"Very good, Miss Granger. Everyone, come take a look at what she's done here." McGonagall gathered the class around the worktable. "See how she's disguised the true nature of the object here," she said as she pointed out the features on the gargoyle. A few students jumped when the gargoyle moved, hissing at them.
Hermione giggled and patted her shoulder. The gargoyle spread his wings and flew there in short order, perching himself so that he could watch everything that was going on. "I think I'll call him Patrick," she said and was rewarded with a slight purr from the gargoyle. The rest of the class went back to their projects while she followed McGonagall up to her desk. "Is it all right if I keep him like this? It's not really a pet, per se, seeing as how he was just a pincushion fifteen minutes ago."
"That will be fine, Miss Granger. Excellent work as usual and it goes to show that you really kept up on your reading while you were convalescing. And that is exactly why we do not add fire to these projects, Cassandra," she said as she quickly extinguished the small blaze that had started on the Ravenclaw girl's table.
The bell rang and all the students began packing up their things. Hermione slung her satchel over her other shoulder and followed them out, turning down the hall to Sibyll's tower. She was almost bowled over by the group of second years who were talking amongst themselves, paying no attention to anyone else in their range.
"I can't believe we spent the entire period on learning how to divine the secrets of love. This class is so useless," moaned one girl, and Hermione smiled, hearing herself in the Hufflepuff.
"Love is never useless," another girl protested. "We should embrace the idea of diving love. After all, it is usually a grave vision that Venus sends."
"You sound exactly like her, Vanessa. Get your head out of the clouds and focus on real magic, like Transfigurations or Herbology. Not this fluff."
They passed out of Hermione's listening range and she continued on up to the classroom. Sibyll was putting away the teacups, humming to herself as she did so. "I take it you had a good night?"
Sibyll turned, blushing. "Is it that obvious?" Hermione nodded. "It's like we've been given a most wonderful gift. He's so gentle now, and there's this new humility about him, even as he remembers what he did in the past. I love him, my dear."
"I can tell. You're practically glowing. Oh, how I wish I had a love like yours."
"Have you still not talked to him?"
"No. But I have to go see him after lunch, to work on potions for the Infirmary. Do you think he'll reject me?"
"Oh, my dear, no, he won't. This will just take time. You're so focused and that can be intimidating, even to grown men and women. Sometime it's easier to be a dreamer. It's okay to give in to the dreamy side of your personality once in a while," Sibyll answered, smiling at her.
"Dreamy is not how I would ever describe myself. I can't get lost in thought like you, there's just too much to think about." Hermione sighed. "Going down the rabbit hole of thought is what led me here. I don't think I shall ever do that again, no matter what visions it gives me. But tell me more about Gil and you."
"The memory of flesh is so strong, Hermione, much stronger than I'd ever imagined. He remembered everything about me the moment he touched my body." Sibyll blushed bright red at the memory and Hermione looked away, not wanting to embarrass her further. A silence fell over the room and Hermione looked back at Sibyll and saw that she was crying.
"What's wrong? You were so happy a moment ago."
"He-he asked about the baby." Sibyll touched her stomach lightly and drew in a shuddery breath. "I don't remember anything about a baby, Hermione. Why can't I remember? Is it because someone put a memory charm on me, causing me to forget? Why would someone do that to me?"
"Perhaps they didn't think you strong enough to handle news of your loss on top of Gil's betrayal. Perhaps they did it out of love and concern for your well-being," Hermione whispered, drawing her legs up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. "Sometimes, the need to protect overrides the need to let a person know the truth."
Sibyll looked at Hermione, confusion in her eyes. "Did you know about my baby?"
"Yes. Madam Pomfrey told me shortly after I found out Gil was here. I wanted to know why everyone was so upset by his return, so I kept pressing for answers and she told me. I'm sorry, I should have told you." She was surprised when Sibyll reached out and gently wiped away the tears from her cheek.
"For all your maturity, you are but a child in this game we call life. How could you have told me without breaking my heart and your own in the process?" Hermione shrugged. "Exactly. At least Gil and I could share our sorrow together, even if I can't remember what transpired with my pregnancy."
