I have officially graduated from college! Yay! Which is great all around, because now I'll have more time to work on this story (well aside from work and all that-but its still more time). I should be able to post every Friday/Saturday now, and I'll definitely do my best to stay on that schedule.

As always I want to thank everyone who followed, favorited and reviewed for story-especially those who reviewed. Seriously, reviews are like my bread and butter and make me so happy when I read them.

(Disclaimer: see beginning)

Recap:

Harry didn't want to think anymore, he wanted to be like his friends. He wanted to laugh freely without knowing in the back of his head that he had to fight a psychopath one day. He didn't want to think about how the entire wizarding world was looking at him in anticipation. He didn't want to hear about more muggles getting kidnapped or wizards disappearing. He just wanted to forget it all. Shake his mind like an etch-a-sketch and start all over.

He pressed his forehead against the cool windowpane and sighed. God, he was tired.

Chapter 6

Nestled at a secluded table in Hogwarts' library, Hermione was pouring over anything she could find that made even the smallest mention of Fera Rosier. Books, school records and old newspaper clippings, surrounded her. Beside her, one of her old notebooks was opened with a list of information on the mystery woman steadily growing and filling up the pages.

Setting down her quill, Hermione moved to pick up another document from the school records, this one pertaining to NEWTs scores from 1796, the year Fera would have been a seventh year student. Hermione's eyes moved down the list of names until she came across Fera's and blinked, not quite believing what she was seeing. Eleven subjects! How on earth did she manage to take eleven NEWT level courses?

Gripping the paper, she read the list out loud. "Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Defense against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Astronomy, Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, History of Magic and Alchemy─Blimey, what didn't she take when she was in school?" Hermione muttered.

The Gryffindor was taking nine classes herself for the NEWTs, and that was considered extreme. Though, she shouldn't be that surprised with Fera's academic ambitions. She was a Slytherin and they were known to be an ambitious sort. Plus, Professor Dumbledore, himself, had referred to her as a wizarding prodigy, and looking at the projects the witch took on while doing her apprenticeships as well, just confirmed his praise.

This woman was absolutely brilliant, Hermione sighed. It's too bad there are no portraits of her at the school. I would have loved to talk to her.

Putting down the school records, she looked back at her notebook. Her list of Fera's accomplishments was quite impressive and filled several pages. She even had notes on Fera's parents, which was less impressive, content wise. However, for all her notes on Fera Rosier and her family, Hermione could not find one thing about the mysterious project Fera had been working on before her disappearance. Nothing, nada, zilch. It was like the project hadn't even existed.

Then why would Professor Dumbledore bring it up?

No, it had to exist, and somewhere among all these books and papers there was information on it just waiting for her to explore. She just had to find it first.

Sighing in frustration, the young witch sat back in her chair to look out one of the nearby windows. The sky had darkened considerably and the moon was now the only light source hanging in the clouds. She had been in the library for hours. How long exactly─she couldn't tell, but it was long enough. I think I got far enough today.

Packing up her books, and documents, she waved goodbye to Madam Pince and headed back to her dorm.

Peacefully strolling down the hallways, she let her fingers graze the castle's stone wall as she let her mind wander back to her mission and her dreams. The two had to be connected in some way since a "breakthrough" and "research" were mentioned multiple times during her dream. So, she could only assume that it had to do with Fera's final project.

That got Hermione thinking. Fera's father kept mentioning in the dream that his daughter's research had been promising and from what information Hermione could get on the man, she wasn't sure that was a good thing. If anyone could be the epitome of Pureblood arrogance and prejudice, it was Colten Rosier, who made Lucius Malfoy seem like a harmless puppy. From all accounts, the man absolutely detested Muggle-borns and Muggles. Hermione had even read some reports where he was arrested several times after he was caught kidnapping and torturing several Muggle families for his "experiments". Of course, the arrests had gone nowhere thanks to his Pureblood connections and his family's' fortune, but his crimes were still recorded. The man was absolutely horrible!

