Chapter 23

She'd been awoken by Professor Snape in many ways: back at Spinner's End he would knock on the bedroom door or call her name, and her time spent sleeping on his sofa had been no different — the harsh awakening usually came from his desk though. However, as she opened her eyes the next morning, she found him towering over her. She sat up straight with a panicked look on her face.

"What's going on?"

"Come with me," he headed towards the door without another word. Hermione gathered her thoughts for a moment then hurried after him.

She went to grab her cloak but he took hold of her wrist, a little too roughly, and pulled her out into the dim corridor. Hermione opened her mouth to scold him for his outlandish behaviour, however, the seriousness on his face made her stop.

Something has gone wrong with the plan. That's the only thing that made sense to her. Why else would he be dragging her from his chambers in such a hurry? Has Hogwarts been compromised?

No, surely not, there would be more of a commotion.

Hermione stumbled behind him as he pulled her up and out of the dungeons and towards the Entrance Hall. It was on the cusp of sunrise outside and the chilly air caused goosebumps to spread over her exposed arms.

She glanced down at her sock covered feet then grabbed onto his cloak.

"Stop!" She pulled hard and he whirled around to glare at her. "I'm cold, sir. I don't even have a pair of shoes on."

He moved closer to her face. "We don't have enough time."

"Enough time? What's going on?" He started to pull her along again and she yelped in pain as something sharp cut her left foot. She kept calling out for him to stop but he seemed content on pulling her along.

When they reached the gates, he quickly laced an arm around her waist. Her usual reaction to his touch didn't flood her body, so she narrowed her eyes up at him. There was something missing from them.

She remembered the panic in his eyes when the safe house had been attacked. She recalled the pain that consumed them when Lucius had reduced her to a sobbing mess in the doorway of Spinner's End.

"Oh," she pushed herself from his hold and stumbled backwards. "You aren't Professor Snape."

The cold hand of her professor grasped her neck and she latched onto his wrist. "Took you long enough."

She kicked the unknown person in between his legs, and his startled grunt caused his hold to loosen. She broke free and took off running towards the castle. Her hand unconsciously reached down to her feet to grab her wand, but she remembered that it was under the pillow on the sofa.

"Bugger!"

The stones cut open her feet as she headed towards the castle. She screamed for help with the hope that one of the ghosts would inform the Headmistress, but her painfully slow run came to an end when the intruder hit her with a simple spell to knock her unconscious.

...

My head.

Hermione's eyes fluttered open and she lifted her head from the concrete floor. The cold air caused shivers to shoot up her exposed back and she glanced down at her white bra. What? She sat up and turned to stare at the bars that enclosed her in a cell.

She moved onto her knees and wiped at her dusty pyjama trousers. The dirty floor scratched at her feet, and she pulled off her filthy socks. She gritted her teeth and brushed some of the dirt from her cut feet. She eventually pushed herself onto weak knees, and shuffled over to the rusty bars and pressed her face against them.

"H-Hello?" She finished with a whimper.

"Hermione?"

Her eyes widened. "Vic?"

Hermione moved over to the right end of the bars and could just about see Sniderfield's hands around the bars of his cell.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"I don't know. I was leaving Harry's home when someone got me from behind."

"What?"

"They were all wearing masks and cloaks. My guess is that they're friends of Minister Lucius. My understudies have vanished off the face of the earth, so I'm assuming they have something to do with it." His long explanation caused her to worry her bottom lip.

"Professor Snape awoke me in a panic, he dragged me outside then I realised that it wasn't him."

"Fuck," Vic muttered. "So where are they keeping Severus?"

"I don't know," tears started to sting her eyes. "What if they've hurt him?"

"Hey, hey, hey, don't worry about it. He's a strong man, and he'll do everything he can to find you," it didn't ease her worries, and her tears started to fall warmly down her cheeks.

"B-But what if something has happened to him," her hands started to shake. "He might need our help."

"Try not to think about it right now," he said. "We need to find a way out."

