"If you have come to kill me, you have failed." His words would have frozen over a desert. His eyes burned with power that even he had no idea he possessed. The spell that left his wand crumpled the shocked woman to the floor, her wand sailing up into his hand that had done the deed.

He hadn't killed her, but she would have a killer headache when she came to. His own body reminded him just how vulnerable he had been. How easily someone had gotten in. True she wasn't just anyone, but she was unwelcome all the same. A soft cough turned his attention down to the girl at his hip, her lips were an odd blue hue that he was certain hadn't been there before.

With his would-be assassin temporarily dealt with, he pushed himself up further before rolling the girl beside him onto her back. His head was still heavy with the effects of the potion due to stay in his system for at least six more hours. Leaving his limbs heavy and fumbling. As he pressed his fingers to her neck, he found that her pulse was strong and steady.

Taking her chin in his hand he tilted her head back further as another weak cough passed her lips, it was like she was choking on something but what? Another shift pressed his wand into her throat and with a spell designed to help drowning victims, he attempted to free her airway.

Her body lurched with a rather deep cough and his brows furrowed even further when a small orb fell out of her mouth and onto the sheets between them. Hermione let out another soft series of coughs before taking a deep breath, her brows furrowing but she did not wake, rather she turned her head into her hand and let out a soft sigh, another curious curiosity.

With a glance down to ensure that Minerva was still out cold, he caught the small orb in his fingers trying to see what it was in the dimmed lights. Not having any luck, he set the small orb aside to take care of more pressing matters.

Severus called a shirt from the closet just in time for the single portrait in the room to fill with the last man he wanted to see in the middle of the night. Another quick glance to Granger assured him that she was resting normally before he turned his body to face the man.

"I didn't kill her."

"And for that I am grateful but Severus, something must be done."

"You do realize that if Granger's nails digging into my scar hadn't woken me, I'd be very much dead and you would have lost the only idiot willing to lie to the Dark Lord."

"Your grievance is noted." Albus returned the dark-haired man's glare with one of his own, "An obliviate won't work, she's much too headstrong. I need to speak with her, alone."

"If you are suggesting that I work with the woman who just moments ago tried to kill me in my sleep-"

"Severus! This is bigger than you and I. You must remember that."

"And her?" Severus motioned behind him exhausted and exasperated, "What death have you planned for her?"

"She has a purpose..."

"Do any of us live in your perfect world plan? Or have you just tricked me into becoming you?"

"Now is not the time." Albus' tone marked the end of their spat, his eyes turning to the elder woman who was just starting to come around.

Severus sneered and would have blasted a hole through the entire wall had he not needed the man to talk some semblance of sense into the woman on the floor. So instead, he pressed his hand over his heart to try and keep the pulse over his chest from becoming too distracting. It was times like this he would have preferred being woken up at three am because the girl he was leading to the gallows had a nightmare.

"Minerva?"

"Al..Albus?" Minerva let out a heavy groan as she pushed herself up from the floor. Her mind just a bit scrambled as to how she got down there in the first place before her eyes turned to the man sitting over the edge of his bed. Childishly he waved her captured wand at her before looking pointedly to her right.

Her head turned and her eyes blinked dumbly for a long moment before stark blue came into focus. She would be remiss to say that she wasn't exceptionally embarrassed by having been taken down so easily but the fact that she was getting up at all only confused her more.

"Minerva, my lovely. We need to talk."

Severus sneered as the man motioned for the woman to follow him into the office, knowing full well that he very much couldn't follow in his current state. Still, he took no chances, "It's mine. Until you return."

Minerva frowned deeply as she came to her feet, it was not lost on her that she still held Miss Granger's wand. She was not defenseless should he dare to take her out while her back was turned. Still, she wanted him to answer one question, "Who is the girl in your bed?"

Severus quickly pulled the blankets back over Hermione's face, his lips thinning in a very clear refusal to answer. If she hadn't been able to recognize her own star pupil she deserved to suffer in the unknown. She took his refusal as well as to be expected but he didn't let his guard down, even wandless the witch packed quite a punch.

When the door to the room slammed shut, he felt his shoulders sag with exhaustion before he forced his body to turn back to the girl beside him. Gently, he pulled the covers back down watching her face for any sign of distress. Thankfully, she remained as he'd moved her.

A deep sigh brought his hand up to his face and a lazy wave of his hand lit all the lamps in the room. His attention turning to the small orb next, needing something to occupy his thoughts while he waited.

Using the shirt he'd summoned, he wiped off the residue from her stomach revealing a softly glowing marble sized something. Taking it into his fingers, he wasn't very surprised to find the surface to be warm but was exceptionally curious to hear the faintest of whispers.

Now officially intrigued, he brought the small stone up to his ear but found that it didn't increase the volume of the whispers. Bringing it back down, he leaned carefully towards his bedside lamp trying to see inside.

The stone was blue, deep like a sapphire with a white light moving inside it. It seemed to carry an energy all it's own but still held her unique signature. He turned it in his fingers trying to see if there was anything else to observe before a deep voice disrupted him.

