Disclaimer: Don't own it.

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Chapter Thirteen: Explanations

Dumbledore noticed the change in Hope immediately as her body tensed up and her face contorted with pain. He immediately stood up from his place behind his desk and strode over to her. He turned to Hermione, who looked confused before reaching out to pull Hope to the couch and lay her down.

What he wasn't expecting was for Hope to whimper and jerk away when he touched her.

"Hermione, use the floo to get Severus. Hope, come on, come to the couch," he said to the girl, who had now sunk to the floor.

"No. I…don't…want…him…here," she managed to say between clenched teeth.

Dumbledore was confused. As far as he knew, Hope and Severus were getting along.

"Hope, Severus has to be here. Come on, get to the couch and you'll be more comfortable."

Hope didn't say anything but shook her head. Hermione looked at the headmaster and after receiving a nod went to get the potion's master against her new friend's wishes.

Dumbledore knelt down in front of Hope, giving up all intentions of getting her to a more comfortable place. She was shaking from the pain and was fighting to keep from letting the tears out.

"Hope, why don't you want Severus here?" He asked her gently, trying to find out why she was mad at him, and to distract her from the pain.

"I just don't."

"He needs to be here. He needs some of your blood to test the new antidotes on, but only he knows the most effective way to get it and the amount he needs. He has to have it when your having an attack so that the spell is stronger in your blood."

"Whatever, just make him leave right after…promise me that…please," she begged, her voice coated in pain.

Dumbledore promised just as Severus stepped through the floo. He rushed over and knelt down beside Hope. "How long has it been?"

"It started about five minutes ago."

"In about a minutem you'll need to be silent. Right now, any touch feels as if her skin's on fire, in advance to the pain she's already in. Soon, any sound will make it feel as if her head's going to split."

Dumbledore nodded and watched the change occur. Severus cast silencing charms around the room and motioned a shocked Hermione to come over.

"Hold her arm in place. Do. Not. Let. Go. It is crucial that I get this blood for the future. She will fight because it will hurt, but you must hold her arm steady for me. Can you do that?" Severus whispered, ignoring when Hope's hands flew to her head to show the second part of the curse had begun.

Hermione nodded and moved closer to Hope. Once Severus nodded, she winced as she held Hope's arm and Severus held up a vial and muttered a spell. The blood flowed neatly from Hope's arm into the vial and then stopped.

As Hermione let go of Hope, she scurried away and started crying. "Why…I'm supposed to be safe here…stop..please…"

All three watched sadly and helpless until a few minutes later when the spell finally stopped and Hope's tenseness left her a crying heap on the floor.

Dumbledore went over to her after motioning for Severus to stay and Hermione to follow him. He knelt down beside her and called her name softly. When she looked at him, he immediately noticed the sadness left in her eyes.

"Why don't you get back to bed?" He suggested softly.

"I don't' want to go back…" she murmured quietly.

"To the hospital wing?" Dumbledore asked curiously. At her nod, he got a curious look on his face, but decided not to push it.

"How about you stay in my guest quarters? I can ward the door so that nobody can go in excluding me and the people you want in," he said, knowing she didn't want to be around Severus.

At her nod, Dumbledore motioned to Hermione and the two helped Hope stand and escorted her into Dumbledore's guest quarters. After a few spells, the wards were intact and he left the two girls alone, going back out to explain things to Severus.

Hermione sat on the bed next to Hope while she tried to process everything that had happened. She knew she would get an explanation later, but was debating whether to press the issue with Hope. One look at her friend's face and the decision was made. Instead, she pushed the topic of Harry.

"Hey Hope?" She asked, still pondering what to say exactly.

"I guess you're wondering what happened down there?" She asked, looking down at the blankets.

"Not really," she said with a shrug. "I was more wondering what happened between you and Harry. I don't believe you're working for Voldemort. Something just tells me you are good. Otherwise Professor Snape and the headmaster wouldn't be so worried about whether you are dying or not."

Hope sighed before giving her a short explanation. "I was kidnapped by death eaters on Harry's birthday. We'd met the first day he'd come home from school and had become good friends. I went through over a month of torture, and then watched as they tortured and murdered my parents right in front of me. After that, Severus came up with a plan. I had to pretend to be on the Dark Lord's side, and that included the night of the rescue."

Hermione made a noise at everything Hope had been through, but didn't interrupt as she continued the story.

"Harry showed up the night of the Halloween Ball, the same night as my rescue. I had to make him think that I wouldn't care if he was killed. That I wanted to join Voldemort, and therefore kill him. I was a good actress I guess, because he believed me. Well, I guess now he isn't willing to believe that I'm really on the side of the light."

Hermione understood mostly. She'd been Harry's friend since their first year of Hogwarts. She didn't understand one thing though. "Why did the death eaters want you?"

"Same reason they want Harry. I'm a threat. More so, because whoever I side up with, wins the war. I don't think it will be as easy as it sounds, but somehow I will decide who makes the killing shot."

Hermione's mouth flew open. "But, you don't even go to Hogwarts!"

Hope laughed for the first time since Hermione had met her. "I start next week. I'll be getting sorted tomorrow morning and getting used to the houses."

Hermione nodded. "If you need any help with getting caught up, let me know. I'm the top of our year."

Hope was shocked. "I will, Hermione. Thanks. Not just for this, but for everything."

"It's no problem, Hope. If you need anything, even if it's not school related, just let me know."

"Really? Can you do one thing for me?"

Severus was pacing Dumbledore's office while he waited for the headmaster to come back. Finally the door opened and the aged wizard stepped back into the room.

Severus looked at him before asking what was going on and why he wasn't allowed to see his goddaughter.

"Hope requested that you stay away from her. I had to honor her request even if you don't agree with it," Dumbledore replied in an even, calm voice.

Severus sank in a chair wearily. "Why doesn't she want to see me? She couldn't have heard about the adoption yet, could she?"

"I don't know, Severus. She was upset about whatever it is. Give her time to calm down, eventually you'll run into her again. After all, she'll be attending classes in three days."

"Oh yes, Monday is coming too fast. She is still being sorted tomorrow?"

"At breakfast. She's a tough girl, Severus. She'll make it."

Severus nodded and opened his mouth to reply when the door opened and a laughing Hermione and Hope walked out. Both stopped at seeing the two people sitting in front of them.

"Should you not be in bed, Hope?" Severus asked his goddaughter with a raised eyebrow.

"I've been in bed for most of the day, Professor Snape. I am going on a search for Draco. If it displeases you, then I suggest you don't pay us any attention. Let's go Hermione." Hope replied, with a biting tone.

Severus watched opened mouthed as the two girls left the office. He turned back to Dumbledore and noticed the twinkle in his eyes.

Severus groaned at the newest mess before standing and deciding to retreat to his quarters for the rest of the night.