A/N: Thanks a lot for the reviews, here's the next chapter.
Also, there had been a mistake with the last chapter where I had written Hermione's journal twice. The second time was supposed to be a different writing about Ron. So you might want to read that, too, if you had read the last chapter within two hours of updating.
Enjoy!
Chapter 42: A Knot Untied
A few days had passed since a fleeting realisation had come to Severus—that it had been six months of being bonded to Granger. One day while brewing the Calming Draughts for the Hospital Wing, working beside Granger, he had suddenly found himself counting the months.
Six months and now when he looked in retrospect, he had to agree his life, though drastically changed, had started to feel more bearable. More bearable than it had felt in the past four decades. But what he was hesitant to accept was the reason life felt bearable now, even with the Dark Lord's constant summons, even with how overworked and overtired he was.
But now, when Severus paced the Headmaster's office, harbouring the news of Hogsmeade being attacked, he could not help but accept to himself exactly why life felt more liveable.
"The Aurors are handling the situation," Albus continued. "Did you know anything of the attack?"
Severus' gaze fell on the third finger of his left hand. Now he understood why Granger had sent him signals. She was trying to notify him. He, on his part, was constantly running the pads of his fingers on his band. But Granger was not responding.
"Severus?"
She was in need of aid! He didn't believe her to be hiding in some shop merely watching the Death Eaters wreck havoc, from a window. She was most definitely out there, fighting.
"Severus? Did you know?"
She was undoubtedly stuck in throes of the attack!
"How many Death Eaters are there?" Severus inquired, completely ignoring his employer. "How many are taken down?"
"We still don't know," Minerva replied. "The Aurors-"
"Why in the name of Merlin are we here!" Even while delivering the statement, Severus knew the Head and the Deputy of the Order could not risk their lives. And he, too, could not be seen fighting from the Order's side. He did not wait for a reply, "What is the news from Hogsmeade?"
"Answer me, Severus, did you know of the attack?"
"Of course not, Albus!" He could not keep the exasperation from his voice. "Do not ask me baseless questions. Wouldn't I have told you had I even as much as had an inkling of this!" He turned to Minerva, "What news do we have?"
"No news, yet," Minerva shook her head. "Tonks and Bill Weasley are looking for Potter. I hope they're unharmed."
"They're not unharmed," Severus muttered. "Granger sent me a signal."
"When?" Minerva gasped.
"A few minutes ago," he replied, pacing the office.
"Can you tell us where she is?" Albus asked. "Harry must be with her-"
"I cannot."
Granger had sent him a signal. There was a high chance she had been confronted by a Death Eater. She could handle a couple of Death Eater-
Severus stopped.
If Granger attacked a Death Eater, her cover would be compromised! She would be exposed!
FUCK! His fingers came to massage his temples. People have various ways to react when panicked. From a very young age, Severus' reaction when exposed to a panicked situation was deep and grave contemplation.
If Granger's cover was revoked, the Death Eaters would very well capture her! Kidnap her and take her to the Dark Lord!
Instantly, horrible images of Muggles and disloyal Death Eaters being subjected to grave torment at the wand tip of the Dark Lord and his decadent followers flashed before his eyes. Severus, himself, had partaken in the horrific atrocities.
On its own accord, Severus' hand went to cover his gaping mouth. He was all too well versed with the treatment of a disloyal captive. Severus began catastrophising the situation as bleak images of Granger on the night of the summoning came to him with detailed emphasis on the torture spells the Dark Lord had sent her way.
The recollection of Dolohov's lecherous gaze and lascivious remarks on Granger at the Malfoy Manor brought with itself heart wrenching fear for the young woman he had involuntarily grown quite close to.
No. He could not stand idle and wait.
"Albus!" Minerva's sharp intake of breath caused Severus to turn on his heels. A white, glowing wolf crossed the barrier of the window and landed before Albus. In Tonks' voice, the Patronus spoke, "Albus, there's a collapsed building and fire. I'm sure there's been a duel. We even found a wand, Bill says it's Ron's. But we found nobody there."
With a silent gasp, something sank in Severus. The feeling was similar to what he experienced for a brief second when he had confused the Dark Lord's command to his snake to kill the Muggle as being an order to kill Granger. The coldness that had creeped in his veins when he had spotted Granger's prone form beneath the Astronomy Tower. The nameless fright that struck him every time he heard Granger mouthing 'I cannot go on'.
He could have stopped her from going! When she had sent her a note, asking if they could change the meeting time, he could have stopped her! He could have sent a simple 'No' in response, and she would have been here, safe and sound.
He distinctly heard a knock at the Headmaster's office door and Lupin stepping in. "Any news?"
"They have found Ronald Weasley's wand," Severus' heart sunk deeper as Minerva repeated the words. "They suspect a duel..."
"That means...Harry had been there, too," Lupin whispered.
And Granger.
"Albus?"
"Tonks reported to have found nobody on the spot," Albus' grave voice reverberated in the office.
"Could You-Know-Who have…taken them-"
"Cease your incessant nattering, Lupin!" Severus found himself thundering. Lupin's words were silenced. But the unceasing debate in his mind kept exposing him to the worst of the scenarios.
Granger in a duel; Granger discovered. Dolohov dragging her to the Dark Lord.
Stop it! Severus erected his Occlumency Shields high. He could not afford to wait idly. Only he was familiar to the dangers Granger was exposed to.
"I must report to the Dark Lord," Severus announced.
"No, Severus. Riddle has yet to call you," Albus objected.
"But if Harry is there," Lupin said in desperation, "Albus, somebody has to go and save Harry."
Granger's fruity laughter echoed in Severus' ears. Then came the dreadful echoes of her agonising screams. Her witty eyes, followed by a flash of lifeless, brown orbs staring into his.
"Riddle can get suspicious," Albus declared.
'…won't you let me have a taste of this bad bloody beauty here…' Dolohov's warning overpowered Albus' objection.
"I must go," Severus declared.
"Severus-"
"I must, Albus, before it's too late. Again." Albus' pensive gaze held his. They shared a silent moment of understanding the meaning behind the words. Last time, Severus had been too late to save another such woman… And he had regretted that every single day for the last fifteen years.
Minerva and Lupin threw questioning glances at him. But his gaze remained fixed at his employer, challenging him.
With that, a thought that Severus had kept unconsciously suppressed, rose to the surface. What does Granger mean to me?
Duty? A mere duty? Was the witch a mere duty burdened upon him. No. That description would have been valid six months ago. Not now. Not after he had found comfort conversing with her, found something akin to beatitude working beside her. Not after he had waited to see her on weekends or had suppressed his urge to reveal to her his frustrations after a summon. To him, Granger was not merely a duty, not anymore.
