A/N
Hi everyone!
So sorry for the long wait. I hit a bit of a block for a moment there and had to go ahead and reread everything from the beginning. I got a bit lost in the sauce. Anyway, I'm not 100% satisfied with how much I was able to fit in this chapter. I had hoped to move the story forward a little more but everyone has so much feelings that I had to get some more internal conflict in. I hope the length of this chapter makes up for the wait. I am still aiming to finish this story in less than 35 chapters but it's really up to fate at this point lol
Thank you to all the wonderful readers, reviewers, and followers. I appreciate every single one.
Happy Reading!
Harry frowned at the Daily Prophet as he sat with Hermione, waiting for her to wake up. After weeks in the hospital wing, she was finally to be discharged.
In the past three weeks since her rescue, the Ministry of Magic had been taken over by a political party that was a thin cover for Voldemort's followers. With this new change, the Aurors and other Order members who worked for the Ministry were being watched closely. He had heard during the last meeting that Tonks had even been reprimanded for 'interfering' in the 'seizure of controlled magical artifacts' from a muggleborn's home, which ultimately led to an arrest and the obliviation of the young wizard's muggle parents. More and more muggleborns were receiving news of attacks on their families or threats being sent to their houses. Already, Dumbledore was allowing the families of those at risk to take refuge within the castle walls.
Harry looked over at the sleeping figure of Hermione and sighed heavily. It was a morbid thought, but even if the end result was terrible, sending her parents away had probably saved them from long, torturous deaths. He folded up the paper, trying to forget the disturbing description of another group found dead, and tossed it on the bedside table. His eyes stung a bit as he rubbed them roughly. Snape had finally awakened Hermione the night before, but Madame Pomfrey insisted that she wait another day before being discharged.
At the thought of the Potions Master, Harry frowned. Despite his gratitude for Snape's help, Harry still didn't know how to feel about him. The dark man had proven himself as a powerful ally and someone who cared deeply for Hermione. Jealousy colored his views of the older man: jealousy at his prowess, jealousy at his relationship with his best friend, the girl he loved. But loath as Harry was to admit it, Snape loved her too. The weeks had proven it as an undeniable fact. If anything, the depth of his love intimidated Harry. He recalled the actions of the wizard since the successful rescue mission.
Harry could be found at Hermione's bedside any free moment he had as she recovered. The Potions Master had not interfered but returned each night before curfew to sit on her bed and try to root through her mind and pull her back to the surface. It was a blow to his ego that he could do nothing about Hermione's catatonic state while the ex-spy worked through the night, doing whatever he could to bring her back. Each day that Snape relieved Harry of his vigil, was a surprise. Dumbledore had resolutely ignored Hermione's condition at the last two Order meetings until Snape brought it to the group's attention. Both times the headmaster had only 'hoped she would awaken on her own' and moved on. It was fuel to the ex-Death Eater's resolve, who would leave the meeting prematurely and would dive back into any method he could use to try to wake her.
Harry had walked into the hospital wing bright and early that day and witnessed as Snape woke from his place slouched next to her on the bed, sitting up swiftly while looking down at the brunette. As Harry stepped closer to the pair, he saw Hermione's eyes flutter open, followed by the corners of her lips turning up.
"Severus," Her voice was raw and deepened with sleep, but dripped with tenderness that stopped Harry in his tracks. He watched as the Potions Master's tense shoulders relaxed, his body seeming to unclench at the sound of her voice. His raven hair hung curtained around his face, hiding his expression.
Snape took her hand, his movements slow as though he feared he would startle her. Then he leaned down to brush a featherlight kiss to her forehead, before he pressed his own against hers. His voice was a low rumble, tinged with exhaustion and relief. "Yes, love. I'm here. I've got you."
Their movements were so casual and intimate no one would be able to mistake their ardor. Heartbreak and jealousy coalesced into brutal acceptance as Harry watched the pair. Harry's mind was a whirlwind of emotions. The jealousy gnawed at him, a constant reminder of his perceived inadequacy. How could he compete with Snape, who saved Hermione, not once, but twice?
