21

AN: My apologies. It seems, what with school and other RL commitments, I don't register time in the same way anymore. Hopefully I won't let you linger for more than two weeks, though.

Thanks as always go to Ayerf and Septentrion for their insights.

Hermione jumped when Draco appeared, and felt her heart stutter when he fell. She looked at Snape reflexively, and was shocked to see him just standing there, frozen. It had never occurred to her that he could freeze.

Realizing that everything was up to her, she rushed over to assess Draco, and was about to put her fingers to his neck to see if he was alive, when Snape barked, "DON'T touch him!"

She withdrew her hand and looked up at him. He was no longer frozen, but was like a dark avenging angel, all fury and strength.

"Get back," he ordered, and she scrambled away, watching with a tinge of awe as he cast diagnostic charms then spelled Draco into a supine position. Draco's head lolled, and he swore under his breath, then pointed his wand at the bedroom. Two seconds later a valise flew at him. He caught it and knelt down beside Draco in a fluid motion, opening the case to reveal dozens and dozens of bottles.

He plucked out several little vials, and tipped the contents into Draco's mouth. She didn't know the spell he used to make Draco swallow, but she hoped Snape would teach it to her once Draco was dealt with.

Shaking her head at the callousness of that thought, she tried to think of something to do to help. Nothing came to mind, however, so she sat back and watched, hoping for the best.

Minutes ticked by and Snape continued to cast diagnostic charm after diagnostic charm, dosing Draco with a potion here or there as results differed. He'd gone through a dozen bottles before he pushed up one of Draco's eyelids and relaxed back.

"Call Poppy," he said, not looking away from Draco.

Hermione did so without hesitation, and in the seconds between the call and Pomfrey's arrival, she asked, "Is he going to be okay?"

Snape sighed again. "I don't know. I think so, but the curse that hit him is devious, so I can't say for sure. Poppy will have a better idea of his chances."

Hermione swallowed and looked at Draco. For a moment, just one second, it struck her as grossly unfair that Draco had a chance of survival where Ron hadn't, but she quickly chastised herself for that thought and sent a little prayer that Draco would be all right.

Madam Pomfrey came through in a swirl of green, and promptly shooed Snape away from Draco. Hermione's attention stayed on Draco for several more moments, and when Pomfrey's lips unpursed enough to offer the smallest sliver of a smile, Hermione looked up at Snape, triumphant.

Snape, however, was no longer paying attention to Draco, but was frowning at some object on the floor. Hermione looked and saw a golden chalice lying at Snape's feet. Helga Hufflepuff's cup.

She got up and walked to Snape's side. "Shall I summon Harry?"

He shook his head no. "The Carrows will be coming by soon. No need to tempt fate."

"Is it cursed?"

He waved his wand at it, and layers of magic became visible. Hermione oohed at the gorgeous network of lines that were woven in and around the cup. In the center, however, was an ugly green mass.

Snape frowned. "I cannot see any hexes within it, but I also did not see the curse in the diadem."

Hermione nodded. "Do we dare touch it?"

He shook his head, still staring at the cup. "Not with our bare skin, no." He then turned and strode over to his valise and dug out of the depths a pair of dragon-hide gloves. Putting them on, he gingerly touched the cup. When nothing bad happened, he picked the cup up by the rim and quickly carried it over to the bedroom. He reappeared a moment later, stripping off the gloves.

"It should be safe in there for the duration."

Pomfrey drew their attention to her with a polite cough. "Severus, I need to take Mr. Malfoy to the infirmary promptly."

Snape nodded with a frown. "He cannot be seen in the hallways. Can it wait an hour or so?"

Pomfrey scowled and pursed her lips tightly. "I suppose, but he needs to be off the floor."

Snape smirked. "Of course. Is he safe to transport?"

She nodded. Snape flicked his wand and, with a Mobilicorpus, moved Draco to the bedroom.

"You are free to fuss over him in there."

Suddenly, Snape stilled. "And, if you need to fuss, do it now. There is someone coming."

Pomfrey hurried into the bedroom, and Snape looked at Hermione, with distant eyes. "You should go, too." His gaze focused. "You will provide Poppy with an excuse for being here."