Hermione leaned against Sibyll, drawing in warmth from her. "What would you have wanted for a child, if you had one?"
"Someone like you, not burdened with the Sight. It is a curse to See things, especially when the Sight is weak, like in me. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, really. Have you not wondered about my classes?"
Hermione smiled a little to realize she'd been let in on yet another secret. "But what about that second year Hufflepuff, Vanessa? She has the Sight, does she not?"
"Yes, she does. I'll be speaking to Dumbledore shortly about her, and then most likely tutoring her on how to use it. Though she has little training, her power is quite strong, stronger than mine." Sibyll smiled at Hermione. "Now, it's time for lunch. Do you want to eat here with me and Gil, or go down to the Great Hall?"
She thought for a moment. "If you don't mind the intrusion, I'd rather eat here with you. The noise of everyone is still something I'm readjusting myself to."
Sibyll nodded and stood, helping Hermione up from the low pillows they'd been sitting on. "Does your friend need food?" she asked, pointing to Patrick, who was now sleeping on Hermione's shoulder.
"I don't think so. In reality, he's just a pincushion, and I've never read anything in the Transfiguration textbooks that say there is a need to feed animated inanimate objects." She followed Sibyll into her quarters and found Gilderoy was already there, reclining on the settee and reading her book of sonnets. "So I was right. You were the one who absconded with my book."
"Oh, hullo, Miss Granger. Are you joining us for lunch?" She nodded. "Splendid. Do you mind if I hold on to this volume for a little while longer? I'm not quite finished with all of the poems as I've been reading them slowly, wanting them to last."
"That would be fine. If you'd like, when I come home from Christmas break, I could bring more Shakespeare for you to read."
"Oh, would you? I'd enjoy that very much." He smiled up at her, that charming grin now tempered by the knowledge of the past. She nodded and took a seat in the high-backed chair. A few minutes later, a house elf appeared with a tray of plates and a bottle of wine. Sibyll reappeared with three glasses and uncorked the bottle, pouring it out.
Gilderoy handed Hermione a plate and glass and then settled back on the settee. Sibyll joined him and Hermione watched them interact, smiling as she saw their hands brush unconsciously. She hoped that one day Severus would feel comfortable enough around her to touch her unthinkingly like Gil touched Sibyll. She took a sip of wine, not feeling too hungry.
"You really should eat something, my dear, otherwise the wine will go right to your head," Sibyll said, looking pointedly at the plate. Hermione blushed and nodded, picking up the fork and beginning to eat.
When they'd finished, a house elf came and packed up the tray of dishes. "Well, I'm off now. Wish me luck," Hermione said, taking a deep breath as she stood. Sibyll hugged her close for a moment, smiling sweetly. "Everything will go fine, right?"
"Yes, my dear. It is one of the things I am certain of."
Hermione nodded and left the room, hurrying down the stairs. The closer she got to the dungeons, the more an unexplained know of dread filled her stomach. She burst into the Potions lab and looked around for Severus. "Professor Snape, are you here?" she called out, not seeing him. She finally heard a low moan come from behind his desk and she ran over to it. "Oh god, Severus, what, who?" She bent over him, stroking his face lightly.
Carefully, she ran her hands down the front of his robes. When she pulled her hands away, they were covered in blood. Stifling the scream that threatened to rip from her throat, she quickly found the source of the bleeding and pressed down firmly with one hand, pulling out her wand with the other. Using the wand, she stoked the fire up higher and then pulled Patrick off her shoulder. "Go find Professor McGonagall and bring her back with you," she cried and was relieved to see the gargoyle nod with understanding.
The minutes seemed to stretch on into infinity as Hermione waited for someone, anyone to come. Finally, she heard steps outside the classroom and she looked towards the door. Albus was with Professor McGonagall and Hermione burst into tears looking at the pair of them. "What's happened, Hermione?" McGonagall questioned gently, laying a hand on her shoulder.
