"It's going to be okay. 'Mione, I promise." Ron's words were rushed as he moved quickly through the trees. His heart pounding in his ears at what he'd just done. Even he couldn't believe it, but it was done. There was no turning back now. He stumbled a bit holding her tighter, "It's going to be alright..." He said now to himself as he half ran. He could feel her head rolling against his chest but didn't dare look down. Not yet, not until they were safe. He wasn't where he should have been, he was back, five years ago, the sounds of explosions and screams filled his ears as he fled.

He rounded a large oak tree coming to a stop, panting as he spotted the derelict hunting cabin. It was years abandoned but his brother's had often used it as a secret base to practice their new inventions, he believed that no one, but they, knew that it existed. He slowed his pace looking behind him for a brief moment a cold fear washing up his back. They were coming, he knew, he could feel their evil sweeping out over the roots they twisted into bodies in the dim light, so many dead and he knew they were looking for him. He would protect her. Like it was always meant to be.

Snape pushed Harry out of his way hard enough to send the young man to the ground; Minerva was babbling something in his ear but he just couldn't have cared to listen to her pleas. He nearly ripped the back door from its hinges before moving to his make shift potion cabinet. He pulled out two different restoration droughts downing them one after the other. He would need his strength. As the magic ran its course he pulled more vials from the cupboard, he had managed to make a small stock pile during the time Hermione had been bedridden. He had hardly slept during that time and it was clear it had taken its toll on his magic. His fingers lightly trembled as he put potions into his traveling kit. There was a buzzing in his ears as he ignored the two lions attempting to keep him from murdering one of their own. Finally, he snapped the box shut, leveling his eyes on them.

Minerva could feel the betrayal in his eyes as she stood beside him, the dangerous energy was radiating out turning the entire room cold. Harry was behind her blocking his path to the door. She could see him measuring up just how to get past them.

"You need us, Severus." It was a stern reminder, "Let us bring the girl." She avoided using her name to try and calm him. She put her hand on his chest to keep him in place. "We can handle this. You're still too weakened, you're liable to splinch yourself and then where will she be?" His eyes snapped to her and she could tell his wrath was giving way to logic.

There was a long silence where neither lion dared to breathe, their eyes watching him intently. Harry's wand turned in his palm as he tried to prepare himself for the decision, he believed, he would make. Severus shifted his gaze, boring straight through Harry. He rifled haphazardly through his thoughts suspecting that this had been a joint effort from the very beginning, his face so much like his father's, he could never be trusted. When he found nothing but the same powerful urge to bring Hermione back to him he finally relented.

"You have until sunrise."

"Thank you, sir." Harry came forward and took the box from under his hand. "I promise. I won't fail." He met the dark haired man's gaze with confidence and strength.

"Oh, Crisse..." Ron slowly pulled back Harry's sticky shirt, he jolted when he touched some of the black blood, hissing he shook out his hand dropping the shirt back down. He looked around the one room shack and rushed over to the old rusted iron tub. He turned the taps watching as they sputtered out some brown water. He danced on his toes from the pain as he waited for the water to run clear, when it did he ran his hand underneath hissing as the burning slowly faded away. He shut off the tap and pulled out his wand going back over. His face pinched tight as he used the tip to pull back the shirt.

What had he been thinking? There was so much blood, hers and whatever else...He took a careful hold on the clean sleeve and pulled it back the rest of the way. Tossing it to the ground he looked over the damage. With his heart in his throat, he looked down at the macabre child like finger painting. The scar was closed but it looked raw and fresh. He couldn't imagine how painful it must be. He pulled his wand forward.

"Aguamenti." As soon as the stream of water hit her back she arched, a weak cry passing her lips as it crackled against her skin.

The pain rounded her sharply into consciousness. Her fingers curled tight as tried to orient herself. Insurmountable pain followed the small crackle and rolled down her back. Like molten lava, she cried out louder turning her head to try and see what was happening but her body was too disoriented to respond and she felt herself falling towards blissful unconsciousness again.

Ron shrieked as the water did more harm and tossed his wand to the side. The spell sputtering out against the floor.

