"We must find a way to fix this," Sprout fretted, kicking her feet agitatedly. "Hermione is invaluable to-"

"The Order, Pomona, we know," Dumbledore said tiredly. "However, it is apparent that Voldemort knows this also."

Sprout flinched at the usage of his name, but didn't say anything further. The staff members in the Order had convened in Madam Pomfrey's office, Pomfrey stating she wanted to keep a close eye on Hermione throughout the meeting.

"But we weren't expecting an attack from this angle," Dumbledore murmured. "Severus, are you certain that Voldemort said nothing of this to you?"

Snape gave Dumbledore a cold look from where he leaned against the wall. "I wouldn't forget if he had."

Dumbledore nodded. "Then we have to assume that this curse was not intended for Hermione to receive."

"What do you mean, Albus?" McGonagall asked with a perplexed expression.

Dumbledore glanced quickly at Snape before speaking. "The book Hermione was holding was, coincidentally, the exact book Severus had been in the Library to retrieve."

There was a general murmuring among the staff before Sprout spoke up. "I don't understand. The most rare plant that I'd asked Hermione to research could be found in 1000 Magical Herbs and Fungi. What was she doing in the Restricted Section?"

Snape raised an eyebrow. "The mimbulus mimbletonia?"

"Why, yes, I believe that's the one."

"The exact plant I needed," Snape said pensively, ignoring Sprout's gasp. "However, I'd been rather sure it was in 1000 Magical Herbs and Fungi as well, and if it was, it has been removed."

"Where is the cursed book now?" Flitwick asked worriedly.

"Well, we could hardly check it," Snape snapped. "But it has been confiscated and removed to a place where no one else will run into it."

"This is most worrisome," Dumbledore said softly. "And Severus, you said that you were called at the time this… tragedy, took place?"

Snape nodded shortly.

"Then we must assume that this curse was intended for you. You have been discovered, my boy," Dumbledore said, shaking his head slowly. "You mustn't go back again."

An unreadable emotion crossed Snape's face, and he turned quickly, facing the shadows so none could see him.

"But Albus," McGonagall said, "if they had discovered Severus, why go through all the trouble of cursing him? Why not just kill him outright?"

"And that's why we need to figure out what exactly this curse is meant to accomplish. Severus?"

Snape looked up, now completely composed.

"I'll need you and Filius to work together to see if you can figure out what this is. You're as much as an expert of the Dark Arts as we have right now."

Snape inclined his head, glancing at Flitwick, who seemed to be in a state of shock. All the teachers seemed to be too dazed to say anything, understandably. These were incredible new developments.

"Oh, Albus," Flitwick mumbled after a short while. "We've lost our best informant in this war, and the life of one of our own is clearly in danger."

Snape's head snapped to Flitwick, but he said nothing.

Dumbledore glanced at Snape, noting the expression of fury on Snape's face. "Filius, just by being our informant, Severus's life was constantly at risk-"

"No, Albus," Snape said in a strangely detached tone of voice. "Filius is right. Now," Snape said, turning his blank gaze on Flitwick and causing him to flinch, "the life of someone truly important to the order is at stake."

"Severus-"

Snape got up and walked out of the room, pausing at the door to look back in disdain at Flitwick before leaving.

"Oh, Filius," Sprout breathed softly while Flitwick hung his head.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Snape went no further than the Hospital Wing before sitting on an empty bed and staring out the window there, disgusted at no one and everyone.

Oh, he knew he'd never be the hero; he never had wanted to be. He knew that no one would think to ask him about how he felt about now being Voldemort's target, or about having the freedom to not have to risk his life every time his arm burned. He even knew that no one truly appreciated the fact that he didn't like what he had to do, that it scared the hell out of him, but he did it anyway, because he certainly didn't deserve any better. No, he knew all of this, and he knew beyond a doubt that no one would care, or even pretend to.

But sometimes, he thought bitterly, it might be nice to be wrong about something.

"Professor?"