Hermione tried to gain control of her tears. The thought of something happening to Professor Snape terrified her. He would fight with everything he has to get me back, so it's my turn to fight for him.

She wiped away her tears and glanced around her cell. I have to think of a plan to rescue him. McGonagall should know by now that something was terribly wrong, especially since Lucius and his men managed to compromise Professor Snape.

The cold breeze of the dungeon caused her to shiver, and she remembered her bare state. Why did they take off my top? She didn't want to think that they might contemplate assaulting her, but since Draco was involved somehow, she knew that it might be a possibility.

She shook her head and cleared thoughts of Draco from her mind. Now wasn't the time to dwell on it; she needed to keep a clear mind and escape.

"They took off my top."

He didn't reply for a few seconds. "Do you have any injuries?"

Hermione glanced over her body then reached up to touch her throbbing head. She could feel a lump forming at the back of her skull. "No."

"Good," he sighed. "I don't suppose you know any wandless magic?"

"I'm afraid not," she glanced at the metal door opposite her cell. "I can't hear any guards."

"Me neither," she heard Vic pacing around his cell. "Why would they kidnap us now? Someone must've tipped them off, but who?"

"Perhaps it's a coincidence," she said. "They were bound to come for us sooner or later."

"I suppose so. It just doesn't explain why they put us two together? They must need something from Severus."

Hermione's heart thundered in her chest at the possibility. Lucius hated Severus for a reason that she didn't know of, and she believed that he would do a slow and painful job of taking out his anger on him. They might be hurting him right now, and I'm just sat here doing nothing.

She wanted to be near him all the time; it might be because they are intended souls, but even she knew the difference between being intended and needing someone by your side.

"Penny!" She suddenly said aloud. "Professor Snape's familiar must be around somewhere!"

"Does Lucius know that he has a familiar?"

She shook her head even though he couldn't see her. "Definitely not, people just think she's his normal cat."

"What would she do first?"

"Perhaps she has informed McGonagall about our disappearance?" She worried her bottom lip. "But a part of me knows that she secretly followed Professor Snape — wherever he is."

"Or she might be tracking us?" Vic offered. "Her abilities might be limited if Lucius and his men are with him."

"You might be right," Hermione inspected her damaged feet.

I won't be able to do much running unless I get my feet healed.

Vic made a funny noise as she rested her head against the bars. "I just don't understand why they didn't take Harry. They must've known I was at his house, so why didn't they attack then?"

"We're probably the only people they wish to do...well whatever they plan on doing to us. The Malfoy name was shamed after his arrest for...raping me…Lucius doesn't like Professor Snape, and it probably angered Lucius more that he was helping me."

"What about me?"

"Your understudies probably told him of your involvement in everything, especially your relationship with Harry. You're useful leverage."

"Fuck," he whispered. "I never thought of that."

She inhaled sharply from the cold air and rubbed her arms roughly. "I'm cold."

"Here, take my jacket," she awkwardly put her hand through the bars and managed to grip his jacket with her fingertips.

"Thank you," she slipped it on and pulled it around herself tightly.

They stayed in silence for a long time. Her panicked mind didn't ease but at least her shivers did. I hope Professor Snape is all right.

She started to draw patterns in the dust gathering on the floor. A square turned into a house, then flowers found their way around it. Hermione stared at her happy little home and thought back to her mum and dad.

I miss them.

Her bottom lip quivered. I miss my dad's hugs and my mum's soft words...I wish there was a way to bring them back!

"Do you hear that?" Hermione jumped in fright at Vic's sudden words.

"Hear what?" she got to her feet and tried to filter through the wind blowing around the dungeons.

"Birds," he said. "I think we're in the woods."

Hermione finally heard the faint tweeting of numerous birds. Great, no one will ever find us. She accidentally destroyed her dusty image and stared blankly at her feet. The pain had gone numb in them, but her head continued to throb.

"The breeze must be coming from somewhere. Can you see a gap?"

