Title: The Ties That Bind

Summary/ Warning: Dom/ Sub, HGRW, PPBZ, RLSB, NLDM, TNSB, NMLM, LVBL …and of course HPSS.

Authours Note: below

Chapter 26: Hoping Against Hope

:Parseltongue:

"Conversational thoughts"

Private thoughts, shared memories

DEDICATION: fresh42jazz-- damn guilt trips...... XD

Hermione stared at the still form on the bed, mind not working. Though it had been a few hours since Neville had attacked Harry, the teen had just now fallen asleep, his tears still trickling down his cheeks. She smoothed his hair away from his face and he shifted, brow creasing and lips trembling. From her seat on the edge of his bed Hermione glanced up at the others crowding the doorway, too scared to enter the room.

"I think we should get Madame Pomfrey," she whispered, and Pansy nodded once before fleeing. Blaise and Ron stayed in the doorway, watching Hermione as she turned back to the sleeping brunette. He was curled up in a fetal position, facing Hermione, covers up around his neck and pillow tucked all the way under his shoulders. Hermione began to stroke Harry's hair and he quieted, settling deeper into his sleep.

The door slammed open and shut, and Seamus and Dean's loud voices carried into the room. Ron had disappeared before Hermione could think to say anything, and soon the low sounds of the ginger explaining the situation could be heard in the bedroom. Seamus and Dean came to the doorway, faces horrified as they peered inside. Hermione looked at them over her shoulder, face expressionless, and they backed away, going back to the Common Room to wait for Pomfrey.

Only a few more minutes passed before the Medi-Witch arrived, and Hermione smiled weakly in greeting. Poppy came over, saying as she did so, "What is the problem? Ms. Parkinson wasn't very clear when she… came-" the older witch stuttered to a halt at the sight that met here eyes.

"Oh." She whispered, "Oh my." Hermione shrugged slightly at the Medi-Witch's words, and started to explain as the older lady looked at her in shock.

"You've heard of the Subdo Revilio potion, right Poppy?" The teens in the room looked at Hermione weirdly, but the girl ignored them. She had the woman's own permission to call the Medi-Witch by her given name, and she would.

Poppy's face closed, and her eye's darkened. "Yes. I have. And I keep telling Albus he should stop-" She cut herself off, and drew in a deep breath. "Yes. I have heard of the potion, and I have treated some of it's effects before."

Hermione gestured to Harry with the hand she wasn't using to stroke his hair. "Well, we… we think his mate rejected him." She was proud that her voice only shook a little.

Poppy paled, and glanced at Hermione quickly. "But they had been in a relationship already, yes? As I recall the potion was made two weeks ago." Hermione nodded in agreement, and Poppy clenched her jaw as she turned to Harry. After a moment the Med-Witch glanced at the doorway, eyeing the three students waiting there, but didn't say anything. Pulling her wand out of her sleeve Poppy began to cast spells, spells Hermione didn't recognise.

For almost half an hour the witch sent spell after spell at Harry's prone form, not asking Hermione to remove her hand… not that the girl would have, and Poppy knew it. Finally the woman lowered her wand and stared at the teen, thinking. The others were silent- most of them had been in the Hospital Wing often enough to know not to interrupt the woman.

The silence thickened, but no one broke it or even offered to. There was no sound or movement from the Common Room, either, or from Neville and Draco- whose wards were still active. Poppy took another deep breath and exhaled it heavily before turning to the students.

"Who knows Mr. Potter best?" As one, the teens pointed to Hermione, who shrugged then nodded. "Alright. Then I need to speak with Ms. Granger alone." No one moved, and after a moment Poppy added, "Please. I need to ask questions that he might not want everyone knowing." Reluctantly, and with ill-grace the others left, shutting the door softly behind them.

Poppy cast a Silencing Spell at the door with an apologetic glance to Hermione, who just said, "I know."

"Hermione, I have to ask a few personal questions, some of which you might not know that answer to. Just answer them as best as you can, that's all I ask."

Hermione took her own deep breath, blowing it out before nodding. "Right. I can do that." She paused, and added, "But please don't tell anyone anything I tell you."

