Disclaimer: All characters and places related to the Harry Potter books and movies belong to J.K. Rowling. I claim no ownership or rights to her world; I only play in it because it's so much fun.
Author's Note: Okay, Okay….I know I am so sorry. It's been forever since my last update to this story. I have no excuses, just lost track of time. When I realized how long it had been, I had to go back and reread all of my story (I couldn't remember where I left it off). Anyway, I profusely apologize and want to beg your forgiveness. I will try to write the final few chapters of this story as quickly as possible. This next scene was my only stumbling block in finishing this storyline. Bear with me in the final hour of my insanity.
Chapter Thirteen – Barely Coming Through
Severus looked into the thick darkness that engulfed his body. He clutched the inviting wood of his wand in his hand, hoping to see Lucius soon. It had been hours since Hermione had left the dreary confines of this world, and Severus felt each second pass. He could feel the pain of Hermione's healing process intrude his thoughts. The darkness only reminded him of the cold and lonely life he led, and he welcomed the feeling of another person in his mind.
In some way, while Severus was trapped in Hermione's mind, he was able to feel her extreme moods and emotions; creeping into his thoughts. Severus ran his free hand through his sweat-laced hair and began to pace in the small cell. His body ached from lack of movement and he quickly realized the need to keep moving. He began to go through strategies to take on Lucius. He knew that he would need to overcome him instantly and take the lead at the start. His mind raced through all of the spells used in combat, and quizzed himself of defense moves as well. He knew that Lucius would try to defeat him with an unforgiveable; using all of his old tactics to defeat an old friend.
Severus had the advantage because of Lucius's mistake in thinking that Severus was still on his side. Lucius made it clear that he was unaware of Severus's loyalties with the notes that he sent Hermione. It was up to Severus to decide where he stood once and for all, and to prepare to take the life of a man he once called friend.
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Hermione's eyes fluttered open to a beaming medi-witch looming over her. Madame Pomfrey saw Hermione's movement and flew to her side to see how she was feeling.
"Hermione, it is good to see you up. How are you feeling this afternoon?"
Hermione looked up at Madame Pomfrey and smiled slightly to reassure the overprotective medi-witch. "I am feeling much better today. My ribs do not hurt nearly as much, and I no longer have a headache from the pain."
"That's so good to hear Hermione. We have all been so worried about you." Madame Pomfrey patted Hermione's brow lightly and ran a scan of her condition with that light touch. "You are doing so much better. You have taken well to your recovery.
"Dumbledore asked me to inform him when you woke up. It seems that he has some news concerning your condition. Are you feeling up to company?"
Hermione smiled strongly this time, and pulled herself up to a sitting position. This time she only winced slightly from the pain in her side. "I feel fine. Tell him that I would like to hear anything that he can tell me. I am so worried about Severus at this time." Hermione then looked over to the still figure laying beside her. She grabbed a hold of his hand and squeezed it, hoping to give him some kind of assurance of her presence.
He had saved her life and risked his own to avenge her. Hermione watched his eyes squint in a small movement as if he was concentrating on something. She knew where he was and saw all of the darkness that he was in lingering in the back of her mind. It confused her how a man that belittled all that she was, would go to such lengths for her sanity. Dumbledore had told her of the dangers of leaving her in that state for much longer. She wanted to thank him and help him come out of the nightmare that he was in…but her thoughts were all in vain.
Hermione was brought out of her turmoil when Dumbledore came into the infirmary with a wide smile and twinkle in his eyes. "Well, look who's up. It is so good to see you up and smiling Hermione."
"I feel good." Hermione's smile slipped from her face when she felt Severus's hand twitch in her own. "He keeps moving slightly in his state, and I keep hoping that he will wake up."
"You did that as well when you were under this spell. We are doing all we can to help him at this time. If Severus does come in contact with Lucius while under, it is very possible that Lucius will terminate the spell and Severus will revive." Dumbledore pulled a chair up next to Hermione's bed and sat down facing her. "That is what we are all hoping for. Now I do have a few things I need to tell you about your condition."