She pressed her face up against the bars to see down the long corridor, and just as she was about to respond with a "no", she spotted a small barred window. "I see one."

"No glass?"

"No glass," she smiled a little. "And big enough for a cat to slide through."

"Don't suppose you are an animagus?"

She had to laugh at that. "Nope. It seems we're both lacking the magical talents that could help us easily escape."

"Professor Snape isn't an animagus, but I'm sure he knows wandless magic," she explained. "I've witnessed him do it in small doses, like stirring the spoon in his teacup."

"No wonder they kept us apart."

Hermione hoped that Penny was trying to track them down. She's the only one who can move around easily without being caught. Someone human had to know they were missing by now since she could see that it was bright outside.

The pair continued to brood in their cells. Occasionally Hermione would trace the scars on her wrists, recalling the tender way Professor Snape treated her after the incident. He still made her heart race whenever she looked at him, and reminiscing about their time spent together was doing nothing to solve her feelings.

I still can't believe I've kissed his cheek and held his hand. Such things were mediocre for some people, including her, but Snape was an enigma unlikely to let any come near to touch him.

She knew better than to voice her feelings to him. He'll think I only like him because he offered me help in my time of need. He was too predictable to Hermione, and it gave her an advantage so she knew to not be offended by his harsh words.

"Footsteps!" Vic exclaimed, and Hermione looked at the door just as it opened.

The familiar body strolled in with his long blond hair. She expected to see his elegant cane, and she wished that's what he came in holding, instead of the black dagger in his hand.

Hermione watched him closely as he disappeared towards Vic's cell. She heard the sound of a struggle which soon ended when Vic was thrown in front of her cell. She shuffled over to the bars and gripped them tight.

"Pleasure to see you again, Granger."

She narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?"

Vic got to his knees and lowered his head. She kept her eyes on Lucius' hands as he waved the dagger about.

"This blade is very special," he said. "They call it the Voodoo Knife."

Hermione could only hazard a guess as to what that meant, but Vic seemed to know exactly what it was. His eyes widened and he glanced over his shoulder at Lucius.

"All I have to do is get a drop of someone's blood on the blade, and whoever I use it on next will act as a Voodoo Doll for the other person," he grabbed Vic by his hair and placed the blade at his throat.

Hermione tried to reach for Vic through the bars, but he was just out of reach.

"Who is it connected too?" She asked, and Lucius smirked down at Vic.

"Our dearest Potter came racing out after you left his house holding a forgotten bag in his hand," he clicked his tongue. "It was such a shame when he was briefly attacked, returning to his home with nothing but a single cut on his arm. I bet he's frantically trying to find you right now, Sniderfield, not even realising that his blood was put on such a blade."

That only meant one thing. If he cuts Vic then Harry will get the same injury.

Hermione knew that the only way she could help Vic was to distract Lucius for as much time as possible. "Why are you doing this?"

"Why not?"

Hermione gritted her teeth. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"I enjoy causing pain, and what's a better way to do that than to go after my enemies."

"You've created your own enemies," Hermione said. "Vic has nothing to do with this!"

She watched Lucius' hold tighten around the handle of the blade. "His understudies proved to be useful, him not so much. I don't like people digging into my business and telling that information to the likes of you."

"We…" Vic's voice wavered as Lucius pressed the knife harder against his throat. "We wouldn't be in this situation if your son hadn't raped Hermione."

Lucius tutted in response, and Hermione screamed as he brought the knife away from Vic's throat and plunged it into his stomach. Vic could only grunt from the sudden knife in his gut, and when Lucius pulled it out, he was tossed against the bars of Hermione's cell.

She scrambled to pull off the jacket he'd given her then pressed it to his wound. She had to press her body up against the bars of her cell to put enough pressure on his injury. Hermione glanced up in time to see Lucius leaving the dungeon with the bloody dagger in his hand.

"You're going to be OK," Hermione moved his hair from his face with a shaking hand. "I need you to stay awake for me."

