Hermione sighed heavily resting her head in her hands. Severus hadn't yet returned from wherever he'd gone. Her heart ached for him but she couldn't think of anything that could be done. If he didn't want to be found, no one, not even she was going to find him. She had heard nearly everything through the door at Galia's home. She had had her own questions over everything she'd revealed but she knew it hadn't been the time.

She hadn't been able to sleep at all, every small creak of the old house had jolted her from her light fitful sleep. She'd paced and paced the house only to fall asleep in his chair. She'd almost been late for work the next morning. She'd left him a note explaining where she'd gone in the hopes that he'd return while she was at work. She'd wanted to stay, but she wanted to believe that he would find his way home when he was ready.

Though she'd gone to work her mind was anywhere else. Slowly recounting every painful memory she had of him, all the way from her first year at Hogwarts. Had it truly been fate that night when he'd found her in the alley or had something else led him to her? How deep was Galia's involvement in all of this? How could someone so seemingly all-knowing have been able to sit back while hundreds were slaughtered? How much blood truly rested on her hands?

The more she thought about it the more she was able to see where Severus' anger had come from. Her heart also went to Harry. If Galia had been able to see that Severus would fall in love with Lily, why had she let her die? Surely she could have warned someone. Would the alternative have truly been so catastrophic? What would Harry have been like if he would have been raised by his mother and father? Would they have even been friends? Would Voldemort have succeeded in creating his twisted utopia? Would she ever have gone to Hogwarts at all?

oOo

Severus snarled and cast out another large spell. The wall before him didn't so much as shudder when the flames of his Feindfyre crashed against it. He panted heavily resting his hands on his knees when he caught sight of something or someone from the very corner of his eye.

He'd gone back to the castle after speaking with Galia. Filled with rage and a thirst for the truth. He'd returned to the library, following Hermione's path up to the fifth floor. He'd found the books she'd spoken of before going further down. He'd found the year of his birth before moving inside. The shelves had been full but he'd been unable to open any of the books holding his moniker. So instead he'd removed Galia's.

Years and years he'd read, late into the night and into the early morning. Everything about her entire life laid bare before him. Her life hadn't been much more pleasant than his own but it had given him insight into her deceitful nature.

He'd also come to know that Dumbledore had played a bigger role in his torment than he originally believed. He too had used her powers to gain inside information. Severus had thought he'd run out of ways to curse the dead until he'd learned that Dumbledore had gone to her before the first war had even started.

He'd known from the very moment that Voldemort was destined to be reborn. Galia hadn't told him much; she had still been young, under the guidance of their Grandfather who very much used her to seek his own glory. It hadn't done him well in the end; killed by his own son to protect Galia from future misuse.

She had been hidden away for years until her father and mother had lost their lives trying to keep Voldemort from finding her. She had lied to him, setting in motion everything that torn Severus' life into pieces. She had also inadvertently been the one to tell Wormtail where to seek the Potters, not herself no, but she had ensured the circumstance. It had been she, who had made sure Trelawny was in the inn that night; indirectly creating the boy-who-lived.

He'd further learned that her first child had been her attempt to set things right. If he had lived, he would have gone to school at the same time Hermione would have gone. Set with the purpose of riding the world of the evil she had inadvertently helped to create. She had tried to make penance but it wasn't meant to be. It was Galia's child Voldemort had sought first, to ensure his victory. The father, none other than Regulus Black. He'd never known, for she had tricked him for the sole purpose of conceiving a child. He was her first, and she had been his last.

"It won't bend to you, only the King can lower its protection." Librous stood at the second level outlook, a deep frown on his face.

"The King is dead."

"No, the King has yet to rise."