Hermione nodded and rushed to the bedroom, closing the door just as she heard the office door open. Backing away from the door, she turned to face Pomfrey, finding the matron tucking Draco into the bed where Ron had lain. Hermione's heart clenched, but she managed to stop herself from voicing her objection. It wasn't as if Ron was still there.

Taking a deep breath, she walked over to the bed. Silently, she stood by Pomfrey's side until the matron finished her work and straightened up.

"Is he going to be alright?"

"He is very, very lucky to be alive. I believe he will be fine, though only time will tell for sure. He has a long recovery period in front of him, however, as a good part of his nervous system has to be regrown. There is a potion for it, but it takes weeks for the regrowth to be complete, and weeks after that for the pain to diminish."

"Oh, God," Hermione exclaimed. "I don't know whether to be horrified or amazed."

"I think both are suitable. If the amazement outweighs the horror, you might want to consider becoming a healer."

Hermione blinked. "I... hadn't really thought I'd do well in that career."

"It's not for everyone, but I think you have the heart for it."

"Oh."

Pomfrey smiled at Hermione, and Hermione offered a small smile back.

"Well, I ought to get back to the infirmary. Heaven knows I'll be needed there."

"Right. Um, Snape said to use me as an excuse for your being here."

Pomfrey smiled and shook her head. "He plays the villain so well, and yet..."

"And yet he's such a good man."

Pomfrey nodded. "Take care of yourself. And watch young Malfoy for shock or fever. There shouldn't be a problem, but if there is, Floo me right away."

Hermione nodded, then hid from sight as Pomfrey returned to the office.

*

Half an hour later, the door opened, and Snape came in looking pale and upset.

"I've summoned Potter."

"Good. Are you okay?"

He gave a terse little nod and looked away, ostensibly at the Horcrux.

"Did Poppy give a prognosis?" he asked, not bothering to turn around.

"That he's lucky to be alive, and his nervous system has to be regrown."

Snape's shoulders twitched a little. "I will start the potion after lunch."

"Okay." Hermione felt wrong-footed by Snape's standoffish behavior, but she persevered. "And is Seamus going to be okay?"

Snape's shoulder's twitched again, though only minutely. "Yes. He will have yet more scarring, but he will be as fool-hearty as ever in no time," he said, his voice taking on an icy quality.

Hermione winced. That had definitely been the wrong thing to say.

"It's not..."

He rounded on her with a horrible smile. "It's not what? It's not my fault? Is that what you were going to say?"

"Yes, but--"

"But you realized that it is very much my fault, didn't you? You realized that patronizing me is a bad idea in the best of times, and that this is nowhere near the best of times?"

Hermione frowned at him. "Stop it. It's not entirely your fault, and I don't appreciate you attacking me as it isn't my fault, either!"

"Oh, but it is as much your fault as it is mine, my dear! After all, if you were not here, everyone would think of me as an evil, traitorous piece of shit, but now they think I'm a evil, perverted, traitorous piece of shit!"

Hermione gaped at him, anger rising. "And how is that my fault? I certainly did not ask to be imprisoned here! I did not ask to be flaunted like a... a bauble! I have done nothing, nothing to warrant this!

"If you want to yell and scream and vent at me, then do so, but don't you DARE blame me for YOUR mistakes!"

Snape recoiled slightly, looking rather stricken.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it," he rasped out.

"Oh, don't give me that. Of course you meant it! Why else would you say it?"

He turned away, looking as if a nightmare had become real. "I am sorry."

Hermione's anger eased a little at his obvious remorse. "I know, and I forgive you. But don't ever expect me to lie down and take that kind of thing, not here in private! I'm sorry if I've hurt you, but any hurt I've caused you has been completely unintentional on my part. I would appreciate it if you did not deliberately try to hurt me."

He nodded, still not meeting her eye. It was only when he raised his hand to push his hair back that she noticed he was shaking.

She went up to him and caught his hand between hers. She looked up at him, and with her other hand guided him to look at her. When she'd caught his eye, she asked, "What is this? What's wrong?"

He swallowed, then cleared his throat. "I... I am repeating past mistakes. I do not... I can not bear to see your life end as needlessly as hers did. Because of me."

"Hers... You mean Lily?"

"Yes."

"You're comparing me to Lily?" Her voice squeaked involuntarily, making her blush.

