AN: Thank you to all those who have read my story so far and to those of you who have followed it – I'd absolutely love some feedback / reviews if anyone is happy to do so!

I have been asked why I chose to make dear old Severus a 'hottie' and I guess my only thoughts are – why not? Owing to the fact that he is such a talented and powerful wizard as well as a master of subterfuge, to me it is not inconceivable that he might have disguised himself for years to repel unwanted attention, and also to protect others who might have attempted to get close to him. I think it adds another facet to this incredible character.

"Minerva, please!" Albus called after her as she stormed through the corridor. She stopped abruptly, spinning on her heel to face him. Her face was a storm of grief and rage, tears had weaved crazy tracks down her cheeks and left her eyes red and raw. She scrunched her hands together relentlessly, over and over again as she glared at him.

"There is nothing you can say that will change my mind, Albus," she whispered, her voice heavy with emotion. She began to turn and visibly recoiled when he reached a hand out to her arm.

"Let me try, after all we have been through Minerva, you owe me this at least," he spoke softly.

Her eyes were daggers as she regarded the place where his hand rested on her arm with visible contempt. "I owe you nothing, Professor. Unhand me, this instant." She hissed.

Shocked, Dumbledore released her and took a step back.

"Minerva, I know how much you care for the boy –"

"Severus, Albus, his name is Severus. He deserves to be properly addressed, he deserves to live, Merlin curse you! You put him in this position – you sent him there to face his dread fear and he went –" she advanced on him, teeth bared, "and do you know why Albus? Because, not content with him giving you everything he has, not content with him attending Voldemort's beck and call and getting himself cursed half to death time after time just so he could spy for your precious Order – even after all that, you demanded he serve you relentlessly for redemption - redemption that you would not and could not ever give him! It was never yours to give!" she was screeching now, her voice reverberating around the vast corridor. "Why, in damnation's name, would I want anything more to do with you?"

Albus stared, dumbstruck as his oldest friend broke down into heavy, wracking sobs and sank slowly to the floor in a puddle of tartan robes. He felt utterly numb. All he wanted to do was enfold her in his arms and tell her it would be okay, but he knew he couldn't because she was right. Severus was dying and it was his fault.

"I curse you Albus Dumbledore, I curse you with every beat that remains in my broken heart. Once I have composed myself, I will return to be with Severus and then when it is done, I will be leaving. Do not attempt to follow me, or so help me Merlin, I will not be responsible for my actions." She spat.

Dumbledore nodded mutely, and feeling a part of his heart tear away from him, he turned away from her - the woman he loved, and had loved his entire adult life, and walked back to face the horror he had brought upon them all.

In the darkness Hermione sat in the same chair, Severus's hand still clasped firmly in hers. There was no way she would be parted from him again. She would be here for him until the end. In that she was resolute.

After she had been ejected from Severus's mind, the room had erupted into a chaotic whirl of activity and she had been swiftly pulled from his bedside as Henry sprang into action. The time had passed in a blur as she sat once again in the corridor trying to comprehend what had gone wrong. After Fawkes had tended to him she had believed, or rather hoped, that Severus would make a full, if slow recovery. It seemed things weren't that simple. After a fraught hour, a rather dishevelled Henry had come to her. She didn't think she would ever forget the utterly defeated and forlorn look in the medic's eyes as he gently explained that they had been able to stabilise him, but it was only temporary. Severus was drying. His injuries combined with the severe blood loss and traumatic apparition had created the perfect storm and sent his beleaguered body into severe shock. His body had started to shut down and all efforts to prevent it were failing. Something was blocking their attempts, and although unconfirmed, it was believed to be something to do with the dark magic imbedded in his Dark Mark. Given the severity of the situation, she had taken up a vigil by his bedside, the silence of which had been punctuated by the appearance and disappearance of a number of different people come to pay their respects, including Harry. He had had a vision and believed he might be able to do something. He had to try.

