Disclaimer: Alas, Harry Potter still does not belong to me, and it's a feeble hope that J.K.R. will turn over the reigns to yours truly. Not likely.

A/N: Yep, I updated. I'm rather proud of this chapter, I think it fills in alot of gaps and gives you alot more insight into what Hermione was thinking.

-----------------------------------------------------

They had told her this was going to happen. Everyone did.

Except for Dumbledore. Dumbledore and those damn happy twinkling eyes.

She was so blind then. Blinded with love. And it was bloody great.

It wasn't a storybook romance, where all of a sudden they realized how idiotic they were both being and fell head over heels in love. It was much more meaningful than that.

Hermione couldn't pinpoint the exact moment that she had grown to love Severus. She just did. It wasn't something she asked to do, that she particularly wanted, but who was she to argue with something so wonderful?

They had worked together often at Grimmauld Place. Nothing spectacular, as the Prophet had seemed to think it was. They weren't working on some mystical all-powerful potion of which the likes of had never been seen before. It was simply healing potions and truth seriums for them.

It had taken a while for things to become...neutral between them. Both herself and Severus have horrid tempers, and it brought a smirk to her face to remember some of their rows.

Trust, no matter how begrudgingly given, turned into respect, which in turn grew into something more.

It was so sweet. While Severus was still very much the snarky bastard he always was, she grew to love and hate it repectively. Everything seemed to fit when she was with him. It didn't matter if they were arguing, which happened more often than she would have liked, or just sitting together, each of them lost in their own thoughts. No words were needed, what they had was so fufilling that to call it love was unspeakable.

When had things gone wrong? Hermione didn't know. More to the point, when did she realize things had gone wrong? Well that was easier to pinpoint.

He had changed. It was as simple as that. There wasn't outright animosity, sure to everyone else it seemed everything was the same between them. At first.

Then she had caught him the first time. With Parvati Patil, of all people.

She was beyond pissed. Hell hath no fury like a wronged Hermione. She had known things had been rough between them, but she had no idea he would ever do anything like this. But then again, Hermione tended to believe the best about people.

She was all ready to leave then, she had gone over her 'goodbye' speech a dozen times over in her head. But when the time finally came and she looked into those beautiful eyes that were just filled with sorrow, she couldn't bring herself to do it. It was the beginning of her end.

After that, she tried harder. She threw herself into the relationship, doing everything she could to make it right. She was determined. Obviously Severus wasn't happy with something, if he felt he had to go seek the company of others. So it was up to Hermione to figure out what it was and to fix it.

She forgot how to be herself. How stupid could she be? She went and became something she wasn't, a mindless fiance whose only purpose is to dote on her lover, and managed to drive Severus further away. She was such a bloody idiot.

What she had tried to do was do everyone a favor and just die. It wasn't that complicated, there wasn't any cry of help ingrained in her actions. What did she have left? Her friends? Nope. Her job? Oh yes, a mediocre job where she was underappreciated and underpaid was a wonderful thing to live for.

Her suicide note, ugh, her stomach twisted at the very thought of it. She was drunk then, which was the only rational explination, in Hermione's mind at least.

So, one can imagine her irritation when she awoke to one Harry Potter and one Severus Snape sitting next to her bed.

And the first thing that came to mind was, "Bloody hell." she groaned.

Severus was up out of his seat before you could say 'apologetic'. He went to the side of her bed, leaning slightly on the metal bedrails that were up. "Hermione?" he asked slowly, in a low tone.

No answer except the she turned around to lie facing the opposite direction.

"Hermione, please." Severus pleaded. He had pleaded.

Very slowly, as to not upset her arms, Hermione sat up. Looking him directly in the eyes with a detatched sort of look she said, "Why are you here?"

Severus didn't answer right away. Finally he answered, "Because I care about you Hermione."

Something moved in Hermione's eyes. Her mouth was set in a grim line, as if she wanted to cry, but she didn't. "Leave." she ordered.

"I can't do that Hermione." he said in the same quiet tone he used before.

"And why not?" she asked.

Severus fixed her with a disdainful and despairing look. "Because Hermione, if you don't tell us what you dosed yourself with, you'll die in the next few hours. Your body is starting to build a resistance to the blood-replenishing potions."

"I don't see a problem with that at the moment." she said, laying back down and turning away. This would have stopped the interrogation, except that she ended up facing Harry, who was sitting in a chair next to her bed.

"But we do." Harry said grimly. Severus sent a grateful look in Harry's direction.

Hermione closed her brown eyes tightly as she muttered, "I don't want this."

"Then what do you want?" Severus asked, crouching beside the bed so that he wasn't hovering over Hermione.

