A/N: Yet another chapter for my lovely readers. Thank you so much for your reviews. Honestly, when I started this fic, I never thought it would get such a response. I'm beyond ecstatic.
twilighter: I've said it before, after I finish this story, either I'm getting someone to beta it, or sit down and reread it and try to correct it on my own. Sorry about the grammar.
Chapter17: Addition.
As soon as Harry's feet touched the grass in front of Hogwarts' gates he fell to his knees, struggling to hold on Hermione's convulsing body. Forcing his finger inside her mouth to prevent her from either swallowing or biting her tongue, he squeezed his eyes shut as her teeth bit on his finger and a pained shout left his throat.
Harry knew it was impossible for him to carry Hermione all the way to the castle and hold her properly at the same time. Ranking his brain for a solution, he chose the only way he knew to be the fastest.
''Dobby…'' he whispered through gritted teeth.
A second later the small house-elf appeared in front of him, his bright, big green eyes widening even more than usual.
''Harry Potter, sir…master Snape is looking for you…master Draco is helping…you must return to the castle…''
''Dobby…'' Harry yelled, interrupting the elf's rant. Harry was grateful to him for trying to save his life in second year, for the Gillyweed in forth year, and for telling them about the 'Come and Go room' in the fifth, but at the moment Hermione needed help. ''Dobby, can you take us to the dungeons? To professor Snape's private quarters?''
The elf started nodding frantically, his large ears flapping wildly. ''Of course, Harry Potter, sir. Dobby does whatever you needs.''
Lowering his eyes to Hermione's face, he felt Dobby's hand touch his, and felt once again the pull of the apparition. Hoping against hope that Severus would be in his quarters.
He was.
Pacing in front of the fireplace. Draco and Pansy on the couch, still clutching books in their hands.
''Professor, they're gone for over three hours…''
''Don't…'' Severus growled, not faltering in his pacing. ''They'll be back. They will. They have to.''
Draco and Pansy shared a concerned glance, but turned towards their books once again.
Severus was driving himself mad. Three hours. Where the hell were they? Hermione could certainly handle any situation involving Death Eaters…unless it was the Dark Lord himself…or any of the other demons…
He shuddered.
If that was the case…then Potter was of no use to her…he was more of an inconvenience…
He had no idea where they might be…it was beyond frustrating.
Ranking his left hand through his hair, he leaned on the mantel using his right. A heavy sigh left his lips as he grabbed a hand full of Floo Powder. He had to inform the headmaster…he needed to leave the school to search for them, and he knew that neither Draco nor Pansy would let him leave alone.
He was just about to throw the greenish powder into the dancing flames when a loud crack startled him and he spun on his heel.
His heart stopped.
Potter was kneeling on his floor…with a convulsing Hermione in his lap, and by the looks of it, if he didn't remove his finger from her mouth…well, let's just say he would be no longer able to make a certain rude hand gesture with his left hand.
Ignoring anything and everything else, he dashed towards them and fell to his knees.
''What happened?'' Severus asked, trying to pry her mouth open and eyeing her injuries at the same time.
''Bellatrix…'' Harry breathed in relief when his purple finger was back in his possession.
That one name was enough. 'Oh Merlin…what had that bitch done now?' He felt his stomach clench at the memory of her fighting in the woods, while struggling to hold the protection shield around him. Had the same happened now? Potter seemed to be in one piece, and without a damn scratch, whereas her…Damn her fierce loyalty…damn her insane Gryffindor courage…but damn did he love her for being herself…
He needed to touch her, to know that she'd be alright…to know he'd be seeing those beautiful sparkling amber eyes again…to feel the pulse beating at her slender throat…to make sure that he'd be hearing her annoyingly nagging voice tomorrow…he needed to know that she was still alive.
He didn't know if she'd told Potter about them, he knew none of the Slytherins knew, but he didn't care. He easily scooped her in his arms and rushed towards the bathroom. He had anticipated a similar scene to occur today, but he'd never expected it to be of such magnitude, and had filled the bathtub with hot water.
Ignoring Draco and Pansy's confused looks, he lowered himself, with her in his arms, in the scalding water, stroking her hair and murmuring in her ear.
It was worse than ever. He'd seen her in this condition, and every time she would just relax at the contact with the hot water. Not now though. She was still trembling…she was still fighting the damn cold…the blasted cold that he'd fought to cure ever since he'd seen it the first time. The cure that he had prepared for her as a Valentine's day present. If only he had sent it last night with the house-elves, if only she'd received it this morning with the rest of the owls…but no. He simply had to fucking give it himself. He needed to see her beaming smile…her bright eyes…kiss her sweet lips…
''Draco…go get Poppy…NOW!'' Severus roared as he saw Hermione's face get even paler and her somewhat stiff body go limb. ''Potter, Pansy, get your arses in here and start casting warming charms on her.'' he ordered, already having cast his own.
Without hesitation, both Harry and Pansy jumped in the water and started the charms, holding their wands hovering over her, holding the charms constant.
''Why isn't she waking up?'' Pansy asked, panic slowly making it's way in her voice.
