AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!

The plan was simple: wait until Severus was distracted and sneak into the west wing. This shouldn't be too difficult. Every night after dinner, Severus went into his sitting room and read. He always kept the door partially closed because he desired a little privacy away from the prying eyes of someone he claimed was nothing more than a voyeuristic, nosy Gryffindor. From the glimpses of the books she could see, he enjoyed fiction. It was unclear which authors he enjoyed. A few times she considered asking, but breaking the delicate truce they had created was not worth the risk.

Hermione glanced at the moonlight shimmering through the foyer windows. It would have been a beautiful night had a cool breeze not sliced through the house. The last time Hermione felt such a breeze was right before a snow storm. It seemed odd for snow to come so soon in October, but this mansion tended to be colder than the area surrounding it. Just another one of the curse's oddities.

Seizing the moment, she stretched her arms and pretended to yawn. "Severus?"

He grunted.

"I am exhausted," she continued. "I think I'm going to retire early."

"And here I thought you had the stamina to stay up with your patient, lest he become ill."

"Do you feel as if something may happen to you?"

"No," he admitted. "I have never had two episodes in one day. Given I've already had one, there is no reason to believe today will be the first day for such an occurrence."

"Are you sure?" Her stomach sank as she considered the hint of fear in his eyes as his heart raced and banged against his chest. Was it ethical to leave him alone if that event was a possibility?

"If it is, I can at least have an episode without a know-it-all Gryffindor in my face." The harshness of his voice erased any sympathy she had developed for him. "Merlin knows a little peace would be appreciated."

"I enjoy being around you too," Hermione muttered.

Severus smirked.

"If you need anything…"

"I won't," he snapped. "And if I do, I'll get it myself."

"Fine," she replied. "Good night."

He huffed before returning his attention to his book.

She crept up the stairs. After looking over her shoulder to ensure Severus had not followed her, she turned left towards the forbidden west wing.

At first, there was nothing special about it. Pictures of wizarding heroes such as Merlin and famous potions masters such as Libatius Borage hung upon the wall. Unlike other magical portraits, they did not move. If anything, they glared at her, warning her not to go further. Undeterred, she continued to move further down the darkening hallway, until the walls were bare of any portraits.

Towards the end of the hallway was a small pink light, emanating from a room to her right. Intrigued, she entered.

At the center of the room was a bed. It had a dark green bedspread with the stitching of two silver snakes coiled together. What captured her interest though were the piles of books strewn across the room, some with torn pages, others with marks through them. She picked one up and examined it.

Advanced Potions Making For the University Student

By Severus Snape

Hermione's stomach sank. She remembered using this class in her advanced healer classes. In fact, she'd kept it. Was he now ashamed of one of the clearest, most engaging textbooks she'd ever read?

It was difficult to imagine anyone being so careless towards books, especially one who loved them as much as Severus did. The curse must have become too much for him for him to bear any reminder of his magical life. leading to their destruction. There was a pang in her chest at the thought of a man loving magic being so distraught over losing it that he wanted to destroy any trace of him ever having ever created a potion.

Books were not the only victims of his wrath. A few shards of golden vials were scattered across the floor. Old potions formulas were crumpled and strewn about the room. Did he hate himself so much that he would torture himself every night with reminders of who he no longer was?

On the wall across the bed was a non-magical picture of Severus. The face was slashed, leaving only the image of the award he held. Her stomach sank as she noted the award in his hand was for Potions Master of the Decade.

A lump formed in Hermione's throat. Did he no longer take pride in his former work? Had he given up on ever brewing potions again? More importantly, had he given up on life altogether? If so, was there any way to restore his hope?

Before she could meditate on these questions, she took note of the glowing pink light beside the window. Atop a bedside table was a bright pink rose within a round glass case. It floated over the petals collecting on the bottom. It shocked Hermione that there were far more petals on the bottom than on the flower itself.

Her eyes grew as she approached it. Could this rose be tied to the curse? If so, how? More importantly, could it be manipulated to save Severus?

"What are you doing here?"

Hermione turned to the doorway, her eyes wide, and her chest constricted.

"What did I tell you about entering the west wing?" He looked and sounded every bit like the snarling professor every student had come to fear.

"I uh, wanted to see if there was any object which could be attached to your condition." The words felt insincere coming from her mouth, almost as if she was another student caught sneaking into his cabinet for potions supplies. Without thinking, she backed into the table.

His eyes grew as he shouted, "Get away from that now!"

"I," she began in a weak voice as she moved away.

"Do you realize what you could have done?" Severus ran towards the rose faster than she thought him capable and kept it from falling.

"I wanted to help," she began in a soft voice. "I thought if I discovered the secret to your curse I could cure it."

"I see you have just as much of a hero complex as ever. It doesn't matter what I want or what boundary I set so long as Little Miss Know-It-All Ms. Granger can play hero!"

"I was trying to help," she shook. "All I want to do is help."

"Your help is the last thing I need! It's the last thing anyone needs!" He yelled.

She gulped.

"Get out," he whispered.

She wanted to back away, but her body would not obey her mind.

"I said GET OUT!" He roared. "I don't care where you go, what you do, or who you tell that I'm here! I don't care if you're the last healer Lucius will ever hire for me! I want you gone. I want you gone NOW!"

She trembled.

"LEAVE! DON'T EVER COME BACK!"

"But I…"

"I don't care where you go! I don't care what Lucius wants! I don't care if I live or I die! JUST GET OUT!" He bellowed.

With tears in her eyes, Hermione fled the room. She needed to leave. Where she went she did not know, but it needed to be out of this gothic nightmare and into a place where she was appreciated, where she could do her job without looking into the cold eyes of a former Death Eater. She needed to feel safe, wanted, respected, and most of all, not feel like a complete failure.

Had she looked back, she would have seen Severus shaking his head before putting his hands over his face, wondering how he could've let his only chance to live slip through his hands.

I suppose this would be a bad time to mention I may not upload on Thursday due to a meeting...