Even though every instinct in his being screamed at him not to, Severus had began to consider her more than just a duty. Far from just a duty and oddly enough, something close to what one would call a…confidant.
Hermione was a friend, perhaps…
"If you are certain," the Headmaster finally relented.
Severus did not reply. The mere sharp look in his eyes discouraged the Headmaster enough so as not to question his motives further. He turned towards the door.
"Keep us informed, Severus," Lupin pitched in. "As soon as-"
"Albus, another Patronus!" Minerva said with a gasp.
Severus turned in the direction of Minerva's pointing finger to find a glowing, tiny animal approaching them, bearing news that Severus dreaded to receive.
UUUUUUU
In front of Hermione's eyes, a Non-verbal completely destroyed her Shield, leaving them horribly exposed.
"NO!"
"HARRY, DUCK!"
A Non-verbal completely destroyed Hermione's Shield, aiming for Harry. Harry slid behind Hermione's Chair, letting the spell hit the wall behind. It left a burning hole in the solid bricks.
She quickly regained her composure and conjured another Protego Shield.
"Confringo!"
"Cruciop!"
But her Protego proved to be more feeble than expected before the rush of dark curses flying their way.
"Harry, cast your spells from behind my Shield. Ron, stay low," Hermione commanded.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Harry shot the spell towards the group of Death Eaters. One of the masked figures apparently collapsed, held in body-bind.
"Harry," Ron said, "Cast a Locomotor Wibbly on the second and third man. They're the strongest. Then use an Expulso."
Hermione's Protego Shield was slipping under the pressure of the litany of curses. "Harry, quick!"
"Locomotor Wibbly!" Harry sent two similar spells on two men, disabling three of the six Death Eaters.
Oh, God. Please. Please.
"Expuls-"
"Mimble Wimble!" A tongue binder curse hit Harry, interrupting the spell.
"Harry!" Hermione and Ron screamed.
"Crucio!" With intensity, the curse hit Hermione's Protego Shield, breaking her magic. She felt the lasting effect of the Unforgivable with a jolt.
"Expulso!" Hermione cried. Her flash of red sparks ricocheted the Death Eaters, but ended up dead.
Hermione watched with terror as the three disabled Death Eaters were revived, too.
"Ron, take Harry's wand," she led. "Harry, lay low."
For the next few minutes, spells Verbals and Non-verbal flew aggressively between the two competing groups—one invisible, the other masked. Building burning, smoking erupting and dust thickening, they fought against each other with any spell they could manage.
But it was no secret to Hermione that their side would soon lose. Two against six never turned out well. To exacerbate the situation, Harry's wand was not responding too well to Ron's command. It was only a matter of time before they were captured.
No. They could not afford to be caught. Especially, Harry. They needed to get away to a safe haven. Oh, how she wished she had learnt to Apparate. Out of the numerous hours she had spent in the Library, if only she had spent a few on the grounds!
No. She could not just watch her life shamble. Again. And along with her, that of her friends, too. Disconcerted and on the verge of breaking, Hermione shook her head to herself. It was then that she spotted it. Right there. On her hand.
"Harry! Ron! Hold my wrist!" She ordered.
"Wha- Confringo! What?" Ron sent another spell.
"Clutch my wrist. Now!"
"What're you saying, Hermione?"
"Shut up, Ron. Don't ask questions right now."
Hermione's eyes widened as one of the Death Eater, who was previously rendered defeated under a Body-bind, whipped his wand through the air.
Hermione, torn between reverting his spell and taking an action to Apparate them, released a long held sob of panic. As if on its own accord, her wand hand lost its defensive stance and came to her said wrist.
"Avada Kedavra!"
"Home!"
UUUUUUU
The Patronus, flouncing towards them, took the form of an otter. Before Severus could asses whose message it bore, the exuberant stag made its towards Albus.
"It's Harry!" Lupin cried.
Ignoring him, Severus turned to listen to the message.
"Sir," Potter's panicked voice held much to imagination. "We were attacked. We're here, at Snape's house. I don't know how, Hermione did something. Er…we're waiting."
The sigh that Severus released indicated to the panic he was silently suffering.
She was safe. Hermione was safe. Severus closed his eyes in unutterable relief.
"Oh, Sweet Merlin," Minerva muttered in relief.
"Harry did not sound injured," Albus contemplated.
"Is Mr. Weasley along, too?" Minerva inquired.
"Potter did not mention Weasley," he said. In all honesty, Severus' strong gush of relief restrained him from pondering much of the situation at the moment. Hermione was safe was all his mind could register.
"Minerva, please inform Tonks that Harry is found," Albus delegated.
"Wait," Lupin interrupted , his brows knitted in confusion. "Severus, your house? How have they reached your house? And how did Hermione take them there?"
UUUUUUU
In the neighbourhood at Spinner's End, if some residents had heard a cracking explosion from the fifth house on the street, they collectively decided to ignore the mishap until at least smoke could be seen rising. Because the house belonged to a very enigmatic man who was seldom seen and was never polite.
Inside, three figures, wearing disheveled robes, landed in the living room of the house, with a loud thud. Two out of them screamed, while one was still held in a Tongue-bind.
If somebody ever inquired Hermione how she managed to tap her wand on the dial of her watch twice along with muttering 'Home', meanwhile a Killing Curse was sent her way, she would not have a clear enough recollection of the smorgasbord of events.
'It is a Portkey. If you find yourself in danger, double tap on it with your wand or your hand, and say 'Home'. You will find yourself here.'
"What the bloody hell just happened?" Ron muttered, feeling fuzzed after the rough Portkey travel. "Oh, shit, shit, shit! Hermione, are you alright?"
It was then that Hermione realised that she had fallen on the hard floor, alomgside her friends, while her Charmed-Chair had landed a few inches away from her. That realisation brought with itself a searing pain in her right knee. Hermione hissed.
"What's wrong with you, Mate?" Ron's frightened tone sent Hermione's head shooting up.
Harry, on his part, was making odd noises in his throat, making aggressive gestures towards his mouth and throat. Hermione rolled her eyes. "His tongue, Ron- Ouch!"
"What's happening to you both?"
"Oh, God. Help me up." Hermione bit her lip, clutching her knee.
It took Ron a minute before he could finally comprehend the situation. If Hermione was honest, she was feeling just as befuddled after the Portkey travel and especially now that her adrenaline had ran out. Her head spun nauseatingly.
It took Ron and Harry another minute to figure out the correct way of helping Hermione into her Chair.
