Chapter 42

A/N: Here we are! This is the last chapter before things take a detour. Thanks for keeping up with the story, and I hope you will enjoy the new life Hermione and Severus will be planning for themselves. Thanks to WriterMerrin and luvsev, and thanks to all of you who have been following! So you know, this chapter is heavy on canon; although, it is from Hermione's POV. So I have placed in italics what is straight from JK Rowling's words from GoF.

***

Harry and Hermione continued to work hard, grabbing any spare moment they could to practice. McGonagall got frustrated with walking in on them constantly, so she gave them their own empty classroom to work in. Harry was doing brilliantly. He had a natural talent for Defense. Hermione was a good teacher, and sure, she could duel, thanks to the hard work of the missing Moody, but she didn't have the talent to make the wand sing and move with all the power and grace that came with being a brilliant duelist. Harry was beautiful, so beautiful she wanted to cry.

It took her back to that day all the Gryffindors had had to stay in the common room because Voldemort was coming. They had all banded together and helped one another in different subjects. She had watched with awe as Marlene...little, timid Marlene...took on James and Sirius, and they'd both had that beauty of motion. Harry was just like James, athletic and powerful in his movements. Marlene had been so fluid and skillful. Hermione would never forget the look on Sirius' face when she had finally bested them both. He had declared he was in love. Of course, everyone laughed, thinking it was a joke, but it hadn't been. Hermione wondered how much he had loved Marlene. She was glad they'd had that week to be alone and declare their love in all the ways they needed to so they could do the work the Order needed from them.

Sirius kept sending Harry notes of encouragement and direction. He tried to keep Harry on point, focused on what was his responsibility: getting through this last task. Hermione agreed wholeheartedly. She told Harry the same thing. After the Tournament was through, the impostor of Moody would be dealt with accordingly.

***

The day of the last task came, and at breakfast, Hermione opened the Daily Prophet to an article about Harry. The Slytherins were all sniggering and laughing. She scanned it quickly and reluctantly handed it to Harry.

The headline read Harry Potter, Disturbed and Dangerous. Hermione was beside herself. "How! How am I not catching this?"

"Gone off me a bit, hasn't she?" Harry said, brushing it off.

"How did she get all this? Harry, was the window open at the time?" she asked.

"I opened it when he collapsed!" Ron said quickly. "I didn't know what the bloody hell was going on. I figured he needed some fresh air with all that perfume and crap Trelawney's got up there."

"Damn!" Hermione said as she slapped her hand on the table. "I will get that cow. I swear I will."

Ron leaned over and whispered, "You know I think you're brilliant...but sometimes, Hermione, you're dead scary."

Hermione snorted as she laughed. "Oh, Ron!" she exclaimed. "What would I do without you?"

"I have no idea," he replied, looking a bit frightened.

***

The Weasleys came to give moral support as Harry's surrogate family. Hermione joined them, but her heart and mind were with Severus. Was he still holing up in his dungeons, scared to come out? She decided to give her excuses and make a detour. She snuck into the dungeons and tapped on the door. Again, just a sliver opened, and when Severus saw it was she, he grabbed her, held her to him, and closed the door behind him. He was filthy and reeked of firewhisky. He started grabbing her in very inappropriate places and whispering very naughty things that were quite dangerous in her condition of being perpetually randy.

"Remember how I took you in your old bed at Spinner's End?" he asked, slurring slightly.

"Remember how I told you how hard I got seeing you in your pink knickers? God, Hermione, would you wear knickers like those when we get married? I want to do so many things. I've been learning," he said importantly.

"Really?" she said, trying not to laugh as she tried to distract him. Cor, Blimey! He needs a bath!

"I've been forced to watch the revels. Some of them aren't all raping and shite. Some are very willing and erotic. I've watched and seen how to pleasure a woman in many, many ways. I have read and was fortunate to have friends to demonstrate the pictures. I can't wait to try it out. I am sick of wanking. Let's have a bit of fun, 'Mione," he said as he swayed. "Would you help me and bring me off?"

It was tempting, and it was what she had wanted for so long. Her thighs ached and mouth watered, but she couldn't do this. He was blotto. When he sobered, he would be so distraught...it wasn't worth it.

"You want me, Hermione. Touch it, just touch it," he pleaded.

She went and got a sobering-up potion and called out to him from the next room, "I will touch it if you drink this." She gave him a sweet smile and unbuttoned a couple of buttons on her shirt to sweeten the pot. She poured it down his throat, and in a couple of minutes, he looked horrified.

She threw him a towel. "Your bath awaits, Professor," she said sweetly.

Before he disappeared behind the door, he asked. "How long?"

She smiled. "Two and a half months," she said slyly.

"Dear God," he moaned. "Can we do that thing we did once?"

"Sure," she said as she began to unbutton her pants. Soon, they were on opposite sides of the door, not seeing or touching, but satisfying themselves the only way they knew how.

***

Hermione joined the Weasleys in time for the third task. Although Hermione felt sick, everyone was excited. She just wasn't sure about this going all right. She searched for Severus, and he was there, sitting with his Slytherins and the Durmstrang crew...Karkaroff having done a bunk after the whole debacle with Crouch near the forest.

