His feet seemed to move off their own accord on the once heavily trodden path that was ingrained into his memory. The elderly tree stood before him, its leaves stripped by the harsh winter cold, its outward appearance seemingly dead. He sat beneath it and grimaced when he felt the snow melt through his thin pants. He looked to his side and there she was, the sun dancing off her unruly locks, her transfiguration books and notes spread out in front of her, her brow slightly crinkled in concentration. She looked up and Harry realised she must have been about sixteen, she smiled warmly at him and reached out toward his face, her tie was undone, the first few buttons unbuttoned, her jumper sat next to her due to the obvious heat of the day, her hand was mere inches from him when something strode through her and she disappeared in a flicker of light. Harry shook his head to clear the product of his imagination and he looked up into the scowling face of Severus Snape.

"Come Potter." He spat and turned with a twirl of his robes and strode back toward the castle, his customary black cloak billowing threateningly behind him. Harry scrambled to his feet and ran after his old Professor, a hint of urgency in his movements.

Truth be told, Harry had not seen Snape since shortly after his graduation just over two years ago. They half sprinted through the dungeons and both disappeared behind the statue of a cloaked figure whose face was cast in shadow. They entered what Harry would describe was a sitting room, the green leather furnishings surrounded the crackling fire situated in the dark fireplace. The remaining walls were adorned with thousands of tomes, Harry couldn't help but think that Hermione would be in heaven here. Snape pointed to one of the comfortable looking chairs but just as he was sitting he felt a drying charm being cast on him, he looked to the hooked nosed man who merely smirked and collapsed into the armchair closest to the fire and furthest away from Harry, drink in hand.

Harry watched as the fire danced off of Snape's glass, the amber liquid twinkling merrily. Harry hated when the older man stared, it felt like he was trying to probe your mind, see into your brain and read your thoughts, but Harry blocked him comfortably, however he realised that if anything, Snape was doing the opposite of invading his mind.

"Sir." Harry paused, he didn't really have anything else to say, he didn't know what to say. But his single word seemed to snap the potions master out of his revere.

"Potter. Some intriguing things about your person have been brought to my attention." He whispered in his silky drawl and Harry had to restrain himself from immediately going on the defensive, a customary reactions from his school days. "it would have been left alone had it not involved hermi-Miss Granger." Harry knew Snape had tried to cover his name slip, Harry decided to act ignorant. For now.

"The Dark Lord has an interest in her. And that interest seems to spread to you, it appears that the infatuation that The Dark Lord has with Miss Granger has caused the part of you connected to him into action whenever you are around her, you react in ways… that I know you would not usually on any occasion." Snape paused and stared at him and he knew that he was interested in his reaction. "You must learn to control this. I believe that with Miss Granger's help-"

"Hermione will not come near me sir."

"Insolent fool! I would have thought that over the years you would have learnt to control your tongue!" Snape reverted back to his teacher days before Harry's eyes and he fell silent and bowed his head slightly, his dislike for the teacher still strong, but his respect having grown tenfold caused him to feel ashamed. Severus regarded him silently for a moment before he sighed heavily. "I am sorry Potter, Hermione is a close friend." At this Harry looked up in shock and suspicion and Severus merely raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on his face. "Do not be so surprised, I am her intellectual equal after all." He said smugly and Harry growled, a deep reverberating growl as the man provoked him. "She may not have let the weasel touch her but my, my… she is a hot, wet-" Snape watched on as Harry's features contorted and his eyes flashed red. Harry lunged but was immediately suspended mid air by a well placed charm from Snape.

"She is mine." Harry snapped and Severus regarded him seriously.

"Harry, never have I made any advances of a non platonic kind toward Hermione Granger, never have I touched her, she is merely a friend, do you understand." Severus watched as Harry's features relaxed and his eyes were once more a bright green. "Mr. Potter, I think you see our problem." Harry would have nodded, and did once he was released, his head bowed in shame.

"I don't know what came over me sir, I felt so possessive, so angry, it was like she was mine and only mine. What's wrong with me?" Harry paused feeling heavy emotions of guilt, sadness and self hatred overwhelm him. "Am I a monster?" he choked out and Snape did not move toward the broken man, he merely stared.

"Yes." He merely drawled and Harry looked at him in shock. "Everyone has a monster in them, its human nature. Your monster is simply… very active when it comes to one witch. However, with discipline and training, which I know will be hard for you to even comprehend-" Snape smirked as Harry frowned heavily at him for his swipe, "- I believe that you can tame the monster. Voldemort cannot see what you do, what you feel, I doubt he has much thought on the possible effect he is having on you."

"What do I do?"

"You really are an idiot."