Snape turned to face Hermione Granger, who was looking at him curiously. Her face was covered in sweat, her hair matted with it.

She gestured weakly, and Snape strode over to stand beside her. "Yes, Miss Granger?" he asked, feeling foolish talking to a girl who likely had no idea what he was saying.

"What's happening to me?" she whispered, every word sounding forced.

Snape blinked, not expecting a lucid answer. "You've been cursed."

"With what?"

"We're not entirely certain right now."

Hermione slumped back onto her pillows, looking down dejectedly. "You can't fix this… I don't know how long I can keep it away…"

"Keep what away, Miss Granger?" Snape said sharply.

She said nothing, her eyes drifting shut. After a long moment, she opened them again. "You're still here. That means you were here before, so I'm not dreaming this time."

Watching her bloodshot eyes, Snape felt as though there was something that he was missing, something inexplicably simple…

"Of course!" he said aloud, though he was speaking to himself. "Miss Granger, would you let me into your mind?"

Hermione stared at him blankly for a moment, making him feel foolish for even asking. The words sounded stupid to his own ears, and added to that the fact that the girl he was talking to had no real choice in the matter anyway… He was about to just turn and leave the room when Hermione chuckled dryly. "Sure, why not? Maybe you can help me find myself. Good luck getting out, though…"

Ignoring her cryptic words, Snape held her head between his hands to steady it, staring deeply into her eyes. She smiled, and he felt himself fall headlong into her thoughts.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Snape had used his skills as a Legilimens more times than he could count. He was used to the sensation of being out of touch with his own body as he became accustomed to whomever's mind he was currently occupying. However, he felt something entirely different as he entered Hermione's mind, beyond the strong force that seemed to be attempting to push him out.

There was no one thought in her head. Instead, a dizzying amount of ideas were flashing through at incredible speeds. Even as an outsider, he felt confused, and he wondered how Hermione had managed to speak coherently at all. It was like a Pensieve had been upended over her mind, and different thoughts faded in and out of consciousness at an alarming rate. Above the speaking in the memories, he thought he heard a faint call of his name.

"Miss Granger?" he spoke uncertainly.

In response, several visuals surfaced in front of him. Some of him teaching, others of him as he sneered at Hermione and her friends. There were a few memories she had apparently gained without his knowledge; of him grading papers in class, or looking bored at Qudditch game. However, instead of the clear images he usually saw when using Legilimency, they were choppy and broken. In some, the background was obviously incorrect, and others were noticeably lacking in detail.

The most disturbing thing about the situation was the blue fog that was present in all of Hermione's memories. It obscured faces and blurred boundaries until the scene was barely recognizable.

Snape focused on the one thing he wanted to do, which was somehow speak to Hermione. However, all he got were random memories, as if someone had set them to rotate in and out of her focus.

"Professor Snape? Please…"

Again, the words he heard were faint, and he was completely baffled. Where was Hermione in this mess that was her mind?

Ah. Pushing back all other thoughts and emotions with a sheer force of will, Snape concentrated solely on one, bringing it to the foreground.

"Miss Granger, can you hear me?"

"Yes." The voice was getting closer now.

With a final effort, Snape shoved away all background noise until he was left only with a replica of Hermione, who was currently staring at him in awe.

"You did it, you fixed it-"

"Miss Granger," Snape interrupted tersely, "I have done nothing of permanence."

Hermione sagged visibly. "Then I'm still…"

"Ill," Snape supplied. "Yes, you are. Bu I need you to- Oh…"

Hermione had begun to bawl, sobbing and grabbing her head. Snape had never seen her cry in front of him before, and, uncomfortable, he averted his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Hermione managed to gasp out, "but since you've been here, I can finally think again, and when you leave…"

Snape cleared his throat. "Indeed. Do you mean to say you couldn't think before?"

Hermione looked vaguely queasy, and Snape hurriedly placated her in the only way he knew she'd understand. "Miss Granger, treat this an experiment, for the moment. Nothing more."

