Disclaimer: The same as the previous chapters.
Chapter 1
Hiding behind the thickest of ancient trees, Remus Lupin waited, watching the Hogwarts Apparition Point attentively. Tears streamed down his eyes but he had no time to waste in mourning for his dead friend. Time was of great essence and he needed to stay alert.
A silent pop later, a black mass appeared and fell face forward coughing and gagging. Casting a wandless Shielding Spell, the werewolf dashed forward and grabbed Severus Snape's shoulders.
"Thank goodness you didn't hex me." He muttered hurriedly as he dragged the man back into the shadows of the treeline, vanishing the patch of fresh blood on the ground behind them. Severus could barely open one of his eyes and his knees burnt with pain. He grabbed at Remus's lapel and tried to speak but coughed up more blood, spraying the man's ashen face in the process.
Wiping his face in his sleeves, Lupin jerked his head and hissed, "Save your breath Severus, let me get you somewhere safe." Tapping his wand at the foot of a crooked oak tree, the werewolf muttered something. A moment later, the roots parted, revealing a trapdoor behind them. Tapping his wand on it, the man grabbed the wounded Potions Master and disappeared into the dark tunnel. Seconds later, the trapdoor swung back to its place and the roots of the tree rearranged themselves.
Pushing the floorboards aside, Remus hauled Severus into the living area of the dilapidated Shrieking Shack. A handful of candles lit up around them. Lowering the man to the floor he began muttering healing spells. Snape winced when his ankles and kneecaps started mending themselves and drew a deep breath when his eyelid started healing. The other man pushed a couple of vials into his waiting hands which he uncorked and downed in quick succession.
His legs were still tender but the pain had subsided. Staring hard at the former DADA professor, Snape asked tensely, "Harry?"
"Headmaster is dealing with him in his office. Though I don't think it is going well." Remus whispered, wrapping his hands over his knees.
"Draco?"
"Hiding in the castle but I think Mr. Zabini will find him soon, he is the only other one outside the common room. Miss Weasley has outdone herself this time around. I have been informed her Bat Bogey Hex is commendable."
"The rest?" the words came out as an annoyed hiss.
Remus gulped and sniffed, trying to find the right words when the other grabbed him and snarled in his face, "Tell me."
"Sirius was killed." In the faint glow of the candlelight, Remus watched Snape's pupils dilate, his thin lips part ever so slightly then, in the blink of an eye, he was back to being an emotionless man. It frightened him, so without a second thought, he blurted out while looking at the other's left arm for once, "I knew you would have to go because he would be expecting your presence. I could guess it wouldn't be a pleasant meeting since Lucius Malfoy failed to get the prophecy. I waited for you to return. Albus might have feared the same..."
"Stop blabbering and tell me where the rest of those mindless gaggling dunderheads are?" Severus asked impatiently, his mind was racing, Albus was a powerful veteran wizard, while those students were a bunch of undertrained morons who were still unaware of the grim truth of War.
"All accounted for, right now in the infirmary, but…"
"But?" He sat up, wincing, his eyes burning ominously.
"It's Granger...she is not…I tried my best but... Albus asked me to get you as soon as possible."
Shoving himself up forcefully, Snape got up and swayed a bit on his legs. Wincing and cursing under his breath, he looked around and asked, "Is there a faster way to reach the castle? I don't think I can do much walking right at the moment."
Remus sprang to his feet and walked up to the opposite wall, tapping his wand over the peeled wallpaper while he muttered under his breath. They could hear the pipelines readjusting themselves and the bricks shifting on their own. Little by little, a doorway appeared.
Turning around, the werewolf nodded, "It leads directly into the corridor of the Infirmary." Limping behind him, Snape peered into the darkness and said urgently, "Let's make it fast."
On the other side of the door, there was a small statue of a Griffin. Lupin helped him to climb onto it and slid up behind him, saying, "Trust me, this is indeed faster. Now just hold on tightly to its neck."
Snape had no time to come up with a biting remark because Lupin had already pointed his wand at its legs and said, "Piertotum Locomotor". The Slytherin made a sound at the back of his throat when the metal artifact stood on all its legs and sprang forward. He could feel the body of the statue ripple under him as if it was breathing again. Its powerful clawed feet hit the flagged stone of the tunnel as its wings rose a little and covered its rider's protectively. Its eyes were glowing red in the damp and stale surroundings. As they galloped forward, the walls carved in at several places, but Griffin's wings protected them from getting hurt.
