Avada & Love Combined

The loud burst of thunder rocked the windows, startling Hermione and waking her from her nightmares suddenly. She cringed in pain as she carefully stretched her sore muscles, regretting having fallen asleep in the chair. Spotting the book lying on the floor, she picked it up and slowly made her way to the shelf to put it away, refusing to think about the revelation she'd had the night before. No sense in worrying about something you can't change, she reminded herself. She walked carefully over to the French doors and peered out at the storm that was raging, just as her emotions were raging. She watched in silent contemplation as her mind swirled with thoughts; most of all she was trying to force her mind to think of a way to help them end this bloody dreadful war, once and for all.

She was sick and tired of the struggle, of all the pain and death: sick of the evil that threatened her very sanity. As these thoughts came over her, she unlocked the French doors and stepped out into the storm. She walked across the patio and sat on the low wall that gave them a view of the large city park behind Grimmauld Place. She didn't care that she was already soaked to the bone from the heavy rain; she didn't care that lightning flashed all around her. She just sat there hoping her mind would come across an idea that would help them destroy that bastard Tom and his minions.

~{}~

Severus had been working in the potions lab since Remus had burst in earlier that morning. He had expected to see Hermione join him and bury herself in her own work, but when noon came around without her appearance, he started to wonder if her "research" from the night before had upset her too much. Checking the cauldron one last time, he left it to simmer while he searched her out, intent on getting her to snap out of her moping and do her job.

He checked her room, only to find it as empty as it must have been when Remus had looked for her this morning. Wondering if she could still be asleep in the library, Severus made his way back downstairs. He entered the room and was about to turn back around to look elsewhere when he noticed the French doors were ajar and stepped over to have a look. He saw her sitting on the wall, staring off into space, completely drenched from the heavy rain that was falling from the turbulent storm.

His first instinct was to berate her for the stupidity of stepping out in the rain and exposing herself to a possible cold, as weak as she was already. But upon seeing the look in her eyes he decided against it. She looked determined. Angry. He had to admit it actually pleased him to see such looks on her face; better those than fear and depression, he thought briefly. Stepping lightly, he opened the door, unconsciously casting a non-verbal spell that created an invisible umbrella over his head. As he approached her he cast the same spell over her head, causing her to look up toward him to see the cause of her new "shelter". She acknowledged him with a nod before she looked back out toward the park.

He sat there beside her on the wall, waiting for her to say something. He told himself that he was just concerned for her because he needed her help in the lab with deceiving the Dark Lord. But in truth, a small part of him was there to be a friend to her. He had seen her thoughts flash through her mind when he had asked for her help the other night. He had spent so many years spying, suffering, all of it alone, that he didn't know how to be friendly even. So he sat there, his company all he felt he could offer someone who had just been through a trauma as horrible as her three-month capture.

Hermione was having one of those moments.

A moment that only those who lived to learn and excel in academics had when something big was forming in their mind. Like a new picture that was broken into a puzzle, she had the edge pieces in place and was looking for the inside pieces that completed the picture. Hoping that he might be able to help her find those pieces, she finally spoke. "Have you ever done any reading on Muggle bombs – you know, those atom bombs?"

"Yes, back in my own school days. Why?" he answered, curious as to where this sudden train of thought was going.

"It would take something that's the equivalent of those bombs to destroy Voldemort; that's what I was thinking earlier, and then I thought, why not think of those bombs literally? I mean, we know he has special protection against any form of Muggle weapon and against known magical ones. So why don't we make a magical nuke-type bomb? One that's specially designed to kill a man who has done everything in his power to be immortal," she replied, looking at him finally.

He was surprised at the idea but he thought it might have some merit. "That's certainly an interesting idea, but how would we go about such a feat? Where would you suggest we start?" he asked, a little skeptical. From what he had read of the Muggle atom bombs, they were difficult to make. A Wizarding version would surely be much more difficult to make.

"Well, I'll need your help with the actual creation but I have a good idea of where to start. You know how to 'bottle' a spell, right?" When he nodded that he did, she continued. "We need to create a safe way to bottle the Killing Curse and then combine it with our blood."

"What do you mean, our blood?" he asked, confused at her direction.

"I mean our as in every member of the Order, and also from any willing victims of Voldemort. One thing that always stood out to me was what Dumbledore said about love, and Voldemort's lack of it. I think that the magic of love that flows through all of our veins, combined with the Killing Curse, could create a magical bomb so powerful that even Voldemort couldn't survive. It was Lily's love that saved Harry and killed Voldemort's first body. I think that ALL of our love combined with the curse will kill both his body and what's left of his soul. I just don't know how to go about making the bomb because as I'm sure you realize, it would be dangerous to create. But IF we could create it, I think it would work."

He was amazed at the idea. It really sounded brilliant and promising, despite the dangers involved. He was sure he could manage it, with her help. Of course he couldn't outright say such a thing to her. "This idea is... interesting. I will do a little research and let you know soon if this may be possible. Merlin knows we can't afford to throw out any idea we can think of for destroying the Dark Lord," he said in a bored tone of voice as he got up off the wall and headed for the doors. "Now, if you're through sitting out in this storm, why don't you get something to eat and join me in the lab? We have some 'acting' to do for the Dark Lord's benefit," he said, and he went inside. Despite his tone of voice, Hermione could tell that he liked the idea. She smiled slightly, her first smile in a month, as she went back inside to dry herself and get something to eat, as ordered.