Severus snarled and cast out another spell more out of frustration than to actually deal damage. He needed to find out what had been hidden away. There were far too many books to search through to even begin to find out on his own and without Hermione's map there was little chance he'd find the door to the catacombs to ask someone who might have had a clue. Though he had thought about retracing their steps back through the throne room he hadn't been able to find the door. He'd given up on that track rather quickly as he didn't think anyone down there would have even told him anyway. It was just after the spell fizzled out that he felt a hand tug lightly on his slacks.

Where has Lionheart gone? Parvapro looked at Severus with great concern.

"She is at home, safe from the lot of you." Severus pulled his pant leg free before feeling only the tiniest bit of guilt when the creature curled back with fear.

"Do not take your anger out on Parvapro, she is not the one who has brought you here." Librous snarled and popped down from the second floor to appear right before Severus, "I knew you were bad from the moment you brought down the wards. Selfish, ungrateful, conceited and overconfident. Too arrogant to appreciate the gift that's been placed before you!" Librous punctuated his words a step closer until Parvapro came to stand between them.

Severus snarled, his wand turning in his palm, the only thing that kept him from cursing the foul-mouthed creature was Hermione. He knew she would never forgive him if he hurt either creature.

"Poor you, cast aside. Beaten, used. What a horrible life you have lived. A lowly pawn destined to be a King. I've spent nearly a century waiting for the day I would finally meet my master only to find out he's just as pathetic and useless as-" Parvapro covered the elf's mouth with her large hand pushing him back from Severus' feet.

The man under fire turned his head away in disgust, lest he do something truly regrettable, "If I'm so un-desireable then just leave."

We can't.

"Why?"

Parvapro struggled to calm the temperamental elf while trying to keep her contact with Severus, his occlumency shield was strong but her power was stronger. We've tried. The castle refuses to let us go. Every time one of us has ventured out, no matter how far we've gone to get away; we've always found ourselves back here when the sun leaves the stones beneath your feet. Librous growled before popping out with a large snarl to the man, who alone, had the power to free them.

Parvapro chittered sadly when she found her arms empty but merely rested her weight onto her knuckles. Only when the castle has its rightful ruler can any of us be free. Please, I know you have been wronged but I implore you, don't leave us here to die alone.

oOo

"Hermione?"

"Severus...?" Hermione mumbled nearly incoherently and lifted her head from her desk where she had unknowingly fallen asleep. It wasn't unlike her to work her self to exhaustion but it was the first time she'd ever fallen asleep at work.

"Sorry, just Harry." The young man gave her a gentle smile when she lifted her head to rub her eyes.

"What...time is it?"

"A little past five. How long have you been asleep?" Harry gave her a worried look when she leaned back heavily in her chair and rubbed her shoulder, "Are you alright?"

"Fine...just a little sore... Why are you here? Not that I'm not happy to see you."

Harry chuckled softly before the smile slowly disappeared from his face, his eyes going down to the held a file in his hand, fiddling with it slightly as though gathering his courage. Hermione turned her eyes down to the file instantly noting the blue sticker denoting a muggle case.

"Harry...?"

"We've found your parents..." The tone of his voice depicted that it wasn't good news. He let out a slow breath before setting the file down gently on top of her other files.

"Are they-"

"No. But..." Harry motioned for her open the file, "They were in a car accident the night before last, your mother is fine but your Dad was thrown from the car... he's...in critical condition..."

Hermione felt her entire world come crashing down in one giant wave. If she would have been standing she surely would have fallen to the floor. She swallowed thickly opening the file. Her parents' faces glanced back at her from a candid position as though the picture had been taken in secret. Her heart was beating too slowly for her to even hear. It wasn't until Harry had set down a small necklace in the seam did she even realize he'd spoken.

"...will take you straight there." Harry gave her the most understanding look he could possibly provide, "There's still time Hermione..."

