Weeks have passed since Hermione went to help Severus with his essays. She was, in a way his apprentices. But she never admitted to herself on that concept, since she was helping Snape because of wanting to compensate him; at the same time, taking advantage of this chance for her N.E.W.T.S.
"Miss Granger," Hermione looked up from the Fifth year essays as she heard Severus' deep voice. "we should move inside my office; it surely is getting cold here in the classroom."
Hermione's heart skipped. She twitched and slightly frowned at the obscure feeling. She gathered the essays as Severus held the door open for her to enter. When she stepped in his office, she was amazed at how neat and clean it was. His wall was so full of books it seemed like a library. To Hermione's surprise, it wasn't as dark as she had expected.
"You can sit at my desk," Severus said as he took his pile of essays and sat on his emerald colored couch.
Hermione couldn't concentrate on grading the essays anymore. The wall full of books killed her, she want to know what Snape possessed on those shelves. No matter how much I want to get up and read, it would be rude to just leave all these essays. She pouted and continued grading.
That night Hermione left Snape's office around midnight. Severus had advised her to leave at 8— the time where all students should be in their common rooms. Hermione refused to leave and insisted on finishing the essays. Snape had fallen asleep on his couch waiting for her. Now Hermione was too tired to sneak up to Snape's shelves to see what books he had. Letting out a small sigh, she quietly arranged the essays into a neat pile and left his office.
Hermione jumped when she saw Harry and Ron sitting at a table in the classroom.
"What are you guys doing here?" She said as she patted her chest to calm herself.
"McGonagall wanted us to come down and wait for you in case Voldemort attacked again." Harry replied as he stood up from his seat.
Ron nodded. "Three is better than one."
Hermione beamed and thanked them.
"I would've been warm and sleeping peacefully if it wasn't for you." Ron said teasingly as they walked out.
"Har har, Ron."
"You won't die from a few hours of sleep deprivation, mate." Harry said, "You wouldn't want Hermione to get hurt again, do you?"
"Of course not."
Suddenly Harry yelped, both of his hands shot up and pressed hard on his forehead.
"Your scar?" Hermione asked attentively.
Harry glared at the air, "I think…. He's here…"
"What?"
Ron ran ahead of them to check the corner. Suddenly, a loud thump was heard. Harry and Hermione hearts panicked as they turned at the sharp corner. Ron was lying on the floor, unconscious. A group of Death Eaters were laughing a few steps away.
Voldemort walked up behind them.
"Harry…" his cold voice emerged from the laughter.
Harry pulled Hermione behind him. "Voldemort…"
"So that's your brave mudblood friend, Hermione Granger?"
Harry glared at Voldemort, "You made the wrong decision to hurt her. You're going to pay."
"Oh?"
Ron was suddenly up and conscious again. He impulsively threw himself in front of Harry and loudly declared, "If you want to take Harry's life, you'll have to kill me first."
Harry tried to pull him back. "Ron!"
Ron's blue eyes glared glowered at Voldemort as he raised his wand. Before Ron could speak, his body was thrown to the wall once more. Harry watched in horror as Ron fell unconscious again. Hermione had loosened Harry's grip on her wrist and ran over to Ron.
Harry's heart sank. "Hermione! Leave, leave at once! Don't go near him—LEAVE!"
It was too late, a gust of wind passed by Harry— Voldemort was charging at Hermione.
Hermione gritted her teeth and pulled out her wand, "Impedimenta!"
Voldemort sneered as he blocked the spell and pointed his wand at Hermione, "Fool."
An orange string of fire streaked out at Hermione. Harry ran towards her, trying to push her away. Before his hands could touch her shoulder, Voldemort fired another spell at him, sending him across the hallway. All of a sudden, a long black robe blocked Hermione's vision as a strong pair of arms wrapped around her. Hermione could feel the spell Voldemort shot at her hit the figure hard on the back. She looked up, Snape had saved her again.
"Severus, what do you think you're doing?" Voldemort asked.
Severus' robe was smoking at the spot where Voldemort's spell hit him. He was panting as he let go of Hermione and turned around to face Voldemort. Yet, he continued to protectively keep Hermione and Ron behind him.
"My Lord," Severus kneeled down respectively. "I don't think it's relevant to attack innocent students."
Voldemort's eyes narrowed. "Innocent?" He pointed a boney finger at Hermione and Ron. "They're Harry Potter's best friends, how can they be innocent?"
"You're out for Potter, not his friends—"
Voldemort's laugh sent chills down Hermione and Harry's backbone. "Alright, since you say so Severus… then I command you to kill them for me."
Severus gritted his teeth. "Not now, my Lord. I will eventually, but not now."
Hermione glared coldly at the back of Severus' head.
"Eventually? I don't want to wait. Severus, I command you, do it now."
"I cannot my Lord." Severus kept his black eyes fixed on him.
