"What do we even do with all this information?" Molly sighed heavily shifting through the numerous pages that had been left by Maybelle.

"She ran a full diagnostic report on all the kids?" Remus took a heavy seat down beside Tonks, who was rubbing her temples.

Maybelle had given the adults a full medical record of every spell, curse or potion the kids encountered during their little rescue operation, so as to guide them further in their care in her absence. She had also left a rather extensive report about her findings in regards to Hermione's current state of health. Ten pages worth.

She hadn't been able to stay as her services were still needed at the hospital and the Order didn't want to risk the other side finding out that she supported them.

"Yes, of course, though theirs isn't as...long..." Molly sighed heavily, "This is only a nine-day report..." She turned through another set of pages going back in time.

"There's a lot of potions here that are listed as unknown..." She offered out one of the pages to Tonks who pursed her lips reading down the list.

"There's a lot of potions here in general...was he keeping her doped up?" Tonks was very proud to use her new muggle word though she could see that it hadn't had the effect on the others that she had hoped, "You know, unconscious?"

"What purpose would that have served him?" Molly offered out another page to Remus, looking down the first page of the diagnostic. Her lips pursing tightly.

Diagnostic: Hermione Jean Granger

Aged: 19

Day: 0

Crucio (x4)

Tangula (x1)

Volnus Penitus (x3)

Crucio (x3)

Ennervate

Crucio

Splinched (x24)

Aperto Pectore

Anapneo

Tergeo

Reditus Sanguine

Potio ignotum (p)

Potio ignotum (p)

Essence of Dittany (p)

Molly couldn't read anymore. She let out a deep sigh rubbing her already glassy eyes, "She shouldn't have even lived..."

Tonks frowned deeper setting down the paper she was casually looking over to look at the one Molly had put down. She glanced to Remus but found him just as hopeless looking as Molly.

"But she did, Molly. She did..." Tonks gently squeezed Remus' hand, though her eyes wandered to the paper in front of him. It was the series of spells Hermione had only suffered that day.

"I think Snape was trying to help her..." Remus took a slow breath, "The why, I haven't sorted out, but I don't think he's playing solely on the other team..."

"The real question is how are we going to help her now..." Molly pushed the paper back to the center of the table.

oOo

All the teens had been sent upstairs to rest. Luna and Ginny in the girl's room and Ron, Harry, and Neville just across the hall in the boy's room. Though that had only lasted so long as the adults had been upstairs. After which, Neville had snuck over to Luna's bed and Ginny had come over to Harry's leaving Ron the odd man out.

Ron glanced over at Harry and his sister who weren't fully asleep but not awake either. They laid facing the other just lightly playing with their hands in the space between their chests. They were under Harry's blanket but he could tell that their touches weren't exactly 100% juvenile. He swallowed thickly and cleared his throat, pushing himself up from his bed. The two didn't really notice him leaving, too wrapped up in just feeling the other's embrace.

He moved out into the hall closing the door softly behind him. He looked around the empty hallway before sighing heavily. He moved over to the 'girl's' room and opened the door looking in.

Neville wasn't fully asleep either and turned his head, sleepily blinking through the darkness. Luna was laying on his chest, her small frame laying perfectly in the center keeping all the pressure off of her wrapped shoulder. Her long silver blonde hair was laying out on the blanket Neville had pulled up to the middle of her back, his hand gently tangled in the long locks at the base of her neck.

Neville mumbled something incoherent making Ron shake his head and lean back out of the door. He closed it with the same reverence he had the other and pressed his forehead against the frame. Everyone had someone, except him.

He glanced towards the stairs, the lights were still on down below and he was sure if he were to go down his mother would give him an earful. His heart thumped heavily in his chest as he turned his head the other way looking down the hall. They hadn't moved Hermione, she was still in Remus and Tonks' room. He was sure the couple would either be staying downstairs for the night or would find another place to be.

Even with her so close, he felt as though he was millions of light-years away. His feet moved of their own accord down the hall. He hadn't even realized he'd moved until his hand fell onto the handle. He took a steadying breath to calm himself before pulling his courage from under his feet. With the same caution from before he released the latch and peered inside.

