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Chapter 12:

Merlin. Her face was so cold, her lips so dry. They were both starting to heat up as his hand came to her cheek, his tongue running over her lips. Though she was in a state of pain, she kissed him like she needed him, like she needed to feel him as close as possible. He gave her what she wanted for a few seconds longer before he felt himself being pulled off her and thrown across the room roughly. His head hit the wall of the infirmary. The rest of his body collided with the cold floor.

He laid there for a second, not registering any sort of commotion except for a deep peace within him. He felt a sudden easiness like he wasn't in his own body. He felt light. Then, he snapped back into it. He realized Black was quickly advancing on him, kneeling down with his wand pointing at his throat. Severus almost laughed. Poor, delusional fool had no idea what he was up against. He wasn't a defenseless boy anymore, nor was he innocent. He didn't mind cursing him into oblivion. He would've on the spot, but he realized that Hermione would probably be angry. Let her be angry with Black then.

"Curse me, Black. Show off your irascible temper. It's what'll kill you in the end so why not make the most of it now?" Severus said, his head feeling like it could explode at any second.

"What makes you think I won't kill you on the spot right now, Snape? You've overstayed your welcome and crossed the line by kissing a helpless girl, you worthless piece of crap."

Severus chose to address the first question. "The sad part is that you would kill me, but you don't have the strength to use the killing curse. You're too weak-minded, Black." That was all he managed to say before Potter and Lupin pulled Black away. Lupin took Black's wand and pocketed it along with his own. Potter was whispering into Black's ear, pushing him into a seat. Evans looked confused, but remained in her position of where she was standing with Potter just a second before.

Severus stayed in his position also, leaning against the wall. His hair was messy around his head. His eyes were sharply focused yet staring into nowhere. His robes were partly covering him and partly pooled around him. He stayed like that a second longer before he used the wall to pull himself up. He was surprised no one had come to check on the noise. Either way, he didn't care.

He took his eyes off the blank spot on the wall and let it wander around to the closest thing to where he was. Lupin. He took a deep breath in when he locked eyes with him. He nodded sideways trying his best to put on a small smile. Severus looked to where he nodded and saw Hermione with her lips pursed tightly as she looked at Black and Potter. Then, she turned to him and her eyes slowly softened.

Merlin, he loved those eyes.

It seemed she had gained a bit more energy. He didn't know if it was adrenaline, the effects of a potion she was probably receiving or because of his own remedy to her problems, but whatever it was, he was glad it happened. He ignored everything else for the tenth time today (or at least it felt like that) and made his way to her side. He sat in the chair that was previously occupied by Lupin. He locked eyes with her.

She would be his demise. He'd lost control of everything in his life. He couldn't think straight. He couldn't figure out anything in his life. He didn't even know what he wanted anymore. He had no ability to think rationally. All his old thoughts and emotions (or lack thereof) were long gone. Things had changed so drastically in these past few weeks turned to months. Everything he did was wrong, but he couldn't resist temptation. He felt happy. He felt guilty. He felt love. He felt things he had trained himself over years to not feel. It was all because of her.

Once again, he reiterated to himself that he should hate her. But he couldn't. He couldn't. And he should be damned to hell because of that. It'd be better for him and for her, but he couldn't stop thinking about the loud exploding sensation that ran through his body every time she came around or said those words she said to him. Those words which made him lose his train of thought and allow himself to be captured into her eyes. He was never prone to letting emotions through, but obviously that had been changing lately. Now, it was just mocking him. Her eyes were so light. The light color he always loved the most.

"I love you." He simply said, his voice quiet. It still resonated in the room. He felt Black getting up from his chair and staring at him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lupin turn away.

"I love you, too." She replied, taking his hand into hers.

And there it was. Those were the words that undid him. He admitted to himself he was scared. He didn't know what happened to her or why. He blamed himself. He blamed her. He blamed the people around him. He wanted to kill whoever did this to her. He never felt such a stronge urge for revenge. Her hand being warmer than it previously was… that was the only reason he didn't go on a killing rampage right this instant.

"I'm going to kill whoever did this." He admitted, putting his other hand over hers, squeezing it slightly. She sat up even further and moved a bit to her left, motioning for him to get on the bed next to her. He obliged to her silent demand.

She smiled up at him. "No. You're better than that, Severus. Professor Dumbledore is handling it. It's being taken care of. You don't always need to be my hero or take responsibility for whatever happens to me." Her voice was stronger than it was before, but it still caused his heart to cringe. She was trying to be so strong. She was always so strong.

"I need to be there to protect you… I know you're not ready now to discuss this now, but I'm presuming that when you are, you'll come to me just as you always do."

She nodded, leaning her head against his shoulder. She closed her eyes, her breathing becoming heavy. The commotion must have tired her out (along with the things that the nurse probably slipped her). As she fell asleep, he lifted her body slightly and moved further onto the bed. He placed her down beside him. She moved close to him, her hands gripping his chest.

Severus sighed. Damn it all to hell. The same thoughts he had when he first saw her popped back into his mind. Another bloody Gryffindor. Another meddlesome, annoying Gryffindor trying to prove themselves. They were all fools. All of them.