"Where's my wand?" She looked around. "Yes, Harry, wait. I know you can't speak. Ron, send a Patronus, informing them that we're safe and here. Oh, Ron, you're bleeding."
"Where are we?"
"Severus' house. Look under the coffee table for my wand. I'll heal-"
"Severus?" Ron's eyes narrowed. "Snape?"
Oh, God! Hermione swallowed. "Uh…it's a safe house. Of the Order."
"What?" Ron didn't look convinced. "But how're we here?"
Harry deliberately chose that moment slam a hand on the coffee table. Hermione gladly averted her attention from Ron's uncomfortable questions.
"Yes, yes, Harry, wait. Accio my wand with yours," she quickly suggested and waited for him to cast a Non-verbal Summoning Charm. Meanwhile, Ron was eyeing her suspiciously.
When Harry found and handed her wand, Hermione cast the counter for the Tongue-binder. "Work your jaw."
"Severus?" Ron said in a shrill, annoyed tone. "Why would you call him that?"
"That was brilliant thinking, Hermione, Apparating us here," Harry pitched in. "I didn't know you could Apparate."
"Apparate?" Ron seemed distracted. "Bloody hell."
"I have a Portkey," she told them. "I'll tell you all about that. First, send a Patronus to the school." She approached Ron with her wand, unconsciously rubbing her sore knee. He was busy analysing the house where she had spent two months that summer. Severus' house brought back memories following the attack. Her imprudence, the blame-game, the disrespect, the arguments, all came back. That house held so much more that she cared to remember.
She shook herself from the brief stupor. "Ron, come, let me heal that." His left cheek had a bloody gash from one of the spells in the fight.
"This house is so strange," Ron muttered. Hermione's breath hitched in her throat, did he somehow know she had stayed in the house? "Snape's a Muggle-born?"
Hermione sighed in relied and followed his gaze to the refrigerator peeking from the kitchen. "Probably."
Behind them, Harry called his Patronus. "Now what?"
"Give him the message," Hermione instructed. "Then simply tell him where to deliver."
"Sir, we were attacked. We're here, at Snape's house. I don't know how, Hermione did something. Er…we're waiting," Harry said rather awkwardly. "Er…go to Dumbledore's office."
The ravishing, glowing stag nuzzled at Harry's hand affectionately before taking its leave.
"Bloody hell, I had thought Snape's house would at least have skulls and bone hanging from the ceiling," Ron said rather disappointedly. Harry snickered at the joke.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Come here." She smoothly waved her wand over Ron's wound with a jingle of a Healing Charm. "Are you alright?"
"Shaken up, but yeah, I'm fine," he said.
"I had almost imagined us dead today," Harry muttered.
The Death Eaters could not have come randomly to attack Harry, she was certain. There must have been a full-fledged attack in the village. That got her into wondering how exactly could a group of Death Eaters find them in a random street, through a quiet alley…
No, they could have never traced Harry otherwise. They were as good as hidden. Which meant…
"Malfoy!" Hermione said from between her gritting teeth.
"Malfoy?"
"Draco Malfoy was the only one who knew where we were. He and his friends. He had given the lead to the Death Eaters," she felt disgusted.
"Or maybe," Harry said, "He was one of the masked Death Eaters there?"
"Merlin's balls," Ron muttered, earning a glare from Hermione. "Didn't he say something 'bout us paying for it?"
Hermione clenched her fist in anger. "He went too far this time."
"I'm not even shocked," Harry snorted bitterly.
"We almost died," Ron muttered.
Hermione's eyes stung to think what the consequences would have been, had she not had the Portkey with herself. It was an unintentional decision to keep wearing the wrist watch, only because she was in a habit of wearing it.
Looking at Harry and Ron, she tried to swallow the lump in her throat. The Death Eaters could have taken Harry along. She did not want to think further on that lane. And Ron? She did not want to imagine the plight of his family, had something happened to Ron.
"Hermione?" Ron placed a hand on her shoulder.
She blinked furiously her tears away. "I'm fine."
"It's a change that we didn't, at least, bring it upon ourselves this time," Harry said to lighten the mood.
"And Hermione saved us. Again," Ron snorted.
She shook her head. "Don't be absurd, you two."
"Is that a Cellar?" Harry pointed towards the door leading to the Potions Lab.
"Bloody hell, does Snape keep bodies here?" Ron chuckled. "Little, squirming children who dared to trespass his property?"
"Chopped potion ingredients made up of bones and flesh," Harry added. "And vials of blood."
"That he drinks with his mead," Ron laughed.
Hermione couldn't help but smile at their ridiculous method of lightening her emotions. "That's just bizarre."
"How do you have a Portkey to Snape's house, anyway?" Ron asked.
Hermione bit her lip. She borrowed time to weave a story in her head while pretending to stretch her sore knee. "Uh… Actually, Professor McGonagall gave me this Portkey to come to this…safe house, just in case the Death Eaters tracked me down after the attack."
"But you were in Wales after the attack, weren't you?" Ron frowned. "What place is this?"
"Manchester," she told him. "Professor McGonagall was afraid the Death Eaters could track me down in Cardiff if I ever left the house—which I often did. So…this would have served as a safe place, away from the stalking Death Eaters…"
"But why Snape?"
"Because…"
"Who cares, Ron," Harry spoke. "Maybe it's the most convenient place to hide in."
"Yeah, well…" He shrugged. "You never mentioned the Portkey, Hermione."
"I almost forgot about it myself," she said in a casual tone. "I only wear it because I'm in a habit of checking time from a watch rather than by casting a Tempus."
"It's a men's watch," he assessed.
"It's just a Portkey," Hermione covered the watch with her other hand, suddenly feeling quite possessive of Severus' watch.
"Have you been here before?" He asked curiously.
"Uh, no," Hermione lied. She did not trust herself to come up with another story instantly.
"It is rather odd-"
At the sharp crack of Apparition that resounded from the very room, the three friends had themselves in defensive stance, with Hermione and Harry holding their wands out.
But they both slowly lowered their objects of self-defence on finding Severus before themselves. For a dearth of a better word, he looked haggard. Similar to what he looking like on the night of late Professor Slughorn's demise.
Before they could react to him, another crack of Apparition brought Remus along.
Remus barely landed on his feet before striding towards Harry. "Harry," he said, taking him by the shoulders, "Are you injured?"
The awkwardness came pretty evidently on Harry's face. "Er… No. No, I'm alright, Remus."
"Thank Merlin," he muttered, giving a light squeeze to his shoulder. Then turned to the others. "Ron, Hermione, how are you?"
"We're…fine," Ron replied just as awkwardly.
Hermione glanced at Severus who was eyeing her intently. The furrowed line between his eyebrows was more prominent than ever, and she understood it to be the only outward evidence of his concern.
