Chapter Eight: Love and Danger

Disclaimer: The characters and settings within belong to J.K.Rowling. I am just giving them a little outing.

Chapter Eight: Love and Danger

She twirls around the room; the dress shimmering as strands of iridescent thread catch the beams of sunlight peeking through the window. Her bare feet slide across the floor as she imagines dancing later with her beloved wizard.

"And lucky they didn't just fall to the ground. Tell me about the Sword."

Anxiety taunted Hermione with its cruel suggestions as she waited in the tent after Harry had left to follow Severus's Patronus. He had forewarned her with a message on the chocolate wrapper to allow Harry to take the overnight shift and not interfere when she saw the silver doe. She knew he had something important to achieve, but his plan was a mystery.

Suddenly, a soft rustle beyond her wards alerted her to an intruder. Harry had her wand, so she could not safely leave the tent to investigate. A glimmer of light appeared at the entrance to the tent, and all at once a muttering Severus Snape materialised before her.

"Merlin, woman, could you have made it any more difficult?" he complained.

"Protective enchantments and wards are not supposed to be broken by just anybody, you git. What did you expect, a gold-plated welcome sign?" She laughed as she hugged the git in question. "What's going on? Where did Harry go?"

"I would hope he has acquired the Sword of Gryffindor by now, after all the trouble I went to luring him to its location. We only have a few minutes; then I will need to disappear. Are you well?" He studied her carefully, looking for any injuries. "I thought I had nearly lost you after your foolish escapade at Godric's Hollow, girl!"

Hermione flushed as she remembered the scathing comments he had made by way of the charmed foil a few days earlier when he had found out about their narrow escape. She had been surprised he hadn't tried to dock House points.

"I'm sorry it upset you, Severus. We made an error of judgement. I'll be more careful in future," she promised.

He folded her into his arms and held her close. "Just be safe. I don't know what you're trying to find, but whatever it is has driven him to a frenzy. He is determined to find Potter and end his quest once and for all." Snape reached into his pocket and drew out a small bar of their favourite chocolate. "I have to go now. Take this."

One final hug and he was gone, dissolving into the night as swiftly as he had arrived.

Soon after, Harry returned, bearing the Sword of Gryffindor, an empty locket, and a very subdued Ronald Weasley. Seeing the redhead, an apologetic smile upon his face, made her see red. How dare he come back as if nothing had happened and expect her to welcome him with open arms? Any burgeoning romantic feelings she had been fostering for him had died the day he'd left them starving and miserable in the tent. She could understand how scared and frustrated he had been feeling, but seeing Severus Snape returning to the Death Eaters after the beating he had received in July with no more than a stoic expression and a rock-hard sense of duty had left her with little sympathy for the teenage wizard's moment of weakness. Ron would always be her friend, and she would forgive him – eventually – but now she realised she needed more than he could offer.

Punching and berating Ron proved extremely therapeutic, although he would still have to earn his way back into her good graces. Pretending she was surprised about the doe Patronus was not difficult; after all, she had been expecting something somewhat more masculine when Severus had contacted her.

***

Apparating mid-air was beginning to lose its novelty. Once again, they had barely escaped capture and had obtained some information that defied belief. Hermione's fiercely logical mind could not assimilate the possibility of the Deathly Hallows, and Harry's preoccupation with them was not helping the search for the Horcruxes. As if they needed yet another mystery to solve.

Lying in bed that night, she felt the chocolate wrapper warm. Knowing she was in for another lecture, she almost pretended she hadn't noticed. But her conscience asserted itself. Severus needed to know she was safe. Touching the foil with her wand, she read the message.

What the hell do you think you were doing?

Our job. She replied tersely.

I wasn't aware destroying Lovegood's home and nearly getting yourselves captured was in the job description, young lady.

She almost giggled at that. He always reverted to calling her "girl" or "young lady" whenever he was worried. He might be a grouchy bastard at times, but he was a protective, grouchy bastard.

I'm sure the job description will include more mayhem as time goes on. It involves Harry, after all.

Don't remind me. Potter is not exactly my preferred choice of companion for someone I care about.

Hermione smiled to herself. He was obviously concerned to have put that in writing.

Thank you for caring. Love you, Sev. She smirked as she added the last part to lighten him up.

Love you too, minx. Take care. That's an order! And don't call me Sev... Or else.

She stared at the wrapper for long moments after the words had faded. Severus loved her. He had never told her before. Under no illusions as to the platonic nature of his love, nevertheless, something in her chest broke free and took wing. Hermione had simply accepted her friendship with Severus as something special and not examined her feelings in any depth. Now was not the time for intense self-analysis, but soon she would need to address the issue.

***

Waking in an unfamiliar bedroom, neck bandaged and limbs aching, Hermione gasped as she recalled the terrifying events at Malfoy Manor. Harry's obsession with the Deathly Hallows and use of Voldemort's name had brought the Snatchers upon them, and her subsequent torture by Bellatrix Lestrange had been ended by Dobby's timely arrival.

"Harry?" she croaked, mouth parched and throat sore.

"Here. Drink this. You'll feel much better." Luna Lovegood's soft, dreamy voice was a balm to her anxiety.

Drinking long, soothing swallows of the cool liquid alleviated Hermione's discomfort. "Where are Harry and Ron? What happened? Why is my neck bandaged?"

Luna quickly explained all that had happened while Hermione had been unconscious. Harry was outside digging Dobby's grave with Ron and Dean.

"Dobby's dead? To save Harry?" Hermione sobbed at the little elf's boundless courage and devotion. "Please, can I see Harry?"

"Come. We will go down to the grave."

Luna escorted her to where Harry was placing Dobby into his final resting place. Ron's hug was warm, but not the one she desperately needed. Weak and still in pain, she allowed him to lead her back into the house afterwards and settle her on the couch in front of the fire.

Their conversations with Griphook and Ollivander took several hours, and by then exhaustion had taken hold of her body and mind. It was only the next morning when she dressed in her usual, now clean clothes, she realised the chocolate wrapper was missing.

"Fleur, did you take an old chocolate wrapper from my pocket before washing these clothes?" she asked the blonde witch.

"Oui. I threw it in the fire with the rest of the rubbish." Fleur frowned. "Was it important?"

Hermione's heart plummeted as her face maintained an indifference she was far from feeling. "Oh, no. It was just one I had collected. No worries."

***

A/N: This was written for the Hermione Big Bang on LiveJournal, which celebrated Hermione's thirtieth birthday. Many thanks go to my friend and colleague, quaffswinegaily, who helped along the way, my beloved beta, ladyinthecloak, and my cheerleader, Michelle.

Sorry about the brevity of the chapter, but it needed to stop where it did! :)