Sorry guys I uploaded the wrong file and gave you the unedited version!

Here is the correct chapter (its pretty much the same)

Chapter 24

"It's Ron he's been poisoned." He said waiting for her reaction. At seeing Hermione loose all colour in her face he crossed the room as fast as he could to take the vile out of her hand. "Hermione? Are you all right?"

"Is he going to be all right?" She said looking up at him, eyes filling with tears.

"Yes he'll be fine. Luckily Potter thought quickly and was able to shove a bezoar down his throat in time. He's unconscious right now, but he should be okay. He's in the hospital wing now."

"I have to go! I have to be there when he wakes up!" She said leaving everything behind as she ran from the lab all the way up to the hospital wing. When Hermione entered the hospital wing, she instantly went to Ron's side. She now realized how stupid she had been. Without saying a word to Harry or Ginny she sat down in a chair by his bedside gripping his hand as if it were a lifeline. Harry and Ginny, seeming to realize that she didn't want to talk, didn't speak.

"What happened?" she said finally, never letting her eyes leave Ron's still form. Harry then began telling her about the spiked chocolate cauldrons and then what happened in Slughorn's office. Afterwards Ginny and Harry started to speculate about who had poisoned the mead. Hermione kept silent throughout the conversation, there was no reason to speculate, she knew who had done this.

A little while later they were joined by Fred and George, which was a welcomed surprise for Hermione. She had barely seen them over the summer with all of them having such busy schedules.

"Hi Hermione." George said in a sad voice embracing her in a hug. "Hello George, Fred."

"Hi Hermione." Fred said looking at Ron. "Where're Mum and Dad?"

"They were here earlier. They are talking to Dumbledore now." Ginny replied.

"So what happened?" George said looking at Harry.

….

The next day Hermione woke up early. She had planned to go see Ron again, hopefully this time he would be awake. She had stayed in the hospital wing all afternoon until Madame Pomfrey insisted that she, Harry and Hagrid leave on account of their being too many visitors. Grabbing a quick bite to eat in the Great Hall Hermione ran up to the hospital wing still finishing her toast. When she entered she saw that he was still asleep. Figuring that she could at least give him company, she sat down in a chair by the foot of his bed and started reading one of the books she had brought along. A book that would hopefully have something on Horcruxes, she had been searching for the meaning of Horcruxes ever since Harry had mentioned them. And for the first time ever the library at Hogwarts was failing her. There was never even so much as a mention of them!

"A little light reading I see." Said the familiar voice of Severus Snape. She looked up to see the daunting figure of the Potions Master leaning over her shoulder trying to read the book in her hands. "Why on earth are you reading that?" He said surprised.

"Research." She said simply. "You never know where something useful might come from."

"This is true I suppose. But I hardly think that will be of any help."

"Why are you here anyway?" Hermione said changing the subject.

"I just came to drop off some potions for Madam Pomfrey." He said gesturing to her office.

"I'm sorry for leaving the lab in such a hurry yesterday. I realize now that I didn't even clean up. What you must think of me, I'm so sorry it was very thoughtless of me."

"Yes it was quite vexing having to put all of your things away, and finish your potion."

"You are impossible sometimes you know?"

He was about to retort when his eyes shot over to where she knew Ron lay. When she turned around she could see he was waking up, figuring it was best that Severus leave before he woke she turned to say goodbye, but to her surprise he was already gone.

"Hermione." Ron said in a weak voice, making Hermione jump out of her chair and over to the seat right by his head.

"Oh Ron can you ever forgive me?" Hermione said tears welling up in her eyes.

"That depends. Can you ever forgive me?"

Grabbing his hand and squeezing it she replied, "I already have."

"Hermione, I'm sorry for being such a prat. You didn't deserve it." Ron said quickly, it was obviously something that he had wanted to say for sometime now.

"I'm just glad you're safe that's all that matters." She said giving him a watery smile.

