Chapter Four: It doesn't add up

"I reckon we just let him talk" Kingsley said as they entered the elevator. Severus stood tall as he leaned against the railing. "Last time Harry and Ron were here they could barely get a thing out of him before they started yelling"

"How unsurprising" Severus muttered as the gates pinged and more people entered the elevator. Granger was usually the rational one. Perhaps they truly weren't coping without her presence.

The elevator pinged to the 14th level - Department of Mysteries. One of the lowest levels in the Ministry. Severus considered what kind of people work down here however that answer was easily met once he was in Darryn West's office. The man was a scatter brain who looked as though he was a part of the 1920's stock exchange. He had short brown hair, a beard, glasses and was wearing a three piece suit fit.

"Mr Shacklebolt and Mr Snape, I presume"

Kingsley extended his hand and shook the man's hand before smiling. "Nice to see you again Mr West" He smiled before he turned to Severus and nodded his head. "I have heard about you Mr Snape. I have a few employees who used to be students of yours"

"All good things, I'd expect" Severus crossed his arms as he sat down alongside Kingsley.

"Of course," He smiled nervously. "Mr West, I was hoping to speak to you today about Ms Granger"

"Ah," He looked anxious. "Yes, I suppose you would. Several Auror's have come to inspect her lab and office"

"We were wondering what she was working on. Her research in particular"

"Unfortunately, Mr Shacklebolt, all of those matters have been settled. The Department of Mysteries does not require information of our research being shared even by Aurors like yourselves"

"I understand that, however, her research may be key to ensuring an innocent woman does not face wrongful imprisonment" Kinsley asked.

Mr West looked between the two of them, "Miss Granger's case has been prosecuted by our judicial system. I'm afraid if you are looking to clear her name, her research may not assist"

"And why would that be?" Severus arched his eyebrow.

"Her research had nothing to do with what happened and I refused to believe her research affected her judgement of ending an individual's life, much less a co-workers"

"So the man worked here?" Kingsley asked.

"The victim" Mr West corrected, "and yes,"

"Heard he made a few of the women in the office uncomfortable" Severus leaned back in his chair. Mr West shook his head. "The man wasn't known for his flattering social skills. There was several complaints against him,"

"Granger?"

"No, no formal complaints. I was quite surprised actually but...well... she genuinely kept to herself at that. Mainly stayed in her lab"

"Did she ever leave?" Kingsley questioned.

"Yes, sometimes she would head to the lunch room to make a coffee. Very rarely though. Or other times, I think she used to catch up with her partner. Mr Potter"

Severus nodded before turning to Kingsley. "Would it be possible to inspect her office and lab?"

"Of course, of course. Though I'm not sure if you will find anything of use. The Auror's have basically taken out what little has remained in her lab as evidence"

"But not everything?"

"Granger took majority of her research before she left. I doubt that they had little to find after she was through with it" He stood up and began walking them towards her lab.

"She took her research but did nothing about the body" Severus heard Kingsley whisper in his ear and could see the shock on the man's face.

"Ahh, here we are. Feel free to have a look around but please, do not touch anything. The Auror's have done quite enough" He frowned angrily until he opened the room. Granger's lab was reasonably big, filled with different types of exotic flowers used for potions ingredients to viles and viles filed with random liquids, some laid waste on the ground, cracked. Other beakers, broken or cracked and placed back on the side. Severus took in the whole room of where their happened to be large cut-outs in the wall of where explosions and spells may have gone off...in the past? It was hard to tell whether it was before or after Granger's time here.

She had several book cases filled with research...in what? Severus was curious to understand. He stood next to the book case before running his fingers horizontally along the spines. Interesting. A lot of dark magic books - he wondered why Granger hadn't taken these in her leave.

"Where was the body found?" Kingsley asked. Mr West waved his hand to a whole in the floor next to the desk in which it looked as though corrosive acid have been poured or spilled to a large scale.

"They think that she attempted to melt the body with the acid" Mr West shrugged before coming to stand next to the door. "Why would they think that?" Kingsley asked.

"Auror's have looked over the holotapes. That's what they could piece together"

"Can you play it? Please?"

Mr West tilted his face, his glasses shining in the low light of the room before gently smiling and nodding. "Of course, Mr Shacklebolt" He waved his wand and a picture came to light in front of them.