The bed on the far wall had been made smaller but aside from that everything was as it had been, perhaps a bit cleaner. Hermione was laid on her back, no pillow beneath her head. Her hair had been re-braided, he suspected by his mother, with her face turned towards the center of the room hiding the mark away from his eyes.

The blanket had been tucked around her waist with her bound wrists lying on top. Ron noticed that the strap ran all the way around the bed and under her body keeping her from moving them in any direction. He noticed a similar strap down by where her ankles would have been, sticking out from under the blanket, and one tucked under her arms so that it ran over the top of her chest. She was wearing a loose-fitting sweatshirt that appeared comfortable enough and the belt over her chest didn't appear to be too tight.

Ron took the few steps in that he needed to take in order to close the door behind him. Moving cautiously towards the chair beside the bed, his eyes turned down to the leather pouch they had left by her side.

His mind hadn't been able to stop replaying everything she had said before her seizure. Every word had seared itself into his conscious and subconscious mind. When he'd been watching her in the mirror he had felt so powerless, but watching her that evening cry out the way she had, had truly made him feel worthless.

It was easy to be strong and brave when there was no real consequence for your actions. It was easy to talk about what you would do when you knew there was no chance that you could actually do anything about a situation. He had fully worked himself up into believing that he was the hero she needed to be safe again. But when the time had truly come, he had been frozen with fear.

Ron slowly came to sit down in the chair beside the bed. His head bowed as if in prayer before his hand rose. He had waited countless nights just to see her again, feel her hand against his. His fingers moved like a spiders' legs over the still hand bound at her side. Her hand was warm, but cool at the fingertips. A heavy breath stuttered passed his lips when he curled his fingers inside her palm.

"I'm so sorry...Hermione..." His voice was so low that he could barely hear himself. Tears made his throat tight, but he swallowed down his pain. Would she remember him? Would he hear her say his name ever again? "This is all my fault..."

He lifted his head sniffling and turned to look into her face. She looked so peaceful, so calm. She'd obviously been cleaned up but the dark circles around her eyes remained. However, what brought a sense of some hope, was the lack of the pain that had painted her face before.

His eyes lowered down to the pouch that was next to her. Pulling his hand from hers, he gingerly pulled the leather from between her side and forearm. A glance at her face to make sure she remained asleep, he pulled the bag closer laying it flat on the bed

What was so important about the bag? Why had she been so protective of it? He pulled the front flap open frowning at the vials inside. Was it just a potions kit? Why would she be asked to carry a potions kit?

He pulled out a tube closest to him, puzzled as it looked only to be half-full. He turned the small vial but was unable to read the label as it was written in Runes. Of course, it would be written in Runes. He turned the liquid in the dim light of the night lamp that had been left burning, trying to figure out what it could have been based on its color.

He'd never seen a potion like this before and if he'd read about it he'd surely forgotten. The liquid inside was a glittery silver that seemed to follow it's own properties when it came to moving from one end of the vial to the other. Almost ethereal in its presentation.

Making possibly the most intelligent decision he'd made in a very long time, he decided to slip the vial back into the catch before pulling the pouch closed again. A deep sigh placed it back where it had been. Hermione, thankfully, none the wiser.

He turned his head back towards the door but he knew he couldn't leave her. He had wished for far too long to sleep properly by her side. Though he knew he couldn't actually, properly-properly sleep next to her like the others were, he could at least sleep with her hand in his.

He pushed himself to his feet pulling his wand from his pocket. It was a bit mediocre but he managed to transfigure the wooden chair into a canvas cot. He moved down to the trunk at the foot where they had placed the blankets and pillows they had removed from the bed and brought them over.

oOOo

Early dawn had Ron waking up in pain. Not only had the pain potion he'd been given for the gash on his side worn off but a sharp clawing-like pain to his hand roused him abruptly from the nightmare that had plagued him as soon as he'd closed his eyes. A sharp noise left his throat as he tried to orient himself to the understand what was going on.

