Nothing in the world of Harry Potter belongs to me. I'm just playing in the great J.K. Rowling's sand box. Thank you.

Some lemony stuffs ... .

Chapter 6 - Nightmare Relapse

March 1993

"Severus," Minerva exclaimed, bursting into his classroom, pausing only when she saw that he had two students in detention, scrubbing cauldrons.

Snape looked up from his stack of essays, blanching at the grave look on the older witch's face.

"Detention is over," he snapped.

The two students instantly dropped the cauldrons and scurried out of the room, past the Gryffindor Head of House. No one was willing to question getting out of detention sooner than expected.

"What's wrong, Minerva?" Snape asked, sweeping across the room to hold her steady.

"It's Hermione," she whispered, "she's been petrified."

Severus let out his pent-up breath. He had heard the stories and knew that in the previous attack a girl had died, while others had only been petrified. While petrification was a serious condition, it was better than death. His relief was short lived as the severity of the situation descended.

He ushered McGonagall to his chair, sitting her down, while flicking his wand at the door to lock and ward it. His heart was pounding and all he wanted to do was rush to Hermione's side, but he knew he couldn't. Instead, he helped to calm Minerva, helping himself in the process.

"Breathe," he told the witch. "Hermione is going to be okay. Pomona's mandrakes look good. I was just down in the greenhouses checking on them today. Where was she found?"

"Outside the library with Miss Clearwater. They both seemed to be looking through a mirror at the time," the witch answered.

"Smart girl," Snape muttered.

The staff had their guesses about what was behind the attacks. Most assuming a monster like the basilisk, the most likely, given Slytherin's penchant for snakes. How to stop the creature, who was behind it, and where the blasted thing was hiding were still unanswered questions.

Dumbledore, in his infinite wisdom, had decided to keep these things from the student body, insisting on wand oaths from the staff. Even with the old wizard gone from the castle, they were still bound by the oath.

As Deputy Headmistress, Minerva had instituted curfew and encouraged students to travel in groups or at least in pairs. It wasn't much, but it had been better than nothing. The board of governors still stood in the way of sending the students home.

"What are we going to do Severus?" Minerva asked.

He sighed heavily, the concern weighing on him too. Hermione had been in the hospital wing this year already, and now she would be spending most of the next few months there. He had to smile briefly though, as he would never let her live down the cat incident once she was back to her normal self.

"We are going to keep the students safe the best we can. It's all we can do," he muttered. "Now let's go be with her. It's after curfew, so no questions will be raised.

The pair made their way to the hospital wing, taking up vigil beside the girl. Snape sat in a chair by her bedside, holding her hand between his two much larger ones. She was as cold and as hard as stone, no signs of life beneath his fingers.

After a while, Minerva departed, leaving him alone with her. The quiet of the hospital wing was oppressive at that time of night, but for the first time since she left him, he was alone with her. Tears dripped down his face and he clutched her frozen hand like a lifeline. In the darkness, alone but for her, he let himself go.

"I miss you," Severus admitted to the darkness. "Oh, how I miss you. So much it bloody hurts."

He paused briefly, as if giving her time to respond.

"I never thought you'd actually leave me," he conceded. "Even though we knew it was a possibility. Even with Dumbledore ranting and raving about the greater good. I didn't think that you would leave me. Not with everything going on in our life."

Another pause.

"But you did. You left me. Without really any warning even. And I was furious for so long. At Dumbledore too, but at you most of all."

More pausing.

"But I finally realized that you didn't really have a choice. You never had a choice. Not when you tumbled back into my timeline originally. And not now. You did what was needed of you. You did what our world needed."

Pause.

"It's one of the things I love about you."

It was then that he really broke down. Tears and snot streaming down his face as he sobbed into his elbow, trying to muffle the sounds, so as not to draw the attention of the mediwitch.

Severus Snape was dry-eyed and composed once again as light started to filter into the ward. Poppy was just emerging from her chambers as he swept out of the hospital wing.

A week had passed with no new information, but also no new attacks. Harry and Ron took turns sitting with Hermione between classes when they could. And Severus had spent each night by her side, refusing to leave.