Vic's body started trembling as sweat and heat consumed his skin. Hermione kept one hand on his forehead, only to realise that there was nothing she could do to cool him down. They were already in the frigid dungeon which wasn't doing anything for his temperature.

Blood seeped through the jacket and her fingers, causing her own body to tremble. She had no idea what to do.

"Hermione!"

Her eyes widened and she glanced over at the small window down the corridor. Penny slithered through the bars and leapt down. "Penny!" she screeched. "Help!"

The feline rushed over and hovered by Vic's wound. "Lucius stabbed him — the knife is connected to Harry, he's hurt too!"

"Calm down," she said. "Help is on the way."

"How can I calm down? Harry and Vic are hurt — and I don't know where he is!"

"Who?"

"Severus!"

It sounded weird to say his name aloud, but now wasn't the time to think over it.

"He's here somewhere, I tracked Lucius and his men here and saw them with Severus. There wasn't much I could do to aid him, but I'd know if something bad happened to him."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive, my dear."

"H-Hermione…" Vic tried to grab her wrist but his body was too weak to lift up his hand.

"Shh, save your energy—"

"Harry… tell him that I love him...if he makes it, just m-make sure you tell him...please…"

"You'll see him again," she stroked his sweaty brow. "Help is on the way."

"Tell him…"

Hermione stared down at him with tears in her eyes. "OK," she bit down on her bottom lip. "I'll tell him—"

A loud explosion shook the dust from the ceiling. Hermione glanced up in surprise then her ears focused on the rapid sound of footsteps. "Hide!" she yelled at Penny, who raced off down the hall. Hermione kept pressure on Vic's wound when Lucius flung open the door with his wand.

Two men stood behind him with blank expressions. However, Lucius looked panicked. He opened her cell door and the two men hurried in to grab her. She managed to punch one of them before they dragged her from her cell kicking and screaming. She tried to escape their holds but she was too weak to flee them both.

Hermione managed to catch a glimpse of Vic's bloody body just as the door shut behind them.

The men continued to drag her down the corridor while Lucius led the way. They headed further underground until they arrived at a corridor with a single flame to light the way. Hermione could hear the distant sounds of a fight coming from a few floor ups, and she prayed that they would reach Vic in time.

A heavily bolted door unlocked itself with a tap of Lucius' cane and she was tossed inside. Her bare back cut open as she glided along the rubble covered floor. She cried out in pain, and reached up to grab the large gash that had opened on her arm. Hermione turned to glare at Lucius but a pair of familiar arms immediately latched onto her and she was pulled back against a firm chest.

"How heroic," Lucius laughed, and Hermione relaxed briefly in Professor Snape's arms. He quickly wrapped his dirty robe around her body, and she adjusted it so it covered some of her exposed body.

Suddenly, she realised that the arms she once thought to be strong were incredibly weak. A cold forehead slumped against her shoulder just as the warmth of blood soaked her back. She shuffled around on her knees and caught Snape before he could thud onto the floor. His body was covered in open wounds, all of them seemed to be deep and in dire need of attention — attention that she, once again, found herself incapable of giving.

"W-What have you done to him?!" She screeched over her shoulder at Lucius.

"We had a little disagreement."

"N-No…" her shaking hand rested against his pale cheek

Another loud blast shook the room, and Lucius let out a frustrated yell. He whirled around and fled the dark room with his two men. Hermione listened to the door lock behind him then focused on Snape.

"S-Sir," she whispered. "Wake up…"

She could see his eyes moving behind his lids, but he continued to twitch in his unconscious state. Hermione inhaled sharply, "Fuck!" she yelled.

The room was much colder than the cell she'd been put in, and her lack of layers caused her skin to turn blue. She kept a tight hold on Snape and tried to inspect some of his wounds. Blood found its way all over her skin and clothes, and no matter how hard she pressed the slashes, he didn't wake up.

"Sir…" she whimpered. "Severus, open your eyes."