Knowing all this, Hermione had to ask herself, what kind of research would a Muggle-hating dark wizard find promising? And what did that say about Fera? Though, admittedly, Fera didn't seem as excited about the research as her father in the dream, nor did she seem malicious. And if Professor Dumbledore were to be believed, she was nothing more than a bright young woman with a lot of potential to do good. So maybe Fera's research wasn't necessarily bad, just something that Colten could easily manipulate to become evil. Sort of like how the Dolorum Parma potion was originally meant to be a healing potion but was later modified by Ignis the Cruel to be used as a dark potion for torture.

Hermione grimaced. Her thoughts were running in circles now, and she still had no clue what this potentially dangerous research could be about. Leaning back up against a stone pillar, she let out an exasperated breath.

If I didn't like challenges so much, I'd probably be ripping my hair out over this entire affair, she chuckled to herself, wearily turning her head to rest her cheek against the cool surface of the pillar. She was just closing her eyes to soak up the peaceful moment when a groan echoed through the hall.

"What on earth?" Hermione straightened up, quickly looking both ways down the hall for the source of the noise. A small movement by the front entrance doors caught her attention, and she moved closer to get a better look. Squinting her eyes, she could just make out the outline of a body collapsed on the ground.

Oh, no! Someone's hurt! With wide panicked eyes, she took out her wand and ran to the person, quickly coming upon their cloak-covered body. With a soft, "lumos," she knelt beside them, gently pulling the cloak away and gasped. Hogwarts's own Potions master was lying prone on the floor, a pool of blood forming beneath him, and next to him─Oh god─was Susan Bones, unconscious and pale.

Scrambling closer to the two and taking in their condition, Hermione already knew that she was out of her league. She could offer a few healing spells to keep them alive, but what they really needed was professional help. Casting her Patronus, she sent a message to Madame Pomfrey, alerting her to the situation and where they were. Then she remembered what Harry had said about the mediwitch leaving for vacation and quickly sent a second message to the headmaster, hoping he was at least around. Quite frankly, she didn't care who came to help, just as long as someone did and soon!

She looked back at her professor and fellow classmate. From what she could tell, Susan didn't seem too bad. At least Hermione couldn't see any obvious signs of injury, but that didn't mean that the Hufflepuff hadn't been cursed. Professor Snape, on the other hand, looked as if he had one foot in death's door. His face was, if it was even possible, more pale than usual. Sweat plastered his hair to his forehead and he was breathing harshly.

Making a snap decision, she decided to deal with the one who was bleeding out first. Casting a stronger lumos spell, she hovered over his body to see where the blood was coming from.

"Why the hell do you have to wear black!" she whispered, frantically searching his body. It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

His body shifted. Hermione leaned in closer to his face. "Professor! Professor! Can you hear me? Please say something!"

Black eyes, rimmed with red, crept open and turned to her. He blinked a couple of times, as confusion clouded his face. "Sir, it's me, Hermione Granger. You're safe at Hogwarts." He grunted in reply, then made to sit up. With a firm hand on his shoulder, that she now realized was covered in blood, she kept him from moving.

"Please, sir, you can't move while you're injured. I sent for the headmaster, but I don't know when he'll be here."

Lifting his shoulder in a way Hermione was sure translated into, "get your goddamn hands off me", he turned away from her to push himself up anyway, hissing at the pain. With one final shove, he was up and resting against the stone wall.

Why is this man trying to kill himself! Hermione looked at her professor whose eyes were closed again, with growing worry. Should she let him sleep? She remembered reading once that if a person was injured, they should try to stay conscious. Or was that just for people with concussions? Oh, sod it! Grabbing his shoulder again she shook him lightly until his eyes were open. He looked rather displeased, but Hermione shouldered on.

Displeased is good, dead or unresponsive is bad. "Sir, could you tell me where the wound is? You're losing too much blood." He muttered something under his breath that she didn't catch. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"

He glared at her. "Leave me the fuck alone, you stupid girl!" he growled in a weak, cracked voice. Hermione flinched back, removing her hand in hesitation. Perhaps she should just wait for the headmaster to get there. She watched a small shiver breeze through his body as his skin took on an ugly grayish tone.