Poppy nodded and, with an encouraging smile, began. "Is his mate male or female?"

"Male."

"He is the Dominant, yes?'

"Yes."

"Has he ever been the sexually Submissive partner?"

"I don't know."

"How long did it take before Mr. Potter accepted his mate?"

"Umm… half a day? A little more?"

"Was it hard for him to accept who his mate was?"

Hermione had to pause. "He'd… had a crush on the man…. But he never thought that anything would come of it… and then he took the potion and found out about his mate… so, I guess not. He had trouble accepting the reality of it, not the person."

"Alright. Has he said anything since he came back here?"

Hermione's face tightened, but she nodded. "He said he was 'not worthy', that he 'made me leave', and that 'he doesn't love me anymore'."

Poppy nodded, showing her understanding. "Now… do you think it's important for me to know who his mate is? I understand if you do not wish to tell me, and I don't think it will be all that important in the whole process." She smiled crookedly, and added, "And I know Minerva's been driving herself spare trying to figure it out. I will not break your confidence."

Hermione sat there for a minute, and glanced at Harry, wondering what she should do. But she'd seen the two together- it had been amazing how well they'd gotten on. And then this had happened… and although no one knew for sure that he'd been rejected, all evidence pointed to it.

"Snape."

"Pardon me?" Poppy asked in shock, shaking her head to clear her ears. "What did you say?"

"His mate is Severus Snape."

"I… see…" Poppy said, looking at the teen with new eyes. "How many other's know?"

"Me, Ron, and Neville. Possibly Pansy." Hermione cocked her head at the Medi-Witch, and asked with only a slight quaver to her voice, "Do you think that who his mate his will make that much of a difference?"

"Hmm?" Poppy looked back up at the Gryffindor, then shook her head. "No. No- it's just surprising that they were able to coexist peacefully for two weeks." And under her breath, Poppy added, "I'm amazed Severus lasted that long." Hermione pretended not to hear.

"But what can you do for him?" Hermione asked, frowning. "Is there anything you can do for him?"

Poppy hesitated. "It's complicated. I can make sure Mr. Potter is healthy, but for his sanity… Severus would have to take the boy back. And I don't know how long he has before he looses his sanity. And then his life."

Hermione grimaced at the bald words, and glanced down at Harry. "Oh," she said softly, and ran her finger down Harry's cheek. She didn't want to loose him.

Neville emerged from his room in the beginning of the evening, glancing warily around before going over to Hermione. She glanced up at the other Gryffindor, and raised a brow in question. Neville shifted on his feet, glancing around the Common Room at the others before asking Hermione in a soft voice if he could talk to her.

Hermione gestured to the open space next to her- Ron was sound asleep, recovering from Quidditch practice- and marked her place in the text she was reading. When Neville was settled she cast the Muffliato, ignoring the disappointed glances of the other teens in the room. Susan and Theo were present as well, and knew the story by now.

But Neville hunched his shoulders once the spell was in place, and asked in a still-soft voice, "How is Harry?"

Hermione shrugged. "We don't know. When Madame Pomfrey came, she healed what she could, and told us to let him sleep for as long as he needed to. Why?"

"I-I feel responsible for what happened to him."

Hermione stared at the other Gryffindor, wondering what had actually happened the Severus had rejected Harry. "Tell me," she ordered, and Neville grimaced as he did so.

"Draco was meeting with Snape to discuss a few important items. I was listening in, of course, and towards the end of the meeting Draco got up to get a hug from Snape. He's Draco's Godfather, you know." Hermione hadn't, but she nodded. Neville went on. "Harry appeared out of nowhere, and used his magic to throw Draco away from Snape." Neville swallowed, but kept speaking. "I lost it. I don't know how I did it but the next thing I knew I was halfway to the dungeons, funneling my magic through Draco to protect him. A moment later I was in Snape's office, and Harry and I got into it." Neville broke off, looking down at his hands as he gathered himself. "I- I attacked Snape, even though he was trying to get Harry to stop. I just wanted to get Draco out of there and hurt Harry as much as I could- I wasn't thinking right. Harry screamed, but I was gone by the time he was ready to fight me again."

