Author note: HAHAHA! I love you guys! That got you hooked in didn't it? Thank you for the wonderful reviews! I'm so glad you guys liked that little twist. I won't be so hard pressed to rectify that little problem anytime soon. The plot bunny is sitting in the chair opposite me giving me a wicked grin and the occasional wink, meaning that he has something planned and I shouldn't mess with the his plot too much. SO, that said… let's see what everybody else is doing….

"How long?"

The older witch stared absently towards the book shelf, wondering how many volumes of information have been lost to the poor Gryffindor.

The nurse looked up from her entwined fingers that were lazily twisting in her lap. "Another week at least, Minerva. There could be extensive damage. She may had some kind of injury in that wreck that is just now being exacerbated by something. Perhaps a spell backfired in Defense class and triggered it? I just won't know until I've run a more detailed analysis."

The headmistress stood slowly and paced to the shelf she had been perusing from across the room. With a gentle hand, she took down the first book she came to. "Take this to her. She might find it useful. But only let her read up to the last three chapters. When she reaches those, let me know. I will come down and read them to her. She needs to come to light on these past three years slowly and with an understanding voice guiding her."

Professor McGonagall passed the newest edition of "Hogwarts: A History" to Poppy and sent her on her way.

She sat back down and placed her hand across her cheek for support. "Now, to tell the boys."

"HERMIONE!"

The redhead literally pushed Madam Pompfrey out of the way as he rushed into the room.

"Mr. Weasley! If you don't calm down, I will have Professor Snape escort you out of here immediately!"

Ron turned to the witch and scowled, the likes of which would have made Snape, himself, take a step back.

"You trouble my patient, boy, and I'll see to it you will never be allowed in here again, hurt or not! Do you understand?"

He nodded as he turned back to Hermione.

"What…What happened? What's wrong? McGonagall said you couldn't remember anything."

Hermione sighed, "Honestly, Ron. It's Professor McGonagall."

"At least, she didn't forget to correct you on that," Harry said as he entered the room.

Ron made a gesture as to say bugger off, but then sat down beside his best friend.

Hermione smiled lightly at them. "You guys have changed. I haven't noticed lately. I guess with the tournament and Viktor and all, I just haven't had the time to really pay attention to the two of you. I'm really sorry."

Harry looked to Ron who looked right back, both with the most confused expressions on their faces. Neither of the two noticed the flurry of deepest black robes behind them at the door.

"Miss Granger? If I may borrow your…cohorts for a moment, I will appraise them of your frail condition."

She nodded.

Harry, Ron, and Professor Snape walked to the back of the room.

Severus confirmed the area was securely eavesdropper proof with a murmur of Muffliato, then took each boy by the shoulder.

"Miss Granger is under the belief that she is again fourteen years old. The last three years are lost to her. I must insist you speak to her as if it is still the end of your fourth year not the middle of your seventh. Madam Pompfrey and I are doing all we can to restore her memory, but the two of you must comply with her delusion. Too much restoration to her memory could be detrimental to her sanity. She does not remember your godfather, your tryst at the Ministry, anything about the Order, or…"

"Dumbledore's death." Harry concluded with a downtrodden and, somewhat, accusatory tone.

Snape sighed. "Yes, Mr. Potter. Nor does she remember assisting those that kept the faith that I was innocent in the matter." His words were acidic as ever.

Harry looked back to Hermione who was currently picking at some lint on her nightshirt.

Professor Snape dropped the spell and ushered the two of them back to her bedside.

"Miss Granger, please say your goodbyes to Messrs. Potter and Weasley. I'm sure you'll appreciate their need to get ahead on studying for their OWL's."

Hermione smiled. Ron's eyes went wide as he grimaced. Harry almost chuckled, but leaned over and hugged Hermione on his way out the door. Ron followed close behind after saying his goodbyes.

"Professor Snape?"

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Thank you for working on a potion to help my memory come back."

He looked at her with shock.

She looked sheepishly down to the sheets. "I figured I must have forgotten more. Harry and Ron look different than they did from when I remember. And I haven't seen Professor Dumbledore, nor heard about him since I've been in here. Sir, what month is this? How much have I forgotten?"

He looked over towards the nurse's office to assure himself that she wasn't overhearing. He looked back to Hermione. He wanted to tell her the truth. He wanted to tell her that she forgot how they more or less declared their feeling for each other, but he couldn't. Not after telling Potter and Weasley not to. But since when did he follow the same rules as those two? When did he have to start complying with the regulations that govern the wizarding world? Far be it for him to suggest that he has always been honorable, complacent, and…dare he? Loyal?

"I'm afraid you have forgotten far too long, Miss Granger. I cannot disclose the exact amount of time, but rest assured, I will do everything I can in my power to help you remember."

He was loyal to her. Loyal to her recovery and the hopes that one day she will remember what her heart felt those precious few nights ago. He had admitted what he so longed to tell her all this time. Now, it would take even more work to get her to say the same. That's why he didn't tell her. He didn't want to jeopardize what could be the single most important and cherished thing in his entire life…the love of Hermione Granger.

"Professor," she swallowed the swelling lump that had grown in her throat. "I'm scared."

Severus sat down hard in the chair beside her. His head fell into his palms and for a brief moment, very brief, he felt the sting in his eyes. He took a deep breath, and looked her straight in the eye.

"Miss Granger, I have never shown anyone any amount of affinity. However, I do care about this school. I do care about the students. You are very much included." He made to reach for her hand, but thought better of it. The fourteen-year-old Hermione wouldn't understand why he would show emotion, let alone towards her. He stood quickly enough.

"Forgive me, Miss Granger, but Madam Pompfrey would have my head, if you did not get your rest."

He bowed slightly and left the Hospital wing.

"If he wasn't working for You-Know-Who, I could fall for him," she thought as she laid back and closed her eyes.