Dumbledore looked into Hermione's eyes, "Do you ever have the sensation that you can feel what Severus is going through?"
Hermione looked at Albus with expectation. "Yes, I do. At times I feel like he is somewhere in my head trying to talk to me. Is it possible for me to speak to him?"
"No I don't think that would be possible. But since Severus is essentially trapped in your mind, you have access to his stronger emotions. As he should feel the same way with your moods. That is why it is vitally important at this time that you stay calm. Any extreme moods or emotions will affect his ability to think rationally and fight." Hermione nodded at his information and asked if there were any signs of this transference of emotions in the physical realm.
"Will others be able to tell if I should feel these emotions?"
Albus was uncertain of the answer and only shrugged his shoulders. "I'm uncertain. I felt you needed to be warned, if there are physical repercussions, we wanted you to be prepared. Also, you should know that if Severus should die while in your mind, you will feel his death. His removal from your mind in that way will leave a hole in your psyche. The research is very clear on this."
Hermione questioned Albus with her eyes, and became frustrated at his sudden silence. "What are you trying to say? Tell me all of the facts please; I deserve to know the truth."
Albus lost the twinkle in his eyes as his face saddened at her situation. "It seems that in the past one person tried this before, and the person that was originally placed under the spell was lost without that new presence in their mind. The death will make you live out your life with a constant feeling of being incomplete and lost without your whole self. It seems that he will take a part of you with him. The last person was not able to deal with the pain and lose that they felt. It ended in suicide."
Hermione looked down at her hands and noticed how she was wringing them in anxiety. This was too much to take. She could lose not only Severus, but her mind to this horrible nightmare.
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Two days had passed slowly for Hermione. She had begged Dumbledore for permission to study the spell and its qualities. Dumbledore finally gave in and would check in on Hermione each time he brought her new books. She kept him up at all hours, constantly wanting to see new books from all parts of the library. Even asking for many of Severus's books from her quarters.
She was no closer to finding a way out of this spell, than she was two days before. She thought of trying to go back in using the same potion and spell that Severus had used to save her; but she found that she would only end up causing herself extreme mental anguish by the intrusion within her own mind. It seemed that matters of the mind became complicated if fooled around with. Hermione was at a loss.
She picked up the book that she had been reading for the last three hours and slammed it shut with utter frustration. She fingered the spine slowly as she began to try and calm herself. She knew that this type of frustration would only serve to hurt Severus.
"AAGGHHHH!!!" Hermione clutched her head as she lurched forward in pain. Her head felt like it was going to explode. The pain came in waves, and all thought was lost to its' strength. "What is happening to me!" She yelled in the air and breathed in harshly with each wave of pain.
It was then that she realized that the pain in her head was from the conflict Severus was fighting. She slowly got out of her bed and struggled to make her way over to Severus's side. She grasped his hand tightly as a flash went through her mind. A scene of Lucius casting a spell towards Severus played out in an instant. She felt the wave of pain hit her head as Severus wretched over at the spell.
Hermione screamed with each throbbing reminder of Severus's fight. Hermione leaned over Severus's body and began to scream at him, hoping to give him strength. "Severus, Severus, please!!! If you can hear me. Please, Fight!! Fight!" A sharp pain shot through her head and she fell to her knees next to his bed. She still held on to his hand, and pulled herself up to him. She used all of her strength to reach her mouth to his ear and whisper in desperation, "I can't lose you." With that statement silent tears began to fall down Hermione's cheeks as she held onto Severus with all her might.
A breathless, whisper was heard in the silence, "Hermione." Hermione looked up to Severus's face to see his eyes open, but filled with pain.
"Severus." Hermione felt her body shudder with emotion. "Aghh!!" and it was that last cry that took her into blackness, with the black pools of Severus's eyes the only sight to give her hope.
TBC
I would like to thank HPgirl55 and Alan's only for giving the push that I needed to finish out this story. They helped me realize how long it has been since I last updated. I hope to keep it coming as quick as possible and to finish the story soon. Thank you for bearing with me and remaining faithful…I understand if you even have to read it all over again to remind yourself what all has happened. -CelticWords