Disclaimer: Would HP be lighter or darker if I owned it? Dunno. But the pairing sure as heck wouldn't be HG/RW. So...I don't own it. Obviously.

AN: O.O I didn't expect it to be so popular! Now I'm scared I won't measure up. Carp...Or...Crap...or...something...!

Chapter name: Desperate Dream (inflection of 'foolish dream')

Venalia ex postremo praeteritus

Chapter two: Desparatus somnium

She shivered silently as she curled up in a ball in the dark corner of the cave, hoping to make herself as small and warm as possible. Severus had been gone for a week. One whole week.

He had said he would find a way to save her, to save himself...to save everyone...then hid her in the small cave she now cowered against the storm in. She had not seen him since then. Not a glance, not a word, not a breath.

The cave was well stocked, so she did not have to worry about starving, but anxiety was eating her away from the inside just as surely as malnourishment. What if he had been caught in his act? If he were dead? What if he had simply abandoned her--for her own good or his?

It was dark, nagging thoughts like those that kept her awake long into the nights, silently sobbing, wishing it would all just end. She had never felt this way before, throughout the war, and the aftermath, there had always been something to bouy her hopes...she had never realized how much it was truly Severus alone that bouyed her.

"Oh, Severus, please come back...please...I can't take it any longer..." She sniffled, struggling not to picture his haunting smile every time she closed her eyes.

Strong arms enveloped her from nowhere, "I'm here...don't cry anymore..."

She opened her eyes in surprise. In the darkness she could only barely make out a figure next to her, "Severus? Is that you?"

Warm lips pressed softly against hers, and a slim hand caressed her cheek reassuringly, "It is I..."

She gave a choked sob, and threw her arms around where she assumed his neck would be, weeping into his robes, "I was...so scared! I...I thought you might've..."

"Might have what? Died? Been captured? Abandoned you?" His voice held the barest hint of amusement, "Hermione...didn't I promise I would return?"

"I'm sorry, Severus...I was just so...scared and alone...and..."

"It's alright..." He whispered soothingly, "I'm here now...everything will be fine...I've found a way to go back..."

She gasped, "How!"

"There is an ancient magic...with it we can go back...we can fix this..."

"But...what can we do? How can we stop it?"

"I have my ideas..." he replied with an enigma in his voice, "Come...the only way is to go to the graveyard."

"Home? But Severus--"

He placed a hand on her mouth to prevent her from continuing. "I will deal with them when they come...you..."

She shook her head violently, "NO! Severus, I won't go without you!"

"Hermione..."

"I don't care! I know it's selfish, but I don't care about what happens to anyone if I'm not with you! I don't care about what happens to me!"

He engulfed her in a fierce hug, "Please, Hermione..."

"Not without you! Please, Severus...come with me...please!"

There was a pause. "Alright...I'll come with you...I promise."

"To the end?"

"To the end."

Hermione sighed softly, holding him tight. "...Will we make it?"

"We already have."


CH end

AN: >.> /is nervous/ Yeah...there it is...It'll be slow at first as you can see...

Duj: Thanks, I hope it stays ingtriguing, eh?

Jia: Thank you much! You really made my day, I'm glad you so enjoyed it .

Trans: Thank you .

Snakeyes: I'm glad you like it!

-Yusagi