If there were other occupants in the hospital wing, aside from the petrified patients, Madam Pomfrey would simply draw a curtain around Hermione's bed. However, few students made excuses to go to the hospital wing, the beds filled with their frozen friends were too much to handle.

Most nights, Severus spoke to Hermione. Not the de-aged 13-year-old in the bed, but his Hermione. Sometimes it was trivial things, things they would talk about at the end of their days when she had been a teacher with him. Other times, he opened up, baring his soul, discussing his struggles. That night was no different.

"So, Pomona, says the mandrakes should be ready to harvest later this week," he told her. "Once they are ready, I can start making the restorative draught and bring you all back to us."

"It's really a screwed-up process," he admitted. "They're ugly little buggers, but they look vaguely human. Chopping them into little pieces and stewing them is a little disturbing."

Pause.

"I know Herbology was never your favorite subject. You were good at it, like you were at every subject. And you weren't afraid to get dirty. But you never really cared for it.

"Though, you preferred it to Divination. Merlin you hated that class. You are the sweetest, most tolerant person I know, but Trelawney always got on your last nerve.

"Ancient Runes though. You are phenomenal, a genius in your field," he said, a slight grin on his face as he remembered.

January 1978

It had taken him three months to arrange everything. The ancient runes portion had taken him the longest to work out, it had always been her subject.

This was their last year at Hogwarts, not only NEWTs, but also the real-world looming on the horizon. The world, as it was, was dark.

Many of his Slytherin friends had joined up with the Death Eaters. Lord Voldemort cut an impressive figure, all charming smiles and promises of a better world for the magical community. No more fear of muggles. There was a part of Severus Snape that saw the appeal of his new world view. He knew that in another life, he would have been ensnared by the darkness.

In this life though, one Hermione McGonagall had saved him. They had been together since the Halloween Ball in their third year. Somehow, she had seen beyond the broken, skinny boy from a bad neighborhood, and he was glad that she had.

Severus Snape had grown into himself a bit. His hair was still long and dark, but thanks to a potion she had helped him make, it didn't look quite as lanky or greasy. While he was still thin, it was more a lean strength, rather than a gangly, awkwardness. Hermione had fixed his teeth for him back on third year. And best of all, he had finally grown into his nose. While it was still on the larger size, it wasn't prominent to the point of distraction. Even though, he didn't consider himself handsome in the traditional sense, he didn't think he looked too bad.

Though, his self-image had improved, he knew he was still way out of her league. With that in mind, he was determined to do everything he could to keep her.

As always, he found her at their table in the library. She was slender, tall enough that she fit nicely against his body, her head tucked under his chin. Her soft brown hair fell in gently waves, framing her face, with natural honey colored highlights. Amber eyes lit up when she smiled, her whole face radiating happiness.

It was that smile she bestowed on him as he approached her, sitting in his usual spot.

"Hey Severus," she greeting him, leaning over to give him a gentle peck on the cheek.

He returned her greeting, settling in to his seat and pulling a stack of papers from his bag. Watching her out of the corner of his eye, noting that she had gone back to her book, he tossed down his quill dramatically. Stray ink splattering across the page.

With a wave of her hand, the stray ink disappeared. She turned her attention to him, taking in his disgruntled expression.

"What is the problem?" She asked gently, placing her hand on his arm.

"These blasted equations aren't working. The runes aren't right," he explained.

"Alright," she said, "let me take a look."

She dragged the pile of papers over to her, flipping through the pages, checking the arithmancy equations and the rune translations. A confused frown crosses her features as she dug deeper. Beside her, Severus nervously palmed the small box in the pocket of his robes.

"So, what are these equations for?" She asked. "These runes represent love, life, fulfillment, and promises on their own. Plugged into the equation, it looks like you're trying to determine a specific outcome, the answer to a question."

Sitting silently, he waits, as she flips through more pages. The furrow of her brow starts to soften. Lovingly, he watches her as she figures it out.

The equations he has constructed are trying to predict the possibility of her saying yes to a specific question. The runes the input for the equations, showing their love, a long life of fulfillment and happiness.