Hermione stared at the other Gryffindor, shocked by his tale. Yes, she knew that a beast lived inside of her, ready to fight for Ron and protect him, but never had it actually had a reason to take control. And Neville… he was the gentlest Gryffindor that the House had ever seen. She reached a hand out and rested if on the teen's shoulder, letting Neville know that whatever had happened and whoever was to blame she understood.

The teen sighed, and glanced up at the brunette. "And thank you for helping Draco. You were right- after the bath he was fine." Hermione glanced around the room pointedly, and Neville flushed. "He's just tired."

"I know, Nev. But even though I can't blame you for what happened, you need to know that Harry is in really bad shape right now." Neville's eyes widened in fear and self-loathing, but Hermione shook her head quickly. "No- not from anything you did. Not directly. He has no… physical… injuries." She saw the question in Neville's eyes well before the teen could ask it, and she sighed. "Snape rejected him because of the way he attacked Draco, and there's really no knowing if he'll be able to make it without his mate."

"Oh, Merlin," Neville breathed, shocked to his core.

Hermione nodded. "I know."

Hermione stood next to Harry, smoothing his unruly hair. She was the only one he allowed to touch him, even as unconscious as he was. Whenever anyone else did he shifted, moaned and whimpered, frightening them into calling for Hermione. Mostly the others touched him by accident as they sat by his side, but only Hermione's hand would be able to calm him.

She smiled sadly, and traced the outline of the scar on his forehead with her index finger. No one said anything, but she knew what they were thinking. Harry had always listened to her, had always turned to her when he needed advice or a shoulder to lean on. In many respects Hermione was the mother he never had, and Harry had once called her his 'surrogate mummy' in jest.

But she wondered what would happen now. Would Harry be able to regain his sanity? Would it be possible for him to live without Severus? But every documented case of separation noted the pain felt by each half every day for the rest of their lives, and Hermione wondered if it would be merciful for Harry to go mad. Surely he would prefer it to having a gaping hole in his soul that couldn't be repaired, not even after death.

The light feel of a sigh danced across the palm of her hand, and Hermione fixed the covers before leaving. Sometimes it was hard for her to stay in the room, even as Harry slept. Ron pulled her into a hug outside the door, and for a moment Hermione let herself relax into his embrace. But soon enough she straightened and smiled wanly at her mate. He sighed, and walked with her to the Library.

Hermione knew there was no more information to be found in the books, but that room was her safe haven, the place she could go when nowhere else was safe. And who knew- perhaps she would find her answers in the Library. She hadn't read every book, yet.

Draco stared at Harry as the Gryffindor slept, and replayed the scene over and over in his mind. The rage on Harry's face, and the blood-red eyes. The fact that the teen was wearing pajama's and had come from Severus' personal quarters. How he hadn't figured it out long ago the blonde didn't know, but as he looked back he saw all the signs.

Less points being taken away from Gryffindor by his Godfather. Odd moments when both Harry and Severus were missing. Little things- but Draco shook his head. He'd caused this, he knew he had no matter what Neville said. Harry wouldn't have lost it if Draco had known that the Golden Boy was his Godfather's mate, because then he would have been able to save the situation.

He knew he could have- but now, as he watched Harry's still form, Draco tried to let it go. He hadn't known, Harry had attacked him, and things had gone from there. There was nothing he could do to change the past. Neville's hand on his shoulder didn't startle him, and they both watched the Boy-Who-Lived for a moment more.

"It's not your fault, Draco. If anything, it's mine. I knew who his mate was, and yet I didn't tell you, even at the meeting when anything could have gone wrong." Neville chuckled brokenly inside Draco's mind, and added, "And look what did."

"If you're going to put it that way, Nev, then were are all to blame. But no one could have guessed that Sev would reject him."

Neville agreed reluctantly. After a moment, he squeezed Draco's shoulder. "Let's go to bed, and leave Harry alone. Hermione is going to watch him till morning, so we can come back then."

Draco nodded, eyes still on the still form on the bed. "I'll never reject you, Nev." he whispered, and Neville pulled the blonde up and into his arms.