The light sound of footsteps sent a shiver up her spine; she listened to the bolts unlock and unconsciously tightened her hold on Snape. She waited for the door to creak open before she turned to see who it was. Her hold immediately loosened, and she quickly lowered Snape to the floor.

Her healing process hadn't quite reached the stage of what she'd do if she ever saw him again. Professor Snape has taught her how to be herself again, but nothing could've prepared her to see Draco Malfoy once more.

Her eyes slowly moved to the wand in his hand. Lucius' knife would've been more intimidating, however, even she knew that Malfoy could be cruel with his hexes. She wouldn't be surprised if he was ready to throw the killing curse her way.

I have to protect Severus.

There wasn't much at her disposal, apart from the rubble that had fallen from the brittle ceiling. She glanced down at a fairly large rock, large enough that it would be a heavy blow if it hit him. Malfoy followed her eyes then smiled.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Hermione swallowed hard. "Why not?"

"I'd be able to cast the killing curse on Severus before you could hit me with it."

She tried to shield Snape's body, but she just wasn't long enough to conceal him from harm. I need him to wake up. He was the only person she knew that could possibly be able to do wandless magic, especially magic that could cause someone harm.

Malfoy's threat didn't stop her from trying though.

Hermione lunged for the rock just as Malfoy raced forward and kicked her hard in the stomach. She landed on her back gasping for oxygen, and he moved to tower over her.

"I did warn you," he pointed his wand at her. "It's a pleasure to see you again."

Hermione gritted her teeth, refusing to give into the emotional agony that wished to take over. Now wasn't the time to get upset over what he did, she needed to get Professor Snape out of this wretched place.

I can't let him die.

"He's going to die here," he said. "Either from those wounds or someone else's hands."

She narrowed her eyes. "He was nothing but kind to you. He stuck out his neck to get you a place to stay, and he managed to persuade the educational board to let you back into Hogwarts!"

"Yet, he refuses to join the Malfoys during their reign."

"Yes, well he's not a monster like you!" She glanced at Malfoy's wand. "He's a good man."

"But he's done bad things, just like me," he tutted. "We're both the same, yet you dislike me and not him."

"Don't you ever compare yourself to him! He's a greater man than you'll ever be!" She moved to sit up but he slammed his foot down on her chest.

"Don't move, otherwise he dies."

She lay still on the cold floor with a venomous look in her eyes. At least his bare skin wasn't touching her. She could deal with his leather covered foot on her chest. However, she didn't like how little Snape's robe covered her skin.

Don't think about that night, she muttered in her mind, it won't help you get out of this alive.

"You seem rather obsessed with him," he chuckled. "Let me guess...he's stolen your heart and you're in love with him? Am I right?"

"I don't believe that's any of your business."

"Just as I thought," he said. "You do."

A painful silence followed.

She tried to avoid looking him in the eyes, knowing that whatever she might see would remind her of that night. Malfoy continued to press his foot down on her chest, but it wasn't enough to stop her from breathing.

"What do you want?"

He smirked. "A repeat of that passionate Halloween night."

Her body stilled. Don't think about it, she chanted in her mind, that's what he wants. She tilted her head to the side and saw the large stone nearby. Malfoy followed her eyes, and before he could react, she pushed his foot off her chest and kicked him hard between his legs. He stumbled back with a whine and she scurried on her hands and knees to reach the rock.

Hermione turned to look at him in her triumph, only to be thrown against the wall. The oxygen fled her lungs as she landed on the floor, and she reached up to touch the new wound on the back of her head.

"You stupid bitch!" He snapped. "My father promised me I could keep you, but if you continue acting the way you are I'll keep you locked up in a dungeon for the rest of your life!"

She stared at the fresh blood on her fingers. Fight...I'm going to have to fight him...without a wand. Hermione wasn't about to fall prey to him once more. Professor Snape's efforts weren't going to be wasted by her giving in and letting Malfoy take her away.

I have to protect Professor Snape.

"I'm not going anywhere with you," she whispered. "I'd rather die."

"It doesn't matter if you're dead or alive."

