Chapter Three

That afternoon, she'd returned to the books she'd borrowed from Grimmauld Place--mostly histories of old families--looking for clues. But she also decided to see if there was a book that covered Legilimency and Occlumency. She replayed what she could remember of the dream-Snape's words. They were slightly clearer than an ordinary dream, but still she didn't know what to make of them. He could be lying or just a figment of some strange obsession she didn't know she had. She wondered if she could use a Pensieve for dreams, but didn't know if it would be worth explaining to Harry why she needed it.

Then she concluded that she was going about it the wrong way. She doubted she'd be able to use any mind-control in her dream, especially not against Snape, who seemed to know much more about this and had many years of experience with Legilimency. She thought it would be much more useful to use magic that was focused on the dreaming itself, to know when she was dreaming and learn to control her environment and even remain asleep if Ginny (or later Harry) made some sound in the middle of the night.

The next night, she dreamed alone. She wasn't surprised, knowing that Death Eaters in general--and Snape in particular--were active at night. She found that she missed his presence and that her dreams had been calmer with him around. Her ordinary dreams flitted from place to place and put her in unusual situations, but his presence seemed to anchor her somewhat. Still, she practiced her lucid dreaming techniques, even clawing her way out of a nightmare involving Death Eaters attacking The Burrow.

The night after that, her dream took her to the Great Hall. Looking around, she saw that all of the professors were at the head table. It registered to her that Dumbledore shouldn't be there, but she kept trying to catch Snape's eye. When the dream Snape refused to acknowledge her at all, she realized that it wasn't really him.

She also decided she needed to talk to Dumbledore to determine the veracity of Snape's assertions regarding the curse. McGonagall was not a regular visitor at The Burrow, being very busy preparing for the autumn term, but Hermione asked Tonks to let her know that she needed to talk to Dumbledore's portrait. No one thought it was a good idea, but McGonagall appeared the following day, stating that the former Headmaster had requested her presence.

With Tonks as escort, Hermione Apparated to the Hogwarts gates and made her way to the Headmistress' office. McGonagall wasn't thrilled about leaving Hermione alone in her office, but the seemingly asleep Dumbledore had previously agreed to the meeting.

Alone with the murmuring portraits, she approached Dumbledore's frame.

"Sir?" When there was no reply, she tried a little louder. "Sir, Professor McGonagall said you were awake. So did Professor Snape."

There was a collective gasp at the name, but Dumbledore gave a leisurely stretch before answering Hermione. "So, you have questions about your bond with Severus."

"He wasn't lying, was he." It wasn't a question, but an expression of wonder.

"Without knowing exactly what he told you, I cannot answer that. However, I can tell you that he has experienced the dream-sharing every summer since he began teaching."

Hermione nodded. "He said you had agreed to your own... death."

"It had to be. Many things were set into motion, and there was one inevitable conclusion."

"Harry misses you very much."

"Severus can be an invaluable resource. He will do all he can to help"

Hermione grew upset that Dumbledore was ignoring her statement about Harry. "How much does he know? Harry seemed very sure that no one aside from Ron and myself know about the... Horcruxes."

"The more who know, the greater the chance of betrayal, but Severus knows. With your bond, he will be in the unique position to help you even if you cannot communicate in any of the normal ways."

"Will it be dangerous for him? I've been reading up on Occlumency and lucid dreaming."

"The additional study will benefit you, but there is one very important thing you must keep in mind. It is for this reason that I allowed you to come here. You must maintain the bond. Keep your heart focused on him, for if you allow others to gain a foothold in your heart over him, you will lose the connection, and it can never be re-formed."

"He didn't explain how the bond is broken."

"The bond is broken when your heart is given to another."

"Ron," Hermione breathed.

Dumbledore didn't speak for a moment while he considered the young woman before him. "What is the nature, if I may ask, of your relationship with Mr. Weasley?"

"I lo--" she began, but started again. "I have thought myself in love with him all year last year. When I thought he was dying... But I don't feel that anymore. Severus said I was under a lust spell."

