He expected a circle of death eaters awaiting him, watching him smugly from behind cold masks while he prostrated himself to the dark lord. Instead he was alone in the woods, and Voldemort stood while he fell to his knees and uttered meaningless praise.

"Do you know why I have called you here, Severus?" he asked, hissing. His voice was high pitched and gravelly.

"I am forever at your service, my lord," Snape replied. Usually when Voldemort wanted to punish one of his servants, he did so publicly as to make an example out of whoever was so unfortunate to incur the dark lord's wrath. Snape hoped the lack of an audience meant he was safe from any unforgivable curses but in truth he was even more afraid.

"Lucius saw the young Miss Granger at St. Mungo's this morning. You were sleeping in the house of that filthy mudblood bitch and you did not invite your fellow death eater's over for the party? That is just bad manners."

"I thought you wanted me to earn her trust… to win her over. I could hardly do that after killing her family, my lord," Snape said,

"No, I suppose not. Regardless, those Muggles will be the next to die. The little whore can turn to you for comfort," Voldemort said. Snape tried to think of a way to change his mind, frantically.

"If we are to lure her over to our side, master, wouldn't killing her family only make her angrier for revenge?" Snape asked.

"She will be angry with Dumbledore; the old fool won't even be strong enough to save a few Muggles," Voldemort spat. "And now I am angry with your incessant questions." Snape lowered his head and tensed his shoulders. He knew what was to come.

oooo

It was near sunrise when Snape staggered through the gates of Hogwarts, limping his way slowly towards the front doors. His legs gave out half way there and he let himself succumb to unconsciousness knowing he would wake up in the hospital wing as he always did.

Dumbledore sat by his bed and Poppy leaned over him, both waiting impatiently for him to come to. The light hurt his eyes and so he opened the begrudgingly, squinting.

"There you are, my boy," Dumbledore said. "How do you feel?"

"Headache potion," he growled and Poppy handed him the magenta vile. He threw it back and some of the fog lifted. He sat up, his body still hurt. "He is planning on killing Miss Granger's family," he said, pushing the covers off and looking around for his shoes. "I must go warn her."

"Where does he think he is going?" Poppy cried, looking at Dumbledore for some help.

"We have some time before St. Mungo's will even let us enter the building," Dumbledore assured him. "We'll simply remove the Granger's and Order members will be waiting for the Death Eaters at the Granger Homestead." Suddenly Snape understood.

"This isn't about killing Muggles, Albus, this is a test of my loyalty. There wasn't anyone else summoned last night. If we help the Granger's, he'll know that I've told you and if we don't, Hermione will lose her family." There was no response to this. They couldn't lose Snape as a spy and they couldn't let the Grangers die.

"Why did he choose Hermione?" Dumbledore asked.

"Lucius saw her at St. Mungo's… he probably has one of the healer's in his pocket. Voldemort knew we had gone to her family's house for the night. He knows that Miss Granger was sick and that I cured her. I was supposed to earn her trust, turn her against you."

"He knows that you care for Miss Granger," Dumbledore supplied. Severus looked down at his feet, his socks dark against the stone of the infirmary floor.

Poppy let him go about an hour later to shower and change his clothes. Dumbledore and Potter were waiting out by the gates. Potter had on a ratty pair of jeans and an oversized t-shirt and some old trainers – one was untied.

"You aren't actually poor anymore, Potter, I don't see why you insist on looking the part all the time," Snape snapped, irritated the boy was tagging along; irritated he was spending the summer at Hogwarts.

"And you're not actually a vampire, Sir, but to each their own," Harry replied cheerfully. Dumbledore chuckled.

"Play nice," he said and took Harry's hand so the three could apparate to St. Mungo's.

Hermione looked much better; her skin was pink again with her blood cleansed though she had to lie very still as to not disrupt her liver's re-growth. Her abdomen was charmed to not move and it made her movements jerky and almost robotic. She smiled when the three men were escorted into her single room and even blushed when Harry leaned down and kissed her cheek.

