Disclaimer: I do not own Potterverse, just the plot of this story.

Never Judge a Book by it's Cover
Chapter Five

Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey stood talking in hushed voices in the infirmary.

Professor McGonagall kept throwing nervous glances at Hermione before concentrating on the conversation.

"So Severus saw it all?"

"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes... Hermione was trying so hard... so hard not to hurt her friends, her family. But she wasn't strong enough to fight it."

"Show me." Madame Pomfrey showed the two Professors where she had placed the memories and watched as the sank into its depths.

Just mere moments later, when the memory had finished Professor McGonagall pulled back, wiping a tear from her cheek. "The poor girl, I know I trusted her, but not knowing what she went through..." She looked over at Hermione's still form. "She always tried so hard to prove herself, she must have felt such a failure at that point." She quickly covered her mouth, stiffling a sob.

"Come, my dear, we have both experienced something, no one ever should."

"But we didn't, it was nothing like she did... I can't leave her here alone."

"Minerva, I don't think she is alone. I don't think Severus will be moving any time soon." The three turned and watched the steady rise and fall of the Potion Master's chest.

"Did Severus say how he found her?"

"He saw her on his way back to the castle... he saved her... although I am not sure she wanted to be saved... we shall soon see."


Hermione moaned and kicked her leg out, connecting with a soft, warm body.

Professor Snape woke with a jump, a foot resting in his lap. He followed this foot up the leg and to the face of Hermione. As his brain registered all the events from the past 24 hours, he sat up and moved her leg back under the covers as gently as possible. Watching her face as it screwed up in pain.

"Miss Granger?"

Professor Snape jumped as a hand was placed on his shoulder.

"She isn't awake... well not awake in the fullest sense of the word. She can feel the pain now."

"Isn't there anything you can do?"

"Unfortunately no. She isn't just fighting for consciousness, but against her magic. She is on her own. And you need to go back to your chambers for rest. You have only been asleep for three hours."

"That is more than I usually get, I will be fine."

"You can't keep doing this Severus, burning the candles on both ends will get you nowhere."

"I can't leave her, I am the..." He cleared his throat. "Fine I am going." He stood and swept to the door, pausing to add, "if anything, anything at all changes... call me on the floo."

"I will Severus." And with that Professor Snape was gone in a swirl of black robes.


Ginny Weasley sat in the Headmasters office nervously. "What is wrong Professor? Has something happened to... to...?"

"No, my dear, but there is something you need to see." Headmaster Dumbledore summoned a stone bowl towards him. "I am afraid this is a copy, it is my memory of a memory, as I thought it would be better if you viewed it in here, and as of yet I have not spoken to Professor Snape about moving his memories."

"Professor what is this all about? What memories do I have to see that would affect me so much that I had to view them up here."

"You will see... but I want you to watch closely, don't just see what you see, see what is really there. It will be upsetting, but you need to see this. So watch closely."

"Of course I will Professor."

"I mean it Miss Weasley. Otherwise you will have to watch it a second time, and once you realise what it is, I doubt that you will want to do that once you know what it is I am trying to show you."

"Professor...?"

"Yes, well, do you know how this works?"

"Yes Professor."

"On you go then."

Ginny tipped forward and when she realised what she was seeing, her eyes lit in an angry rage. Her hands clenched in repressed rage. Heeding Dumbledore's warning, she collected herself and moved round with Snape. She looked closely at Hermione's face, expecting to see hate or something... but she saw the tears, the fear, it wasn't her fault.

When she withdrew from the memory, she felt breathless, winded. Sitting back in her seat she began to collect her thoughts, her feelings. Looking up at Dumbledore, who was watching her closely. "What have we done! How could we do that to her? She was our best friend and we didn't believe her!" Covering her face in her hands, Ginny tried to stop the tears threatening to spill, but finally gave in.

"You weren't to know, and sometimes it is easier to follow a crowd than it is to stand alone."

"Thank you, Headmaster." Suddenly she gasped. "Are the rumours true, sir? Is Hermione, is she..."

"She will be fine. Thanks to a certain person, who will remain anonymous. But I think having people believe her and trust her will help her recovery."

"Could I be excused sir? I need some air. It was hard watching my brothers... watching them..."

"I understand. You are dismissed."


Ginny ran through the castle and sat out by the lake. Tears still running down her cheeks, she tried to process everything that had happened. Her chest tightened painfully as she remembered how she had rejected Hermione.

"I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry, Gin?" She turned round and managed to force a weak smile at her current boyfriend, Sam.

"Hermione was telling the truth." Sam moved and sat down next to Ginny, putting an arm around her. "She was under an Unforgivable. I didn't believe her! I was her friend. I should have believed her."

"Shh... you didn't know. It wasn't your fault, I mean even if you had believed her, your family would have persuaded you otherwise."

"I know... but I should have... I should have done something."

"What brought this revelation on anyway?"

"The headmaster had some memories for me to see. Someone that had seen it happen." As Ginny broke down into deep sobs, Sam pulled her closer, trying desperately to comfort her. "I saw it happen. I saw her... but it wasn't her... it wasn't her... her eyes..."

"You weren't to know, Gin. You weren't to know." Slowly Sam stood, and began leading her back inside. "Come on, love, you'll catch the flu or something out here."

Together they walked back into the castle and up to Gryffindor Tower.


AN: I know I know, it has been an unforgivably long time since I last updated. But... well I was studying and organising my hectic life, and then I was out of the country... anyway, enough of excuses.

Thank you to all my lovely reviewers and big hugs to those who forgive me and choose to review again. I promise that I will update soon!