"So how have you been these past few months?" He said with genuine curiosity, but also trying to lighten the atmosphere. He has always been one to avoid the emotional moments. Hermione thought to herself.

"I've been good, very busy, but good." Hermione said with a sigh.

"Yeah, Harry has been telling me how much work Snape's got you doing."

"Harry told you about that?" She said indignantly.

"Of course he did. He's worried about you. So am I." Ron said hesitantly.

"You don't have to worry. Professor Snape never asks more of me than I am capable of doing, and if I said it was too much he would respect my opinion on the matter." Hermione said self-righteously.

"If you say so." He said holding his hands up in surrender.

Suddenly there was a loud shriek coming from the other side of the curtain. Hermione and Ron both looked at each other, knowing exactly who was on the other side. Ron quickly pretended to be asleep, while Hermione picked up her book and started to read. Suddenly the curtain dividing them from the rest of the room was thrown back to show the tear-stained face of Lavender Brown.

"What are you doing here?" Lavender said in a scandalized voice.

"I'm visiting Ron. What does it look like I'm doing?" Hermione said with a huff.

"But he's not even awake! And besides you haven't spoken to him for weeks!" Lavender said in a shrill tone.

"Yes he is asleep and I expect that he wont be waking up for quite awhile." Hermione said ignoring Lavender's last statement.

"What makes you say that!" She said putting her hands on her hips.

"He just took a sleeping draught." Hermione said pretending to read her book.

"Then why are you still here?"

"I prefer the peace and quiet here compared to the Gryffindor common room. Well I did anyway." Hermione said emphasizing the last statement.

"Yes well you-"

"You might want to think about how you finish that sentence Miss Brown." Came the threatening voice of Professor Snape. Lavender who hadn't seen him approach jumped in fright at the sound of his voice and instead of replying made a hasty exit.

Hermione smiled in satisfaction and said, "What brings you here Professor?" There were so many other things that she wanted to say but knowing that Ron was very awake and listening to everything they said, she decided to stick with something generic.

"I was just on my way to deliver some vials to Madam Pomfrey." Severus had obviously read her thoughts and caught on quickly.

"Ahhh I see. Well thank you for saving me, I really wasn't in the mood."

"I was only thinking of myself I assure you. I don't think I could have stood hearing her speak another word."

"Well thank you any ways."

He bowed his head slightly and left, leaving she and Ron alone again.

"I think that was the most civil I've ever seen Snape." Ron said surprised after Hermione gave him the all clear.

"It's Professor Snape Ron. And I've been telling you for months that he really isn't that bad." She was about to go on but then realized that Severus would probably rather she not.

"I know I know. But you have to admit he makes it hard to believe."

"At times. But lets not talk about Professor Snape anymore. How are you? Are you feeling any better?" Hermione said giving him a concerned look.

"I'm fine really, it was just yesterday that I wasn't feeling well. Madam Pomfrey is making me stay here a whole week! Which means I'm going to miss the Quidditch match. Honestly, I'm fine I could leave right now if she'd let me."

"Ron it's just a game, your health is much more important than any silly match! Honestly is that all you think about!" Hermione said in an aggravated tone.

"But it's against Hufflepuff Hermione!" Ron winged. "Zacharias Smith is on the Hufflepuff team. You remember what he said about me last match. I was really looking forward to getting back at the slimy git." he said angrily

"Don't you worry about it I think that Harry found a replacement for this weeks match, so there is still a good chance that we will beat Hufflepuff."

"Whadya mean he found a replacement? I was only poisoned yesterday! Who is it?" Ron said slightly hurt.

Hermione suddenly realized that it was probably a mistake to have brought it up. But there was nothing she could do about it now. "Umm I think he asked Cormac to do it. It makes sense really, he was second best to you. I think he might have been waiting in the common room last night for Harry to see if he could fill in."

"Bloody brilliant!" Ron said, his ears turning red.

"Its not that bad Ron! Really you are blowing this out of proportion." Hermione said trying to comfort him.

