Severus woke with agony searing through his body. The pain in his stomach was almost unbearable, while Poppy held him down.
"Severus lie down!" she reprimanded him. Severus looked at Madame Promfery.
"What is wrong with me?" he asked. Poppy looked at him closely before speaking.
"You are bleeding internally, it seems that part of you gut has been ripped by the spell. I am using a strong potion to fix it but it is a painful process and I need you to lie down and relax. You don't want you kidney's up by your heart do you?" she asked him with a harsh tone. Severus was unable to respond without being contemptuous, rolled his eyes instead.
"How is Hermione?" he asked looking at her lying two beds over.
"She is still asleep. She is fighting an internal battle within herself it seems. Her wounds have healed and she has recovered from the spell, yet she does not wake," replied Dumbledore. Severus was unaware that he was in the room, standing off to the side quietly until now. Severus regarded him for a while then looked over at Hermione.
"Voldemort will come for her when she is well," he told Dumbledore heavily as he thought of his Voldemort's threat.
"Yes, I presumed as much, and that he is also still poisoning her brain which we can only stop once she is awake, which might be too late," replied Dumbledore who sighed as he sat down in a chair near the bed. Severus saw that the Professor had seemed to age overnight and was looking tired.
"Time is running out, isn't it?" Severus asked quietly with dismay. Dumbledore nodded.
"Hermione needs to make it through this, or I am afraid that everything we have ever fought for, will be over," he said looking at Hermione. Severus eyes followed the Dumbledore's eyes to the girl who lay quietly asleep yet was dreaming of terrible and dark things.
* * * * * * *
"No!" shouted Hermione at Voldemort. She could now not separate what she was dreaming from reality.
Voldemort approached and put his hand on her head, his eyes piecing her flesh.
"Hermione look at what they did to you?" he pointed to her body. Hermione looked down to find herself standing in her underwear only. The scars on her body seemed to glow.
"I would never allow something like that," he said in tone, which was almost Trans like. Hermione shook her head, her thoughts trying to envision the last four years with Harry and Ron. Yet nothing came to her. She thought they would never desert her.
What if they did? She was nothing but a mudblood after all.
Voldemort seeing her weakness continued.
"Hermione, you are not who you think you are, it is time you know the truth," he coaxed her. With that a mirror appeared before Hermione's eyes as she watch herself get younger and younger, until she was a tiny newborn baby. She saw two people she did not recognize fighting over her. Then she realized the one was her mother, only she was dressed in a robe. The other person, she could not quite make out, and then she gasped as she realized that it was none other than Snape. He was urging her to keep Hermione and who her father was a secret from the rest of the world. Her mother resisted, but Snape was convincing. Hermione thought for a moment that she might be his daughter but the thought was dismissed as Severus admitted to her mother that he would have given anything in the world to be the father of her child. So then who was it?
In the background stood someone nodding in agreement that Hermione recognised instantly. James Potter.
* * * * * * * *
Harry entered the hospital wing quietly, hoping that Madame Promfery was not around. He was in luck as she had gone down to dinner in the Great Hall. He sat down quietly on the edge of Hermione's bed, stroking her hand. Life had not been the same without Hermione there. Even Ron had withdrawn from him, telling to relax and that Hermione was safe. But Harry had been having dreams too, sensing Hermione's doubt and weaknesses. She was on the edge, and there was no returning once she made a choice.
"Hermione, you must fight for me and everything you know, fight for good!" he whispered in her ear. Hermione moaned in her sleep and turned over facing Harry.
Harry lifted his hand and placed it on her forehead. His scar started to burn, as every scar on her body did.
Hermione eyes opened, filled with terror and fright.
"It's okay Hermione you're safe," Harry tried to comfort Hermione; her body was shaking with fear as he pulled her into his arms.
"Harry?" she pulled away from him, giving him a strange look. He nodded.
