Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. I'm just playing with her world

Chapter 18: The Bold Win

"So glad to see that you are finally awake, Miss Granger." Hermione heard that far too chipper voice from behind her closed eyes.

The Headmaster came into view as she slowly opened her eyes; she blinked a few times to get her eyes used to the very bright light of the Infirmary. "Ah, there we go! So how are you feeling, Miss Granger?" Dumbledore sat down in the chair that had been filled with a sleeping Professor just the night before. Hermione, though, looked past him to the next bed.

"No, Mr. Potter is no longer here. He awoke a few hours ago and thought it best that he not be here when you woke up." He said when he noticed her eyes flicker past him and felt the slight fear coming off of her.

"Oh, ok." Hermione looked down and played with her fingernails. "What is going to happen to Harry?" She may have hated what he had become but she still remembered years past and how they were best friends.

"Well, see this is the tricky part. It seems that he was not himself during your duration as a couple." The Headmaster's face did not flinch one bit, but he held on to those cheerful eyes and concerned smile.

Hermione's head shot up to look into Dumbledore's eyes. "What are you are saying? That he was under," she looked around at the empty room to see if anyone could possibly be listening. "the Imperius Curse?" She whispered leaning in closer.

He took one of her hands in his. "Take it how you will, but just know that he was not control of his actions from the time you showed up at Grimmauld Place this summer until last night." Slowly he patted Hermione on the head and smiled warmly before standing and walking out with a slight bounce that he always seemed to have to his step.

'Gods, I really do hate it when he does that. But I know he's right, that wasn't Harry.' Hermione thought to herself as she felt her stomach growl.

Just a second later a tray of breakfast food appeared on her bedside table. She slowly began to munch on a blueberry crepe as her mind tried to reconnect with what had happened last night.

It flashed before her eyes, the entire night. She, thankfully, allowed herself to skip over most of the shudder rape. She had just about given up figuring out really how she got out of there, when her mind stumbled upon something she remembered, but never really forgot.

"He saved me!" She stated out to the empty hospital ward. "He came for me and he saved me!" Hermione all but jumped out of bed to run down to the Dungeons if it weren't for a terrible wave of nausea that took over when she tried to stand up.

At that moment as she was falling backwards onto the bed, Ron picked the perfect moment to come in and check up on his best friend.

A knock came to the door of the Headmaster's office. Albus Dumbledore knew exactly who it was but hadn't been expecting them for another…seven and a half more minutes. But who was he to deny away needy students.

"Come in, Mr. Potter, I have been expecting you." He called out through the heavy wooden door.

Harry had heard the Headmaster call him in, man he hated when that happened and felt his body shake with fear. 'OK, Harry just do it and get it over with.' Eventually Harry's Gryffindor courage won and he swung open the door.

"Um…Headmaster, I would really like to discuss with you what happened and what my punishment will be." His voice came out trembling as his mind went through all of the different scenarios of what will happen to him.

Dumbledore's bright eyes shone when Harry came in. But after hearing what he had to say his eyes lost just a slight amount of twinkle and he was preparing himself to do what this boy needed to be done. "Mr. Potter, you will not and can not be punished for something that was not your fault."

To this Harry's eyes widened behind his think, oval glasses. "But, what to you mean? I kidnapped, beat, tortured, and raped another student! I should be sent to Azkaban!" His voice was thick with emotion. The words 'kidnapped', 'beat', 'tortured', and 'raped', bounced terribly off the walls of the Headmaster's office and many of the former Headmasters and Headmistresses poked their heads back into their frames to try and figure out what was going on.

"Mr. Potter, after hearing the details of last night and of the past few months I have come to the conclusion that something was definitely not right." Harry just shook his head a little and strongly resisted the strong urge to say a huge "duh!"

"So, I began to shuffle through your memories, if you will pardon my intrusion. I was taken back finally to the cause of all of this."

Harry held his breath and waited for the Headmaster to continue. "And, what did you find?"

"Well, well, well, I see that Hermione Granger has finally decided to show her face to the world again." Upon hearing the familiar voice, Hermione looked up.

She saw Ron, with his back against the entry door, arms crossed on his chest, and a great cocky smirk upon his face.

"Ronald, you get over here this instant!" Hermione shouted across the room, laughing.

He surely didn't need to be told twice. Ron ran to her bed and gave her a big hug.

"Oh, 'Mione. How have you been? Do you feel OK?" He gently let go of her and stroked her matted hair.

Leaning into his comfortable shoulder, Hermione sighed deeply. "I am just fine, just a bit bored. I want to get out of here and get my books. I miss them already."

Ron laughed and smacked her on the arm. "Our same Hermione."

The two stayed together, talking of safe topics until that one topic could not be avoided any longer.

"Ron?" He looked up at her. "What happened?" He knew exactly what she was talking about.

"I don't really know. All I know is that we walked in, he was on top of you, and I blasted him off. What was weird though was that he doesn't seem to remember any of it." He took in a deep breath and look over at the windows. "I talked to him this morning, and he really has no idea what happened. The Headmaster is checking into it. So no worries, it will be fixed soon."

They went back to comfortable topics, until Ron left to go to lunch, promising to come back later that night.

Hermione was left to eat with a Fourth year, who had gotten himself badly burned in a pick up game of Exploding Snap.

After lunch, while she was literally dying of boredom, she was brought a couple of her school books, by Dobby, who was just happy to see her. She joyfully read up on her next lessons. She was interrupted every once in a while by Madame Pomfrey checking up on her, but for the most part she was left to her own devices.