His inquiry was met with silence. Hermione said nothing and the room was quiet except for the background noises that any hospital has.

At first Severus thought she was asleep but her slightly furrowed brow gave her away. It was only a minute before Hermione responded, though it seemed like a few months. "To be anywhere but here." she mumbled softly, her head partially buried in a pillow.

"What was that?" Harry asked, leaning forward a bit.

"I said, Harry James Potter, that I'd like to be anywhere than here, hell included." Hermione answered in tone that suggested she was becoming irritated.

Well that shut Harry up. He looked as if he was at a complete loss of words. Which he was.

"I'm sorry to hear that Hermione." Severus mumured.

"Shove it Severus." Hermione glared at him. "I don't want your pity or your apologies. I just want to be left alone. Is that so difficult?"

"When it's a matter of life and death then it is! Don't you see Hermione, all we want to do is help you." Severus straightened and stood, his legs were starting to cramp.

If looks could kill, Severus Snape would be long dead.

"Fine then. Potter?" Severus said suddenly.

"What?" Harry jerked his head up to look at Snape.

"Kindly leave, will you? I need to talk to Hermione." Snape requested. Though it wasn't really a request, more of a command, as it were.

"Alone?" Harry asked.

"That's what your leaving implies, yes." Severus said sarcastically.

Harry gave a glance in Hermione's direction, who looked away to avoid meeting his eyes. He sighed. "Five minutes, then I'll be back."

"Good. Now go." Severus pointed in the direction of the door.

With a slight nod, Harry turned and left the room.

"Now, Hermione." Severus turned to face her.

"Don't lecture me Severus, I'm not one of your students." Hermione frowned.

Severus sighed. "I apologize. I...just don't know what to do Hermione." He paused for a moment. "What can I do Hermione? I'll do anything. Anything."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't want anything." She stopped looking at Severus, instead becoming very interested in arranging her white spread.

Severus ran a hand through his hair. He couldn't let her die. He loved her more than anything. He was such an idiot...

"Look Hermione...tell me what you dosed yourself with and...and...I'll go to the Ministry and annul the betrothal. You can go anywhere you want, you could even take one of my manors if you want. Just tell me what is was." Severus said shakily. His dark eyes were clouded with sorrow.

Hermione chewed her bottom lip in thought, staring down at her lap. Neither moved for a while, until finally Hermione whispered, "Resistenza alla vita."

The relief was instantaneous. There was a counterpotion. The tension that made Severus so terse slowly drained away. He gave Hermione a sad smile. He would save her. And he would live up to his end of the deal.

He turned to go, getting as far as the door before a voice stopped him.

"Severus?" Hermione asked, lifting her head up.

"Yes?" he replied, turning slightly to face her.

Her hair was all over the place, knotted and tangled in the back. Her frame, which was entirely too thin, was drowned in the gown that Mungo's had put her in. And her eyes, her eyes were shining with something that Severus couldn't comprehend.

"You don't have to go to the Ministry." she said, looking at him. "I mean, that is, if you don't want to." she stumbled over her words.

Severus smiled even wider. He had forgotten what a nice thing it was. At least when he smiled at Hermione. Maybe things would be okay.

"I won't go then. Get some sleep, I'll be back in a little while."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Woah. You all had FANTASTIC ideas and views. It was great getting to read them, thank you all for reviewing.

June: lol "happily ever after"? Have you read my "happily ever after" story? chuckles Anyway nice ideas. It's going to run over 3 chapters methinks. Actually, I know.

the-sexy-flower: Hmm I see what you're getting at. I like it, but it wouldn't really fit. It'd make a nice other story though. ponders Noooo...MUST NOT START ANOTHER STORY! hits herself on the head .

mada: Wow, is that I good thing that I made you hate Sevvie? I'm not sure wether I should feel guilty or proud.

Fox of the Nova: Hrm...I like except that I'm a believer in the phrase "Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."

Grand-Illusion: Oooh.....I liked that idea. I was actually going to use it...but then my fingers got ahead of me and started writing with a mind of their own. Maybe I can incorporate it somehow into the next chapter...

Kelley's Sweetpea: lmao...omg..everytime I see your review I laugh. Don't ask me why.

Tiny me: Y'know...I'd have to agree with you. This story is not my best work by far. BUT I am going to finish it, whether you like it or not. Not sure if you wrote that outta anger or whatever, but it's like a slap in the face. Not necessarily bad, just refreshing. Thanks for your honesty.

Intelligent Witch: No groveling as well? ::wink::

me: Wow, thank you!

Alright, so it's still not set in stone. Where do you guys think Hermione and Severus should go from here?