He took in another deep breath before allowing his eyes to wander off of her. They were all still there. They were all looking at him. Almost all of their eyes were asking for explanation. Lupin's were directed more to the situation in general than directly at him. Lovely. Now, he was left alone to deal with Black's rash behavior, Potter's incessant stupidity, and… he couldn't really say anything bad about Evans and Lupin at the moment. The werewolf was a werewolf, but he was fully aware of the situation, and Evans always tended to be the reasonable one. They could even speak on cordial terms now.

He looked back down to Hermione. She shivered slightly. He covered her further with the blanket, until just her shoulders and head were uncovered. She was so beautiful when she was sleeping. Her hair seemed wilder than ever, engulfing her head. Her lips were slightly puffed out and parted. Her face seemed completely relaxed. Her body melted into his arms. At least he knew he could keep her safe now. If only the other idiots would realize that and leave them be. He didn't feel in the mood for a confrontation.

He knew the most likely thing to come from Black would be just that. He'd yell and scream and possibly curse or punch Severus if he could get his hands on him (which he couldn't at the moment without disturbing Hermione). He'd have to be pulled back by Potter. After all, Potter was on Evans' tight leash. There was no way he could've changed on his own. The werewolf would look on in a frustrated manner, intervening if the situation was serious enough. Though, he probably wouldn't let anyone get near Hermione.

He wasn't blind enough to not notice the way he looked at Hermione. He saw the same expression reflected in her eyes when Severus was looking at her. Lupin was always at her side. He was always the faithful friend, the friend who always wanted to be more, the friend who was always there to talk to. He was the sidekick, the backstage, the Mercutio in Hermione's life. He almost pitied Lupin. He was so close, but it was too late. Severus knew he had won. He couldn't give her up now. He wanted to, but he couldn't.

So he watched as Lupin moved to sit into the chair he was sitting in before. He was very close, close enough for Severus to see the heartbroken expression in his eyes. Severus felt himself pulling Hermione slightly closer than she was before. His expression gave away nothing, but the ice behind his eyes was melted. Anyone who looked at this moment could see his concern for Hermione mixed in with the love and devotion he held for her.

"I'm sorry. She… she wanted to go down to the library. She wouldn't let us go with her. James gave her his invisibility cloak, but I should have followed her to make sure she was safe. I should have been there. It's my fault." Remus said quietly.

"It's not," He said shortly.

So that was what happened. She decided to head off on her own after her little midnight escapade with her little Gryffindor friends. She must have taken the invisibility cloak off when she thought she was safe from a patrolling teacher. But how could she have gotten into the library? On Saturday nights it was open until the last person left (he guessed that rule would be changed now). Usually, everyone (excluding himself and Hermione) left by 2A.M. Even then, it was only occupied if there was some sort of big test or a N.E.W.T. review paper was due. Usually, even they only stayed until 3 or 4. The librarian was usually long gone and entrusted them with a key. So, what would possess her to go to the library that late knowing that it was probably locked?

In hopes of finding him. And he wasn't there. She wanted to make sure that he wasn't there waiting for her to make sure he was alright. She came there because she wanted to be with him, because she was concerned for him. And he wasn't there. He wasn't there. Oh Merlin. She probably came and found the library locked. Satisfied that he didn't stay up to wait for her or disappointed that he wasn't there, she probably started to make her way up the staircases to the Gryffindor tower.

But the halls weren't a safe place at night.

As much as the teachers kept under the pretense that everything was under their vigilant eye, students who wanted to get past without being seen, could. Gryffindors who were on their way to cause mischief could easily get by using the passages. Students who longed for a lover's tryst could easily get the patrol lists and meet in classrooms they knew wouldn't be looked into. Slytherins who wanted to cause trouble could easily slip between the cracks. Oh gods.

Slytherins rarely ever spent the night in their rightful dormitories. The upperclassmen tended to be active in the night, either for Voldemort or just because they weren't satisfied with their accommodations. There were passages specially made to get to floo networks that were not controlled. There were rooms that he doubted even the Marauders knew about let alone the teachers. There were things that went on that were dangerous. Too dangerous for a Gryffindor who strayed from her pack.

It was a Slytherin. He had almost no doubt in his mind that it was a Slytherin. They were low. They were despicable. They were manipulative. They were sneaky. And the dangerous ones were smart. They hated Gryffindors. They hated Mudbloods. They were almost all Deatheaters. They wouldn't think twice about killing or badly hurting a Gryffindor if they thought they wouldn't get caught. They'd go to any length to get what they wanted or to feel superior. They had no conscience. They had no sense of compassion.

Oh gods.

Why wasn't he there?

A/N: Muah. I liked the ending of that chapter. Hope y'all did too! Oh, and FYI: I'm getting all new plotlines for this story so it may run longer than I expected if I decide to write them. It'd be my first time writing all the dark Voldemort stuff in depth. So... I dunno.

Like it? Love it? Wanna take away my Sakuma-san Kumagoro-outfitted plush doll and show me picture of it burning (I think I'd die with that Ryuichi plushie, man.)?

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