Bile rose in her throat, but she managed to push away her disgust and glare at him. She pushed herself to her weak knees, very aware that Snape's robe had slipped off her shoulders revealing her exposed chest.

He raised his wand to fire another spell her way, but she threw herself to the floor as it shattered against the wall. She took advantage of his startled state and tackled him to the floor. He landed awkwardly on his arm and she heard the sound of a bone breaking, along with his wand.

She inwardly cursed at herself knowing that she would've been able to cast a weak healing charm on Snape if she'd used Malfoy's wand.

Malfoy cried out in agony and Hermione scrambled off him at the sight of his bent arm. She put her hand to her mouth when a gag pulled at her throat. He managed to get to his feet holding his broken arm; his flushed cheeks and shiny eyes told her that he was livid.

Hermione got to her feet and slowly moved back towards Snape's body. She glanced down to see his lips had turned blue and his skin was almost grey. Holy shit.

"Just leave!" Her chest rose rapidly for oxygen. "I don't care if you run away and they never find you again, just go!"

Sweat covered his forehead and she could see he was struggling to stay standing. A part of her knew that she could easily knock him unconscious, but she wasn't sure if she had the guts to do it.

After everything he did to me, why shouldn't I be able to cause him pain?

"You're trying to get me to leave so you can take Severus to safety," he seethed through gritted teeth. "I'm not stupid."

"So you plan to take me away with a broken arm?" Hermione kept her eyes on him. "I'd like to see you try."

Malfoy lowered his good hand to his shoe and pulled out a blade. A sickening smile appeared on his face.

She took in a staggered breath then dived out of the way as he lunged at her. The open door was the only way for her to escape with a chance of disarming him, so she took off running into the dark corridor.

A painful warmth flooded her feet, and her head injury caused her eyes to blur when her feet hit the ground too hard. She listened to Malfoy struggle to keep up with her as she took erratic turns to escape him.

I need something to use against him—

Hermione collided with a tall frame, sending them both to the floor in a pile of grunts. She looked up at the sound of something narrow and light hitting the cold stone: Lucius' cane.

She grabbed it before Lucius could come to his senses, and swung the cane just as Malfoy came charging around the corner. He fell to the floor almost comically, and she smirked at the sight of him unconscious on the floor.

The knife lay nearby so she picked it up and turned to point it at Lucius. He used the wall to help himself stand up, and she saw his dishevelled and bloody state. The fight upstairs had gone quiet a long time ago; she wasn't sure whether Lucius being here was a good sign.

"What have you done?" He grunted in pain. "Draco?"

"Don't worry, your precious son isn't dead—"

"I never doubted his ability to defend himself against a mere woman—"

"—yet," Hermione walked closer keeping the knife pointed at him.

He tilted his head. "You aren't capable of killing somebody in cold blood."

"That would be true if you'd only done something to harm me," she said. "It seems people can do whatever they want to me and I won't retaliate, but you see, you've hurt my friends and killed my parents. I'm sure your murder would be justified."

Lucius started to laugh, so Hermione poked him hard with the cane causing him to topple over clutching his stomach. She had no idea what she was going to do next, but it wasn't escaping her notice that she needed to act fast to save Snape.

I need to knock him out...or kill him.

A chill shot up her spine and she heard someone approach her from behind. In her panicked state of mind, she whirled around swinging her knife until it embedded itself into the offender.

Hermione let out a startled gasp and pulled out the knife just as blood began to seep from Malfoy's mouth. Her throat clenched to keep herself from vomiting as she watched him fall to the floor cupping his side. Lucius yelled from behind her and she stumbled out of the way to let him fall at his son's side. Her back hit the wall and she reached up with both hands to grab her hair.

Fighting using a wand was much different to a weapon. A person rarely heard the wounds they inflicted, but all Hermione could hear was the squelching sound the knife had made as she pulled it out. She watched on with a pounding heart as Lucius cradled his dying son in his arms; guilt was yet to consume her, and she doubt it ever would.