"I'm sorry!" His words fell on deaf ears as he realized she'd passed out. He pulled at his hair as he turned trying to think of what to do. He was never good under duress. His mind felt like a jumbled mess, he spun on his heel looking for anything to protect his hands. He noticed a small trunk in the far corner and rushed to it, opening it in haste he pulled out an old moth eaten sheet and wrapped it quickly around his hands. Moving back to the moldy couch he had placed her on he moved to his knees using the protection of the sheet to pull away the ripped part of her sweater.

It was slow work but he managed to get it pulled completely away. Her entire back looked like she'd laid on hot coals, he bit the side of his cheek as he slipped his hands free of the sheet. Minding the black smudges, pulled one arm free. When it fell to the floor with a light smack he realized he'd have to free the other one before he could pull the shirt away completely. Rocking back onto his feet he leaned over pushing her hair aside as he took hold of her other shoulder, she groaned softly from the twisting of her back but didn't resist as he awkwardly pulled her arm back a way it wasn't meant to bend. His movements were clumsy at best and his hands shook, he laid her arm out over her head and reached under. He miscalculated, his forearm wrapped around her throat and when he tried to lift her a harsh choking breath greeted good efforts. Startled he stopped, he felt her reflexively swallow against him and dropped her back down in light panic. He pushed some more hair back from her face to check she was alright before growling lowly to himself. He pushed his arm lower around her collarbone and tried again. She lifted easier and he pulled her ruined shirt from underneath tossing it somewhere behind him before he laid her back down.

He stepped back panting heavily. He wasn't prepared for this, despite all he had wanted, this was more than he could have possibly imagined. She had never looked so broken, so vulnerable. His tear filled eyes trailed up her back to her face that partially pressed into the couch from his manhandling. Her brow was furrowed and her mouth pinched tight. He was hurting her, everything he tried to do was just making things worse. A deep jealousy swelled in his chest as he remembered what he'd walked in on, her teasing voice the smile hidden on her lips. If Snape could do it, then so could he.

Filled with a new determination he turned back to the trunk, he rifled through a few old linens before pulling out something marginally clean, he moved back to the rusted tub and restarted the tap. He wetted the old pillow case and wrung it out. He could do this, he would do this.

Hermione was running along the line of thread for what felt like hours; she could feel him but he was so far away. He had promised and she believed without a doubt, something was keeping him from her. That he couldn't come to her. Had the spell been too much? Had she injured him? Her legs moved without fatigue, her heart pressed outward, the red light of her cracked soul lit her way as she left her mind into the void between realms. Someone was hurting her, intentional or not, she didn't know. She could feel the ache in her back and arms, her body was thrumming with pain but inside it was nothing more than a pressure, a tingling along her spine.

She had to find him, he would take the pain away, he would make her right again. Her heart leaped as she saw a broad line, it lit up the darkness ahead of her and she could see the thread disappear just to the other side. He was there, her legs pushed harder as she closed the gap. When her body hit the line she felt a cleansing water rush down. When her feet hit solid stone and her eyes met doors; she knew, she'd made it.

It was odd like everything was just a little opaque, she could see through the doors and the farther she tried to walk the more faded everything became. She turned in desperation looking for the line that had led her but it too was too dim to make out. Tears started to well in her eyes.

"Severus!?" Her voice echoed and faded around her, a sob rose in her throat and she found it too difficult to call out again.

"Hermione?"

Her head lifted and she slowly unwrapped her arms searching through the darkness.

"I'm here." Her choked sob was barely audible to her own ears but still, he found her. His eyes were wide with shock as he rushed to her side.

Hermione lunged forward to wrap her arms around his neck but gasped when stumbled and went straight through him. She turned eyes wide with shock.

"Where am I?"

Severus turned slightly taken aback before his brain supplied the information he needed, "You're far away, too far away, but I can hear you."

"Are you alright? What happened?" She came as close as she could her fingers gliding through the image of his coat buttons as she tried to regain her composure.

"You were taken by Mr. Weasley."

"Taken?" Her breathing grew excited and she wrapped her arms back around herself as she tried to stay calm. Her body was screaming out in distress.

"He's...hurting me..." She lowered her head holding herself tighter. "It hurts so much..."

Severus' nostrils flared and his eyes burned with rage. He desperately wanted to go to her. An idea sparked and he motioned near her cheek for her to raise her head.

"What can you see? Can you show me?"

Hermione simpered shaking her head with uncertainty, she wasn't sure if she could but she was willing to try anything to make the pain stop.