Hermione tried to sit up but Snape gently pushed her down and merely leaned forward so they could speak directly into each other's ears. Her soft smile followed by the deep rumble of his chuckle seemed to cast them in a light that burned bright in the morning rays that flooded through the high windows. They didn't even realize he was there, so caught up were they in their reunion.
It should have been disturbing; he should have wanted to fight for her attention, but instead, he just watched, frozen. Hermione had looked at him with awe, worry, and love, but never with the bare and vulnerable adoration that she was directing at the Professor. He couldn't see Snape's face but suspected the look in his eyes would be similar to hers. He wasn't the only one who had noticed the change in Snape's demeanor ever since the ritual. Sirius had commented on how obvious it was that 'the greasy git' had fallen for Hermione's numerous charms. Remus had even fondly described how Snape had planned such a thoughtful Christmas gift for Hermione. The surly, angry man that Harry had come to know and revile had shown his true colors which seemed to glow with his feelings for the curly haired bookworm.
Harry stood rooted to the spot as the Potions Master sat back, holding one of Hermione's hands in his lap, his thumb rubbing circles across the top of it. With effort and assistance from Snape, the formerly catatonic girl sat up. Harry noted how he asked permission each time he went to touch her as he offered his help. The man carefully, tenderly bunched her hair and slung it over her far shoulder so she wouldn't pin it behind her. Then he took his seat at her side again, with his back to the room. Hermione cupped the Professor's cheek before pulling him in for a kiss. Harry closed his eyes.
He bore the pain of his yearning only as long as he could hold his breath then coughed to announce his presence. When he opened his eyes, the Professor was standing, turned towards him but still held Hermione's hand in the space between them.
"Good morning, Hermione…Professor Snape. I'm glad that you're awake now. We have all been worried sick," He affected his voice with a calmness and buoyancy he didn't feel. He strode across the room, noticing how they squeezed each other's hands before letting them fall away. Hermione reached for him with that same hand and he took it, sitting on the edge of the bed where Snape had just been. "How are you, Hermione?"
Hermione answered softly, although her eyes looked past him, watching as the Professor donned his cloak and headed for the hospital wing doors. "I'm fine, Harry. I'm sorry to have worried you. I needed help coming back, but You-Know-Who didn't learn anything. So it was worth it."
"I couldn't care less about what he learned, I'm just happy you're alive," Harry said quickly, her gaze finally landing on him as the sound of the doors opening and closing sounded through the empty infirmary. "I'm so sorry, Hermione. I should have been there. You got tortured because of me."
"Harry," Hermione cupped his cheek, her touch firm and familiar. She leaned forward, stopping his self recrimination in its tracks the moment her eyes met his, "I was tortured because I am a muggleborn and because I am part of the fight against him. Even if you weren't 'The Chosen One' and this war was still happening I would have fought for the light. But I'm alive. I'm here with you. That's all that matters, alright."
Harry turned and kissed her palm, savoring the feel of her skin and the familiar scent of her. He loved this girl deeply, but sharing her affections with the Potions Master tore at his heart. How could he reconcile his feelings for Hermione with the bond she shared with Snape? It was something he could ruminate over now that she had returned to the land of the living. "We almost lost you. I couldn't even help save you. That was all Snape."
"I wouldn't have wanted you to come for me. Who knows what would have happened if you had come and You-Know-Who was still there? You need to survive until you can face him when you're ready, not on a whim because of me," Hermione argued with strong conviction. "I know you would do anything for me Harry and I would do the same for you. But we have to pick our battles. The more that happens the more I believe that you are a horcrux and who knows what could happen if you got near him now. Just being around the locket turned you into someone else."
"Is that why you locked me in that room? Because you didn't want to have to face me after what I had done and preferred going after a horcrux on your own? Did you think it would end up like Christmas?" Harry snapped back, feeling suddenly slighted, though shame still burned in him as he recalled his attack on her.