Severus could make out roots hanging through the ceiling and hear water dripping along the sides. For once he thought about those children who escaped the Forbidden Forest and flew to the ministry on Thestrals and wondered if they too had experienced something similar. The idea alone made him angrier, things could have gone downhill... In his long life, he had the chance to ride muggle-made cars and trains. He had never travelled by plane or ride a horse. He couldn't recall if he had the honour to ride any of the magical creatures either. He had learnt to fly on a broomstick, but that was all of it! He cursed again, then realized they were suddenly climbing uphill and there was a ray of flickering light visible ahead.
It might have been just a quarter of an hour but by the time they reached the wall, which was supposed to open right into the corridor of the Infirmary, Snape's legs and back were throbbing once again. He glared at Lupin when the other helped him to get down from the back of the contraption. Remus mumbled apologetically, "That's the only thing that came to mind when you said you can't walk much."
Severus looked up at the stationary Griffin for a couple of seconds and was taken aback when the mythical statue blinked at him and bowed slightly. Keeping an eye on the animated figurine, he noticed Lupin was already standing under the blazing sconce poking it with his wand. The flickering light burning over the sconce jerked and tilted on its place when the former Gryffindor tapped its base with his wand thrice. The wall rambled and slid aside revealing a gap wide enough for two people to pass through. Severus could make out the back of the statue of the patched eye witch who was first to invent the rudimentary healing spells. He knew well enough, the giant oak double doors of the Infirmary were just ten paces to the left around the corner.
The urge to honestly hex the werewolf drained out of his mind when minutes later, Madam Pomfrey started explaining how every healing spell was failing to treat Miss Granger. Pulling aside the white screen she hurried them inside the small enclosure looking frightened and out of her depths. She shook her head, as she rubbed her sweating palms over her apron, and was speaking all too fast, "I have never felt so helpless in my life, Severus. The girl is just bleeding while lying there. I was waiting for Albus but it seems he is preoccupied. Please do something since this is your area of expertise as well."
Standing motionless, Snape had grown paler at the sight of it. Most of the members of Dumbledore's Army were sound asleep in the other hospital beds but Granger was hardly breathing. Granger, Hermione Jean Granger, couldn't die when she had come to achieve so much already. He heard himself yelling in his own mind. This witch had been one student Snape had taken pride in teaching. She alone gave him the pleasure of pursuing this profession which he had hated for so long.
Letting out a low growl, the potion master lurched forward and grabbed the unconscious girl's head with both hands, ignoring Madam Pomfrey's gasp and subsequent chastisement. He could hear Lupin holding the mediwitch back and coaxing her to calm down, but trained his eyes at the pale girl's face willing her to respond in one way or the other. As if heeding to his urgent command, Granger's eyes fluttered and she softly moaned, "Help". Taking a deep breath, he calmed his ragged nerves and muttered "Legilimens."
Granger's warm sun-kissed mind was an assault to his cold sensibilities. He had seen various forms of elemental displays in a witch or wizard's mind, but never had he come across a library built out of shrubs and creepers. It was as if he had walked into a garden that had been converted into a sprawling library. Books floated over his head and pages fluttered on their own.
He had almost taken a step forward when a large open tome planted itself right in front of him. He realized instantly he was looking at all her memories associated with Hogwarts.
Granger dressed up in school robes talking to her reflection in a muggle mirror, "Now there, Smarts, you can do it, okay? It will not be like elementary school, it's where you truly belong. Professor McGonagall said so, didn't she? Now, chin up, shoulders straight and eyes focused. No more crying."
The book flipped and Snape found himself seated at the High Table watching the first years getting sorted. He could hear Quirrell stuttering about something next to him. There was Granger making her way to the Sorting hat, muttering under her breath, "Don't panic! It's just a batty old hat. Nothing to be afraid of. Professor McGonagall is standing right next to it; there is nothing to be worried about. You are strong, Smarts. Buckle up, chin up, shoulders straight and be brave, you can do it. You have read all about it in Hogwarts: A History."
Granger crying in the girl's bathroom whispering to herself, "I will try harder. Come on, not all teachers will be sweet and loving. So what if Professor Snape is harsh and snarling at me all the time. I will try harder, I will just have to. He is a strict teacher but he won't be able to do anything if I get good marks…"
The images just flashed passed: Granger nearly falling asleep over her books at the library, seated on her four-poster bed wiping off tears trying to calm herself down muttering under her breath, "Come on, Smarts, the Troll is gone for good. And now you got Harry and Ron as friends. You are no longer alone."
He stopped for a moment and watched her triumphant smile as she figured out his puzzle and explained it to Potter, then the vision morphed into her scribbling the same puzzle frantically in a journal.
He actually felt his blood run cold when the girl had caught a glimpse of the basilisk in her handheld mirror.
