Severus pursed his lips trying to keep a snarl from growing on his face. The girl had been in his care now for nearly 36 hours. Enough time for his potions and salves to have repaired nearly all of the physical damage.

He loathed having to keep her a secret. His colleagues could not be enlightened given that they all believed him to be working strictly for Lord Voldemort in light of his appointment as headmaster. He couldn't risk his position now. The walls had eyes.

Though Granger was still mostly mute as the muscles in her throat were still being repaired, the swelling had gone down substantially. Her movement was slow and rather uncoordinated but Snape feared that it had more to do with her current mental status than an actual injury.

Her mind had been blank, more than blank, it was like she'd fallen victim to a botched obliviate spell. A fugue state brought on by the amount of stress she'd been under. Only her basic instincts seemed to be intact.

The girl hadn't even been able to tell him her name. He could feel the memories inside her mind but they were locked away, hidden. He knew it would take time for him to release them, he just hoped he had enough time to do the deed.

She had been able to retain new information, recognizing him by title when he'd come to speak with her. Though he had had to use his legilimency to hear her as her voice was still unusable. She was skittish and mousey. It set his teeth on edge. He never dreamed he'd miss the bossy over opinionated Gryffindor.

He'd explained to her how the mouthpiece he'd given her worked, allowing her to answer simple yes or no questions just by lifting her tongue or biting down. Though most often he would find that she'd spat it out in the bed in lieu of chewing on her fingers. It was like having to watch an overgrown toddler. Something to which Severus was very much not accustomed to.

He'd hidden her away in a room on the sixth floor that no one even knew existed. He'd vanished the door from the corridor and had placed his own charmed entrance from his bedchambers. All he had to do was knock twice on the door and the small closet would lead him into the secret space.

He'd taken to making the walls a soft blue and even charmed the ceiling to imitate daylight and moonlight respectively. As there were no windows in the room for security reasons, it gave the moderately sized space a sense of grandeur.

Her seizures had almost stopped. Going from one every 3 hours to one every 14. Easily timed, Severus had decided to release her from the binds on the bed during the day and allow her the freedom to roam over the space if she chose.

There was nothing to harm herself with, only the single sized bed, a small chair and table set and a bank of pillows on the floor to keep her company. He'd removed the tube from her nose but was growing concerned when she had refused to eat.

He had checked her tongue, finding that the swelling had subsided though the muscle was still weak. Her throat was tight but as far as he could tell it wasn't restricting her breathing. Her vocal cords were still shot but they shouldn't have affected her appetite. She hadn't eaten anything solid since the time he'd brought her in and he would suspect, given by how thin she was when he got her, that she hadn't been eating properly for some time.

He'd been exceptionally angry to learn that Albus had, in fact, already sent the mirror to the boys and had hastily fashioned a charmed amulet to block his visage from the view of its magic. He wasn't invisible, but the mirror would never show him clearly. He had even fashioned a small light to come on near the top of the room to detect any sort of spying spells.

It was late morning now, time for him to release his burden from her bed and attempt to, once again, feed her. He'd decided on yogurt this time as it didn't require any effort to eat. He just hoped she had enough sense to feed herself.

"Miss Granger? It is time to get up."

Hermione whined softly in the back of her throat turning her head and her body away from his voice. Her arm bent back behind her as she tried to adjust. She was tired, always tired. Her mind felt like pudding, soft and fuzzy; like constantly waking from a dream you just couldn't quite remember.

Severus sat down the bowl on the table and moved to pull back the blanket enough to get to her wrist. When he released the belt she pulled it around her waist and curled it up to her chest, giving him a soft grunt in response. He moved down to her ankles next eliciting another whine as the warmth she'd accumulated got taken away.

He'd given her a pajama set, long flannel pants, and a matching long sleeve shirt but the girl had put up a fight when he'd attempted to take away the shirt he'd originally dressed her in. She'd kept the pants but had refused the top, instead, keeping the button up shirt. She'd also refused socks, something he found to be extremely odd but hadn't wasted any thought on.

"Do you want to try and sit at the table to eat?" Snape none-too-gently pulled the last restraint free looking down into her still closed eyes. "Miss Granger?"

His eyes turned to the dial pressed against her lips and frowned at the, 'No' he'd received.

"Are you hungry?"

'No.'

"You need to eat, you've had nothing but potions in your system for nearly two days." He had attempted to feed her before though it had ended in her refusal to open her mouth after he refused to carry her. He'd given her a supplement potion while she slept to keep up her strength but it wouldn't be enough on its own.

Hermione whined and covered her head with her hands. Something else she'd taken to doing. It was beyond infuriating.