Hermione looked up at him, with tears building on the brim of her eyes, silently asking if this is what she thinks it is. Severus is ready for her, confidently pulling the ring box out of his pocket and getting down on one knee beside her.

Looking deep into her eyes, he presents the box, opening it gently to reveal a small silver ring, with small rectangular gems, an emerald and a ruby set end to end. Her eyes drift from his, down to the ring. A startled gasp escapes her as she marvels as how perfect the ring is for them. Her eyes dart back to his, and she notes the large smile on his face.

"So, what do you think the odds are of you saying yes?" Severus asked.

She smiled gently and played along.

"Pretty good I'd say," she answered. "I guess he just has to ask."

"Hermione McGonagall, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He asked, gently pulling the ring from its place in the box, holding it out to her.

"Yes," she answered happily, holding her hand out to receive the ring. "Always and forever yes!"

With a wide smile upon his face, he slides the ring onto the third finger of her left hand. Clasping her hand within his own, he leans in to gently kiss her on the lips. She returns the chaste kiss, leaning into him as he pulls her hand into him, pressing it against his chest. He can feel the tears streaming down her face, and he breaks away, moving in to kiss away the tears.

The odd display of public affection on his part causes her to chuckle lightly. He laughs with her, pulling her into a tight hug, her head tucked under his chin perfectly.

"Thank you," he whispered gently into her hair.

"For what?" She asked.

"For loving me."

As usual, Severus took up his nightly vigil at Hermione's bedside after curfew, finishing his nightly rounds at the hospital wing. As usual, Poppy left him alone. The sleepless nights were starting to show on the dark circles under his eyes, against pale skin. Taking up his nightly watch, he started talking to her again.

"I am still not sure why you picked me," Severus admitted, holding the cold, stone-like hand in the darkness of the hospital wing.

Things hadn't changed much at Hogwarts in the previous couple of days, so he didn't have much to talk about there.

"You had so many options, so many potential suitors, and you picked me. You said yes to me. And that still amazes me," he admitted.

"Our life together has been wonderful. I hope, when you remember me, that you still love me. That you remember our best days. I hope we have time to have more amazing days," he choked out.

June 1978

Severus Snape stood tall and proud at the front of their assembled family and friends. He looking splendid in his stark black dress robes, the silk lapels shining in the sunlight, a white chrysanthemum pinned to the left side. Beneath the robe, he sported crisp black slacks and a white button up.

Beside him stood Remus Lupin, looking equally dapper in his dress robes, though his light brown, almost sandy, was hair a mess. He placed a steadying hand on Severus' shoulder, easing the anxious wizard.

The two had become friendly though their mutual friendship with Hermione during their school years. Of all the Marauders, Remus was easily the most reasonable. Their friendship had not stopped the torment from the rest of the gang, but had limited the severity. Now, as members of the Order of the Phoenix, they had grown rather close.

Severus smiled at his friend, thanking him for the reassurance. Suddenly, the music started and the soft conversations that had been taking place among the crowd had died down. Everyone turned towards the back of the group.

The aisle was laced with small bouquets of assorted flowers, in white and cream, on either side, leading up to the small archway, covered in jasmines. This was all laid out on the Hogwarts grounds, the black lake sparkling on the background.

Then the woman he had been waiting for appeared at the end of the aisle, on her mother's arm. Severus' jaw dropped at he looked in awe at the woman who had somehow agreed to be his wife.

Hermione wore a strapless, pure white gown that hugged her torso, glistening, tiny, white beads decorating the bodice. The gown continued down, following the curve of her hips tightly, before flaring slightly at her thighs. The sheer white silk of the gown, mesmerizing him.

Remus nudged the groom hard, breaking him out of his thoughts of throwing her over his shoulder, carting her away, and ripping the dress off her. Severus turned his gaze on his bride's smiling face as she slowly walked toward him. Her hair had just been pulled back loosely, her face lightly done up with make-up. She was simply amazing.