More friends came later with Ron and they spent dinner with her, talking of their day. Hermione could be seen just relaxing on the head board listening to the conversations of others. She had really missed all of this.

"Weasley, go back to the library, I request your presence." Voldemort shouted out to his crowd of Death Eaters.

Percy obediently took off from the meeting and went into the old house. The front door from the outside was broken in, scratched, and chipped. But once he squeaked open the door, candles lit up the foyer and the pungent smell of burning and melting wax infiltrated his nostrils. No paintings adorned the dark green walls, and the fireplace was blocked off and sealed off to prevent any unwanted visitors.

Knowing where the library was, Percy stepped up the creaky, rickety stairs. He ran his hand across the banister, which was covered with a thick layer of dust. Reaching the top of the stairs, Percy had that feeling of terror wash over him like ever time he was to meet with the Dark Lord.

He finally got to the library door and entered it, looking around to make sure that no one else was in there. The room was large and grandly furnished. It was dark, though, and only housed a few candles to light it up. Polished wood gleamed in the moonlight and shelves creaked under the heavy burden of their load.

After waiting a good ten minutes he heard foot steps outside the door. Bracing himself, Percy positioned himself by the fire ready to fall to his knees and scramble over the floor to kiss his Lord's robes, if he so wished it.

The door opened flamboyantly and in glided in his Dark Lord.

"Percy, you have failed on the last mission I set out for you." His voice was soft and menacing.

"And I shall never forgive myself, my Lord." Percy bowed deeply.

Voldemort smiled as well as he could. "Of course you won't. That is why I have another task for you to accomplish. But if you prove to be a failure again… you are very dispensable."

Percy once again bowed deeply and shook a bit with the fear of death. "I will do anything that you ask, my Lord."

"Yes, you will." A sharp cackle cut through the air and Percy, still bowed on reverence, trembled in fear.

Night had finally come to Hogwarts, and those not wish to be seen prowled the corridors silently. A shadow came up the stairs only to stop at the first door on the left. He looked into the wards and smiled a sad smile, but a smile none the less.

He walked up to her bedside and caressed the side of her cheek pushing away a few ringlets. "My dear, my love." He whispered quietly, but the sleeping form had heard it and woke up.

Hermione had heard the words spoken but did not open her eyes, in fear that it may be Harry. The chair next to her bed squeaked in protest from being sat in but remained standing.

"My love, how I missed you this day, how I missed your presence after what happened." The male voice struck her with such a force that she could not keep her eyes closed any longer.

Hermione's eyes flung open and she looked at the man next to her. "Oh Severus." She gasped out breathily.

Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck as she tucked her head into the crook of his shoulder. Her senses were overwhelmed with him, her nostrils inhaling his lusty scent. "I have missed you more then you can imagine." She whispered into his warm, rapidly moving chest.

When arms flew to his neck and his name was spoken, Severus hardly knew what to do. But when he registered that this was Hermione and heard her words, he tentatively placed arms around her waist.

"Hermione, my dear, I have longed for this moment for so many years. Please say you will never leave me again." His calloused, hurt side roared up at this and screamed at him to push her away and that only pain will come from her. But the tiniest side that still felt love latched onto her words and held them as if her would disappear any second and leave him in the dark, alone again.

Her head shock in his chest. "Never, never. I love you so much." Her voice was quiet but was filled with more longing then she thought it was capable of.

Severus pried her from his chest and looked her directly in the eyes. "Promise to me that you will not leave me." Her eyes grew. "Promise me that you love me." She smiled a bit. "And promise me that you will let me love you for all of time."

Not waiting one second longer, Hermione nodded her heard fiercely. "I promise." She kissed his right cheek. "I promise." She kissed his left. "And I promise you. I promise you anything you wish if only to make you happy." She kissed his lips.

The feeling of her lips on his again was almost more then Severus could bear. A charge jolted through him and he pulled her to him, hard. He gripped her shoulders dragging her to his lap.

Hermione yelped a bit at his harshness but just smiled into the kiss. Her body was on fire from his touches. She positioned herself more comfortable on her lap and kissed him back just as hard.

Soon the kisses grew softer, more loving, and gentler. "Hermione, I love you." His words were carried to her and she leaned her forehead against his.

Hermione smiled and stood up. She noticed his panicked look, but held out her hand. When he finally took it, she led him to her bed where they fell in together. Sleep came quickly and the night air was calm and still. Even the creatures that should be waking up where quieter then normal, they felt what had happened.

A/N: I love you guys more then anything in the world. Over 100 reviews! When I found this out I was hyperventilating, I could not believe. So thank you so much and review lots more to make me even happier. I know that Snape seems a bit OC but bear with me we will get back to the snarky Professor we all know and love!

See I told you that I would get this out faster, and I think it's even longer.

And here is something that I never do, but felt the need tonight, review replies:

Breanna Senese: I know she did but I kind of took it that what would I do if my best friend for 6 years was doing that to me.

Brokentoy19: Thank you for that. We are doing a play called 10X10 it's like a spin off the Ten Commandments, I know kind of weird but we are a Catholic School so we had to. But it was awesome because the guy I finally asked out was in the scene before me, YAY! It did fucking suck, but it's gone and I'm happy.

duj: Yeah, your right, I read over that chapter and I needed to at least put a warning but it had been so long since my last update that I didn't even give myself a chance to beta it. So sorry and next time, if there is one, I will be much more careful.

Bozo: Yeah it was on purpose. I was singing PONR, and it seemed to fit.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! BYE