A/N: Wow. Two years later and I've finally found the correct email/password combination. I've had a huge bout of writers block. And I am trying to get back on my feet, get back to my writing/writing style. So Comments and Reviews would be appreciated, though I am aware that this chapter is much shorter than the rest.With any luck, and much encouragement I will continue writing. Hope this fails to disappoint.

Chapter Four: Naked

For the better part of a week Snape lay motionless in his bed, dreaming of the face of his rescuer, to no avail. The moment his felt his eyes fly open, he knew.

"Professor? Professor Snape you shouldn't try to move. You haven't fully healed yet!"

But Snape wasn't paying attention to her warnings. He focused instead on the sound of her voice because, although high-pitched, he knew it to be that of his know-it-all muggle born student. 'Miss Granger!' he thought irritably. If he had paid any attention last night he would not have allowed her to tend to him. 'Cold, Why am I cold?'. A hand flew his chest.

"MISS GRANGER WHERE ARE MY CLOTHES!"

From a corner of the dungeon he heard a child cry out. He felt Granger try to push him aside to comfort the infant, but he flung out his hand. The other hand fumbled around in search of Miss Granger's baby. 'A baby, Severus. You gave Lauralin a chance to live' A babe conceived from that night in the forest? 'My babe?' he thought hesitantly.

The thought shamed him. His place as a deatheater compromised, the Dark Lord had commanded his presence that night. And low, he found the beautiful if not annoyingly brilliant Miss Granger, bound and gagged upon the stone. He remembered the fear in her eyes as she gazed up into his hood, searching for a sign.

Severus Snape had never been lost in such concentration. At that moment he had two choices. But one look into Hermione's amber eyes, and Snape knew they were not his to make. She had seen his face, his hood had been cast off, and within her eyes he saw the Gryiffindor bravery and her ultimate trust. At that point, painstaking care had gone into not hurting her extremely, although she had put up quite the show. But it was not enough. Not for the Dark Lord. He saw past Snape's deceit. It had been all he could do to save Hermione…Miss Granger…from certain death. It was unfortunate he could not save her from this.

"I am so sorry, Miss Granger. So Sorry."