"It's time to get up, I won't ask kindly again." Snape shifted trying to take a breath to keep himself calm. He had other tasks to attend to that day that didn't involve her. Though if he were honest with himself, he'd rather deal with her sophomoric temper tantrums, than that psychotic witch Bellatrix.

Hermione slowly lowered her arms opening her eyes to his very ascetic face. She pulled the guard from her mouth before reaching up towards him. She watched his frown grow as she used his jacket to pull herself up onto her knees before wrapping her arms around his neck. She could walk but she found that she'd much rather be carried.

Severus growled low in his throat as she climbed onto him. His arm took her around her upper back, mindful of her still sensitive ribs, and under her bottom. Her legs wrapped around his waist holding him tight as he moved over to the corner where the table was. Begging, pleading, for any deity to strike him dead.

It was the second time she'd done this to him, the first time he'd been too shocked to actually lift her and had promptly dropped her back onto the bed. It had earned him a very pathetic cry for at least 20 minutes. Followed by her refusal of all food he offered her.

This time he was just too tired to put up a proper fight. He had been up and down through the night making sure she wasn't in distress before his sleep logged brain finally set a charm over the room.

He was perfectly safe inside the room, no fear of being walked in on or randomly visited. Surprisingly, despite having to care for the girl, he felt completely secure inside the room.

"I'm going to guess you don't want to sit in the chair either?"

Granger shook her head hiding her face into his neck. Snape sighed loudly looking down as best he could, "If I permit you to sit on my lap, do you promise to eat what is offered to you?"

A small nod of her head pushed him forward and with great reluctance, he sat down in the chair. Granger squirmed as she adjusted herself, trying to sit back just a bit on his thighs so she could see what exactly it was that he was going to be feeding her. The spoon that rose up made her go cross-eyed for just a moment.

"It's yogurt." His tone was sharp and undeniable, eat or there will be consequences.

Hermione reached out taking the spoon into her hand before bringing it the rest of the way into her mouth. It tasted good, lightly sweet and wonderfully chilled. She worked small amounts off the end of the spoon until it was clean and offered it back. Her throat was sore, but the smooth cool whip helped sooth away the discomfort.

Snape conceded to her, even though she could easily reach the bowl. He was just relieved that she was eating something aside from her finger. She'd already made a nice little mark on her knuckle.

Hermione took her time, taking hesitant bites. She didn't believe the man would attempt to poison her after he'd done nothing but see to her health, albeit a bit roughly at times.

She wasn't exactly sure why but she enjoyed his touch, even though it often hurt. It was an odd feeling. A sort of desperate attempt to cling to something just beyond her reach. He was familiar. He was important.

Her eyes turned up looking into his face. His arm rested lightly on her hip keeping her in place while his other hand took the spoon. His face was oddly smooth but rough at the same time. He looked older than her but not too old. Maybe near forty?

By the time the last bite was raised, they'd fallen into a rather corporative rhythm. Hermione released the spoon back into his hold before letting her eyes fall closed. She listened to the steady beat of his heart as he set the spoon down into the now empty bowl.

"I will be gone today. I want you to practice the exercise that I gave you last night." Severus waited for her to give him her attention before repeating the phrase he'd commanded her to say, "My name is Hermione Granger."

Hermione took a breath trying to show him that she had tried to practice, "M-y...a-me...is..." Her words came out on the intake of breath instead of the exhale making her words barely above that of a whisper. Her throat already hurt from the small effort and she lowered her head rubbing gently over the area.

"Keep practicing, I expect you to have it down by tonight."

Hermione nodded solemnly before shifting to come to her feet. Her body ached, as though she'd slept in one position far too long. Her arms and legs stiff but strong. A hand at her elbow kept her from swaying and she tilted her head back as he came to his feet. She pointed to the enchanted ceiling before giving him a questioning look.

"I should return by the time the sun touches the right horizon. Lunch will be brought to you and I expect it to be completely finished by my return."

Hermione nodded her head and released the hold she'd taken on his jacket. She watched him return to the door from which he came, wincing from the sound of locks falling into place.

oOo

"Show me, Hermione Granger." Ron held his breath while the image started to form over the glass. He'd come to find that if he could keep still the magic of the mirror lasted substantially longer. Nearly 20 minutes at a time. He could call the image at least 3 times a day before the last of the magic would go out. He was very careful but his heart could hardly bear the thought of being away from her.

The new room that they had found her in had offered even fewer clues than before, nothing substantially helpful had come from their spying.

"How is she?" Harry already knew what Ron was doing. He hadn't let the mirror out of his sight since they'd left Grimuald Place.

"She's awake." Ron shifted so Harry could see. "No binds either..."

