Severus pursed his lips tighter as he walked down the darkened aisle of the restricted section. He was so deep that even the bravest student wouldn't have dared to traverse its cursed walls. He knew it had to be there. Hogwarts was much too old not to have had more information about it. Something had been bothering him quite deeply for a while, though he had constantly pushed it back for more immediate problems.

Now, with Granger able to function somewhat on her own for a few hours a day it had allowed him the time to ponder. Despite everything else going on in the world, he was still a man who couldn't let go of a puzzle. How had Marxan come into possession of something clearly outside of his magical prowess and what exactly were the long-term consequences of his more juvenile methods and the ones intricately inside the Dual Dragon?

He knew the structure of the drug the man had used to dull her mind but what did the potions inside the dragon do when combined? The original book he'd obtained had only given him the barest of information and parts of its most notable uses. Most of which dated back to the dark times well before anyone who lived that day would have been a spec in their mother's eye. It had been enough at the time but now, he needed answers.

Another more pressing question that had stumped him was how to see inside memories that were only filled with touch. She had been deaf when he'd found her though he didn't know for how long it had certainly been long enough to change everything she did when interacting with the world. How could he, an experienced legilimens, enter such a world and bring it to some sort of order? How could he learn about what had truly happened to her so that he could finally set her right again?

There was a hollowness to her eyes that burned him to the core. A former shell of what she had been with no hope of what she could be. It reminded him of the last time he saw his mother. The way she'd looked at him when she stood over her father's body. The pain he felt when she took her own life just moments after. He had begged her, pleaded for her to stay. Just one more day. One more day. His graduation day.

A sharp shock drew a hiss from his tight jaw and his hand that had been idly running along the shelf jerked back as a book pulled itself from the keep. The heavy time-worn tome fell title down with a heavy thump that echoed down the whispering stacks. A small shake of his hand dispersed the residual magic and he ran his wand over it before carefully turning it over.

"Melding of Minds, a walk through another's shoes..."

Curiosity peeked when he carefully used his wand tip to pull open the cover, the dark sun tanned pages crinkling loudly. A quick graze down the preface showed promise.

oOo

"You wished to speak with me?" McGonagall took her seat behind her desk, waving her hand to warm the kettle ever present.

"Yes, thank you, professor." Ginny took a slow seat trying to subtly catch her breath.

"Staying out of trouble?" Minerva gave her a knowing look, there was a kind understanding but also a warning as well.

While she hadn't given them the tongue lashing they'd expected when they'd expected it she had certainly warned them about their careless behavior and the consequences. She herself had been bereft to hear that the Order had received word through Harry about Hermione's death. It had hit her harder than she had expected. She had seen so much of herself in the girl when she'd first arrived and even more so after she'd gotten to know her. It had been painful to come to terms that the world would never see the true brilliance that the girl possessed.

"Yes, ma'am." Ginny took a deep breath trying to figure out how to approach the burning question that had sent her running. Now, that she sat before someone who could possibly answer the question she felt conflicted. She wanted to believe that Hermione wasn't dead, but what did that really mean? What could possibly be gained? Wasn't their so much more to be lost if it were true? That perhaps she was hiding out in some small place without her wand? The evidence just simply wasn't there. If she were alive she had surely been captured and was that better or worse?

"I uh...just had a small question..."

"Is it something that if I answer I'll have to watch you be escorted from the grounds?" Minerva had been astonished that Severus hadn't outright thrown them to the wolves. He was well within his role to do so. While she had her own theories and with everything else that was happening inside the castle she almost wished they had been.

The current issue was that a very dangerous substance was finding its way inside the walls. Though it came in waves, as though someone was trying to keep it from spreading it was steadily picking up. Poppy had called it Devil's Kiss. Originally a potion designed to drug its victims into an amnesia-like euphoria it wasn't being used for its intended purpose. Aside from the first incident, three more students had been admitted to hospital with overdose like symptoms. Claiming, upon waking, that they had taken it willingly in order to escape the dark reality around them. To her, it appeared as though those not strong enough to fight were trying to convince themselves that this was not the reality. It truly was a sad state of affairs but there was so little to be done. It wasn't the first time the castle had been privy to such methods of escape but it was still sad to see.