He smiled ruefully. "There's no need to worry yourself, Miss Granger. I am not in love with you. I do, however, consider you to be a friend. A good friend. And it galls me, and shames me, that not only are we only friends because you are my prisoner, but that I have not been able to think of any way to make things right."

She squeezed his hand. "You are making things right. Every day. And I would like to think that we would have found each other's friendship at some point even without this situation prompting it. You are a good man, and, until today, you have treated me only with respect. I have valued that very much."

He looked at her with awe again. It was unnerving.

"You are a remarkable young woman."

She fidgeted uncomfortably at the praise and dropped his hand. "Thank you. That means a lot coming from you."

He snorted. "Yes, I imagine it does, seeing as I was the only teacher who didn't fawn over your talents."

She laughed. "I can't imagine you even being capable of fawning over someone!" He flinched. She sighed internally, knowing she'd somehow managed to hit another raw nerve. She shrugged outwardly. "But then, this week has taught me nothing if not that you are as human as the rest of us."

"Only smarter."

"And sneakier."

He chuckled. "And perhaps luckier."

She snorted. "No, that title goes to Harry. I still don't know how he managed to survive all this time."

"Don't you?" Snape asked, eyebrow raised.

She blushed at his implications. "Well, anyway, I still maintain that Harry is luckier than you, so you'll just have to make do with being smarter and sneakier than most everyone."

"I can live with that." He smiled down at her in a way that made her think she'd somehow made him very happy. She didn't know why, though she was glad she had. He needed a bit of happiness.

His smile suddenly turned into a frown.

"Someone is on their way up," he announced. "Wait here."

He closed her in the bedroom, leaving her to contemplate the butterflies in her stomach. His affection made her nervous, even if it was nice. And flattering. But it was definitely nerve-wracking having someone like Severus Snape look at her with something like adoration. It didn't seem right. Not only was it not healthy to adore another person like that, but shouldn't she be the one with the hero-worship? He had saved her life, after all! He was the brilliant spy! He was the man who was almost single-handedly bringing down Voldemort's regime from within, for heaven's sake!

And yet, he was the one looking at her as if he'd been saved.

She shook her head, not able to make sense of it. But then, emotions rarely did make sense. She was just glad he didn't love her. She wasn't sure she could take that much emotion. Not just yet, anyway.

And not from him... Probably.

The bedroom doorknob turned, and instinct brought her wand out before the door cracked open. Her caution proved to be unnecessary, however, as the door opened to reveal Severus and Harry.

"Harry!" she cried. She ran over to hug him, irrationally relieved to see him.

"Er, sorry it took me so long?" Harry said, giving her a couple of stilted pats on her back. "Is everything okay?"

Hermione pulled away, embarrassed. "Sorry. No, nothing's wrong."

"Ah. So, why'd you call me?" he asked Severus.

Snape merely pointed at the cup. Harry's eyes widened and a smile burst forth. "Oh! Draco got it alright, then! Is he back in his common room already?" His smile dimmed as he read the expressions on their faces, and dropped altogether when he turned in the direction of the bed.

"Shit. Is he alive?"

Hermione nodded. "Madam Pomfrey says he'll be okay eventually, but she also said he was really, really lucky to have survived."

Hermione saw Harry and Snape share a significant look.

"I'm glad to hear he'll be alright. And, while I'm glad to know he's back with the cup, erm, is there a reason you called me?"

Hermione half-snorted as she saw Snape give him a scathing look before pointing to the cup.

"Oh, right! Oh. Right. Erm, the sword is back in the Room of Requirement."

Snape scowled. "Why, precisely, did you think I was calling you, then, if it wasn't that the cup was here to destroy? For a chat?"

Harry scowled back. "Look, I was in the middle of something. I assumed it was an emergency or something."

Hermione saw Snape open his mouth to deliver some scathing remark, but she forestalled him and the resultant blow-up by stepping between the two with her arms out.

"Severus, don't. Harry does have other things he needs to think about, and I'm sure they're just as important." She saw Harry fidget slightly and inwardly groaned as Snape smiled that nasty, triumphant smirk of his. She thought quickly.