"Indeed, but it is only a mild one. It will not be enough to maintain the bond if you choose young Weasley. You said you love him. Does he feel the same?"

"Sometimes I think so, but he's never said. I don't know. I've always--I mean since fourth year--dreamed we would get married some day. I'm not sure I want to give up my dream."

"You don't have to give it up all together. Young men and women often have several relationships before deciding whom to settle down with. Mr. Weasley has already experienced a brief relationship, if I am not mistaken."

"Yes, but I don't want to hurt him."

"Perhaps there is a diplomatic solution. You are both planning to follow Harry wherever his quest takes him?"

"Yes."

"Then if Mr. Weasley approaches you, you can honestly tell him that it is not the right time. A clever young witch like yourself will know what to say. Molly or Minerva can advise you if you wish. When this is over and Tom is defeated will be the time to decide whom to give your heart to, not in this tense time of battle."

"You really do think of everything, don't you."

"My years have given me wisdom and insight. Give Severus an honest chance, and he may surprise you."

***

Two nights had passed since he had been last able to connect with Hermione in her dreams. As used as he was to seeing the Dark Lord's capricious evil, the horror of Charity pleading with him to no avail drove him to use Dreamless Sleep when he was finally able to return to his temporary quarters.

When he found his way into her dream, he was unsurprised to be in the Hogwarts Library. Searching the stacks, he found her things abandoned on a table. Stopping to listen, he heard her voice calling, "Severus, Severus!"

He followed the sound of her voice until he turned a corner and saw her rounding a shelf. She quickened her steps, covering the space between them in a moment and clutching him to herself the next.

"I'm so relieved!" she said into his robe.

His first instinct was to push her away, but he forced himself to relax and return the embrace. He would never win her trust and affection if he rejected her physical presence. "Were you worried about me... Hermione?"

She leaned back to meet his eyes. "I know that you are used to it, and you are naturally someone who is awake at night, but the second night I began to sincerely hope it was just a case of bad timing."

"Bad timing, indeed. It takes a bit of effort to meet you like this some days, and--though your company is charming--I may not be able to come more than twice a week."

"I'll miss you."

"That's the lust spell talking."

His words seemed to have an instant effect on Hermione, who released him, causing him to release her.

"When do I have permission to worry, then?"

"Two weeks. No less."

Hermione sighed. "After so long, you will have to make it up to me."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Something has happened to you."

"I spoke with Dumbledore." He flinched at the name, but again forced himself to appear unperturbed during her pause. "He told me some things... I know the point of all this is so you can help us, but I want you to know that I'm here for you, too."

"As unlikely as I find that, I appreciate the sentiment."

***

The night before the planned attack on Harry's home, he purposefully stayed up until the early morning hours and slept the morning away. Had anyone inquired, he would have told them that he wanted to be as rested as possible for the evening's activities, but truly he just wanted to avoid Hermione.

Already, it was growing difficult to hide things from her--not that she was any good at ferreting out his secrets, but because he hated betraying the trust of the one person who gave it so freely. What was possibly more disconcerting was that he was a bit worried for the girl. He suspected that she would be one of the decoys, and he feared she would be captured or killed. He sincerely hoped that the plan would work and the Death Eaters would be thrown off by the sight of all of those Potters.

When he did fall asleep, he dreamed of Hermione pleading for him to save her from the giant snake.

***

Hermione stormed through the dreamscape on a mission.

The murderer! How could he!

She was consumed with the idea that so far he had always had the upper hand in this arrangement, and she was determined to meet him on his turf this time.

It took an interminable amount of time for her to realize that the mist around her was thickening, the dark deepening, the cold chilling. Had she finally done it? Was this Snape's dream?

If her nightmares were of Death Eaters, she wondered what a Death Eater's nightmare looked like. Probably Mad-Eye Moody. She allowed herself a morose chuckle at the thought of Moody haunting the dreams of those who had caused his death.