"No, professor." Ginny lowered her eyes as she didn't fully believe in her words. There was a heavy silence as she felt McGonagall's heavy gaze bearing down on her; a weight even after all this time still held its power.

"Right then, what is it?"

Ginny took a deep breath, it was times such as this she greatly missed Hermione. Her confidence, her strength to just get to the answers she was seeking," Do...Can... wands retain a person's magical signature after they've... they've you know died?"

Clearly not the sort of question she had expected the girl to ask Minerva relaxed her shoulders just a fraction, "It has happened in some cases with particularly strong wands but they generally become unruly and difficult to handle. Though if another's magical signature is stronger the prior does not remain."

"Can you elaborate?"

"Your wand please?" Minerva reached over the desk gently taking the offered wand and turned it gently in her fingers, "I can feel your magic inside this, though if I were to take control, make the wand mine, force it to obey my magical power then it may never answer to you again." Minerva was careful to only allow some of her magical energy to reach the wand before passing it back to her. Though she would be remiss if she didn't bubble with a little pride with how well the girl had done in taming the raw power her wand possessed. She wasn't perfect but the potential was there.

"Do you feel it?"

"I don't feel anything really..." Ginny tried to feel anything different about her wand but it felt the same to her.

"It's certainly a skill that comes with time." Minerva smiled softly and took a small sip of her tea. "Was there anything else?"

Ginny bit the corner of her lip before reaching into her bag; she thought as long as she didn't reveal the owner of the wand perhaps she could get some answers, "What does this one feel like?"

Minerva looked at her curiously before taking the black cloth covered wand into her palm. As soon as the wood made contact her brows furrowed and her lips curved down in a sharp frown, "Where did you get this?"

"I...found it?"

"Where?"

"Snape's desk... Professor!?" Ginny jumped to her feet as the tartan woman strode past with murder in her eyes. What had she done?

oOo

"Severussss, I have come into possession of some very interesting information."

Snape glanced down at the crumpled form of Lucious who was doing his best to keep his breaths of pain silent. Narcissa laid beside him but she was still, her face pale as a small pool of blood seeped out from the lashes that tore through her dress.

"How can I be of assistance, My Lord?" Severus kept his tone as even as possible, though his heart was beating furiously. Was this it? Was the game over? Had he lost already?

"You told me, Potter's mudblood had died. That you had buried her yourself." Voldemort turned slowly, uncaring of the pool of blood he stepped into. The body of some unknown man lying in pieces around him.

"I did, My Lord." Severus could feel the snake-like man probing into his mind and hastily pushed forward the images of that day.

"You lied!"

Severus had not a second over the last syllable left his tongue before the lash of his spell brought him to his knees. Barely missing his face, it arched straight from his high collar, barely sparing his jugular, before digging deep over his hip. His jacket and shirt torn open, useless as his skin turned red.

"M-y Lord," Snape took a weak breath, it wasn't his first rodeo but the anger at which the spell hit him cut near to the bone, "Perhaps, I had been mistaken...but she is not...with them..."

"No, she's not." Voldemort sneered, he had expected a thin excuse yet the man did not waver with his words or his mind, "You better hope that she stays dead, or you shall find yourself in her grave." Another sharp spell sent the man flat to the floor, a reminder of his place.

Severus could only let out a soft noise, forcing himself to stay conscious, "What...what do you wish...me to do?"

"Now see this Lucius? This is loyalty." Voldemort grinned darkly coming to stand at the prone man's head, "Keep your ear to the ground. Send me the loyal, it is time to expand our ranks."

"Yes, My Lord..." Severus couldn't suppress a shiver as the warmth left his body to stain the stone below.

oOo

Minerva was seeing red by the time she blasted through his wards protecting the head office. Weak by anyone's standards, she was greatly surprised to not have found the man sitting calmly behind the desk with that damnable raised brow. Her eyes did narrow at the painting high and to the right that was still, most likely, feigning sleep.

"You!" Minerva let the barely intact door slam shut behind her as she wove her way towards the desk. Her eyes sharp and her magic crackling at the edges, "This has your stink all over it!"