Her instincts balked at the idea of not doing something─anything! He won't make it if you leave him alone, girl, so get a grip! You're a Gryffindor! Besides what can he really do to you in his condition? Gritting her teeth she grabbed his shoulder again and turned his body as much as she could, ignoring his weak protests. "I'll just find it on my own, if you won't help me."

Snape muttered something else, but she only caught, "bloody Gryffindors…" and a few more choice expletives that she chose to ignore.

Thankfully, Hermione didn't need to look far for the injury after she turned the professor over. The middle of his back was a gory mess of blood and ripped cloth. "Oh, God…". His back, his clothes, the wall he'd been leaning against, it was all covered in blood.

"Okay Hermione, you can do this. Just breathe." She took a deep breath. "And concentrate." Once she was relatively calm again, she began a small healing chant. Nothing that would completely heal his wound. If there was something in his system, she didn't want to seal it away in his body. The chant she was working instead was just to stop the bleeding.

She was still chanting when Madame Pomfrey, in her nightgown, came rushing down the hall with the headmaster and two stretchers floating behind her. Thank God! They both came! Hermione released a happy sigh, her wand still pointing at her professor's back.

"Oh, dear! Albus, you get Severus on this stretcher while I take care of Miss Bones," Madame Pomfrey ordered, snapping her wand out and levitating Susan carefully onto the stretcher. Professor Dumbledore did the same with the Potions master. Two House Elves popped in by his side to clean up the blood covering the floor and wall.

"Quickly now," Madam Pomfrey urged as the stretchers floated out of the dungeons. Not sure what to do with herself, Hermione hung back, biting her lip as she watched the group go. Was she allowed to follow them? She wanted to. If only to make sure that they would be okay. Glancing at the now empty, silent hallway, she decided to follow them anyway. Maybe if she kept quiet, no one would question her presence.

Getting the two to the infirmary was the easy part. With it being nearly midnight and with the castle being practically empty, they were able to run through the halls without having to worry about gawking eyes (aside from the portraits). The minute they crossed the threshold into the infirmary, Madam Pomfrey was barking out orders and running around the room grabbing equipment like a whirlwind. The matron threw a couple of potions to a surprised and bewildered Hermione and shoved her towards Susan's bed, with instructions on how to administer each potion. Then in another whirl, she was gone again grabbing more potions and cloths.

Hermione stumbled over to Susan, hands shaking as she poured a few teaspoons into a small porcelain cup. Madam Pomfrey continued rapidly issuing orders from the next bed, but no matter how hot her curiosity burned Hermione kept at her task. Professor Snape was in good hands, and Susan needed her right now. Pushing the bed up with a muttered spell, she put a hand behind Susan's neck to tilt her chin up, so that she could pour the medicine down the Hufflepuff's mouth. Massaging her throat to make sure every last drop went down, Hermione completed the process three more times until a flush crept its way back into Susan's cheeks. Just to make sure the young blonde was okay, Hermione also ran a diagnostic sweep. The tip of her wand came back green.

"Thank God," Hermione sat back into her chair, releasing a sigh of relief. Susan would be all right. She wasn't sure if the same thing could be said about her professor, though. Hermione got up from her seat to get a closer look at the other patient in the room.

Madam Pomfrey had already flipped him over, so he was face down on the bed, and sliced his robes open so she could get a better look at his back. The wound that Hermione had gotten a glimpse of, was actually a long curving gash that ran from his right shoulder down to the top of his left hip. Madam Pomfrey had somehow managed to clean it out and completely stop the bleeding, and was now viciously chanting it shut. Her eyes were shut in concentration, so she couldn't see Hermione edge closer to the bed.

The headmaster came to stand beside her, so he was out of the matron's way as well. "He will be okay, Miss Granger." The young Gryffindor turned her big brown eyes his way as she bit her lip. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." The headmaster's assuring tones helped to calm the anxiety that had slowly been climbing the second she caught a glimpse of the two in the hall. "Severus has a strong will. He and Miss Bones will pull through just fine. You did well tonight."

Hermione laughed, but there was no humor in it. "But was it enough? I feel like I should've done more."