Hermione nodded, drying her eyes and taking deep breaths until she was calm once more. "Alright. I'm okay. I could think," Hermione said, "but I couldn't keep hold of my thoughts. It's like every time I grasped any idea, it floated away. The more I tried to remember something, the worse it got, to the point where I didn't remember most of my own memories- Oh, I'm not making sense, am I?" she cried.

Snape frowned. "I believe I understand what you mean… You do understand, of course, that you did speak to us earlier."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't really remember anything. I know I talked to you, but I barely remember that, and I have no clue what we talked about," Hermione finished on a gasp, and suddenly her image before him flickered.

Snape checked his control quickly; wavering, but no more so than it had been all along. "Miss Granger, what happened?"

"I don't know," Hermione said shakily. "It's like someone else is briefly taking control, making me see things that I've never done… Or maybe I have done them, and just don't remember…" Hermione trailed off and then looked at Snape in horror. "What's happening to me, Professor?"

Snape hesitated. Albus may or may not want her to know, but surely she had the right?

"Tell me!"

"Miss Granger, it is my belief that you are suffering from a mixture of several very powerful curses. The Confundus Charm, to keep you in a state of confusion, the Impediment Jinx, to impede your memories and thoughts, and the Imperius, which will take control when your mind is sufficiently weakened." Snape paused, watching Hermione shake her head in bewilderment.

"No, no, I don't believe you! It's never been done, it can't happen- oh, but you wouldn't lie to me about something that serious…"

"How can you be sure?" Snape asked bluntly. "If your memories are faulty, what makes you believe that I'm not the type of person to do that?"

"I didn't say all of my memories were faulty," Hermione said shortly.

"Miss Granger," Snape said suddenly, breaking the silence that had followed her words. "I must apologize. It appears this curse was likely aimed at me."

Snape waited for the inevitable anger, and was not disappointed as it spread over Hermione's face. "Who did this?" she asked in a low voice.

"To all appearances, the Dark Lord seems to be behind it in some way."

"And you're apologizing for him!"

Snape felt an acute sense of shock at her sudden vehemence. "I beg your pardon?"

"As well you should!" Hermione thundered. "Assuming I should be angry because you didn't suffer instead of me…

"Wait," Hermione said, eyes widening in fear. "Were you discovered?"

"I do believe so," Snape said, still surprised.

"Oh no, what if they send someone to the castle to kill you now that this curse didn't get the right person?"

Snape stared at Hermione. "Do you not understand the gravity of this situation? Not only are you under a curse which no one at Hogwarts knows how break, but now the Order has lost an informant-"

"Hogwash," Hermione said dismissively. "You're right in front of me… Well, not exactly, but you understand what I mean. Now, we just need to find a way to keep you that way-"

"Miss Granger! Perhaps if you showed more concern over your own actions, we wouldn't be in this situation!"

"No," she said gently. "We would. We'd be even worse off, because then you would be cursed instead of me. And if that happened," Hermione continued, despite Snape's multiple attempts at speech, "who would figure out a way to remove the curse?"

Snape stared incredulously at the girl in front of him. That she seemed to care what happened to him, that she had such faith in his abilities shocked him as nothing had in years.

"You're our best chance at finding a way to remove this thing," said Hermione softly.

Snape rolled his eyes. "Don't place trust in people foolishly, Miss Granger."

Hermione's eyes flashed. "I don't."

Snape felt his weak control over Hermione's mind trembling. "Miss Granger, I'm afraid that very soon I will have to go-"

"No!"

"I'll do everything I can," Snape said as he observed the panicked look in he eyes. "Everyone will, I'm sure."

"Thank you, Professor," Hermione said, her eyes welling up once more. Her image began to flicker once more.

"You must fight it, Miss Granger," Snape said firmly. "You mustn't give in."

"I won't," said Hermione resolutely. She moved closer to him, raising her hand to his face and causing him to flinch away from her impending touch, though he stayed where he was. "Thank you," she whispered softly, "Severus."