"No, Harry! I was happy to see you. I was tired of you avoiding me because of something you did that you couldn't control. But I also didn't want you near the horcrux after all that had happened. It was the only way to make sure it wouldn't affect you," Hermione implored, " I never meant to end up outside the castle. That was an accident and no one's fault. I doubt you would have been able to prevent it."
"You could have waited for Remus and Snape to come back. Or even called any of the others. You didn't have to run off on your own. You didn't have to leave me there with no way to tell anyone what you were up to." Harry scolded.
"Calling the kettle black, Harry. I learned how to run off on my own from you!" Hermione seemed to be amused as she fought a smile, "It all worked out. That's always what you say after doing something incredibly dangerous and betting on a whim. It applies to this too. I'm alive. Severus pulled me out of my occlusion. You-Know-Who learned nothing from me. Last but not least, we are down another horcrux. I could argue that my reckless act has had better results than any of yours."
The faux haughtiness she inflected her voice with made his lips turn upward in an embarrassed grin, "Alright, I get it. I won't question you. Just please don't go off on your own anymore. He knows who you are and how important you are to me. You're more of a target now than you were before."
"I know Harry. I won't rush off anymore." Hermione said with quiet determination. "But how is everyone else?"
"They will be happy to hear you're alright. Everyone's been worried sick that you had lost your mind from the torture. But, Snape, he wouldn't give up. He said he would be able to bring you back, even when Dumbledore told him to focus on another project about Voldemort's snake," Harry explained, though felt odd about showing Snape any appreciation.
"It doesn't surprise me that the Headmaster didn't think my mind was worth saving," Her response had his gut twisting. Had she also had suspicions about Dumbledore? Harry didn't want to tell her that the Headmaster had all but abandoned her.
"Hermione, I don't think he wanted anyone to save you," Harry winced as he voiced the damning thought.
"No, he wouldn't. I'm sure he hoped I would have died and gotten out of his hair," Her voice was blunt and tinged with anger.
"Hermione," Harry's voice trembled slightly, "how long have you had doubts about Dumbledore?"
The girl in front of him sighed heavily, unable to hide her frustration. "I've never blindly followed him, Harry. Not like everyone else. Not since first year."
"So this whole time? Why didn't you tell me?" Harry's brow furrowed. He had never picked up on any animosity between the two and until her reckless use of Un Anima Duo to relieve Snape of his mark, the Headmaster had not been very interested in the muggleborn.
"The traps that led to the Sorcerer's Stone were too simple. I thought back then that he had done it intentionally as it made no sense for a group of eleven year olds to have such an easy go of it. Each year countless death defying situations were left for us to solve when he and other more experienced wizards should have handled it. He even knowingly let us use the Time Turner to save someone, breaking literal punishable laws. He is too clever to be merely reckless. I believe he allowed some events to happen as a way to make sure you learned lessons 'organically'." Hermione looked away and sniffled, "He lost all my trust when I found out he was the one that had pushed me to obliviate my parents."
"Wait-what? But you came up with that idea, didn't you?" Harry tried to recall the conversations they had had on the subject during the summer.
"Harry, obliviation is permanent. Why would I want my parents to have forgotten me completely? It makes no sense. Dumbledore admitted that he 'suggested' it to me. Obviously, that ended exactly how he wanted. My parents are gone and now I have no one but you to put my life on the line for. That's what he wanted. He however never expected me to interfere where Severus is concerned," Hermione's voice was bitter but he could tell she was already tiring. She leant her head back and closed her eyes as she rubbed circles at her temples.
"I believe you. But let's talk more tomorrow, there are things I need to get you up to speed on. With the Order and with our own plans with the horcruxes. Sleep. I'll be here when you wake up," Harry insisted, knowing he would be up late ruminating over the Headmaster.
Harry was jolted from his reverie by a hand on his forearm. He looked up and met the honey brown eyes of Hermione who looked to be in good spirits and eager to leave the infirmary. Unable to stop the wave of affection that came with seeing her once more on her feet, Harry enveloped her in a firm hug and kissed her temple. "You ready?"