"I don't know, for certain, but it appears Severus has been stabbed. Most likely by Draco. He's the one who's done this to us, to me. I should never have said anything to him, then he wouldn't be hurt. This is all my fault." She felt McGonagall's hands replace hers over Severus's wound and she buried her head in her hands, heedless of the blood staining them.
"Let's get him up to Poppy," Albus murmured as he levitated Severus's prone body. Hermione blindly followed them up to the Infirmary, trying to shut out the voices she heard around them.
At the top of the stairs, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder and looked up at Sibyll's concerned face. A fresh bout of weeping overtook her and she collapsed against the other woman. "I did not See this, Hermione, I promise you that. I would have warned you if I had."
"I know," Hermione whispered, drawing nearer to the comfort of Sibyll's presence. Poppy took over at once, moving Severus into one of the rooms and shut Hermione and Sibyll out. "He'll make it, though, won't he? Fate wouldn't be so cruel as this?"
"He's in good hands, Hermione. Poppy will make everything all right."
"Did you hear? They've taken Snape to the Infirmary. He might not make it," Neville said as he burst into the Gryffindor common room. Harry and Ron looked up at him in astonishment.
"What about Hermione? She was supposed to help him in the Potions lab today, making up some of the work she missed."
"She was the one who found him. Her hands were covered in blood, most likely his. And Draco and his goons are missing. No one can find them."
"So?" Harry asked as he stood up to stand next to Neville.
"Hermione named him as the one who did this to Snape and she accused him of being the one who hurt her as well," Neville replied, staring into Harry's eyes.
"That bastard, I'll kill him! Ron, are you with me for a ferret hunt?"
"Of course, Harry. Neville, are you in?"
"All the way. How are we going to find them?"
Harry pulled out his wand, summoning the Marauder's Map over to them. He unfurled it over the table and quickly scanned the map for the three. "There, heading towards the lake. We'll have to move quickly if we don't want to lose them."
The others nodded and Harry looked around to see that all of Gryffindor was gathered close. "Let's go, Harry," Ron said, holding out his wand. As one, the House moved out and raced down the stairs, their wands drawn as well. Stealthily, they moved closer to the lake, Harry never taking his eyes off the map. The group made it to the lake just as Draco was casting off from land.
"Stupefy!" Harry cried out, catching Draco by surprise. Crabbe and Goyle tried to draw their wands, but were too slow, instead getting struck by numerous stunning spells. Ron placed full body binding spells on the trio and Neville dragged the boat up onto the shore. The other Gryffindors pulled them out of the boat and began to drag them up to the school. "Leave Draco, he's mine!"
"No, Mr. Potter, he's Dumbledore's." Professor McGonagall appeared next to them, a slightly feral smile on her face. "Though I do thank you for capturing them for us. Now, if you'll excuse us, Dumbledore has punishments to mete out." She levitated the three boys and set them to follow behind her as she strode off towards the castle.
"Let's go back to the common room now," Ron said dejectedly, his shoulder slumping. Harry nodded and followed his friend back inside. It just wasn't fair.
Ginny had gone up to the Infirmary to see if there was anything she could help Madam Pomfrey with. She'd been shooed out into the waiting room where Hermione and Professor Trelawney say, waiting for some word.
"I can't lose him, Sybill, I can't," she overheard Hermione whisper and she looked askance at her friend. Why would she be worried about Professor Snape, she wondered. "If he dies, my heart dies with him."
Gunny couldn't help but gasp and both women looked up at her. "Miss Weasley, how long have you been there?"
"Long enough. Is it true, Hermione? Do you l-like Snape?"
Hermione blushed and looked away from her. "It's slightly more than like at this point, Ginny. I don't expect you to understand, really, I don't, but please respect my decision." Madam Pomfrey came back out, a grim look on her face. "May I go in to see him now?" she asked anxiously as she stood.
"He's been stabilized, so yes, you can go see him. Don't expect him to wake up, though. Whatever Mr. Malfoy stabbed him with was coated with a very powerful poison, such that I had to give him a very powerful sleeping potion to ease the pain." Madam Pomfrey took Hermione's arm and led her back to the private rooms.