"Time...right..." Hermione took the portkey and closed the file with renewed purpose, clutching the portkey tight in her fist. "Can I-"

"Of course." Harry motioned for her to keep the file before watching his friend hurry her way in a daze towards the floos. He had wanted to offer to go with her, but he could tell it wasn't he whom she needed in this moment.

oOo

Severus paced the entrance hall, so many thoughts rampaging through his mind. Night had not yet fallen completely and he was still free to leave, yet still, he remained. Pavrapro watched him with sadness on her face, her large brown eyes moving back and forth like a pendulum in an old grandfather clock. Librous had not returned but she believed it was for the best.

Severus made another turn, his eyes boring into hers for a long moment before he finally centered on the question that had plagued him most, "Does Hermione truly belong with me? Or is this too, some bigger plan for something else?" He had read her books as well, jumping through the years until he'd come upon the present. He'd found nothing in any of them that eluded to another at hand play but he couldn't allow himself to hurt that way again. He would never survive.

She is—and has always been, your one true love. Your souls complete each other. She will never leave your side. Parvapros' eyes glowed blue for a moment and her head turned out towards the front doors, Her life is about to become as painful as your own. You must go to her. Now.

Severus wanted to believe what the demiguise had said. His heart ached with the fear of the alternative. He spared her one last glance before the large doors opened to a wave of her arm.

You must go with her.

Severus needed no other explanation. He pushed himself quickly through the doors and had taken to the air not ten strides after. He closed his eyes as he barreled through the wards, he could actually feel them, like a thick wall. They hadn't yet sealed but they were close. If he had wavered for even a moment he would have missed his opportunity.

When his feet were back under him his heart thumped in his chest. The door to their home had been left open, with the lights still on inside. His wand was in his hand in an instant and he was down the walk in seconds. Silence within echoed through his heart and he feared he may have been too late. He moved into the living room noting that their comforter had been brought down and left laying haphazardly in his chair. His eyes turned to the kitchen next moving into the doorway only so far to see the center island.

There was only a coffee cup sitting out on the counter but what had really caught his attention was a file, that certainly wasn't from her office, that looked to have been thrown open over the top. As he grew closer he could hear the sound of things being rifled through from the second floor and he turned his feet towards the stairs.

"Hermione?" His soft whisper was drowned out by the sound of dresser drawers being slammed in haste and he turned his wand up. He was just about to take the stairs when Hermione came rushing towards the landing with her charmed bag in hand. She nearly tripped when she saw him.

"Severus!" Her eyes were shining with unshed tears and her voice wavered the way it did when she was trying to hold herself together.

"Hermione...?" Severus lowered his wand taking a step back down as she rushed to meet him. "Wha-"

"I need you, please..." Hermione could smell the backfired spells on his two-day-old clothes, it made her wrinkle her nose but she didn't lose sight of her goal. "They've found them. I-I-" Her fingers curled into his coat as she swallowed down the lump in her throat.

"Slow down, found who?" Severus took hold of her arms in a comforting gesture, his brow lined with worry.

"My parents...my Dad... he's-I have to go-to Australia...please I need you with me... he's hurt-car accident..."

Severus nodded his head, there was no question. He would stay by her side. From all he had learned, she was the only one who truly wanted nothing more than his adoration. She was the only thing in his life that made sense anymore, "Alright, shhh... okay... Take a deep breath..." Severus held her in place until she did as he asked. When she'd calmed down enough to take a full breath he released her arms, "Did they give you a portkey?"

"Yes..." Hermione raised her hand pulling the necklace out of her pocket and placed it into his hand. "Severus...I can't, I can't let him die never knowing he had a daughter... It's my fault all of it I-" Hermione closed her clenched eyes tight when Severus pulled her close to his chest.

"I won't let that happen..." He spoke into her temple, closing his eyes for a moment. "Do you have everything?"

"Yes..." Hermione wrapped her arms tighter around him, her fingers clawing the dirty fabric of his coat.

"1, 2, 3." Severus pressed his wand into the portkey and closed his eyes as well.