'Are you hurt?' He asked when their eyes met. He was, indeed, concerned...
'No. I'm good,' she replied through the Legilimency connection between them.
'What happened to your knee?'
That was when she realised she was still unconsciously rubbing the sore spot. 'Nothing serious.'
"Hermione," Remus approached her. "Are you well?"
"Yes, don't worry about me," she returned with an assuring smile. The situation was rather odd, she felt strongly. "Oh, what about the other students?"
"The Aurors are there at Hogsmeade, they must be bringing the students back," Remus replied. He looked around. Hermione almost knew the question coming to her. "How did you get here?"
"Hermione," Ron said. "She has a Portkey."
Harry came to stand behind her Chair, which she thought to be an unconscious movement on his part as he quickly cane to her defence. "Had it not been for Hermione, we were as good as dead."
"Harry, please," she whispered, feeling uncomfortable to touch that topic.
"How did you have a Portkey to Sever- Professor Snape's house?" Remus inquired.
Before she had time to consult Severus and make amends to her story, Ron spoke, "It's a safe house, isn't it? McGonagall gave her the Portkey."
"A safe house?" Remus frowned. Hermione closed her eyes. She was certain of a disaster her story was going to cause. "Your house is a safe house, Severus? Why was I never told?"
When she opened her eyes, she saw Severus' eyebrow flex, like it did when he was about to deliver a sardonic comment. "The Headmaster, I believe, Lupin, does not like to keep all eggs in one basket. Not since a certain schoolmate of yours betrayed the Order to the Dark Lord."
"But we were told Hermione had stayed in the safe house in Cardiff over the summer," he said.
"I did," Hermione quickly confirmed. "I never came here, just had the Portkey."
Remus turned to fix his gaze on Hermione with serious suspicion brewing deep in his mind. "You never came here? The entire house smells strongly of you."
Colour drained from Hermione's face, barely saved by her swiftly erected Occlumency Shields.
"Smells?" Harry huffed a feigned laughter. "How can a house smell of Hermione, Remus? That's just-"
"It does, Harry. Strongly," Remus said. "When the full moon is near, my olfactory receptors become more sensitive to any smells." Hermione quickly did a calculation to the next full moon and winced inwardly to realise it was only five days away. Remus took steps towards the staircase, a frown straining his face, in concentration. "This entire house smells of Hermione, especially the first floor."
"But we never left this very room," Ron objected.
What a ridiculously strange situation they were stuck in, Hermione reflected with worry. Her eyes naturally travelled to Severus' in question. He, himself, seemed to be ill at ease.
"And look," Remus said, gesturing towards what Hermione had come to think of as Severus' favourite chair. "Isn't that cat hair? Severus, as far as I know, you do not own a familiar." His tone had transformed from inquisitive to accusatory.
Hermione swallowed thickly. She was at a dangerous loss of words. This was not how she had imagined their secret coming to light.
"Yeah, isn't that Crookshanks'?" Ron frowned, looking closely.
Harry's hand came to rest on her shoulder. "It can be any cat, Ron-"
"No, that's Hermione's cat. I'm sure," Ron sounded more and more suspicious. "You were here, Hermione? You were here this summer, weren't you?"
Hermione's throat felt too dry to entertain speech. So did her mind. She was certain of a coming panic attack. They could not tell the others about the bond just yet. How would Remus and Ron react. It would be disastrous. They would blame Severus just as she had, in the beginning. Ron would be averse to any explanation. Remus would tell the entire Order. They would-
"I did not realise you harbour some truly twisted fantasies, Lupin, sniffing students around the castle," Severus spoke smoothly. "But now that you have found it prudent to inform us of your co-curricular activities, I must confirm your doubt. Yes, you are correct in your assessment. The house might smell of Miss Granger, because the vacant room on the first floor is stored with her belongings, which I was requested—by the Headmaster—to collect from her house, following the gruesome attack on her family. And as for the cat fur, I believe I had to bring Miss Granger's familiar along, too."
That explanation had everyone staring at Severus, including Hermione. But she quickly recovered from the puzzlement and so did Harry. "Yes," she said. "I had completely forgotten about that… My belongings had to be retrieved from my house. Professor Snape was kind enough to pay a visit to my house and collect my things, and keep them in his spare room."
"This's getting more'n more weird," Ron muttered under his breath.
"I forgot to tell you," she tried to sound convincing. "But among so many things after the attack…it slipped my mind."
"That's okay, Hermione," Harry said in a casual tone. "It was nothing important, anyway." They shared a knowing look after glancing at Ron's face marred with distrust. Remus shared his incertitude.
"But why would Albus ask you, Severus?" He asked. "You are our spy-"
"All the more reason for the Headmaster to request me," Severus said smoothly. "I am the only one capable of finding his way around the Dark Lord's men."
"But," Remus interjected again, "Going to Hermione's house-"
"Er…let's go back?" Harry suggested. "I might need a...Pain Reliever..." To support his statement, he quickly began rubbing his scar.
"Of course," Remus murmured, his gaze now more solicitous than suspicious.
"You may use the Floo network," Severus allowed. He lit the cold fireplace and handed the jar of Floo Powder to Remus, gesturing the lot to precede him.
"Hermione, come," Remus said purposefully. His eyes were flickering from her to Severus, pondering God knew what. Hermione, on her part, felt extremely disconcerted. But she did not much show it. Instead, she followed Remus to the hearth.
"I'll help," Harry offered. He took a handful of Floo Powder from the jar. "Er…where…?"
"S- Professor Snape's office," Hermione replied from a memory of watching Severus returning to Hogwarts on an urgent basis one evening.
"How do you know?" Ron whispered so only Harry and Hermione could hear.
"Common sense," she said tersely, willing herself not to open her mouth until she had her head sorted and could refrain herself from blabbering without thinking.
Harry tossed the Powder into the flames and stepped in, holding Hermione's Chair securely. "Sna- Professor Snape's office!"
UUUUUUU
"It was a blunder! It was a terrible blunder!" Hermione began chanting the words as soon as she stepped out of the Floo with Harry. "Remus is so suspicious. And Ron is… Oh, God. What am I to do?"
"Tell Ron everything?" Harry said calmly.
"Harry, I can't!" She tried to remain calm, but slipped.
"Why not? Nobody will blame you for what had happened," he said.
"Exactly," she whispered. "Nobody will blame me. Everybody will blame Severus."
"Se- You're on first name basis now?" He muttered to himself. "This is just weird."
"We're not-"
"Shh!" He hushed her quickly as the Floo came to life behind them, the flickering of the fire echoing in the empty office. Ron stepped out of the fire, dusting the ashes off his robe.
