It's been a while, but I finally managed to get this chapter done. Sorry for the delay, but things have been kind of crazy lately. Graduation, exams and stuff.

Anyway, here's chapter 10. I hope you'll enjoy it. Please feel free to tell me what you think.

Thanks.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

"Albus? What is it? Why did you request my presence?" professor Snape asked the older man, Headmaster Dumbledore.

"Severus boy, please sit…" Dumbledore said as he motioned the other man to sit on the chair next to him. Snape, however remained in the door frame, arms crossed at his chest.

"Tell me, what's the matter?" Snape once again requested, but the older man turned his back at him and glanced thoughtful through the window. "Headmaster?" Severus said as he took a step forward, worried.

"I have been informed that a prisoner escaped from Azkaban last night." The Headmaster informed the younger man.

Severus, who was walking toward the window, stopped in his track with a frown on his face. "Who is it?" he simply asked.

Dumbledore turned towards him. "It's Dolohov."

"And how does it concerns us? Surely the Dementors –" Severus started, only to be interrupted by Albus who was now next to him.

"The Dementors are now looking for him." He assured.

"Headmaster, may I ask for your permission to go and find that man?"

"You may ask, but I will not allow it."

"But Albus –" Snape started.

"The Dementors will find him, my boy. And plus, you don't have to go looking for him. I am sure that he will come to find you." Dumbledore told him, but the other man wasn't surprised.

"What is it that you are not telling me?" Snape asked.

"He wrote something on his wall before he escaped." At Snape's raised brow he continued "He wrote blood traitor. He wrote it with his own blood."

Severus, who was still listening to Albus, started walking to the window. It was almost dark outside and he had a strange feeling. "The Dementors. When will they be here?" he asked.

"I think they are already here. I can almost feel them. I have informed the other teachers to be on high alert. Please make sure not to let the students alone on their trips to Hogsmeade. I do not know how long will it take to catch him that's why we have to be very careful. He could be anywhere." The Headmaster told him.

"I will make sure that - " Severus started but stopped as realization hit him.

Dumbledore noticed his pause and he asked concerned: "Severus? What's the matter?"

"When did you find out about his escape?" Severus raised his voice.

"This morning. Why, Severus – "

"Old fool! Why didn't you tell me?" Severus started and he took off, cloak billowing behind him.

"Infuriating man! I am not a first year anymore to scare me with this! Really! If he thinks that this scares me, he's in for a surprise. It takes more than a dark forest to frighten me…". Hermione voiced angry her thoughts. She had one more week of detention with Snape and the man was driving her crazy. Well, a week and a half, she reminded herself. She usually had to arrange, rearrange his ingredients, or even scrub a few cauldrons, but this was a first. The professor sent her in the Forbidden forest to gather some ingredients for his potions and Hermione wasn't happy. Her basket was almost full and she wanted to return to the castle when she heard a crack from not so far away. It was like someone had stepped on a branch. Hermione stood up from her place on the cold stone and she took a step to the right to hide herself behind a giant tree.

The Gryffindor listened closely for any other signs of movement. She looked away to where she thought she heard the sound, but nothing could be seen. Nothing but a small deer. She exhaled relieved and she was about to step away from behind the tree when something startled her. Something hit the deer and it was now lying on the ground, trying to breathe. Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes. Something, someone, hurt the little deer in a brutal way and she was filled with rage. She got hold of her wand and she wanted once again to step away from her refuge, but this time it was to save the troubled animal. Unfortunately, she was too slow and she froze in her place when a man came out from a bush and walked to the deer.

Black locks of messy hair was covering his face so Hermione didn't recognize him, but she was sure she saw him before. He was tall and skinny and he looked like a ghost in those large and ripped clothes. He lowered himself over the suffering animal and Hermione almost darted away to stopped him, but something stopped her. Someone grabbed her from behind and turned away from the horrible scene. That someone hold her tight and a hand prevented her from making any noise. Hermione feared the worst. She was afraid that the person holding her was the other man's partner and she bit his hand until she felt the metallic taste of blood in her mouth, but the man didn't make any sound, he just lowered his head to whisper in her ear in a low murmur: "Miss Granger, I think that you should stop biting me if you want to ever divest yourself from detention."

Hermione freeze in his arms. She knew that voice. She could recognize it anywhere. "Professor Snape?" she tried to say, but his hand was still preventing her to talk.