"Yeah, let's go," Hermione smiled at him softly as she took his arm, leading her to the Head Girl dorms. She did not cling to him as she had when she had first lost her memory. Harry felt oddly bereft. Her reactions to him had paled in comparison to her first interactions with Snape after she woke up the day before. He pushed the jealousy down deep. Remember what Snape said: negative emotions can be used against me.
An hour or so later they were sprawled across her sitting room. Hermione was on the floor, surrounded by books while Harry was draped across the sofa working on an essay. He looked over at the curly head of Hermione as she flipped between writing and paging through a textbook, "You do know you don't have to catch up on all the homework at once?"
"Oh hush, Harry. I'm not even researching as deeply as I would like to. I just want to at least turn something in. It's three weeks of schoolwork and it's our last year. I will not ruin my grades so late into my schooling," Hermione rolled her eyes at him.
"Well you'll have to take a break after dinner tonight. The Order is having another meeting after that but Snape wants to see all of us in his chamber's before we go to the Great Hall," Harry munched on a cookie and closed the book he had been using for his Herbology assignment. His eyes traced over Hermione's figure. There was very little physical evidence of her kidnapping and wondered how she was doing mentally. If only he could be a legilimens like Snape, then he would be able to help her instead. Who knows what the two talked about while the dark wizard was rooting through her mind.
It did not escape his notice how comfortable Hermione was with her growing relationship with the Professor. Before her memory loss and afterwards, her openness and logic had been a gateway for their interactions. Was he destined to lose to the bond they shared? Did she truly love the Professor or was it a result of the circumstances they all found themselves in? Did Hermione love him after all he had done? She was fond of him, loved him as a friend, kissed and touched him willingly before his horcrux induced attack. But how did that compare to her connection with the older man? Curiosity finally got the better of him, "Hermione, what are your feelings for Snape?"
Hermione froze, her train of thought derailing. Who needed information on the goblin rebellion when her kind-of-boyfriend had just asked her about her feelings concerning a man she had a soul bond with? She put down her quill and looked over at the young man sprawled across her couch from her position on the floor. "I love him as much as I love you Harry. He's a good man and this bond has shown me that and more."
The sigh the other Gryffindor let out was all the indication she needed that her answer wasn't satisfactory. "Harry, I know you love me and I've always loved you in some capacity since that night with the troll. I know that this war could end with some of us dead. But I will not be forced to make some arbitrary 'choice' between the two of you. Not to mention that having been bonded to you both has no doubt had a huge influence on my feelings."
"Our bond wouldn't do that," Harry said forcefully. "It's different."
"How do you know?" Hermione asked, curious. What does he know? Could he have found out what kind of bond it is? But how?
"It's a slave bond. Snape says it's alchemy, it's all rather confusing. But the main thing, the most important thing is that if I die you will lose your soul. There is no love or feelings or coercion attached to that. It is an evil thing that has been forced on us," Harry's voice grew bitter as he described the bond. "You have feelings for me and I have feelings for you. That is real. But we will break this bond so that you can be free and, even if - Merlin forbid - you do die in this war, your soul will be able to move on. As for your bond with Snape, he's already working on breaking your bond to him as well. We both want you free to make your own choices and to not have to sacrifice anything else."
His vehemence took her by surprise. A moment of panic rose up in her chest. The bonds have to remain intact, damn these stupid men and their savior complexes. Resolutely, Hermione stood up and took a seat next to the dark haired boy and took his hand, affecting her voice with a melancholy tone, hoping to sway Harry's determination, "Harry, you can't reverse an alchemic bond unless you're the one who cast it."
"I know! Snape told me. We have to find a way to get Dumbledore to understand that we don't need the bond to make sure Voldemort is defeated. I never wanted anyone, least of all you to die for me. I won't let it happen and neither will Snape," the conviction in his voice was admirable. She didn't have the heart to break it. Dumbledore, of course…I'll explain more later, when the time is right.
"Harry, I think we need to prioritize the last horcrux. I still think you are one but I have a feeling I know what the other one is," Hermione tried to steer the conversation.