"How are you feeling?" Harry asked.

"Grateful to be alive, apparently," she said. "Thanks to Professor Snape." Snape looked away, his guilt silencing him.

"Will you promise to tell someone when you feel ill from now on, Miss Granger?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, Headmaster," she said, chastised.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, Hermione," Harry piped in. She smiled and tried to reach for his hand. He touched it briefly and let her relax.

"Hermione, we have something serious to talk to you about," Dumbledore said, conjuring three chairs with a swish of his wand. They sat, though Snape somehow was left with the middle chair and he focused all his energy on staring at her knees and keeping his expression impassive. He still had not looked her in the eye.

"What is it?" she said, suddenly looking fearful. "Is something else wrong with my liver?"

"No, your health isn't the problem," Dumbledore said. "Last night, Severus was summoned by Voldemort." Hermione swallowed, and Snape could feel her eyes burning holes in him.

"And?" Hermione asked.

"Perhaps it would be best if Severus explained for himself," Dumbledore said. Snape cursed the old man and forced himself to look at Hermione. She looked scared, yes, but concerned as well. He knew her well enough to know she was concerned for him and not herself. He scooted the chair forward and wished he could take her hand and stroke it softly. Perhaps Potter knew they were closer than a normal student and teacher but he didn't wand Dumbledore realizing that when he cared for Miss Granger, it was also in a physical sense.

"Hermione, to put it simply, the death eaters are planning to attack your parents, next," he said. Her eyes got wide and slowly filled with tears. She didn't say anything for a moment but finally took a deep breath.

"I assume there is more?" she asked.

"There was no one to witness the dark lord's instructions," he said.

"I see. So if the Order shows up, he'll know you're a spy and if no one is there, my parents will die," she said. She turned away, looked out the window. St. Mungo's, of course, was underground as were most wizarding buildings in heavily Muggle areas so the window was enchanted. Still, it felt like the real early morning summer sun filtering in through the gauzy curtains and Hermione closed her eyes and let the light warm her cheeks. She wanted to get up, to jump around, to throw something, to scream but she couldn't move. She had another day and a half of this treatment. It was some how so much worse than three months of torture with Snape. "Well, I guess it's clear, then," she said, sniffing.

"I will go into hiding." Snape said, immediately.

"I didn't… you're too important. You are the greater good," she said. "My parents are dentists."

"No one is asking to give up your family, Hermione," Harry said, glaring at Snape.

"Then what do we do?" she asked. "I don't want anyone to die. Not my parents, not Professor Snape, and not you, Harry," she said. "It all feels so senseless."

"We will move the Grangers, Professor Snape and your self to a safe house," Dumbledore said, his voice sounding deep and authoritative. "Harry, would you be the secret keeper?"

"Of course, Headmaster," Harry said.

"Knowing Tom, there isn't much time to lose, then," he said. "Harry, run and get the healer. We're going to have to move Miss Granger in her condition." Harry left quickly. "Severus, my boy, I'm sorry." Dumbledore left too, then, perhaps to notify Hermione's family or some order members. Snape and Hermione were alone, if only for a few minutes. The false weather outside the window had changed drastically, rain now beat against the window.

"Where will we go?" Hermione whispered finally.

"I don't know," he said. "I'm so sorry, Hermione. This is all my fault."

"Nonsense. It was only a matter of time before my family and I became a target," she said. "At least we get to be together." She whispered this, reaching for his hand with her jerky movement. He touched her fingers with his own. Finally, Dumbledore and Harry returned, both looking hurried.

"Miss Granger, your parents have arrived safely," Dumbledore said.

"Already?" she asked.

"I'm afraid it is time for you to go," he said, but not unkindly. Snape stood and slid his arms underneath Hermione who tried not to wince as he lifted her and held her firmly against his chest.