"What if he turns out to be better than me? And then Harry will have no choice but to kick me off the team!"

"Harry would never do that to you. Plus, there is no way that the team will like Cormac better than you. Trust me. He's a total arse!"

"It's not like I've been much better lately." Ron said glumly.

"Well as soon as you're better you'll just have to change their minds on the matter," Hermione said in her familiar bossy tone.

…...

Two days later Hermione found herself lying in bed, wide awake. She had just come from visiting Ron in the hospital wing. She hadn't left his bedside the entire weekend and as soon as classes were over that day, she went straight there. Unfortunately, her mind didn't seem to be tired. Even though Ron was the one who was in the hospital wing, it was Severus that she couldn't stop thinking about. She knew it was what Hagrid had said about Severus just as she and Harry were leaving the hospital wing the first night she had gone to see Ron. She needed to talk to him. It was only just after ten he was surely still up. So with a resigned sigh she got out of bed and put her dressing gown on. Even though she didn't have the invisibility cloak with her she wasn't too worried considering that the cloak was usually used to hide from the very man she was on her way to see.

When she opened the portrait hole to the lab she frowned at seeing Severus hard at work. He had probably been working all weekend -by himself. She felt a pang of guilt at that thought.

"Hello," Hermione said simply.

Severus didn't say anything, instead he kept stirring the potion as if Hermione wasn't there. Eventually Severus broke what was starting to become an awkward silence.

"After this I suppose you want an occlumency lesson?" he said in an angry tone.

"No, that's not why I'm here." Hermione said affronted.

"It's not?" He said shooting her a accusatory look before looking back into his cauldron.

"No it's not. I came to see you."

"You came all the way down here at ten o'clock at night, dressed like that, just to see me?"

"I couldn't sleep, I was thinking about you." she blushed at her words. "What I mean is that Hagrid told me something, about you and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since."

"And what pray tell did the great oaf tell you this time?"

"He told me about overhearing a conversation between you and Dumbledore, a few weeks ago. He didn't mean to tell us he just let it slip. He told me that you were feeling over worked. And I realized that my absence these past few days probably hasn't helped much. So here I am."

"Please Hermione spare me!" he spat out.

Well really, should she have expected anything else? She had missed two days of work, of course he would be mad at her.

"Don't be stupid you know why I'm here! Just give me instructions and I can start working."

"On the contrary Miss Granger. I have no idea why you're here. An employee of mine who had missed two days of work would know that they had been fired for such carelessness! Now get out of my sight I have a lot of work to do."

"Oh honestly Severus! Don't act so childish. And if you really meant to fire me you would have closed the passage way up! So just yell at me so we can move on."

"I am quite serious I assure assure you."

Hermione suddenly realized that he might actually be serious. "I'm sorry, you're right I had no excuse to miss two days of work. I won't do it again."

"I know you won't do it again, I'm not going to give you the chance!"

"Severus." She said in a pleading voice. "Don't you think you're over reacting just a little?" Hermione quickly realized that that last question had been a mistake, for the next second his entire face contorted with rage.

"No Hermione I don't think I'm overreacting! Considering completing this anti venom means life or death to me! No I really don't! Everyday we come in here and we don't get any closer to finishing it and everyday that goes by is a day closer to my death! Then Weasley goes and gets himself poisoned and that's all you can think about! What about me Hermione! What about me?"

Hermione just stood there in total shock. How could she have been so stupid? Of course the anti venom had been for him. And there she had been missing work, which basically said to him that she didn't care. Oh lord what must he think of me? She thought to herself. Hermione realized that he was still staring at her waiting for a reaction. Slowly she made her way over to him, with silent tears running down her cheeks. Looking up into his obsidian eyes she got a sudden urge to reach up and kiss him. But she couldn't, no matter how much she wanted to. "Severus...I-"

"Save it for someone who cares! And its Professor Snape. I no longer give you such liberties! Now get out of my sight!" Severus spat.