Severus moved around the room seeing the blue hologram of the young woman. He had to admit, she had grown out of the bushy-haired brat he once knew. She had soft brown curls that was tied back into a pony tail, glasses that only slightly slid down her face, likely coated in a protective layer to stop anything from the potions flying into her eyes...smart. Blouse with her sleeves rolled up and leggings with knee shin length boots. He watched as he held one of the viles up, inspecting it in front of him. Her features were so intense as she swirled the liquid around in the flask before placing it down on a wooden rack and writing a note. Severus moved around the table as she moved to the other side. Talking to someone...Strange. No one else seemed to be in the room.

"Whose she talking too?" Kingsley asked gently. The man rolled his eyes as he waved his wand, revealing the ginger cat that sat on the table.

"She used to bring her familiar in if she were to be working in the lab all day. I don't particularly recall a purpose to it"

Severus could only stare bemused as Granger walked around chopping ingredients, stirring mixtures in cauldrons and testing vials. He had to admit, she looked competent with her actions. "Can you fast-forward to the event"

"Of course, Mr Shacklebolt"

He waved his wand and in an instant, Hermione had disappeared and re-appeared bursting through the door. Another man was in the room, holding one of Hermione's vials.

Severus watched as the young woman approached the man and began shouting at him. He noticed the woman's wand already out by her side as she walked past Severus and immediately aimed it at the man.

"We can't hear what they are saying" Severus glanced over to the man.

"No, the vocals have been removed from the records" Mr West responded as he watched the scene unfold. They were shouting at each other, yelling, screaming. Severus felt his skin crawl as the man removed his wand and aimed it at her.

DUCK!

She leaped out of the way vials exploding as the two began to throw spells at one another. Severus eyes lit up in shock as the girl...woman lept behind one of the counters and only just missed another hex. He watched as she closed her eyes, hands shaking before taken two breaths. She turned and fired back. The man was thrown over the counter, smashing several cauldrons before he fell to the ground. Hermione stepped out, her face shocked as she bolted to the side of counter to see what had happened.

The hologram had cut off then and Shacklebolt immediately turned to the head of the Department. "Where is the rest of the footage?"

"Unfortunately, there is no more. Granger deleted them before she left"

"Seems that the only part she deleted was the part that may have proven her innocence" Severus muttered back.

"I found that doubtful considering that she placed the body in acid" Mr West disagreed.

"What?" Severus stared at the man.

"His body was basically half gone by the time the Aurors were alerted to what happened"

"And who by chance alerted the Aurors to this?"

Shacklebolt turned to Severus, "It was an anonymous sender. Provided a piece of paper specifying that there was a domestic disturbance in the Department of Mysteries"

"Where did they find the body?" Shacklebolt asked before Mr West pointed to the sunken hole in the ground next to the counter.

"This doesn't seem suspicious to you at all?" Severus glared at the man who stood there, not seeing particularly concerned with his employee health and safety. "As I have said; the woman has been tried in Court. The Minister sentenced her himself. If you have difficulty understanding that then I suggest you go speak to him yourself. I'm sure you can get a meeting in about three maybe four months" Mr West flicked his wand, cancelling the hologram before flicking his wand towards the door. "Now if there is nothing further to discuss" He directed them to leave. Kingsley looked over to Severus before nodding. "Thank you for your hospitality" Kingsley nodded to the man before the two left.

Severus crossed his arms as he leaned near the window at Grimmald Place. "Fudge wasn't interested in discussing Hermione's case. In fact, he refused to discuss the matter at once" Kingsley announced.

"That is not the worst of the news" Mr Weasley stood up. "Umbridge has returned to the Ministry, working in her previous role, Improper Use of Magic"

"Who was pardoned by Fudge from Azkaban about a year ago. She's been living low since. No one's heard from her until now"

"Hermione, Ron and I tried to argue her case. The Minister was not agreeable as usual" Harry ran his fingers through his hair trying to figure out what had happened.

"Do you believe she has anything to do with Granger being incarcerated?" Minerva asked Harry who could only agree. "How could she not be? Fudge releases her within a year of Hermione being prosecuted"

"I take it Miss Granger and Umbridge were not particularly hospitability to one another"

"How could they not be. Hermione led her into a trap when we were in fifth year. I doubt she's forgotten it plus her hatred towards muggleborns and Hermione was also trying to get some laws passed for the rights of magical creatures"

"Then that leaves quite a number of suspects" Lupin jumped in. "You said the Head of the Department of Mysteries did not seem to overly bothered by Hermione's incarceration so he may potentially be one. Hermione also had a row with the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Three, Hermione had threatened Fudges' position in power and was looking to become the Minister for Magic once she gained more political stance and four - the remainder of the Death-Eaters and sympathisers who had managed to slink their way out of Azkaban, including Umbridge herself"

"Plus all the other criminals we've arrested" Ron crossed his arms.