"Just like I taught you, Harry," Dumbledore said, handing Harry the empty mug that had been part of Hermione's breakfast. Harry took out his wand and said the charm that turned the mug into the portkey. He handed it to Hermione who pressed it against the skin of Snape's hand.

"Bye, Hermione," Harry said, sadly. She didn't get a chance to respond before they were whisked away.

oooo

Hermione had been asleep for a few hours, now. Her parents had insisted on staying by her side which Snape was happy about since it afforded him the opportunity to explore his new home in peace. It was a two story wizard house. There was no electricity and the pantry was charmed to stay cold in lieu of one of those Muggle ice boxes. There were no elves, however. Snape found his things in one of the bedrooms upstairs and there were suitcases in the master bedroom – he assumed they were filled with the Granger's belongings. Hermione was put in the downstairs bedroom and it wasn't long before her things arrived with a pop.

There was a kitchen, a living room, a formal dining room but no basement or attic. It was livable, but by no means somewhere Snape would want to live permanently. He was afraid they would all be very bored there.

Finally, he sat down at the round, wooden table in the kitchen and made himself a pot of tea. There was food and he imagined there would be more arriving at least once a week. He wasn't even into his second mug before Hermione's parents came out of her room and sat down at the table.

"Where are we?" Her father asked, finally, after fixing himself and a wife a mug of tea.

"I don't know," Snape said, honestly. "The only person who knows is Harry Potter."

"What about that Bumblybore fellow?" her mother asked.

"Oh, I'm sure Albus chose the location originally, but once the Fidelius charm was performed, any memory he had of the place would have been gone," Snape explained, patiently. "Only if Harry tells someone our location will they be able to find us. The more people who know, the more danger we are in."

"Can Harry really be trusted?" her father asked.

"As irritating as I find the boy to be, Harry cares greatly for your daughter and will do anything in his power to keep her safe," he assured them. This seemed to appease the two Muggles very little. "It will take, ah, some adjustment living in a wizard household, I assume, so if you have any questions, I will endeavor to answer them," he added.

"What about groceries?" Hermione's mother asked.

"All necessities will be provided," he said.

"Then you won't mind if I make some breakfast?" she asked.

"Mrs. Granger, if you want to make all of the meals, I will not stop you," Snape said with a small smirk. She smiled.

"You can call me Jane, if you'd like, Mr. Snape," she said.

"Roger," Mr. Granger added. He nodded.

"Severus," he allowed.

"Can we leave the house?" Mr. Granger asked, finally.

"No," Snape said. "Even if you wanted to, you could not cross any threshold."

"What happens if those people find us?" he asked. "If that boy slips up?"

"We will die," Snape said. He drained the last of his tea and cleaned the cup with his wand. Hermione's parents watched wearily. "If you'll excuse me, I would like to check on your daughter's condition. The travel was not good for her." He left the kitchen, glad to momentarily be free of their questions, even if he had offered to answer them. He knocked lightly and opened the door without waiting for a response, thinking she would be asleep.

"Hello," she said when he came in.

"I thought you'd be asleep," he said. "How do you feel?"

"Can this charm come off, yet?" she asked.

"Maybe tonight," he said. He took out his wand and performed the charm to see how the re-growth was progressing. "Maybe tonight," he said again.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"I don't know. If I had to guess I'd say we left Britain but outside of that we could be anyplace," he said, looking around her room. It had a double bed, a wooden night stand, white paint on the walls, and little else. "We could be here a long time," Snape said, reality sinking in.

"What will we do?" she asked.

"Wait," he said. "What else is there?"

oooo

They fell into a sort of desperate rhythm. Mrs. Granger cooked, Mr. Granger paced, and Severus sat by Hermione's bedside. He had removed the charm days ago and given her a clean bill of health but she still stayed in bed – he suspected she was depressed and little else. No one said very much. No owls came but Snape suspected no news was good news. At least there were books, both Hermione and Snape's magical library plus a good portion of the Granger's Muggle collection. Everyone read voraciously, trying to live in another world for a little while.