"Classes are in session, aren't they?" Snape gave her a 'you are being a dunderhead' glare. "Good. That means not many people will be about. You could use Harry's cloak to take Draco to the infirmary."

"And my excuse for my dereliction of duty?" Snape said sourly.

She gave him her best exasperated glare. "I don't know. Maybe you need to fetch something for me for whatever I'm suffering from?"

The muscles in his jaw twitched, and she felt sorry for her volley, but refused to back down. Not until Harry was safely away. Harry, she noticed, was looking between the two uncomfortably.

"I could just run back to the room and fetch the sword..." he suggested.

Snape scowled. "Miss Granger is right," he bit out. "This is as good an opportunity for moving Draco as we will get before midnight."

He held out his hand to Harry with a resigned sigh. Hermione saw Harry's confusion and nudged him with a whispered, "The cloak, Harry."

"Oh, right," Harry said rather dumbly, blushing slightly in acknowledgment of his slowness. He pulled his cloak out of his jeans' waistband and handed it to Snape with only a hint of hesitation.

Snape took the cloak with a look of distaste, then waved his wand at Draco, casting Mobilicorpus. He carefully draped the cloak over Draco's floating form, then tucked his wand into his arm holster.

"Miss Granger, if you would cast Abracadabra in that direction," he said, pointing toward one of the bookcases on the eastern wall, "it would speed things along."

Hermione gave him a questioning look, but did so and was impressed to see the wall open up.

"Precede me and open the door to the third floor."

Hermione gave him a look that expressed her opinion on his manners, but did as he asked, casting Lumos in the dim stairwell. She found the charm lit a series of torches as well as her wand and provided quite enough light. Hearing Snape behind her, she made her way down the stairs.

Snape instructed Hermione to skip the first shadowed alcove as they passed by, prompting her to wonder where it led. Her wonders increased as the second landing was much larger and more obviously a landing. Her curiosity was not relieved when she looked back to Snape, however. He simply told her the password to open the door and waited rather coolly for her to wave her wand.

Scowling a bit, she did so. She was a bit surprised when the wall opened, rather than the door. She was not surprised to notice Snape smirking with satisfaction at her expression.

"Thank you, Hermione," he said in a rather smarmy tone. His expression, however, had turned sincere.

She nodded and watched him till the wall closed behind him. "You're welcome, Severus," she whispered, then made her way up to the bedroom where she found Harry pacing in agitation.

"Hermione, what's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"You and Snape. You were... were you fighting?"

Hermione let out a small huff of amusement as she looked down. "Yes, we had been arguing. I told him off for trying to pick a fight with me."

Harry blinked and gaped a bit before his mouth turned up in an amused smirk. "Seriously?"

Hermione giggled. "Yes."

Harry laughed. "I can only imagine how well he took that!"

Hermione's smile faded. "Yes, well, he's... He's had a rough day."

Harry snorted. "That's what Snape said about you yesterday. If I didn't know you so well, I'd say you two were covering for each other."

Hermione smiled wryly. "I think I'm his best friend right now."

Harry's expression sobered. "Really?"

She nodded. "Really." Suddenly, she was overcome with emotion, and she wanted to fall into Harry's arms and tell him how mixed up everything was now, with Snape seeing her as his angel and comparing her to Lily and her being scared stiff of disappointing him, because there was no way to live up to such ridiculous expectations, and she really did want his friendship for longer than it would take for her to fall off the pedestal he'd placed her on.

But she didn't. She breathed in deeply and blinked a couple of times, then smiled at Harry, who was looking at her curiously.

"Did he tell you about my mum?"

Hermione's smile faded. "What do you mean?"

"He loved her."

Hermione blinked. "And he told you that?"

Harry shuffled his feet. "No-o. I, er, heard him telling Tom." Hermione stared hard at him, and he added bashfully, "Last week."

"Harry! You're letting Vo- Riddle into your head? Do you know how dangerous that is? Do you--"

"I needed information!" Harry yelled. "And I've got a lot of good information from the connection! We wouldn't have the cup or Snape without this bloody connection, so don't lay into me about it, Hermione!"

"But, Harry! If your mind is open to his, then HE CAN SEE INTO YOURS! He'll know Snape is a traitor!"

"And I'm telling you, IT'S SAFE! HE'S NOT LOOKING INTO MY MIND!" He took a deep breath in and added much more quietly, "It hurts him too much."

