Sorry about the wait, I had the next few chapters written out but the only copy I had got lost. So I had to re-write it.

Chapter 4: Betrayal

Hermione lay awake later that night, the darkness and emptiness that she craved yet only could achieve with sleep eluded her. After Remus had left, she had still been in shock. But she put on a brave face, told him she would be fine. He had almost decided to stay but he must have sensed her need to be alone. She didn't want to be around anyone at that point, not after the extent of their betrayal. Because that's how she saw it, everyone had seen the effect Ron's disappearance had on her. Yet they didn't even tell her...So when he left she went straight up to her room and locked the door, ignoring the faint sounds of people arriving a little while later. At some point someone came to her door looking for her, she had no idea who, but the person left soon after when they got no answer. Her cheeks remained dry, yet she wished she could cry, but she had shed so many tears for those she loved she was beginning to think she'd lost the ability. None of her Occlumency could stop the memories that seemed to be flooding before her eyes. Happy memories mostly, and although she didn't want to see them she found herself searching desperately for any sign that he wanted to change sides, that he hated people like her, but she found nothing but then she remembered. There had been one night not so long ago...

The wind was howling outside, the branches of the trees were clawing at the windows but the storm didn't bother Hermione. Not since Ron had arrived, and now she lay quite comfortably snuggled up to him. For the moment forgetting her grief about her parent's death. Their conversation was quite animated, Ron was describing the raid he'd been on earlier that day but a sudden crash from outside shocked him into silence and when he spoke again his voice was quite different. And his eyes focussed on something in the darkness, or in his head that Hermione couldn't see. "You ever think that...actually never mind" Hermione's curiosity was sparked.

"What?" she asked. Ron avoided looking at her still staring into the blackness. His voice was slow and steady when he replied, but there was also another emotion beneath it that she couldn't quite place.

"You ever think...it's not worth fighting anymore..."

Hermione stared at him, he still didn't look at her. "Why would I think that? It's unimaginable...the things they do-" Now Ron did look at her and Hermione suddenly wished it was light so she could see his expression...and not just the look in his eyes as he interrupted her, it slightly disturbed her.

His words were rushed now. "What if it's not as bad as we've been lead to think...I mean you should have seen them today 'mione, they were so fast and powerful... I didn't think we would win..." his voice was lowered to a exited whisper by the end of this, but then he seemed to realise what he was saying and his tone turned slightly more apologetic. "I'm just tired of all the death 'mione...i just want it all to end..." Hermione was at a loss of what to say but eventually she found some words. "Ron...he wants to get rid of all muggleborns...like me, he's killed so many people..."

"And we haven't?"

"That's not the point Ron, Harry doesn't have a family because of that...thing I mean-"

"I know I know...and I would never want to be separated from you guys" Ron was looking away from her now his voice was just sad. "I don't know what I'm talking about 'mione. I'm just tired of the constant fear" his voice started to turn desperate "Everyone has their weak moments 'mione. The dark gets to you..."

"I guess so..." Hermione was still doubtful but she let it go, this conversation was best forgotten. Her sleep was not easy that night, images of Ron in Death Eater robes haunted her...though she knew he would never do anything, would never hurt her like that. He was right, everyone had their weak moments.

At some point Hermione must have drifted off because she woke up the next morning to the brightness of the day, she must have forgotten to close her curtains last night. All it took was a quick flick of her wand and the curtains flew shut, enclosing the room in complete darkness once again, which was exactly how she wanted it. She just wanted to lie in the silence and wallow in her emptiness.

This didn't last very long as she was interrupted by a knocking on her door. Hermione pulled the cover over her head, waiting for the person to go away. She was all set to cast a silencing charm and ignore whoever it was when she heard the soft voice."'mione...open the door" it made her go cold and she felt anger building up inside her. She kept her mouth shut, and then the voice came again.

"Hermione please come out, we need to talk" Hermione couldn't take it. Then a sense of calm overcame her. And she threw the covers off and felt round the darkness for her clothes before throwing them on, Harry seemed to hear the noise and had shut up. Next she grabbed a potion from under her bed and gulped it down before storing another in her pocket. Only then did she open the door. A look of surprise came across Harry's face; he knew she never usually gave in that easily. But Hermione didn't stop to look at him, she brushed straight past him as if he wasn't there but that didn't seem to faze him. "Hermione wait..." She continued to ignore him, heading down the stairs swiftly.

She managed to get to the door without anyone else trying to talk to her, one look from her murderous brown eyes sent them scattering like rats. She just placed her hand on the door when someone grabbed her other arm. "Hermione we need to talk about this" Her voice was quiet and controlled when she spoke. "Let go of my arm Harry"

He didn't. "Mione please you don't know how sorry-"

Her voice was still a quite murmur but her tone was warning. "I don't want your apologies Harry. Now let go of my arm, before I make you" She kept her eyes away from him, as her calm interior shook, she had wanted tears but not now, she couldn't show them she was weak, she needed to get away. Thankfully he let go and she heard him take a step back. She sighed slightly with relief and opened the door, feeling the heat of the sun and the briskness of the wind on her skin. She barely noticed the change in height and body the polyjuice potion caused as she walked away, stopping just outside the boundaries and swiftly turning and apparating away in the shade of some trees.

