Ginny held her breath as a Slytherin prefect crossed through the hall in front of her. They weren't where they were supposed to be and that made her incredibly suspicious. She knew they were up to something. Always, up to something, and had taken a moment to look at the map to see if there was anyone else coming to join them.

All she could see was the Ravenclaw prefect, Padma, walking her actual route but was going to run into the Slytherin if he continued. Ginny glanced down the hallway, she had to make a choice, take the left and go to the head office, or take the right and make sure the Slytherin wasn't up to something. She chewed her bottom lip as she thought about what to do when a small scream made her choice for her.

A quick disillusionment charm washed over her as she hurried towards the next bend. She'd not even thought to look at the map to see if their might have been more. Her last glance had told her that there had been only one Slytherin. She could easily handle one.

When she rounded the corner her heart leapt into her throat as a fist came swinging at her head, she'd grown up with the twins and thus had amazing panick reflexes. Her body dipped low before she spun herself out to the side. Her eyes were wide and her stomach was in her throat when a bright spark lit up her world and her body was sent tumbling backward into the stone wall behind.

"Show yourself!" The Slytherin, thankfully, seemed to have lost sight of her after his spell. His beedy deep green eyes looking through the darkened hall. Padma laid near his feet, her body still.

Ginny tried to keep her startled breaths from giving her away before she unleashed her own stunning spell that slammed the boy upward into the ceiling. His body fell like a rag doll onto the stone floor and GInny's stomach turned.

"What was that? Did you hear that?"

Ginny growled low, but there wasn't anything more that she could do, "Sorry Padma…" With another check she made sure her spell was in place before pushing herself back from whence she'd come, her shoe crushing what looked like a candy into the stone.

Ginny was three bends over when she heard the distinct voice of her head of house. Thank Merlin, it'd been her to find them. She'd surely sort it out. Ginny tried to push the event from her mind as she pushed herself up another flight, she was leaving her territory now, she'd have to be much more careful. Something was obviously afoot.

oOo

"I…I can't eat anymore…"

"You will in time." Severus had finished his portion of the meal at least a half an hour before the girl had called it quits. They'd eaten in silence though the room was anything but quiet. Between his own thoughts and the ones that were expanding out from her, it was enough to feel as though he were standing in the Great Hall.

"Do you want to bathe?"

"Yes..but…" Hermione bit her lip as he pulled the mostly eaten tray from her lap, silently calling a house elf to come and take it away, "I…I don't want to be alone…" Her face flushed brightly as the words trembled passed her lips.

"I can accompany you." Severus had wondered whether her newly acquired vision would change their current routine. It was one thing to bathe when you couldn't see who was watching you, "How is your rash?"

Hermione shifted her legs, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders, he hadn't retrieved her shirt that was surely laying on the bathroom floor still but she hadn't felt so exposed, after all just that morning he had had his hands inside her. That thought had made it very difficult to eat anymore. Not with disgust but with a curious feeling that she had spent the better half of her meal trying to identify.

"It's…becoming irritated again…"

"I'll change the oils." Severus gave her a small once over before turning away towards the bathroom. He lit a few more scones along the wall to bring more light to the room but had noticed how she'd begun to squint. It was something he would look into at a later time. She was much too tense at present to test anything. Like a taunt rubberband drying in the sun.

Hermione licked her sweet tasting lips. The pumpkin juice had tasted heavenly but had brought back memories she'd rather not revisit. Memories of a happier time, a simpler time. Where had it all gone wrong? Where her transgressions so severe that this was her penance?

"Miss Granger?"

"Hm?"

"Are you ready for your bath?" Severus bent himself lower than he normally would, choosing to always be looking down at those around him so as to make himself appear like an impenetrable wall. It had always been necessary to ensuring that no one ever got too close. It was a luxury he couldn't afford. Even after all this time.

Hermione nodded her head slowly and pulled her legs down over the edge of the chair. When his hand came out, she took it without hesitation. The warmth that radiated from him filling something deep in her soul. Her eyes raised to his as she came to her feet and for a moment, a brief second, she saw the human being that laid beneath all those layers. It made her heart stutter.

"Don't…don't leave me alone…okay?"

Severus pursed his lips at the raw emotion that poured out from her words. A desperate plea made by a soul that had been shattered, cracked but unbroken. She was strong, stronger than he would have every given her credit for. She had adapted beyond all reason, to survive tortures even the most hardened would have struggled with. Yet, there she was standing on her own power before him pushing aside all her preconceived notions about his person to ask him for help.

A minute nod lowered her eyes from his and he felt the air in the room shifting, a weight that had been building slowly lifting away. He walked beside her, letting her hold his hand as they moved. He had originally planned to transfigure a bed for her to sleep in as he didn't believe she wanted to share his now that she could see with whom she was sharing with.

When they entered the bathroom, Severus was quick to cast a mirror blackening charm over any reflective surface. The bathroom had two parts, the front half that held the toilet and grooming area while the second half, through another door, held the bathing area. A rather wide and not so modest room that held a large inlaid tub that could hold at least four people, a smaller partially raised one person bath, and a shower that could easily hold three people. It was definitely elegant but to Severus, it was just excessive.