Minerva walked next to her daughter, leading her to her future husband, draped proudly in gold and red dress robes to represent Gryffindor house. When they reached the alter, Minerva pulled Severus into a hug, and said loud enough for the entire wedding to hear.

"If you hurt her boy, I'll curse you to oblivion."

A light chuckle rippled among the assembled, including the bride and groom. Severus held his soon to be mother-in-law tight and assured her.

"Never in a million years would I think of making her life anything but bliss."

Satisfied, she left him go, turning to hug her daughter gently before taking her seat in the front row.

Hermione stepped up to the alter, completely ignoring the Ministry officiant, her focus entirely on her soon to be husband. She smiled widely at him. He gently grasped her hands in his own larger ones. Looking at his smiling face, the soft loving look, and the promise of eternal happiness in his endless obsidian eyes. She felt safe in his hands. They easily got lost in each other's eyes, the entire world fading away.

The officiant cleared his throat gently, the two lovers blushing lightly.

"Marriage is not just the joining of two people. It is a binding of the souls. The connecting of two people in mind, heart, soul, and magic for the rest of eternity. This journey is not under taken by the faint of heart, but by two people completely and utterly committed to each other."

Turning to Severus, he asked, "Do you promise to love Hermione throughout your lives together? Do you promise to support her in all of her endeavors, to care for her in all the phases of your lives, and to never doubt her commitment to you?"

"Always," Severus answered confidently.

Turning to Hermione, he smiled and asked, "Do you promise to love Severus throughout your lives together? Do you promise to support her in all of her endeavors, to care for her in all the phases of your lives, and to never doubt her commitment to you?"

"Always," Hermione assured him, speaking directly to Severus.

After wrapping a white strip of cloth around their bound hands, the officiant pulled out his wand, waving it gently over them. The cloth glowed brightly before vanishing, leaving behind a silver band upon Severus' left hand and a new small band next to Hermione's ring.

"Now, I am honored to pronounce you husband and wife. Wizard and witch, bound together by love and magic. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Snape," the officiant announced.

Severus leaned in eagerly, capturing her lips and a passionate kiss. The assembled friends and family applauded the new couple, some of their younger friends hooting and hollering in excitement.

The wedding moved onto the great hall, where the house elves had provided a glorious feast for the newlywed couple and their guests. The after party went long into the night. Members of the Order came and congratulated the couple. Several Gryffindors had cornered Hermione, offering their encouragement and advice, while Severus was speaking with the few Slytherin friends he had invited. One Lucius Malfoy clapped him on the shoulder, sincerely congratulating him on marrying an exceptional witch.

Later, Severus had managed to drag Hermione out onto the dance floor, holding her close as they move to the music.

"Now where did you learn to dance?" Hermione teased him.

"Your mother insisted. She said that no son of hers would look a fool on the dance floor," Severus explained. "I know more styles of dance now than I think I'll ever need."

Hermione chuckled and admitted that she's been submitted to the same treatment years before.

"Besides, I stepped on your toes enough back in third year," he apologized.

They waltzed across the hall for a while, lost in each other.

After a bit, Severus pulled her close and whispered on her ear, "Do you think we've done our duty to our guests long enough? Because I don't know how much longer I can resist tearing you out of that dress."

Hermione shuddered at the soft tickle of air against her ear and the way his silky-smooth voice washed over her.

"I'm sure no one will miss us," she assured him, pressing herself against his body.

Nipping slightly at her earlobe, he grasped her hand firmly in his and smoothly escorted her off the dance floor and out the doors of the great hall. They faintly heard the laughing and jeering of their friends as they not so subtlety snuck away.

Wrapping her in his arms, he leaned down and kissed her deeply, his hard body pressed up against her, his arousal evident. The kiss heated up, his tongue exploring her mouth as she moaned under his touch. Once hand reached up to trace his fingertips along the bare skin exposed by the low back of her dress, while his other hand held her firmly to him.

Severus pulled away from her reluctantly, his forehead pressed against her, panting heavily. He grinned wickedly at her before pulling her with him, down into the dungeons, where as a potions apprentice to Slughorn, his quarters were located.

