they could only look on in frustration at the past repeating itself.  And they had to dodge attacks by the Ministry at the same time.  The ministry had always given bad press to the giants.  No wonder they were back in hiding.  Hermione wisely kept the news of the giant's retreat to herself.

Hermione snuck a glance over at Professor Snape during the ensuing ten minutes of Ministry bashing.   He was staring off, apparently at nothing.  But somehow he sensed her eyes on him, and turned to glare at her as if to say, "what are you still doing here?"  She glared back.  He looked slightly surprised at her refusal to back down, but she was still the first to look away.  

Severus leaned over to Dumbledore, speaking quietly so the others would not hear.  "Albus, I need your help tomorrow.  It is time to brew another batch of the potion."

 "So soon?"  Albus asked, concerned, looking into the other man's hooded eyes.

"Yes, it grows worse every day."

"I am afraid I have to leave Hogwarts to go to London tomorrow.   But…."

"Hermione?"  Albus called, as Severus 's eyes narrowed to slits, "Professor Snape needs your help tomorrow, after his Double Potions class.  Would you be able to stay an extra day?"

Hermione nodded instantly, "of course, Professor," then realized the deadly look Snape was giving her.  Her thoughts from earlier came back to haunt her.  She had wanted to seek out Severus Snape again, here she was.  Be careful what you wish for, girl, she thought to herself.

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

Ack, I know, cliché's abound!  But this was the hardest chapter I've had to write to connect the next chapter.  My plot bunnies are rabid, wanting to hop way ahead of the story.  Love the reviews, plot is always shaping, will take any comments, thoughts, and suggestions to weave them into the story.

Indy- I believe Snape to be able to withstand great deals of physical pain, with all he's been through in the past, which is why he did not mind the pain when he sliced open his arm.  It seems to be something he's done many times before, out of frustration. I'll see if I can rewrite and make it clearer.

Stacie- the meeting with Voldemort was something in Snape's past that he was remembering.  I will rework that section too; make it clearer, as soon as I finish the next two chapters. 

Snapegirl- I put Hermione at 18 years old, and almost one year out of Hogwarts (because I prefer her to be older and graduated if there is going to be anything between her and sev)  I hope my timeline is alright with this assumption.  The year would be 2000, if I have done my figuring right.

Thanks also to stef, and not sure yet for reviewing!