Hermione focused on what she could see, it wasn't the first time she'd been in the room and the familiar smell of his body wash eased some of the tension that had been growing in her shoulders. Her legs were already beginning to tire but she forced herself to remain standing. There was more than one bath and she couldn't remember by their look alone which one she'd been using all this time.

"This way." Severus gave her hand a small pull, her grip had steadily relaxed but she still very much was attached to his person. It felt odd after all these years to feel another hand held in his. Though that was a thought for another time. For now, he focused on getting her to the smaller one person tub that was partially raised up to make his job of sitting beside her much easier. He'd already transfigured himself a stool that would make leaning over to help her wash so much easier on his back. Most of the oils and other additives he'd been placing in the water lined the edges along with his personal soap.

"Are you capable of undressing yourself?"

"Yes…" Hermione took a slow breath, finally releasing his hand so that he could start the water. It was so surreal. Everything around her felt like she were living a dream. Standing there, in Hogwarts inside the headmaster's private bath with her former professor about to expose everything she had to him.

Her mind once more reminded her of that morning and she was sure her flush went down all the way to her toes. It wasn't so much that he'd done it, but rather that she'd wanted him to do it and more. What did that make her? He had been exceptionally professional through everything. Even without being able to see him she had instantly recognized the difference in his touch. How he didn't linger more than he needed to, how his touch was firm yet controlled.

"Miss Granger?"

"Yes? Ah…right…" Hermione gave him what she hoped was an apologetic look though she just looked like a kicked puppy. Her head lowered down as the sound of rushing water filled the vast space. It sounded soothing, like a waterfall. She rolled the blanket off of her shoulders, bringing it around in front to fold it into some semblance of neatness before setting it down on a nearby ledge. Her eyes flickered over to him but his back was turned towards her as he added something into the bath water.

A slow lick of her lips brought her thumbs into the band of her pajama bottoms. Her eyes closed as she pushed them down, maybe if she didn't see, couldn't see then she wouldn't be reminded anymore of what had happened, how all this had started. How her life had gone so completely upside down.

It was so much simpler before she could think, before she could assess the world around her. Why had her brain suddenly come back to life? Had he done something? Tried to repair something? Why now?

Her throat grew tight as she stepped out of her pants and underwear, opening her eyes just enough to set them along side everything else. Her body jolted slightly when she felt something brush against her arm and her eyes snapped down to find a towel being extended out to her. With only a quick glance up to his turned head she took it and wrapped it around her chest with relief. She didn't want to see anymore of her body. What she had seen was enough.

"The scars will fade." Severus started to unbutton his frock coat, as wonderful as a drying charm was, it always made the fabric of his coat feel too stiff. He didn't much like it.

Hermione nodded her head but her face showed him that she didn't believe him. Her eyes wandered over the room aimlessly until the movement of him hanging up his jacket on a hook caught her attention. She'd never seen the man without his volumous robes, and there he was standing in nothing but a white button up shirt. He appeared so much slimmer than her mind thought him to be. Still larger than her, his waist and hips were narrow and from what she could tell of the shirt, his arms were moderately sized. He didn't look lanky, but he was definitely not stocky.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah…" Hermione turned her eyes towards the water that was already almost to level. The smell and soft lavender color that came off of it further eased the tension in her shoulders. She wondered what he'd put into it but found herself too nervous to ask. Instead, she took the few steps it took to get to the edge, the muscles in her legs letting out a sharp tremble. Just as she thought she'd be unable to make the step, a hand took her by her elbow and she was able to use their support to lift herself up.

"Nice and slow." This was a new experience for him just as it was for her.

Previous to this, he'd always carried her into the bath and sat her inside while it filled. Using magic to rid her of her clothes once the water had come to level. He had briefly entertained the idea but with how her mind had been previously he thought it to be a good idea that she try to do more things on her own. The time she was able to actually stay on her feet had increased since he'd forced her to stand but it was no where near where it needed to be. He wanted her to run, run far away from all of this.

His hold released as she sat down, a wave of his hand removed the towel and the water obscured most of her defining features, not that his eyes lingered, "Is it too warm?"

"It's perfect… Thank you." Hermione raised her head as he sat down, "Thank you…for all of this…"

"It is what it is."

Hermione inhaled sharply to his tone. That hard, protective tone she'd become so familiar with during her time in his classroom. It hurt her soul to hear it now, to understand where it must have come from on such a personal level. How could anyone not in their position even possibly understand? It was impossible.

"What…what did you put in here?" Deciding to turn their tense experience into something that she was sure both of them could withstand, she turned her eyes towards the bottles sitting at the far ledge.

"Lilac, lavender, red clover, essence of garlic among some other combinations that I've made."

"Garlic?" A small grin formed at the corner of her lips, "Do I have to worry about vampires?"

Severus snorted softly, "Its for your hair."