Severus took a deep breath, the connection between them was weak but they had to try. "Focus." He rested his fingers over her temples it was like touching water but he could feel their bond growing. "Show me..."

Hermione tried to focus, her mind was like a ghost wafting through a breeze. She tried to imagine the feel of his rough finger tips and closed her eyes. She had done this before, though in reverse. She felt herself slowly splitting in half, it was painless but it was the oddest feeling.

Severus held his breath as he felt her split her mind and opened his eyes watching his doors go dark as another image was laid over top. He could make out dirt covered wooden walls and a broken window with darkness behind. The smell of mold and moss reached his nose.

"Hermione? Oh Merlin, can you hear me? Hermione?"

A face blocked his view of her surroundings and he snarled viciously.

"No, don't close your eyes! Please, oh fuck, I'm so sorry, I messed up so bad...Please, please say something. Please don't die, please..."

Hermione felt the connection break as her eyes slid closed, she could feel Severus too, fading away.

"Severus..."

His voice was too far away now as she felt herself floating in an abstract space. She couldn't retain the connection or the concentration needed to see herself in her mind.

Ron sobbed harder as he watched the light in her eyes grow dim and slide closed, he shook his head petting her cheek. What had he done?

Harry burst through the kitchen door of the burrow startling the aged woman at the sink.

"Ron's taken Hermione!" His words spilled out huffing from his run.

"He WHAT?!"

Mrs. Weasley's face was redder than her hair as she threw the towel down from her shoulder about to launch into a tirade.

"Please, we don't have time, is there any place he would go? Any place he would hide?"

She snapped her jaw shut as she tried to think. There were so many little hiding places her kid's had found over the years but which one could it be? Just as she was about to open her mouth a black panther Patronus bounded into the room.

"Who..." Mrs. Weasley was cut off as a deep unmistakable voice echoed out of the panther's mouth.

"He has her, in a wooden room with a broken window, it smells of mold and is extremely dirty."

"I...I thought his Patronus was a doe?" Mrs. Weasley lost sight of their goal for a moment before her brain suddenly clicked. "The old hunter's cabin!" She pulled her apron from her waist and rushed toward Harry. "This way!"

Harry barely had time to register that his professor's Patronus had changed before he was shoved back out the kitchen door. He ran along side the woman on a warpath. He'd never been so terrified in his entire life.

"I just hope we get there before he does," Harry said between breaths as they ran into the tree line.

Severus opened his eyes glaring at Minerva who was standing guard over him. He had to think of a way to get to her. He had managed to send the Patronus while the witch had gone to make tea but now he needed a real distraction. Even he hadn't seen what it formed into as the light shot out through the wall. He stood from his chair and rounded it.

"I'm going to the bathroom." He stared down his nose at her as she rushed to take his arm, "Unless you're going to hold my hand through that too?"

Minerva did her best not to step into the venom that poured from his lips.

"Wand."

"Not a chance."

"Wand or I'll even hold it while you go."

His eyes flared at her crassness and he slipped the wand from its sheath forcing it into her hand before going to the stairs.

"You have 3 minutes!" She shouted at his back huffing before looking down at his wand. Her brow furrowed as she noticed the faintest of cracks near the base.

Severus growled deep in his throat as he moved into his room. He needed a plan, surely she would have already cast a protection to keep him from summoning his wand back. He moved into the bathroom turning the water on low. He leaned his hands on the basin before he saw the adjoining door to Hermione's room open. He narrowed his eyes as he tried to think if she had had her wand with her when they went out. She had a bad habit of leaving it in her back pocket, surely, he would have noticed if it were there. He glanced at the door of his room before taking light steps towards her door.

His eyes scanned the room, she had only managed to change the walls from white to a soft blue during her little redecorating session, she had mentioned that the wand seemed to have a mind of its own and while it performed great magic, she was sure it wasn't solely because of her.

"1 minute!"

He could hear the elder moving up the steps and he quickened his examination. He saw Hermione's open door before his eyes caught sight of the white shining wood on the dresser.

"Severus!"

He threw out his hand slamming and locking the door to her room then reached out with the other. The wand shuddered before flying through the air into his waiting hand with a snap. He felt a surge of his and her magic ran up his arm before he turned on the spot and was gone.

