Tip-toeing is a lot easier said than done, especially when you want to be in the front and keep getting pushed back.

Humph.

We are outside the basement now and in the brightness of the hallway. It's unnervingly quiet….hmmmm.

"Marvil" I say barely above a whisper.

Snape and Harry both turn around to hush me.

I frown at them in return.

"Marvil?" I try again, where is that little elf.

"Stop it" Severus calls back, I give him a sarcastically evil glare, "Sorry" he mutters.

Hehehe. I think I'm the first one ever to get an apology from Severus Snape.

I feel all warm inside. I'm so easily satisfied.

Wonder where the elf is?

We make our way to the front door, the house seems to be empty, this is weird.

Severus peers outside, "Too Simple" he mutters to himself. He looks down and sees Harry's and my confused looks.

"It's too simple, the basement door was unlocked, and the house is empty, they wouldn't have made it this easy for us."

He has a point.

"Move out my way" Harry demands as he marches forward.

"Rash Potter" Snape mutters.

I know Harry wants to take control of the situation, but I can't help agreeing with Severus.

Harry makes his way to the front door and blasts it open by kicking it.

Outside looks just as empty and lifeless.

"I don't like this" I mutter, "I have a really bad feeling about this". Which is true, my hands have started to shake and are clamming up, my breathing becomes rapid, I can feel my heart speed up in my chest. Oh Merlin, I think im having a panic attack.

"Hermione," Severus' soothing voice call out, it sounds distant, far away, barely near, "Hermione?"

"Hermione?"

I open my eyes and can see Harry looking down at me; he has a look on his face like he has just swallowed something sour.

"Huh?" I nod drowsily.

"You fainted" Harry notifies me. He looks a mixture between amused and shocked.

"Sorry" I bite back snaky.

Severus who had been standing by the door peering outside walks over and extends a hand to lift me.

I take it and once again feel and appreciate the warmth of his touch. I am reluctant to let go but do so none the less.

"I think they are outside" Snape announces.

"Eh?" I call.

"It's all a game to them, they have disarmed us, left us in the dark to weaken us, left the door open to confuse us and now, I believe they are waiting just outside the gates, expecting us to go casually strolling out, then… They fire and hunt us like dogs…" he trails off

"What makes you say that?" Harry asks but I think I already know the answer.

Snape turns around and glares at him icily, "I was once a Death Eater, Potter", he spits.

I can see the sadness and remorse in his eyes, I truly have underestimated this man.

I reach out a hand and place it soothingly on his arm. He looks down at it and them into my eyes. He looks shocked like he has never felt a woman's touch before.

Little do I know how close to the truth I am.

I can see Harry rolling his eyes in the background and I'm quickly brought back to reality.

I take a look out the door and make a rash decision.

"If anything happens" I begin, "ANYTHING" they look at me strangely, "meet me where Dumbledore fell" I catch a glimpse of the hurt and confused look on both men's faces before I pelt outside.

I feel the wind cut through my hair and slice against my sore cheeks like little daggers. My breathing becomes shallow, but I keep on running. The gravel and grit beneath my feet crunches and bits of stone flick up and pinch me on the back of my legs. I reach the end of the drive.

Peering out to the edges of the manor walls I can see the subtle movement of people. I desperately want one last look at Severus and Harry before I go but I can't risk it, I need to concentrate. I just hope at least one of them got the message.

At least by my attempted suicidal mission I will give away the Death Munchers position.

I come to a stand still somewhere between the front door and big brass gate. I know the wards are down so I just might have a chance.

I take a look around me, slowly dark shadows of men begin to inch forward, I don't see anyone of any importance there and certainly no Lucius Malfoy, which is probably a good thing. I hear a distant cry, "Keep Potter alive, he belongs to the Lord". I roll my eyes.

They start to advance on me faster and faster, my pulse quickens, I don't know what possessed me to do this but now it's too late to regret it.

Crap!

Crap!

Crap!

I turn around to the sound of footsteps advancing.

It's Severus and Harry.

"Nooo" I yell at them, this wasn't supposed to happen, they were supposed to stay behind so they could escape. I feel two sharp pains on each arm and as I look forward I catch a glimpse of a streak of green light heading towards me. Before it hits me I fee the familiar sensation of my stomach coming up through my mouth.

It worked, we're apparating.

We arrive with a thud on the soft grass outside Hogwarts' main gate.

Breathing heavily and exhausted I collapse to the ground and lie on the grassy bank to catch my breath.

I look up at Harry, "Great plan" he shouts at me.

"Sorry" I say, "I thought it would work, and as you can see, it sort of did" I point to where we are.

"Only because we realised what you were about to do can came rushing after you just in time" he balled.

""You didn't have to…I didn't ask you to" I sulked.

"You wouldn't have been able to break the remaining ward yourself" Severus says solemnly.

I look up at him and he avoids my gaze.

"Whatever" I strut, and stand so I can make my way to the castle.

Harry follows behind me.

Bloody men.

Where's Snape?

I look over my shoulder and see him sitting back on the grassy bank.

I sigh.

Urgh, why do they have to be so god-damn awkward?

I make my way over to where he is sitting and plop myself down.

"Hey" I say

He just looks at me.

God he really does have the deepest eyes I have ever seen, there so lost and lonely yet full of wisdom and knowledge.

I shake out of my trance and smile gently at him.

"No one has ever risked their life for me before" he says shyly.

My smile widens and I rest my head on his shoulder. In turn he rests his head on top of mine. I imagine the horrified look on Harry's face as he stands staring behind us.

"You know, When I was in the first year I set your cloak on fire" I don't know why I'm telling him this, but I just feel like I have to.

"I know" he replies silkily.

"How?" I ask taken back

"That portable fire was a speciality of yours, I knew it was you, but I understood why you did it."

I am blushing so hard right now I wish we were back in the basement.

"I also stole potions from you in the second year" I confessed.

"I guessed as much"

"In the third year, I let Sirius scrape your head against the roof on the way out of the shrieking shack"

"That explains the burses; I presumed it was from when you used the expilleramus spell on me"

"Oh yeah, and that" I can't believe how much I am blushing.

I look over to him and he smirks at me, it quickly sends a rush of adrenalin through me, I smile back.

"Ok you guys can we please get going" Harry calls impatiently.

I turn my head to peak over my shoulder, he is waving his arms in a gesture that suggests 'get over here right now unless you want your ass kicked'. I smile and stand.

Severus had already stood before me and has his arm extended for me to take. I do so happily and as we walk up to the castle I don't let go.