But how had they known to be there on this night? Someone must have told them, and the most obvious choice of spy was the one who had been meeting with her. But she hadn't told him. In fact, neither of them had even brought it up. She worried again that Snape was using this dream-sharing to gain access to her mind, and she flailed against the mist at the thought that she really should have asked Dumbledore that.

Dumbledore... Could he have...

She snapped herself back to awareness of her surroundings. "Constant Vigilance," she whispered under her breath, wondering if she could conjure a dream form of the old Auror.

But she didn't have time to try before robed figures on brooms began zipping by overhead. Spells flashed as the shadows above her fought to the death. Then, out of the melee, a single figure circled around and, before she could react, swooped down and pulled her up onto his broomstick.

"I told you it's dangerous here!"

Overwhelmed with relief, Hermione forgot for a moment how angry she was with him. "Thank you!"

"Can you find your way back?" While Hermione had been breathing sighs of relief, some had followed them, and Snape was casting Shield Charms while encouraging the broom to go faster.

"I don't know. I think my dreams tonight look a lot like this, too."

"Then make yourself useful!"

Hermione twisted to add her Shield to his and sent a Disarming Charm behind them. "What do you usually do with a nightmare?"

"I would--" he said, pausing to wordlessly cast another spell, "wake myself up, but I'd rather not take that option if you can help me!"

Hermione scanned the landscape for anything resembling safety, but finding nothing, she recast the Protego before grasping the broom handle and willing herself forward.

Checking behind them, she gasped at the sight of Mad-Eye Moody bearing down on them.

"Snape, you traitor! I saw you capture that student. Set her down, and I'll go easier on you."

Before they had time to react, a dark figure streaked toward them without a broom.

"Snape! You have betrayed me! Give me that Mudblood!"

Voldemort's voice chilled her to the bone. Behind her, Snape leaned forward to urge their broom onward.

In the way of dreams, they found that they had circled back and were in the midst of battle again. Death Eaters sent streaks of green light toward adult Order members, who each had the same passenger: Hermione.

Closest to them, Lupin was inexplicably casting a Patronus at a Death Eater while the hooded figure aimed at Lupin's passenger.

"Hermione!" Snape shouted in her ear while pulling her to his chest, though she was not the target. "Sectumsempra!" He severed the Death Eater's arm, but the spell also sliced through Lupin's broomstick, causing him and his passenger to fall, screaming, to the ground.

"Hermiiiioneeee!"

She didn't know if he realized that he was holding her so tightly that her ribs hurt and she could barely breathe, but she knew that she had to do something. Gathering up all of the magical energy she could in this dream-state, she Apparated them both to The Burrow's backyard.

Falling in an inelegant heap on the grass, she disentangled herself from the broom and collapsed atop Snape, who had loosened his hold on her slightly.

"You could have been killed," he admonished through labored breaths.

"It was only a nightmare." Her thumb rubbed his upper arm.

"No, earlier, I didn't know which of them was you." He tilted his head to see her face while one hand reached for her ear. "Someone lost an ear."

"It was George."

"I was afraid it was you."

Hermione sat up, having regained her righteous indignation. "So you felt bad that you might have hurt me, but not Harry or any of the Weasleys? You didn't feel bad enough to not tell Voldemort--it was you, wasn't it?"

Unlike the last time they'd sat on the grass at The Burrow together, Snape looked awkward as he tried to right himself. "Dumbledore's orders. According to him, it was better for Voldemort to get accurate, though incomplete, information from me. I told him that the night had changed, but he didn't know about the decoys."

"So, you didn't mean to hurt George?"

"No! I was trying to save Lupin's life, but the spell missed."

When Hermione didn't answer, he inched himself closer to her. "Before you go into battle again, I'll teach you the incantation that I use to heal someone injured by that spell."

"Will it be soon?"

"It might be. I don't think we have time tonight, but next time. And I want you to have everything you need with you at all times from now on."

"I've been packing a charmed bag."

"Good. Finish packing soon--tomorrow if you can. Never be without it."

This time, the silence was comforting. "Thank you," Hermione murmured, moving to rest her head on his shoulder. She felt peace for the first time in days as he moved to encircle her in his arms.