Severus found himself in the middle of the woods, he had surreptitiously traced what he could from the apparation point before he barged into the kitchen. He turned searching the dense tree line for a clue before summoning up his Patronus, his head tilted in confusion as a sleek and powerful panther formed awaiting his command. He pushed the thought back for now and focused.

"Find her."

The panther lowered its head seeking a path before it bounded off to his left. He took off after it, his rage building with each new step.

Hermione could feel a hand against her face, it was smooth and clammy and she couldn't resist curling her nose. The hand shifted to the nape of her neck and her back tensed. She forced her eyes open, the world tilted and rocked into focus. Her stomach churned as the burning on her back became hard to ignore. Who was touching her? Where was she?

"Hermione?"

Shame filled blue eyes came into focus and she pulled her head back in confusion. This had to be a nightmare, a soft noise came from her dry throat and she tried to turn her head away but the hand on her neck moved back to her cheek halting her progress. She blinked in the dim light and tried to keep her head from doing summersaults. She was cold, her chest pressed into a worn couch, one of the springs was digging harshly into one of her ribs and she was sure it was going to leave a bruise. The air smelled dirty and old and it made her head throb. Her eyes slipped closed on once more, her breath whispering out a soft plea.

"Severus..."

Ron's face dropped and his heart fell to his feet. A deep festering sadness filled his body and he felt an anger flowing down into his hands. He watched her grimace as his fingers curled tightly into her hair. A whimper left her lips and his arm trembled. Reality mixed with fantasy as his mind tried to protect itself from the pain. Why wasn't she calling out to him? He had been the one to save her, he was the hero!

Molly and Harry panted as they navigated the rough terrain though as a bright light zoomed across their path meters ahead they knew they were in a race against time.

"He's here!" Harry pushed himself even faster, breaking away from Molly, following after the Patronus. He had to get there first! The light was so dim, he hadn't noticed that Snape was on the very tail of the Patronus. He would never make it.

Ron had relaxed his hold on her hair when he realized what he'd done. Now whispering apologies into her ear as he smoothed it down. His nose lightly brushed her cheek as he spoke.

"I love you, Hermione." He whispered lowering his lips down to hers pressing softly, his eyes closed and he tried to shift her so he could get a better angle, his kiss more urgent as her lips moved in protest.

Hermione protested in the back of her throat, her lips were numb from the cold but she could feel the pressure against her teeth. She didn't want this. She didn't like it at all. Her trembling hand rose from the floor and her fingers fumbled as she tried to get the frozen digits to respond. The vault inside shuddered. She paid it no attention as she pushed with all her strength against his chest. A spark left her finger tips and she felt him lean back, her eyes opened long enough to see the shock on his face as she repelled him across the floor. She let out a disgusted breath her lips curled and sneered. He was supposed to be her friend. Someone who knew all about her. Yet it seemed, he hadn't truly known anything at all.

A bright light bounded into the room and Ron struggled to get back to his feet, he wasn't quick enough, he could hear distant shouting as the door splintered into pieces.

A figure stood in the doorway hard to make out against the darkness only his pale face and the dark hollow where his eyes had to be, was visible. He looked like a demon, Ron's eyes went wide as he got to his feet his wand fumbling the lumas spell. As the meager light disappeared he knew his fate was sealed.

Severus had come with all the purpose of committing murder that night but as he stood inside the threshold his eyes landed on the woman who had taken over his life. He paused, his wrath wavered as an unfamiliar emotion pushed against him. Her wand jerked in his hand and he knew it was her, it was her compassion, her wand was stopping him from committing evil. He bared his teeth as he decided what to do with the trembling boy. His thoughts had screeched by at top speed and he knew time was limited.

"Expelliamus." The white wand flicked and responded to his command. He caught the wizard's wand and without a second thought snapped it with his thumb. He covered the distance between them as Ron cowered backward stumbling over the remains of her clothes before pressing his back into the wall blue eyes wide with terror.

Severus said nothing as his eyes bored into the man's soul. The fury of his own was enough to make the boy weak and with his presence alone he watched the boy sink down to his knees.

"Snape!"

Severus turned sharply blocking the stunning spell that was aimed at his back, he narrowed his eyes before casting illumination charm over the hut. As the ball floated up he stared Harry down, Hermione's wand pointed and at the ready. When Harry's eyes saw Ron alive and simpering against the wall unharmed he lowered his wand pulling out the potions chest from his pocket.