Hermione braced herself for a litany of questions that was to follow. No, she was not answerable to Ron. But she also knew that his curiosity would only increase if she refused to answer. While she could not afford to let them know of the bond, she had to make some compromises.
"Remus said to go to Dumbledore." She had not expected Ron to avoid the elephant in the room.
"Ok…ay," Harry was just as surprised.
"Come," Ron gestured Harry to the door. Hermione thought it was Ron's way to expressing disappointment by ignoring Hermione. But as Harry moved to the door, Ron came to Hermione.
She looked at him with uncertainty, her lower lip craving to be help between her teeth.
"I believe you, Hermione," he whispered. "In turn, you, too, try to believe that I can do better."
"What…" Her eyes widened.
Ron turned away to follow Harry out. At a serious loss, Hermione couldn't decide whether to feel relieved that Ron was not making a fuss of the situation or feel discombobulated that he was—very directly—expressing his feelings to her—feelings that she could not reciprocate.
"Come, Hermione."
The Floo behind them came to life again. A grave looking Remus and an exasperated Severus stepped out. The tension was so palpable that Hermione was certain something unpleasant had transpired between the Professors after the students had left. Hermione refrained herself from communicating with Severus just yet.
"To the Headmaster's office, if you please. He and your Head of House are quite worried," Remus said. But the usual soft quality of his voice was missing.
Wordlessly, Hermione followed her friends out of the office. The two men followed them. She was getting more and more agitated with every passing moment. The walk from the dungeons to the next floor was silent and thickly tensed.
She wondered if Severus was annoyed at her several slips of tongue and her inability to handle the situation well. Even after managing numerous rounds of creating false memories and presenting her so-called meek self before Voldemort, her acting had not much improved if she was not prepared. Only her Occlumency came to her aid at such moments of stress and pressure.
"Ron!"
Hermione stopped to find Bill rushing towards them, practically running. His face was marred with dust with his eyes bloodshot, but the sheer distress surpassed that all.
Hermione had almost expected Bill to fling himself at Ron, but he, too, like Remus, took him by his shoulders. "Thank Merlin! Ron, are you alright?"
Standing with his arms crossed, Severus seemed even more annoyed now. "Excuse me," he muttered and strode away in the direction of the Headmaster's office.
Ron, on his part, had his eyes widened in discomfort. "Er… Yeah. Yeah, I'm good. I just lost my wand…"
"Don't worry about that." Bill looked at his brother with scrutiny to reassure himself of his uninjured presence. "Thank Merlin," he whispered, sounding truly grateful. "Tonks and I found your wand near the destruction… What happened?"
"We were in a duel…" Ron said.
"Are you two alright?" Bill eyed Harry and Hermione with concern. They nodded in affirmative. "You duelled against Death Eaters? How many were there and what were you doing on that lone street?"
"Bill," Remus said politely, "I am sure Albus and Minerva would want to hear the explanation, too. Shall we rather proceed to his office?"
"Of course," Bill nodded. While they started to the Headmaster's office, Bill never removed his hand from Ron's shoulder.
UUUUUUU
Severus stalked to Albus' office, recalling the events in his house. The warewolf was suspicious—served as a gross understatement. Surely, Lupin was more astounded to find that Severus' house was a safe house.
Even the Weasley boy didn't look much convinced. But that hardly concerned him. But it did concern Herm- It did not concern Granger.
Lupin and Weasley both would be a problem for her.
Severus was not daft, he had a rather clear idea of what conclusions Lupin would draw. With that disturbing thought, he knocked at Albus' office.
The door was answered by a polite permission of entering. Minerva and Albus sat by the desk. Their jaws visibly dropped on seeing him alone, expecting to find Potter, Weasley and Granger to come, as well.
"What happened?" Albus stood up rather dramatically.
"They are safe, Albus," Severus said dryly and closed the door behind himself.
"Mr. Weasley was there, then?" Minerva inquired.
"Naturally."
"Thank the Lord," she murmured.
"If Lupin inquires," he said with preamble, "My house at Spinner's End is a safe house to which Miss Granger had a portkey which Minerva gave her in case of an emergency. And Albus had requested me to collect her belongings from her house and store them in mine for the time being—which I did, reluctantly. And, before I forget, maintain the notion that Miss Granger had never stepped foot in my house before today."
When he ended, Minerva was looking pale, realisation drawn on her face. Albus looked just as pensive.
"What happened, Severus?" Now it was Minerva's turn to get to her feet.
"Later," he declined. "I am sure you will hear about it from the wolf, at length."
He was glad to have chosen to stay silent because only a moment later, the rest of the party entered the Headmaster's office, only preceded by a terse knock.
UUUUUUU
Hermione sat quietly while Harry and Ron narrated the attack in Hogsmeade. She loathed to have to relive the attack as the boys spoke. She did not participate even when they came to the part where Hermione had used the Portkey. She could not help but ponder over the numerous possibilities if the attack ending way more gravely. She kept her Shields up and maintained a plain face.
Remus, meanwhile, kept up with throwing odd glances at Hermione. Only her tight Shields could keep her from fidgeting under his gaze.
"We think it's Malfoy," Harry said confidently.
"Young Mr. Malfoy?" The Headmaster frowned.
"Hermione," Harry prompted.
Reluctantly, she began explaining her doubt and backing her conclusion with a logic. She started from how Malfoy and his cronies had found them in the street, deliberately missing what conversation had transpired between them. When she finished, the faces around her were set in serious contemplations.
Hermione unconsciously stretched out her leg with sore knee and wished she had taken time to apply a Charm on the bruise that she was certain to find. But Self-Healing Charms were discouraged sternly for their precarious nature.
"Was Mr. Malfoy one of the Death Eaters?" Professor McGonagall asked in a crisp voice.
"They were wearing masks," Ron replied.
"Six Death Eaters," the Headmaster thought aloud. "Severus, do you have any news from Tom yet?"
"No," Severus replied tersely.
"Could it be that Riddle doesn't completely trust Severus, yet," Professor McGonagall brought up.
"There is always a possibility," Severus replied. What he wanted to say further was cut off by the noise of urgent padding of running feet coming from outside the office door. The door was pushed open without the courtesy of a knock and a sweat covered and panting Tonks appeared. Hermione couldn't help but gasp at the blood staining the front of her light gren robe.
"Dora!" Remus leapt to his feet and rushed to Tonks. "Dora, what happened? Are you-"
"Ginny!" Tonks breated out. "Ginny is badly hurt!"