Just as her hand would have made contact with the side of his face, Snape felt his influence over her mind break, and he was thrust back into his own mind.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

"Did you figure anything out, Filius?"

Flitwick shook his head. "Maybe if Severus were here to help, but-"

"Oh no, you don't," Sprout scolded. "You drove him away yourself!"

"I know," Flitwick said heavily. "It was foolish of me, and I know that. But, you know, I didn't mean it exactly the way he took it."

Sprout shook her head. "If Albus or Minerva were here right now, you'd really be in for it."

Flitwick paced Pomfrey's office, disregarding the seats despite the fact that none were taken save Sprout's. "Severus just- He twists everything around until he garners the meaning he wants to hear from people-"

"Filius!" Sprout exclaimed. "How could you say such a thing, knowing what that poor boy has been through?"

"Aren't I right, though?" the normally even-tempered Flitwick demanded.

Sprout cast him one cold stare before exiting out through the doors opposite the hall, to the Hospital Wing. "And don't you dare follow me," Sprout hissed as Flitwick moved in her direction. "I don't like who you are right now."

Sprout had barely stepped into the Wing when the sight before her made her shut the door quickly to block Flitwick's view. Snape was collapsed next to Hermione on the bed, Hermione's eyes open and looking at him with something resembling… adoration?

Sprout stood, peering at Severus. She was almost eye level with him, and it surprised her when he opened one eye, staring straight at her.

"Oh, Severus, I didn't mean to disturb-"

"I heard you talking to Filius," he said simply, not moving from his current position.

When he said nothing further, Sprout began to gesture indignantly. "I know you don't need people fighting your battles for you, but he was stressed, and was saying things that he didn't truly mean."

Snape still hadn't moved, but now he nodded his head, one side of his mouth curving up in a half-smile.

Sprout was floored. She'd never seen the impassive man smile before, and while this wasn't an all out grin, she felt it was probably the closest he'd come in a while.

"Um," she started, unwilling to ruin the moment, but having issues that needed to be addressed. "Why are you-"

"Because," he responded in an amused tone of voice, "I am too weak to stand up."

"Oh," Sprout said weakly, surprised at the entire change in Snape's demeanor. So it took extreme fatigue to bring a semblance of humanity to him, she noted to herself wryly. "Well, in that case, I suppose it's alright."

Snape raised his eyebrow, managing to look condescending even from his current horizontal position. "I attempted to perform Legilimency on Miss Granger."

"Oh? What happened?" Sprout asked eagerly. "Did it work?"

"Oh, it worked. We need to find a way to remove this curse, immediately."

Sprout grimaced. "What's going to happen to Hermione if we don't?"

"It is likely Miss Granger, in addition to losing all her current memories, will become a tool of the Dark Lord; a very powerful tool, I daresay, with her knowledge and abilities."

Sprout sagged. Was there nothing that wouldn't go wrong today? Surprising even herself, she said the first thing that came to mind.

"You know, you just admitted Hermione was intelligent."

Snape opened his mouth as if to speak, and then shut it again. Once more, Sprout marveled. First that smile, and now he was speechless? Of course, she reminded herself, it did take a state of exhaustion and hopelessness to bring him to this point.

"It's alright," she said, giving him a small smile. "Besides, Miss Granger is looking at you right now as if you'd just moved the heavens."

"Damn close," Snape muttered before straining his neck to look up. "Actually, I believe that could be because she is mentally unstable. Well, more so than usual, anyway."

Sprout shook her head. "Come on, I'll help you to the other bed. Once you're there, I'm afraid I have some information that I don't think you're going to like very much."

"Have I ever liked the information that the Order has seen fit to give me?" Snape said conversationally as he moved slowly to the bed beside Hermione's, waving away Sprout's proffered hand.

"Ah, well," Sprout hedged, "Dumbledore has decided to invite Remus and Sirius back to Hogwarts for the remainder of summer."

Snape stared up at the ceiling for a long moment before flicking his eyes to Sprout. "If I was physically exhausted, instead of mentally, I'm sure I'd still find the strength to be upset. However, as I am now, all I'd really like to do is go to sleep."

