AN – I own nothing!

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Chapter 44

Hermione looked around and noticed all the white fluffy clouds around her as her body flew swiftly above them as if she were Superman. Yes, it thrilled her for some reason even though she hated flying. Now, she felt free and safe.

As she looked ahead of her, she noticed that there were three people waiting for her just beyond. The closer she got, she recognized who they were: her parents and her grandmother. Ecstatic, she reached out to them, wanting to hug them after not seeing them for a long time.

"Sorry Hermione, we can't," Philip answered sadly as he too wanted to hug his daughter. Like he said though, they couldn't hug her.

"Why not?" she frowned.

"We are in the afterlife, and it is not time for you to cross over yet," her mother answered.

Hermione looked at all of them and then asked, "Am I dreaming then?"

"This isn't a dream," her grandmother answered. "We have come to see you and warn you about a certain person. One that is a threat to you. One that wears a symbol."

"The Dark Mark you mean?" Hermione asked.

Hermione's grandmother shook her head. "He may not wear the Mark, but he is just as dangerous as the others and is a follower of Voldemort himself."

"Who? What symbol then?"

"We do not know who exactly, but we do know that he is someone close to you. What he wears is a head of a cobra."

Cobra? Hermione thought to herself. "Does anyone else know? Maybe Lucius knows who this person is."

Philip shook his head. "Doubt it. There is a possibility though that Harry may know. We aren't too sure."

Hermione thought of numerous names in her head. It obviously couldn't be someone that knew the truth and who she really was, otherwise Voldemort would have already known. Then, who could it be? There were loads of people that she knew.

"My little girl isn't a little girl anymore," Philip beamed at his daughter, disrupting her thoughts. "You are about to become a mother, and we are do happy for you."

"Thanks Daddy," Hermione smiled at him as tears flowed from her eyes. Some of them were tears of happiness and others of sadness. "How I wish that you were all alive."

"So do we," her mother said with tears in her eyes as well. "So do we."

"Do not worry so Hermione," Philip said softly, seeing the worry in her eyes. "You have many people around you, protecting you. Your grandfather, Lucius and most of all the man that loves you… Severus."

"Daddy…" Hermione called as she started to float away. Everything else around her was starting to fade. She tried to reach out to him, as she continued to call to him. No, she couldn't separate from him and them again. Their meeting was just too short.

"We love you," his voice echoed. "We will be watching over you…"

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"Daddy!" Hermione gasped as she sat straight up from the bed. She looked around and remembered where she was. In her suite along with Severus.

Severus's eyes snapped open when he heard Hermione's voice. He reached out to turn on the bedside lamp and sat up, wrapping his arms around her. "It's alright Little One," he murmured as he brushed a kiss against her temple. He thought that Hermione had another bad dream. "I'm here. Nothing and no one can harm you."

"Severus," Hermione sobbed as she turned to face him. "I saw him, along with mum and grandma. I saw him. They talked to me, and told me something important."

"Did they?" he asked. So it wasn't a nightmare. He could sense her fear and sadness. He understood why the sadness, but what of the fear? "What did they say?"

"There's a follower of the Dark Lord that is close to me. He doesn't wear the Dark Mark, but bears the symbol of the head of a cobra," she explained. "I-I don't know who, and Harry might not know either. It scares me Severus…"

"Hush… Hush…" was all Severus could say as he pulled her to his chest. His chin resting on top of her head. He couldn't admit that he too was scared for the safety of his wife. A spy for Voldemort himself? Who could the traitor be?

"I wanted to stay and be with them. I didn't want to leave," Hermione cried. "I don't think I can take it anymore. All the stress and problems… I wanted to stay with them…"

Severus kept his hold on Hermione as he lay back down on the bed. He continued to whisper comforting words to her as she continued to cry. He understood why she wanted to stay with them. Her pain and sorrow, he could feel very well. There were already enough problems for her and them as it was, and there were still more coming along the way. He had no choice, but to be strong for them. There was no other option.

Then the thought of being alone, without her, if she did stay with them hit him. He couldn't be without her. He just couldn't. Hermione had become his life. Without her, he was nothing.

After some time, Hermione started to quiet down, with the occasional hiccup. Severus knew that she had fallen asleep on his chest. He pushed away the soft curls that had been covering her beautiful face. With his fingers, he gently wiped away the tears on her tear stained face.

His lips rested on her brow as he softly murmured, "I can't live without you Hermione. I do not know where I would be without you. If you did stay with them, I don't know what I would do, or where I would be…"

Severus wrapped his arms around her protectively and stared up the ceiling. He was afraid to sleep the rest of the night. Afraid that he might actually lose her.

He had to talk to King Richard and Lucius first thing in the morning. They had to know about what Hermione just told him. Hermione needed to have more protection and the traitor needed to found amongst the midst right away.

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AN – To tell the Weasley's (minus Ron of course) and the Hogwarts staff about Hermione's secrets or not? That is the question. Reivew!