UUUUUUU
Hermione watched a blur of red-heads sitting surrounding a bed in the Hospital Wing. Her own eyes teared up every other minute to see Ginny who occupied the said bed. Hermione wondered with regret if that was the plight of her friends when she had jumped from the Tower.
Mrs. Weasley was softly muttering to her unconscious daughter while Mr. Weasley was seemingly using every bit of his willpower not to give into tears, holding his only daughter's hand. At the end of the bed, Fred and George stood, looking at their little sister with grave expressions. Seeing the twins like that broke Hermione's heart even more. Ron stood behind his mother, his jaws clenched tightly. But the moisture in his eyes gave him away. Hermione wanted to lend him a comforting shoulder, but decided to give the family some time alone.
Harry, who was deeply distraught, too, stood with Hermione to respect the Weasleys' privacy. He had not spoken much since coming to the Hospital Wing. But every now and then, he let out deep sighs or blinked furiously before looking away.
Bill and Fleur were standing a litter farther away from the bed, conversing with Madam Pomfrey in hushed voices. But Hermione could hear them quite clearly as the Medi-witch gave a briefing on Ginny's condition to the couple. Not that Hermione needed to overhear the conversation, she had herself given a hand to Madam Pomfrey while she healed her injuries.
Ginny was bombarded with a slew of curses, including a round of Cruciatus. As only Ginny could give a limpid account, they could only guess her to have stuck in the midst of a similar attack as Harry, Ron and Hermione. The only difference was that she could not get away unscathed.
When Mr. Weasley reluctantly told Ron that their family was a target, Hermione felt her throat getting dried.
'You should move out of The Burrow immediately!' She had said, losing her composure.
'We already have,' Bill had told her. 'We're staying at the Headquarters.'
Though nobody commented upon Hermione's sudden panic, she could see the Weasleys understanding where she was coming from.
It was astonishing but a relief to see the other beds in the Hospital Wing vacant. No other student had come to serious harm. The ones who had been grazed by a curse or had gotten injured in the rush of panicked people were seen to by Hermione.
Professor McGonagall was going to and fro the Floo along with the other Heads of Houses, bringing students who were either wounded or panicked. Hermione was sitting beside a table laden with several vials of the Calming Draught to hand to the distressed students, mostly the Third years.
Madam Pomfrey walked back to Ginny's bedside and ran another scan on her. "Miss Granger, please fetch another Blood Replenisher," Madam Pomfrey said. Hermione gladly seek the opportunity to give the Weasley family some time alone.
While taking herself to the store, she glanced in the direction of Ginny's pale face and found herself close to tears again. She had seen the amount of blood the younger girl had lost. Hermione never wanted to recall her state.
She shut herself inside the store, taking deep breaths to compose herself. When a sob tried to escape, Hermione clutched her mouth tight. Over the years, Ginny had become closest to a sister Hermione could ever have. She liked to see her strong headed, with her rather blunt way of calling a spade a spade. Hermione's heart pained to think about Ginny being helpless under the curses of the Death Eaters. But she was also thankful that Tonks had found her before it was too late and rescued her.
It was a shame that the Order and Aurors could not catch hold of any Death Eaters attacking Hogsmeade.
With dread, she realised that she would have lost all her loved ones in a matter of minutes today… A sob finally escaped her lips. Deep down, she knew she could not afford to lose anymore people in her life… But with the prospect of fighting in a deadly battle, she also knew it was the first of many times to follow when she would have the displeasure to see her friends in such a situation.
Hearing some commotion from outside, Hermione assumed Ginny to have woken. She wiped her stray tears and picked up a vial of Blood Replenisher. Taking another deep breath, she exited the store, only to find a very unexpected man standing in the doorway of the Hospital Wing.
The other Weasley brothers stood in a type of shield blocking the man's view to Ginny's bed.
"Who called you here, Percy?" Bill was not hesitant to be harsh to his younger brother who had abandoned their family.
"The Ministry knows about the attack-"
"So you came to take a report, eh?" Ron said accusingly.
Percy appeared unnerved and uncomfortable, even close to pitiful behind his glasses. "No, I… I didn't come to take any reports. I came here for Ginny."
"Wow, his conscience still exists," George snorted.
"You're not welcomed here," Fred stated, pointing a finger towards the door. "Our brother who didn't give a rat's arse when his Dad was bitten by a fucking snake, decides to show up now. Whom are you trying to fool, Percy?"
"Boys, please," Mrs. Weasley held a handkerchief to her mouth, tears spilling down her cheeks. It was horrible for her to see her sons quarrelling when her only daughter was ailing. Mr. Weasley was standing holding her close. Hermione's heart filled with sympathy for the couple.
Harry had come to stand by Ginny's bed at some point and was hardly bothered by the arrival of Percy. He had his eyes fixed on his girlfriend, silently pleading her to wake up.
"I don't want to make excuses," Percy said in close to a whisper. "I have been wrong-"
"Wrong won't even start to fit what you've been," Ron spat.
"But that doesn't mean I don't love my sister," Percy continued, unaffected by Ron's words. "She's my little sister and I want to be here for her-"
"Suddenly he remembers he has got a family," Fred said bitterly. "Why, has Perfect Percy been thrown out of Fudge's pants? Oh, yes, Fudge's been thrown out of office."
George spoke just as harshly, Hermione felt it was justified. "What do you think, Percy, who attacked our sister? Did Dumbledore send his men or did Harry coerce his secret followers to wreck havoc on the village? How is our sister there, on that bed? Would you still say that You-Know-Who hasn't returned? Would you still remain blind, you pathetic fool!"
Holding up a hand, Bill stepped up. "Percy," he said rather quietly, "Not now. Mum and Dad are really stressed. Don't add to that. Just go away for now."
"And try not to show your face to us ever again!" Ron said between gritting teeth.
On the bed, Ginny stirred and whimpered. Hermione rushed to her side, realising that Madam Pomfrey was not around. All eyes turned to the red-head girl while Hermione ran a simple Diagnostic Charm on her.
"Is she waking?" Mrs. Weasley asked, sounding panicked.
"No, not yet," Hermione said. "She will sleep longer due to the potions been administered to her." Hermione also gave Ginny the Blood Replenisher she had brought for her. Then, she turned to the Weasleys, "Please, loud noises are not good for her. She needs to rest." Saying that, she felt like the Medi-witch entirely too much.
Bill turned to Percy, "Just go."
"Wait," Mr. Weasley said authoritatively. Under the scrutiny of all the Weasley boys, he walked to his wayward son. "How do you know of Ginny being here?"
"I told'im," Fleur, who was standing in a corner unnoticed, spoke.
"Fleur, why would you?" Bill frowned.
