Chapter Seven:

Hermione was lying under a huge tree by the lake. It as Saturday and the students were all in Hogsmeade. Hermione loved that tree. She'd spent a lot of time under it at school. She got up and started roaming around the grounds. She was on the edge of the Forbidden Forest when she noticed it.

There was a man hunched down to the ground, gasping for air. He appeared to be in a great deal of pain. Hermione ran to him and crouched at his side.

"Sir, is there anything I can--"

Severus Snape had just looked up. His face was white and there was a small trickle of blood in the corner of his mouth. Hermione acted at once. "She wrapped his arm around her neck and helped him up. He moaned in pain and collapsed. Hermione sighed.

"Broken leg. Hold on, we'll have you in the hospital soon." Hermione levitated Snape al the way to the infirmary. There, she sat him on a bed and went to get Madam Pomfrey.

Hermione reentered the room minutes later with the squat old woman following behind her. The Mediwitch looked Snape over and healed his broken leg. She went to get a potion for his internal injuries and left Hermione and Snape alone.

"Severus, a meeting? What happened?"

"He broke through my mental walls. He found out I haven't been entirely devoted to serving him. I've had other things on my mind." Snape seemed to be in no condition to be his usual rude self.

"So he tortured you?" Hermione gasped.

"What do you expect?"

"What was on your mind?" Hermione really didn't want to discuss torture.

Snape looked at her for a few minutes. He seemed to be making a decision. He opened his mouth to speak, but Madam Pomfrey came running back into the room. Snape gave Hermione a look that clearly said "not in front of her".

Madam Pomfrey forced various potions down his throat. She poked and prodded him a bit more, and then she turned to Hermione.

"They removed a few of his ribs." she said, "He'll have to grow them back. Will you stay and watch over him?"

"Of course." Hermione nodded.

She took a seat in the chair next to Snape's bed and Madam Pomfrey left he room. They sat in silence for a few minutes, and then Snape finally spoke.

"One rib for every memory." he said.

"Memory of what?" Hermione asked quietly.

"You."