"No! I will do no such thing! I made a mistake! Please just let me help you!" Hermione begged.

"I don't need your help! I have been doing just fine on my own these past twenty years!"

"You are just so …...IMPOSSIBLE!" She said stamping her foot. As she walked up the secret path she thought about the difficult man that she somehow loved. She sighed as she thought about the last word. She loved him, even if he was completely impossible. This meant only one thing, she had to go back. When she stepped back into the lab his back was to her, and judging by his body language he hadn't heard her enter. She slowly walked up to him, watching him stir the contents of the cauldron. When she was only a few feet away he finally spoke, "I thought you'd left." He said calmly, Hermione was quite surprised considering their heated conversation only a few minutes ago.

"I came back." She said, in almost a whisper.

"You shouldn't have."

"You were right. It was completely irresponsible of me. Im so so sorry." She said stepping closer to him. "But you were wrong about one thing. "I do care about what happens to you. You have been such a dear friend to me this past year. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because we didn't finish the anti venom in time. Please let me help you." She said stepping closer. Severus didn't say anything, which was probably a good sign. Before he could ruin the moment she wrapped her arms around him trying to put all of her feelings into that embrace. As he wrapped his arms around her she sighed in relief. She was forgiven. This only made her feel a fraction better, they had to complete that antidote.

Severus if you don't mind me asking, why now?" Hermione asked looking up at him.

"Why now what?" he said looking at her with a confused expression.

"Well there was always a possibility that you would be killed by Nagini, but you only started working on an antidote when I started working for you. What has made you so sure that you need this anti venom now?"

With a resigned sigh he sat down on his stool. "How do you always know the right questions to ask?" he said gesturing to the stool beside him. "You were not aware of this, Dumbledore and I thought it best to just keep it a secret. I was there last summer, at the ministry. I couldn't stand just waiting to hear what had happened, I got there before most of the Order had even arrived. Knowing exactly where to go I went down to the Department of Mysteries and got there just as you were all being chased. I knew I had to help but in order to do that I had to stay hidden. I was running towards all of you and suddenly shelves everywhere began to fall. As I tried to get out of the way I saw a spell coming my way, in order to dodge it I dropped to the ground. Luckily neither the spell nor the shelf hit me but I was able to hear some of the prophecies that broke open around me. One in particular stood out to me. You see it was about me." He paused for a moment when he heard Hermione's intake of breath. "In short it said that I was going to be killed by the snake in the fifth month of the year." Hermione took a moment to process what she had just been told.

"So you've been living for the past year, thinking that your life might be coming to an end?"

He nodded yes obviously not confident in his voice at that moment.

"Oh Severus!" she said jumping off the stool and flinging her arms around him.

"Ger'off me woman, I don't need your pity!"

"It's not pity I just don't know how else to express myself!"

"Well try."

"Severus it's still possible to finish the anti venom it is after all only March. We'll just work extra hard!"

"What do you think we have been doing for the past year?" Snape said in a frustrated voice.

"Well instead of socializing after work I could go to bed then wake up around four and we could work in the morning." Hermione said trying to think of a solution.

"That only leaves you with five hours of sleep at most you can't survive on that. And I can't survive without our "socialization" as you call it, it is the only thing good in my life I refuse to give it up!"

"I hadn't realized they meant so much to you, in that case we certainly won't give them up."

"Hermione it's the only thing keeping me sane!"

"Okay then I'll start reading more research books, that should help us get some new ideas flowing. We only have to figure out how to push the venom out of the body and then we have it!"

"You say that as if it is the easiest thing in the world to figure out, that could take years!"

"Well we won't let that happen you have to be one of the most intelligent and talented potions master in the world look how far we have come in only these short months. I can guarantee no one else has gotten as far as us! And as for myself, well you hired me, didn't you? I think that speaks volumes about my capabilities! Now stop your moaning it's not doing you or anybody else any good!" Hermione said bossily as they set to work.