Downside of Aging Potions - Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Your love's coming to me
like a wolf howling at the moon
but that just doesn't do me
if I can't get you soon."
-ZZ Top, I Need You Tonight

"Severus you have to do this. I know you can. I need you, Severus, I need you to help me and yourself."

Harry looked suspiciously between the two, "Am I missing something?"

"Shut up, Harry," Hermione dismissed him, "Please, Severus."

Groaning, he slowly picked a leg up to kneel on one leg. He slowly, slowly stood and swayed around a few seconds before standing up straight.

"Yes! I knew you could now, listen, I have a plan. See that torch over there?" She gestured to one of the torches attached to the wall by two metal strips across the wood.

"Yeah."

"The metal attaching it to the wall is loose on one side. If you can lift your hands a certain way behind your back, you can get the ropes underneath and untie your hands so you can untie me-Us." She corrected with a quick, apologetic look at Harry.

Snape looked at the torch, "Pardon me, but don't you think that's a little close to the fire?"

Hermione shrugged, "If you catch on fire it will burn through the ropes anyway, and when we get back to Hogwarts, Pomfrey can heal the burn for you. Can we try and stay positive though?"

He raised his eyebrow, but started walking over to the torch. He inspected it carefully a few times before turning around and raising his arms to try and reach the loose strip of metal.

"You'll have to direct me." He said.

"Which directions? Yours or mine?"

He sighed, "It doesn't matter; mine."

"Okay. Well, you have to raise your arms higher."

With a breath, he raised them higher, getting closer to the flames.

"Quick, okay?" He hissed, straining to keep his arms high.

"To your right." Hermione said, hoping she had her directions right.

Good; he got closer.

"Lower your arm a little... more to the right... STOP!" Hermione called just as his hands almost met contact with the flames.

He gritted his teeth.

"Okay... a little lower, you're right next to it, Severus..."

Finally, he felt the metal snag the rope. He eased it on, his arms aching from the awkward angle, and then began pulling. Yes, it was coming loose; he felt it.

Hermione grinned, proud of her plan.

His arms fell limp at his sides and he had to cradle them to get them to move.

"Hurry..." Hermione said urgently.

Snape rushed over and untied her arms, and caught her at the waist before she fell. She grinned, "That was wonderful."

"You're more wonderful. That was genius." He retorted with a smirk.

"Well, I learned from the best." She bragged and then giggled as he bent to kiss her.

"HELLO?" Harry called, astonished and no doubt irritated.

Hermione gasped, "Oh, sorry, Harry!" She rushed over and untied him.

"You've got major explaining to do when we get back to Hogwarts."

"She has nothing to explain she doesn't wish to, Potter." Snape said angrily, defensively.

She sighed, "Shut up both of you and let's get the hell out of here."

"Wait a minute-" Neville said for the sixteenth time, "-You mean that Sloan guy... is Snape?"

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Yes, Neville."

"I'm not surprised, really. I actually knew." Luna Lovegood said from over her "Quibbler."

"Right." Ron said, not regarding what she said, "All my dad was to tell you guys because we fought all those Death Eaters two years ago."

"And you guys can't tell anyone. Not a soul."

Neville shrugged, "We won't..."

As Ron and Ginny walked away, they heard Neville saying something about always being scared of 'Sloan'.

"I don't think they're going to help at all." Ginny said decisively.

"Well," Ron said plopping on the couch, "They did help us back then."

"'Back then.'" Ginny pointed out, crossing her arms and also one leg over the other, "I just don't think it was smart. They're bound to tell someone. They just are."

"Don't go Trelawney on me, now, Gin..."

"Shut up. You remember a few years ago, when you were in third year, I was in my second, Sirius black. Neville was basically the one to leave something lying around to let a supposed "killer" on the loose."

"Your point?"

"Neville can't keep his mouth shut," Ginny said simply, "And you know how Luna is."

Ron shook his head, "When did you grow up?"

Ginny laughed.

The Grandfather clock struck midnight, letting everyone know it was now the next day. One of the Prefects started ordering everyone to go to bed.

Scarlet sleeping bags appeared everywhere in place of furniture, dropping Ron and Ginny to the floor.

"Stupid Prefects…" Ron muttered, grabbing and climbing into a sleeping bag.

"THEY'RE WHAT?"

Voldemort stormed down the dungeons cursing everyone who walked within ten feet of him all the way to the dungeons where he was keeping Snape, Potter, and that little brat.

Lucius followed, knowing Voldemort would have his balls for breakfast.

Voldemort pushed the door open just as the bitch shouted "HOGWARTS" and then waved at him and blew a kiss.

Stupid bitch.

Voldemort screamed at the top of his rotting lungs.