Hermione felt like she was floating on water, jostled by an occasional wave but otherwise weightless. There was no sense of sight or smell or taste. Just an awareness of … being.

After some time, or no time at all, she heard the clearing of a throat and a deep voice.

"Miss Granger? Miss Granger, can you hear me?"

That voice was familiar, but she couldn't quite identify it. It probably didn't matter. Or maybe it did.

The waves kicked up just then and the voice grew louder.

"Miss Granger, open your eyes."

That voice again. So familiar. Like parchment, and desks. Books.

Cracking an eye, she could see two faces (one? No, two. I think.) staring intently into her own. Dark hair. And those eyes. Wait, I know …

"Professor Snape? What—?"

"Do not attempt to move. I have given you a dose of Wiggenwald Potion, and you need to—"

"Oh God, I must have fallen asleep in class. I'm sorry sir!" Panic washed over her as she tried to sort her thoughts. Wiggenwald potion. But … but … "Didn't I turn in my essay on antidotes to sleeping potions and spells last week, sir? I know I gave you four feet instead of the requisite two, but I just thought you might appreciate a more thorough study of …"

Her eye drifted closed and she was back on the waves. Floating, floating. It's nice here. If only the waves would stop bumping me. Is that a hand on my shoulder?

"Miss Granger. Granger!"

"Hmmmm?" Her eyes (both, this time) opened slightly. Definitely just one face. Who is that again?

"Perhaps you can tell me what you know about the Wiggenwald Potion."

"Potion? Oh right, it's you. Snape. I mean, Professor Snape. Sir. Well, the Wiggenwald Potion is used to wake someone from a magically induced sleep. It contains salamander blood, flobberworm mucous and honey water. It must be carefully combined and, ah … heated at each stage until reaching its final color. Erm, green. The color of a mature toad."

"Textbook response, as usual. And its side effects?"

She was studying the brocade cushion on the couch with great interest when it registered that perhaps someone had spoken to her. "I'm sorry. What?"

"The effects, Miss Granger."

"Oh, erm, I think … yes, side effects include narcolepsy, mood swings, delirium, paranoia and … and … oh dear, what is the last one? Are you testing me on this? I do hope I earn an O. You never give Os."

"Memory lapses, Miss Granger. The last is memory lapses. Fortunately, the effects are temporary. And yes, you earn an O. Very good."

At this, her eyes widened, and she blinked a few times. "You never say 'very good.' Never, ever, never."

She sat up a little and studied him more fully. "Wait a minute, you aren't you. I mean, you're you but you're not real. The real Professor Snape would never give an O, not even when I deserved it, which I did nearly every time. And he would never be sitting on a tea table in his shirtsleeves. Oh no, always that damn frockcoat and billowing robes. He must have charmed those robes to do that, don't you think? So I must be dreaming. Is dreaming one of the effects of Wiggenwald? I can't remember." She sat back again and shrugged. "Well, when I wake up I'll have to look that one up."

And then she giggled. "I can't wait to tell Harry and Ron that I dreamed about Professor Snape! I can hear Ron now. 'Blimey, that's no dream, Hermione. That's a bloody nightmare!'"

Peals of laughter echoed around the room and she had a hard time composing herself. Turning back to her definitely-not-real Professor, who now stood with his arms crossed over his chest and a sour look on his face, she smiled up at him and said, "It's okay, Professor. You're not really you, and anyway, Ron's right. You are a nightmare. A great, big bat of a nightmare."

At this, she scowled, lowered her voice and said, "Detention, Miss Granger. And 50,000 points from Gryffindor for having the gall to breathe."

A fresh round of giggles bubbled up in her chest, but before she could fully express her mirth, her eyes rolled back into her head, which lolled to one side as she once more floated on the waves.

/

Looking down at the girl in irritation, Severus was beginning to wonder if he should have waited until he was more rested to wake her. She always was practically unbearable even in the best of circumstances. But now? I simply do not have the energy for this. He slouched into the armchair next to the sofa to wait out the remainder of the potion's side effects.

Several moments passed before he heard her stir again. Looking over, he saw her peering around the room, studying her surroundings.

"Miss Granger?"

"This isn't a dream, is it? And this isn't our tent. Did you know we have a tent? I'm tired of the tent. It smells of mildew. We're not in an inn, either. At least I don't think we are. Because why would you be at an inn with us? And you're not real ... unless you are. But then you'd be yelling at me, and you're not. Oooh, are we at the new Order headquarters?"

"No, we are not."

Another moment passed, and she said, "You're right. You have to be right, because you aren't part of the Order anymore. You're a spy. Well, you were always a spy, but it turned out you're their spy instead of ours. Because … what was it? I … oh. You're…. you… Dumbledore …"

Severus stepped back out of reach of her arms and legs and waited. Here we go. Lucidity returns in three …

"But that means we've been …"

… two …

"… and they haven't …"

… one.