The rush of memories halted once again over an image of her in her Yule Ball dress studying her reflection and blushing profusely. It twisted again and Snape nearly grimaced when he found himself standing in an alcove with Viktor Krum leaning forward to kiss the shivering but excited girl.
Someone grabbed the book, snapped it closed and smacked him hard with it. Rubbing his head out of reflex, Snape looked down and found a small girl in dress robes made of a floaty, periwinkle-blue material, clutching the book protectively near her heaving chest and glaring back at him.
Without giving him a chance she spat, "Those were private memories. You had no right, no right to flip through them. I am still here, not yet dead. You should have asked for my permission. Professor or not, you had no right! Now, what do you say to that?"
Transfixed Severus found himself muttering, "I am sorry," much to his own dismay. Thrusting the book back into his hands, she cast a worried look over her shoulder and hissed at him, "Turn to page 394. Watch it closely. When you are done, get out of my head right away and fix me. I can't just lay there and wait. Harry is hurting, he might just demolish the school, kill someone, who knows! He's got a nastier temper than you. Now, move it!" Snapping her fingers over his face, the small replica of Miss Granger disappeared into a thick haze of pink and blue smoke.
Grinding his teeth and ashamed of being bossed over by a figment of the witch's mind, Snape tore open the book only to be scolded by an invisible voice, "No wonder Madam Pince dislikes you so much, it's a book, be gentle!"
It was a daunting task not to hurl the thing at the nearest wall and bellow at the voice of that tiny excuse of a girl but Snape turned the pages and found himself inside yet another memory once he reached page 394. It was the one where she was getting cursed by Dolohov.
Remus Lupin had been explaining to both Madam Sprout and Madam Pomfrey when the Potions Master jerked away from his hunched position over the girl and started muttering under his breath while his ebony wand drew intricate patterns over the girl's gaping wounds. Nearly twenty minutes later, Snape staggered back and flopped in the nearest chair panting, "Poppy go get dittany... bandage… and blood replenishing potion…"
The mediwitch rushed away immediately while Pomona conjured a goblet of water for the exhausted man.
Exchanging worried looks with the Herbology professor, Lupin asked, "What did you see?" as he pointed his wand at his clothes once again and vanished Granger's blood from it.
Snape looked over at the two of them and sneered, "Nothing other than teenage drama." Emptying the goblet, thrusting it back into Sprout's chubby fingers, he strode out of the infirmary without giving them a chance to ask any further questions. As he climbed down the winding stairs, his head was reeling with conflicting images of Granger's bleeding body, her flushed face and quivering voice begging him to help her, and the younger replica of herself staring up at him mournfully.
He had to stop himself from getting influenced by her magic, her indomitable spirit, and her magnificent mind. Determined to go further away from the unconscious girl and back to the comfortable darkness of his dungeons, the potion master dashed through the castle with his heart hammering against his chest in dread.
Hiding well in the shadows of the dark dungeon, the Slytherin Head of House watched two fifth-year boys make their way to their common room whispering to themselves. Blaise Zabini was doing most of the talking while Draco was just nodding his head.
"We don't really know what's ahead of us, do we? Weasley and Longbottom were quite shaken up. I don't think I will return to Hogwarts in the next term if things get worse in the coming months."
The blonde stopped in his track and croaked, "Worse?"
The other grabbed his arms and jerked him, "Seriously, didn't you see for yourself, Draco? Granger nearly torn apart and the rest of them wrapped in layers of bandages. This is not some corridor jostle or a friendly duelling match. Or do you really take pride in casting the Unforgivables!"
"The Unforgivables? Umbridge tried to torture Potter with those, I could never conjure one..." Malfoy muttered back lamely.
"And a bunch of Death Eaters did the same with our classmates. How do you feel about it? Happy, proud and just a little disappointed because only Sirius Black got killed? Or because you wanted Granger, the Weasleys and Potter to die? Dreamt of it? Wished for it? Because with them around, you cannot be the almighty Draco Malfoy…"
The next moment Zabini fell back against the dungeon wall as the other punched him hard on the face, cutting open his thick lips. Kicking his classmate, the blonde hissed angrily, "You know nothing about me because I…" he choked, unable to bring himself to say the rest.
The Italian sniggered and baited him, "What a coward!" That earned him yet another punch. Malfoy hauled him up and spat in his bleeding face, "I am not a coward. I didn't wish for Diggory's death. I don't want anyone to die. Those lots were fools to go and fight against a bunch of Death Eaters." Twisting his face further, Draco spat and punched the wall next to Zabini's head, "Potter and his thing about jumping-in-to-be-a-hero. And those lot went after him without thinking it over. Blame him. Blame Saint Pottah."