"What you did was plenty, and more than some would know what to do. Without your discovery and help, it is possible that Hogwarts would be one Potions master short. Remember that." Patting Hermione on the shoulder in comfort, he left her, not knowing how hard his words hit home with the young witch. He walked over to Madam Pomfrey, who had finally finished her chanting, to have a final chat. She was wiping her hands on her apron, casting superstitious glances towards Snape while she whispered to Professor Dumbledore.

Hermione turned her back to give them more privacy, the headmaster's words echoing in her ears. Hogwarts would be one Potions master short. Looking at the man in question, still a little pale, in a white hospital gown and completely defenseless, caused her to blanch. Professor Snape could have died tonight. Her mind tried to wrap around that thought.

The sight of Snape lying on a hospital bed, recovering from an injury just seemed so wrong. He was Professor Snape, fiercest teacher in Hogwarts, spy for the Order, and ex Death Eater. He was supposed to be invincible, an unstoppable force of strength, cunning and experience. As Fred and George had once said, he's too mean to die! And yet, here he was, unconscious and weak.

If this is what the war did to him, what would that mean for the rest of them who weren't as strong or resilient as him? So busy with her thoughts, Hermione nearly missed Madame Pomfrey calling for her attention.

"Miss Granger? Can you hear me?" the mediwitch asked again with tired eyes.

Taking a quick step back, Hermione turned to the older witch surprised. "Sorry, I was lost in thought. Did you need me for something Ma'am?" Hermione asked politely.

Pomfrey gave a relieved smile. "Yes, actually. The headmaster and I need to step out for a few minutes. Would you mind looking over Professor Snape while I'm out?"

"Oh, no! I don't mind at all," Hermione insisted, summoning her chair so she could sit.

"Wonderful!" Pomfrey smiled. "You shouldn't have to do anything. He'll most likely stay asleep, but if he does wake and is in pain, just give him two cap-fulls of this," the mediwitch handed her a Pain Relief potion. "Then he'll go back to sleep. I've checked over Miss Bones, and she'll be fine if left to rest, so you only have to worry about the professor. Understood?"

Hermione nodded, placing the potion on the nightstand, "I understand."

"Good," Pomfrey replied leaving with the headmaster after giving one last encouraging smile to the young witch. "I'll be back shortly," she called, and then she was gone.

"Well," Hermione said, still standing between the two sleeping patients, not quite sure what to do next.

It was only a couple hours later (in which Madam Pomfrey still had yet to return) when Professor Snape began to stir, his small grunt alerting Hermione. Springing to her feet and grabbing the pain potion, the witch twisted the cap off, ready to administer it at the first sign of pain.

"Professor?" she called softly, creeping closer to his bed.

Snape shifted again on the bed, mumbling, "no," under his breath. His sheet twisted underneath his tossing body.

"Professor, It's Hermione Granger," she began again, mindful of the other patient sleeping nearby. "Are you okay, sir? Are you in pain?"

"I don't…No, I don't want to…Stop," his mumbled words became clearer, though no more coherent. A pained frown pulled at his features, as he clutched at the pillow. His face flushed with heat, and his breathing becoming erratic as he thrashed on his bed. "Please! I can't…not her…" He whimpered in pain, and Hermione's heart clenched at the sound.

"I─I…Professor?" Hermione watched helplessly as Snape writhed in agony from his dream. Her fingers painfully gripped the potion bottle, as she silently watched, horrified and unsure. She wanted to help, needed to help, but she had no idea how. Madame Pomfrey didn't tell me what to do in this kind of situation!

Should she give him the pain potion anyway? Thrashing around as he was, he certainly didn't look comfortable. Or should she try to give him some Dreamless Sleep? But then, she didn't know if Madam Pomfrey had already given him some, and she didn't want to make him overdose. What do I do?!

Finally, Hermione decided to just wake him up. Then, at least he wouldn't have to deal with this horrid nightmare anymore. Putting the pain potion back on the nightstand, she grabbed his shoulder to gently shake her professor awake. "Sir, please wake up. It's just a nightmare…Professor─"

A hand shot out, snatching Hermione's wrist. She yelped in surprise, stumbling onto the bed. She looked up to see Snape's black eyes, though bleary from sleep and medicine, opened and focused on her.