They landed softly in the alley beside the Hospital. The waning light they'd left behind giving way to a new morning. Hermione turned her head sniffling heavily to see where they had landed. She thought she recognized the street the hospital sat on from one of their vacations. She remembered it because there had been a three-story bookstore right across the way.

That memory was cast aside when Hermione's stomach finally settled back into its proper place. Traveling long distance by portkey was nice but it often it left one feeling a bit out of sorts for a couple hours afterward. The fact that they'd also gone literally halfway around the world didn't help either. Severus too knew that coupled with his fatigue, he'd be out of sorts for a minimum of four hours.

"This way..." Hermione wiped her eyes and took as deep a breath as she could. She smoothed down her hair and adjusted her clothes as something to busy herself with as they walked around towards the front entrance.

Severus remained quiet but observant; the hospital looked small but well kept. He kept himself one step behind Hermione's worried stride and tried to think of what he could do for her. He could feel the immense waves of guilt washing off of her in waves. Self-doubt and regret weighing down her shoulders.

Hermione was one small startle away from a full aneurysm. There she had been enjoying and moving on with her life, trusting others to help her find what should have been her first priority. She had thought they'd be safe. That she would be able to find them easily and restore what had been lost. When the Aurors had told her they hadn't been where she'd thought they'd be, she had allowed the worry to settle in the back of her mind instead of taking over the situation herself. She'd just started her new job, finally gotten her mind somewhat sorted. It just hadn't felt like the time to go halfway around the world when there were readily trained people to do the task for her. What a fool she'd been. It wasn't like she could have predicted that they would become injured by muggle means. She'd been so focused on keeping them safe from the magical world that she hadn't even considered the other options.

Why had she waited so long? What sort of daughter would just willingly set aside her parents for her own personal goals and aspirations? True, she hadn't been in her right mind immediately following the final battle but a year had passed since then. Nearly two since she'd abused her magical gifts and sent her parents to live far away. When had her life become more important than theirs?

"Yes, Hello. Could you tell me what room Robert Granger is in?" Hermione couldn't help tapping her fingers on the counter in a bid to release some of the anxiety locking down her muscles.

"One moment, dear." The receptionist behind the tall desk turned to her computer, typing calmly into the computer before her.

Severus placed his hand gently on the small of Hermione's back in a bid to calm her down. He could tell she'd wound herself up tight enough to be plucked like a guitar string. He could understand her anxiety, just a little, the regret of choosing yourself over another was not a lost concept to him.

"He's in ICU, third floor. You'll need to speak with the nurses there. Just take the elevator down this hall, the nurse's station will be on your left just as soon as you go through the doors."

"Thank you." Hermione turned away through her words. Her steps were small but quick. When she reached the elevator button, she pressed it five times before she crossed her arms over her stomach. When Severus' hand came to her lower back she let out a slow breath.

The very second the doors opened Hermione stepped through pushing the button for the third floor. As the doors closed she could feel her stomach dropping lower. The fear of the unknown building stones in the deepest part of her heart. She still couldn't find any reasonable logical reason why she hadn't just immediately set out to find them herself. Why she had trusted others to do the job for her. It wasn't that they were incompetent rather that it was her responsibility.

The ding of the elevator doors opening quieted her thoughts. She stepped out and to the nurse's station in rather impressive strides. Her heart beating faster in her ears from the smell and soft beep of machines that could be heard from beyond two security doors.

"Hi, uh I'm looking for Robert Granger?"

"Are you family?"

"Yes, I'm his daughter." Hermione swallowed thickly as the woman typed something absently on her computer.

"And him?" The cursory look that the nurse have Severus was unflattering at best.

"He's my..."

"Husband." Severus narrowed his eyes daring the woman to refute his lie.

"Right." The woman glanced at his hand for a split second before pulling out two badges, "You'll need to wear these, it's a restricted unit." The nurse placed two numbered ID badges on the counter, before giving a wary look to Severus' rather unkempt appearance, "You'll also need to wash your hands there before you go through the doors."