There was a silent exchange as both men came center, Harry pressed the box into Snape's hand before rushing over to Ron. Severus, in turn, moved to Hermione. He slipped her wand into his sleeve before taking in her appearance. Her lips were blue from cold and her face was pale, but her eyes were open, shining up at him with so much pride. He gave her a soft curve of his lips in turn before he set to work.

He pulled back the decrepit sheet looking at the damage on her back, her skin was still raw as if she had been dragged over an emery board and it pained him to even look at it. He opened his chest and pulled out a series of potions. He pulled her hand from the floor lightly massaging it in his own to restore the feeling before tucking it into her side.

Nothing else was around him in that moment. His hands moved quickly over her back spreading out the healing balm first to quench the fire. He felt her breathing relax and pulled out the salve next, running it down the seam, he watched the magic get to work before pulling his hands back to work down the buttons on his jacket.

Hermione's eyes widened as she watched his fingers move effortlessly down. They moved smoothly and elegantly, her eyes lapped up every new piece of white that showed through. Her stomach turned warm as he pulled it back from his shoulders. His shirt shining like some dark angel under the light. When he laid it over her back, she felt his warmth surround her very soul and her eyes slipped closed to focus on the feeling.

She felt his hand come to her wrist to guide it through the sleeve, she helped him the best she could feeling the inlaid silk run over her cool skin. She moved the arm by her head under and with his help managed it through. His hands went to her hips and he carefully helped her turn, the jacket fell over her chest well before anything showed. She helped him guide her onto her back, the salve and balm had taken the pain away leaving an odd tingling in its place. A bit more oriented she watched him fasten a few buttons in the center before he pulled back to grab the first potion.

Molly had joined them sometime before he had given her his coat, her loud voice coming down on her son, her tirade witnessed by Harry who winced and stepped away leaving his friend to take his lumps. Harry's eyes turned away when he saw the Snape had removed his jacket it gave him a sort of jolt as he never even thought the man had anything underneath. He'd always been in it and his boyish brain even assumed he slept in it. His eyes moved to Hermione shifting over so he could get a better view of her face. She looked, happy, more than happy, she looked...smitten.

Harry couldn't see Snape's face from his angle but if his hands were anything to go by he would guess the older man had come to care for her in some way too. He couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corner of his lips before a sharp smack drew his attention back to the two squabbling in the corner. He grimaced at the glowing hand print on Ron's face before moving closer to Snape and Hermione.

"Is she okay professor?" He looked down at her, her eyes were closed but she licked her lips slowly swallowing down the last of the potions he had given her.

"Ask her yourself." Came the dismissive reply, Harry watched a cook mask of indifference fall over his face as he reset his kit, pretending not to care one bit. Harry just smirked more and shifted so Hermione could see him.

"Was he always such a prat?" Hermione lightly wiped at her lips with the back of the sleeve, she felt dirty and contaminated.

Harry glanced over to the corner watching Mrs. Weasley wrench her son to his feet. Harry opened his mouth taking a moment to choose his words carefully.

"Yea...uh a bit, yea. " He thought back quickly through all the years, Ron had been loyal that was true, but he was exceedingly impulsive and often stuck his foot in his mouth. He knew his heart was pure but his actions sometimes left him at a bit of a loss.

"He misses you...It's been hard for him you know..." Harry looked uncomfortable with the entire situation. He had never wanted to come between them, but at it was, there was nothing between them, at least, nothing that was reciprocated.

"He...he said I loved him..." Her eyes turned up to Harry's now searching desperately for answers. He watched his brow furrow as he decided what to say, he noticed Snape had gone still as if he too were waiting.

"I...I think you did...uh, just...not the way he wanted you to..." He swallowed watching Snape slowly come to his feet. "We went through a lot that year..." He took a slow breath, "But time has moved on and...I think, some of us have changed..." His eyes met Severus' as his words lingered in the air. His mother's eyes shined with acceptance and love, he didn't understand the situation, nor how in such short time the man who had struck terror with his very presence could become so much more. He only knew that he had changed, and he was done judging the man that was.

"Take me home." Hermione reached up towards Severus, she had heard all she needed.