Minerva and Poppy's good company jollied her out of her misery. Poppy was especially interested in some of Dr. Granger's better theories of crossover magic/Muggle healing methods, and Minerva couldn't get enough of the discussion of how the transformation from human to ghost form without death required skills very similar to what Animagi possessed. "Such a complex spell, Hermione…I cannot imagine that many will be able to even attempt it."

"Only one or two need learn it fully, and hopefully the war will be over. If, of course, the research ever comes to fruition." She swirled her drink and looked thoughtfully at the changing colors within the enchanted wine.

"Darling girl, you are among us…with the combined strength of the minds here, I daresay we'll be retiring Severus within weeks." Naturally, Minerva and Poppy were completely aware of the difficulties of Snape's double-agent life; Poppy knew all too well the toll the repeated Cruciatus was taking on Snape.

"I have to admit, I was apprehensive about returning. I haven't set foot in the castle since graduation, and there are more ghosts than just the Bloody Baron and Sir Nicholas here for me."

Minerva leaned over. "Have time and distance conspired to heal those wounds, then?"

Hermione sighed. "I think it will take more than that, but I can deal with it. Must deal with it, really. This has gone on long enough." She knew she wasn't just talking about herself.

After Hermione left, the two older women looked at one another. The pain was evident, but Hermione was much stronger than they thought possible. She wasn't the vulnerable child that had left their halls, her spirit's innocence quashed forever. What Poppy and Minerva couldn't decide was if that was for the best, or not. Something had definitely been lost along the way, and they agreed that they hoped she would regain that lost happiness.

Hermione and Snape pored over notes and ideas till early the next morning, and called it a night somewhere around 2. The discussion was professional and had none of the earlier innuendo, bitterness, or playfulness, which suited her just fine. She needed time to think. And, what she didn't realize was, so did he.

The next two weeks continued in much the same fashion; work commenced again on brewing a slightly altered potion with Snape's recommendations, and the two researchers, sometimes joined by another professor with specific ideas germane to the part of the spell she was using, worked late into each night. They were both night people and did their best work after 8pm. She hadn't realized until she worked with Snape in companionable silence for the 7th day how much better it was to have another researcher present, rather than working in solitary confinement at the Ministry. Several times she told him that he really didn't have to devote so much time to her enterprise, but he waved her off. She could tell that he was enjoying the work, and that he was grateful to have finally been included in the project that most likely would save his life…if they could have it done soon.

Once school started, Hermione took on 5 promising students for extra research projects. She met with one each day. Two were Ravenclaw 7th years, one was a Slytherin 7th year, and she had two Gryffindor 6th years that were both excellent in Charms and wanted more work. The Slytherin was interested in the Dark Arts (not surprising she supposed, but as an Auror she could guide him the right way) and the Ravenclaws were both interested in Transfiguration projects. A sixth child, a Hufflepuff 6th year, was on the "waiting list" to work with her in the area of Potions. As she got to know her charges, she was impressed with the quality of the work they were all capable of. She noted such to Lupin at the Head Table a week into school.

Customarily, Hermione had been sitting at the very end of the table between Remus and Hagrid for meals. Albus had a tendency to send general running commentary in her direction via their mind link as well, often causing her to laugh out of turn until she got control over herself. She was sure the teachers down on her end of the table thought her quite mad, but that was par for the course. She had caught Snape gawking at her during a particularly funny joke that only she and Albus had shared. Good, she thought. Laughter will certainly keep that impossible git at arm's length.

She hadn't kept the date with herself to relive her memories, but after talking to Lupin about his promising Slytherin student, she asked him to come by her rooms later. The newest incarnation of the spell was about a week off and she really needed to stop procrastinating and spend some time coming to grips with the ghosts of the past. Lupin seemed like the safest choice to start with.

Lupin had to withstand a few challenges from Sir Cadogan ("Scurvy knight! How do I know you didn't steal the password in a most unsavory fashion?") before Hermione, hearing the commotion, opened the door and yelled at Sir Cadogan to mind his own business. "How did you get the most cantankerous painting in the castle to guard your door?"