Zabini retorted, "They went nevertheless. He went never the less. Put aside the question of why for the time being. Just tell me, Draco, is that a student's job? The Inquisition Squad… is it really your job to go and pick on your school mates at the beck and call of a woman? A witch who hated everything about Hogwarts. Drop our quills, pick up our wands and become foot soldiers for a war that feeds the ego of elders who…"
"...Who think you are important only when you parrot their words. Who are absent from your life and think you are of no use because a muggle-born witch scores better than you.," trembling, Malfoy finished for him. Staring blankly at his housemate he continued, "Father? What on earth was he thinking? Stealing something from the ministry! none of it makes any sense. If he had to get something, why didn't he just grab it and go? why did he wait for Potter to show up and why on earth did he waste his time in dueling with those fools, the weasels, and Lovegood!"
The other boy stood still and said in a calm voice, "Can't help you with those questions, Mate...was right there next to you eavesdropping into ex-professor Lupin and Madam Pomphrey's conversation," sucking in a long breath, he added with a sly smile, "Thank me later on, these disillusionment spells are quite handy."
Grabbing Zabini's shoulders, the Slytherin started crying, "But he is my father, Zabini and they will throw him in Azkaban. What will happen to Mum and me?"
"'As you sow, so you reap,' goes the saying Malfoy. I would suggest it's time you start to think about yourself, because mate, your Mum's life will count on your actions one day," bringing out a small vial, Zabini winked at the other boy and drank up the potion, adding, "Nicked it from Madam Pomfrey just in case. Between you and me, Umbridge has managed to make me hate Honeyduke's products...not touching anything sugary that plump saleswoman offers with that toothy smile! So like the toad!" Zabini shuddered dramatically and whispered the password over the bare stretch of the unassuming stone wall.
When the bricks rearranged themselves concealing the Slytherin Common Room entrance passage, Snape walked out of his hiding place and rolled his eyes. Murmuring at the other figure standing not too far behind, "Came to check on me?"
Remus stopped next to him and replied, the usual lightheartedness missing from his dull voice, "Forgive me if that gesture surprised you. I lost a friend and was worried if I would end up losing two instead, Snape."
Heaving a long sigh, Severus dismantled the wards to his private quarters and gestured the griefing man in.
Severus Snape's personal chambers were as dark as his own attire. But unlike his Snipper's end house, these were not damp. The fire at the darkened grates was already roaring. When he had taken up residence within these walls, Dumbledore had appointed a tiny shivering house-elf called Dotty to attend to the Young Potion master's daily needs. Dotty had received a handful of orders to be precise. Kneeling in front of the shuddering elf, the lean and stern man had whispered," I want the fire burning all round the clock, I want my books and papers untouched and my private lab is out of bounds. You can take care of the rest but make sure I dont notice unnecessary additions to my dismal possessions."
Of course, the young professor had not taken account of the privileges to be a Hogwarts staff. Over the years, Christmas and Birthday presents, consisting of tartan throws, slippers, scarves, mittens and nightcaps, hampers from Honeydukes, potted exotic magical plants, special quills had found a place of their own around the premises. The Hogwarts staff had tried to make the sulking snarling and moody man a part of their small family, though their gestures were seldom reciprocated.
Snape had kept one eye at his dull Dark Mark and had kept his distance from the cheerful lot pointing out to Dumbledore in privacy, "You can't ask me to smile and joke with them. Trust me, they are safer this way." He had reasoned he was not being paranoid, there were death eaters hiding away, people who were questioning his sudden change in status, while others were getting caught and thrown into Azkaban without a proper trial.
He had donated away the red atrocious socks gifted by Albus Dumbledore to the local orphanage near Spinner's end. Older throws gifted by the Transfiguration Professor and pouffes and cushions gifted by Sinistra and Trelawney too had found their way to charity boxes. Hoch and Poppy's decanters and tumblers along with the selected bottles of mead, firewhiskey and Madam Rosmerta's special brew for the season had the honour to bask in the glory of his quiet quarters. He couldn't afford to banish those extravagant gifts the Malfoys gave him for obvious reasons.
Lucius Malfoy had often dropped in and felt delighted each time he located an ostentatious Venitian Mask peering from the row of Herbology and Remedial Magical potions or that perfumer's kit he had picked up from an antique shop in Paris. Snape knew most of them mocked his non-existent social life and his love for solitude, but he thought better against gaining the older Slytherin's displeasure.