Once inside his quarters, he couldn't help but press her up against the back side of the door, leaning down to plunder her mouth again. Hermione moaned and wrapped her hands around him, one tangling in his long hair, while the other trailed along the soft skin of his neck.

Growling into the kiss, Severus lifted her into his arms, carrying her across the living room and into his bedroom. He set her down gently onto the edge of his bed, before sliding to his knees in front of her. She leaned back onto her palms as she watched him gently take each foot in her hand, relieving her of the white, strappy heels.

With a smirk at her, he snaked each hand up her thighs, fingertips on skin raising goosebumps across her flesh. He pulled the stocking off her left leg, then proceeded to do the same on the right, tickling her inner thigh and causing her to throw her head back and gasp in pleasure.

Standing, he kicked off his shoes, before pulling her up to stand in front of him. Turning her gently, he pushed her hair over one shoulder, dipping down to trail kisses across her exposed neck. Reaching for the back of her dress, he deftly worked the many buttons on the gown. His head continued to dip as he placed soft kisses down along her spine, while peeling the dress off her.

Once stripped of her gown, Hermione turned in his embrace, pushing his robes off his shoulders and letting them pool at their feet with her dress. She captured his eyes as she dragged her fingers down the front of his crisp white shirt, undoing the buttons. Pushing the shirt off his shoulders as well, she wrapped her hands over his bare shoulders, exploring the expanse of his smooth chest with her palms.

He stared down at her, heat in his dark eyes, his breath caught in his chest while she explored. When her hands dipped to unbuckle his pants, he groaned, throwing back his head as she stroked his length while she pushed both his pants and shorts down. Stepping out of them, he lifted her gently and crawled onto the bed.

Lying beside her, his hand drifted down to her breast. First, he simply cupped it slightly, toying with the skin surrounding it. He could feel her strain against his hand, jutting her chest out. He moved to circling her nipple with his fingertip before lightly pinching and pulling the hardened nub between his fingers. At the same time, he leaned down and captured her other nipple in his mouth.

"Oh, Severus," Hermione moaned.

He continued to play with her nipples, moving to straddle her as he switched sides, his mouth moving to her other breast. She moaned and bucked beneath him as he flicked his tongue over her nipple, his hips grinding against her. He could feel that her panties were soaked through.

Breaking free of her nipple, he kissed his way down her body, wrapping his fingers in the waistline of her one remaining garment. Gently, he nipped at her soaked underwear, earning a groan of appreciation.

Pulling her underwear down her legs, he tossed them off the bed, returning his focus to his naked wife, spread out before him. He leaned up on an elbow, taking in her gorgeous body before meeting her eyes. She looked at him with want and need, her eyes practically begging.

He placed a few open-mouthed kisses on her pussy before crawling back up her body. He claimed her mouth in a demanding kiss as he lined his cock up with her opening and slid into her tight warmth. They both groaned around the kiss, breaking away to catch their breaths. Severus laid his head against her shoulder, fighting for control.

Wrapping her legs and arms around him, Hermione bucked beneath him, breaking through his barrier of control. Severus pounder into her and she met him thrust for thrust. Shifting slightly onto his knees, Severus kept going, hitting a new spot inside her that made her scream out his name as he brought her closer to her release.

Hermione panted heavily, wrapping her hand in his hair as he kept going. She could feel the pressure building low in her belly, the tension and power. Still meeting him on every thrust, her legs started to quake and it only took two more thrusts before he pushed her over the edge.

She screamed in ecstasy, her channel pulsing and clenching around his cock has he kept going. Severus followed her over the edge shortly after, moaning out his own orgasm as his hips jerked, spilling his seed inside her.

Gently, he turned them on their side, his cock still inside her. He brushed her hair back, peppering her face with soft kisses as her eyes fluttered open. She smiled as him.

"I love you," she said, before snuggling her head into his chest, her breathing evening out almost instantly.

"I love you too," he answered.

He summoned a blanket, covering them with it before resting his chin atop her head and following her to sleep.

Severus smiled wistfully into the darkness of the hospital wing. It hadn't been their first time, but it had been special nonetheless.

"We had some good times over the years, but we also had some bad times," he sighed.