"Bill, Percy needs 'is family as much as the family needs 'im," she said. "'e deserved to know."
"Dad, please," Percy implored. "Please, give me a chance. Please."
Mr. Weasley sighed and looked at his wife. Percy strode to his mother and stopped a few inches away in hesitation and probably guilt. "Mum, please," he whispered. "Please, Mum… I know I've left you all alone too many times in the past. But I want to be here for you, for Ginny, now."
"He's a liar. I won't be shocked if he abandons us again for a position in the Ministry," George muttered.
"Mum…" Percy pleaded.
Mrs. Weasley looked between her other sons and Percy in a dilemma. Looking at Mr. Weasley, she mouthed something, to which he nodded slowly. Then finally looking at Percy, Mrs. Weasley relented. "You can abandon us, Percy, but your father and I cannot abandon our son."
Instantly, Percy—who valued composure far too much—flung himself to embrace his mother. Mrs. Weasley's face crumpled on hearing a sniff from her son. Hermione looked away in respect to give them privacy.
The other Weasleys looked at the pair in disapproval. Fred and George were fuming. Bill seemed disappointed in his fiancée to call Percy in the first place. Mr. Weasley quietly went to retake his seat beside his daughter. He looked shocked and weary.
Ron was the only one standing away from the others. He harboured more than worry or anger. If Hermione could read him at all, he seemed almost guilty.
Hermione, just like Harry who was transfixed on Ginny, had no opinion in regards to the reunion. It was strictly their internal matter. So when Ron left the Hospital Wing, she, too, went after him.
"Ron!" She called in the corridor. His steps faltered but he never stopped. "Ron, wait!" She followed him down the marble staircase to the third floor, all the while calling after him.
He finally came to a stop on the landing of the second floor, only because there was a group of students coming up the stairs. He turned to walk to the other end of the corridor when Hermione managed to catch up with him. "Ron! Wait!" She took hold of his hand.
When he turned to face her, she took aback at seeing him crying. Ron seldom cried… "Ron… She'll be alright…"
"How can I be so…inconsiderate!" Ron whispered.
"Inconsiderate?" Hermione said slowly.
"I ran 'way from there, saving my life. It never even occurred to me that my sister was there, too!"
"Oh, Ron," she shook her head. "It occurred to none of us at that time…" The small contingent of students made their way towards them, gossiping among themselves about the attack. Hermione spotted an unused classroom near them. "Come with me." She never left his arm while they went inside the empty classroom.
Ron went and sat heavily on one of the chairs. He placed both his elbows on his knees and covered his face with his hands. Hermione could see his shoulders shaking lightly and felt her own eyes stinging.
She went to sit in front of Ron, their knees almost touching. She gently held his wrists and tried to pull his hands away from his face. "Talk to me."
"I ran away, Hermione," he breathed out. "I didn't even stop to think about my little sister."
"We weren't even sure if the attack was solely centred on Harry or the whole village was disturbed," she spoke calmly. "And, Ron, at that time, we couldn't have done anything."
"I forgot about her, Hermione. Completely forgot!" He furiously wiped his eyes with his sleeves. "I was so selfish."
"We were under attack," she tried to explain. "It was natural to-"
"To forget about one's sister?!" He huffed.
"It's natural to look out for oneself. It's a reflex, a human mechanism," Hermione said slowly. "It was not intentional, Ron. It just happened."
"I should have never left her alone in the first place," he muttered to himself.
"Do you really think it would have been possible or even wise?"
"I would have, at least, been there, to help her!"
"Had we known of anything in prior, Ron, a lot of it would have happened differently."
They sat in silence for a while. Hermione let out a shuddering breath. The day had started so beautifully, so cheerfully. They had been shopping for gifts before that infernal attack took place. Everything was well, a typical outing with friends. But now, Ginny was ill, so ill. The Weasleys were so stressed. Harry was probably in shock. And Ron in guilt.
"My family is a target. I can't imagine losing Ginny," he said quietly, yet his words sent a shiver down Hermione's spine. "Or my brothers. Or my parents. Or Harry and…you."
Hermione wanted to tell him that he wouldn't lose anyone. But it would be a lie, considering the battle… Considering all the people she had already lost, the people who had absolutely nothing to do with the Wizarding World. In that regard, the Weasleys were considered Traitors.
"Does it ever feel better?" Ron asked in a whisper. "How do you cope with a thing like that?"
Ron reminded her of herself asking Harry something on the same lines once. She could understand exactly how he felt—broken, lost… Like everything slipped from his open palm like a handful of sand.
She brought a hand to cup his cheek. "You will be fine. Because nothing will happen to Ginny."
Because she did not have the courage to tell him that if anything were to happen to his loved ones, he would never be completely himself again—because death changes a person beyond reversal.
Hermione wiped a rolling tear from his cheek and realised though the day had ended up bizarrely, it could have ended up worse. But the fact that her friends were with her, even Ginny injured or not, was a cause to count her blessings.
The day hadn't ended like it had six months ago, with two deaths on her conscience and an aching heart to tend to. And loneliness to surround her.
Looking into Ron's eyes, she couldn't help but feel grateful that she could still look at him, sit with him, talk to him. Him, Harry and Ginny, all of them. And the others, her peers, despite being attacked. She felt relieved that her childhood best friends were still there, by her side. She wanted Ron to understand that, too.
His hand came to cup her cheek slowly. Hermione found herself too close to her friend, lost in deep thoughts. So when he captured her lips with his, she found her eyes widening in shock. His eyes, on the other hand, closed, as if in a bout of long-awaited relief, completely oblivious to her tension.
He was kissing her and she found herself still. Unmoving. Unresponsive. It was not like her senses didn't aid her. They did. She could taste him. It was so much Ron. A sense of familiarity in touch and smell, even though she had never kissed him before. His hands on her cheeks—soft and big, with barely any nails. His body was warm, the warmth that he was transferring to her. And he was passionate, just as one would expect a lover to be—hungry, eager, giving all signs that he wanted her. And in that flutter of moments, she tried to respond, too. She tried to move her lips along his, too. She tried to hold him and draw some pleasure from the man she often thought she loved.
But she couldn't.
It felt…wrong. So thoroughly wrong. It was not meant to be. No, any Victorian virtue was not hindering her. She was not of an orthodox mindset by any means. No, it was not Ron's fault either. It was…the realisation that she did not want Ron, that Hermione did not love him as a lover, but only as a friend. That if ever she did feel the least bit jealous to see him with Lavender, it was not because she loved him, but because she thought that she did. And then all she felt against her mouth was just another person who sparked no rush in her, sent no shivers to her, and skittered no passion through her. It was as idle as it could be.