When she arrived it was the silence that hit her the most and when she opened her eyes it was to see a beautiful forest, the sunlight could hardly reach the ground here, and Hermione felt detached, distanced, lost. And away from all the problems in her life, it seemed to her in the cool shadows that here, she couldn't be watched…couldn't be judged. She was all alone, and it felt good. Then the silence started allowing thoughts in, thoughts and memories that felt like they wanted to claw themselves out of her, they filled her with hate and anguish and it just kept building up. Then, she finally lost control. She found herself running and a scream tore itself through her lips, so tortured and broken that any creature hidden is the safety of the trees and the ground could hear her pain. She found herself clawing at anything that stood in her path and tears ran unchecked down her once dry face. She cried for her parents, for Ron, for herself, she screamed for every injustice that had ruined her childhood and broken her heart piece by piece, until it felt like there was hardly any left to give away. Once the friends had been good enough to counter the realisation, she felt she could do anything as long as she had them by her side, but Ron was gone and now she was loosing Harry to. Loosing him as he tried to protect her, but instead making her feel like she was an item to be protected rather than a friend to fight with. It was suffocating her. Finally exhaustion forced her to fall to her knees, her brunette locks were back and she let them cover her face as she ran her hands through her hair. Clutching it almost hysterically as her tears shook her small body. How could they do this to her? What had she done?

The silence, when it came over the forest again, was sudden and left the air feeling empty. Only the dimming light shining through the trees alerted her to the passing time and when she finally stood she was in control. That was it, she'd had enough. Her emotions were not going to get in the way anymore, she had work to do. With that decision made she spun around on her heels and apparated to the meeting place. When she arrived she noticed she was early, so she quickly found a seat, ignoring the looks people occasionally gave her. She knew she must look a right state but somehow she didn't care. She sat staring into the depth of her drink, occasionally glancing up for anyone that could be Severus. He must be late, as if to prove her point she glanced at the clock behind her, five minutes past eight. Maybe she'd gotten here sooner than she thought. She sighed and turned back to her drink, wishing for something stronger, but she didn't want to risk it. Finally when she'd just finished her second drink, her searching eyes noticed a man walk through the door, his features were unremarkable but the way he walked seemed familiar, and when he glanced around and started heading towards her she knew it must be him. He slid down into the seat opposite.

"Sorry I'm late I was somewhat...delayed" Hermione nodded,

"Its fine, now what do you have to tell me?"

"It will be easier to show as well as tell you Miss Granger if you will just give me a moment" Hermione nodded again. It wasn't like she was in a hurry to go back, the curiosity on the other hand was eating away at her. So she returned staring at her drink, she was interrupted from her thoughts by Severus reaching forward and plucking something from her hair, a branch.

"You know you will gain unwanted attention in such a state, what have you been doing with yourself?"

Hermione continued staring, then said "I went for a walk in the woods, didn't know it was that bad" she glanced up to see Severus raising his eyebrow but he left it at that and they continued to drink in silence. Hermione wanted to open her mouth and just blurt everything out and interrogate him about Ron but she didn't think that was professional, and she didn't think she could handle the complete truth. So she kept her mouth shut. Finally Severus set his drink down and looked at the clock.

"I think it's about time we left" He got to his feet, and Hermione followed his example.

"Where are we going?" she asked quietly as they headed outdoors. After the warmth of the pub the cold wind hit her like a slap in the face. Severus just continued walking; Hermione could see that the Polyjuice potion he had used was beginning to fade. When they had walked a fair distance away he stopped and gestured for her to come closer. Hermione was strangely reluctant to walk forwards. "Cant you just tell me where we're going? I can apparate" Severus just smiled.

"It is not a place you have been before. We are going to my manor and I am the only one that can apparate in and out." Seeing her still hesitate he sighed, "Miss Granger, had I wanted to betray or harm you then I would have already done so now come" Hermione blushed ashamedly and reluctantly walked within his reach. He quickly pulled her close to him with one of his arms and whispered in her ear "There that wasn't so difficult now was it?" Then she felt the squeezing sensation and she automatically closed her eyes. When she felt solid ground underneath her feet, buckled slightly and she felt the arm around her waist tighten to hold her up then a slight breeze alerted her to his sudden departure from her side and opened her eyes to see what appeared to be a handsome manor, she turned to the source of the voice that suddenly spoke. "This way" she caught the hint of a smirk on his lips before he turned and started leading the way up to the dark house.