Suddenly, the four champions appeared, and the four Heads of houses, along with Dumbledore and the Moody impostor, went up to examine the various portions of the maze. McGonagall was giving directions of some sort to the champions. Hagrid went to wish Harry good luck, as did Ludo Bagman.

On Bagman's whistle, Harry and Cedric entered the maze first. After a suitable interval, Viktor entered, and then lastly, Fleur.

It was rather nerve-wracking, hearing intermittent blasts from wands and the roars and screams from animals that were lying in wait to attack them. A scream ripped through the air. After a while, Fleur Delacour's wand shot a warning blast into the air, and she was Levitated out of the maze. Only three were left. Hermione was wringing her hands; she kept glancing at Severus, not knowing what to do, afraid for him. Severus' face remained impassive and emotionless. She knew though that he did care; he was a nervous wreck as well.

There were more blasts and hollers from deep inside. The wind was picking up deep inside the maze. Hermione could see the tops of the hedges, and they were winding crazily, as if a mini tornado was in the midst of it all. Suddenly, Viktor's wand sent sparks into the air and soon his body was Levitated and was being cared for by Professor Snape while Madam Pomfrey tended to Fleur.

For a long while, it was silent. Everyone knew now that Hogwarts would win, but whom? Were Cedric and Harry still all right? The silence was more terrifying than the wind, screams, and blasts from the wands.

Soon, a huge blast sounded from deep within, and it was repeated again and again. The sound of far-away shouts that had to be from Harry and Cedric came intermittently with horrific blasts, and a mighty wind from inside the maze. Then there was silence. For an eternity, there was silence.

***

The silence went on for so long many of the teachers were beginning to whisper. Krum was talking animatedly to Severus, who was looking very worried. Dumbledore was with Fleur, and she was hysterically telling her story. Madam Maxime took her in hand to get her to calm down.

Still, no one knew what was happening to Cedric or Harry.

The crowd was restless. It was taking too long, and people were whispering about Viktor and Fleur, who were still shaking their heads and talking heatedly. Hermione darted around and could not see a glimpse of Moody's impostor. She began to stand up and watched as Albus, Minerva, and Severus spoke with each other. It seemed there was nothing that could be done but wait.

So they all sat as the hour grew late. Suddenly, a burst of light shot from nowhere, and there were Harry and Cedric sprawled on the ground. Harry was clutching the Triwizard Cup and Cedric's shirt in desperation. Hermione walked slowly closer to the bottom of the stands. Something was dreadfully wrong. Her hand calmly went for her wand as she moved closer.

Cedric wasn't moving, and Harry was crying. Suddenly, some of the girls started in their direction, and Dumbledore and Severus dashed towards the young wizards. Harry was fighting them off; he didn't seem to want to either release Cedric or the Cup. Minister Fudge went forward and whispered amongst the adults gathered there in hushed tones. Finally, a scream ripped through the air, ending the confusion. "Cedric Diggory is dead! He's dead!" Hermione's head jerked towards the yelling. "Dead! DEAD!"

The whole scene was pandemonium. Hermione strained to see what was happening, but the screams were awful, and Amos Diggory was sprinting across the field to see the body of his dead son. People were starting to rush, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the impostor make his way to Harry and steal him away towards the direction of the castle. Hermione fought and strained to make her way through, but she couldn't. She wanted to scream at Severus and Dumbledore that the impostor now had Harry in his grasp and in mortal danger. However, she could do nothing in the mighty sea of people.

She found a small hole between the rows and took its path that led under the bleachers. She skirted the edge and found Dumbledore and Severus. They were conferring with McGonagall. Before she could reach them, they were off into the night, going towards the castle.

Hermione sank onto the ground and wept. She felt so afraid. Then she felt the familiar friendly hands of Ron around her.

"Come on, 'Mione," he said softly. "Let's go and get a cup of tea or something."

She nodded as she sobbed against his shoulder. She wished Sirius were here, she wished Severus were the one holding her and comforting her, but Ron, sweet Ron, wasn't so bad in a pinch.

***

It had seemed like forever until Harry entered the infirmary. Hermione had been waiting there with all of the Weasleys waiting for the news. Molly Weasley broke down crying and moved to gather Harry into her arms as she wept.

"Harry! Oh, Harry!"

Madam Pomfrey led Harry behind a screen to undress into a nightgown. They all remained silent, waiting for him to re-emerge.

Dumbledore spoke to Harry for a while and then left. Madam Pomfrey gave him some potions, and he drifted off to sleep. Hermione had in her rucksack all of her essentials, and she wasn't going to budge until she knew she was going to get answers from someone. Staying with Harry seemed the only thing to do. So she sat silently as everyone paced, dozed, and then woke again, all the while, Sirius, in his Animagus form, curled up and rested by her feet.

Right outside of the infirmary door, voices were being raised. Mrs. Weasley was getting upset.

"They're going to wake him if they don't shut up!" she whispered.

"What could they be shouting about?" whispered Bill. "Nothing else could have happened, can it?"

