Chapter 8 - When Friends Attack

Disclaimer: Alas, the world of Harry Potter is not mine. JKR dreamed it up before I ever had a chance. Any character you recognize belongs to her.

A/N: As always, the chapters you read are made so much easier because I have such a fantastic beta. RobisonRocket, you're the best!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ch 8 - When Best Friends Attack

Hermione's tears were falling freely when she finally reached her room. She was so completely confused. How could she have been so stupid? Why had she let herself believe for one moment that Severus Snape would truly have any interest in her?

Closing her bedroom door and warding it, she slid to the floor, letting her pain have its moment. "You're a fool!" she whispered as she rested her head against the wall. In the dark, she listened to the sounds of her breathing.

Suddenly, a feeling of unease crept over her. She felt as if she wasn't alone. Grabbing her wand, she whispered, "Lumos!"

Ron's face became illuminated by the light from her wand, as he was mere inches from her. His eyes took on an evil luster that made her blood chill as he reached for her. Her scream echoed through the Head common room.

Draco stirred from his slumber and sat for a moment, listening for the sound to come again, when he heard Hermione's panicked voice yet again. "No! Ron, please, DON'T!"

Up in seconds and racing up the stairs to her private rooms, he banged on the door. When nothing happened, he tried to open the door, only to feel a shock pulse through his arm at the ward she had placed. "Hermione!" he screamed through the door. "Release the ward, Hermione!" Banging on the door, he felt horror race through his veins at her screams.

"Draco! Draco, I can't! Help me! Ron, don't!" As he listened at the door, he heard tearing fabric, and her screams began anew.

Yelling back through the door, he said, "Hermione! Fight him! I'll get Snape!" Turning, he stumbled down the stairs in his haste to reach the common room. As he stood before the hearth, he opened the Floo. "Professor Snape!" he screamed into the flames.

After a moment, a rather bleary-eyed Severus stepped through to stand before Draco. "What is it, Mr Malfoy?"

Draco opened his mouth to answer, only to snap it shut as Hermione screamed again. "Oh, Sweet Merlin, what is wrong with you, Ron? Oh, please, someone help me!"

Racing past Draco and up the stairs, Severus grabbed the doorknob of Hermione's door, only to feel the same twinge of shock before Draco caught up with him. "Sir, it's warded! And for whatever reason, she can't release the ward."

Hermione's pitiful cries made both Slytherins panic that much more when a crash came from inside the room, then silence.

Drawing his wand, Severus aimed it at the door, focusing all his energy on removing the ward. "Eradicate Shield!"

The blast hit the door with such force that the entire door blew apart. Stepping through the threshold, both wizards saw Hermione standing, shaken, in the center of the room with an unconscious Weasley at her feet. Part of her desk lay atop him. Her wand was broken in two and lying close to the red-head's hand.

As she looked up, her expression went from relief to modesty at her near nudity before the two. Wrapping her arms around herself to hide her exposed and bruising flesh, she whispered, "I'm afraid I m-may have k-killed him."

Severus knelt beside Weasley, checking the boy over. "No, Miss Granger, Mr Weasley will be fine." He paused, looking back to her and trying to comfort her without touching her. "Aside from a terrible headache when he awakens."

Draco had grabbed a terrycloth robe from her bathroom and moved to wrap it around her shoulders in respect for her modesty. "I'm sorry, Granger. I tried to break through your ward, but I just couldn't." He didn't add that her screams had him so panicked that he was beside himself by the time he reached Snape.

When Severus caught her hesitant smile of gratitude, he scowled deeply. "Malfoy! Take Weasley to the infirmary. Tell Pomfrey to put him in isolation." He glanced at Hermione before adding, "It is imperative that he not have any contact with any other students at this time. I will explain when I bring Miss Granger to her."

When Draco hesitated, he added shortly, "NOW, Mr Malfoy. Miss Granger and I will be along in a moment." With a reluctant nod, Draco turned and levitated the unconscious Weasley from the floor and guided his body out of the room, leaving the two alone.

When Severus was sure that Draco was no longer in hearing range, he turned and moved to wrap his arms around her. She flinched at first, but relaxed after a moment and leaned fully into his arms. For several moments, he just held her in his arms. Then, with a sigh, he said softly, "I did not explain myself to you very well earlier. I think I gave you the mistaken impression that I was not truly interested in what is growing between us."