"Shh…" he whispered back. "I will let you go, but do not make any sound. And stay here. Do not move." And with that he loosened his grip on her and before she knew what was happening, he left.

Hermione panicked. She didn't know what to do. Who was the other man and how did professor Snape know he was going to be here? She turned to see what was happening when she heard the strange man yell "Impedimenta" and the professor collapsed on the ground. She wanted to go and help the professor, but he got up before she had the chance to move.

"Blood traitor!" the skinny man yelled and he threw another jinx, only to be met with Snape's Shield Charm.

"What are you doing here, Dolohov? Don't you miss the sweet kiss of the Dementors?" Snape asked with a smirk and threw back another jinx.

"So it's Dolohov." Hermione thought and she took advantage of their fight and she ran behind another tree, and another until she was behind the prisoner, waiting.

Snape's remark seemed to infuriate Dolohov even more for he was now throwing jinx after jinx, curse after curse. Severus managed to keep him away but he was distracted by something behind the other man and he found himself on the ground, jerking from the pain that came from Dolohov's Cruciatus. Between his spasms, Severus heard a "Petrificus Totalus" and the pain stopped.

Hermione went and kneeled next to Snape's body. "Sir? Sir, are you all right?" she asked concerned and she heard him groan in pain.

"Insufferable girl! What were you thinking? I told you not to move. You could have been badly hurt!" he started as he got up.

"Well, thank you would have been enough." She said angry.

"Thank you? You want me to thank you for distracting me and being tortured?" he asked incredulously and he took a step forward towards her.

"Distracting you? How did I manage to do that, exactly?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I told you to stay there and not to move!" he almost shouted.

"But I was worried, I just wanted to help you!" she said in his exact tone.

"Well stop trying to help me! I don't need anyone's help." He told her.

Hermione sighed. She didn't want to argue anymore. She's had enough for one day and she wanted to head back to the castle. "All right, I'll try to remember that next time. Now, can I go back to the castle? What's going to happen with him?"

Snape's expression changed. "The Dementors will take care of him. He will be taken back to Azkaban. And yes, you can return to your Tower."

Hermione took a step away from the professor before she stopped. "You aren't coming?" she asked.

"What's the matter, Miss Granger, the Gryffindor courage has left you? Are you afraid of the dark?" he asked with a smirk.

In the forest was always dark, but it was night already and that made everything even more darker. Hermione had to use lumos to distinguish things, but that didn't mean that she was scared. "I'll take that as a «no» then..." she stated and she walked away, leaving Snape to deal with the prisoner.

By the time Hermione got to her room, she was exhausted. She wanted to stay and finish the Transfiguration book that McGonagall gave her, but she fell asleep with the book in her hands.

"Severus," McGonagall started when the man returned from the Forbidden forest about an hour later."Albus told me that you went looking for that man. Is that true?" She asked, worry written all over her face.

Severus studied her expression. She looked genuinely concerned. It was good to know that someone still cared about him. "Yes, that is true." He responded simply.

"Severus Snape! Why on earth would you go alone after him? He is a dangerous man and-" she started angry, but Snape interrupted her.

"I wouldn't have gone after him if someone had told me about his escape earlier. Merlin! I sent a student in the forest! " he explained.

"Oh my, Severus, I did not know that. Albus is going to be in so much trouble! You will see... who's the student?"

Snape was pleased at the woman's promise. He always enjoyed it when the old man got in trouble. "The student is Miss Granger. As you know, she has two weeks of detention." He informed her.

"Oh my, I hope she is all right... I hope you are all right..." Minerva started.

Severus started massaging his temples. After the Cruciatus, he always gets headaches. "Yes, she is fine. I am also fine." He assured her.

"It looks like you are not fine -" McGonagall started, but something caught her attention. "Severus, what's wrong with your hand?" She asked and she reached for his hand to examine it.

Severus was surprised by her question."My hand? There is nothing wrong with my hand -" he started, but then he saw what she meant. His right hand was bruised and a bit inflamed. And there were marks of -

"Teeth? Severus, who bit you?" She asked concerned.

Snape thought about what happened and he started laughing when he remembered."I was...atacked." he told her when he stopped laughing.

"He bit you?" She asked incredulous.

"Yes, he was quite mad I'm afraid..." Severus lied with a smirk on his face.

