"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."
Marie Curie
VII
The sudden side-along apparition left the trio in disarray. Hermione surveyed the dark, enclosed living room, its threadbare furniture barely visible under the dim candlelight. Regulus swayed on his feet, struggling to maintain his balance.
A horrible screech of pain pierced the silence, and the witch's eyes darted to Snape, who lay contorted on the floor, a ghastly laceration marring his left leg. "Black, help me," he gasped, "We must inform the Dark Lord of the prophecy."
Regulus had barely whispered an "Episkey" to heal the wound when Hermione approached Severus and cast a full body-binding charm. "What are you doing?" Severus demanded, his voice laced with confusion and pain.
The witch's expression was grave as she explained the dire consequences of his actions. "If you tell Voldemort, you'll lose what you hold most dear," she warned.
Snape's crude joke about his disdain for seers was cut short by Hermione's revelation. "It's not about being a seer," she said, "It's about Lily."
At the mention of his childhood friend and unrequited love, the wizard ceased his struggle, his eyes wide with alarm. "Explain," he implored, his voice barely above a whisper.
Hermione disclosed her journey through time and the dual nature of the prophecy, which could apply to either Harry Potter, Lily's son, or Neville Longbottom. Severus's demeanor shifted, a mix of anxiety and longing evident in his gaze.
Once seated, the witch recounted the fateful decision Voldemort made to target the Potters, and Snape's desperate plea to spare Lily. "He promised, but he lied," she finished, her voice tinged with sorrow.
With the full body-binding charm lifted, Regulus aided the other wizard to his feet. "Is there a way to stop him?" Severus asked, hope flickering in his eyes.
Hermione hesitated, on the verge of revealing the truth about the Horcruxes, but Black intervened. "The information is too precious," he cautioned, his hand on her arm.
The witch argued for trust, but Regulus was adamant. "Only if he takes an Unbreakable Vow," he insisted.
To their surprise, Snape agreed, and Hermione prepared to bind the vow. The two wizards knelt, their right hands clasped, as her wand touched their linked hands.
"Will you, Severus Percival Snape, promise not to reveal the secrets shared here?" Regulus asked, his voice steady.
"I will," the halfblood affirmed, his voice resolute.
"And will you, to the best of your ability, help defeat the Dark Lord?" Black pressed on, his gaze locked with Snape's.
"I will," Severus repeated, a shiver coursing through him.
With each vow, a thin stream of fire encircled their hands, the bond sealed by Hermione's magic. Snape knew the gravity of the vow; breaking it would mean his death.
After Hermione secured the room with protective wards, the trio delved into a discussion about the Horcruxes and her journey through time with a dimensional time turner. "We're close now," Regulus said, hope evident in his voice. "Just one last Horcrux remains—the Hufflepuff cup."
Snape rose abruptly, his dark eyes intense. "Follow me," he commanded, leading them to a hidden door within the bookshelf walls.
They ascended a narrow staircase, emerging into a bedroom that felt more like a prison cell, the entrance concealed from view. "Snape's sanctuary," Hermione mused, noting the pervasive air of neglect.
Severus approached an old, crumpled cupboard, retrieving a small golden cup adorned with a badger from a hidden shelf. "Is this the Horcrux?" he asked, holding it out to the witch.
Hermione nodded, her heart racing at the sight of the cursed object. "How did you come by it?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Snape revealed that after a failed break-in at the Lestrange Vault, Rodolphus had entrusted the cup to him, keeping Bellatrix in the dark. Regulus, eager to act, questioned whether they were prepared to destroy the Horcruxes. "Are we ready to end this?" he asked, determination in his voice.
Severus, however, raised a valid concern. "How do we destroy them?" he questioned, his brow furrowed.
Hermione explained that only the most potent forces, like Basilisk venom and Fiendfyre, could destroy a Horcrux. "But venom is out of reach," she added, her mind racing for alternatives.
They contemplated using Fiendfyre, but the curse's volatile nature made it a dangerous option. "Fiendfyre is not to be trifled with," Black warned, his voice grave. The weight of their task hung heavy in the air as they stood among Snape's neglected possessions, the fate of their world resting on their next move.
The cold winter night was silent, except for the crackling of the fireplace in the Black's library. Hermione and Regulus had spent hours poring over ancient books and scrolls, hoping to find a clue to the elusive Fiendfyre. They had managed to collect all the Horcruxes, but destroying them was another matter. The cursed fire was the only thing that could consume the dark magic, but it was also uncontrollable and deadly.