Having fallen asleep on his stomach had left him at a bit of a disadvantage for trying to pull away from the sharp nails were digging into his palm. He reached out blindly trying to simultaneously untangle himself and push himself up. His hand landed heavily on the unstable dresser knocking through the few potions that had been placed there toppling them over. One of which hit him square in the temple while the other two rolled off to the side smashing down to the floor.

"Bollocks!" Ron cursed under his breath finally pulling his hand free and managing to turn towards the bed. The low light of early morning shined in through the dingy window making the entire room burn gold. A strangled noise drowned out the sound of the glass that had shattered making his heart speed up.

Hermione appeared to be having another seizure. Her entire body locked down against the binds that held her in place. Her head was completely arched back but the strap over her chest kept her from arching up completely. Her legs and hands shook with the tremors. The hand that he had been holding curled up tightly at her side as her body fought against her.

"Hermione...?" Ron couldn't keep the pitiful whine out of his voice as he leaned over her. His hands taking her behind the ears to hold her head. There was no way he could turn it in either direction but he tried to lean over closer to see her face. Just as he put his weight on the bed, a deep noise left her throat and her body completely collapsed down.

His breathing was just as harsh as hers. His hold on her head shifted and he brought her chin back down. Her eyes were still closed but they twitched and clenched as the last of the seizure left. He could feel her tears running down over his fingers.

"Oh...Hermione..." He didn't know what to do, what could he possibly do? Did she need more potions? His eyes glanced over at the mess on the floor, a deep grimace marking his face.

His eyes shot back when a heavy sigh passed her locked jaw. He could see the mouthpiece the healer had placed along her teeth between her parted lips. She panted harshly through her nose, unable to breathe through the guard. It didn't sound like she was able to get enough air into her lungs.

Wanting to do something, anything, to help ease her pain; he tried to open her jaw with his thumb. It was hard, the muscles in her jaw were still working even though the seizure had seemingly passed.

It took a bit of creative prodding but he finally got her jaw to open enough for him to pull the guard from between her teeth. It wasn't as large as he thought it would have been, only large enough to keep her teeth from grinding and her tongue pressed down. With only a fleeting inspection he set it aside before looking back, "Hermione...?"

Her breaths came through her mouth now, deep panting wisps heating his palm. Her head rocked slightly against the mattress, her brow twitching. His still sleep heavy brain took a moment to calm down from his adrenaline high and he winced when his side gave out a sharp spark. Feeling that he'd at least done something, he sat back down on the cot. The potion that had knocked him in the head rolled into his hip but he paid it little attention as he brought his hand to the light.

Deep red lines marked her path against his hand, though they didn't bleed they surely hurt enough to. He flexed his hand slowly before shifting just a bit. His side was becoming more of a distraction. His eyes turned down to the potion that had fallen next to him and slowly pulled it up to look at what it was.

The label read 'Pain Reliever' but it was an odd color he hadn't seen when he'd been given potions by Madame Pomphry. He glanced over at Hermione again before setting the bottle further back upon the dresser. Deciding that his pain was nothing compared to hers, he pushed a shaky hand through his hair.

He watched her chest rise and fall back into a slow deep rhythm. It was sort of hypnotic and he wasn't sure how long he'd simply sat there dumbfounded by the simple act of her breathing but when the sunlight rose high enough to catch his eye he winced and turned his head away. He rubbed his dry eyes before turning to look at the small clock on the far side of the room. It was barely 5 a.m. there was still enough time for him to attempt to sleep a little longer.

Not wanting a repeat of his early morning wake-up call he settled back down with his hand on her forearm this time. Forgetting all about the guard he'd removed to try and make her more comfortable. He forced his eyes closed to try and rest.

oOOo

"I understand Molly, but you must also see that it would simply be suicidal to keep all of them here. Severus has already made it very clear that if any students are to be missing from morning count that he would see personally to their retrieval."

"Sod, Severus. These children are injured! Hogwarts isn't safe anymore. It never truly was with him in power-"

"Now see here-"

"No! I shall not let my child go back to that ruthless dictator's domain."

Remus sighed heavily, it truly was too early for these sorts of arguments. The two witches went back and forth obviously on opposite ends of the Quidditch field before his eyes noticed that they very much weren't alone anymore.

"Ginny."

