Severus makes his way to the edge of town all the while thinking about what Ginny Weasley just said to him. He begins to question if what Hermione said to him the night before was really a joke or not.
"But how could she love me when I've hurt and humiliated her so many times?" he asks himself. He begins to think back to two weeks before her graduation. The day of the final battle.
Voldemort stood on the steps of Hogwarts in front of Severus and Hermione holding both of their wands as well as his own at a bruised, bloody, and unconscious Harry.
"So how does it feel being powerless to save the boy's life who you swore you would protect, Severus?" He stayed silent, trying to figure out a way to get his wand back. "Oh, and young sweet Miss Granger," Voldemort said with pure sarcasm. "You will watch your friend die. And after that, I plan on having a little fun with you before I turn you over to my death eaters," he laughs evilly.
Severus saw Hermione visibly shake at the dark lord's words.
"Ah, but back to you, Severus. I'll take great pleasure in watching you die. A little torture at first, then a slow painful death," Voldemort said smirking. "Severus, you get to choose who dies first. Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, or yourself?" He looked from Harry to Hermione then back up at Voldemort but did not say a word. "Having troubles deciding? Maybe this will help you make up your mind. Crucio!"
Severus twisted and turned in pain as the curse hit him. He had been put under the curse many times before, but never was it this painful. He couldn't help but scream out when he felt like he was being burned alive. After what seemed like an eternity, the curse was lifted and Severus fell to the ground, half conscious. He could see Hermione looking at him with tears streaming down her face.
"Who have you chosen to die first?"
"Myself," he says just barely above a whisper.
"Taking the easy way out, Severus? You are such a coward." Voldemort tosses the cruciatus curse at him again. "Well, Severus, who are you going to choose?"
"I…told you…me."
Voldemort repeated the curse again, but Severus didn't feel it's effects. He picked up his head and saw Hermione lying on the ground twitching in pain. She must have jumped in front of him. Her screams were enough to get him on his feet and charging towards the dark lord. Before Voldemort had time to react, Severus hit him square in the jaw, causing both him and Harry to fall to the ground. Severus picked up his wand that Voldemort dropped as he hit the stone steps and pointed it at him. Just as Severus was about to say Avada Kedavra, he heard someone else say it first. He was thrown to the ground by the thunderous force of green light that shot from a wand behind him. He looked over towards the now motionless body of Voldemort then up at the wizard who killed him.
"Mr. Weasley…" Severus stated shocked. Ron looked down at his professor then offered him a hand up. He took it since he didn't think that he could make it up on his own. Together, they levitated Harry and Hermione to the hospital wing.
"Mr. Weasley, as much as I know you want to fight the rest of the death eaters, you need to stay somewhere safe. You will die if you go back out there."
"I know professor. I will stay here with Hermione and Harry."
"You know, Mr. Weasley, I think that is the first mature thing that I have ever heard you say."
"Thank you for all you have done, Professor Snape," Ron said as he extended his hand for him to shake.
"Same to you, Mr. Weasley," Severus stated as he shook it. He was just about to turn around and walk out the door when Poppy stopped him.
"Severus Snape, where do you think you're going? You're bleeding badly and your arm looks broken!" For the first time, Severus noticed his own injuries.
"I guess you're staying here with us," Ron said with a smile.
"It would seem so."
After letting Poppy treat him, he fell asleep from pure exhaustion. He woke up the next morning to find Hermione staring at him.
"Miss Granger, I'm not going to do a trick. You can look away." Hermione started laughing. "What seems to be so funny?"
"You."
"That was uncalled for."
"No, no, I meant that you actually told a joke." Severus just looked at her with an eyebrow raised. Her laughter subsided a few minutes later. "How are you feeling, Professor?"
"All right." She reached over and hugged him tightly. "Miss Granger, remove yourself from me. Now."
"I'm sorry, Professor. I'm just relieved that you're ok." Again, he raised an eyebrow. "I couldn't stand seeing Voldemort torture you. I felt helpless while you were lying there in pain, so I did the only thing I could. I jumped in front of you."
"Your stupid Gryffindor courage kicked in," he responded evenly. Hermione ignored his comment.
"I have a question though. I know Voldemort was killed, but I don't know how it happened." Severus sighed inwardly.
"I saw that Voldemort was distracted by you having under the cruciatus curse, got up, and punched him. When he went down, he dropped my wand. I picked it up and was about to say the killing curse, but Mr. Weasley beat me to it."
"Ron took down the dark lord?"
"Yes, he did." Hermione stayed quiet for awhile then leaned over and kissed Severus on the cheek before getting up and walking out of the hospital wing.