A/N: Thanks for the favs and the follows. Sorry for any mistakes it was late when I read through.

The Link Chapter two

Severus woke with a slight head ache and jumped into the shower thankful it was Friday. He only had two first year classes on Fridays. So he ate breakfast slowly and by the time he was done it was class time. He detested first years. They were loud and obnoxious. Not to mention stupid, well apart from Amy Brownwell. She was especially gifted in potion making. He even showed encouragement in rare moments.

The day passed slowly and he was preoccupied. Severus just could not focus on a single things and gave book work in both classes. He was shit teacher anyway. Once the day was over he received a message from Hermione. It was strange to use her name, even in thought. But Granger or Miss Granger didn't really make sense after she'd been in his mind. So Hermione it was.

She sent him a message through their link telling him to meet in the Room of Requirement once again. He strode purposely towards the seventh floor wondering deeply what she planned next. Was it strange he followed her so blindly when he was decades her senior. His fortieth birthday had been two months ago. She had said she was 19 years in a 16 year old body. Her mind shows through though, he thought. He recalled thinking she looked older than sixteen once he finally looked at her.

She was reading once more when he entered and barely glanced up at him before handing him a journal.

"The risks of using the time room. I suggest you read carefully." She was in a mood he had never seen. Her eyes were dark with storms and her posture tense. Had something happened?

She said nothing else so he opened the journal to find it was a diary. Her diary. He knew she didn't want him reading this but why had she given it to him when she could just tell him what he needed to know.

"Just read okay?" She sounded extremely sad as she said it but her words were forceful. So he read

Entry one read as hope. She sounded hopeful about a brand new course of actions. Hermione was a different kind of girl he could tell from her written word.

The second entry wasn't near as hopeful in fact it was down right depressing. She talked of doom and pointless actions. And number one was she didn't want to go on.

Entry three stopped him in his tracks.

I cant be in this body any more it cant contain me. I have to bleed out. Someone rip me clean! No…I'll have to do it myself. I don't even deserve any goodbyes. I think I'll find peace wherever I go.

There were faded smears of blood on the parchment and he set down the diary unable to read further.

"Yes I really tried to kill myself. Albus found me in time. That's when we discovered that room can….unhinge certain parts of your brain. I was there for so long it warped my natural instinct to live. I wanted to die but now I must fight it every day. There's no healing the damage. So we'll restrict your time there to safe levels okay?"

He didn't know what to say. Silence stretched on for a few minutes until she sighed, took the journal, set it on the shelf with scrolls and returned to her seat with a sad smile.

"So you know the risks, I take it you want to continue."

He gave her a cold look. Did she expect him to break so easily? She continued ignoring the look.

"Well then. Come over here."

Before his eyes a large work table appeared and large parchment was tacked to the middle.

Tom Riddle's Diary- destroyed

Marvolo Gaunt's Ring- destroyed

Helga Hufflepuff's Cup- finding location

Salazar Slytherin's Locket- finding location

Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem- finding location

Nagini- with Voldemort at all times

Harry.

"You know all of them? Why haven't they been destroyed then?" He demanded sharply. Surely she was capable.

"Because," Now she gave him the sharp look, "They are harder to find than you think. I have a lead on the diadem. I believe its here in the castle."

He snorted and then he saw she was serious.

"He chooses places of significance to place them. This was his only home or didn't you know that?"

Severus frowned at her having no clue what she was talking about.

"Okay, history lesson. Tom Marvolo Riddle was born 31 December, 1926 to Merope Gaunt and Tom Riddle Sr. Then he was orphaned and sent to an orphanage from then on. He stayed there unaware of his magical background until Albus found him. Already he showed he enjoyed inflicting pain. His mother died in childbirth and his father was a muggle with no knowledge of magic. I learned that he actually killed his father along with his many others. He came to Hogwarts and from what I understand he did well. Until he opened the chamber and hurt those muggleborns. Until he learned of a horcrux. When he was sixteen he committed murder and made his first horcrux. The diary."

"His father was a muggle?" Severus found that funny somehow. The bastard preached of blood purity and here his blood was as dirty as anyone's.

