"I still can't explain the reason why he won't wake up." Snape said, pacing the infirmary floor as Hermione and Harry took two seats. Hermione looked at Snape and tilted her head.

"Could it be some sort of curse…a…a spell?"

Snape stopped pacing and turned to look at Hermione. An amused look crossed his face and he stopped pacing in front of her and crossed his arms. Hermione shrunk back in her seat at his malicious stance.

"As if that thought hasn't crossed my mind, Ms. Granger." He paused, shooting a look between Harry and Hermione. "There's no other suitable reason why he'd stay like this for three days without so much as a blink unless he's slipped into a coma and given the circumstances, I doubt that's a reason I'd add to my list of possibilities."

Hermione gave a sigh and looked back at Ron before looking back at Harry. The silence was interrupted by Snape as an idea struck him.

"There is a good chance that something set it off. I've heard of things like this before, but have never experienced--"

"Like what?" Harry butt in.

"Mr. Potter, if you would kindly let me finish before you speak." He shot a glare at the boy who immediately looked down at the ground.

"As I was saying. There has been cases of something going wrong in a spell of some sort, causing the caster to be pulled inside of the spell. Whether this is the case or not, I don't know, but it is a possibility."

"So, you're saying Ron is stuck in a spell?" Hermione furrowed her brow.

"Not exactly stuck in a spell but rather…" Snape stopped talking and thought. It was harder to explain it than he thought.

"Put it this way, you said that Mr. Weasley was trying to take the spell off of Potter, correct? When he did the spell, it backfired and the spell took over Weasley. It's some sort of…hostage device."

Hermione's eyes widened, as did Harry's.

"H-hostage?!?" Hermione stood up outraged. Harry grabbed her arm as Snape took a step towards her.

"How will we know for sure?" Harry asked, keeping his eyes on Hermione as she turned to look at him. Harry pulled her back into her seat before looking at his Potion's Professor.

"There's an arrangement of things. Spells, potions…tests." Snape replied, looking back at Ron who has still shown no sign of movement.

"Well…you should know some potions then?" Hermione inquired. Snape shook his head.

"It's not that easy, Ms. Granger. Some of them can be very dangerous. If the wrong actions are taken, they can be fatal, especially if it's something we aren't expecting. Something totally opposite of what we assume."

"So you're saying there's no certain way to know?" Hermione took a glace at Ron. Snape shook his head.

"Precisely."

"Well then, how are we going to find out? How will we know for sure what happened?" Hermione's lips formed into a small pout as she noticed the seriousness of it all. Harry reached over and took her hand for support, she immediately grabbed it and gave it a squeeze. Snape studied Hermione for a few seconds before speaking.

"There is a spell, one I'm sure won't cause him harm, although it hasn't always been proven truthful."

A few seconds of quietness passed before Snape rubbed his temples and gave a heavy sigh.

"I suppose you two wouldn't know where to start." He looked back at the two, Harry's face showed signs of clueless ness. Hermione was silently going over the books that could have a possible solution.

"Luckily, I have a book, I know has the spell you need, however you aren't going to get it by just sitting there, expecting I'll give it to you on my own free will."

Hermione's head shot up and looked at Snape.

"What can we do?"

"This will take a lot of research. And, as I'm sure that you, as well as I, am swamped with studies and grading, you will require help and possibly a few passes into the restricted section for further information?"

Harry looked oddly at Snape.

"Are you telling us that you're offering us your help?"

"Like I have a choice? You two ran to my office, disturbed my grading and got me this far. Merlin knows just how long before you'd be knocking on my chamber doors wanting me for help when a potion goes wrong and turns your…friend…into a mass of slime and bones, if I ~didn't~ offer my assistance and expertise."

Hermione looked up at Snape and gave a soft smile as Harry just sat there, surprised at how fast Snape jumped on the opening. Silently thinking to himself if he was just in this for the laugh and enjoyment of watching Hermione and himself struggle, or if he actually did have a mass of muscle called a heart hidden beneath those layers of black. Snape gave a glare to Harry as he noted his odd look before turning and leaving.

"Professor?" Hermione called.

"Yes Ms. Granger?"

"Thank you." Hermione watched her Uncle leave towards the door. Snape just sighed and gave a nod before swinging the infirmary door open and leaving. Harry looked back at Hermione after Snape left.

"You trust him?"

"Of course I do, Harry." Hermione twisted in her seat to see Harry better.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Through the past 5 years we've been in this school, I'm not sure I'd trust him this much to help us retrieve Ron from whatever is holding him back."

Hermione gave an exasperated sigh before standing and walking over to Ron's side. She brushed a hand against his cheek.

"Yeah, well, who else would we go to?"

"We could have done it ourselves. We've done it before."

"Done it before? Harry, we've never done anything like this before."

Harry looked back at Ron and swallowed. Wanting to trust Hermione, deciding that there was no other choice before looking back at her.

"Alright. Fine."

Hermione looked at Harry carefully before going over and giving him a hug.

"We'll get Ron out of this, Harry. Snape or no Snape, we will get him back to us."

She kissed his forehead before turning around and leaving.

"Night Harry." She waved a hand over her head before she shut the door behind her. Harry nodded a bye.

"Night." He stood up after Hermione left and went over to Ron. His mind wandered around for who would want to take Ron hostage, if that was the case. He shook his head after a while, not quite sure what to think at that point and turned, leaving the infirmary.

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*points up* LOOKIE! It's a fissie! Hehe. Yeah, Anyway…I'M SO SORRY for not getting another chapter up sooner. A whole bunch of stuff has happened over the past few months, catching Strep from your roomie is something that should not be taken lightly…especially when it lasts for three months and catching a viral disease on top of it. Not good at all….THEN going on Spring Break and driving 18 hours down to Texas to spend with her family and all…tee hee. Yeah, Anyhoo…Hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please R&R!

-Meow!