Settling on a threadbare armchair, the werewolf gave a cursory look around the room. Nothing was out of place. How could they be, every inch of the visible wall was covered with towering shelves stuffed with leatherbound dusty books. A tall table towards the far end had a tray full of tumblers and decanters. The resident potion master was standing near them, pouring two tumblers of amber liquid. Remus noticed the red patch of blood on his cuffs and cleared his throat.
The Slytherin whispered as if guessing his thoughts, "I already got too much of blood in my hands...I don't need you to go on looking for the missing speckles right after an eventful day or night." When he flicked his fingers and vanished the patch, Remus looked away with odd satisfaction. Snape insisted on pretending they weren't friends per se, yet there were such moments when he seemed more humane than a walking corpse who looked more like a spatting bat.
On both sides the two archways led to Snape's personal chambers and private lab. Remus Lupin had had the honour to walk into the latter, something even the Headmaster was not privy to. It was better that way. Severus was an introvert man and that private lab was his safe haven. Albus's jovial presence just didn't fit among the rows of potion jars, the stifling air and the twenty five ignited burners. Moreover, only Remus knew how accurate the portrait hanging over the furthest end of the long room was in the grim setting. It was the only thing a solitary man like Snape could accommodate in his workplace. A shallow hand thrust a tumbler full of firewhiskey under Lupin's nose breaking through his reverie successfully.
Nursing the glass in between his slightly shaking hands, staring at the amber liquid, he whispered, "Before I tell you anything about what happened at the Ministry, will you truthfully answer my previous question?"
The host had walked away and was currently facing the fireplace. Though his greasy black hair hid away most of the cheek, eyes, and sharp jawline, the tip of his prominent hooked nose was visible. The potion master was habitually sniffing in his drink held in his pale hand. Studying the fire intently, Snape huffed, "I don't have much time, Albus would like to hear what happened at the other camp. What was the question?"
Clearing his throat, the werewolf said, "What did you see in Miss Granger's mind? What was so unnerving that you had to flee from the infirmary in such a way?"
Looking slightly affronted, Snape straightened his back and then gave up pretending to be unaffected by everything that was happening around him. Sighing softly he informed, "Enough to come to the conclusion that she needs to stay alive and help Potter prepare for the final face-off. She has already made up her mind. She wants to see and end to this much like the rest of us."
Lupin narrowed his eyes but knew better not to press the rigid man for further information. Clearing his throat he started, "When you alerted us, we immediately rushed to the ministry. Sirius was charging ahead dueling and laughing...hexes and curses were flying about us, the children..." the Potion master listened on without uttering a word, his eyes remained trained over the licking fire at the grates.
When it was Snape's turn, Lupin had tried not to flinch and gasp or show pity. Voldemort's regals or his meetings were ghastly to the last dot.
In the end, the former DADA professor heaved a long sigh and concluded about the evil wizard accurately, "He sounds more insane."
"He is a mad man on the loose but sane enough not to trust Bellatrix or any one of us. He is paranoid and knows about Potter sharing a mental link with him. I have my informants everywhere, but…"
"But?"
"These kids weren't prepared, Remus. He was rejoicing about it," the Potions Master muttered grimly.
"In that case, Snape, I think Albus should ask you to teach those students all you know about Defence Against the Dark Arts. They were lucky not to die in the skirmish at the Ministry. They know nothing about the war and the horror that comes with it," Lupin got up and whispered.
"I will leave it to the Headmaster to decide," Severus grabbed a handful of floo powder and looked over his shoulder, "Thank you for helping me and not mentioning those tunnels on that bloody map of yours. You are right, Albus should decide as soon as possible."
Nodding at the other, Remus muttered, sounding slightly better, "What do you make of Mr. Zabini and Mr. Malfoy's new friendship?"
Instead of giving him a straightforward answer, Snape smirked and whispered, "What do you think of our friendship, wolf? I hope you can see yourself out," clearing his throat he uttered, "The Headmaster's Office!" and vanished into the green flames of the fireplace. Staring at the flames, which once again turned back to innocent red, orange, and yellow tongues of the warm fire, Remus's face broke into a painful smile.
'Wolf'- he could live clutching onto the short word, now that the reckless black dog was lost somewhere behind the Veil in the Death Room, levels below the Atrium at the Ministry of Magic. Picking up a fist full of floo powder, he allowed a stray tear to roll down his chin and fall over his closed fist, thinking, "Sirius would have never come to appreciate Severus's contributions to this War. While he continued acting as a teenager locked inside a grown-up man's body, Snape just grew older and wiser, far too quickly than the rest of us."
Sniffing and clearing his throat, he threw in the powder at the blazing fire and said, " Infirmary" then vanished away in the green flames with a familiar whooshing sound.