Severus' determination deeply infuriated Voldemort. He finally lost control and bellowed, "Where is your loyalty, Severus Snape! How DARE you go against my orders? CRUCIO!"
Severus collapsed onto the floor, writhing in pain. Somehow Hermione had the urge of wanting to suffer for him. She couldn't stand him getting tortured like this. The pain on Severus' face seemed to bite at her heart.
"This is between you and me, keep my friends and Snape out of this." Harry pointed his wand at Voldemort and got up from the floor.
Voldemort raised his eyebrows, "Severus is my servant. I can do anything I want with him." He proclaimed as he added more pain on to Severus, causing him to roar. At the same time, both Harry and Hermione caught a smell of something burning in the air.
"However," Voldemort smirked, "I'll let your friends go."
He stopped tormenting Severus and turned to Harry, "So… let's begin…"
"What's going on here?"
Harry spun around and saw Professor McGonagall followed by other professors. She saw Voldemort pointing his wand at Harry, Severus on the floor unconscious with a painful look on his face. Hermione was holding an unconscious Ron, her eyes locked on Severus.
The Death Eater's pulled out their wands and aimed at the professors.
"Stop." Voldemort put up his hand, "We're outnumbered, retreat."
A few Death Eaters sneered as they disapparated. "We'll be back." One of them said.
Professor McGonagall gave Voldemort a fierce glare before he disapparated.
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Ron was awake a few hours after he was sent to the hospital with a few bruises on his body, but he was still required to stay for some extra check ups. Severus, on the other hand, was still unconscious. Worried, Hermione pretended to accompany Ron in order to eavesdrop Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey's conversation about Snape's wounds.
"How is he?" Professor McGonagall asked with an uneasy voice.
Madam Pomfrey sighed, "He's actually doing fine if it wasn't for that huge wound on his back. It seemed as if Severus was burned by fire… I know there's a spell that does this, but the wounds shouldn't be so severe. It actually cooked his skin deeply enough that he fainted from the pain. But how did Severus get injured like this?"
Hermione had the urge to explain, since she knew exactly what had happened.
"Professor," Hermione said against the curtains, "Professor Snape's wounds became more severe because Voldemort had used an Unforgivable Curse on him."
Professor McGonagall pulled the curtains open and gawped at Hermione. "What did you say?"
"Voldemort used Crucio on Professor Snape….. I think that's why his wound grew worse. I caught a burning smell in the air when it happened."
"Why would he? I thought Severus was the most loyal to Voldemort?" Professor McGonagall recalled what Dumbledore had told her once about how Voldemort believed that Severus was his most loyal follower. Ironically, Severus was in the Order as well.
"Because Professor Snape refused to follow Voldemort's command." Hermione said as she smiled at Severus' direction.
Professor McGonagall was bewildered. "He refused to follow commands? What did Voldemort ask for?"
"When Voldemort was going to kill Hermione and Ron, Snape stopped him." Harry said as he joined the group.
"Voldemort immediately commanded Professor Snape to kill us for him. Voldemort lost his temper when— "
".— when Snape was unwilling to kill them." Harry finished Hermione's sentence.
Professor McGonagall looked stunned.
"As for how Professor Snape got that wound on his back… he had blocked Voldemort's spell for me. I was the one who was supposed to get hit by the spell." Hermione said.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Everything was cleared out. It sure seemed like it was. Professor McGonagall was restless that night. She was between the lines of believing Severus was on her side and him being Voldemort's most loyal follower. Voldemort trusted him, and considered him the most loyal. Dumbledore too, trusted Severus and stood firm on the concept that Severus was on their side no matter how many times others had questioned him. Then why did Severus choose to kill Dumbledore? Was Dumbledore wrong about Severus? Or is Severus evil after all? But if he is, why did he sacrifice his life saving the trio?
"Exactly what side are you on Severus?" Professor McGonagall muttered as she stared deeply at Severus' pale face, "Where does your allegiance lie?"
The words of Professor McGonagall lingered in the air. Severus' subconscious had caught most of her last sentence. Dumbledore's calm voice echoed in his mind.
"Harry questioned me, Minerva questioned me, Sirius questioned me…. But Severus…I never questioned myself on the loyalty you have for me….."
Outside Severus' office, a barn owl had perched upon his windowsill. In its beak, was a maroon letter with a neatly written SS in front.
Disclaimer: See Chapter 3
A/N: This one took some time too…. I hope everyone likes it. There's a hint I added in here that leads to a really cute scene in chapter 7;D did anyone notice? Hee hee, trivia question :D Enjoy this chapter and please review! I'm reaching 2000 hits yet I'm still not getting enough feedback. (waa…)
Lots of love and appreciation to those who continued to review (hugs) Special thanks to my favorite SSHG author, severussnapepotionsmaster13 for reviewing:)
Oh yeah, by the way, I need a beta…. Anyone interested? E-mail me xD (my e-mail is in my user info.)