"YOU!" she screeched, backing into the corner of the sofa as far as she could go and pulling the blanket up to her chin. She looked at him with eyes as wide as saucers, rage and betrayal written all over her face. "Get away from me, you traitor!"

Severus just stood, waiting while she worked through the rest of it. It was almost entertaining to watch her process the facts about her situation. He could see everything roll across her face as plain as if it were written on the front page of the Daily Prophet. He nearly shook his head as he watched her mouth gape open in shock then snap shut in indignation. Bloody Gryffindors.

Finally, the proverbial newt dropped and she looked once again toward him, this time staring in utter terror.

"What do you want from me? Where have you taken me? Did you … did you drug me?" As soon as she said that, another thought seemed to have crossed her mind, because she tugged the blanket higher and pulled her knees up to her chest. "What did you do to me?" she whispered.

"Not to worry, Miss Granger. Your virtue is quite safe from me," Severus said in as bland a voice as he could manage. "You have had a fright, of course. But there is nothing to fear here. Please, relax."

"Relax? How can you expect me to relax? You nearly molested me!"

"Correction. I saved you from being molested."

"What, so you could do the deed yourself? Besides, you're a murderer! You killed Dumbledore, and you're a Death Eater. Who knows how many people you've tortured and killed … or worse!"

Gathering up her resolve, Hermione dropped the blanket back down to her chest, tilted her chin up and said, "Go ahead, then, kill me. I won't tell you anything, and I'd rather die than spend another moment in the company of a murdering Death Eater traitor … bastard!"

"How terribly noble of you, Miss Granger. However, I ask that you cease the dramatics. I am neither going to kill you nor injure you in any way. It is absolutely imperative that we come to an understanding on several points, and quickly. Now, if you are able to rein in your tongue – although I very much doubt it given your tendencies while at Hogwarts – then we may continue."

He watched as she looked frantically around the room, searching for an out. Realizing that there were no other threats in the room as well as virtually no chance of escaping the man even if she tried, she looked back to him and narrowed her eyes.

"Give me your wand."

Severus rolled his eyes. "That would be foolish in the extreme. I will not hand over my or any wand to a witch who has barely recovered from a Stunning Spell, a magically induced sleep and the effects of a powerful antidote – and that just since she came under my supervision."

"You Stunned me too? Merlin, you just can't stop yourself, can you?"

Giving her his trademark Professor Snape glare, which appeared to have absolutely no effect, he continued. "I will, however, place my wand on this table, out of your reach and soon out of mine." He reached into his sleeve and extracted his wand with a flourish. He smirked when Granger flinched dramatically, but then, with a solemn face, he leaned over the tea table in front of the sofa and carefully deposited his wand before stepping back.

The girl looked between him and the wand several times before once again narrowing her eyes and staring up at him. After several tense moments, Severus grimaced, reached into the other sleeve, pulled out a second wand and dropped it on the table with a clatter.

Looking back at her, he was met with the sight of a raised eyebrow and eyes that conveyed complete mistrust. After yet another staring match, he sighed, bent over and pulled a third wand from his dragon hide boot. Straightening up, he flung it on the table and said in a voice dripping with sarcasm, "There. I am completely disarmed and at your mercy. May we proceed?"

She paused, then nodded once before tossing her head slightly, indicating that he should continue.

"Very well, then. I assume you have regained most of your mental faculties, so listen closely. As you may have surmised, the Dark Lord was victorious last night—"

"Wait, last night? How long have I been in this … wherever we are?"

"Approximately 17 hours. However, that is irrelevant when—"

"I was unconscious for 17 hours? What's been happening? I have to contact the others, find out who's left. They're probably worried sick about me!"

"Miss Granger, what part of 'the Dark Lord was victorious' did you not understand? His victory was, shall we say, quite complete. I'm afraid there is no one 'left,' as you put it."

"Yes, and that's just what you'd like me to believe, isn't it? Poor little girl, all alone in the world, and she'll just have to trust the big, bad, murdering traitor, who is also, by the way, a Death Eater bastard. Well, there is no way in hell I'm going to sit here with you when—"

"Miss Granger, I am afraid you do not understand the situation in which—"

"—rather take my chances out there, thank you very—"

"Granger, would you just—"

"—be on my way!"

Severus sighed and made a slight movement with his hand, just as she peeled back the blanket and made to stand. Her movement was halted as she sat up, leaving her unable to move anything but her head. Her mouth opened to protest, but no sound came out. Indignant whiskey-colored eyes turned toward Severus demanding an explanation.