Molly and Minerva turned their heated faces towards the stairs into the face of the youngest Weasely who was still in her pajamas at the base of the stairs.

"We need to go back."

"Ginny..." Her mother's voice was filled with emotion the young teen couldn't possibly comprehend.

"We're the only ones who are able to fight against him..." Ginny looked to McGonagall, "She can't outright oppose him because they'd sack her and bring in someone much worse...she's protected us, Mom. Truly...we just didn't listen..."

"I-"

"I'm fine. Just a headache..." Ginny pushed her hair over her shoulder, "I'll get my things..." She gave a small smile to McGonagall before turning to thump her way up the stairs.

Minerva was truly proud of her little cub but she tried not to let it show in front of Molly. That woman was fierce and she very much didn't want to explain why she had suddenly become injured.

"Can you truly keep them safe Minerva?" It was Remus' turn to join the conversation, coming away from the corner, his brow lined with worry.

"Can we truly keep any of them safe?" Her brow turned sad. She had briefly read over the reports the healer had left for Hermione hoping to help the other adults decipher the numerous lines of latin that told them that she had been through hell and back. She hadn't been able to shed much more light on the situation as she wasn't a potions master or a mediwitch.

"What side do you think Severus has in this?" Remus had become uncertain the more he'd read the reports. The spells and subsequent counter curses that had been listed were very curious. Almost as if he was trying to break the slave bond he'd seen on her neck only to reenact another. He didn't understand what that purpose was but if he knew one thing about the dark man, it was that he didn't do anything without an explicit purpose.

"I think he is on his side." Minerva had nearly lost all faith in the man who had continued to hide up in his tower. She'd hardly spoken to him at all during the term and even less after the break. She had a mind to curse him into oblivion but the time hadn't yet been right.

"What has Dumbledore's portrait said about this?"

"Don't know...I've only spoken to him once. The only thing he thought fit to tell me was to trust Severus but I have yet to find any reason why I should."

oOo

"Neville...wake up." Ginny had dressed quickly not even bothered by the two still sleeping in the room.

"Wh...wha?" Neville turned his head, disoriented at feeling heavy.

"We've got to go back."

"What...why?" His voice spiked a little rousing the girl who had been peacefully resting on his chest.

"Snape has issued a lockdown and if we're not accounted for there will be hell to pay." Ginny tossed some clothes for the both of them at the foot of the bed.

"But Luna she-"

"I'm okay..." Luna's heavily dreamy voice stilled his protests. She let out a heavy sigh and turned her head towards Ginny who was still collecting their things. She blinked slowly still a bit groggy but the warmth of Neville against her brought a lopsided smile on her face. "Though I may need help getting dressed...I don't think I can lift my arm just yet... "

Neville blushed all the way up to the tops of his ears and turned his head to ask for Ginny's help only to find the redhead leaving the room with her bag and a smirk on her face.

Neville pursed his lips but didn't say anything else. He turned his head down looking into Luna's soft blue eyes. She smiled just a little wider when his mouth opened without a sound actually coming out and made to shift herself off of him.

Ginny sighed heavily putting her bag on her shoulder. Harry gave her a small smile that quickly faded out when he realized she'd already dressed for the day.

"So uh..." His words were drowned out when she took the two steps to close the space between them and pressed a soft kiss to his stuttering lips.

Not that Harry didn't appreciate her sudden show of affection he couldn't bring himself to fully fall into the sensation. His hands came up slowly brushing her arms as she pulled back. "You're going back..."

"Yeah, we have to make sure it'll be safe for you..." Ginny licked her lips slowly taking a full breath, "Thank you...for keeping me safe...I know I...already said a lot last night but..."

"Just...just be safe..." Harry pursed his lips, "We've got Hermione now...there's only a few Horcrux's left..."

"You can do it, Harry..." Ginny pressed another soft kiss on his cheek. Harry smiled softly taking her hands in his for a lingering moment. They each shared in their silent promise for as long as they could before Ginny shifted to take the stairs.

"Hey...Was Ron in there with Neville and Luna?"

Ginny paused at the landing, "No..."

They each shared a look before they turned to look down the hallway, "He wouldn't have..."