''I don't know…'' Severus whispered. ''Potter, tell me exactly what happened.''
He saw Harry's jaw tighten. ''The moment I read the letters on that damned bracelet I felt the pull of apparition. I knew it would be dangerous the moment I opened my eyes and I saw where we were. I'm sure we weren't in Britain anymore, because it was night time and there was a full moon…''
Severus' own jaw tightened and his eyes darkened in anger. He struggled to hear Harry's voice over the sound of his boiling blood. Well, Bellatrix Lestrange better start learning muggle prayers and start fucking praying, because if she ever crossed his path, she would curse the day her mother and father decided to conceive her. That was a vow.
''…Hermione cast a protection shield around me and told me not to move so she could concentrate better. Bellatrix started yelling that she'd be the one to take us to Voldemort and stuff like that, and Hermione just stood there, calmly, with her sword in her hands. We expected the werewolves to start attacking, but then Mione told me to forget about them and concentrate on the others…''
''Others?'' Severus asked
''Vampires…'' Harry whispered.
''Sweet Merlin…'' Pansy gasped.
''Potter, exactly how many creatures did she fight with in the past three hours?'' Severus asked through gritted teeth.
''About ten werewolves…and twenty, or so, vampires…''
There was a brief silence where only Harry's breathing could be heard, but it was quickly broken by the sound of hurried footsteps and Poppy Pomfrey's panicked voice.
''Severus, where in Merlin's name are you, and what happened to you?''
''In the bathroom Poppy.'' Severus shouted through the door.
Not knowing what exactly was wrong, not caring that Severus might be undressed, the mediwitch pushed the door open and entered. She had expected Severus to be injured, bleeding, with at least some bruises if he had sent Mr. Malfoy to get her, instead of coming himself. But as her eyes finally finished the scan on the room and her troubled brain managed to understand what exactly she was seeing, she felt her blood run cold.
There, wet as a cat in the middle of a storm, in Severus Snape's equally wet arms, was Hermione Granger. Bruised. Bloody. Torn clothes and shivering as if she had been hit with the Cruciatus Curse.
''What happened?'' she managed to choke out as she set her leather bag down and kneeled beside the bathtub. ''And why do you have her in the water?''
''Poppy, first I need you to heal her, and then I'll tell you whatever you need to know. First, what can you do to warm her body? Her current temperature is far below normal, and h3r blood is starting to freeze in her veins. Second, she needs a Blood Replenishing potion, and third, heal her injuries.''
The mediwitch nodded once and set to work.
Severus watched intently as Poppy forced the first potion down Hermione's throat, then the second, and then as she waved her wand back and forth healing first the small cuts on her arms and face, then the bigger ones on her stomach and legs, and then finally apply the Bruise Paste on the already purple spots here and there…and all through this, he never once let go of her. If anything, he wanted to hold her even tighter to his chest and never let go.
He knew it would be difficult. Every bit of it. Every single day, he saw her struggling to fit her mood with the others, every single day he saw her eyes losing focus and her brows knitting together, every single day, Hermione Granger's mind was on what would come. And no one saw it. There was no one there to assure her that everything would be alright, that everything would end soon and that everyone would live happily ever after.
How could anyone say it? There was no knowing what was coming, no one could know if they would live or not, no one knew if they would be the winners or not. And Hermione had the biggest burden of all. And Severus was the only one that could see her troubled eyes every day…and there was nothing he could do…
As soon as Poppy finished her healing, Severus drew her closer and kissed her forehead. He needed to be alone with her, hold her, kiss her…to know that she was back…to make sure she wasn't going anywhere.
He wasn't thinking about the threats…the danger…the battle. He just needed her there.
''Severus, let's get her out of here, and you need to tell me what happened.'' Poppy said, watching him closely.
Severus nodded as he cast a drying charm on Hermione. He honestly didn't care anymore. He would send Dumbledore to hell and back if he needed to, but Hermione and Harry were not going to leave his chambers any time soon. If a situation similar to the one of today was going to happen again, he would make sure he'll be there with them. They weren't alone in this, and there was no reason for them to fight alone either.
He settled Hermione comfortably on his bed and herded the others towards the sitting room. Tossing a pinch of Floo Powder in the fireplace, he made a quick request for tea to the kitchens and sat in his armchair.
Harry was standing, leaning on the wall beside the bedroom door, Draco and Pansy were seated on the couch, and Poppy had taken the other armchair.
Draco and Pansy were both looking at him expectantly. It was obvious that they were extremely curious of what was happening, but their training in Occulmency was helping them hide their true feelings. That didn't count for Poppy though.
The mediwitch's eyes were hard, suspicious, accusing. Severus's lips twitched. If she only knew.
''I know Hermione is going to kill me when she finds out I've told you, but we need help. And Potter, when the time comes…I will need your arse there with me. If I'm doing this, you're going to get your butt kicked with me.'' Harry smiled and nodded. ''Good. Now, whatever I tell you stays in this room. No one is to know. Not even Dumbledore.'' Severus said, looking at Poppy pointedly.
She narrowed her eyes at him and pondered for a few moments, but nodded with the others.