"Yea, she looks rather comfortable on those pillows..." Harry came to sit beside him but didn't dare take hold of the mirror. "She looks better..."

"Yeah..."

Ron looked back down at the mirror disheartened. She was just staring straight ahead. The collar of the shirt she was wearing covered her mouth but Ron could tell her jaw was moving.

"I'm coming...I promise... I'm coming for you, Hermione..." Ron let a tear fall free before canceling the charm. He sniffled and set his jaw tucking the mirror into his jacket.

"Where are we going today?"

"Hogsmeade. Luna said there was a secret tunnel that led into Hogwarts. If nothing else we can use the room of requirement to get more supplies." Harry looked off into the distance as he spoke. "We can't spend another night exposed."

"Are you sure we can trust what she says...?" Ron glanced over to the lake where the girl was busying herself by skipping rocks.

"I trust what she says." Harry pushed himself up with a small grunt, "Besides, it's all we've got. The castle should be mostly empty for the holidays. At best we would have secured a way in when the time comes."

"Right." Ron lowered his head down shuffling his feet in the stones.

oOOo

"Where's my potion, Snape?"

"You ought to be more kind to those who bring you relief."

"Like your presence has ever brought relief."

Snape sighed through his nose as he handed over a small chest, "These should get you through the worst of it."

"I've already been through the worst of it waiting for your greasy arse." Bellatrix snatched the box from his hand with a bit more force than necessary. Her hands trembling as she tried to keep hold of it.

Snape simply turned his eyes away and looked at Narcissa who had taken her place beside her sister's bed, ever the little lapdog forever in her elder sister's shadow. "Thank you, Severus."

Snape merely shook his head and turned to leave. Narcissa glanced at her sister before coming to follow him out. As she closed the door behind him, she took him by the crook of his arm and started to lead him away towards the parlor. They said nothing but he could easily feel the tension in her stiff walk and tight jaw.

When the parlor door closed Snape felt her finally release the tension that had grown inside of her. With a heavy sigh, Narcissa sat herself down into one of the chairs closing her eyes and rubbing her brow. "Draco isn't the only one who can't sleep..."

Snape said nothing as he came to sit in the chair across from her. The room was small by comparison to the other elegant rooms of the house, this one, in particular, was one of Narcissa's small sanctuaries away from her husband. He never ventured inside the domain and no one else who currently used their home as a safe haven would even dare to so much as look at the door. Severus said nothing watching her with the same strictness he watched his potions.

"I can't do this any more Severus..." Narcissa turned her cobalt eyes towards him, "I won't watch Draco die because of a mad man's bid for ultimate power."

"Mind your tongue." Severus couldn't help but glance around the room before covering his frown with the ridge of his hand. "What you speak of is sure to get you killed."

"You must help me."

"I've already taken a vow for you."

"I know. You're the only one I can turn to."

"I cannot sway the Dark Lord."

"Please, you must help him. I'll do anything. Anything I can do to ensure that he's safe...I can't...I can't let him become a victim of this war."

"He is already a victim." Severus leveled his dark, cold gaze upon her. Everything inside him wished to bend to her will, but he could not risk as much as he had. He was already walking a tightrope as it was.

"Severus..."

"You instilled the hate inside him that grows." Severus pushed himself up. "You are solely responsible for this."

Narcissa moved from her chair down to her knees desperately taking hold of his coat. "Please..." Her throat choked with tears that she stubbornly held back, "Please? Severus...I beg of you."

Severus took a slow breath through his nose. Watching a noblewoman such as she, fall to her knees before him was more gratifying than he would ever admit to himself. His brow darkened as Granger's same broken plea echoed into his mind from Draco's memory. She never had a chance, why should he grant mercy to someone who had stood by and allowed someone else's child suffer?

Who was he to bring such comfort?

His eyes pierced straight inside the woman's mind, rifling through any hidden intentions. Any possibility that this was merely a trap, an elaborate ruse to lure out his true nature.

"He's a good boy... he is..."

Severus pulled the fabric free from her fingers, his eyes turning away. He had felt nothing but pure desperation. Still, he could not allow himself to make promises that he could not dare to keep. "I cannot change the Dark Lord's plan." He turned away from her fully now, his jaw tight enough to break his teeth, "I will, however, see to it that his task is completed, as... congenially as possible..."

"Oh, Severus thank you..." Narcissa pulled her hands back trying to reset her face, "I owe you my life... if there's anything..."

"You will be informed."

Severus didn't bother to look back as he opened the door to the small parlor. Leaving behind the broken woman, he turned his eyes towards the main dining hall where he knew his presence was surely about to be requested.

oOo

"This is it." Luna pointed down a street of seemingly abandoned houses. "Though we must be careful, snatchers and deatheaters often patrol this area, we must remain unseen."

