A/N: Many apologies for the immense delay. Many things have happened—hospital, planes— but I should be back in action here. If a bit slow. Take heart. Kind Regards-R

War was on its way. A few more hours of daylight remained before all hell was sure to break loose. The air was heavy with the energy creeping into the forest. The life therein fleeing for their lives leaving nothing but silence over the grounds.

Draco walked with intense purpose. His eyes narrowed and his jaw tight. He knew that his only chance to survive was to seek the counsel of the man hidden away in the headmaster's tower. Not only his own life hung in the balance but that of his mother's as well.

He had already grieved for his father though he still breathed. He had long since understood that it was his father who had placed them at the boots of a madman and knew that the possibility of saving him from the man's heavy step would be impossible.

He had overheard the Carrows talking about their 'new' assignment. How they had been sent on a virtual needle in a haystack sort of scavenger hunt. He knew of what they were meant to be protecting but not of where they'd be guarding it as they had moved away before he'd been able to learn.

His only course was to do as he was now. He'd been meaning to confront his godfather on his discovery regardless. All these weeks, endlessly pondering what it could have meant. He knew the Granger girl had been killed many months ago. He had been sure of it. Draco had overheard the gloating men when they'd returned. It was impossible to fathom that she had been able to hide away all this time...Then again...

His head tilted back to look up at the grand statue barring his way. How heavy his heartfelt to stand before it, knowing that all he'd ever known in his time there was going to come crashing down in a sea of fire and stone.

"Asphodel."

As soon as the gargoyle jumped aside he made his way down the small hallway leading to the door. It wasn't so late but he knew of all those who stood watch this fateful night his Godfather was among them. Or so he prayed.

The fear that he'd already been called away by their Dark Master's side was tingling in the back of his mind. Yet still, he found the strength to push his feet forward. Would they stand at the front? Would the be forced to kill all those whom they had considered at one time to be alleys? How many of his classmates would he be forced to remove from this earth? Would be found out? Would the Dark Lord force his own father to take him out?

Young youthful eyes so deadened by the worlds bigger problems turned about the near silent and darkened room. The young man's heart dropping further and further with each step that he took into the grand space.

The portraits on the wall had all gone. Perhaps sensing what was to come? Abandoning their post? His feet brought him through the barrier, of which he barely felt the tingle signaling its presence; his eyes looking upon the cleared desk in reverence.

It was in his deep moment of pensive that a small click gathered his attention. He turned on his heel unaware that his previous observation that the room was vacant was false. The heavy blue eyes following the boy's movements with such sorrow.

Draco ran his fingers down the small carvings over the door that he'd surely seen before. His body had moved as though guided by another but it was solely his choice whether or not he was to see what lie beyond. His fingers trembled as he clasped the handle before a stern look pushed everything down.

The room beyond glowed warmly with fire. Long shadows casting out from the furniture in front of the hearth and the waning sun from the windows. Draco's eyes took only a second to adjust before they were inexplicably drawn to the raised four-poster bed.

A small figure laid inside. The blankets caught at their waist, their back exposed to the glowing light of the fire, exquisitely defining the large scars over their skin. Their hair was long, spilling out over the pillow beneath their head, the curled tendrils reaching towards the floor.

"Impossible..." Draco's words left his lips in a breathless whisper, his body jolting when a door just to the other side came open.

A small stumble immediately caught Severus' attention. His wand in his hand in less than a heartbeat, his eyes narrowed and his entire body wound for a battle.

"Draco?"

"Godfather...I..."

"Close the damn door." Even as Severus spoke his wand had already slammed the heavy wood shut. He suspected another's magic at play but he'd leave that argument for another day. As much as he wanted to glide across the room and throttle the young man, a small whimper from the bed turned his course.

"Severus...?" Hermione's body had shifted, her head turning up to blink tiredly into the dark canopy above before her plea was answered, "Everything...okay?"

"Yes, be still..." His fingertips ran down her eyes, a small whispered spell aiding her much needed rest. It wouldn't force her to sleep but it would allow her body to relax enough for her to fall back into its embrace.

Severus' sharp eyes turned to the man gaping like a fish just beside the door he'd slammed shut. Standing himself as tall as he could for a man wearing nothing but his slacks. He took a moment to pull the blankets up further, protecting Hermione's modesty from the youth's wandering eye before making sure to close the distance to try and ensure their conversation wouldn't be overheard.

