Hermione could hear the ocean, smell the salty air; she could feel the soft sunlight on her face. Was this it? Was this what heaven felt like? Had she died before she could save the man she loved from the very same fate? No… This wasn't heaven. She could still feel the ends of her nerves burning, a potion working its course through her neurons. Severus' plan had come through. His brilliance was the foremost thing that attracted her. She felt a sudden rush of pride as she tried once more to move the ligaments in her fingers. But a hand, a warm broad hand encompassed her own. Had they made it through?
"Severus?" Her voice was weak as her eyes blinked against the foreign light. Her fuzzy vision adjusted to one Ronald Weasley, his weary, tear-streaked face holding all the shock and betrayal it could muster.
"Ah, Ron?" She tried to sit up in the frilly lace sheets and failed, her weight falling back against the plush pillow. The bed looked like something that would belong to Fleur.
"Him?" Ron's voice went from shock to anger, "Him? Snape?" She could see the redness at his ears. "Hermione, do you know what he's done to our friends? You do know that he's a Death Eater don't you? That grimy dungeon bat. Why would you ask for him?!"
She felt a sudden fear quicken her heart, "Ronald…"
"Don't you Ronald me." He shook his head as he paced back and forth, soon returning to the wooden chair at her side. Then, he poked her arm rather hard. "You need to tell me the truth, 'Mione. What the bloody hell is going on with you?"
"Me?" She felt her own heat rising, "Me?! I just got tortured until my nerves were fried! What in the name of Merlin do you think is going on, Ron? We're fighting a war. We don't need a fight between allies right now."
Shame covered his face then and sank backwards into his chair, his arms crossing tightly. He looked at the floor. "I didn't mean what's going on with you and Harry and me, I can see that. I saw what happened. I heard you scream. I tried to apparate from that dungeon, but I couldn't save you." His lip quivered a bit.
"Who-," her eyebrows furrowed as she swallowed to recover her weak voice, "Who did?"
"Dobby." If it was possible for his eyes to look any sadder, they did. "He's dead."
"Dobby!" Hermione breathed. Dobby worked at Hogwarts, didn't he? That must have been Severus' plan. "Oh, Dobby…" Tears pricked at her eyes. She always had a soft spot for House Elves. But she never expected one would risk their life for hers.
They both sat in silence a moment.
"Harry is giving him a fine burial right now. He died a free elf."
"I see." A single tear fell as she once more examined the linens.
The silence renewed until Ron broke it, cautiously this time. "Still, 'Mione. I need to know. Why would you call for Snape with a smile on your face?"
She couldn't possibly tell him. She could never come right out and say, I've been shagging the Death Eater Headmaster! Still, she had to make it plausible. Ron wasn't the most intelligent person on paper, but he knew people. He could read them better than any book.
"I-" she stalled, "I was dreaming. Maybe I had something of a schoolgirl crush on him."
"Blimey!" Ron recoiled with a look of revulsion, pulling his hands into himself.
If she had the strength to swat him, she would. Yet she could only narrow her eyes in defiance. "Yes. That's the same face I made when your tongue was down Lavender's throat. I think we can both agree that we don't have to like one another's romantic choices."
"Why would you ever like him?" Ron's face appeared to be permanently scrunched.
"He's brilliant."
"I mean, yeah he worked well with potions, but-"
"And spells."
"And spells," Ron gave her that. "But he's evil! He's the right hand man to You-Know-Who."
"I didn't know that at the time."
"And he's just so… greasy." Ron shivered.
"He is not!" Hermione defended. "It's only because he uses essential oils to cleanse his hair. I mean, I had to do a bit of trial and error on my haircare as well."
Ron swallowed, looking even more terrified. "How would you know?"
"Girls know, Ronald." She huffed.
"Right. So maybe it's not about the superficial with you," Ron continued, "but he's a horrible person, a coward. He's killed people. I mean, did you hear about what happened with Harry's mum?"
"ENOUGH!" Hermione cracked. Her nerves were literally frayed. She didn't want to hear it. She knew she had to keep up appearances to not blow his cover and to keep Ron and Harry on track, but she couldn't deal with them badmouthing the man she loved. They knew nothing of the truth. With all her being she hoped someday they would. Someday they would accept…
She looked at Ron's pale face with guilt. He really knew nothing. She pitied him in that moment. "I'm sorry Ron," her voice was weak once more, tinged with fear and regret. "I just don't want to talk about the past. It doesn't matter now. All that matters is putting an end to all of this. Then we can have a long talk if you still want one. Okay?"
"Sure, 'Mione," Ron nodded hesitantly, something in his gut telling him he didn't have the full story. And, perhaps, he never wanted to. "Whatever you say."