With that, he turned over, putting an end to the conversation. Sprout smiled warmly at the black-cloaked back that faced her before ducking out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind her as she left to go speak with the Headmaster.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Snape might not have been so flippant about Sirius and Remus' imminent arrival had he known just how close they were.

Remus was speaking to an old, grizzled man behind the counter at the Hog's Head, trying to procure a room for himself and the black dog sitting calmly beside him.

"No," Remus said succinctly, enunciating every syllable. "I'll only need it for one night, not one week."

The grumpy-looking old man behind the counter smiled, revealing two rows of yellowed and crooked teeth. Had he been watching Remus' pet, rather than Remus himself, he would have noticed the large black dog at his side recoil, a most unusual action for a dog to perform.

"Ah, you'll be realizing that there's a special for a week's paid stay?"

"I understand that," Remus replied patiently, ignoring the dog's growl. "I would still like one night, please."

The man twisted his scraggly grey hair between his knobby fingers, flashing Remus another gap-toothed grin. Remus barely heard the man's next sentence; he was staring in fascination at the man, wondering how he managed to pronounce so many words with so few teeth. "We don't be allowing pets here, sir."

The dog beside Remus rose, growling again as it began to move forward. Remus reached down quickly, grabbing blindly until his hand closed on the scruff of the dog's neck. "I'm sure we can work something out," Remus said to the terrified barkeep with an encouraging smile.

"Aye, sir," the barkeep stammered. "You'll be wanting the week special, then. Pets included."

Remus sighed, reaching into his pocket with his free hand, marveling at how the man could still finagle money from him while frightened. "Fine."

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Remus blew out a breath as he lugged his suitcase up the stairs, made doubly heavy by Sirius' belongings inside as well as Remus'. The black dog walked behind, giving a push on the suitcase whenever Remus allowed it to slip too much.

"Blimey," Remus said wearily, turning to look longingly at the door to their room, still several steps above. "Oh, don't give me that look," he chastened the dog, which was currently staring at him with an air of smugness. "You know we can't have you seen, so it's not as if your offer of help with the luggage was realistic."

When he finally made it to the room, he took out the key the barkeep had given him. "Never even got a name from him," he said thoughtfully to the animal by his side. Without any apparent keyhole, Remus wondered how he was to open the door. Feeling foolish, he waved the key in the air at the door, and was surprised as the key in his palm began to burn and the door swung open.

The dog bounded past him into the room, almost knocking Remus off-balance. "Yes, Sirius," Remus muttered, turning around to collect the suitcase. "Knock me down, that's a good boy-"

No sooner had he closed his hand around the clasp did another male hand come into view, and he turned his head to see Sirius' grinning face. "I couldn't let you suffer more, after you've already dragged the blasted thing this far."

Rolling his eyes affectionately, Remus released his hold on the handle and Sirius hefted it with ease. Remus stayed at the door for a moment when they were both inside, inspecting the door for locks and finding none. Couldn't hurt, he thought to himself, and again waved his key in front of the door, noting with approval how the edges around the door turned a satisfying shade of red before fading to their usual wood once more.

"Right, we're all locked up. Sirius, you really should have waited until-"

"A week special, he says?" Sirius said loudly, flopping backwards onto the bed and linking his hands behind his head. "You should have told him exactly where he could shove his week's special-"

Remus cleared his throat meaningfully.

"No pets, indeed-"

"Sirius!"

"Well, you know, you're just wasting money, money that I'm not entire certain we can stand to part with-"

"Sirius," Remus said, massaging his temples. "I haven't even given you the details on why we're going to Hogwarts. Wouldn't you care to know?"

Sirius sat up from his relaxed position, scooting to the end of the bed and patting the area next to him, indicating to Remus that he should take a seat. "Sorry about that… you just know how I am after spending so much time as Padfoot. It's dead boring, really, not being able to speak to anyone…"

Remus sat next to Sirius, patting his knee. "I know, I know… But I'm afraid I have some very upsetting news, and it's just made me a bit short on temper, that's all."