"The snake. I told you, Snape is supposed to be working on an antivenom for Nagini. He's put off doing it to help you. But even if it's not one of them, it would be good to have everyone carrying around the antivenom incase of another attack," The young man went off on a tangent about how he had seen the vision of Hermione being taken to Voldemort through the eyes of the snake. This is practically confirmation. Harry is a horcrux, an unintentional horcrux. So the slave bond may come in handy afterall. Hermione was deep in thought when Harry nudged her and said they needed to head to Snape's.
Severus stood staring into the fire in the hearth wondering how his past self would have reacted to the motley crew that was spread across his quarters. Remus and Sirius were on the sofa talking in low voices, calm and uncaring that they were once his personal nightmares. Ron, Draco, and Ginny were at the small dining table also talking vehemently amongst each other, paying no mind to the adults in attendance. Lucius was sitting in the armchair right behind him, looking simultaneously disdained and curious. Finally, Narcissa was playing hostess and making her rounds with tea and small snacks. They were waiting on Hermione and Harry.
Once Hermione awoke the day before, Severus had retired to his rooms to get his first good night's sleep since her kidnapping. He loathed leaving her but he had run himself ragged and had taken entirely too much pepper-up potion and coffee to get through the days. He at least knew that Harry would not let Hermione out of his sight. With the Order meeting that night, it would be the first confrontation following Hermione's reckless acts and he had wanted the group to convene and prepare themselves for what was to come.
There was a knock on the door to his classroom which caught them all off guard as Severus had keyed his wards to everyone who was meant to be at this meeting. He bid everyone to keep quiet as he made his way from his chambers, through his office, and to the door that led to the classroom. When he opened the door with a jolt he was surprised to find Luna Lovegood looking up at him with a faint smile.
"Good afternoon, Professor. I know you're all to be meeting with Hermione soon and I would very much like to see how she is doing. If you don't mind," Her icy blue eyes seemed to penetrate his own and he instinctively slammed down his occlumency walls. "Hmm don't worry Professor, I don't need to read your mind to know that you are all meeting tonight."
Stunned by the out of character words from the young Ravenclaw, Severus stepped aside and let her walk straight into his office and on through to his quarters. He followed the diminutive blond into the sitting room where Harry and Hermione had joined the rest of the group. What talking that was taking place immediately stopped at the sight of Miss Lovegood.
"Luna? What are you doing here?" Hermione stepped forward, taking the younger girl's hands in her own, a smile on her face.
"I just wanted to check on you, Hermione. I was worried that You-Know-Who would have an easier time getting information after I helped you restore your memories. Even though I know how well protected your library is," Luna smiled back at her friend. The rest of the room shifted and mumbled at the new information.
"You have your memories back?" Harry blurted out.
Hermione sighed and turned to look around the room. When her eyes met his they were apologetic. "Yes, right before I went to the Room of Lost Things. I had worked with Luna to get them back. She is the one who taught me occlumency."
There were exclamations of incredulity at the confession. So this is the missing piece. Has she always known about Hermione's plans?
"As exciting and surprising as that news is, I think we need to start off with the basics before we lose control of this meeting. I want everyone on the same page before the Order meeting tonight," Severus said. Hermione came to stand beside him and Harry sat next to Black on the sofa. "As we can all see I was able to pull Hermione out of her deep occlusion. We spoke about what had happened to her and she confirmed that the Dark Lord entered her mind but was unable to retrieve any useful information. She was able to push him out and keep him out."
"Blimey, Hermione, are you sure you're ok? Having the snake bastard in your head must have been terrible," Ron chimed in only to be shushed by his sister.
"Yes it was terrible but I managed. Severus and I were able to work through and repair as much of the mental trauma as possible before I woke up. This should emphasize to everyone here how important Occlumency is," Hermione looked pointedly at Harry.
"Let me do a quick recap for you, Hermione, before we get sidetracked and take a cram course in mind magic," Sirius chimed in, standing and approaching the younger Gryffindor, "I am happy to see you well, kitten. I was worried once I saw you after we pulled you out of the Malfoy hellhole."
Severus tried not to be irked at the pet name and was satisfied when Hermione grimaced.