"But they would have had to work in the Ministry even prior to Umbridge coming back" Mrs Weasley commented.

"So perhaps there's more people involved then we originally believed" Tonks chirped in.

"Would anyone have benefited off Hermione's research?" Ginny asked.

"We don't even know what she was working on?" Harry muttered.

"Severus, I believe she asked to borrow several of your books in the past few months. Do you have any clue what she may have been doing?" Minerva turned towards him. Severus scratched his chin. "I believe she may have been working on a potion for the cruciatus curse. Perhaps, attempting to find a cure for the side-effects. Maybe, potentially an immunity to it. Many people would benefit, even profit off of it if they knew what she was doing"

Minerva's mouth parted slightly.

"This doesn't make sense. Someone wanted to send Hermione to Azkaban...for her research?" Ron stared at his hands, confused.

"Unless they have stolen it. I don't believe Granger was close to finding a cure from what was in her lab. If they were to of benefitted, they were better off leaving Granger alone for perhaps a year or two" The potions master rolled his eyes, earning a glare from Ron.

"Hermione's brilliant at potions!" Ron countered.

"It's alright Ron, Snape's just jealous he's been beaten by a woman half his age" Sirius laughed. "If I were to be jealous of a ridiculous girl trying to play hero then I you are most certainly incorrect. Granger's work is nothing to be jealous" Severus spat before standing and taking his leave.

Sirius smiled goofly to Ron. "He's definitely jealous"

After the meeting Severus decided to enjoy an early night with a glass of Firewhiskey in hand. He didn't know his thoughts always drifted back the girl and didn't understand he cared. And yes, he hated her for saving his life. Even more since she had kept him out of jail and now he owed her a life-debt. He shook his head. He still owed a life-debt even after saving a bloody-cat. He pondered on what Potter had said earlier about Granger still working on some old open cases of Death-Eaters and thought back to who hadn't ever been caught. Dolohov was who first came to his mind when he thought about it. It was the first time she had owed him the life-debt she had so desperately attempted to re-pay.

He still remember when Poppy had summoned her to help treat the girl lying on her death bed.

"Severus, Severus you need to come quickly" He could still hear Poppy's voice in his head frantic as the fallen student's were being brought into Hogwarts to be treated. He rushed after her, entering the infirmary to see both of the Weasley's lying in bed, along with Mr Longbottom and Ms Lovegood.

"HERMIONE! HERMIONE!" He heard the red-headed boy shouting from afar and trying to get up out of his bed despite his broken leg. Severus turned to see Remus running down the hallway with the bushy-haired brat, lying unconscious in his arms. "Poppy, she's barely breathing" Remus laid her on the nearest bed before Poppy began to fuss around with the young student. He turned his head away out of modesty when Poppy began to rip the girls shirt with her bare hands, trying as quickly as possible to get to the wound. "Severus, I need you over here NOW!" Poppy demanded as they continued to hear the Weasley boy shouting in the background for his little girlfriend. Severus growled before sweeping the curtains across to at least someone protect the girl's modesty from the prying boy.

"Miss Granger, dear if you can hear me. You need to squeeze my hand" Poppy called out to her as Severus inspected the diagonal wound oozing black liquid out of the large, diagonal open wound beginning just under her collar bone and stretching across her abdomen to her pelvis.

"She's not responding" Poppy opened her eyes and forced a light in them. "Pupils are dilating though. Severus, do you know what hit her. Mr Potter said the hex came from Dolohov who was silenced before he could utter the spell"

"She's lucky to be alive then. One of Dolohov's curses would have landed her a one way ticket to an early grave" Poppy's eyes looked frightened as Severus began to wave the wand over the student. "Dark magic still present in the wound. We will have to drain it and quickly before it seeps into her organs and causes failure" Poppy nodded and began to wave her wand. "Suctio" Hermione screamed in agony as the dark fluid began to rise from the wound and form a bubble near the wand. Severus held her down as best could as she buckled and writhed from the pain. "It's alright dear. Only a few seconds more" Poppy tried to coax the girl however her screaming became louder until it stopped and she collapsed onto the bed, sweating profusely. Poppy shut off the spell in an instant before rushing over to her patient's face and trying to coax her awake.