" Yes. Funny isn't it? But I suspect there's one here and one at the orphanage of somewhere near there. But where would he hide it in the school? Where would he hide it so it could never be found?"

Severus immediately knew. "Here. He would have hid it here."

Severus thought hard on what he wanted and the room shifted to reveal towers of random items. Right in front of them laid the diadem. Had it really been that easy?

"Severus. You. Are. A. Genius." She threw her arms around him and squeezed hard before letting go and calling a blade to her.

"Its been impregnated with Basilisk venom so it can destroy a horcrux…but." She paused and tilted her head curiously. Severus watched her as she got down on her knees and used her wand to draw a mixture of symbols he didn't recognize. It didn't even look like magic to him.

"This one is powerful. It will fight."

"How do you know this?" He found it absurd she expected him to just take her word on things. But hadn't he found himself doing just that?

"The signs. Its very advanced Divination. I can explain it to you later just trust me okay. This will be hard. It may have a form and be able to harm us. I trust your well used in combat. Are you ready?" She asked seriously.

He smirked, "Are you?"

Without warning she drove the blade down into the diadem with surprising force. They were both thrown back fifty feet and he hit his head on a cabinet. Severus swore as it smarted and looked to see Hermione already back on her feet, wand out. He stood swiftly and came by her side.

"Its worse than I thought. It's taking shape of his younger self. I need to stab him once more and that should be it."

Before he could stop her she launched herself at its feet and tried to connect the blade but she failed. Its hand gripped hers by the wrist and she was struggling. Severus flew into action and used an incinerating charm to sever his hand. He was gasping in agony but not nearly as distracted as Severus had hoped. He lashed out, striking Hermione in the face and she fell to the ground, still. Something burst inside and he quickly picked up the blade and shoved it right in his heart before he could make another move. It screamed and screamed and then vanished.

Severus tucked the blade away and knelt beside Hermione. He knew right away she wasn't really hurt and she was actually awake. The whole fucking time she had been awake.

"What the fuck are you playing at? You could have gotten us both killed!" Severus shoved her and she started to cackle. Real hard laughs, she even rolled side to side.

"It was a test. If you cant perform then I have no use for you."

His ego hurt and spilled out stupid words. "Oh I can perform as you put it."

She grinned at him taking his words in a perverse light. If he'd been a teenage boy his cheeks would have burned.

"Oh really." She drawled standing up. He didn't know what to say. She was 19 for merlin's sake.

"Really." He said unable to help himself. He didn't know why it was so important that she believe him in both senses of the word 'perform'. Maybe it was a masculine thing.

"We'll see." She said and then everything fell back in place. But what had she meant by that? He shook the thought away as it was ridiculous. The room fell back to their room and she flopped down on the bed and that's when he saw the blood dripped from her skull.

"You're hurt." He said blatantly. She nodded not concerned.

"Isnt the first wont be the last."

"Ridiculous. Heal it." He was getting angry. Why wouldn't she just heal it? She must know how.

"Fine. If your so concerned you do it. I'm tired." She said that a lot didn't she? But he watched her sit up and he took his wand and placed the healing spell on the side of her head. It sealed and the blood dried.

"Wow." She said her eyes shining. He frowned and stepped away. Why was she looking at him that way? She opened her mouth and then closed it.

Do you feel this?

As the words drifted into his head a feeling came with it. It was a rush of sexual pleasure and he lost his breath for a moment. It was so rare for healing magic to do that. He shook his head and took even another step backward.

"I apologize." He muttered but she was smiling.

"No it was nice. So," she changed the subject easily, "Lets head to the time room to catch up on a few things."

She took out her time turned and reached the chain over his neck. He was super aware of how close they were. Merlin he was so fucked.

Time spun for a while and then they were there. He wobbled a little while she was a graceful lion. When they finally got down the stairs and into the room Molly and Albus were already there along with a women he'd never seen before.

"Hello Severus. I'm Tatianna." She was a beautiful woman with bright blonde hair and sharp features. She was a as tall as him standing at 6ft. She held out her hand for him to take. He took it and felt a zing of magic in his palm.