Severus sighed, poured tea for everyone and started to tell them everything he knew. Everything that had happened since the Halloween party. Of course, Harry knew everything by now, and helped explain when needed, but mostly listened and checked on Hermione now and then.
It wasn't difficult to explain everything, having had Hermione answer countless questions, asking for details for the slightest fact, and spending as much time with her as possible, the problem was making Poppy understand and believe what they were telling her about Dumbledore.
He knew that Dumbledore had been Poppy's professor when she was in Hogwarts as a student, and he also knew how much Poppy admired and respected the headmaster.
Draco and Pansy had known as much as all the DA knew, but the part of her being an Angel. They were confused at first, but Severus could see the exciting gleam in their eyes growing with each new information he was giving them.
''So why is Hermione still a student then? She should be teaching us instead of being forced to stay in class every day.'' Pansy asked frowning. ''Especially after the last example of a defense teacher Dumbledore hired.''
''She wants to protect me.'' Harry answered shortly. ''Being a teacher wouldn't allow us to have much contact with each other, and it would be very difficult explaining why she is so advanced. Remember, we don't want Dumbledore to know what we're doing. We need him to still believe that we're following his plans. He can't know we know the prophecy is a fake. He can't know we've discovered his plan. He wants me dead so he can take all the glory. I don't give a shit about the glory, I just want a peaceful life for once.''
Through all the talk, Poppy Pomfrey was lost in her own thoughts. Indeed, she had admired the man for many years. But she had also started to see him in a whole other light ever since the Marauders were stomping through the corridors. Especially when considering the young Severus Snape.
She had argued with him on many occasions on Severus's behalf. Especially when Sirius Black had deliberately sent him to confront a werewolf on a full moon at sixteen. Instead of expelling the young reckless Gryffindor, Dumbledore had forbidden Severus to talk about the incident, and gave Black a week's detention.
Not to mention the fact that he had taken advantage of the boy and threw him in the snake's pit as a spy, without thinking of the consequence it would have on him.
Poppy threw a discrete glance towards the object of her musings and sighed. Dumbledore had done him wrong more than once, but he had never objected. He had been alone all these years and she could clearly see the affection he had for his students, and not to mention the young female Gryffindor.
If she had seen such an attraction with any other student, she may had objected, but with Hermione Granger, and the facts she had heard for the past hour or so, she couldn't say anything. Hermione was a brilliant, beautiful, adult witch and she knew to make the right decisions.
''Severus…'' she said slowly.
All conversations ceased and every pair of eyes in the room turned to her.
''Whatever you need from me…I will happily provide. Albus Dumbledore can choke on his lemon drops for all I care. But…I want you to do your best to teach these children how to defend themselves. I know Albus won't care that they are not of age, and I know many of them will get hurt. I've been taking care of the students in this castle for over forty years. When they graduate is like seeing my own children graduate. I love each and every one of them. Keep them alive.'' By the time she was finished, Poppy had tears in her eyes. It was true though. The fact that she couldn't have children of her own, had beautifully been covered by the students. And she could feel the pain increase in her heart every time she heard the name of one of the students that had passed through her hands, and ended up wearing a black cloak and a silver mask. If Severus could prevent that from happening, then she would give everything she could to help.
Poppy's eyes widened when her gaze fell on the potions master. The last time she had seen Severus Snape smile was the day he had finished his O.W.L. exams, and right now he was giving her the biggest toothy grin. He surprised her even further by standing from his armchair and kneeling in front of her, and then promptly embracing her.
''Thank you Poppy…'' he whispered against her neck, and her resolve broke. Tears leaked from her eyes and down her elderly cheeks as she closed her eyes and hugged him back.
''Welcome to the racks of the Death Avengers, Madam Pomfrey. We're glad to have you with us.'' a soft voice spoke from the bedroom door.
In an instant, all eyes were on the recently awakened Hermione. Harry was the first to reach her and lifted her in his arms, burying his face in her wild curls.
''You scared me…you scared me to death…'' he said, his voice trembling.
''I'm alright Harry.'' she answered, hugging him back. ''You know I'm tougher than that.''
He nodded and let her go.
Severus had stood up at one point, but he was frozen in place with his eyes on her. He had been beyond scared for her. He had been mortified at the concept of not seeing her anymore the moment she and Potter had vanished, only to have her back in the worse state he had ever seen her.
And now, she was just standing there, in the door of his bedroom, looking at him, smiling.
It took him two strides to reach her and pull her in a crushing embrace. He knew it was the first time he was showing his emotions in front of others, but he didn't care anymore. She was there. She was safe…she was alive. In only a few months, Hermione Granger had crawled her way into his heart, and he was as happy as he could have ever hoped to be.
Severus breathed in her sweet scent as he closed his eyes, and then breathed out in relief. He was sure that from this moment he would be unable to let her go. What Lilly had meant to him, couldn't be compared to what he felt for Hermione. Without even thinking what he was saying, his mouth opened…
''I love you…'' he whispered against her lips and kissed her as if there was no tomorrow…
A/N: Liked it? Hated it? Leave me your thoughts, or any idea you might have. Thank you all.