Her harsh, shallow breathing was the only sound that penetrated the room and made Poppy aware that all the other students had just heard their friend screaming.

"Where are your medical supplies; we'll have to douse the gauze in anti-poison reisin prior to them being placed on" Poppy pointed behind the potions master to the supply cabinet. Severus pushed the curtains back and walked over to the nearby cabinet, collecting what he needed before returning with a large bowl filled with different sorts of potions and gauze wrapping. He closed the curtains again as Poppy began to wipe away any blood and remaining toxins still oozing from the wound. Severus ran his wand over it and sighed. "There is likely more dark magic in the wound which will have to be slowly drained out as it re-forms. We'll have to set-up a drip for her" Severus began to pour the potions in a large bowl.

"We should put up a silencing charm before we do anything else" Poppy suggested as she began to strip the girl of what was left of her shirt, jacket and bra. "Let them hear it. Serves Potter right for trying to charge head-first into everything. Just like his father" The dark haired man through the gauze cloth in the mix of potions before placing a bowl near the edge of the bed. "We'll put her onto her left side and create a drip through the middle" Severus flicked his wand at the girl's stomach causing a small but steady hose from the wound to drip the black coagulating fluid into the bowl. He watched as the girl curled up into a ball, muscles tensing and shaking as black gunk and blood began to slowly drip from her wound.

"Pain potion along with an anti-inflammatory. She will also require several additional antiodotes for the poison in her system and a few additional ones to counteract the damage already done to her vital organs" Severus informed the woman before pulling the soaking gauze cloth out of the potions with a flick of his wand before lining it around with her chest, abdomen and pelvis and holding it on with wrappings of gauze cloth. "So, wait how many potions is that?" Poppy began counting as Severus continued to wrap the shaking girl up.

"10" Poppy sighed muttering to herself as she stared down at the girl. "Allow her to settle then I'd recommend giving her the pain potion first, followed by a blood replenisher, given her state"

Poppy nodded before, pulling a white sheet to cover up as much of her exposed body as possible. Severus couldn't help to look back at the girl's face to find her eyes rolling back trying to focus as much as possible on him moving away from her. He exited the curtains only to find the Headmaster and Potter standing over by the red-headed boy. Both boys glaring at Severus as he pulled the curtains back around the sobbing girl. "You bastard" Ron screamed at the top of his lungs. "You hurt my friend! You hurt Hermione!"

"No Mr Weasley. You and Mr Potter managed to do that all on your own" Severus sneered at the two men before leaving the infirmary. He could tell Dumbledore was trailing behind him and rolled his eyes. "Severus" He called out, the man stopped and turned to the wizard. "What?" He sneered in anger. Dumbledore gently smiled at the Severus seeing the state of distress that he was in. "It is always hard seeing a child in pain, much less one of your student's. Wouldn't you agree?"

"That girl was on death's door, Albus. A few minutes longer and she would've been done for. It is only luck that the girl was saved"

"No my dear boy, it wasn't luck at all. You and Poppy did an excellent job. I'm sure she will be back on her feet in no time" Severus crossed his arms and glared. "You put too much faith in Potter" Severus shook his head before walking off.

Severus felt Hogwarts protection shift. Was he on duty tonight? Damnit! He groaned as waved his wand illuminating red showing that someone was near the gates. "Probably drunkards" He stood up, slamming his glass down on the coffee table before grabbing his cloak. Severus took his time getting to the gates hoping that whatever was there had figured out that no-one was coming and would take their leave but the banging never ceased and despite the cold chill of the night, they were still out there.

Before he had even reached the gates, he could smell something. The thick scent of copper, seawater mixed with something rancid hit his nostrils as he approached the lone figure clinging to the gates as if it were there only life-line. He knew this was not a good sign, as soon as he got a little bit closer and lit his wand.

"Reveal yourself?" He held the wand near the gate and watched as the lone figure trembled back but their pale, scratched and bruised hand never left the bars of the gate. "Prof-..." He heard a quivering woman's voice. He was taken back by the tone, desperate and scared.

"Granger?" He lit his wand towards her face causing the girl to flinch. He was taken back by her face.

She was covered in dirt, bruises and scratches, one eye completely covered over by a large black eye and swollen and her nose broken. Even still, he could recognise her.

"Granger is that you?"

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