I am so very sorry for the long break.

Life kicked me in the teeth a couple of times and I just moved out to college yay for being terrified of everything! Again sorry to make it up to all my lovely readers I scribbled a little picture to go with the last chapter, it can be found in my profile

and now on to the next chapter!

Hope you enjoy!

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Hermione sat on the bed for a moment; her healer from earlier had come back and told her she was free to leave when she was ready and that she had to watch over exerting herself for a couple of weeks.

Hermione was fully dressed now and was trying to come up with a strategy on finding Snape before she apparated to Hogwarts.

She decided to just wander around till she found him and was about to turn down the hall when she heard someone cough to her left scaring her near to death.

Hermione turned, hand over her heart, to see Snape sitting against the wall beside the door.

"I thought you'd stormed off?" Hermione was now very confused, she was sure she'd have to hunt Snape down and drag him with her.

"I did storm off, as you so eloquently put it, unfortunately this is all the farther I can get from your person at any given time."

Hermione tilted her head in a very dog-like fashion and after a few moments, turned and walked down the hall a few feet. She then stopped and turned.

Snape was on his feet but was a good five feet away right now.

Hermione took two steps back wards and was about to take a third when she heard Snape call out to her.

"Miss Granger stop," It was too late though Hermione had tried to stop mid-step and had ended up falling backwards away from him.

Hermione felt a tiny tugging sensation in her chest and saw Snape fall to the ground six feet from her.

Hermione scrambled onto her stomach and crawled towards him until she saw him stop struggling.

Hermione took a second to gather herself and then she rushed over to his side, she seemed to be doing this alot in the last couple hours.

"I'm so sorry," Hermione didn't want to cry in front of Snape but she couldn't seem to keep her emotions in check and tears were welling in her eyes as he lay there in front of her in obvious pain.

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"Does... Does it still hurt?" She was afraid to ask it'd been a good ten minutes and he was still laying there and healers were starting to hover.

"I'm fine. Now help me up," he said it through gritted teeth that made

Hermione think he was lying to her about the pain.

Hermione quickly got him to his feet and made to help him walk when he shrugged her off.

"I can walk on my own." His tone brooked no argument and even as he swayed and leaned Hermione could only watch and pray he didn't fall.

They eventually both made it to the apparation point in tack. Hermione turned to Snape and grabbed a hold of one of his too thin arms.

"We'll need to sidelong apparate,"

Snape gave Hermione a tight nod and tensed in preparation for the horrible feeling that was about to wash over them.

The minute they landed outside the huge wrought iron gates of Hogwarts Snape yanked his arm free of Hermione's grasp and stumbled off into a small patch of bushes.

Hermione went to follow him when she heard the sounds of him retching.

Hermione wanted to go help him; hold his greasy hair back, conjure a glass of water those sorts of things, but she knew that his pride was one of his most prized possessions and she'd already beaten it to a pulp with her rescue of him, no need to injure it further.

After a minute or so of quiet Hermione saw Snape coming back towards her, his back was straight and his face was unreadable.

Hermione nodded to him briefly before turning towards the gate and waving her wand in an intricate figure eight. She then stepped back to allow the gates to open.

Hermione didn't look at Snape to see if he was following but continued onto the grounds not looking forward to the conversation with McGonagall that Hermione knew was awaiting them both.

"Hermione, Severus!" McGonagall was waiting right outside the entrance to the great hall when Hermione and Snape entered the castle.

Hermione about rolled her eyes at the dramatic sigh that escaped the man beside her.

Honestly McGonagall had helped plan his rescue the man could be a little more grateful.

"Hello Minerva," Hermione stepped towards the older woman and gave her a small smile. "Happy to finally be back, St. Mungos isn't much better than any other hospital I've been to. They all reek of disinfectant." Hermione crinkled her nose and McGonagall gave a small laugh.

"Yes, I quite agree, truly awful." McGonagall then turned her gaze to Snape. "Severus, how are you faring?"

Snape looked at McGonagall for a moment then turned to Hermione.

"Would you please, Miss Granger, ask the Headmistress where our rooms are to be found?"

Hermione turned to McGonagall, who looked like she'd just been slapped. Hermione couldn't really blame her the man, she'd lost sleep over, trying to save was now treating her with the utmost cruelty.

Hermione was about to burn Snape to a crisp with her scathing words when McGonagall came back to her senses and spoke.

"The both of you will be staying in Miss Granger's quarters, I hope that you can find them sufficiently on your own," McGonagall gave Hermione a sad smile. "I'm afraid I'm absolutely exhausted and must retire for the evening." With that McGonagall turned and hurried away from them, leaving Hermione again alone with Snape.

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Hermione walked up to her portrait. The dark haired beauty who had been far away the last time Hermione had entered her chambers was now right by the frame looking out at them.

Hermione almost screamed when she finally saw what the woman had in her ghost white hands.

A human heart.

It even appeared to still be beating. Snape seemed completely unfazed by the grotesque picture before him.

"Have you forgotten your password Granger?" Snape snarled from behind her.

She resisted the urge to turn around and slap the man, his audacity was infuriating.

Hermione whispered her password so that Snape didn't hear her, she knew he'd mock her endlessly if he found out her password was Den of the Lioness.

Hermione crawled through the portrait hole and entered her...their quarters.

She could feel Snape's presence behind her and she wondered why he hadn't asked to be shown to his rooms yet.

Hermione turned.

"Sir, if you'd like I can show you to your..." Hermione didn't finish her sentence as Snape crumpled to the ground.