It was frustrating for the Granger's. Anytime they wanted a fireplace or a sconce lit, they had to ask Snape or Hermione to do it with a wand. There were no matches in a magical household or any switches on the walls.

The only time Snape didn't feel like he was walking on eggshells was when the Granger's were asleep. He relished the middle of the night, the dark slumber of the safe house. He would wander the halls. He would stand outside the Granger's rooms and listen to them snoring, making sure they were truly in for the night. He would go downstairs, eat a light snack – there were plenty of leftovers all of the time – Jane Granger cooked for an army. Finally he would conjure a chair outside Hermione's closed door and sit there until the sun rose listening to her sleep, listening to her cry.

Part of him wanted to go in and comfort her but he was scared. He feared she blamed him for this predicament – his guilt kept him away.

It was so late it was early when Hermione decided she was hungry enough to venture out of her small, square room confident that she wouldn't encounter any other members of the safe house. She opened the door and stuck her head out.

"Hermione," Snape said, sitting up tiredly. She jumped at the sound of his voice and whirled around to see him sitting vigil by her door.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I couldn't sleep," he lied. In fact, he'd been fighting sleep for some time now. "Do you need anything?"

"I was just going to go get a snack," she admitted.

"I'll fix you something, come on," he said, standing and stretching a little, trying to get the blood to start circulating in his limbs once more.

"I'm capable of putting a piece of meat between two slices of bread by myself, Severus," she said.

"Nevertheless," he said and led her into the kitchen. "Sit." She did as she was told, maybe because he was her professor when you got right down to it and she was a good student. "Your mother is a talented woman in the kitchen," he said, pulling the makings of a sandwich out of the pantry.

"My parents are good a lot of things," she said.

"Just like you," he said. She smiled a little.

"I'm not mad at you," she said. He didn't respond and his silence told her that he didn't believe her. "I'm just… this year has been really hard. The cancer and visiting my parents and having you flip out in Harrod's and my liver and whatever it is that we have," she said. "This isn't at all how I thought things would be."

He set down the sandwich in front of her with a bottle of butterbeer and sat across from her.

"And now," she continued, "After I had decided to stay away from my parents to protect them, we're thrown together for God knows how long. Ironic, no?" She gave a dry chuckle that had no actual resemblance to mirth. "I always thought I would be by Harry's side when the final days came and instead we're here, useless to the cause. It's infuriating."

"I wanted to be there, too." he said. "Potter cares about you. I believe he'd rather have you safe and healthy than in danger and in this instance I would have to agree with him."

"You're agreeing with Harry? It's a miracle," she said.

He reached out and took her hand, lacing her fingers with his own.

"This too shall pass," he said. It was of little consolation. She ate her sandwich and sipped at her butterbeer. It wasn't alcoholic in the same sense as firewhisky or any of the Muggle alcohols. It didn't impair judgment any which is why underage wizards were allowed to drink it but it left the drinker with a warm, fuzzy feeling low in their bellies. Hermione felt a little better after finishing her bottle which is probably why Snape had given her it instead of tea or cold pumpkin juice. Her parents drank the tea and her father had even tried the butterbeer but neither Muggle cared much for the pumpkin juice. "Perhaps this will turn out for the best, anyhow. This way you don't have to distance yourself from your family at all," he said.

"That's true," she said, but she sounded uncertain. "Severus? What if Harry doesn't succeed?"

Snape just shook his head. He didn't want to live in that world.

oooo

a/n: i just wanted to leave a note of thanks to Winter Fae. i kind of freaked out after finishing HBP and lost my motivation to finish this fic but she told me "screw HBP!" and i went yeah! so i'm trying to wrap this badboy up -- maybe before school starts in two weeks. we'll see. thanks for reading, all.