Hermione wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out of the shower. Drying herself off quickly, she dressed in fresh loungewear and put on a cardigan that Ginny had sent her. It was day 6 of her 14 days, and she was feeling peaceful. After the package from Severus had arrived, she'd realized that her nerves were raw and exposed, so she had been feeling on edge the whole day. Once she'd given herself the allowance to actually feel and process, she didn't notice herself becoming bored or numb anymore.

Hermione asked if she could walk in the garden behind the hospital and, permission granted, she stepped outside. It was a cool day, but sunny for once. The autumn hesperanthas were still in bloom, making the air fragrant and clean-smelling. Hermione sat on a garden bench and allowed herself to look closely at the garden. Bees were floating around lazily, collecting nectar to take back to their hives. A few red-and-black butterflies were fluttering around, and there were parakeets in the poplar trees dotting the garden.

A shadow flew over her, and Hermione looked up, shading her eyes. Severus' black owl had found her! He landed next to her, a letter in his beak. Hermione took the letter, scratched the top of his head, and stood to return to her room. Once alone, she opened the letter.

Dearest Hermione,
I miss you. Your friends miss you. We are all hoping to see your smiling face before Christmas.

I have been contacted by Mr. Potter, and the Aurors have agreed to my visiting Lucius in Azkaban. I make my first visit tonight. Hopefully, the last few months have made him realize the errors of his ways and he can muster up some remorse. Otherwise, it will be quite challenging to make a case for having him transferred to home confinement.

We will accomplish what Draco wants or we will find a way to silence him. Either way, he will pay for what he's done.

I love you. Remember that you are mine, and you are strong, and nobody can take that away.

Yours always,
Severus

Hermione smiled, folding the letter and placing it in her pocket. She left her room again, deciding to walk the halls a bit. She let her mind wander as she worked through her emotions, not paying much attention to her surroundings. She had just turned the corner when she ran very hard into someone. Stumbling back, she apologized immediately before stopping as she saw his face. "Lockhart?"

The once-professor steadied her, giving her a dazzling smile. He was still very handsome, his gold hair perfectly coifed and blue eyes as jovial as ever. "Well, that's what they tell me, anyway!" he said to her, laughing. "You may call me Gilderoy, if you like - just don't call me late for dinner!" He regarded her intently for a moment before a look of recognition crossed his face. "You were here a few years ago, weren't you? I say, what are you doing back?" His eyes moved down her body, taking in the pyjamas. "Are you a resident here, too?"

Hermione smiled awkwardly. "I'm in the Paracelsus Wing at the moment. I'm working through something and just needed space." Lockhart nodded, offering his arm to Hermione. She linked arms with him, and he allowed her to lead the way.

Lockhart, whose personality was still boisterous and loud, seemed to have toned down the narcissistic quality he'd been known for. As they walked the halls together, he told Hermione how he'd been spending his time as a permanent resident of the Janus Thickey Ward. He was, obviously, allowed to go on walks in and around the hospital, and even had a job at a Muggle shop down the road. He still felt the occasional urge to present people with signed photos of himself, which he was told meant that his memories were trying to come back; he suspected that they were just trying to placate him.

Truthfully, Hermione noted, it seemed that he had quite moved on. He told her that he would happily live in a flat if they would let him. "Well, have you ever asked if they would allow you to do just that?" Hermione asked him. He looked at her agog.

"Now why hadn't I thought of that!" Lockhart exclaimed. Laughing, they continued their walk through the hospital and, for the first time in a few days, Hermione felt truly happy.

—

Severus walked down the London street with Harry by his side. Harry had managed to get Severus permission to visit Lucius Malfoy only by promising to escort him, so they were heading for the Ministry to take a Portkey to the hidden island. "Thank you for doing this, Mr. Potter," Severus said after some silence.

Harry looked over at him. "Yeah. No worries. I just hope you know what you're doing." Severus offered a wry smile, expressing the same.

A short time later, they were landing on the island. Severus could hear the crashing of waves upon the jagged rocks and smelled the tang of salt; the thick fog obscured his vision, but a quick swish of Harry's wand revealed a path. They approached the stone fortress, bleak and desolate above them. Though the Dementors had all been banished, utter melancholy hung heavy in the air. They crossed the threshold and Severus shivered.

After having his wand confiscated by the Auror at the security desk, Severus was led to a lift. They passed a hallway with 2 Aurors walking on their patrol. As they entered the carriage, Harry indicated the topmost floor and they rose rapidly. Security was much higher further up, with 6 Aurors on constant rotation and another 4 at a security desk. Harry told Severus that, with the Dementors gone, the inmates enjoyed the company.