"Sirius, don't call me that. I still can't believe Harry told you about the Polyjuice incident in second year," The girl shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"I needed some form of entertainment while I was holed up in Grimmauld place, Hermione. Anyway, you succeeded in the destruction of the diadem. Harry was able to see your location from the perspective of the snake. Remus and I think that the snake is another horcrux and so far the rest of this lot agrees. Dumbledore is allowing refugees into Hogwarts but has some 'adjustments' that will be discussed at the meeting," Sirius looked around the room as the other occupants nodded along. "Sevvy is still trying to figure out how to break the bond between you two and we all know there is another bond between you and Harry."
"You told them?" Hermione looked at Harry, admonishment on her lips.
"I told them. We know the bond between you and Harry must be broken by the caster and is of alchemic nature," Severus hoped she realized he had not divulged the use of that particular bond. "With Dumbledore's recent reactions to events pertaining to you, we believe Dumbledore placed the bond and it is unlikely we will get him to remove it without some other plan in place. Now that you have your memories we can work on breaking our soul bond. I do not want you to have to suffer if I am ever captured again."
"No," Hermione's tone was steely. Severus met her gaze and saw the determination there.
"What do you mean 'no'?" He shot back, his voice a low rumble.
"Our bond stays intact. I did the bond to save you and until this war is over I have no interest in breaking it," She said resolutely. Severus balked at her response. Stubborn, foolish, infuriating girl. Why must you vex me so?
"Hermione, you can't be serious?" Harry stood, glaring at her. Idiot boy, how many times must I tell him to control his negative emotions Severus thought to himself as the boy continued. "Why the hell don't you want to break the bond?"
"Hermione, I have to agree with Harry," Severus winced as he said it, "But with your memories returned you can outline to Narcissa and I how you modified Un Anime Duo. Your life would no longer be at risk in connection with mine. It will spare us both."
"While I'm sure with enough time you may be able to create a way to break the bond, we do not have the luxury of unlimited time. I would rather our efforts go towards preparing for the war. I've seen the Prophet. More and more muggles and muggleborns are dying and we have to do something about it," Her hair crackled with magic as she grew more irritated.
"No, you don't get to change the subject, Hermione," Harry stepped closer to her, his voice forceful, "If we can't break the one between us without Dumbledore, then we should prioritize the other."
"I do not want to break the bond. If my life is lost to keep Severus alive long enough to survive this war, then it would be a great use of it. After all, I intended to die when I implemented it so the bond would have been defunct. I had not planned to have to deal with any of this or the rest of the war. But I am here and I will be making my own decisions about my own damn life and who the hell I am bonded to," She snapped harshly.
The room erupted with outrage and gasps of surprise. Severus knew that revealing Hermione's mental state at the beginning of the year had not truly convinced the Gryffindors that she held her life to so little value. But confronted with the woman in question saying it herself, was a dramatic shift that shook the righteous lions to their cores.
"You don't mean that, do you Hermione? That you meant to die?" Ginny spoke for the first time since the meeting started. Her eyes glistened with tears.
"It doesn't matter," Hermione looked away.
"Like hell it doesn't matter!" Sirius was nearly yelling, "You were going to sacrifice yourself for him," he pointed an accusing finger at the Potions Master, "When Harry needs you!?"
"Harry is his own person and I have already given him as much of my skills and protection as I can. What have you done except encourage his recklessness and hatred?" Hermione pinched her nose, exasperated. With the return of her memories her demeanor had changed again. She was more confrontational and nihilistic, a change that did not sit well with Severus.
"Hermione," Remus interjected, pulling Sirius to sit back down. "What are you not telling us?"
So the wolf had noticed it too. There was more to the bond and her own sacrifices. Hermione sighed heavily. It was bone weary and seemed to age her before their eyes. "You will not like what I have done."
"Miss Granger, I dare say that they already disapprove of your acts of sacrifice. What's a little more disapproval in the face of problems they cannot solve?" Lucius sneered. He may have turned coat but he seemed to be enjoying the turmoil being rot amongst the rest of the room.