"Maiden's honor, I guess," she said, chuckling. "Remus, do you remember the night Ron died?"

He ran his hands through his hair. "I didn't realize that you were starting to go down this path. Is this why you've asked me here tonight?"

"You've had 6 years here, and I've had less than 4 weeks. I really need to revisit the whole sordid mess. I've squashed it down for too many years, and I need to get the poison out of my soul once and for all."

"I can agree with that logic, but you're far from hitting acceptance. Referring to it only as 'the night Ron died' doesn't really do it justice." He sat down across from her, looking at her fondly. She had always had a very special place in his heart.

"Agreed," she said, "but it's the only way I've been able to think about it up until now."

Remus grabbed both her hands and looked at her seriously. "That night, the darkest of the dark befell you. Your best friend died in a foolish quest to liberate you – died for no reason, and Gods know how that haunts your soul. Your most feared professor risked everything to save you, everything including his soul and yours. You were violated and asked to bear burdens no woman should ever have to. You may have been the only woman to ever escape Lucius Malfoy's depraved plans with your life, and Gods know how that haunts both of you, in not only your own hatred, but his desire for retribution – you know that all too well. The other women had it easy; they were killed after their torment. Ron's and Harry's and Snape's love for you and willingness to die for you ultimately saved you, but at what cost? Malfoy lost in some ways, but won in such dreadful ways. That's the power of the Dark Arts in him."

Remus's last words stung like knives, as she hadn't been willing to think so baldly in those terms. The feel of Lucius's breath on her hair was as new as if it had happened an hour ago. And Snape…had been willing to die for her, and because of Ron's sacrifice, hadn't had to die protecting her. Loved her? Remus was romanticizing a little much.

"I will help you piece the first part together, as I was involved in what happened on this end. OK? Let's talk about this together. As you know, I was here unofficially helping Albus and keeping an eye on Harry and you two, even though I was not an instructor." He held her hands in between his, and they began speaking, completing each other's sentences as they remembered.

Ron. The face came into focus. She had just broken his heart hours before she was taken. She could clearly see in her mind's eye his anger and humiliation at her betrayal of his heart; they had begun to consummate their relationship before she realized how wrong it was for her, and she felt incredibly guilty having to let him down. She had stopped his caress and stood up. "Ron, I can't. I'm sorry…"

"Can't…now…or ever, Hermione?"

"Ever, Ron. I need to stop this; we need to remain only friends. Can you understand?"

"No, I can't, and I won't." He rushed past her, and she could not catch up. In tears, she ran off towards Hagrid's to spill her grief in the arms of one who would understand and have rock cakes and tea to boot.

When she got to Hagrid's, the door was open and Fang was gone. However, she saw Hagrid sitting by the fire. "May I come in?"

"What's wrong with ye, lass? Let's walk and you can tell Hagrid all about it."

She had missed the obvious signs in her grief, and before the Polyjuice had a chance to wear off, the ersatz Hagrid had taken her beyond the anti-apparition wards surrounding the school. She was knocked out with a quick curse; the first images in her mind on awakening were the dank dungeons of Malfoy Manor. She had the good sense not to show that she was awake by screaming, and surreptitiously tested her bonds, which appeared unbreakable. She was truly in a fix, and no one would be looking for her till at least morning.

Hagrid came back to his hut. "Funny, that git in the Three Broomsticks saying there was a dyin' werewolf out in the forest. Summat wrong there, he must have been mistaken." Fang barked and sniffed at the door, and whined. The dog knew Hermione had been there, and could smell the unfamiliar scent of Goyle, Sr. as well, but had no one to tell.