"Well, Azkaban can do that to people. And the dark magic."

"Yes." He replied curt.

The weekend finally came and Hermione was now in the common room that she and Malfoy shared. She just sat there, reading when he came out of his room.

"Are you leaving?" She asked.

"Yes, I have to go, or else my mother is going to hex me for being late." He told her amused.

"Well, have fun then" she told him with a smile.

"Yes, well, bye..."

"Bye."

Five minutes later, Ginny walked in very excited. She crossed the room and she sat next to Hermione on the sofa. She had a huge smile on her face. "Oh, Mione, I am so happy that I get to see Harry today! And Ron. But mainly Harry!"

"And what are you doing here? You should be outside, preparing to leave."

"I know, but I wanted to see you before I left. It's not too late to change your mind, Hermione. Please come. Please..."

Hermione sighed. As much as she wanted to go, she couldn't do it. "But Ginny, you know that-"

"Yes, I know, but -" she interrupted Hermione, only to be herself interrupted by the other girl.

"But nothing, Ginny. I am sorry, but this time I have to stay home."

Ginny sighed. "Okay, I understand, but I still don't like it!. And the boys won't like it either..."

"I know, but if you tell them that I can"t be there because I threw up on their favorite professor's shoes, I think they will be just fine..." Hermione said and the two girls started laughing.

"Yes, I agree with you on that one." Ginny decided.

Later that day, Hermione decided to go out for some fresh air. It was sunny and warm even though it was the beginning of October so she put her favorite t-shirt on, a pair of jeans, her sneakers and she left. When she got out of the castle, she wasn't surprised to see another students just running around and having fun. She decided that it was too crowded and she walked away, heading to her favorite part of the entire castle, the Astronomy Tower. Well, among the favorites anyway she reminded herself. It took her almost ten minutes to get there and now she found herself on top of the tower, where the classes were held. She was looking down to an amazing view. She was about to turn and sit down when a voice startled her from behind so she stopped in the act.

"Enjoying the view?" The voice asked.

"I could recognize that voice anywhere." She thought. "Ron?" She asked and she turned to face the intruder.

"Hello." He said with a shy smile.

"Oh, Ron, I'm so glad to see you!" She exclaimed and she ran and hugged him.

"I missed you so much..." she thought she heard him say, but she couldn't be sure because his face was buried in her hair.

"But what are you doing here?" Hermione asked him.

"I wanted to see you." He responded.

"And how did you know that I was going to be here?"

"You weren't in the library. And I hoped that you would be here."

"Oh, I understand..." she decided and a sudden silence fell over them. She didn't know what to say. She was glad to see him, but that brought back so many memories and she suddenly missed him, missed being with him.

"Hermione... I... I want to apologize for... you know..." the boy started slowly.

Hermione sighed."Ron, it's fine, I am not mad at you, don't worry. Sure, I was a little sad at the time, but that was because of how I found out. Ron, you should have told me yourself! It's a terrible deal to find out that your boyfriend is cheating on you from the newspaper! "

Ron took a step forward towards the girl. "I know, I am sorry about that and that's the reason I am here. Hermione-" he said, but for some reason he stopped.

"Yes?" Hermione started, hoping to make him continue his thought.

"Hermione, I... I am getting married." He told her.

"Ron, you are joking, right?" She inquired, hoping that the response was affirmative.

The boy took a step back with an offended look on his face. "No, I am not joking. I love Claire and I am going to marry her."

Hermione took a step forward and she sighed. She didn't know who Claire was, but she could guess. "Ron, are you sure you want to do this? You know that magical marriages are -"

"Forever, I know. And yes, I am sure. And I want you to be there. You are part of the family after all."

"Ron, I don't think that's such a good idea..."

"Why not? No, after all the things that we've been through, during the War and all, I want you to be at my wedding. Please say you'll come." He pleaded.

Hermione sighed. In the Wizarding World you can only marry once and she really wanted to be there for him on his big day. "All right, I'll come." She said with a small smile and he exhaled relieved. "When's the wedding?"

"Two months from now." He replied.

"Isn't a bit too quick?" Hermione asked concerned.

"No, Claire said she will take care of everything 'til then" he told her with a big smile on his face. It was only then when she realized that he really loved the other girl.

"Oh, Ron, I can't believe you're getting married! I hope she will make you happy."