They were about to give up for the night, when a loud bang jolted them from their seats. It sounded like someone had smashed through the floo network in the drawing room. Before they could react, a heart-wrenching scream pierced the air. It was the cry of a baby, terrified and in pain.
Hermione and Regulus exchanged a look of alarm and ran to the drawing room, wands at the ready. They were greeted by a scene of horror. Severus Snape had stumbled out of the fireplace, holding a limp redhead woman and a crying baby in his arms. He was covered in blood and bruises, and his right arm was slashed open. He looked at them with a desperate expression and collapsed on the floor.
"Help...please...Lily...Harry..." he gasped, barely audible.
Hermione recognized the woman as Lily Potter, James Potter's wife and Harry Potter's mother. She had seen her picture in the Sirius' room. The baby could only be Harry. She felt a surge of shock and sorrow, wondering what had happened to them.
She rushed to Severus' side and took the baby from his arms. The child was pale and shivering. He clung to Hermione, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Shh, it's okay, little one. You're safe now," Hermione whispered, trying to calm him down.
She turned to Regulus and said, "We need to get them to a room. Kreacher!"
The house-elf appeared with a loud pop, his eyes wide with fear and curiosity. He saw Severus and Lily, and his mouth dropped open.
"Master Regulus! Mistress Hermione! What has happened to them?" he exclaimed.
"We don't know, Kreacher. But we need your help. Can you take Harry to a safe place and look after him?" Hermione asked.
Kreacher nodded and reached for the baby. The toddler whimpered, but let go of Hermione and wrapped his arms around the elf. Kreacher smiled and cuddled him.
"Kreacher will take good care of Master Harry. He is the heir of the noble House of Potter, after all," he said proudly.
He snapped his fingers and vanished with Harry. The baby's cries faded away, leaving a silence that was almost eerie.
Hermione and Regulus lifted Severus and Lily, and carried them to Sirius's room. It was the only one that was clean and comfortable. They laid them on the four-poster bed, and Hermione cast a quick diagnostic spell. She frowned at the results.
"Lily is alive, but barely. She's been tortured with the Cruciatus curse, and she's lost a lot of blood. Severus is in a similar state, but he also has a dark curse on him. I don't recognize it, but it looks nasty," she said.
Regulus examined Snape's arm and saw the angry black mark on his skin. It was the Dark Mark, the sign of Voldemort's followers.
"He's been marked by the Dark Lord. He must have betrayed him somehow, and escaped with Lily and Harry," he guessed.
He searched Severus' robes and found a small flask. He opened it and sniffed it. It smelled like mint and earth.
"It's an Invigorating Draught. He must have prepared it in case of emergency. It can help restore some energy and heal minor wounds," he said.
He handed it to Hermione, who nodded and gently lifted Lily's head. She poured some of the potion into her mouth, and waited for her to swallow. Lily coughed and opened her eyes. She looked around, confused and scared.
"Where...where am I?" she asked weakly.
"You're at Grimmauld Place, Lily. You're safe here," Hermione said softly.
Lily's eyes widened as she saw Hermione and Regulus. She recognized Black from Hogwarts, but she didn't know him well.
"Who...who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Hermione Macmillan, and this is Regulus Black. We're friends of Severus. He brought you here. He saved you and Harry," Hermione said.
Lily's gaze shifted to Snape, who was lying next to her, unconscious and bleeding. She gasped and reached for him.
"Sev...oh, Sev...what have they done to you?" she cried.
She touched his face, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She remembered the last moments before the horror began. The Death Eaters had broken into their home, and killed James. One of them had aimed his wand at Harry, and uttered the Cruciatus curse. Lily had thrown herself in front of her son, willing to die for him. The witch had felt a flash of purple light followed by intense pain, and then nothing.
She had woken up in the destroyed living room of her cottage at Godric's Hollow, with Severus by her side. The wizard had told her he loved her, and that he was sorry for everything. He had said that they had to escape, before the Death Eaters found them.
They had managed to reach the fireplace, and Severus had thrown some floo powder into the flames. He had shouted "Grimmauld Place", and pulled her and Harry into the green fire. They had felt a jolt of pain, as if they were being ripped apart. Severus had held them tight, and whispered "Hold on, Lily. Hold on, Harry. We're almost there."