"Neither will I," he vowed. After one more glance at Harry, they left, nodding to Hermione as she passed them. She pulled out a book, and called up the time. Nearly one in the morning. For the next five hours Hermione would watch Harry, and pray to whatever god was listening that nothing bad happened to him.

… the night was dark, and he looked around curiously, wondering how he had gotten here. Wherever here was. There were trees and winding streams and flowers, and he laughed in delight as a butterfly tickled his nose. But the butterfly was chased away by a cold wind, and storm clouds darted through the streams.

He stared at the water in puzzlement. Weren't the clouds supposed to be in the sky? He looked up, and stared at the ground. The dirt rained down on him, coating him in filth, yet he didn't cover himself. What was there to protect him? He couldn't protect anyone, let alone himself.

The mud fell from the sky and the storm raged in the rivers and he stared as the world was inverted. The doe that had been eating the grass killed a rabbit and shared the catch with the hare, and the wolf looked on in disgust as it stuffed it's mouth with weeds. A hawk crawled on the ground, shrieking in fear as a mouse rose from the sky to attack it.

He turned, and ran, but he went nowhere. His feet were caught in the sun and they were freezing, and the moon was burning his hands and his tears. He stopped trying to flee and fell into the ocean, coughing as the air burned his lungs. The water lifted him down to the earth and he spun in the dust-storm that raged in the sea.

He stopped trying to fight, stopped trying to breath as all control was taken away from him, stopped try to be as he listed in the savage breeze. There was nothing for him any more, and he wondered vaguely if life was worth the death that was ready to free him…

Poppy stared down at the fevered child shivering in his bed, still deeply asleep. Hermione stood next to her, afraid, as Harry trembled, lost in whatever dream had a hold of him. It was barely nine but everyone was awake, and watching Harry. Susan had been sitting with him when the shivering had started, and she had called for Hermione right away.

Now heads crowded the doorway as Poppy finished casting what spells she could, and every eye followed her actions. Haven has never been so silent, Hermione mused, glancing over to the watchful eyes of the other mated pairs. How we all worry about him- how we all wish that this was just a horrible, terrible dream.

But it wasn't, she well knew. It was very real, and so long as Harry was in the grip of the fever anything could happen. Poppy left silently, and Hermione ushered everyone out as Seamus took his place next to Harry. The sight made the brunette's eyes tear, but she quickly wiped away the evidence as she shut the door. Everyone had spent some time watching Harry, making sure he was never alone. They had volunteered. Hermione settled on her couch, next to Ron, and stared at the roaring fireplace in thought. Who should she tell?

Sirius? Probably, but not until things got worse. As bad as it sounded Hermione resolved to hide this from the Animagus until Harry either got well and told his Godfather himself, or… if something else happened. Hermione blinked rapidly to clear her eyes, and Ron merely hugged her tighter, not even bothering to ask what was wrong.

Who else was in Harry's life? Remus would be told by Sirius, and Snape was out of the equation… Hermione sat upright, eyes wide. Of course! How could she forget!

"Come on, Ron," she said, standing and blessing the fact that this was a Hogsmeade weekend, "we've got something to do." The others looked up from their work or whatever in interest, but Hermione only smiled mysteriously.

Hopefully, this worked.

"I think this should work," Hermione told Ron, standing at the edge of the Forest and peering in. The ginger teen huffed.

"It's an insane idea, 'Mione. Of course it will work."

"Ha. Your faith in me is astounding." Ron grinned at the response, then turned to the Forest.

Clearing his throat, he took a deep breath and bellowed at the top of his lungs, "NIKITA!" Hermione smiled in thanks, and they got ready to wait. Only a few minutes later, though, a familiar scaly head appeared in the bushes. Hermione started as the silvery eyes pinned her, and only with an effort did she start speaking.

"Um, I don't know if you can understand me, but I wanted to tell you that Harry isn't doing too well." The head cocked to the side, and Hermione continued on, encouraged. "You see, Snape is his mate, right? Well, something happened and Snape rejected Harry, and now we don't know if he'll be alright." The Manticore hissed in displeasure, and Hermione shrugged. "We just wanted to know if you wanted to see him. We'll bring you up to his room."