Hermione didn't think much about the procedures but she did become rather concerned that the unit was secured. Only those with serious life-threatening injuries got placed on secure wards. She turned towards the small sink beside to locked doors that read no entry before reaching down to wash her hands.

Severus silently and wandlessly cast a spell to remove the dust and debris and all other manner of dirt from his clothes. When he stepped up to wash his hands he noticed how cut and bruised they were, how had he not paid any attention? He instinctually dried his hands with a silent spell and came back to his full height, he glanced over at the nurse who seemed to be doing a double take of his improved appearance before she pressed the button to release the double doors. Severus glanced up at the sound but kept his observations delicately hidden. He hadn't stepped foot into a hospital since his father nearly beat him into a coma one night when he'd dragged him to a friends house to drink beer while his mother worked. It had been the first and the last time his father had been told to watch over him.

Hermione walked down the halls, the soft beeping stirring up her nerves, the rooms they'd passed had walls of glass but their curtains were drawn. She looked at the door numbers as she passed nearly chewing a hole in her lip. When she finally came to stand before the correct door, she suddenly found herself unable to move. It wasn't until Severus opened the door did she find her feet moving again.

"Daddy...?" Hermione's usually strong and controlled voice broke into tiny pieces, As meek as a child's.

She stepped into the room with trepidation, her eyes moving over the arsenal of machines presumably keeping her father alive. He looked so small in the large bed that held him. His skin was dark, yellowed and covered in deep scrapes and bandages. His legs were in casts, and various tubes crisscrossed over the bed, lines for various machines that Hermione didn't have a mind to name. His chest rose and fell with the aid of a large ventilator, a tube affixed to his throat. His face was swollen and black in various places with a patch over his right eye, removing the image of the man she once knew.

Her eyes turned to the chair that had been placed beside the bed. Her mother sat with her head tilted into the back, her eyes closed. She too looked to have been through hell, but aside from a sling for her right arm, she appeared to have been spared any life-threatening injuries. Her face was speckled with cuts and a large bruise painted her cheek. When Hermione came closer to the edge of the bed, her mother took a deep breath and opened her eyes; blinking in the light to bring them into focus.

"Are you... his new nurse?"

"No... I'm-I'm your..." Hermione's eyes spilled over with tears and her throat clenched tight. A hand on her arm stopped her from completing her sentence and she turned her eyes up to Severus' unreadable face.

"Mrs. Granger, how do you feel?"

"I'm alright...? A little sore...?" The woman regarded the man in black with a critical eye. She wasn't one to judge, but he definitely looked as though he'd stepped out of the Victorian era, perhaps they'd called a doctor in from their day off?

Severus pursed his lips before raising his wand, just barely hidden in his palm, the tip glowed a soft blue catching the woman's eye before sliding out fully into his hand.

"That's an interesting pen light..." Though Mrs. Granger thought the man's appearance was odd, for some reason she only felt comforted by the strangers' presence. Something familiar about the young woman was thrumming in the back of her mind.

"Can you look right here for me?" His voice was hypnotic, the woman looked at him confused before slowly looking down into the tip of his wand. He had caught her eyes in the brief moment she'd looked at him, ensuring that she was healthy enough to survive what he was about to do and before Hermione could question him, cast his spell, "Oblivia Reparus."

Hermione's breath stuttered in her chest as she watched a thin wisp of blue light arch across the small distance and slowly disappear into her mother's temple. She watched with awe as her mother's eyes clouded over for long breath stealing minutes before the light disappeared completely. Her mother looked at her for the briefest of seconds before her eyes rolled back and her body relaxed back into the chair. Hermione let out a small noise of alarm before Severus' arm caught her around the waist.

"M-um?"

"She is fine, she will need to rest to reclaim what has been lost." Severus turned his eyes to her father. The grim reality of his condition pushing painfully into his heart. There was no way he could attempt the spell on someone one step away from death's door.