Lucius Malfoy was incredibly pleased at how well Goyle's little raid had turned out. He had never anticipated such incredible bounty; the goal was simply a spy mission to see what kinds of secrets might be stowed away in Hagrid's hut. Hagrid was a fool and easy to manipulate with tales of a creature in distress, and naturally his hair was quite easy to obtain from all of his many jaunts into Hogsmeade for drink of an evening. Goyle had impersonated Hagrid for the intelligence mission, when of all people, Hermione Granger, the mudblood sidekick of Harry Potter, came waltzing in. He wouldn't have thought Goyle clever enough to be cunning in the kidnapping, but surprises abounded. What a delicious treat – to defile the girl most precious to Harry Potter. He could not wait to send the girl back in death slumber to the gates of Hogwarts, especially as no one could ever figure out where she had gone…he had as much time as he needed to play with her before the killing.

In the morning, Parvati came down to the common room to look for Hermione. Ron and Harry were on the way down for breakfast, and she stopped them worriedly. "'Moine didn't sleep in her bed last night. Anyone seen her?"

"Who cares," Ron said crossly, but Harry interrupted. "That is unusual, after all the library does close at midnight. Ron, when did you last see her?"

Ron snorted, but was gallant enough to appear concerned in his hurt state. "The Astronomy Tower. Took her up there for a snog, and she broke up with me. I left her there."

Stunned, Harry and Parvati considered his comment, and Harry said, "Ron, did she give you any clue at all where she might be going?"

"Why should I care? Perhaps she was off shagging someone else and hasn't returned. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to breakfast." Ron sprinted out of the room as Parvati and Harry gaped open-mouthed at one another.

When Hermione didn't turn up at breakfast, Harry approached Hagrid at the Head Table. He was the one person she would go and talk to about her Ron troubles. "Hagrid, have you seen Hermione?"

"Sorry lad, last time I saw 'er was in class Thursday. Has she gone missin'?"

"Yes, Hagrid, and I'm worried." Harry turned to McGonagall. "Hermione is missing."

"When was she last seen?"

"Last night, Ron saw her in the Astronomy Tower."

Worried, Minerva leaned over to Albus, who did a simple location spell. Nothing. Several of the teachers tried various incarnations of the spell. Hermione was not in the castle.

"Oh, dear," Dumbledore said. "A word, everyone." The teachers, Harry, and a grudging Ron were towed up to Dumbledore's office. Once the story was out, everyone felt sure that she must have run down to Hagrid's; Filch was able to confirm with the help of Mrs. Norris that someone indeed had left the castle at about the time of Hermione and Ron's fight.

"I was down at the Three Broomsticks earlier in the even'. A man told me a werewolf lay dyin' in the Forbidden Forest, and I ran off there. When I came home, Fang acted kinda funny, but then we went to bed. I would have been gone when Hermione mighta' been down there; I was gone for at least another hour."

"What did this man look like?" Snape had suddenly come alive and was leaning forward with a wicked glare.

"Overweight, big fellow...not much hair…not much distinguishin' to speak of. Had a curse scar on his right cheek, come to think 'er it."

"Gregory Goyle Senior. I'm sure of it." Snape's eyes were half-closed as his mind raced over the possibilities.

Albus sighed. "If I'm not much mistaken, it sounds like Goyle led Hagrid on a wild goose chase, and captured Hermione in the process. Severus, you know what you have to do." Snape stood up and Ron yelled, "WAIT! I did this, and I am going to HELP you…"

"You cannot help, Weasley, you've done enough as it is." Snape was at his most dangerous as he circled towards the door.

"I love her and I am NOT letting you go alone." Ron stood up in defiance.

"You are, and that's final." Snape swept out of the room, and Ron started to run after him. Harry and Remus held him back.

"Harry…you traitor…you can't expect us to stand here and do nothing!"

"Professor Snape is more than capable of scouting this situation. Calm down, Mr. Weasley. Lovers' quarrels happen, you are no more responsible for this apparent abduction than anyone else here." Albus was firm enough that no response would have been acceptable.

Ron sunk down and pondered the future. Harry knew him well enough to know what he was thinking, but no words would help.