Minerva came to the front of the desk, her eyes narrowing at the small shimmer the wall behind gave off. Setting her observation aside, for now, she pointed her wand at the frame sitting on high, "Don't you hide away from me."

Minerva frowned deeper as the image didn't seem to respond and pushed herself closer by going around the edge of the desk. A small coldness washed down her frame and she instantly knew what she'd stepped through. Her gaze having been broken by her observation, she turned her head up once more to find the man who she'd just accused sitting up with calm reverence looking down at her.

"Hello, Minerva. Wonderful day isn't it?"

"Oh, yes indeed." Minerva's tone tore away any cordial meaning her words possessed. She continued around the desk coming up onto the raised observation deck, "What are you up to Albus?"

She pulled the wand from her cloak letting the black cloth fall over her hand, "Why are you torturing him?"

"Oh, that is curious." Albus' lip quirked just a little but his eyes shown with sadness. There was no question of whom the him referred to though it did sadden his heart.

"Who would that be?"

"You know damn well, Albus. Potter! The boy who lived! The boy to whom you placed a burden on that he shouldn't have to carry! The boy who you sent on a suicide mission to finish what you could not!" Minerva was nearly shaking with her anger.

"The boy is more than capable."

"Not alone he isn't! None of us are! Where is she, Albus? What fool's errand have you sent her on? Is she even alive?" Minerva shook the wand as her evidence. Her heart racing with all sorts of possibilities.

Before Albus could respond, the fireplace flared to life and both of their attentions were on the man who staggered out. Minerva's eyes went wide when she watched the man she had come to loathe take two steps before falling hard against the edge of the couch. Still too shocked to truly understand what she was seeing, she stood dumbfounded before he collapsed down hard onto his knee pulling apart the jacket that he had pulled shut to cover him.

"Severus...?" Minerva's heart was in her throat as she absently tossed the wand she'd been threatening Albus with to the desk before rushing over to the younger man's side, "Severus? What happened to you?" As soon as her arms came around his shoulders his arm came out to push her away.

"Why does it matter to you?" Severus sneered up at her, though his face was at least three shades paler than his shirt, "Why are you even here? Another kid have a runny nose that I'm somehow responsible for?" His hand that had come out to push her away came over his chest where the deepest of gashes was pulsing with each beat of his heart. His vision turned on its end and he hoped the venom in his words were enough to allow him to lick in wounds in peace.

Minerva couldn't stop the guilt and hurt from panting her face as she reached down for him again. Though he attempted to push her once more, he was much too weak to make much of a difference. It was with a bit of luck and some effort on his part that she managed to get him onto the couch but as he leaned back her arm became warm and wet. Her eyes turned down with partial horror before raising to his half-lidded eyes.

"Misty..."

"Misty?" Minerva shook her head, not understanding. Her eyes widened as his head rolled to the side, his eyes fixed at some point over her shoulder. She had never seen him this bad before. A small limp here and there yes, but not like this. She knew of his previous allegiance to Albus, but when he'd killed him she had assumed that he'd chosen his side in this war. That he had fooled them all. Now, she didn't understand anything.

A soft pop to her ankle turned her head down, "Misty?"

"Yes, Professor. I am Misty." The elf moved the elder away, her own magic starting to pull the blood that had seeped into his clothes back into his body, "I work in the hospital wing Ma'am."

Minerva had of course seen the elf but in all her years of tenure, it had never occurred to her to ask the gentle elf's name. She was sure she had known it, somewhere in the back of her mind but she merely hadn't recognized it. Her jaw went tight as she swallowed a lump of shame down and gave the elf more space to work, "Will he...will he live?"

"Oh yes, he is just tired. He will live. Misty won't let him die. Misty keeps him alive. Until the time has come. Yes."

Minerva turned her eyes back up towards Albus but the glamour showed nothing but a sleeping portrait. Though she was very sure he could see her. There was so much more than she believed their to be. Problem was, which one of them could she trust?

Her attention snapped back down as Severus let out a soft groan and fully closed his eyes. He was trying to say something but it was much too soft for her to make out. Instead, she turned her eyes down further to the working elf who was finishing the healing spell the man must have attempted before his return.

