A/N: I can't believe the number of nice reviews I got! Thank you all! I know there was some repetition in the first two chapters, but like my teacher said when I learned to preach: if you wanna make people remember something, repeat it about ten times.

A/N Not an awful lot happens in this chapter. Sorry. Next one will be more…well, you'll see.

Honestly, I never thought the day would come when I would see all three of the Trio speechless. But, there they are. Hermione, however, wasn't really speechless, just busy tending to Severus. Who, I noticed, was clearly feeling better and sitting up a bit.

"Mr Longbottom," he croaked, "You said you would help me. I didn't expect you to hand me over to the Chosen One." Oh joy, he WAS feeling better. The sneering had returned. When will that man ever learn that hasn't worked on me since the couple of times he helped me train in sixth year? Probably never.

Harry stared at him. "Dumbledore wrote me this letter." Severus stiffened, eyes locking into Harry's. "And what do you plan to do now, Potter? I'm here, I'm defenseless. Go ahead, I'm sure you've been waiting for this moment ever since…since Albus died." His sneer broke and he had to stare at me, on the opposite side of the room from Harry, to prevent himself bursting into tears. Stubborn git. But I guess I wouldn't have wanted to cry had I been in his shoes either.

"Yeah," Ron piped up, "because you KILLED him!"

"Enough!" I yelled, seeing Severus on the verge of complete collapse. The memory and pain were too fresh. "Harry, either you believe and trust Dumbledore or you don't. If you don't, I warn you I will defend professor Snape at all costs, with my life if I have to. If you do, then this is not the time for pointless arguing, but we had better start making plans. Now…what will it be?"

Great. Now all four of them stared at me like I suddenly sprouted hair or over my face and joined professor Lupin on one of his moonlight strolls. Harry stared at the letter, then at Severus, then at Ron and Hermione and then at me. I waited patiently till he was done staring. "What did your letter say?" he asked Severus. Wrong question. Very wrong.

"Wasn't one dip into my privacy bad enough, Potter?" Severus sneered, "do you have to trespass on this too?"

"Well, Neville read it," Ron said. I closed my eyes and groaned, prepared for death.

But to my surprise, I heared Severus' voice answer,"What I do or do not share with Mr. Longbottom is none of your concern, Weasley. He had my permission to read it."

Harry woke up from his staring trance. "Dumbledore never lied. He kept things from me but he never lied." I couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh. Harry looked at me. "Thanks, Neville, for keeping me from making a horrible mistake." I nodded. "Now, we can't stay here much longer. What are we going to do?" Severus laid back down on the cot. "I'm afraid I can't apparate, Neville." Well, if he's using my first name he must be REALLY weak. Harry sat in thought. Then Severus sighed. "We need to talk to Minerva and Albus," he said, "I'm sure they have loads of backup plans ready. They always do."

Harry snorted. "How were you going to speak to Dumbledore? He's dead, remember." Hermione smacked him upside the head. "HARRY! You insensitive prat."

Severus seemed to be slightly amused by this and didn't fall into the deadened, depressed expression he always got whenever Dumbledore was mentioned. "I meant, Potter," he said, in his most silky I-clearly-waste-my-time-trying-to-teaching-you-dunderheads-anything voice, "that Minerva by now has the Headmasters painting in her office. Now I realize you grew up with muggles, but perhaps over the past six years in the wizard world, you might have noticed the talking paintings?" Harry scowled.

"Fine. FINE! We'll go to Hogwarts. How did you plan on getting there, Neville?"

Did you just notice that? Someone asked my opinion. Asked me to formulate a plan. How cool is that? I nodded, having had three days to think through any possible scenario. "You three can apparate, obviously. I will travel there with professor Snape, as the Express is out, of course. My grandmother insisted I learned to drive a muggle car, in case of emergencies. Fortunately, she kept a lot of cash in the house, muggle and wizard. I eh, kinda stole a car to bring professor Snape here…it's not far away."

Ron looked impressed. "You stole a car and drove it here? Wicked!" Harry snickered and Hermione sent a very disapproving glance at her boyfriend.

"Well, a muggle car is safer then risking any magical means of transportation, and professor Snape is in no condition to go on broom. In the car, he'll be able to get some rest and be somewhat comfortable," I reasoned.

Harry's mouth became a tight line. "Ron and Hermione can apparate to Hogwarts, but I'm coming with you." Even though I had expected that, it still stung. But this was a war; I should be happy he wasn't too trusting, too soon.

"Oh Merlin help me," Severus said, allowing Hermione to put a damp, cool cloth on his forehead, "A journey through England in a very confined space with Potter and Longbottom. I must've died and gone to hell."

So that night we set out. Hermione gave me her medikit, saying she would be able to get another one at Hogwarts and Severus would probably need more fever potion. She urged me to be careful. She ORDERED Harry to be careful. Then she transfigured some bandages from the medikit into some usuable pillows and blankets. We waited till the dead of night before recovering the car and installing Severus on the back seat, head behind the passengers seat and feet behind the drivers', so I could see him over my shoulder to check on his health. Harry took the passengers seat next to me, and we drove off, seeing Ron and Hermione apparate from the rear view mirror.