"Yes, she is already making me happy. And don't worry, someday, it will be your turn to get married. But I have a strange feeling that Harry may be the next..." he said thoughtful and they started laughing.

"I really missed you..." Hermione sighed when they stopped.

"I missed you too." He assured her and they hugged.

Five minutes later, the boy got up from his place next to her on the floor, hurried. "Oh! I have to go! Claire is waiting for me at Madame Rosmerta's with Ginny and Harry. I promised her we'll look for some locations for our wedding. I'll see you soon!" He said and went for the stairs, but he stopped right before the first step. "Take care of you."

"I will. Say 'hi' to Claire for me."

Ron's smile got bigger. "I will!"

After Ron left, Hermione sat down on the cold floor with her head on her knees. To an outsider, she looked like she was crying, but she was just lost in thought. She felt happy for Ron, but she was also worried for him. He was still young and a marriage seemed like a bad idea at the moment. She only hoped that they thought it through and they won't regret it. On the other hand, even though she felt happy for him, she couldn't help but feel a little sad. She was going to lose him. A marriage changes people. Nothing will ever be the same. And the next was Harry. Even though she knew his future wife, she knew that things will change and nothing will ever be the same. What's worse is that she was going to lose Ginny in that process too.

Hermione thought about her future. She wasn't interested in a relationship and marriage. She only wanted to finish the school and start her Apprenticeship. And then start the school again. But this time not as a student. She would stay there, while all of her friends move on and move away, but somehow that didn't scare her. Not that much, anyway.

She was distracted from her meditation by a loud cracking sound and she raised her head quickly to see what was happening. She was surprised when she saw the dark clouds on the sky. And a minute later, cold drops of water found their way to the ground and to her. The normal reaction would have been to run away, but Hermione was different. She loved rain and she enjoyed the feeling of rain drops on her skin.

"What on earth are you doing here?" Came a voice from behind her about five minutes later.

Hermione didn't have to turn to know who it was. But she turned to face him anyway. He stood there, in the pouring rain, but somehow he wasn't wet at all. A bubble of air was keeping him away from the rain. "I am just enjoying the view." The Gryffindor told him.

"Enjoying the view? In the rain?" He asked incredulous.

"Yes, is that so hard to believe?" She inquired while crossing the arms at her chest and trying to ignore the rain that fell harshly.

"Well, normal people don't tend to enjoy the view in the rain"

"Well, I happen to enjoy it. I actually love the rain. And I'm sorry if that makes me less normal. Anyway. What are you doing here?" Hermione asked while she took a step forward towards him

"I always come here when it rains." He admitted.

Hermione frowned. "You do?" She was surprised.

"Yes."

"Well 'normal people don't tend to' -"

"I couldn't care less about what those dunderheads do." he cut her off and he took a step forward.

Hermione didn't know what to say to that. She decided to leave it and she turned to watch the rain fall. Her clothes were soaked and she was starting to tremble, but she didn't care.

Snape must have seen her shivering for the next moment he was standing next to her, the bubble of air that was surrounding him was now surrounding Hermione too. She watched him as the tremor went away and she whispered a small "Thank you" which he refused to acknowledge.

They sat there in silence until Hermione broke it with a sneeze and she hoped that he didn't notice it, but her hopes were in vain. "All right, Miss Granger, it looks like you've had enough rain for one day. It's time to go back. And I think that you should go visit Madame Pomfrey."

The girl wanted to argue with him to stay a little longer, but something prevented her for doing so. For the first time they, they didn't fight and their encounter didn't end with her being sent to detention or something, so she listened to him and she followed him down the stairs.

"I'm sorry for your hand. I thought you here his partner or something." She apologized while they walked through the corridors towards the hospital wing.

"You don't have to apologize. You did nothing wrong." He assured her without looking at her.

Again, Hermione didn't know what to say. Her professor's behavior was odd. He wasn't rolling his eyes at her, he wasn't throwing detention at her for who knows what reason, he was even talking nicely. She decided to let it go for a while because something bothered her since the incident in the forest.

"Sir, how did he get out? You can't escape from Azkaban without help. So if someone helped him, that means that -"

"Granger," he interrupted her, "if someone helped him escape, then that means that I will find him, or her. Or them. Now, if you don't have any other question, I have some matters to attend to. Goodbye." And the man took off, not even waiting for a response from her.

"Goodbye…" she whispered, but he was already gone.