The Manticore slid out of the Forest immediately, and Hermione froze for a moment. "Right then. Let's go." With a wide-eyed glance at Ron, they began to lead Nikita to the Castle. Hermione had grabbed Harry's Map earlier, and used it now to get them back inside without being seen. Ron snorted at the Map, pointing out that Nikita was represented by unintelligible squiggles. Hermione thought it might be written Parseltongue, but wasn't sure, having never seen it.

Finally they reached Haven unseen, and Hermione sent Ron in first to clear a path for the Manticore and to prepare the others' for her. When Ron sent that they were all ready, Hermione smiled tightly at Nikita. "I guess you should just follow me?"

Turning she stepped into the little alcove before the Common Room and waited for Nikita to get all the way in before shutting the door. Susan sucked in a breath as the Manticore walked past, the only one who hadn't already seen Nikita close up, but otherwise she kept remarkably calm.

Nikita headed straight for Harry's room, ignoring everyone else, and shut the door with her tail. The students stared, shocked, but Hermione shrugged. "Well, that's what I wanted to try."

Dean managed to say, "I think it worked," though his voice was thick. Seamus huddled closer to his mate and stared at Harry's closed door as he had already been doing. Slowly everyone returned to their previous occupations, letting the Manticore be alone with her Master.

:Young Master,:

Nikita hissed sorrowfully, :I am so sad that this has happened to you.: She paused for a moment, knowing that Harry couldn't hear her, but she rested her head on the bed as she stood next to him. :Why did your mate reject you? What foolishness caused him to do such an idiotic thing?:

But Harry didn't move, much less respond, and Nikita sighed as she removed her head and looked away. The boy was so small when he lay like this, like his life was only a half-remembered dream from years ago. The Manticore sighed, but walked around to the other edge of the bed. Gently placing her forepaws atop the covers she hopped up, and circled as close as she could to her Master. Moving ever so slowly, so as to not hurt Harry, Nikita lay down next to the Gryffindor, paws tucked tightly beneath her body, and wrapped her head around his pillows so that her muzzle became even with Harry's face.

:When you wake from this I must remember to tell you that your friends brought me here. Otherwise, I would still not know why you hadn't visited me.:

Nikita settled her head on the pillow, and let loose a heavy sigh. For as long as this took, she would be here.

Hello, my lovely duckies! How are you? So..... in the matter of the surprisingly fast updates.... I love each and every one of you... and I love your reactions even more. So when I get an inbox full of "OMG WHAT? WHY? YOU ARE EVIL BUT I LOVE YOU" I feel the need to post surprisingly fast.... see? Your reviews work wonders, lol.

But this will be the last time I post chapters for this fic- I'm leaving Friday for Fort Jackson, and my internet will be confined to only what I can get when I get my phone back (rare, very, very, rare and I will not be able to answer reveiws or PM's). My sister will be taking over, back to once a week posts, and hopefully she remembers, lol. But she's got all my passwords and such, so she shouldn't have very many problems.

Now- onto some concerns that were raised.

1.) No. This wil NOT be Mpreg, atypicalsnowman, because while I myself believe that yes, sometimes it does work, not in this case. For those of you who are disappointed, sorry, but I don't think that even in the epilogue to this fic Severus will be ready to bear children. So no- ., Harry isn't preggers. (see #2)

2.) And Ali-chan et Vani-chan, Sevvie would be the one carrying the children- if they decided to... urm... procreate... lol.

3.) AlysiaStorms-- you are my 666 review. Thank you! :P

4.) And for the purple monkeys in clown suits, I hope this kills them off for a while...lol

5.) --sorry- the angst only lasts about two more chapters... but its there, lol.

6.) getsukage, RomanGoddess4eva-- you leave some of the best reviews ever, really. Wow.

So that seems to cover the most pressing issues, and thank you for all your well wishes! I really, really appreciate the fact that you guys care enough about me to wish me luck in Boot Camp. Thanks, guys.

Love,

Netrixie