Hello! A day later than I intended, but here is the next chapter.

Severus Snape waited. There was little more that he could do besides waiting. Dumbledore's instructions had been explicit. He was not to leave the castle unless summoned. Oh, how he hated waiting. It seems like it was all that he had ever done, moving from one fresh new horror to the next. His position as a spy was much more valuable to the Order than the use of his wand. He felt utterly helpless and useless as he sat with Poppy in the infirmary. He knew that any wounded would be brought there instead of St. Mungo's. It seemed the best place to be to aid the mediwitch should she require assistance.

In the meantime, his mind flipped through a host of unpleasant scenarios. What if the students had fallen from their mounts? How long would it take for their bodies to be discovered? They could have been ambushed anywhere between here and London. They could be trapped in the Department of Mysteries. They could have all been dispatched as soon as they arrived. He tried to tell himself that he was equally worried for all the missing children and not just one stubborn frizzy haired girl.

He sighed. He was beyond worried for her. This is what Dumbledore had cautioned him about, and he was right. At this point, he would be grateful for a summons from his Lord, just for the chance of getting a damned update on what was happening outside these walls.

"Severus?" the voice was gentle.

"What?" he groused, scowling at Poppy from the other side of her desk.

"You're going to break a tooth if you keep grinding your teeth like that," she responded gently. "And it won't get us word any faster."

"I know that Poppy. I'm not an idiot," he snarked

"That may be, but you are certainly acting like one," she said. "How about I fix us a nice cup a tea?" She suggested.

"Oh, and that will help the situation?" he bit out.

"Tea always helps, dear. I will fix us a pot," she responded, raising from her chair.

The mediwitch turned to the small tea station in the corner of her office and set to work. Snape knew he shouldn't take out his frustrations out on the older witch. She had always been kind to him and had a habit of fussing over him. She had been patching him up since his school days. He'd spent way more time than he'd like to admit in this infirmary, and somewhere along the way Poppy just sort of adopted him. Whether he liked it or not.

It wasn't long before the witch was placing a hot mug of tea in his hands. "Thank you, Poppy. I apologized for my outburst." He said contritely.

"No worries, Severus. I know you're just worried, we both are." She smiled down at him and then retook her seat. They sipped in silence for a while, just letting the tea warm them from the inside out.

*S*S*S*S*S*S*

"Madame Pomfrey!" the shout rang out across the ward. The witch and wizard were instantly on their feet, racing towards the hospital flu entrance. Lupin was holding an unconscious Tonks. Pomphrey immediately started checking her vitals and whisking the pair to the side as others began to emerge from the flu. Longbottom came through next, covered in blood and helping the youngest Weasley stay upright. Snape asked them a few questions, determined that their injuries were minor and sent them to wait for treatment. Moody entered next with the other Weasley. He was bleeding with deep lacerations but was conscious, if not alert. The Lovegood girl appeared next clutching her head and stumbling. Moody quickly caught the girl's arm to guide her to a bed.

Severus's anxiety increased when Granger and Potter didn't stream in right behind their fellow classmates. "Where's the rest then?" he asked.

Moody answered, "Potter was sent back by Dumbledore and Granger should be along shortly. Kingsley was looking after her."

"Looking after her?" Snape snarled, "what the hell does that mean?"

"Girl, got hit with something nasty." He replied. "Wasn't there when it happened though. No clue what we're dealing with."

That didn't sound good, Snape thought. He turned back to the others in the ward. "Did any of you see what happened to her."

"I bib, bur," Longbottom answered. Having just helped Miss Weasley onto a bed.

Severus rushed to the boy. Realizing that the boy's nose was broken, he sent a quick episkey his way so he could understand him. "Thank you, sir," Neville said. "Dolohov cursed her. The spell sent purple flames, and it hit her in the chest."

Severus's heart contracted at the knowledge. He knew that spell and surviving it was difficult. "Did you hear the spell, Longbottom? What did he say?"

"Nothing, sir," Longbottom quickly answered. "Hermione had silenced him beforehand."

Then there was still time, he thought. He needed to get to Granger before it was too late. That curse worked quickly, the fact that Dolohov was silenced may have bought the girl more time, but time was still of the essence. He whirled around and made for the flu. "And where in the bloody hell do you think you're going, Snape?" Moody growled as he blocked the other man's way.

"Out of the way, Moody. I know what Granger was hit with. She needs treatment immediately!" He did not have time for this nonsense, he thought.

"Dumbledore was clear. You are not to leave the castle! Are you truly that eager to join your master," Moody snarled, pushing the man away from the flu.

"You, idiot! The girl will die if we don't get to her soon. I'm going to the Ministry not to the Dark Lord, you imbecile!" Snape bellowed, trying to shove the older man out of his way.

"I know what I said, Snape. Your master was at the Ministry. " he spat back.

Snape drew his wand. "You're as mad as they say, Moody. The Dark Lord wouldn't reveal himself so blatantly. Now let me pass before I make you!" he was done playing around, and if he had to lay the old Auror out, he would.