"Joining the Death Eaters to play spy. I saw things I'll never forget. I did things I can't forgive myself for. All for the greater good."

He had spat the words out, as if they were dirty. And to him, they were. Tarnished by Albus Dumbledore and his war against darkness.

"If I'd ever been tempted by the darkness in my youth, I'm not any longer. I regret the darker spells I created in anger. Even though I've cast many, the siren song has little effects."

"Then again, not all the tough memories are Death Eater related. We've had our fights to be sure. No one is perfect, least of all me."

Pausing to think, he sighed deeply.

"Trust me, I know I'm difficult to deal with. If I were to forget, it would be fine since Minerva reminds me at every opportunity.

"And of course, there are not only fights, but the disappointments of life," he explained to the dark, dipping back into his memories.

December 1987

Severus and Hermione sat on the bed in their chambers, his larger body wrapped protectively around her, while she sat in the circle of his legs. Her wand lay across her lap, waiting patiently.

"I don't know if I can do this again Severus," she admitted quietly, tears starting to drip down her face.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her and she leaned back into him. He gently kissed her neck, then her jaw, finishing off by kissing away one of the salty tears making its trek down her cheek.

"You, my love, are so incredibly strong. We can do this. And if the answer is no again, we will survive and keep trying. It'll happen eventually," he assured her.

"And if it doesn't happen eventually?" She asked.

"Then we do it the muggle way. For now, just cast the spell love! We'll work through all the what if's as they come."

Hermione nodded, picking her wand out of her lap. Waving an intricate pattern over her abdomen, she muttered the spell, and after a moment the tip of her wand glowed red briefly. Throwing her beloved wand onto the bed in disgust, she sank into her husband's embrace.

"No again. Maybe We're just not meant to have children," she muttered sullenly, each word breaking her heart.

Easily, Severus slid from behind her, letting her flop back into the bed before climbing on top of his wife. His hands snaked their way up under her loose shirt as he planted kisses along her neck.

"Screw fate, destiny, and prophecy. The whole lot of it is garbage," he told her between kisses. Looking down into her eyes he assured her, "We will have a family. As many little beasts you want. If the natural way continues to fail, we'll turn to muggle science, and if that fails, the world is full of needy children. Even the magical world."

"We've been trying for nine months with no luck Severus," she sighed, clearly discouraged.

He smirked at her, "Then we'll just have to keep trying. You know what a chore it is!"

He finds her ticklish spot, determined to get a laugh out if her, and is successful. Then he pulls her shirt up over her head, lacking on to her neck, nipping and sucking as he reaches around to unhook her bra. She moans at his ministrations and he grinds his erection into her core.

"How about we try again now," he quipped, before sucking a newly exposed nipple into his mouth.

May 3, 1993

Severus had already been in the infirmary that evening, administering the restorative draught, that he had just finished brewing to all of the petrified subjects. Sir Nicholas simply thanked him and floated off through a wall. The others however were still unconscious.

Poppy had gone behind him, dosing each patient with nutrient potions and sleep potions, so their bodies would rest and process the nutrients. Each would need several other potions, depending on how long they had been petrified, but all would recover.

He had chosen to take Hermione's care into his own hands, at least for the night. It would be the last night he had with her before things returned to how they were. Feeding her the nutrient potion, he couldn't help but think, that if they had managed to get pregnant, he would have been up to his ears in that potion.

After finishing her care, the trail of though continued. He thought that it had been lucky that she hadn't been pregnant when Dumbledore decided to de-age her. He didn't think either of them could have survived the loss of their child for the greater good.

He gently held the girl's hand in his own. It was no longer cold or hard as stone. Her hand was soft and warm, he could feel the pulse of blood beneath his fingers, proof she was alive.

Suddenly, a memory came to him unbidden.

June 1991

Hermione sat in her chair by the fire as he returned. He had been assigned to escort the students off to the Hogwarts Express for their trip home for the summer. She looked lost in thought, so he had simply taken up residence in his chair, waiting for her to speak.