Ginny went to follow her, but was stopped by Professor Trelawney. "Let her be. Her heart is tender right now and if you were to upset her, she might say things she would later regret. I know you'll want to tell your friends, and that's fine. Just, make judicious choices about how you couch the words you use. If she is truly your friend, you will do your best to protect her."
Ginny's brow furrowed with a frown. "But Snape?"
"Fate is indiscriminate when it comes to our life partners. She needs someone who will challenge her intellectually and he gives her that. We should never begrudge our friends their happiness." She let go of Ginny's arm and Ginny left the room, brooding on what Professor Trelawney had told her.
Hermione slid into the room, biting her lip as she tried not to cry. Tears would not help her right now, or him. She had to be strong. She sat down in the chair next to his bed and picked up his hand, threading her fingers through his. "I don't know if you can hear me, Severus, but I memorized this sonnet for our next time together. I might as well tell it to you now.
She cleared her throat and then began speaking. "Being your slave what should I do but tend Upon the hours, and times of your desire? I have no precious time at all to spend; Nor services to do, till you require. Nor dare I chide the world without end hour, Whilst I, my sovereign, watch the clock for you, Nor think the bitterness of absence sour, When you have bid your servant once adieu; Nor dare I question with my jealous thought Where you may be, or your affairs suppose, But like a sad slave, stay and think of nought Save, where you are, how happy you make those. So true a fool is love, that in your will, Though you do anything, he thinks no ill."
She took in a broken breath and leaned over his bed, burying her face in the covers, giving in to her weeping once more. Hermione barely felt the blanket drop around her shoulders. Wearily, she turned her face to look up Poppy, who was smiling sadly. "Go to sleep, my dear. I'll wake you for supper." Hermione nodded slowly and closed her eyes, giving in to sleep.
Hermione barely felt rested when Poppy came in later to wake her up. She sat up with a start, stretching. "If anything should change before I get back…"
"I'll let you know. But this is the last day here before break, and you've already said you're going home. Have you changed your mind about that now?"
"Why did I forget that? I have to go home, it will be my last time spent in their world. My life is here now, more than ever. Watch over him for me, I'll be back as soon as I can." Poppy nodded and wrapped her up in a warm embrace. "Thank you."
Hermione went down to the Great Hall and it seemed like every eye was on her the moment she stepped into view. Finding herself suddenly shy, she ducked her head and made her way over to where Ron and Harry were seated. She sat across from them and spoke at her plate. She could feel their eyes on her and she looked up, blanching at the hostility in Harry's eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Ginny told us everything, 'Mione," Ron said kindly, his smile heartbreakingly sad.
"Oh."
"Is that all you have to say for yourself, Hermione? My god it's Snape we're talking about! The man has lived to make my life miserable over the years."
"No more miserable than your mother made his life. Face it, Harry, you sainted mother was a bitch, and when you lie down with dogs, you come up with fleas." She stood up from the table, sneering at Harry. "I seem to have lost my appetite. If you'll excuse me, I have some packing to do for tomorrow."
Hermione stalked from the table, struggling not to cry once more. Anger still burned hot and bright in her chest and when she felt a hand on her arm, she spun on her heel, glaring. "What?" she hissed out, watching Ron take a step back and catch himself on the railing.
"I just wanted to make certain you were all right. It's hard when someone you care for if fighting for their life." She nodded and bit her lip. Ron reached out once more and she fell against him. "He'll be fine, 'Mione. If Madam Pomfrey can heal injuries like the ones we've given her over the years, she can heal him."
"I know you're right, Ron. It just feels like I'm going to lose him and Harry. I don't even know why you're here with me and not with him."
"Because I cannot stand to see you in pain. And Snape's on our side, for all Harry wants to forget that. Sometimes it is easier to believe in the façade than the truth." Ron kissed her forehead lightly, blushing to the root of his hair. "Have a Happy Christmas, 'Mione."
"You as well, Ron. I'll see you in the new year."