Hermione tilted her head, examining the blond with a curious expression, as if she had just registered his presence. "You've blown your cover as well then?"
"That was my sacrifice to the great endeavor to bring you back alive. Suffice to say the Order is not pleased and it will be another thing for the old coot to blame you for, Miss Granger," Lucius answered lazily.
"Thank you. I know it was a huge risk. But I am happy you are alive," Hermione's sincere words seemed to surprise Lucius but eventually he tipped his head in acceptance. "I would offer to remove your Dark Mark but I would rather not go through another ritual. Adding blood magic to a binding ceremony takes a lot out of a person."
Severus closed his eyes. Remus and Sirius gasped and the Weasley's looked horrified. How could I have forgotten? She had cut herself during the ritual. She was covered in blood when I woke up. Lucius' eye twitched and Narcissa looked grave.
"What part of the ritual used Blood Magic, Hermione?" Narcissa held Hermione at arm's length, as if she couldn't decide whether to comfort her or admonish her.
"Un Anima Duo, in its original form, only creates the core tethering which would come into effect only when needed. I modified the ritual to use some of the energy that would create the core tethering to funnel into a cleansing spell." Hermione explained, looking only at Narcissa. Severus listened intently. "The cleansing spell to remove something as dark as the Mark and the other vows he had taken needed a willing sacrifice. By adding an aspect of blood magic, my blood was used as a vessel to focus the magical energy of the core tethering. It was a conduit to control the magic that the ritual brings forth. Severus was not in mortal danger but I needed to trigger the funneling of my magic to divert it into the cleansing. The focused blood magic was able to complete the cleansing and any negative consequences."
"Negative consequences?" Harry asked, transfixed by the explanation.
Hermione glanced back at Severus and then Lucius before answering, "There is a built in defensive spell in the Dark Marks that retaliates should someone try to remove it. By using blood magic I was able to redirect the retaliation towards myself which should have killed me."
"Blood Magic is very dark magic Hermione," Ginny said quietly. "It would have left a mark on your soul."
"Yes, well, I am not the only person in this room with a tainted soul. I do not regret what I did." She replied confidently. Her eyes found him and she smiled softly, "I would do it again in a heartbeat."
Luna stood, drawing the attention of the room, "It's nearly dinner. Thank you for allowing me inside, Professor Snape."
Without another word she left through the door she came and presumably through his office and out of his classroom. As everyone else stood, murmuring amongst themselves and trying to process what they had all learned, Severus took Hermione by the arm and dragged her into his bedroom. Silently he warded them inside and turned to her.
"Hermione, I need you to be honest with me." He spoke solemnly. She nodded. "Did you create the Alchemic bond between you and Harry?"
"No," Hermione answered confidently, her eyes unwavering, " I am not an alchemist. But I knew what had to be done, so I found a way."
"But you know who did?" He implored. She turned away. He took her chin and turned her face to his. "It wasn't Dumbledore. You asked someone to cast Vittas Vitae on you and Harry, didn't you?"
Her eyes widened for a moment, then she nodded again. Severus closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. Without opening them he asked one last question, "You intend to keep the slave bond in place no matter what I say or do?"
"I won't let Harry die," Hermione pulled back and looked him in the eye, conviction evident in her being. "I won't let you die either. The bonds stay intact."
"Hermione-"
"No, Severus. The bonds stay intact. If I don't do this there is a high likelihood that neither of you will survive. I couldn't live in a world where that is my reality. You cannot change my mind," She said, tears welling at the corners of her eyes.
"You expect me to live in a world without you now that I have experienced what it is like to love you, Hermione?" Severus's voice cracked as the depth of her sacrifice settled in.
Rather than answering, she kissed him. Their tears turned their love to salt.
A/N
Next up we have the Order Meeting, Dumbledore's plans for the muggleborns, and of course the final confrontation approaches.
Let me know what you think
Where do you want the story to go next?
Is everyone tired of Harry?
Has anyone guessed who cast Vittas Vitae?
How will Hermione survive?