The Plea

Hermione reappeared at his door early the next morning as promised and was met with a reluctant dignity that surprised her immensely. Severus appeared even more troubled than he had yesterday, one look at his tired eyes revealed that he hadn't slept a wink since she had last seen him and a quick glance at his haggard face made it clear that he had been crying. The strong, stone statue that had once been Severus Snape was now reduced to a pile of rubble, unable to be rebuilt without his cooperation which he would certainly not give at this moment in time. In that second she decided that she would do whatever it took to restore this exhausted old man to his former glory, even if that meant returning him to the cruel, emotionless man he had previously been and that meant one thing – taking the stone.

Severus, however, had other things on his mind. He didn't want to see Harry again, in fact that was the last thing he wanted, but he really had no choice as making Lily happy was the only thing on his mind right now. The reason he had accepted Hermione into his house was so that he could persuade her to bring Harry to him. Although he knew that she would hassle him to give Lily up, he had to put his faith in her caring nature and hope wholeheartedly that she would consent to help him with as little cost to his own happiness as was possible. He knew in the depths of his cold, tragically misused heart that he was wishing for the impossible but this was his only shot.

Hermione had been sat down on his uncomfortable black armchair for no more than a minute, paralysed by the shock of being invited inside, when Severus spoke in a low murmur, trying to hide all of his overwhelming emotions from the insufferable girl.

"Before you speak you must know that I have absolutely no intention of listening to your opinions on my acquiring of the stone. The only reason I have invited you inside is because I have a favour to ask."

The only thing that was more shocking than being invited into Snape's house was him admitting that he needed help. A slight hope that he might actually want to be free of Lily entered her mind momentarily but was immediately obliterated when he spoke again in his low, emotionally reserved murmur.

"I need to see Mr Potter."

It took her a moment or two to understand why this was essential but when she did, she couldn't help but give him a sympathetic glance that he rejected with the utmost disdain. Before he could make it clear that he would not be accepting any pity, she spoke the two words that made his heart leap out of his chest.

"For Lily?"

There was nothing he could do but nod silently, hoping that she would understand the extent to which he needed this and grant him one favour after the years he had spent protecting her best friend but there was a nagging voice inside his head that told him she wouldn't do what he said, she had after all believed him to be the enemy up until a few days ago. The only thing he hadn't anticipated was her not answering at all. Instead she said something completely unexpected which filled his heart with fear and a distinct sense of anger.

"Harry showed me your memories."

She must have sensed his irritation and so continued swiftly in her friends defence.

"No, I insisted, I had to see for myself to truly believe that you were the hero he was adamant that you were. Professor..."

"Not professor. I hope to never work in that God forsaken place again."

She was taken aback by how quickly he could dismiss his sixteen years at Hogwarts but after the events of the last few months she could hardly blame him so she made no comment on his decision, knowing her opinion would have no impact either way.

"Sorry, sir..."

Severus sighed, frustrated by her unyielding good manners, but this would have to do for the time being. He was about to return to the subject of Harry when she spoke once again, resolute that she had to express her opinion on the matter of his protection of Harry before another subject was broached.

"I think what you did for Harry, for all of us, was the most heroic thing that I've ever seen. I can't believe that all these years we thought you were our biggest threat when in fact you were our most vital ally, but that's all said and done now and I know you don't need reminding of it. The one thing I am curious about is Lily, after all these years, why?"

She hadn't expected a reply so when she received one, she was ultimately shocked, possibly as shocked as he was. His mouth had formed the answer before he had registered who had asked the question because it seemed so starkly obvious to him.

"Love."

The word was followed by a drawn out pause in which he regretted speaking and she tried to understand the impact of love on her former professor's life. She wondered briefly whether she would go to these lengths for Ron and a quiet voice in the back of her head told her that she would not. The conversation had taken a turn that neither of them had expected and the only way to get past this was to pretend that it had never happened. Hermione broke the prolonged pause by finally addressing his first plea for help.

"So, Harry."