"Sorry can't help it." She murmured and took her seat. Molly conjured food and Severus helped himself. Hermione dug in and he wondered if she only ate when she was here. There was plenty of food at Hogwarts.

Albus sat down next to Severus and just stared at him for an uncomfortable amount of time. Finally Severus snapped.

"Can I help you Albus?"

"Why yes. Did you both succeed?"

He shot a long at Hermione waiting for her to speak but she remained silent.

"Yes, we destroyed it." He said shortly suddenly losing his appetite. Albus nodded and appeared to be waiting for more details. Well he wasn't going to get any.

"I see. Good job, my boy." Severus bristled at the term. He was forty fucking years old. He wasn't a boy.

Albus noticed nothing but he saw Hermione snickering.

Shut up.

He sent the words as hatefully as possible but she continued. Tatianna was looking between the two of them with a smile.

"It's started Hermione." She motioned between Severus and Hermione. Hermione ceased her laughing and glared over at her friend.

"Stop it. I didn't tell him and I wont be." She sounded unnecessarily hostile. Tatianna was unfazed.

"You should. He deserves to know. It's in his destiny."

"No." She said shortly. Her tone brooked no room for an argument. Severus wondered what the fuck was going on. Suddenly Hermione stood and ripped him to his feet.

"I'll continue with Albus at home. Next time warn me when she'll be here." She snapped and didn't say goodbye to Molly.

He let her pull him to the top of the many stairs even though he knew the way and was perfectly capable of walking on his own.

"Don't listen to her. I love her and I hate her. She taught me Divination and I'll always be thankful but…damn she pissed me the fuck off." She ripped out the time turner and jerked him forward to put the chain around his neck. He didn't appreciate being manhandled but it wasn't worth mentioning.

They appeared back in the room of requirement and he saw it was nearly one in the morning. How had time passed so quickly?

"Okay that's enough for now. Tomorrow lets meet after classes in Albus's office. You did well today." She looked and sounded sincere.

"Thank you." He responded and waited. She had to be telling him what that was really about.

"No." She mumbled.

"Uh...yes." He countered. She shook her head and crossed her arms. He took a step closer and was right there so close to her. She shook her head again and said something he couldn't make out.

"You don't want to know. You'll just laugh at it and at me. So no. Maybe one day but not now." She sounded so sure he gave up though he was endlessly curious.

He stepped back and left. He had nothing else to say. He climbed into bed ridiculously tired. Soon he was asleep.

"Severus stop it." She said slapping his shoulder. Severus grinned over at her and shoved her back.

"We should be studying the latest Divination results. The war isn't over yet."

He shoved her again and she got her wand out and levitated him to the ceiling trapping him there.

"Woman, put me down." He hollered. She laughed evilly and shook her head.

"No pushing. Its been months and you are acting like a child. Which you know I don't mind when we aren't working. She finally gave in and he flew to the ground and landed wrong on his shoulder. He swore violently and kicked the chair out from under her. She hit her head on the desk and swore more colorfully than him.

"You bastard!" She groaned and launched herself at him. He caught her and threw her away but she crawled back and punched him right in the nose. Blood gushed and she squealed as It landed on her neck and shirt. He landed a punch on her cheek and she tumbled back furiously. Severus cackled and tipped his head back to lessen the blood flow.

"I still win, you know." She warned. He nodded in argument. She spilled blood first after all. She smiled and healed him nose and rewarded him with one of those great Hermione hugs. He couldn't get enough of her hugs. Not that he could tell her that. He laughed as she wrinkled her nose. There really was blood on her neck and chest. A bathroom appeared the room answering her wants. She stuck her tongue out and disappeared into it.

Severus woke in the early morning with a smile. He had no idea where the dream had come from and right now he didn't care. If in a few months he had that he would be happy. Its been so long since he had a friend. That how he described the dream. A weird friendship but a friendship all the same. He wasn't one to hit a girl but…it seemed okay in the dream. They were play fighting. She gave as good as she got too.

He laid back down to finish sleeping the rest of his morning away as he didn't have classes. He didn't dream of her again.