Sirius immediately sobered. "What's happened?"

"Well," Remus began, jumping as Sirius began to trace indiscriminate patterns on his knee with a finger. "Stop that," he muttered to Sirius, eliciting a grin.

Remus told Sirius everything Dumbledore had told him, which was only that Hermione had been cursed, and Snape had been discovered, though he was uninjured and safe at Hogwarts.

"Hermione cursed by a book?" Sirius mused. "That's irony if I ever heard it."

Remus shook his head, frowning. "I've never heard of the type of curse Albus described to me. It sounds like someone created something completely new, using several powerful existing curses."

"And by someone, you mean Voldemort?"

"No, I'm not certain he's strong enough at this point to do that. Although, of course, there's so many people who he could've had do it for him…"

"The puppet master at work," Sirius said with a grimace. "I don't understand why some enterprising Death Eater hasn't just risen and taken the power from Voldemort now, while he's weak."

"Perhaps they know something we don't. Not every Death Eater is a new Crabbe or Goyle; there are certainly intelligent ones as well."

"I suppose… after all, Snape was one. Useless ass he may be, Snivellus was always a genius."

"Sirius!" Lupin exclaimed. "Don't tell me you still harbor ill feelings for the man, after all that he's done and been through!"

Sirius laughed, though there was clearly no humor in it. "Yeah, I'm sure. He deserved everything he's been through. The man was a Death Eater! He tortured innocent people, and now you and the rest of them condone his actions because he realized he didn't have an icicle's chance in hell of surviving in that group! Always running away, that's Snivellus, looking to be on the winning team no matter what!"

"Oh, Sirius," Remus murmured, standing and moving away to lean against the far wall. "You and I both know that what you say isn't true, and you're not helping anyone or anything by sulking like a child."

"He hates you, you know," Sirius said viciously. "He would kill you if he could."

"I daresay he's not the only one."

"And you still stick up for him?"

"Yes, I do, Sirius. Because I don't need his permission to like him."

Sirius scowled, laying back down and staring at the ceiling. "As if anyone could truly like-"

"Sirius! I know that this conversation isn't going to go anywhere from where we are now, but don't you think it would be wise to spare Hermione a thought or two?"

Sirius looked as if he'd already forgotten.

"Mention Snape and you're gone, is that it?"

"I'm sorry, Remus," Sirius said contritely. "Do they know anything else about Hermione's curse? How it affects her?"

"Not right now," Remus said, shaking his head. "Flitwick and Snape are searching their collections of Charms and Dark Magic, respectively."

"Good thing we have a person there who's so… fascinated, with Dark Magic, isn't it?"

"Isn't it?" Remus said curtly. "We'll be going to Hogwarts tomorrow, as early as we possibly can. In light of that fact, I would suggest getting some sleep now."

"The Shrieking Shack?" Sirius asked worriedly.

Remus smiled inwardly; Sirius seemed cold-hearted at times, but he had no fear of his own for the dilapidated building. It was Remus himself who was reminded of his painful transformations because of it, and Sirius was one of the few who knew that.

"Yes, but I'll be alright. It wouldn't astute of us to simply approach the castle gates, now would it?"

"But… what about the Honeydukes-"

"Sirius!" Remus said sharply. "I will not add breaking and entering to the already considerable list of offenses we've committed. I'll be fine," Remus said in a softer voice, giving Sirius a small smile. "I promise."

Sirius looked at Remus doubtfully, but Remus waved away his concern. "Never mind with that. We're both going to need to get some rest tonight, because I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be taking a toll."

With a grim nod, Sirius began to ready himself for bed.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

"Is that so?" Albus said, considering Sprout carefully above his spectacles.

"It is. I didn't want to keep him awake any longer, exhausted as he was. But Severus made it clear that time is of the essence."