"What?!" Harry exclaimed indignantly and watched as Snape merely chuckled lightly to himself.

"How long have you been in love with Hermione?" Harry froze and slowly lifted his eyes to meet the black orbs that stared down at him. Snape looked bemused, albeit a little serious. Harry swallowed heavily and watched as Severus one more laughed. "Well, if you truly love her and want to protect her go on without her."

"b-but I can't. I won't live."

"Ah so the great Potter, leans on a woman that he wants to constantly harm."

"I don't want to hurt her!"

"Yes but you ignorant boy, you will hurt her, look at what you did to her already, what would have happened if she hadn't managed to stop you?"

"I wouldn't- I want- I can't." He closed his eyes and put his head in his hands.

"You will, you can and you want. Your connection with The Dark Lord will kill her!"

"I love her! I won't kill her, I want to protect her… I love her."

"Exactly and that is why she won't die." Severus stated simply and begun drinking again.

"What? One moment you say I will kill her, next you say I won't because I love her?" Harry exclaimed confused and felt a headache coming on as his companion ignored him. After a few moments silence Severus looked up and sighed.

"You can love. And so can she. She will help you Potter, it's in her nature to help. Just let her, I know you don't want her to, but she must." Harry had a dumbfounded expression on his face and he quickly tried to organise his thoughts as the potions master's patience began slipping before his very eyes.

"So I must continue to love her… so that she can help me stop?" he said slowly and Severus nodded quickly, his long black hair moving infront of his face.

"Now, I think I've wasted enough time talking to you and your petty problems, I am going to the hospital wing." He stood and moved toward his fireplace where he tossed some powder in so that it roared green. Just as he placed a foot within the grate he turned and nodded toward him and then back to the fire, Harry immediately stood and joined the professor as he stated clearly their destination.

The darkness of the night enveloped them, it was only afternoon but winter brought darkness and with darkness was despair. Hermione was laying on her side, her eyes red and puffy, even in slumber, dried tracks of tears could just be seen covering her face.

Harry moved forward but froze when a bony hand pressed strongly against his chest. Harry looked confused at the potions master whom merely shook his head as he approached the sleeping woman. Harry watched cautiously as the man reached Hermione and sat beside her bed, his pale hand reached out and shifting the hair from her face, holding her other hand gently.

"Hermione." Her murmured in his usual silky voice, yet the tenderness came as a surprise to Harry. She moaned as she was gently woken from slumber and Harry felt the sudden urge to kiss her. He froze when he felt his anger rise when Hermione woke and smiled at the dark man before her.

Hermione let out a groan when someone gently woke her, her eyes flickered open and she smiled brilliantly when she saw her friend before her. "Severus." She whispered and flung her arms around his neck, an embrace he returned somewhat stiffly, as per usual. Her odd friendship with Snape had occurred in the time leading up to their departure almost a year ago, Hermione was involved heavily in research and the discovery of ancient texts needed for Severus' exploration into potions. She had become a frequent distraction in his life and slowly through their weekly meetings an odd companionship had formed, he was still a snarky old bastard, and she was still a silly little girl, and they told each other so at every opportune moment, but they were friends. He sat back down when she released him and raised his wand silently, as if sensing danger.

That was when Harry came into view his hands shaking slightly, his face contorted in pain. Hermione immediately stilled her movements and stared at the boy who lived in fear. "Hermione, he needs your help to control it." Hermione nodded still surveying Harry intently.

Stop, calm, its nothing, she's fine, he isn't going to do anything, calm yourself Harry. Harry silently berated himself as he approached, trying to compose himself. When Severus stood and allowed access to Hermione, his wand still trained on Harry of course, he looked into Hermione's fearful eyes.

He knelt next her bed and laid his head to the side in submission, his eyes holding the ghost of unshed tears. Hermione looked up at Severus a confused expression on her face but he merely nodded toward the man before her and she turned her attention back to him. In his eyes she could see pain, sadness, regret. Hermione turned back to Severus and nodded for him to leave them. Snape obliged by moving to the other side of the wing near the door to Poppy's office.

"Harry." Hermione whispered and watched in shock when he began to shake with his tears which were straining to fall. "Harry?" she questioned, worry lacing her voice which caused Harry to feel even more guilt ridden. His resolve was already close to snapping, his sadness ready to consume him fully.

She sighed and reached forward, gently cupping his face with on of her hands. He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch, a single tear escaping his closed lids. "Hermione, I'm so sorry." Hermione looked empathically at her best friend.

"It's okay Harry; they explained what's happening to you. I forgive you… I'm just a bit scared." She admitted in a cracking voice. Harry opened his eyes and held her hand with both of his; bringing her soft skin to his warm lips and his touch sent a shiver up her spine.