"What do you need?"

"Potions, I shall get them when I am finished. You can go now, you is not needed."

Though the elf's words were kind, they hit Minerva like a mallet to the head. She took a small step back as the elf continued but something inside her made her linger. How long had she worked beside this man? The boy she had watch grow? He had been the youngest professor to ever join the staff. She had praised his success then but his heart had already turned cold. They had never been friends but they had respected the other, at least on some level.

When Misty banished away his shirt, her heart ached. So many scars, so many battles. How had she never known? How had she never seen? A small voice told her the truth that she very much didn't want to hear; she did not see because she had not wished to see.

"I get potions now, Headmaster. Please stay still."

Severus turned his head and mumbled something more, his eyes coming open just enough to know that Minerva had remained. He felt terribly exposed, showing weakness to the woman who had protected his tormentors. It made him sick to his stomach to feel so vulnerable. Like a mouse trapped by a cat.

"Get. Out." His dark eyes rose, his face just as murderous as hers had been moments before.

Minerva pursed her lips and though for a moment she thought about just walking away and giving into his childish behavior she realized that she had been doing that for far too long. Still, what could be done now?

Minerva raised her hand as though to rest it on his shoulder before a animal-like sneer made her think better of it. Her original purpose for coming tickled the back of her mind but it wasn't enough for her to reclaim the wand she'd cast aside. She would return.

Severus watched her through heavy eyes retreat through the door. He was grateful that his snake-like charm had deterred any foolish lion-like bravery. He didn't want her shallow care, didn't need it. When they came for his head, he was sure she'd be leading the charge.

With one hurdle out of the way he let his body relax back, his eyes rolling closed as he focused on his breathing. The Dark Lord wanted children. More innocent souls for him to corrupt. He had to send them. There was no other choice.

Potter was on the move again, trying to find a snatcher who had supposedly held information he was willing to give up, for a price. Unfortunately for Potter, Voldemort had found him first. Lucius had tried to cover his own failure with Marxan with information he'd gotten out of the Lovegood girl. It hadn't worked out well for him.

Severus by some miracle was spared by his tongue. It was suspicious that the Dark Lord would punish him so lightly and even give him a task so assumingly important. It was surely a test of loyalty, one that he could not fail. So long as Potter continued to fumble through, his role in his success would remain safe. He couldn't help but be angered with their progress, he'd all but thrown the damn things at their feet. He truly was hopeless without Granger, it was a miracle that he had lived this long without her.

oOo

"Ah!" Hermione's cry of pain was cut off by the wind that had been knocked out of her. Her entire body shook as she let out a gasping groan rolling from the shoulder she'd landed on to her back.

She'd been trying to do the overhead bar crawl. One of the tasks on her list she 'd too afraid to attempt them until now. She was deeply regretting her decision.

Snape had left her with a magically updating list. It hadn't changed from the day he'd set it but each day the checks would be gone and she'd be forced to start all over.

At first, it had seemed impossible. She'd barely managed the first task, walk for thirty minutes, before she'd been too exhausted to even eat. The promise that he'd show her his memories and the face of the man who had done this to her had pushed her on. Slowly, she'd managed to complete more and more. She could now sprint, jump and climb for short periods of time. She was able to complete 30 laps in the small pool she'd been left with and completely finish all her meals. Her next to last tasks centered on her balance and upper body strength. She felt like a soldier at times. Training for the big day. It wasn't so far from the truth.

Her eyes closed tight as her head spun. Images—like muscle memory—flashed over her lids. Smells, familiar warm comforting smells tainted with the iron of blood. Eyes, open wide filled with fear.

Her body trembled as a sob from the depths of her soul broke past her lips. The pain in her shoulder overpassed by the sweeping pain of loss, "Mummy...Mummy I'm so sorry...Mummy..."

Despite the pain, her body rolled onto its side as she curled up to hide her shame in her knees. Hot tears rolled down her face as she desperately called out for forgiveness to the woman who had loved her so much. Pain, that at the time had been so overwhelming that she couldn't have possibly processed it stealing every ounce of strength inside her.