I just killed him...he's dead...I killed him...

Hermione couldn't allow Lucius time to grieve, so she picked up his cane and hit him hard over the head. He slumped to the floor in a heap of robes and blood, then Hermione staggered away and around the corner.

Her body got over the shock of killing Malfoy pretty easily, and she soon focused on getting back to Snape. She clenched her jaw to get through the pain as she ran on cut feet down the dimly lit hall. Her vision went in and out of focus, reminding her that she had a nasty gash at the back of her head.

She arrived at the cell and stood in the doorway. He lay unmoving on the cold floor looking more blue than when she'd left him. She slowly walked over and fell to her knees at his side. The torn robe he'd given her wouldn't help much, but she still pressed it to the main cuts on his chest.

"Wake up, sir," she whispered. "Please, wake up."

He shifted beneath her touch, and she smiled when his eyes started to open. She helped him sit up against the hall, much to his grunted protests, and stayed by his side to keep pressure on his wounds. She watched him glance around through narrowed eyes and she waited for him to focus on her.

However, she saw the life slowly fading from them.

"Look at me!" she raised her bloody hands to his face. "I don't want you to die, so I need you to hold on." Her tears dropped onto his torn clothes and she searched his eyes for any sign of hope. "Y-You can't die…" she whimpered, and his eyes closed for longer than she deemed appropriate. "Keep your eyes open!"

She could tell he was grasping onto the straws of existence, such was to be expected when experiencing severe blood loss. Memories of that night in the Shrieking Shack flashed before her eyes and her sob couldn't be stopped.

"...n...no point."

She stroked his face with her thumbs. "W-What do you mean? Of course there's a point to living!" He slowly shook his head beneath her hands.

There were so many things she wished to say to him. How could she express in words how much he meant to her? This new, blossoming feeling in her heart had to mean something; he was more than just a friend to her, and the emotional pains around her heart were only caused by him.

"I need to move you out of here, so I can get help," she moved her hands from his face and wiped away her tears.

"Go," he grunted.

"I'm not leaving—you'll give up if I leave, and I don't want that!"

He stared at her with a dark look in his eyes. She pressed harder on his wounds causing him to hiss in pain. I need somebody with a bloody wand! She glanced down the dark hallway for any sign of hope. He started to push at her hands so she looked back at him.

"Go!" he gasped for air and she shook her head at him.

"No! Think about what you'll be leaving behind!" she looked into his eyes. "What about me?"

His eyes softened. "Granger—"

"If you really need something worth living for, then live for me, please…" his chest started to rise rapidly and her eyes widened. What do I do? His eyes contained an emotion she wasn't accustomed to seeing on him.

He needs to live…

Hermione raised her shaking hands and cupped his face. He seemed shocked by the sincerity of her actions, and before he could open his mouth to say something, she slowly lowered her lips to his.

The kiss wasn't mind blowing. All she could taste was the metallic pinch of blood and dirt. He was tense beneath, hardly moving against her lips. She pulled away slightly to look back into his eyes.

I'm in love with him. The thought shocked her still, but her frozen state was soon thawed when a hand buried into the back of her hair, avoiding the nasty cut there, bringing her lips down to his once more.

This kiss was much different. There was a sense of urgency about it. She could taste her own tears, but it didn't matter at all. Their lips moved together frantically and she whimpered into his mouth and clutched at his torn clothes.

His hand gripped the flesh of her hip and he urged her closer a little. Her whole body flooded with desire and need, but this wasn't the time for feeling such a thing.

A loud crash came from nearby, and Hermione heard the voices calling out her name along with Snape's. Aurors. She separated her lips from Snape's and turned to glance down the hall, then when she turned back, his head fell against her hand.

Eyes closed. Chest no longer moving. And as pale as one can be.

"Help!" she screeched. "Someone please help me!"

AN:/ So, yes, that just happened! Hope you enjoyed it - obviously Snape isn't going to die - and I'll get working on the next chapter for you!

Merry Christmas to you all!