"I'm afraid," Dumbledore said heavily, "that we're all ignoring what is right before our eyes. Miss Granger must not be allowed to become a tool of Voldemort. Her skills and capabilities, if lost to us, must not be gained by him."

Sprout blanched. "Surely you're not suggesting what I think you are-"

"If we can't use her, no one can?"

Sprout swiveled around in her chair to see a furious McGonagall standing in the doorway, while Dumbledore looked up calmly.

"How?" McGonagall said angrily, using a tone Sprout had never heard her use before. "How could you be so callous as to suggest killing one of our own?"

"Minerva, she won't be one of our much longer," Dumbledore said. Sprout sat quietly, watching the Dumbledore argue with his right hand woman in astonishment. The two had few real disagreements, and now it seemed that everything was falling apart before Sprout's eyes.

"Albus, doing this will put us at the same despicably selfish level that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named operates on!"

"If it is the only way to end this curse upon Hermione, then we will do what we must."

McGonagall gestured helplessly, taking a seat beside the now quite forgotten Sprout.

"I find," Dumbledore said gently, "that motive determines a great deal of right and wrong. We hurt Hermione under extreme duress, with the goal of saving her and not harming her."

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions," McGonagall said dully. Seeing Sprout's confused look, she continued. "It's and old quote by a Muggle English writer."

"Actually," Snape said as he walked into the room, "that's incorrect. It's actually a sixteenth century proverb."

Snape raised an eyebrow when he received a glare from both McGonagall and Sprout. "I find it bothersome when people attribute quotes erroneously."

"And I find it bothersome when the live of a member of the Order is dismissed as insignificant!"

"We will not resort to this measure unless we are left with no other option. However," Dumbledore continued at the hopeful look in Minerva's eyes, "you must accept that this could well be a path that we will take, albeit reluctantly."

"What measure encounters such strong objection?" Snape asked.

"That of ending Miss Granger's life in order to avoid other, less desirable, events."

There was a flash of surprise across Snape's face. "The curse should be broken on the event n her death," Snape said thoughtfully. "This is a viable option."

"Are you crazy?" McGonagall all but screeched. "It is not-"

"Oh, hush, Minerva," Sprout said crossly, causing everyone else to look at her in surprise. "No one here wants to see Hermione die either, but we must be realistic. Don't yell at Severus for saying what you're unwilling to hear. What do you think Hermione would say if she were with us now?"

McGonagall shook her head. "I know you're right, I do. Pardon me, I need to get some air," she said abruptly, getting up and leaving quickly.

Dumbledore watched her go sadly, motioning to Sprout to follow. "Pomona, if you would-"

"Nothing of it, Headmaster," Sprout said, following McGonagall out of the room.

"It would seem you have a new ally, Severus. Now," Dumbledore said intently, "tell me what you have in mind."

"What would give you the idea that I have anything in mind?"

Dumbledore glowered at Snape. "You don't think I know you well enough by now to know that you would never have said that unless you had something up your sleeve? If so, then you are severely mistaken, my boy."

Snape had to fight the urge to smirk at the irate Headmaster. "The easiest way to end this curse would be to end Miss Granger's life. But she doesn't have to stay that way."

Dumbledore sat back, looking disappointed. "There is no magic that can bring someone back from the dead, Severus. You know that."

"Whatever gave you the idea I was planning on using magic?"

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Alright, you guys, I owe all of you an apology. I've been trying all week to find a beta-reader, because even though I am one myself, I can't catch everything. I know how horrible it is to read a fic rife with spelling and grammar errors, and I'd really hoped to prevent all that. Unfortunately, my only options at this point seem to be to continue as I've been going with the weekly updates and not have a beta, or get a beta and wait up to a month between posts. I suppose I'll leave the choice up to you; what do you guys think?

Either way, expect fic updates on my Livejournal, the link to which is in the user profile. I'll be including my progress on SMI, as well as my other fics. Bleed Like Me progress will also be posted there. Finally, any review questions that I don't plan on answering through the ongoing fic can be found there as well.

Review if you are of a mind to do so.