"Um, Professor Snape, could you let go?" Hermione asked, trying to remain calm for both their sakes. "Do you─you need any pain potion?" she asked, placing the back of her hand on his forehead. "You're burning up, maybe I should get you something to bring your temperature down."

"Brown," his hoarse voice whispered in response. His eyes drooped sluggishly as he tried to get up.

"No! Stay where you are, please," Hermione pleaded with him, pushing him back down onto the bed. "You can't be up yet."

He fell back onto his pillow, still staring at her in confusion. "Brown…" he whispered again.

"What's brown, Professor?" She asked, worried. He must be delirious from the fever.

Snape shook his head. His clouded eyes, looked back at her. His brows pulled together, and he let out another pained whimper. "Her eyes…yours," he answered, looking at the young witch, pleading with her to understand. "Brown eyes…so young…."

Hermione had no answer to that, so instead she tried a different tactic. "Professor," she whispered, "I'm going to get you something so you can rest, but first, I need you to let go." She took his hand and gently tried to pry his fingers off her wrist, but he wouldn't budge. If anything he tightened his grip.

"No! Don't go," he whispered frantically, pulling her closer on the bed. "Don't go! You'll die if you go….Stay, please don't die…." His eyes became wild with his growing panic. His other hand fumbled to grab her, desperately trying to keep her there.

Immediately, Hermione stopped trying to pull away and settled on the bed. "Okay, I'm staying," she croaked, as tears began to gather in her eyes as she watched him struggle. She pushed his hair back from his face in what she hoped was a reassuring manner. "I'm not going to die. I'll stay right here, I promise."

Slowly, Snape calmed down, his grip gradually loosening once he was sure she would keep her word. He nodded, relaxed once more. "Don't want you to die…" his words trailed off.

Hermione stayed where she was, her hands clasped uncomfortably in Snape's, but not daring to move, even after the wizard drifted back to sleep. Instead she sat there, staring at her professor, fighting back tears and desperately trying to forget the pain that she had heard in his voice.

Her grip tightened, as she dropped her head down to rest on their hands. She wasn't sure how to process what had just happened or what to even think about it.

That's not true, you thought it was bloody horrible! her mind argued, even as she tried to shake the thoughts away. But it was the truth. What she had just seen, had been absolutely horrible. Seeing anyone in such a state, would leave her sad and uncomfortable, but seeing Snape in that state? She didn't know why, but it was ten times worse. She could feel her heart practically breaking.

What memories or dreams had he been reliving that he would become so unhinged, so desperate? Was it something from the war? It had to be. Why else would he be worried about her death? Not your death, the person with the brown eyes' death. And didn't that just bring up more questions.

Watching Snape sleeping peacefully now, she gave him a sad smile, and the tears began to finally spill down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry Professor."

"Miss Granger?" Madam Pomfrey's voice called out, as the older witch entered the infirmary.

Hermione clambered to her feet, quickly slipping her arm away from her professor and wiped at her face. Plastering on a fake smile, she rushed out to meet the mediwitch. "Hello, Madam Pomfrey."

"I'm sorry I was gone for so long. Was everything ok in here?" Pomfrey asked, her back turned to the Gryffindor as she pulled off her apron.

Hermione cleared her throat. "Yes, everything was─" horrible, heart breaking, something I never want to witness again, "─fine."

"Oh, good!" Madam Pomfrey turned around with a smile, which faded as she took in Hermione's puffy eyes and blotchy face. "My dear, are you alright?"

Hermione waved her hand, and let out a weak chuckle. "I'm fine, just fine. I'm just not used to all," she motioned behind her, "this. With the blood and everything."

"Hmm…yes, it can be very shocking," the mediwitch nodded in understanding. "Why don't you go to bed? A good night's rest will hopefully help you forget"

Hermione gave her a grateful smile, and began her walk back to Gryffindor tower, her mind still on her sleeping professor. Somehow, I doubt I'll ever be able to forget tonight.

A/N: And that's it for now on the reposts-I promise!

As always, reviews are welcome. Love it? Hate it? -Tell me what you think

until the next chapter