Disclaimer: Eck, I sure am running out of material for Disclaimers. I guess that tends to happen after 25 chapters. Uh...well...it's not mine and I make no profit from writing this.

A/N: Couldn't leave you hanging like that, so I hurried up with this update. See...I'm not THAT evil.

Severus was accustomed to getting headaches. Hell, it was a rare day indeed when he didn't acquire one. Or more.

But this headache certainly topped them all.

He leaned his head back against the chair, getting the sudden feeling that he was sinking into oblivion. Which he might as well have been. Severus Snape was a man used to control, knowing everything that was going on around him and knowing exactly how to deal with it. But this was something he couldn't fix.

He couldn't control everything. Such a simple conclusion, but one that he had just recently learned. Contrary to popular belief, Severus Snape was only a man, as mortal as any.

Severus looked gloomily at the sight before him. He was in the infirmary, sitting in a chair. The smell of disinfectants was starting to nauseate him, but he wouldn't leave where he was if his pants were on fire.

Hermione laid on the bed before him, a ghastly white in comparison to himself. Which was really saying something. Her blood soaked clothes had been removed and she now wore some standard Hogwarts Infirmary pajamas. She didn't look like herself at all.

Of course Severus blamed himself. It was his fault, beyond a reasonable doubt. If he had tried harder, done a better job, maybe things would have turned out differently.

He should have told her about the prophecy. He should have warned her about the danger. He shouldn't have trusted Dumbledore.

On the inside he knew that he should be grateful, that things could have turned out much worse. Hermione could wake up and return to the wonderful person that he knew and loved.

But would it be the same?

Voldemort was dead. Severus didn't know why or how. What happened just did not fit with the prophecy that was foretold. After all, wasn't it their child that was supposed to defeat the Dark Lord?

But that couldn't be. Their son was dead.

Severus couldn't rationalize the loss he was feeling at that. When Pomfrey told him the news, he felt such a grief that he thought he might cry. But why in Merlin's name would he feel like that? It wasn't as if he had ever wanted children. He didn't even like children.

Perhaps it was different when it was your own child.

He found himself a bit hurt that they had named him. Adrian Julius Snape. There was an attachment to him, Severus realized.

After Hermione had fallen, after Severus had seen what had happened to her, the entire hall turned into chaos. Once the Death Eaters that saw their master dead they tried to run, while taking out as many of the opposition as they could. The Light side had a hard time of catching them, though most were apprehended.

He hadn't partaken in that. He ran to Hermione's side and lifted her head up, trying to shake some life into her body.

What he didn't realize was that she wasn't dead.

When he finally did however, his elation was unequaled. Severus was so conflicted, his body and mind a mess of hormones and adrenaline. He was ecstatic that Hermione wasn't dead, but horribly fightened at the state she was in. After all, how well could one be after losing so much blood?

He pulled her into his arms, not caring about how soiled his robes would get. He'd have to burn them after this anyway, the wretched things. He rushed her upstairs as quickly as he could, and practically stormed the infirmary. He knew Pomfrey would be there. It was already agreed that she and a few other healers would stay in the infirmary just in case there were any emergencies.

And that pretty much brought him back to where he was. Waiting. Hoping. Wondering if everything would be alright.

Somehow, deep down, he didn't think it could be. He didn't deserve it to be.

Severus scooted his chair closer to the bed. He put his hand over Hermione's smaller and noticably colder one. He rubbed it slowly, making small circles on the palm, trying to warm it up.

He noticed something new around Hermione's neck. He pulled the silver chain out of her shirt and got a good look at it. It had a nice stone attached, though Severus didn't know what it was. It had a reflective pink and green shine to it. He released the stone and gave a small sigh.

"Hermione?" Severus whispered in a low voice.

"I know you can hear me Hermione. You have to," Severus whispered, leaning his head down. "You have to wake up. Please, Hermione."

He didn't know if she could really hear him, perhaps she could subconsciously. But talking sure made him feel better.

Severus frowned at Hermione's slumbering form. "You're not going to let me get away with not saying this, are you? Typical."

His features softened and he brought his mouth down beside her ear to whisper in, "Hermione, I love you. Please, Hermione. Come back to me. I'm sorry."

He moved back and sighed again. Hermione gave no response, not that he had really expected her to. He'd just have to wait.

"And then I cursed the bastard, dodging as many of his hexes as I could. I had a tough time of it, let me tell you." said Professor Jane Austiere.

The crowd around her 'Oooh'-ed and 'Ahh'-ed. Several magical camera flashes went off and Professor Austiere gave a smile. A few reporters started to shout out questions at the petite woman.

"Did you know you were going to be the one to kill You-Know-Who?"

"Were you afraid, Professor Austiere?"

"Exactly how did you kill He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"What's your favorite sweet? The readers of Hogsmeade Bulletin want to know!"

Professor Austiere chucked. "One at a time, one at a time. I didn't know I was going to kill You-Know-Who, I just did. I'd be a fool not to have been afraid. It took perseverance and good will, believe it or not, to finally kill him. And my favorite sweet is Vampire Pops." She smiled widely.

The reporters once again ensconced her within a tight circle. Apart from them, a small group looked on with distaste.

"I can't believe this." said Professor McGonagall, her mouth set in a firm frown. "How dare she try such a hoax? I have half a mind to go over there and-"

Dumbledore put a comforting hand on McGongall's shoulder. "There's nothing to be done. We have no proof until Hermione awakens. The best thing we can do is just let it be for the moment."

Professor Sprout crossed her arms across her arms and huffed. "It still isn't right. She shouldn't be allowed to go on like that."

The Headmaster turned his blue eyes to his Herbology teacher. "When Hermione wakes, we can set everything right again." He gave a slight nod in Professor Sprout's direction. "It wouldn't do Hermione or Severus any good to have reporters and the masses storming the Hospital Wing."

"I suppose not, Headmaster." Professor McGonagall conceded, still watching Professor Austiere as she entertained the cameras.

A/N: Yeah, I know I had you goin' last chapter. Which was my intention. If you notice, I never said that Hermione was DEAD. Just lying in a pool of her own blood. Which really doesn't indicate good health or life, but eh, whatever.

Poor little Adrian...

Cassandra Thacker: Aww I'm sorry you're confused. Anything in particular? The whole final battle thing will be explained once Hermione wakes up. But if there's something other than that, please, let me know.

Makalani Astral: Yep, will do all of that. It's just there's a few things that have to be taken care of. Next chapter should clear everything up. Hopefully.

June W: Good! At lease someone listens to me! ::grin:: You'll find out who else is gone soon. Haven't exactly decided on all of them. Any favorites?

emikae: Heh, riiiiight. Well not exactly the whole "everything's all right" version you wanted, but she's still alive!

R/R