OK! Hi everyone! big hugs all around I'm thinking about changing the name of the story. But then how would you find me? Anywho, here's the next chap of Final Test. Hope ya'll like it.

Open Your Heart

Severus waited outside the school's hospital. He didn't know what else to do. Hermione had just collapsed. He knew something was wrong, but he just didn't know what. She had taken the potion; maybe that was what caused her to faint. Or maybe it was because of something entirely different. What ever it was, he was determined to find out. She had become part of his life too recently for him to lose her now.

He couldn't help but laugh at his last thought. "That's what she was afraid of," he said aloud.

Hermione's cries had stopped thirty minutes after she was brought to the hospital wing. She was now resting comfortably. Poppy and Albus looked down at her. She looked so frail and delicate. She had lost her tan from spending so much time in bed, sick. This made her look like a china doll. Why hadn't anyone noticed this? She looked much more sickly laying in that bed than she had in a long time.

"What do you make of it, Albus?" asked Poppy, as she cleaned up some potion vials.

"It's hard to say," he sighed. "She must have been hiding the fact that she's gotten worse from everyone. I saw her the week before term and she looked fine. But seeing her like this..."

"Why was she with Severus?"

"What?" he asked.

"Severus brought her here. Why would she be out this late with him?"

"That is none of your business," said Severus. Poppy and Albus turned from the bed to see him standing in the doorway. Being in total control of one's emotions makes it easy to hide them. Severus had his normal glare, but his eyes gave him away.

"Poppy, would you mind seeing if you could find the Maiden and Knight? They should be in the painting off of the Room of Requirement," said Albus. Poppy knew that he wanted her to leave them alone, so she just nodded and exited the hospital wing. "You've known where they've been all night?" asked Severus. "Why am I not surprised?"

His eyes darted to the bed where Hermione lay. "How is she?"

"Sleeping now," sighed Albus. "I don't know what to do. For the first time in my life, I don't have the answers. What happened when you found her?"

"I didn't FIND her," grunted Severus. "And you very well know that." Albus nodded. "We were talking, then something struck me as odd and she collapsed." He walked over to the bed and knelt down and took Hermione's hand. "She's given up, Albus."

"Given up?"

"On life. She's in pain all the time and now, with her parents gone, she just doesn't want to get better. She's lost her way and it scares me. How can someone so pure lose their way so quickly? Why her? Hermione doesn't deserve to have this happen to her!" He turned to face the old man. His eyes demanded answers.

"I don't know. Sometimes these..."

"Don't tell me these things just happen!" yelled Severus. "These things don't just happen. You, above anyone, know that. Things happen for a reason. Hermione is a tender soul and now she is giving up. I can't just sit here and let her do that. I just can't." He looked back at the sleeping girl. Albus placed his hand on Severus' shoulder. "Her soul is safe though," he whispered. "Albus, so help me if you knew she was this sick and sent us to the tower just to save her soul." He turned to Albus, pure hatred written on his face.

"I didn't. Like I said, for once in my life I didn't know what is going on. She is beyond my powers. Not because of Voldemort's attack. She has always been above me, at times just like you. I didn't bring you to the tower. It was the castle that brought you there. It felt you had to be there. What its reason was, I don't know. But if it was to join you two together, then so be it. It isn't the first time a Slytherin and a Gryffindor were joined by the tower."

"What are you talking about?"

"As strange as it sounds, it has always been a Slytherin and a Gryffindor that have been brought to the tower." Severus crooked his eye brow. "Every fifty years or so, two people end up in that tower, brought together by the castle and joined together so they are never alone. Two souls that are most deserving of it. Two lone souls."

"No wonder it chose me," grunted Severus. "But Hermione is different. She has everything."

"Not from what you said," remarked Albus. "The castle chose you a long time ago. I knew it would. You came here wanting forgiveness that wasn't needed and you were lost. You placed yourself in danger for the free wizard, yet you always felt alone. Hermione gave up everything the moment she knew someone was in danger. She threw herself in front of Harry to protect those she loved. She knew what was right. One can have all the friends in the world and still be alone. Hermione's heart is so pure, but it was the love she had for someone that made her strong. How long has she loved this person?"

That comment scared Severus. Hermione loved another. Someone she couldn't have that made her pure? He must be someone so special that the heavens themselves opened up. He wanted to hate this person. He wanted to find him and kill him, but knew that if he did, it would hurt Hermione. He could never do anything that would cause her pain. If it was this man she wanted and loved then he would step aside.

He loved her and she now knew he did. It was up to her to decide what to do.

"All her life," came a faint voice. Severus whipped around and saw that Hermione had woken up, a small smile upon her lips. Once again he lost control of his body. Severus jumped up and wrapped his arms around her. He would have cried, if he did things like that. Hermione laced her arms around his waist.

So you like? Tell me, tell me... I'd like to thank my new beta for all her help. "Thanks Caley!" Just for those wondering this are about to add up with stuff. The thing about Hermione will be cleared up very soon and the whole power thing well...no I can't tell you. Next chap...promise...I have a few other stories I'm working on and their Hermione and Snape if you think I should post them tell me and I will. Talk to you all later.

Raven Night Wing