Hermione's hand raised up from the water, she'd not even realized her normally heavy coat hadn't been weighing down her back, "You cut it…"

"I had no choice." He watched her fingers run through. It'd grown a bit since he'd taken her in. No longer just under her chin but now sitting right at her shoulders. The curls were just starting to spiral out and give it a more full appearance.

A small nod lowered her hand back into the water. The oils he'd placed inside were definitely soothing away things she hadn't even been aware she'd been holding onto. Her head lowered back to the padded rim and her eyes that had been wide lidded halfway.

"I…I want to know…How…how did you find me?" Were they looking for her? Had they been looking for her? Were they still?

"By following a rat." Severus couldn't stop the snarl from forming on his face at the mere memory of the man that justice had taken from this world so elegantly, "It was…an accident really."

"Yet you kept me…" Hermione's brows furrowed, her eyes moved though they weren't seeing what was in front of her. No, her mind was trying to go back, back into the darkness.

"I did." He didn't see the point in explaining his motives. He doubted that in her present state she could fully understand.

"Why?" Her head turned slowly, a small fear chilling her stomach. He had said he'd killed the men who'd done this to her, but to what end? Surely having a mudblood hidden away in his quarters was suspect.

Severus sighed softly, his normally hard face growing just a bit soft around the eyes, "It's complicated."

"We have the time…" Hermione motioned to the water, it wasn't like she was going anywhere quickly anytime soon and quite honestly she just wanted to hear his voice. Something about it had rooted itself to her core and she was able to draw her calm from it.

"But not the mental acuity." Severus didn't want to discuss it, even he didn't know why he'd done what he'd done. Why he'd risked everything to save her. So instead, he pulled a wash clothe from the rod and put a copious amount of his body wash into the center, "Make sure you get behind your ears."

oOo

"Ginny?" Neville kept his voice low as he snuck around one more alcove pillar. His path had been relatively uneventful. He worried his teeth as he waited for any sign that Ginny had made it. Telling himself that she wasn't there in the next five minutes he was going to go searching for her himself.

Just as he was about to turn back he heard the soft sound of footsteps and smelled a soft peach-like smell that he recognized to be hers. Still, unwanting to move until he was sure he watched the hall until a faint shimmer caught in the moonlight outlining her frame to a keen eye.

"Ginny."

The teen jolted slightly from the soft whisper her head snapping to the alcove where she could just make out Neville's tall frame, "Neville?"

"Yeah, you okay?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle…come on…" Ginny glanced back from which she'd come before motioning them forward. She needed to check the map before they ascended the stairs. With a glance in all directions, she moved into a nearby alcove before starting to dig in her pockets, "He's not there. But…she is."

"That's good right? I mean…we're her friends."

"Yeah…come on…the sword is on the mantle over the fireplace. We get in, we get out. Do you have the extended bag?"

"Yeah, Luna helped me make it." Neville couldn't help the goofy smile that crawled over his face as she showed her the small leather pouch, "It'll fit. Promise."

"Good. Right." Ginny took a slow breath and nodded her head, "In and out…" Tucking away the map, she squared her shoulders.

"Yeah." Neville took his own steadying breath before following her to the gargoyle, "What's…the password?"

"Asphodel." Ginny looked up as the gargoyle stood aside, thanking every fate that the password hadn't been changed. The symbolism was lost on her but Neville's eyes darkened with understanding.

The door standing at the top of the small stairs had never looked more formidable. The moonlight that cast shadows over the ornate designs made it look impassible. Ginny could almost feel her heart pounding out of her chest.

A soft click opened the door. The room was dark, only a single lamp beside the desk burning. The high windows cast whitewashed moon beams over everything, casting deceptive shadows. It felt wrong to be there, even more so in the middle of the night.

"She's…not here…"

Neville's face twitched, his eyes looking at the only light source of the room, it should have been where she'd be standing if she'd truly been there. He didn't understand it, "Maybe…she..." Neville didn't even know how to express his logic. Instead, he turned his head up towards the mantel. The hope he'd carried with him that she'd actually be there making his feet feel as though they'd been encased in stone.

"The map never lies…" Ginny had lost her focus completely as she came further into the room. Her eyes searching the dark shadows, all the small places where someone could hide, "She should be here…"

Neville gave her a sympathetic look as he moved towards the mantel. As much as he wanted it to be, it simply wasn't. Though his heart ached and the puzzle before them was enticing he had no desire to run into Snape, especially in the middle of the night, doing something illicit.

Ginny came closer to the desk, having pulled out the map once more, she looked down at it before furrowing her brows. It didn't make sense, Hermione should be stood directly in front of her, yet there was nothing there. Just the desk and the lamp.

"Neville…can people's souls be put into objects?"

"I'm not the one to ask." Neville grunted softly as he pulled the sword from it's holder. It was heavier than he thought it'd would be and felt amazing in his hand, "Luna would know."

"Right…" Ginny looked down at the map one more time before she felt something odd as she was coming around the desk. Almost like a wall, or a thin veil. Her head turned up but she could see no obvious reasons for the feeling.

"I got it. Let's-" Neville froze in place, his face turning whiter than a sheet, his mouth falling open, every nerve ending in his body turning to ice.