And she could not involve herself in such an intimate activity without harbouring pure emotions for her partner.
While Ron felt comforting in a familiar way, Hermione couldn't find the comfort she was looking for. He smelt familiar but it was a different fragrance she was inclined towards, a vague hint in her mind that she could not completely understand. She was confronted with the knowledge that she had never loved Ron in that way. Maybe it had been a crush at some point which had never escalated truly. And she also knew that she would never look at him longingly and think of her lost love. Because it was never the case. That knowledge invigorated her, freed her. She would not remain a slave to those false emotions anymore.
Hermione gently pushed Ron away so as not to seem offended by his actions.
"Hermione?" He looked at her, stumped.
Hermione tried to form words, vaguely aware of the watery smile on her face that had come to grace her lips with the realisation that freed her. "Ron, I… I'm sorry… But- CHRIST!"
Her scream must have echoed in the empty stone classroom for that had Ron immediately on his feet.
Maybe he was even saying something, asking her something. But anything beyond the severe, pinching pain in her hand bearing the band was a distant blur to Hermione.
"Hermione? Hermione, did I hurt you?" Ron was speaking but she could hardly comprehend his words.
Her third finger burned cold, more intense, more agonising than she had ever had the misfortune to experience. Even moving her hand felt like a chore. She felt as if somebody was holding her hand above smoking ice. Her blood was freezing, her hand cramped. Hermione's muscles spasmed, twisting in unutterable pain.
"Hermione?" Ron touched her shoulder, but she flinched away. Everything in front of her nearly blurred behind a sheet of water that was her tears.
Severus! She needed to find Severus or she feared she would die. The bond would very well kill her soon.
"I'm calling Pomfrey!" Ron announced, stalking to the door of the classroom.
"NO!" She screamed. "Stop!"
Ron did stop and turned to her, fear and concern written all over his face.
Hermione gathered every bit of her willpower and erected her Occlumency Shields high and strong. The least of the edge of pain was suppressed, leaving her in a condition enough to speak. "I…forgot to…take my medicine- potion."
"Potion?" Ron frowned. "For what?"
"My legs," she said in a strained voice. "And I…fell, didn't I? My knee-" She clenched her teeth and tried to breathe. "My knee has, I think, it's um…broken."
"What're you talking about?" Ron stepped closer. "What potion? What knee?"
"I need to take my potion!" She said from between clenched teeth.
"Okay, okay. Tell me where's it? I'll get it for you," he said seriously.
Hermione knew he would not let her leave otherwise, so she lied, "In my…room. Purple vial. And don't tell anyone, not even, ugh, not even Madam Pomfrey. Please."
"I won't!" He promised before leaping out of the door.
Hermione could not afford to waste more time. Her Shields were slipping. And as much as she knew the nature of the bond, it was not forgiving in the least. If she didn't find Severus soon, she would be killed.
UUUUUUU
When the students had returned from Hogsmeade, in the supervision of the Aurors, the Heads of Houses were expected to do a head count.
While the other Heads were offering comfort to their charges, Severus had the tedious job of pretending to be rather unaffected by the attack, even look a tad bit satisfied with the happening, for the sake of the Death Eaters and Death Eaters in making in his House.
But he did question the younger students if they were, at all, harmed. A few of them were, indeed, apprehensive. Severus led them to the Hospital Wing.
He had found Granger attending to the students while Poppy was busy with the Weasleys. The attack on the Weasley girl, though unfortunate, was planned. Severus had no doubt about that.
Before exiting the Hospital Wing, Severus indicated Minerva to see him in Albus' office for a conversation.
But it took some time for Albus to be relieved of the Minster employees and the Order members' company. At last, when he found only Shacklebolt in Albus' Office, he approached the Headmaster with his doubts. Minerva followed him in.
"Severus," Albus spoke pensively after Severus had shared his theory, "Why would Tom's men give a warning to the Weasleys and not kill their daughter when they had the chance? Surely, now that the Weasleys are targeted-"
"Because they are Purebloods, Albus," Severus replied. "The Dark Lord and the Death Eaters respect blood over everything else. Though the Weasleys have been deemed as Traitors, they still hold the status of being Pure. The Dark Lord has often mentioned his concern over the apparent endangerment of the Pureblood families in the Wizarding World.
"Killing Ginerva Weasley would have aggrieved the situation."
"I think Snape has a point," Shacklebolt agreed. "Don't mind my words, Albus, but after all, Ginny Weasley is their only daughter among six sons—a Pureblooded witch who can…carry on the trend if she marries into another Pureblood family. You know what I mean…?"
Minerva pursed her lips but seemed agreeable to the insinuation.
"I also believe, Albus," Severus continued, "That if the Dark Lord catches hold of the Weasleys, they would be coerced to change sides."
Albus ran his wounded hand through his beard. His fingers, under the gloves, did not comb as freely his hair as they used to. His movements were restricted. "You do present strong arguments, Severus. I would ask you to try to find more on Tom's motives in regards to the Weasleys. They are a very essential part of the Order."
"And they are good people," Minerva looked disapprovingly at Albus.
"Of course, my Dear," Albus nodded. "That was implied."
Severus rubbed his closed eyes, feeling a headache brewing. He would prefer the tedious work of grading essays in his office to the 'excitement' of the day.
"How is Ginny?" Shacklebolt asked.
"Poppy and Miss Granger have tended to her," Minerva replied. "She will recover soon. Though the other students are shaken."
"I am sure they will soon find themselves in the Christmas spirit again," Albus said a little too blithely for the thick atmosphere, laced with incertitude. "I must order some tea for ourselves before returning to our business."
Severus was about to decline rather vehemently when he felt the invisible band on his finger growing warm.
Not again.
The last time it had heated up, he had found Granger swinging between life and death.
Had the attack affected her psyche so much that she had reverted to her earlier actions… Damn it! "Excuse me. I have important work to oversee." With that terse statement, Severus left the office, not bothered to be excused.
What an idiot he was, he reflected furiously, striding out of the office. He should have noticed the signs, he should have asked Granger how she felt when she had sat silently in the Headmaster's office. Obviously, she was disturbed!
When he came to a safe distance from lurking students and annoying colleagues, he pulled out his wand from the holster and pointed the tip to the band on his finger. "Take me to Hermione Granger!"
A/N: LukaGreen: ¡Muchas gracias por tu reseña! De hecho, había pensado en la terapia de la piscina, pero la idea no encajaba con tantas otras cosas que estaban sucediendo. Así que tuve que dejarlo. Además, los magos tienen terapias médicas muy diferentes, según creo, y encajar un grupo en Hogwarts parecía un poco difícil debido a eso. :)