And then, they were here.
Lily looked at Hermione and Regulus, and asked, "Where is Harry? Is he okay?"
"He's fine, Lily. Kreacher took him to a safe place. He's a house-elf, and he's loyal to us. He'll take good care of Harry, I promise," Hermione said.
Lily nodded, and relaxed a bit. She closed her eyes, and drifted into a fitful sleep.
Hermione and Regulus watched over her, and hoped that she would recover soon. They also hoped that Severus would wake up, and tell them what had happened. They had so many questions, and so few answers.
But as the night wore on, Snape's condition worsened. He began to twitch and moan, as if he was having a nightmare. His eyes opened, but they were unfocused and wild. He started to scream, and his words chilled them to the bone.
"Lily! Lily, no! Don't leave me, Lily! Please, don't die! I love you, Lily! I love you!"
Hermione realized that he was reliving the night of the attack, and that he was trapped in his own mind. She quickly cast a spell to bind him to the bed, afraid that he would hurt himself or Lily. She looked at Regulus, and asked, "What's wrong with him?"
Black recognized the symptoms, and his face paled. He had seen this spell before, and he knew how cruel it was.
"It's the Somnium Obscurus curse. It makes the victim face their worst fears and nightmares, as if they were real. It's like a never-ending torture, and it can drive them insane. I've seen Bellatrix use it on muggles, and it was horrible," he said.
Hermione felt a surge of anger and pity for Severus. He had suffered so much, and now he was suffering even more. She wondered how he had endured it, and how he had found the strength to save Lily and Harry.
She asked, "Is there a way to break the curse? To free him from this nightmare?"
Regulus nodded, and said, "There is, but it's not easy. The only way to break the curse is to sever the connection between the victim's subconscious fears and their perceived reality. To do that, someone has to enter their mind, and help them realize that what they are seeing is not real. It's a form of Legilimency, but it's very risky. The intruder could get lost in the victim's mind, or worse, become a victim themselves."
Hermione knew what Legilimency was. It was the ability to read and manipulate the minds of others, and it was considered a dark art by many. She had learned about it from Minerva, who had taught her how to resist it. She had also known of Snape using it on Harry, and she had hated him for it.
But now, she felt differently. The witch felt a grudging respect and gratitude for Severus, who had risked his life to save Lily and Harry. She felt a desire to help him, to repay him for his sacrifice. She looked at Regulus, and asked, "Can you do it? Can you enter his mind, and help him?"
Black hesitated. He was a skilled Legilimens, but he had never attempted something like this. He knew how dangerous it was, and he was not sure if he could handle Snape's mind. He had always admired the his friend, but he also feared him. He knew that Severus was a brilliant and powerful wizard, but also a bitter and tormented soul. He wondered what horrors lurked in his subconscious, and if he could face them.
Yet he also felt a sense of duty and loyalty to Snape, who had been his mentor and friend. The wizard had taught him many things, including Legilimency. He had trusted him with his secret, that he was the one who had stolen the locket Horcrux from Voldemort. He had supported him in his quest to destroy the Horcruxes, along with Hermione.
He looked at the witch, and saw the determination and compassion in her eyes. He knew that she cared for Snape, in her own way. He knew that she wanted to save him, as much as he did. He nodded, and affirmed, "I'll do it. I'll try to enter his mind, and help him."
Hermione smiled, "Thank you, Regulus. You're very brave."
She handed him a vial of Veritaserum, a truth serum that could enhance the connection between the Legilimens and the victim. She said, "You'll need this. It will make it easier for you to access his mind, and for him to trust you. But be careful, it will also make you more vulnerable to his fears. You'll have to be strong, and not let them affect you."
Black took the vial, and uncorked it. He poured three drops into Severus' mouth, and waited for a few seconds. He saw Snape's eyes widen, and his pupils dilate. He knew that the Veritaserum was working.
He took a deep breath, and looked into his friend's eyes. He whispered, "Severus, can you hear me? It's Regulus. I'm here to help you. I'm going to enter your mind, and try to break the curse. You have to trust me. You have to let me in."
He focused his mind, and uttered the incantation, "Legilimens!"
The pureblood heir felt a jolt, as if he was being pulled into a vortex. He saw flashes of images, sounds, and emotions. He saw Snape's memories, his childhood, his Hogwarts years, his love for Lily and his guilt.