Slowly, she pulled back and her eyes searched his face. "You don't have to explain...." But please tell me I was wrong to think you didn't want me! her mind cried silently.

"I have wanted, for some time now, to be a part of something special for once in my life." His hand traced her cheek, and he frowned at the beginnings of a bruise on the side of her neck. "I have never had the pleasure of being truly happy." He quirked an eyebrow. "Albus saw the potential for the two of us to find the happiness I speak of when we were dancing together." His hands moved to grip hers, and he placed them over his heart. "It was after he spoke to me of it that I realized that being something to you besides your professor was something that appealed to me."

She smiled slowly at that. "You want to be more than someone I remember as my professor?"

His eyes seemed to catch fire as he pulled her even closer. "I want to be more than just a memory to you. I want to create memories with you." He smiled. "And share them together." Almost as if he had gotten carried away with himself, he dropped her hands and stepped back, clearing his throat. "But I want you to be sure first. I want to know that you are happy with such a choice and want it as well."

Hermione nodded and started to step toward him, but her robe opened slightly, and his eyes fell to a huge bruise that was beginning across her collarbone. Severus dropped his jaw as he stared at it.

A mixture of pain and anger lanced across his features before he cleared his throat. "But for now, I think we must get you to the infirmary so Madam Pomfrey can tend your wounds." He took her hand and urged her to walk with him. "I must also speak to you of what has happened to your friend, Mr Weasley."

Hermione drew a shaky breath at the reminder of the attack from someone she had trusted. "I am not sure I would call him my friend, now."

Severus turned to glance at her. "But you must, Hermione. You see, if my suspicions are correct, Ron has no control over what he is doing right now."

Hermione stopped walking and pulled him to a stop along with her. "What are you saying?" Her eyes gave away the worry she felt at his words.

"I'm saying," Severus explained in low tones, "that when we struck Voldemort with the Killing Curse, Weasley was standing the closest to him." He shook his head. "I'm not sure how, yet, but for some reason, all his malicious hatred and anger was transferred to Ron. It has been festering inside of him, and unless we find a way to draw it from him, he may very well be consumed by it."

"Oh, dear Merlin," she whispered as she leaned against the nearest wall. "Will he be okay?"

Severus shook his head and sighed. "I do not know, my love. He may never be the same person again." He sighed and ran his free hand through his hair. "I must admit that I do not know how to go about battling this yet."

Hermione moved closer to him. "You will find a way, Severus." The way she spoke his name made him turn to look into her eyes. She smiled and squeezed his hand. "I believe in you, and I will do anything I can to help you."

Reaching out, he again folded Hermione within his arms and held her tightly for a moment before releasing her and stepping away. "I suppose for a while we will have to abandon our dancing to take care of this more important matter."

She smiled sadly but nodded. "I don't mind if we are dancing, or if we are working on potions, Severus. If we are together, I am satisfied." She winced and placed her hand over her side when she mis-stepped.

Immediately, he turned and investigated the cause of her pain. "At least one of your ribs is broken!" He scowled. "That stupid prat is lucky he's not in control of himself at present." He took a deep breath to steady himself. "It's probably the only reason the idiot is still alive!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When Hermione and Severus reached the infirmary, Draco and Harry were speaking in hushed tones outside a private room. Hermione noted that the two of them were actually being civil to each other, which was a first. Even after the war was over, there had never been anything but cross words between them.

She wanted to join them, but Severus led her to a bed and pulled back the covers for her to get in. "Not one word, Miss Granger..." he teased when she had started to protest. "Until Poppy has had a chance to tend your wounds, I do not want to risk further injury to your person."

Rolling her eyes, but choosing to remain silent rather than argue, she slid stiffly beneath the covers. When Poppy emerged from the room she had been in with Ron, she walked directly to Snape and Hermione. "Miss Granger... I see you have finally decided to put forth an appearance." Glancing up at Severus, she scowled and spoke louder. "Okay, the rest of you may leave now. There is no need for an audience while I assess Miss Granger's wounds."

Shooing them out of the room, she turned back to Hermione. "Now then, my dear. Let's see what that poor demented boy has done to you..."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N: Okay... This is my second transitional chapter in this story... Now we have a clue as to what is going on with Ron... I wonder if Severus and Hermione can find a way to put him back to normal... I hope you don't mind this chapter that has been put together for the sake of a plot. On a lighter note, I can promise Lemons next chapter! Please read and review!