"Wandless magic, Miss Granger. Never underestimate your opponent. Did you learn nothing in your Defense class?" Severus asked before giving a triumphant smirk. "Ah, that's right. You did not complete your studies. How unfortunate … for you."

Then his face became like stone and his voice dropped into a lower register and hardened. "I tried this your way, now you will do it my way. You will listen to me and you will not interrupt me. Failure to comply will not. be. tolerated. Am I understood?"

Granger gave him an acid look, but eventually she nodded.

"Now then. As I was saying, the Dark Lord was victorious last night, but he was not undamaged. You and your little friends had a mission to complete. Am I correct in thinking that you found and destroyed all of the known Horcruxes except one?"

Granger's eyes widened at this information, clearly surprised that Severus had this knowledge. Good, he thought. The advantage is mine, then.

"Yes, Miss Granger. I was privy to the information Albus gave Potter regarding the Dark Lord's quest for immortality. I know quite a bit about your activities over the past three years and have, in fact, been working toward the same end."

He could see that she was practically vibrating with the need to speak. "Pardon my lack of hospitality. It appears you would like to say something, is that correct?"

A very bushy head nodded vigorously, so he waved his hand and lifted the Silencio Spell, leaving her bound.

"How could you possibly have known that? It took us months to work out what Dumbledore wanted us to do. You couldn't have—"

"Oh? Couldn't I? And why not? I was, after all, a spy for the Order. Albus told me everything before he asked me to kill him. And before you open your mouth again, yes, he asked it of me, for reasons I do not wish to explain at this time. Now, did you or did you not destroy those Horcruxes?"

The girl was clearly at war with herself, and he didn't blame her, really. How was she to know that he wasn't simply interrogating her for the Dark Lord?

"Listen to me very carefully. Potter destroyed the snake. Nagini is dead," he said seriously, noting with satisfaction that her eyes shifted at that news. She is utterly transparent. Typical Gryffindor with her heart on her sleeve. She would never have survived in Slytherin House.

Severus decided to press his advantage. "The Dark Lord may very well be mortal again, but I must know for certain the status of the other Horcruxes. Answer me now, or I will simply have a look for myself. Or perhaps you think a bit of Veritaserum is appropriate in this situation?"

A brief look of panic, and then she spoke. "FINE. We believe there are – were – six total Horcruxes. One was Tom Riddle's diary, destroyed several years ago. Another was the cursed ring that Dumbledore destroyed. But of course you know about those. Then there was Salazar Slytherin's locket, Helga Hufflepuff's cup and Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem – all of which have been found and destroyed, some as recently as … yesterday? The day before? Well, before last night, anyway. That just leaves the snake. But you say she is dead, so there you have it, all six accounted for."

"Seven."

"What? No, there were six. You should know this."

"What I know is that there were seven Horcruxes – six made intentionally, and one made by accident."

"And how, exactly, does one make a Horcrux by accident?"

"By attempting to kill a person only to have the curse rebound, forcing a bit of soul into the only other living thing nearby. Sound familiar?"

"I don't understand. That's impossible. No one can survive the … wait, are you saying Harry is a Horcrux?"

"Was a Horcrux, and that is exactly what I am saying." He noticed that her eyes had begun to fill with tears and her breathing started to become erratic. In an effort to stave off the waterworks, he added, "He died well, if it is any consolation."

Her head snapped up and she blurted out with a sob, "He died? You were there? You watched him die and didn't stop it? What kind of man are you to stand by and do nothing?"

Anger flared up hot inside Severus, and he couldn't help but fight back. "Apparently I am a murdering, traitorous, Death Eater bastard, as you so righteously pointed out not five minutes ago. Why would you expect anything less from me? And of course he died. You saw him. After."

"Harry's dead? Did Vold—"

"DO NOT say his name!" he hissed, causing her to flinch at his venomous tone. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he continued, "I have had to stand by and do nothing more times than I can count, but I have also intervened to prevent injury and death many, many more times. You know nothing of what I have done to ensure the success of your little mission, to protect you three so that we could get to this point. Know this: Potter's death was absolutely necessary. Weasley was merely collateral damage, and I could not risk our objective to save him."

Granger started to cry in earnest. "Ron too? Oh Ron! And he was my friend, you bastard, not collateral damage!"

Oh shite. That was the wrong thing to say. Damn it all, don't witches ever run out of tears? Wait, how does she not remember any of this? We have already been over the fact that no one survived. Ah, the potion.

"Miss Granger, you appear to still be suffering from some residual effects of the antidote. It should have worn off by now, but it seems your short-term memory is not yet stable. Tell me, when was the last time you ate?"