They arrived at a cell in the corner, and Severus peered inside. Lucius Malfoy was sitting on his cot, his hair ragged and limp. He had noticeably lost weight, though somehow he looked healthier than he had during the Final Battle. Lucius looked up at their approach, and his eyes locked with Severus'. "Well, this is unexpected. I'd expected to rot in here, never laying eyes on anybody who wasn't a bloody Auror. What are you doing here?" He stood and walked over to the cell bars, and Severus noticed that there appeared to be books and papers in the cell.

"Mr. Potter, please leave us." Severus conjured a chair and sat himself down. Lucius sat on the small stool he'd been provided. Harry eyed them both warily, then stepped away to allow them to talk. "I'm here, Lucius, because of your son."

Lucius' eyes widened, fear evident. "Draco? What's happened? Is he alright?"

Severus held a hand up. "Stop. You misunderstand me. Draco has demanded that I find a way to have you released." Lucius stared dumbly at Severus.

"He's…what?" The astonishment and incredulity were evident on his gaunt face. "I may not have been the best role model, but I never thought I'd raised an idiot."

Severus paused, confused. "What do you mean?"

Lucius ran a hand through his disheveled hair, sighing. "I did horrible things. I did them knowingly and willingly. I bet on the wrong hippogriff, one could say, and I was foolish for doing so. I realized a long time ago that siding with The D-" He stopped, closing his eyes. "...with Riddle would land me in a cell or a grave. My only consolation is that my wife and son were pardoned for their crimes." Severus was absolutely stunned. He had expected the usual haughty demeanor, the assertion that he had not been responsible, but never had he expected to hear true acknowledgement and remorse from the aristocrat's mouth. Lucius continued, "He's an idiot if he thinks I will ever be free again."

He cleared his throat, looking Lucius in the eye. "Draco believes that you should be freed, that you were only doing what you did to survive. But…" Severus hesitated. How could he tell Lucius what his son had done without revealing his and Hermione's secret? Sighing, he hoped that Lucius would be able to keep this secret. "Draco came to me with a threat. I have entered into a relationship with a young woman…who is still a student." Lucius' eyes widened again, but they showed surprise and curiosity.

"My, my, breaking the rules? Who is the witch who has affected you so?"

Severus shook his head. "I can't say, for obvious reasons. But Draco found out, somehow, and he blackmailed me. And when I told this young woman…Draco raped her."

Lucius' eyes flashed and Severus could see a myriad of emotions cross his features. Anger, heartache, and horror wrestled for attention. For several long moments, he didn't speak. Swallowing thickly, his voice raw and dry, Lucius said, "I never wanted him to follow in my footsteps, you know? I wanted more for him than the life of a Death Eater. His mother and I raised him to believe he was of superior blood status, that he was more important than others. His entitlement is on us. He learned from me that assaulting those you believed to be lesser than yourself was not only appropriate, but necessary. I am truly sorry for your pain, and for the young lady's pain. I cannot express my regret for the choices I made that led to this." His eyes met Severus' own, and Severus saw tears in them.

Severus reached his hand out, just reaching past the bars. Lucius grasped it in his. Shaking hands, Severus stood and vanished his chair. "I must go now, but thank you. I hope to see you again." Lucius nodded, turning as Severus strode away, toward Harry.

When they landed back in London, Harry grabbed Severus' arm before Severus walked away. "Professor Snape…Ginny sent me a letter." Severus looked at the young man in front of him. "She said that Hermione is in the hospital. Do you know what's happened? Is she hurt? Ill?" The worry evident on Harry's face made Severus feel guilty. He didn't want to continue lying to someone who clearly cared for Hermione so much.

"Mr. Potter… I do know what's happened, but you will have to ask Hermione yourself; I'm afraid it's not for me to disclose. I know how much you care for her, and I'm sure she'd like to talk with you." He shook Harry's hand in farewell, before Disapparating back to Hogsmeade.

—

Hermione bid good night to Lockhart and turned to go down the hall. As she did so, the lift opened and Harry stepped off. He caught her eye and gave her a half-smile, waving, before walking over. Hermione was stunned silent as she returned his hug.

"Hey, 'Mione. I heard from Ginny you were here. Why didn't you tell me?" Hermione looked up at him, unable to keep her mouth from quivering. Harry looked concerned.

Hermione led him into the Paracelsus Wing. Sitting at a table, she fiddled with her sleeve as Harry sat, silent. After what seemed an age, Harry said, "I spoke with Snape today." Hermione's eyes snapped up to meet his. He didn't seem upset - had Severus told him? She swallowed nervously. "He said something had happened, but that he couldn't tell me. Will you? I'm worried about you." He leant forward, placing his hand atop hers and squeezing gently.

The surge of emotions Hermione had been trying to hold back since seeing him bubbled back to the surface. A tear slid down her face as she opened her mouth to speak. "Harry, I-I have something to tell you, but I'm afraid you'll hate me."

Harry scowled. "I could never hate you, 'Mione. What's going on?"

Breathing deeply, Hermione settled herself. Her stomach was twisting as she began her story at the end of September.