Hermione stepped back and took a deep breath in. Softening her voice as much as possible, she asked, "How can you know that, Harry? How can you be sure you haven't given the game away?"

"Would he have let me see the cup's true location?"

Hermione tried to think of a reason he would have done that and had to shake her head. "No."

"Well, I saw it. That's why it's here."

They both looked over at the cup, lost for words. Hermione was the first to articulate what they both were thinking.

"You're almost done, Harry. The war will be over soon!"

Harry smiled in a muted way. "Yeah. A day or two."

Hermione eyed him suspiciously. He was withholding something important. Harry must have sensed her mistrust, however, as his smile grew brighter and he said, "So, I guess now's as good a time as any to plan the end!"

Hermione continued to eye Harry suspiciously, but nodded acquiescence. After all, Harry had always had his reasons for not sharing information right away. Even if they were occasionally very silly reasons.

Harry opened his mouth, but shut it quickly as they heard the office door open. Hermione hurriedly looked around, then motioned for Harry to hide in the bathroom. He ran in there silently, and Hermione retreated to the bed and ducked under the covers, wand in hand.

The bedroom door opened, and Hermione heard light steps that were definitely not Snape's. She concentrated on breathing normally as the person neared, but it was difficult. The person was only a foot away when Hermione heard the office door open again. The person hastily retreated, though not to the bedroom door, but in the direction of the bathroom.

"Hermione?" Snape called from the office.

Cursing to herself, she opened her eyes in time to see someone Disillusion themselves. Snape entered the bedroom and paused with a thoughtful look at seeing Hermione in bed.

Hermione looked at him and whimpered. "Please, sir. Don't."

Snape drew himself up and looked at her in a calculating manner. "I will do whatever I wish to do, Hermione."

Hermione whimpered again, this time with a fake half-sob. "Please, not now. Madam Pomfrey said..."

"Don't be so tiresome. You are supposed to be somewhat intelligent, after all."

Hermione ducked her face under the covers up to her eyes to hide her nervous grin. She didn't dare look in the intruder's direction, but she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye.

"I just... I can't. Not now."

Snape advanced and loomed over her, his face icy cold. "You will do as I wish!" he said as he drew out his wand. Hermione gestured with her eyes to the bedroom doorway, where she last saw a trace of movement a second ago.

Snape whirled and cast a series of silent Stunners through the door, and they heard a rewarding thump as someone fell down.

Hermione breathed in deeply and let it out in a shaky exhale.

"Are you alright?" Snape asked, his voice warm with concern.

Hermione nodded. "Yes. We should find out who that is, though."

Snape frowned and turned to his office. He kicked around the floor, not particularly gently, Hermione noted, until his foot came in contact with something. He pointed his wand at that part of the floor and, with a Finite, revealed Alecto Carrow, sprawled unflatteringly beside his desk.

"Well," Snape said, his frown deepening. "This presents a problem."

"Can you Obliviate her?"

"I could, but I'm not sure that's the wisest course at the moment. Cover your ears."

Hermione hesitated until Snape pointed his wand at his throat. Even with her ears covered, she could hear his amplified voice calling for all students to return to their dormitories and for the teachers to meet in the staff room.

Hermione looked at him. "What are you thinking?"

"I am thinking that it is time to see what everyone is holding."

"Now?" Hermione's voice shook.

"Yes. Is Potter still here?"

"Yeah," Harry said from the doorway. Snape turned and nodded at him. "Good. I will need you to stay here with Hermione. I will be telling the teachers I suspect your presence in the castle."

"But, we haven't killed the cup yet."

Snape's face twitched. "That will have to wait until after I've determined who is loyal to whom. The battle has begun."

"I should go with you."

"Not on your life, Potter."

"But--"

"NO! You need to stay here, where there is no chance of you being discovered. My plan is not foolproof. We cannot risk you being taken to the Dark Lord now."

Harry backed down with a frown.

Hermione looked from Snape to Alecto and back. "What about you?"

"McGonagall will be there."

She nodded with a breath of relief, knowing the Transfiguration professor would defend Snape. "Oh, okay. Be careful."

Snape offered her something between a smirk and a smile. "Always."