"I don't want you to fear me; I don't want to hurt you… I just can't control it… its no excuse but it's the truth."

"Let me help you." she whispered and Harry looked up at her intently and she watched him sadly.

"Okay." He said quietly and Hermione's eyes widened slightly that was easy she looked to her dark friend and smiled slightly of course, Severus. Hermione watched nervously as Harry's hand moved toward her face she shied away from his touch and he stopped, withdrawing his hand quickly in shame.

***

Christmas day came quickly, Hermione only saw Harry at meal times or when she was in the company of Severus, never alone. Hermione wondered whether it was wise for her to create such a distance between them, when shortly they would be departing once more. It was on this day however at three in the morning that she remembered the key reason they were here. Horcrux.

Hermione stood from her hospital bed, a bed she still was not sure why she occupied, and exited the infirmary silently. She slipped into the corridor and moved toward the tower she knew to be Ravenclaw's. She didn't fear being spotted by students, she could simply disillusion herself, which she did.

She sighed thankfully when she came across the bronze eagle shaped knocker. The knocker began to speak to her, surveying her severely.

"John is 20 years old in 1980, but only 15 years old in 1985. How is this possible?" it whispered eerily to her and Hermione smiled, of course, a riddle, how could I have forgotten. Hermione smiled and quickly stated.

"He was born in 2000 b. c." the eagle seemed to smile at her, Hermione knew it had underestimated her intelligence, a lot.

"I knew it was too easy for you." Hermione smiled and watched the entrance open and allow her admittance. "Next time it won't be so easy lioness!" the eagle called and Hermione sighed heavily when the entrance closed with a snap.

She stared around the Ravenclaw common room curiously, intrigued by the blues that adorned nearly every surface, Hermione was vaguely reminded of the Slytherin common room and the Gryffindor, it was as if the two were fused together and the colour scheme merely changed. Hermione looked around quickly, trying to find something that would hint toward something of the famed founder.

Hermione looked up and was met with the oddly opaque eyes of the Grey Lady, Ravenclaw's resident ghost. "My lady?" Hermione whispered to the surreal woman floating three feet above her.

The ghost's eyes showed a glimmer of recognition as she took in Hermione's face in its entirety. "Why are you here? No lioness should enter the eagles domain." Hermione chewed her bottom lip nervously as the Grey Lady continued. "Such a pity you weren't sorted into my mother's house, you are by far one of the greatest minds this school has ever seen." Her voice seemed full of regret; her entire posture although giving off the presence of pride and intelligence seemed to waver in defeat.

The ghost looked off into space quickly drowning in the sorrows of her memories. "I need your help." Hermione almost cringed when the intelligent eyes snapped back to her in an instant, surveying her with a frown, a crease forming between her elegantly arched brows.

"And how could I help you?" she whispered and Hermione smiled slightly in relief.

***

Harry entered the hospital wing and froze when he saw the tangled empty white sheets that adorned her bed. He turned quickly and ran from the room toward the headmaster's office.

"Mr. Potter?" a worried voice called and his feet skidded to a halt, Minerva coming out of the shadows, her face shrouded in doubt.

"Hermione."

"Ravenclaw tower." The elder woman stated and began to make long strides down the corridor, Harry following in tow.

***

She returned to her residence, she would never refer to it as home, home had been with Harry, her home was death.

She smiled ruefully at the pile of letters that awaited her. She gently picked the pile up and frowned at the familiar untidy block letters. Ronald. Hermione sighed and placed it to one side, intending on later putting it with the many others. Dumbledore had once more written to her with information, or more appropriately put, lack thereof.

She had once believed that the war would end and she and Harry could move away, far away, to some place where they could live in peace, that he would have been protected and that they could have found him. But that was a hopeless dream, Hermione had been searching for since her twenty fourth year of existence. Since that day she tore her soul apart in some old mans twisted plan to save the world.

She had given him up, such a coward she was. You were no coward you fool, he would have died. Death. It was close now, or so it felt, so close. Six years she had been completely alone, first Minerva, then Harry, her family, gone. And it was all her fault. Why should she still be here at the age of thirty, alive, alive with nothing, but alive nonetheless.

She tore open Albus' letter and quickly read the single sentence, it had nothing to do with what she wanted, but it did do one thing, it struck a chord within her, firstly it wasn't from Albus at all.

In the familiar box lettering of Ronald Weasley was a few meager words, telling her of a tragedy about to unfold.

"Arthur."

An. Sorry about the wait. r/r please.

I have recently discovered myself how difficult it is for myself even as the writer of this story to make sure that the chronological events and situations link up properly and therefore make sense, if you have a query don't be afraid to ask