"I would like to see you try, boy" Moody responded as he drew his wand as well.

The argument abruptly ended when the flu roared to life once more, and Kingsley emerged holding Hermione. Severus pushed Moody out of his way and started assessing the girl's condition. "Place her here," the wizard indicated the nearest empty bed. Kingsley gently lay her down.

"Her breathing has been steady, but she's not regained consciousness since the attack," the auror advised. Snape nodded, expecting as much. While her vitals weren't optimal, they were still steady. Severus knew they wouldn't be for long though. "Poppy!" he called out, "I'm going to need some help here!"

"A minute, Severus! I need to stabilize Ms. Tonks!" the mediwitch called back.

Severus watched as the girl's steady breathing became shallow. Within moments, she started to cough and blood trickled out of the corner of her mouth. "Shit!" Snape exclaimed noticing that her stomach seemed slightly distended. He quickly drew up her shirt and saw her swollen, purpling abdomen. "Fuck!" he cried out. "Poppy, I need you now!"

From across the room Poppy called over Kingsley. "Take Ms. Tonks to St Mungo's," she quickly instructed, moving towards Hermione's bed. "Make sure to give them this," she said shoving a clip board into his hands. "What are we dealing with, Severus?" the older woman asked as she made it to the girl's side.

"Severe internal bleeding," he reported. "Blood in the lungs. Her internal organs are losing their integrity."

"Integrity?" she repeated.

"They are slowly dissolving. It's Dolohov's specialty. I think she's only alive now because he'd been silenced when he cast the curse." He explained quickly, as he attempted to siphon the blood from the girl's lungs to ensure she didn't drown.

"Sweet Circe!" the witch exclaimed. "Should we send her to St. Mungo's as well she asked as she examined the girl's abdomen.

"No time," Severus responded. "And they wouldn't know how to treat her anyway."

"Shouldn't be surprised that the Death Eater knows all the dark spells that his lot enjoy." Moody grumbled, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Pomfrey turned back to the old auror. "That is quite enough from you!" she scolded. "One more word, Mr. Moody and I'll throw you out myself!" Turning back to Severus, she asked, "What do you need?"

"Blood replenisher, fortifying potions for her heart, lungs and the digestive pathway to start. They'll kill her the fastest if we don't stop the spell's progress," he said, having temporarily cleared her lungs, he drew a small incision just below her belly button and began siphoning out the trapped blood. The mediwitch quickly summoned the potions and a basin to catch the lost blood. Seeing the quantity Hermione was losing, Pomfrey poured the blood replenisher down her throat first, followed quickly by the others. "Are we in time, Severus," she asked quietly so the other children wouldn't here.

Severus's face was stoic as he responded, "I don't know."

*S*S*S*S*S*

It had taken hours to stabilize the girl to the point where the witch and wizard could take a moment to rest without her crashing. It seemed like she had been losing blood as quickly as she generated it, but eventually the bleeding was stopped as was the curse's progress. Granger would need a lot more care in the coming days and weeks, but for now the imminent danger had passed.

Severus fell wearily into the chair next to Granger's bed. "Sir?" the voice startled him. He looked up to see Longbottom hovering over him with a cup of tea. "Madame Pomfrey said to bring this to you." The boy said offering the cup.

Snape took the cup gratefully and took a sip, eying the boy. He'd forgotten the other students were here. They'd been so quiet despite their injuries. Longbottom was still covered in his own blood and his nose was still somewhat swollen. "Have all your injuries been tended to Mr. Longbottom?" he asked.

"Uh, I'm fine, Professor," he shrugged. "I wanted to give this back," he held out a wand, Hermione's wand. "I used it after she, well after…you know. Mine…ur…my father's wand was broken during…everything."

Severus took the wand and lay it next to the girl. "I hadn't realized you were using your father's wand," he said.

"Oh, yeah, my Gran…you see….she thought it would be fitting for me to use his wand…since…well, I'm sure you know," the boy said looking a bit embarrassed.

Severus just nodded. Yes, he knew what happened to Frank and Alice. "Perhaps, it's time for you to have your own wand then, one that's chosen you," he said. Neville didn't respond, only turned away to leave his professor in well deserved peace. "Oh, and Mr. Longbottom, your parents…they were, are good people," Severus said to the boy's back. "They would be very proud of you today," he added. Neville looked back in surprise, and Snape could see a smile ghost across the boy's face.

"Thank you, Professor," he said and made his way to his classmates where

Madam Pomfrey was mending their wounds. Severus would have gone to assist, but he couldn't summon the energy to move. The spellwork he'd done had been immensely draining. He found that his hands had started to shake, so he set down his cup before he could spill it. He needed to return to his quarters. He had classes in a few hours, and he wanted to start brewing the potions that Ms. Granger would need for her recovery. He'd only sit there for a moment to muster his strength, he told himself. Within moments, he was fast asleep.