"I know it's been a long time, but you still recognize me don't you?" he asked jokingly which he immediately regretted as the tears welled up in Hermione's eyes. She threw her arms around him gripping him tightly. She remembered her thoughts unsure if they were real or just a dream but she was so relieved to see Harry and be at Hogwart's. She looked around the room to see Severus lying quietly asleep two beds down from her own. She was about to go to him, but Harry stopped her. She looked at him questioningly.
"He's asleep, but he is alive after Voldemort finished with him," Harry added. Hermione was unconvinced that Voldemort did anything to Severus but remained where she was. She would be able to speak to him later privately.
"Hermione, I know that terrible things happened to you these past months but I want you to know that you are safe now and that you belong with good witches and wizards," Harry said softly. Hermione's eyes flickered for an instant before they turned normal again. She nodded and pulled him close her again. Eventually she released him and climbed out of bed, not realizing she was wearing just a shirt and her underpants. Harry gasped as he caught a glimpse of the back her thighs. He stopped her and lifted the back of her shirt in horror. Her back looked like a road map, the scars everywhere. Hermione turned and allowed him to see the front of her body. She had no shame now, after what she had been through. Harry looked at the scars, especially the long ones that had been left by a knife. He slowly put down her shirt, the tears streaming down his face.
"Oh, Hermione, I am so sorry this is all my fault," Harry said apologetically. Hermione looked confused.
"What do you mean, Harry?" she asked her brow knotted with confusion.
"Well Lucius Malfoy would never had kidnapped you, if he was not looking for me," Harry answered surprised.
"But Harry, Voldemort would come for me eventually," she responded. Harry was taken a back by her use of his name. Many people refused to say it and only referred to him as 'You-know-who' as had Hermione for many years. It also scared Harry that Hermione was not drawing a line between good and evil. She had yet to say anything about it, but from the way it sounded when she said that Voldemort would come for her, made Harry involuntarily shudder.
Harry turned away while Hermione dressed out of politeness even though he had seen everything. He actually could not bear the thought of what had been done to her. Hermione went to Severus side and kissed him lightly on the forehead, not wanting to wake him. She looked at his medicine on the side table, and realized he would be sleeping for a while till his wounds healed. Harry then lead her down to the Great Hall, as everyone was finishing dinner. The silence was deafening as one by one the students turned to look at Hermione. She clasped Harry's hand nervously. Slowly the whispering started as she walked past. Harry led her to her seat, where Ron practically pounced on her, hugging her with all his might. Hermione smiled ever so slightly as one by one the Gryffindor table greeted her. Harry looked over at Dumbledore who nodded but with a sombre face. Dumbledore knew immediately that they had work to do. Hermione had still a battle to fight whether or not anyone could see it. Everyone politely stayed away from the topic of her disappearance and Ginny got a 'oh no' out of Hermione about her missing class and schoolwork. Everyone at the table laughed knowing how important it was to Hermione but she would quickly catch up if needed. By the time Harry had eaten his dinner, Hermione had eaten a little but was smiling as she caught up with everyone. Harry watched her silently recognizing she was holding back herself, something that Hermione before this would never do. Then Dumbledore stood up for announcements.
"Please would everyone return to their common rooms now for a meeting with your head of house. Also I would like to welcome Miss Granger back, I am sure you have realized by now how much you have been missed!" he said pointedly toward her.
"And will Mr. Potter please escort Miss Granger to my office's now, thank-you!"
The Headmaster sat down and said something quietly in McGonagall's ear. She nodded and left her seat. Slowly the hall started to empty. Harry helped Hermione up and they walked slowly down to Dumbledore's office. Hermione's white face had brightened a rosy colour in her cheeks from the cold.
Harry held her hand again and she did not resist. She felt a close comfort to him, and although she was not sure if she should believe what Voldemort told her, she knew her connection with Harry was more than friendship. Somewhere deep inside, they shared something although she was not sure what. Only Severus Snape could answer her questions now.