After a time, she looked up at him sadly. Tear tracks evident on her face and her wand laid across her lap. He knew what she was going to say before she said it, having known it was that time again, but he waited for her.

"No baby again," she announced bitterly.

"It's okay love," he assured her, words he'd spoken time and time again, for years now. "We can keep trying."

He noted an odd look on her face. A weird mix of sadness, resignation, and determination. The next words out of her mouth shocked him.

"No," she declared fiercely. "I think I'm done trying. It obviously isn't going to happen. I think it's time to stop."

"Well, we haven't tried the muggle way," he said, trying to reassure her that it wasn't hopeless. "And there is always adoption."

"No," she said again. "I am done love. I am tired of the frustration and constant disappointment. No more."

He stood from his chair and crossed over to hers. Kneeling in front of her, he grabbed her hands and looked her in the eyes.

"Are you sure, love?" He asked her.

He saw a moment of indecision in her eyes, then that weird look returned. The look that said, I have to do this.

"Yes," she said quietly, unable to say more.

"Alright, we will stop then," he consoled her.

Standing, he pulled her into his arms. She melted into his embrace. Lifting her gently, he carried her to the bed and laid her down. He pulled the covers up over her. Toeing off his boots, he discarded his robe and frock coat on the chair in the corner before crawling in beside her.

Hermione wrapped herself in his arms, tucked her head into his chest and sobbed. She cried in frustration, the hopelessness leaking out of her. Mourning the children, she would never have. Severus just held her as she cried, one hand rubbing circles on his back while the other carded through her hair.

He had always thought that it had been the years and frustration that had led to her decision and subsequent emotional breakdown. However, looking back now, he realized that she had known about Dumbledore's plan. Not just for a few days, but the whole damn summer.

Standing suddenly, he swept out of the infirmary in a flurry of black anger. He quickly covered the distance between the hospital wing and his quarters, slamming and warding the door behind him.

In a fit of petulance, he activated the floo between his room and Dumbledore's office, summoning the old wizard's well stocked bar to him through the flames. Bottles of fire whiskey, elvish wine, butterbeer, and even goblin-make moonshine emerged from the flames. Shutting down the connection, he threw himself into the chair and opened the first bottle of fire whiskey.

"To hell with sobriety," he muttered as he took a deep swig, the liquid burning its way to his empty stomach.

It wasn't long before his drunkenness sparked his rage and he set about destroying his quarters for the umpteenth time since his wife left him. Using brute strength, he smashed tables and broke chairs. Glass was shattered and books were pried off their shelves. By the time he was finished his muscles screamed, several possibly pulled, or even torn. His knuckles were raw, bloody, and bruised. He had made his way through most of Dumbledore's alcohol, even choking down the goblin moonshine despite the way it simultaneously froze and burned his insides.

Severus puked several times, only bringing up bile with his stomach already empty. Hours after the incident, he ended up snoring away, laying in a pile of his own vomit, in front of the fireplace, with empty and broken bottles surrounding him.

Later that morning, Severus' floo flared to life, an older witch stepping through.

"Merlin Severus, I swear. If you keep putting glass in you ..." she started to scold him, but stopped as she tripped over his passed our form and toppled onto the couch.

She noticed the torn cushions on the couch, the stuffing practically nonexistent, she could tell as her body ached from the fall. The rest if the room destroyed and her boy passed out in his own sick. The strong smell of alcohol and the empty bottles where a dead giveaway in regards to what had happened.

Sighing, she produced her wand and stood, surveying the damage. First, she fixed the couch. Then she vanished the vomit, cleaning the wizard up as best she could, before levitating him off the floor and onto the couch. He continued to snore away as she ran a quick diagnosis spell and patched up his visible damage, as well as a nasty looking tear to his right bicep muscle the best she could.

Since he was still out, she put his quarters back to rights, letting him sleep it off a bit longer. Finally, she connected the floo and summoned a sober up potion from the hospital wing, knowing Severus didn't keep them around any longer.

Settling down in his chair, the old witch gently nudged his shoulder. When the wizard slept on, she proceeded to more drastic means. Sharply, the smacked him in the face, keeping at it until he groggily came too, batting her hands away. Instantly, she forced the potion down his throat, knowing she had a small window to keep him awake in his current state.