The walk was quite silent which just gave Hermione time to go over things in her head, and also time for the anticipation and expectation of what she was about to see build up. She knew she trusted Severus when he said he'd found a way but there was still a small part of her that worried that something might go wrong and she would be back to square one. After what seemed like ages they were finally outside the house, and by now she was close enough to hear that Snape was muttering as he walked. He must have a lot of enchantments on this place she thought. When they walked through the door Snape didn't bother to turn any lights on, just continued on, up the stairs and along a hallway that was panelled with dark wood, but it was hard to make out details. She could however, see the doors that lined the hallway, all dark and menacing, and she couldn't help but wondering what would happen to her if she tried to get in. She shuddered at the thought, and then nearly bumped into Severus who was standing outside one of the doors. He had started muttering again then opened the door and stepped through, and continued walking to a door on the side of the room, Hermione glanced around, there was a large bookcase lining one of the walls and a desk sitting in front of the door that was now standing open.

"My study" Severus said dismissively then headed through the open door "This way" Hermione followed arriving in time to see him flicking his wand to light the candles that aligned the circular walls. Her intelligent brown eyes darted around the room, taking in the wall of books, ingredients and potions with fascination before moving her gaze to the potions that were dotted around the room. She couldn't resist going to see what they were and she wasn't stopped. The first few potions were pretty easy to guess. Healing potion, Veritaserum and most impressively Felix Felicis, and on closer examination Hermione found that it had been brewed perfectly. Moving on to the other side of the room and bypassing the potion in the middle Snape seemed to be stirring, she tried to identify the next two but found it extremely difficult. They seemed to be a combination of potions and Hermione found it difficult to establish what ones they were.

"Any ideas Miss Granger?" the voice startled her out of her thoughts.

"Umm. Well those three over there" she pointed "are easily identified. Healing Potion, Veritaserum and Felix Felicis" She paused and looked again into the depth of the potion she was staring at. "But these two…" a frown of concentration came on her face as she tried to figure it out. "Well this one seems to have the scent and steam of Amortentia but the colour is all wrong…it reminds me of Adduco Oblivio…"

"My my Miss Granger, you really are the brightest witch of your age, it is in fact both of those" Hermione smiled at the familiar compliment. "You combined them?" She asked and Severus nodded. "But that-I mean you told us in class-"

"Miss Granger do you think I would have told a class of third years that they could combine potions? They would have gotten some ideas in their heads and the act is very delicate, and makes the brewing of Felix Felicis seem simple" The smirk was back. Hermione smiled, thinking back to her third year self, thinking she could do anything. He had a point. Hermione's curiosity was even more established now, and she headed towards the centre potion. This must be the one Snape intended her to use.

"So what is this one?" Snape appeared beside her so close that he could whisper in her ear.

"I'm sure you could figure it out for yourself Miss Granger" Hermione moved away slightly startled but tried to blend the movement in with examining the potion. She stared for a minute then cleared her throat.

"Right umm…the texture reminds me of a polyjuice potion…with the final ingredient added…" She smiled to herself and the memories that arose at the mention of the name, before sadness filled her at the thought that they would never have an adventure together again. She was silent for a moment then braced herself to speak again "But I think that this light mist on the surface, and I'm guessing the taste… implies the Memoria Ingenero. Am I close?" Realisation of the possibilities this potion would have if she was correct filled her with hope, and awe. It was genius.

"Congratulations Miss Granger…once again you have proved yourself an apt student. This is what I think you should use" Hermione smiled softly in relief.

"Is it ready yet?"

"I'm afraid not, a few more days perhaps. But for now Miss Granger, I think it is time for you to return home"

"That place is not my home, it is my prison" Hermione hissed without thinking. Snape looked at her questioningly. But she turned away and sighed. "I suppose so"

"I will show you the way" and with that he brushed past her and out through the door, Hermione followed reluctantly.

The journey back to the apparition spot seemed to be a lot shorter than when she had walked up, although a different kind of anticipation was filling her this time. But the fear of the response she would have to deal with at headquarters was nothing compared to the new hope filling her, she wasn't going to listen to Harry and follow his rules if they denied her the things she needed to survive and left her useless. That would be worse than dying, especially after Ron. It had certainly given her a perspective on how important she was to their decisions, actions and plans. Severus walked beside her, as silent and deep in thought as she was. When he touched her arm to signal her to stop, she was so startled she jumped, earning a small chuckle from him.

"You should be able to apparate from here" Hermione nodded and took her wand out. Just as she was about to leave she lowered her wand and looked at the stationary Snape.

"Thank you, you don't know how much this means to me, but before I go can I ask one question?"

Snape smirked slightly, "You can ask, but I don't guarantee an answer" He must have thought I was going to ask about Ron but she wasn't ready for that answer.

"Who will I be impersonating?" it was a perfectly logical question but Snape seemed slightly taken aback. He turned to face the black landscape on which his house sat and Hermione thought he wasn't going to answer. But then his voice carried by the winds so softly she found it hard to establish whether she had heard it or not reached her ears before he started walking away.

"My sister"