Severus Snape carried Hermione's limped form to her Head Girls' room. He truly felt sorry for her, to loose her parents to Death Eater's no less. Everything was quiet through out the castle, the three figures moved swiftly, staying out of sight from any wandering staff members that might be lurking around still.
They made it up to the portrait leading into her room; Whimpers escaped her lips, as tears slid silently down her cheeks. Minerva frowned deeply; she too had silent tears slipping down her old wrinkly face. 'Hermione Granger is an orphan, no family, and no connections. She has nothing now but her friends.' Minerva noted mentally, trying desperately to hold back even more tears. The Heads approached the portrait, taking Hermione's wards down then giving the password to the young woman with black hair piled high above her head. The woman looked at the three suspiciously as she swung open allowing them to enter.
The room was quite big, a small personal library behind a miniature version of a teachers desk. There was a fireplace on the western wall, an armchair to the left of it and a love seat on the other side. A coffee table complemented the center of the small style of a parlor room. A small arch way led into her private room, a four post bed laid against the opposite wall when they entered, it was the standard one with high red curtains like the Gryffindor ones. There was another large bookcase against the wall and a fireplace, a sitting chair sat in front of it with books next to the it on the floor. Crookshanks lay fast asleep in the chair next to the roaring fire. To the left a door was wide open revealing the marble grand bathroom.
Severus went straight to the side of the bed where the sheets were pulled back, Quickly laying her down, her whimpers began to grow more violent. Hermione cried out from the loss of contact, she held on firmly to Severus' neck, not evening attempting to let go. Severus tried to pull her death grip from him, and when he finally did, she began thrashing and screaming in terror.
Minerva came to the side of the bed and tried to hold her down, but Hermione struggled even more violently. Albus, who had followed the two, looked on in concern until he finally said, "Severus, Pick her back up again." Severus did so, knowing never to question the Headmaster in times like these. He scooped her thrashing body up, and instantly she calmed back down to mere whimpers. Severus looked up at the Headmaster with a questioning glance.
"Try putting her back down Severus." Albus asked again, this resulted in the same scene as before, Severus quickly scooped her back up. He grunted in the extra physical work his arms were handling.
"Minerva in my pocket, there is a red vial, it's a calming draught if you could just help to give it to her, that should calm her down so she can rest more easily." Severus directed to Minerva, which she fallowed obediently. Hermione finally clamed down enough, that when he put her down again, she didn't move a single toe.
"I've killed her!" Minerva practically screamed.
"No, she's calm now. You gave her the right amount." Severus sneered, not use to so much school drama in a single night. He sighed heavily as he dropped down in the armchair closest to her bed.
"Albus, do you think it was too soon to show her?" Minerva's lips quivered from the thought of having to live through the scene like Hermione at such a young age. She looked on to the young woman curled up in the bed; she looked like a mere child. Minerva looked back to Albus with more tears cascading down her face. The Deputy Headmistress noticed that the Headmaster too, had tears running down his face.
"We had no choice Minerva, it's better that she asked on her own then be forced to watch it." Came Albus' soft and gentle voice. Minerva nodded and resumed looking at the balled up girl. 'These two weeks will be a tiring one for the poor girl.'
Severus sat, thinking very deeply on the situation. He would be gone for two weeks with the two Gryffindors, not knowing if he would be called or not during his stay in muggle London. "Headmaster, what are we to do when we get there?" He asked, Severus was confused on why his presents would be needed, 'surly Minerva could handle her cub's, let alone one of them, so why was he needed?' he thought.
"Severus, my dear boy, because you're strong enough to help her through it, because, Severus. You'll be the only one who truly understand next to Harry." Albus answered his thoughts before whispering a few safe wards around Hermione's person.
"Headmaster, with all do respect, I believe Potter is more equipped into helping her, why not send him home with her, to help cope?" Severus did not hide his confusion when questioning his boss.
"Harry needs to stay in the safety of Hogwarts, under my strict watchful eye. I don't want him somehow getting captured, or anything Severus. You alone know that better, these are dark times and the war is at it's peek." Albus finished. He finished the spells and motioned for all of them to follow him out.
"She needs her rest. Come, let us sleep for tomorrow will be a trifling day." Minerva and Severus began to fallow Albus through the arch into the parlor, when he stopped suddenly and turned around. In a gentle voice, he directed his comment towards the restless sleeping girl, "May your dreams help you to keep living through this hardship life." With that the three figures left the dorm to their chambers.
A/N: Reviews? Yay? Nay?