"Haven't seen one of those in a long time."

Severus glanced up at the frame that now held Phineas Black a man, who up until this point, had done very well at avoiding being in his presence, "Come to make sure I haven't snapped Minerva's wand have you?"

Phineas grinned at the drawling apathetic tone of the younger man's voice, "I suppose, though I'd much rather take a peek at the girl you're hiding in your bed."

"Lecher." Severus gave the man a hard look, his humor was not welcome.

"Been called worse." Phineas shrugged and leaned back into the frame letting the air hang thick.

"If I have to suffer your presence you may as well be useful." Severus gave him an unkindly look before holding the orb up for him to see more clearly.

"It's a Memoria autem conservabat more commonly known as a-"

"Treasured Memory." Severus pulled the stone back close, turning it again, "Why was it in her stomach?"

"I would suspect she'd been building it up for quite some time. They usually don't come out that big." Phineas leaned forward just a touch nonplussed by Severus' cantankerous tone.

"Usually?"

"Well, they're created when magical children try to suppress their thoughts and emotions by using their magic. They're in the same family as the obscurial though not near as deadly. I suspect one that size holds many years worth of memories."

Severus frowned deeply as he thought back over the course of the time the girl had been in his care; a thought just now coming to his drugged up mind. She'd not once asked about Potter, nor anyone else she surely would have been friends with. It was an observation he could have kicked himself for not noticing earlier.

"What happens to the memories?"

"Well, I suppose that depends on what happens to the stone. There's said to be a way to return them but it's been so long now, I can't clearly recall." Phineas let out a small yawn to punctuate his disinterest.

Severus snorted and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. Yet another thing he would no doubt have to take care of. He was really starting to curse himself for not letting Minerva take him out. He still had to find out what the Dual Dragon had done to her. Now he possibly held her entire lifetime in his hand. Why couldn't his life be simple?

Keep the girl from dying, the girl lives and goes off to her side of the line. It should have been so simple yet there he was standing in shit creek without a boat or a paddle. He really hoped Dumbledore had a silver enough tongue to get Minerva out of his way. There were already too many players in this game as it was.

A soft groan behind him lowered his hand just enough to look over it, setting the orb down as gently as he could inside his drawer, he turned himself just enough to see behind him. Granger's hands had started to open and close before a small grimace ticked at the side of her face.

Believing she was just uncomfortable, he pulled her arm from beside her head down to rest over her stomach. The action causing his brow to immediately furrow when he took note of the dark bruise near her elbow. Perturbed, he pulled the sleeve of her shirt up and ground his teeth at the dark mark that laid there. What had she done now?

Not caring if he woke her, he pulled her shirt up farther revealing what appeared to be the source of the bruise. He turned her arm, taking note that it appeared to only be on the one side as though she had fallen rather hard onto her shoulder. It wasn't uncommon for her to have small bruises from her time trying to complete his tasks but this was a rather significant injury.

His hand explored the bone of her shoulder making another deep groan pass her lips. He didn't pause, however, and pulled up the side of her shirt next seeing the similar pattern there as well. Yes, she'd definitely fallen and hard. He wondered why she hadn't tried to ask him for something for the pain when his foggy thoughts connected a few dots he'd rather wished they hadn't.

Releasing her back to the bed, he turned with a sharp hiss to look at his bedside table. His second dose of pain potion was completely untouched but he'd definitely not left the vial of the one he had taken so close to the edge. He pulled it up close and frowned when the bottom appeared empty. There was always some left and apparently, the girl had taken it. He was just thankful she hadn't taken a lot, with her frame it definitely would have put her into a coma.

Small favors.

Severus set down the vial and rubbed his chest. He could just barely feel the pain but it was enough. With a glance towards the door, he pulled his legs back onto the bed. This conversation was bound to take a while, he might as well rest while he waited.

With a spell over the office door that would alert him of her return, he relaxed back against his pillows. His eyes opened briefly when Granger shifted closer, her head turning into his hip. A heavy sigh passed his lips. Arms crossed, wands held tight, he fell into a light but much-desired sleep.

oOo

"Who is the girl in his bed Albus?" Minerva gave the man in the painting a stern look. She'd just been very briefly informed of the circumstances surrounding Snape's injury as well as an indirect answer on what side he was on. Of course, this had all come after her verbal lashing for attempted murder. The shame she felt for her cowardice was not so powerful enough, however, to keep her from seeking the truth, even if she had to be there all night.

"You don't recognize her?" Albus' face showed nothing but extreme disappointment in a woman who he had stood and fought beside.

"Just answer my questions. Perhaps if you'd had just done that in the first place we wouldn't be here." Minerva couldn't keep the exasperation out of her tone. She was so tired of playing these games. It wasn't in her wont to beat around the bush. She was take charge, seek answers, defend, attack.

"Go to that mirror there." Albus kept his calm, tilting his head towards the desk.

Minerva frowned but did as she was told. As soon as she lifted it up from the desk she watched the dark surface start to shift and change. Her eyes narrowed as a face hidden in blankets came into view, "He's been watching her?"