"It's a bit tight under the cloak." Ron shifted a little closer to his chest, bumping the back of Luna's head.

"We'll just move slowly, come on..." Harry took a small step forward, he could feel Luna holding into the back of his shirt but he didn't mind, it was oddly comforting.

oOOo

"Miss?" The house elf trembled slightly looking at the girl who seemed to be sleeping on the bed. The little elf was under strict orders from the headmaster to ensure that she ate her meal, but the elf's timid nature was worrying her on waking the girl to complete the task.

"Miss? Can you hear mes?" The elf slowly crawled their way onto the bed, stepping gently. The girl stirred and rubbed her face making the elf's ears perk up just a little.

"Miss?" The elf leaned in close, perhaps far too close as when the girl's eyes fluttered open she went into a state of panic. The elf tumbled off the side of the bed as the girl let out a choked scream and tried to push herself away.

Hermione's mind went into hyperdrive. Instead of the beautiful room brightly lit around her, she could only see dark purple walls and cold black stone. The world spun on its end as she fell over the edge of the bed. The landing nearly taking all of her air from her lungs. Her bruised ribs ached in protest but the adrenaline in her system kept the pain dull.

Where was she? How did she get there? What had woken her? Why did every inch of her body feel like she'd been crushed by a boulder?

The elf whined low as they watched the frightened girl fall off the far side of the bed. The little creature waffled on what to do. The girl was obviously in a state of panic but her master hadn't given her instructions on what the elf could do to aid her. She had been only instructed to bring her lunch.

Hermione pressed herself tightly into the corner her eyes wide and her heart racing as thoughts, memories, ravaged through her mind. Nameless faces, countless places, too many to discern. Her hands curled tight into her hair as the pulsing in her brain intensified.

The little elf trembled behind the corner of the bed as Hermione collapsed in on herself. Curling up as small as she possibly could. Her voice popped and crackled as sobs broke through her throat.

oOo

Severus shifted uncomfortably in the high back chair he found himself in. The Dark Lord paced the room around him.

"Where would they go next Severus?"

"There are very few hiding spots left my lord. I am certain you have covered them all." Severus kept his tone even, his eyes staring straight ahead.

The room was filled with danger. The air was thick and smelled heavily of stale blood. His jaw twitched as the half-man, half-monster moved out of his line of sight though he didn't dare turn his head.

"And yet, the boy eludes me."

"I am assured in your plan my Lord."

"Don't patronize me!"

The spell hit him directly from behind, straight into his skull. Like a jackhammer on concrete, Severus felt his 'master' rifling through everything he could possibly think of. Severus gritted his teeth as he tried to push memories forward for his approval.

He released the memory of the day he'd been out looking for Potter and his group. It had been an accident but he was able to quickly overlap another seamlessly over top. By some grace of a higher power, the madman behind him quickly turned away from it going back over older memories.

A soft pop directly in front of Severus broke the spell. His body lurched forward before he was able to correct himself, his furious eyes turned directly into the trembling elf that had appeared before him.

"You!"

"My lord!"

The curse flew right past his ear barely missing the elf before it popped out again. His breath shuddered heavily in his chest, his heart skipping three beats. He felt more than saw Voldemort come around the edge of the chair looking with resentment at the black smudge he'd left behind.

"My... apologies my lord..." His eyes slowly rose as he caught his breath, "I'm...working on...a potion..."

"The cretin was yours?"

Severus leaned back lifting his chin just a fraction from the wand pointed between his brows.

"Yes, my lord. Faithful to you...only you..."

Snape barely had time to brace himself. The cruciatous curse sent fire through his entire frame but he didn't dare to cry out. His fingernails dug into the wood of the chair and his back arched. He could do nothing but hold his breath from the pain, his head pulsing from the lack of oxygen. He could feel his Lord assaulting his mind in his altered state.

The mental and physical assault on his senses were enough to shut everything down. Thoughts, feelings, emotions. Everything blank. A rather apt protection that kept him alive more than once. It wasn't until a steady stream of blood started to trickle down his nose did the curse finally lift.

"Get out of my sight."

Snape took a shaky breath before forcing his limbs to respond. His entire body twitched while he made to his feet. It took all the strength he possessed not to collapse down to the floor. His vision swam and the room tilted on its end before he felt the cool stone of the fireplace. His fingers missed the cup of floo powder by a mile and he paused to try and clear his vision.

"You'll do well to remember to keep your little side projects to yourself."

"Yes, My Lord." Snape took a slow breath finally taking hold of the powder. "Hogwarts. Headmaster's office." His voice was tight as he threw the powder down. His eyes closed as the green flames swallowed him whole.