~{}~

Severus was reading a Muggle book on physics when she entered the room, hair dry and in clean, dry clothes. She went straight to her desk and reached for the clip that kept her hair out of her face, donned her gloves, and grabbed her journal. She approached Severus and stood waiting for instructions. He nodded his head and laid out a book on potions, pointing to the chapter on Binding Body Magic. "Read and memorize that chapter first. I'll be working on the Killing Curse base potion while you work on perfecting your ability to bind the magic to bottled blood. If it's not done properly, the magic will diminish within hours of storing it in phials. Once you've accomplished that I'll give you further instructions. Let me know when you're ready for blood – I'll give you a little of mine to work with," he said dismissively, going back to his own reading.

Hermione smirked to herself as she went to work. It was the first time she had ever seen her snarky Professor put aside his own work to figure out her own idea, much less anyone else's. She was definitely determined to make her first attempt, and every one thereafter, perfect.

~{}~

Hours into their work Severus suddenly jerked his left arm, his Mark burning. Hermione looked at him, concern written on her face mixed with a little bit of fear. Thoughts of him being summoned brought to mind the kind of people he was "working" with. He put down his own journal and went to his desk, retrieving his Death Eater garb. "I'll be back as soon as I'm able. Please be honest when I make you promise me that you won't wander off on your own outside the house, and that you won't attempt to store any phials of your own blood in an over-eager attempt to master such a skill. We have a ways to go to accomplish this 'bomb' potion. There's no need to solve it all in one night; patience is what will help us create the potion. Promise me!" he said forcefully, standing mere feet from her and looking her sternly in the eyes.

She was frozen for a moment from the intense concern she could feel radiating from his piercing look. "I-I promise," she replied quietly. She didn't break eye contact, knowing he was probing for the truth in her words. With an acknowledging nod he swept from the room, leaving her to stand there wondering when Severus Snape had started to care at all, much less show such obvious concern for her wellbeing.

~{}~

Severus didn't even acknowledge the Death Eater guards as he Apparated to the clearing and headed for the cellar door, slipping his mask onto his face as he went. He forced himself to relinquish thoughts of the apprentice he had left behind. He walked purposefully into the gathering, and as usual he crawled the last few steps to kiss his Dark Master's hem. "Rise, Severus," Voldemort said quietly. Severus joined his "comrades" and silently wondered what horrible thing he would hear from Voldemort's lips this time.

"I have come to a decision regarding Lucius Malfoy," Voldemort began, ignoring the few who brazenly began to wonder aloud what Lucius had done wrong. "I am demoting you, Lucius. As useful as your connections are, it displeases me that you would go behind my back and plan things that to your unthinking mind could hurt my plans. As further punishment I will allow Severus to exact punishment on you – here, tonight. I realize he has already done so recently, but I think for you to be truly humbled, you should writhe in pain before us all. Severus...?" he said, turning to face the astonished Death Eater. As Severus stepped forward and brought forth his wand, he thanked the gods that he had a mask on to hide his surprise.

"What punishment do you wish me to give him, my lord?" Severus said, a note of "Happy to serve you" in his voice.

"Anything you wish, as long as it results in marks that can be covered by his clothes. We wouldn't want him looking shabby when he makes his rounds at the Ministry," Voldemort replied with a slithering chuckle, joined by a brave few others.

~{}~

It was two in the morning when Severus arrived back at Grimmauld Place. He was a bit shocked to find the potions lab empty except for the work he himself had left out, and a note. After he put away his Death Eater garb, he approached the workbench and sat down on his raised stool and read the note that Hermione had left him.

Severus,

Hermione

Her letter was short, but it revealed much to Severus. It was obvious she counted him as a friend, someone she could talk to. She obviously cared for him to some unknown degree, a thought that made him wonder about the young witch who was hopefully asleep upstairs. Leaving those thoughts for a later date, he set aside her letter and opened up his book to go over her notes. Just from reading the first paragraph and perusing the diagram she had made, he knew she would have no problem bottling the blood without "spilling" the magic within it. He raised his wand and cast his Patronus, sending it to summon Remus. It was a handy spell for those moments when he was just too busy or tired to go in person. When Remus arrived Severus motioned him over to the stool across from him, where Hermione usually sat.

"I need you to set up a meeting at the end of next week. Hermione and I are working on a new potion, one that if the preliminary tests are successful could play a great part in the ending of this war. Don't tell everyone that; just tell them we're having a regular information exchange. I don't want to get anyone's hopes up yet," Severus said, marking down the pages from the index that he needed to read.

"I think Friday would be the best day for everyone. I know for a fact there are no standing plans for any missions or recons; would that day be okay for you?" Remus asked.

"It will be fine, even if I'm called away for my other meetings," Severus replied.

"But if you're not there, what would be the purpose of holding the meeting?" Remus asked him, confused.

"Hermione will be more than capable of holding the meeting without my presence, for it was her idea in the first place, this new potion," Severus said quietly.

"I'm not sure if that's a great idea. I mean, no one else has seen her since her return. I think the pressure might be too much for her. I guess we could try and get her to go see everyone one by one before then, when you two aren't busy," Remus suggested.

"We'll be quite busy, but I'll make her take the time. We should speak with her tomorrow, and then if she agrees we'll schedule times for them to come here," Severus said.

"That sounds fine. I'll talk to her over breakfast."

"No. You're too much of a pushover. I'll tell her myself before we get engrossed in work tomorrow morning. Bring us lunch and then I'll inform you of her answer. Now leave; I have a few things to finish up before I find my own rest," Severus said, his last words laced with snarkiness.

Remus left him then, wondering what kind of potion Hermione had thought of that Severus was willing to work on. It must be something extraordinary, he thought as he made his way to bed.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this update! It took me a while to finish it, since I had to rewrite the whole thing lol. Please read and review! *HUGS*