Hermione's heart skipped a beat and she felt her face grow numb. Where was Severus? Did he get hurt? Did they find Moody? Was he dead? Oh, please God; let Severus be all right! she prayed.

"That's Fudge's voice," Mrs. Weasley whispered. "And that's Minerva McGonagall's, isn't it? But what are they arguing about?"

The doors of the infirmary burst open with Fudge leading the group with Minerva hot on his heels followed by Severus. Hermione jumped up. She felt relief wash over her. He was all right. She listened as she slowly sat down. Severus caught her eyes and she swallowed. His eyes left hers and focused on the two squabbling people in front of him.

"Oh, there's no need to stand guard!" Minerva snapped angrily. "The Minister has seen to that!"

Hermione was watching people she had worked with and fought with now fight amongst themselves. She had never seen such a display. And it seemed Barty Couch had been found, but which one?

Severus spoke in a low tone. "When we told Mr. Fudge that we had caught the Death Eater responsible for tonight's events, he seemed to feel his personal safety was in question. He insisted on summoning a Dementor to accompany him into the castle. He brought it up to the office where Barty Crouch..."

Hermione gasped. She was glad Mrs. Weasley did at the same time. She felt sick...so sick. All this time, after all of this waiting, he was back, and she would have to leave again! No! I won't go. I'll stay and fight this time. I won't let them take Severus from me again! she thought angrily.

Everyone was goggling at Dumbledore, except for Minerva and Severus, who knew the truth, and Hermione, who tried to feign shock anyway. Hermione's head spun as Dumbledore and Fudge went round and round over Voldemort's regeneration. Dumbledore was trying to make the Minister see reason, but for some reason, he didn't want to.

"You are prepared to take Mr. Potter's word on this, are you, Dumbledore?"

Aha! So it had been Barty Jr. all this time, Hermione thought.

"The second task is to send an envoy to the giants; otherwise Voldemort will once again have them at his beck and call."

Fudge sputtered about the end of his career and other such rubbish. Hermione was disgusted at his blindness and selfishness.

Dumbledore descended upon him and vocalized everything that was in Hermione's heart at that moment. The man was blinded by the power of the office he held. He loved it so much he was willing to risk the lives of the very people he had sworn to protect. Dumbledore pleaded with him to act now for his own good or later, he would lose everything he loved so dearly.

Hermione was light-headed. It was like Barty Crouch Sr. all those years ago happening over again.

Fudge refused to comply. He argued that Dumbledore was trying to work against him, to which Dumbledore insisted it was not the case. Finally, the man was reduced to sheer denial that Voldemort could be back. Then Severus did something so powerful, so noble, it took her breath away.

He strode to Fudge, past Dumbledore, and pulled up the left sleeve of his robes as he went. He stuck out his forearm and showed it to Fudge, who recoiled.

Dumbledore spoke quietly with her, and Hermione tuned out, stroking Sirius' fur and trying to process all that was happening. Then she heard him speak to Minerva.

Then came the coup de grace. Dumbledore announced it was time for two of the remaining number to recognize each other. Sirius sprang to his human form, and he and Severus glared at each other. Mrs. Weasley went into a hysterical fit. Severus was calm and cool.

Hermione knew Dumbledore was still talking, but she was dumbstruck at the thought of Severus actually allowing Sirius to touch him. They shook hands, and Hermione forgot how to breathe for a few moments.

He gave Sirius his orders, to go to Lupin's and rustle up the old crowd who were already on stand-by.

"I am," said Severus.

Hermione wanted to speak to him. He looked so pale. She thought she might cry. He was returning to Voldemort. She knew it. She couldn't stop herself. She dashed out and ran to him.

***

"Hermione," he said sharply as he drew her into an alcove. "What are you doing?"

"I can't let you go without speaking to you one last time. What if you don't come back?" she cried.

"I will. Wait for me in my rooms. I shall be back by tomorrow." He caressed her face and hair.

"Such a lovely, young woman you are becoming, Hermione," he whispered as he drew her towards him and kissed her. She let his hands wander as she clung to him. He felt so strong. She never remembered him being this strong the last time. She couldn't wait for the summer to fly by and for them to be married and properly together.

"I think we are fools, Severus," she whispered as he nibbled on her neck. She felt a tingle, and her nipples hardened.

"Why?" he asked.

Hermione sighed. "Because we are going into this mess for the second time, and you are still the most important thing that matters. I won't leave this time. I'll stand by your side through it all. Please come back to me," she begged him.

"Soon," he whispered as he placed his forehead onto hers. "Meet me in my rooms. I have the wards set to acknowledge your wand." He grabbed her by the back of the neck and kissed her passionately. Then he was gone.

Hermione pulled herself together and went back into the infirmary. Mrs. Weasley was talking softly to Harry and hugging him. Ron was standing nearby, red-faced and sober. Hermione saw something by the window. She slowly reached inside her rucksack and took out her jar. With one swift movement, and a terrific slam, Hermione had everyone nearby jump in fear, looking at her curiously. Hermione apologized hastily and smiled at her captured prey.