The potions effects were very minimal, but worked well enough to wake him up and get him talking, even if his words were slurred and he was very confused.

"Severus, what happened?" She insisted, holding onto the man's shoulder to steady him in his sitting position.

"She fucking knew," he swore, his words slurred and hurried.

"Knew what?" The witch askes, knowing he was talking about Hermione

"Knew she was leaving. All damn summer," he shouted. "And never said a damn word until the day she left."

Minerva sighed and shook her head, mad at her daughter herself. She couldn't help but think, Hermione, you really messed this one up. But to Severus she said.

"Maybe she couldn't tell you son," Minerva consoled him. "We both know Dumbledore and his tricks. Don't make judgements before we know the truth."

Severus considered her words for a long time, his alcohol-soaked brain slow and confused.

"We were trying to start a family Minerva," he admitted to her. "We'd been trying for years. And she just gave up. Left everything we were building."

"I know, son, but Hermione never did anything without good reason. Give her a chance to explain," the older witch pleaded.

Severus nodded sadly, collapsing onto the couch again.

"Oh no you don't, son," Minerva said, pulling him to a standing position, struggling to support his weight. "Let's get you to St Mungo's."

Hermione woke in the hospital wing, groggy and disoriented. She noticed immediate that she felt exhausted and weak, and that her body ached all over, as if ever muscle, tendon, and ligament had been pulled and strained.

Before she should even try to move. Madam Pomfrey rushed over with a tray full of potions in tow. A flick of her wand placed the tray on the side table.

"Not so fast, Miss Granger," the mediwitch scolded. "You've been petrified for two and a half months; your body needs time to heal."

"Two and a half months!" Hermione exclaimed. "What about my classes?"

"Slow down," Madam Pomfrey admonished, pushing a nutrient potion into the girl's hands. "We will get to that in due time. For now, let's get you healthy. That's a nutrient potion, for the time you've gone without food. Your body didn't lose weight or muscle mass in its petrified state, but will start to now if you aren't eating properly and getting those nutrient supplements.

"This next one is for the pain you're feeling. All of the soft tissue was stretched and pulled taunt in your stone-like state. Nothing is damaged, but it will talk a few days for them to calm down. We also have a muscle relaxer to help that process."

Hermione downed potion after potion, listening to the healer explain the after effects of her petrification and the steps that would have to be taken to get her back to full health. After taking all the potions, a large breakfast was placed in front of her, with a stern Madam Pomfrey insisting she eat all of it.

It didn't take much coaxing, as Hermione found she was ravenous and dug into the food. Halfway through her meal, Harry and Ron burst through the infirmary doors. The mediwitch reluctantly accepted their presence, but warned them that she would kick them out if the didn't stay quiet.

Harry sat on the edge of her bed, while Ron took the chair and they started telling her the stories about the spiders in the forbidden forest, the diary, and the Chamber of Secrets. They mentioned Lockhart being a fraud and obliviating himself and Harry's fight with the basilisk.

Hermione took all the information in, her head spinning from all she had missed, and she hadn't even got to the academic parts.

"We haven't even told you the best parts!" Ron exclaimed. "No exams this year, since all this giant snake business interrupted so many classes and students."

Hermione couldn't help but feel disappointed despite the missed lessons and the mountain of assignments that no doubt waited for her.

"Yeah, and for some reason Snape is gone," Harry added. "Professor Dumbledore is teaching potions the rest of the year!"

"It's Professor Snape, Harry," she scolded him. "And I wonder if he's okay."

The boys looked at her funny over her concern for the dungeon bat, but shrugged it off as a side effect of being petrified for two months.

Hermione decided not to tell the boys about her weird dreams. Dreams of Professor Snape sitting and holding her hand, talking to her. She never could make out what he was saying in the dreams, but his smooth voice had been soothing. At least he had kept away the nightmares the other students who were petrified were reporting. As weird as dreaming of the fearsome Potions Master was, it was better than the alternative, and she was grateful.