"Watching after her." Albus let out a slow breath waiting for her to finally see.

Minerva turned the small dial on the side pulling the image out farther. As Snape's legs and stomach came into view she was able to see more of her profile, "What happened to her?"

"Many terrible things..."

Minerva gave him a small glance. The weight of his words not lost on her, "She looks... content..."

"Her trust in this world relies solely on him."

Minerva shook her head slightly, silently willing the girl to shift, to show her face. As if her prayers were answered, Severus' hand came down, pushing back the hair that shielded her, the action causing her to shift turning her head towards his chest and in full view of the mirrors magical gaze.

"No...no that can't be..." The scar over her eyes was almost enough to give her doubt, but the small knick in her ear caught her attention again. That small pout at the corner of her lips, her high cheekbones, that small nose.

"Miss Granger?" Her words were an astonished whisper. The feeling only compounded by the small smile that ticked over Hermione's face when Severus' large hand came back down to gently run over her cheek, the pad of his thumb tracing the bridge of her nose.

"She lives."

"We've been searching—searched for months and she was here? All this time?" Minerva lifted her head towards the man in the painting but something in his eyes made her heart drop.

"Not all this time, no." Albus looked down at his hands, " It was truly a miracle that she was found at all..."

Minerva shook her head, she had no idea of the horrors that laid beyond the safety of Hogwarts.

"When Severus stumbled across her, she'd been hours before death... Blind, mute and deaf. He has done astonishing work in the time he's had."

"Why... why did he keep her here? Why keep her a secret? Potter has become nearly useless in his grief."

"She is nowhere near ready to face the outside world. As I said, at present she only trusts him."

Minerva shook her head again, it was so much, too much, to wrap her head around. What circumstances would lead a girl such as she to find comfort in a man as cold as he?

"As it is, the reason Severus came back in shreds tonight is because Tom suspects that he had lied about her death. I cannot stress enough how important that her very existence remains as it is." Albus' words grew hard, firm and unquestionable.

"You have a plan for her." It was a half question half statement, her eyes unable to leave the image in the mirror.

"She has a purpose, yes."

Minerva nodded her head slowly, setting down the mirror onto the desk, "You have asked much too much of him. He is only one man."

Albus tilted his head, looking over her with a small approving hum, "What do you suggest?"

"He needs rest...I could...I could..." What could she do?

"Help him?"

"Yes."

oOOo

Severus jumped awake to the sharp jolt the spell he'd placed on the door sent through him. Having not trusted himself to wake to a simple caterwauling charm. His wand was instantly in his hand and his eyes trained on the door that came open very slowly. Unfortunately, his sharp jolt had also woken the girl who had been using his leg as a pillow.

Disoriented, Hermione let out a small weak noise that sounded like the beginning of a full-blown crying fit. Severus gave a sharp snarl towards Minerva who had taken a few steps into the room. On the plus side, she looked substantially cowed and dare he say—ashamed.

"I am not here to harm you...I...I am deeply sorry...for all that I have done..."

Severus' jaw ticked, he could feel the truth in her words but he was a man of action. She would have to prove her worth, Dumbledore or no, he had run out of shoulders to look over.

"Professor...?" Hermione's voice was heavily slurred, bordering on a whimper, a plea.

"I am here." Severus turned his eyes down, "You're safe." Her lashes fluttered but she didn't have the strength to open them, to confirm his words.

Minerva could feel her heart-shattering. She had never wanted to hold a student so much as she did right then. Remembering her promise, her vow to help, she took a small step closer her mouth opening and closing as she just couldn't find the right words for the moment.

"Please...? I don't...I want to..." Hermione's hand fumbled up his chest, her body shifting as she tried to get closer, to feel his warmth.

With a silent warning in Minerva's direction, he brought both of his hands down, setting both of their wands on the inside of the bed while he began to pull Hermione up and towards his chest. It hurt yes, but it needed to be done.

She came up slowly, heavily, relying only on her sense of touch and smell. He tucked her arms under his shoulders and helped her pull her leg over his waist. She settled down heavily, her head turning into his throat. His back and chest pulsed from the added weight but the potion in his system kept it from being unbearable.

His eyes rose over the top of her head, piercing straight through the woman standing in the center of the room. Waiting for her judgment, her disgust. He had worked too hard to let this be the one thing to stand in his way. He had done nothing wrong. Nothing.

Minerva's eyes glistened with tears as Hermione settled down completely. Her arms coming down to hold his lower back, resting against him as though she belonged there. How could she ever begin to understand the sight before her?

"You're safe. I am here. Rest now..." His lips spoke soothing whispers into the shell of Granger's ear and he felt more than heard her soft sigh of relief.

His hand reached down pulling Minerva's wand up, "There is no room for failure or blind heroics. I have played this game for years, there are no second chances."

Minerva nodded her head slowly and silently called her wand to her open hand, "I shall return after breakfast..."

Severus' nodded only marginally, his eyes looking to Albus who had come to join them. His night, was not over.