"Yeah, I think he would've." Harry pushed his messy hair from his face and started down the hall. He heard Ginny drop her bag by the stairs and hurry to catch up with him. Harry gave her a sideways glance before pushing open the door as quietly as he could.

"Ronald! What did you do!?" Ginny's high pitched voice made both boys jump. Harry hadn't actually seen what had made Ginny upset initially. He'd only just noticed Ron sprawled out and snoring away on the cot when he saw the potion vials broken on the floor.

Ron was trying to roll over but his poorly made cot was making it difficult. Ginny, however, wasn't looking at the broken vials on the floor but rather the large trail of blood that started from the corner of Hermione's turned face down towards her hand following the crease her body made in the bed.

"Harry, get mom!" Ginny moved closer to the bed pushing her brother who had just managed to get somewhat to his feet out of her way. "She's bleeding! Why is she bleeding!? What did you do!? The healer said she'd be perfectly safe!"

"I-I..." Ron held his side with a sharp hiss, trying to think through the fog of morning,"Why is she bleeding...?"

Ginny huffed and looked around the bed taking note of the black mouthpiece that had been left upon the dresser. "Did you take this out of her mouth?"

"She...she couldn't breathe..."

"You're an idiot! How on earth could I even be related to you!" Ginny turned back opening and closing her hands unsure of what to do.

She winced and reached down, "She feels like ice..." Ginny bit her lip as she turned Hermione's head. The bed was soaked beneath staining the back of her hand almost instantly. Ginny jerked back when Hermione's eyes fluttered ever just so and her chest bucked with a harsh cough. The blood that had been dripping out of her mouth going down her throat instead. "Hermione...?"

"What's going on?"

Ginny's neck actually popped from the speed in which she turned it to McGonagall, "She's bleeding..."

"Stand aside." Minerva pulled out her wand without pause taking the teens place in an instant. Hermione's head rolled back to the side but her coughing hadn't stopped. Minerva's eyes ran over blood trail before a whispered spell pulled it from the sheets, however, unable to see the wound itself she had nowhere to send it and left it hovering in a small bubble over the girl's prone form.

Minerva's aged hand reached down turning Hermione's head back toward her restarting the harsh coughing fit that had only just subsided. It did, however, allow her to see inside her mouth and the large gash that had been made on her tongue from her teeth. A precise flick of her wand pulled open her jaw and a deep sigh left her nose, "She's just bitten her tongue...Anapneo..." The harsh coughing came to a stop and the girl under her wand took a deep shuttering breath.

"Tongues can bleed this much...?"

"Oh yes..." Minerva tilted her wand into her mouth pulling the blood that she had pulled from the sheets back into her bloodstream. It was a rather complicated spell, one that she had learned from Poppy in her youth but had become a nearly invaluable tool in her arsenal as of late.

Ginny pursed her lips before turning to smack Ron hard in the chest. The elder boy grunted and winced falling back a few steps but had the mind not to retaliate verbally or otherwise. Rather he just lowered his eyes in shame and guilt.

Molly shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. This just was just an emotional mess. She wanted to be angry at her son, and she was to an extent but she couldn't bring herself to scold him further with such a desolate look on his face.

Her eyes turned away from her children to the mess of potions dried on the floor and cleared it away with a sharp flick of her wand. No need to beat a man when he was down. Maybelle had left a small stock of potions downstairs, it wouldn't be much trouble to retrieve them.

"There." Minerva pulled the mouthpiece from the dresser, cleaned it and pressed it back into Hermione's mouth. "Now then..."

"I've already gotten my things...Neville and Luna should be ready any moment..." Ginny looked down at her hand that was growing sticky, a stone rising up into her throat.

Minerva nodded her head and cleared away the blood from her hand with a subtle flick of her wand. "I'll make sure Poppy will be able to provide you with whatever she needs..."

It pained her more than she could say to see the brightest witch to ever grace the halls of Hogwarts since her own time, strapped to the bed virtually helpless. The anger that she had felt towards Snape was only growing since she learned that the girl had been hidden away in the castle just floors above where she had slept so peacefully, completely unaware that the girl had even been there.