His words had ignited a spark of hope that had spurred them into action for something that would save Severus. Remus had been impatient to go, desperate to try and heal what he had caused, acutely aware that time was no longer on their side.

Hermione had let them go with relief. She wanted to be alone with Severus, there were things she wanted to say. After they had departed, Hermione had dimmed the lights to something akin to candlelight. The gentle, flickering light softened Severus's features and omitted a warm glow around them. Gently she placed a kiss on his forehead before summoning her courage.

"I know you're hurting, and I know there isn't much more we can do but I want you to do what you can, all that you can, to hold on. I'm not ready to lose you, to lose what we have and the possibility of what a future together could mean." She spoke softly, her voice calm. She gazed as his face, his features relaxed in way she had never seen before. He looked at peace.

"You have been the most amazing surprise of my life," she chuckled, head shaking in disbelief, "I thought I knew you, that there was nothing but spite, resentment and darkness in your soul but I was so utterly and completely wrong. You can imagine how much it pains me to admit that, that I was wrong! But in all honesty Severus, there is a depth and complexity to you that takes my breath away – your capacity to love, your incredible intelligence – those hands and that voice, and your skill – Severus, you are everything I could hope for and more." A small sob escaped her as a solitary tear rolled down her cheek to splash onto his face. As she reached to wipe it away, his eyelashes fluttered.

"Severus?"

Another flutter.

"Severus, can you hear me?" she was standing now, her face just inches from his, scanning intently for any sign of him waking. She didn't have to wait long. Dark eyelashes fluttered slowly, as though he was trying to rouse himself from a deep sleep. Her breath hitched in her throat as slowly, the lids lifted revealing the obsidian orbs beneath, heavy with pain and exhaustion.

"Severus!" she cried, tears now splashing down her cheeks in rivulets as she placed hands either side of his face and kissed his forehead again. Drawing back she saw his eyes still half open and gazing at her.

As she watched he began to look confused and she realised with horror that he was struggling to recognise her. The earlier conversation with Henry came back to her and her heart began to pound uncomfortably. Had his brain been deprived of oxygen for too long, had his beautiful mind been irreparably damaged? Please, no, she thought desperately.

The seconds crept by and the fear rose with every tick of the clock, please Severus, please be okay. Then the man before her blinked hard and when his eyes opened again she could see the recognition in them.

"Her…" he croaked, his voice was hoarse and weak but to Hermione it was the most amazing sound she had heard.

"Yes Severus! Yes it is me! Ssh, don't try to speak, you must save your strength Severus," she smiled at him before turning to call over her shoulder, "Poppy!"

The Mediwitch came pelting into the room, her breaths coming in panicked gasps.

"Is he –" she gasped, voice trailing away as she saw her patient looking back at her.

"Sweet Merlin!" she cried in shock before dashing forward and kissing him gently on the cheek, sobbing. "I must tell Minerva –" she cried before running out of the room again.

Severus closed his eyes, his face creasing in pain momentarily as he tried to shift his position.

"Hermione," he croaked. His eyes closed again, the effort of staying awake was clearly too much for his beleaguered body but he refused to give up. He forced them open once more with an effort and tried again, "what happened…to…me?"

Hermione clasped his hand tightly in her own, "You were attacked by a werewolf – you almost died, in fact, we were holding a vigil for you." Her voice broke suddenly and the last few words came out as a sob.

His eyes slipped shut and he didn't even try to open them this time. "Have I…?"

Hermione knew what he was asking, "The test results aren't back yet, we won't know for a few days."

His voice was a whisper, "I'm so tired." He sounded in pain and Hermione's heart broke for him. She glanced around and saw the small vials of red pain relieving potion on the bedside table and picked one up. She gently cupped the back of his head as she popped the cork and coaxed the potion into his mouth, massaging his throat to help him swallow. He was falling unconscious again, his body growing limp against her as she held him. When his breathing evened out again she laid him gently down onto his pillow and closed her eyes in relief. He had a long way to go, but she had seen his eyes and he had recognised her and for now, that was enough.