She sniffed before looking up at him. "How can you think of food at a time like this? God, I haven't eaten in days. I think. Well, there was a bowl of stew at the Hog's Head Inn before we entered the school, but I can't remember when that was. That place is filthy, by the way. Don't eat there if you can help it. So, I guess I'm hungry. But I don't want to eat until I find Harry, Ron and the others!"

He raised an eyebrow at her, then stalked over to the potions cabinet, where he withdrew a small vial. Returning to Granger, he held up the yellow liquid and said, "This is a nourishment solution. It will help your body metabolize the remainder of the antidote, which should not have been taken on such an empty stomach. Apparently I … misjudged your state of health. Open your mouth."

"I'm not taking anything you give me! Do you think I'm crazy? You might poison me, or drug me again or something. Constant vigilance and all that!" She looked positively triumphant. "Now who wasn't listening in Defense class, hmm Professor? I'm no—"

Once again, Severus twitched his hand with a wandless spell and her head froze, mouth in a perfect "o." He stepped over to her and poured in the potion before ending the spell, freeing her completely.

After a few spluttering coughs, Hermione managed to spit out a few of the more colorful words in the English language before yelling, "That was uncalled for!"

"I think not."

"I think so! You drugged me again, and for what? Oh right, the supposed side effects. Well, I don't see what the problem is – except for you, of course. You are a major problem. I'm perfectly fi— oh … oh … oh my God!" Once again, her eyes widened, but this time in full understanding of what exactly had transpired over the course of the battle.

"Harry and Ron, d-dead? And the others, too?" she asked in a small voice. "They're all … gone? That's what you said, and I didn't believe you. But now I remember. I saw them. There was blood and … and …"

For the first time since waking up, she looked down at her hands, then her clothing, all of which was now crusty with the dried blood of her friends and fellow Order members. Reaching her hand to her face to wipe away the tears that had started to fall again, she pulled it away suddenly, only to see the bloodstained fluid dripping from her fingertips. Her eyes bulged out at the site, and she looked back frantically at Snape.

A mere moment before she realized it herself, Snape understood what was coming and conjured up a bucket on the floor between her feet, where she promptly vomited up the meager contents of her stomach.

Shaking and trying to catch her breath, she spat, "Get away from me. I can't even look at you. You were supposed to help us, and instead you betrayed us. You led everyone to their deaths! You helped him win!"

"Miss Granger, you are upset. However, there is much you do not yet understand. Our situation is tenuous and we must—"

"No! I don't want anything to do with you. I just want to go! Please just let me go! I need … oh God!" She stood up with a cry and dashed for the nearest door in hopes it would lead to a bathroom.

Severus was two steps ahead of her, clamping a hand on her upper arm and guiding her to the correct door. She tried to fling off his helping hand but was soon overcome by her nausea. Dropping to her knees in front of the toilet, she retched again, moaning between bouts of sickness. "Oh Harry. Ron! Oh God oh God oh God. Why you? Not Ginny, too! No! NO! Everyone … oh Merlin!"

Severus watched from the doorway, eyebrows furrowed. Unfortunately, he knew exactly what she was feeling. He had spent many a night covered in the blood of others and bent over the loo at the thought of the horrors he had witnessed or, worse, participated in at the whim of one master or another. If he hadn't already had time to work through the worst of his own rage and shock at the events of the past 24 hours, he had no doubt he'd be fighting her for space over the bowl.

Suddenly she stood up and started pulling at her clothes with a whimper. She struggled out of her gore-encrusted denim jacket and threw it across the room. It hit Severus in the stomach and he almost grabbed at it out of instinct, but instead let it drop to the floor. Watching closely, he saw her try to push her hair back out of her face, only to stop as soon as she realized the tangled mess was also covered in dried blood.

Her cries began to rise in pitch as she became more and more panicked at the state she was in. Severus moved awkwardly toward her, doing his best to provide some kind words, but she was unable, or unwilling, to hear them as she wailed and tugged at her shoes and socks. He finally stepped around her, turned on the shower, and reached over to guide her under the steaming stream. Granger slapped his arms away and continued peeling off her bloody clothes.

Left with no other choice, Severus toed off his boots and wrapped his arms firmly around her, pinning her upper arms and holding her tightly against his chest. Then he maneuvered them both into the shower and positioned her directly under the spray. She squealed and fought, but was no match for his strength.

He continued to hold her tightly until she wore herself out. She eventually sagged against him in nothing more than her vest and knickers, sobbing and clinging to him as if he were the only dry land in a tempestuous sea … a sea that swirled and ran down the drain, colored red by the blood of so many friends.

Severus sighed and slowly lowered them both to the floor of the shower, understanding only too well the shock of one's first taste of war and the need to wash away the taint of evil. There they sat, wrapped in each other's arms and lost in their own sorrows, memories and regrets as the scalding water flowed.

The rest would have to wait.