"Speak."

"The war is coming."

"Elaborate."

"I...I just got orders..." Draco could barely form a logical thought. His mind was spinning in a thousand different directions. He had recognized the voice...as soft as it was, there was no mistaking for him. "W-Why...?"

"Do not ask questions to which you could never be able to understand the answers to." A sharp backhanded flick of his hand closed the curtains around the bed, his dark eyes shining dangerously in the firelight.

"I-I overheard the Carrows..." Draco found some sort of confidence when the dark man had turned his intense gaze away and made towards the closet. His eyes tracing the dark lines over the man's otherwise marble-like skin.

"And?"

"They're on the move...The time is close..." Draco rubbed his arm, "I...Potter is coming... I've been given orders to find something before he does..."

Severus rolled his eyes inside the safety of his closet, "This is why you've violated my private chambers?"

"Violated...?"

Severus snarled as he snapped the buttons over his frock closed, his epithet for another, "What else do you know?"

"They've been sent to protect something...a diadem? And...to search the castle for Potter." Draco could feel his voice growing stronger but it still lacked the confidence he'd known in his youth. His eyes snapping from the bed to the man who now had turned his path onto him.

"Is Potter here?"

"If not already then soon..." Draco hissed when his arm was grabbed the forced turn nearly taking him completely off his feet as he was pulled back out to the office.

"You have no choice," Severus' voice was hard, cold and unforgiving.

Tears began to form in the corner of Draco's eyes, his hand coming up to hold his surely bruised bicep, "Please! Please, I don't want to this."

A sharp snarl crawled over Severus' face, the noise at which the boy pleaded for his life no doubt undoing the spell he'd cast to send Hermione back to sleep. Lord help him if she did wake, he'd be sorely outnumbered then. A glance over his shoulder confirmed his fears but a sharply pointed finger kept the boy in front of him in place.

"You must follow his orders, there is...nothing I can do for you..." Severus' tone softened as his eyes searched the boy's true intentions. Always on the watch for a possible double cross. Given his father's spinelessness, he couldn't be certain of the boy's loyalties.

"Please don't let me die...I just...I've made mistakes okay? I know that...I just...why do I have to pay for them with my life? I tried...you know? I tried..." Draco could feel the small bit of hope he'd had going out; a coldness taking its place. He didn't want to die.

oOOo

"Harry! Merlin's beard! It's great to see you!" Neville could hardly believe the sight before him. His arms held his friend in arms tight before clapping the smaller teen on their back.

"It's good to see you too Neville." Harry gave the taller teen a gentle smile before his arms were once more filled. The smell of summer rain filled his nose as Ginny pressed herself tight to his frame.

"Ah, Gin-" Harry's greeting was cut short by a sharp kiss. It was quick but still stole his breath away.

"Snape has ordered everyone to remain in the dormitories. We don't have much time." Ginny grinned licking her bottom lip, "Luna made it, she believes she can show you just who you need to speak to about the crown. We've all decided to go so they don't come searching, we'll be ready to fight if we need to."

"Woah Woah...slow down..." Harry looked helplessly at Neville who merely shrugged his shoulders.

"We don't have time, sorry Harry." Neville gave him a sympathetic look and Ron a small smile, "We've got to go. Use this if you run into trouble." Neville tossed a two-way coin into Ron's hands before turning towards the door where the few other students had remained behind. It wasn't safe to move without a group.

"We're with you, Harry!"

Harry frowned deeply but waved none-the-less as Neville and Ginny moved over to what appeared to be some third-year students. As they made their way out Luna came out of the shadows, "Ah...How are you doing...?"

"I'm alright. Shall we go?"

"Yeah but...Ron?"

"Yeah, Mate?"

"I don't want you to go the chamber alone..."

"I'll be fine. Don't you worry about me. After all, didn't you play hero down there? Nothing down there to get me." Ron gave him a lopsided grin. Truthfully he was terrified, not that he'd ever let it show. It was times such as this his heart ached for Hermione.

Luna gave him a soft understanding look, "Here, take my coin...It'll alert the others if you need help." Luna pulled the small coin from her pocket and placed it into Ron's waiting hand, "You're not alone."

"Thanks..." Ron gave Harry a brave smile before taking a deep breath, "Right...let's get on with it..."

oOo

"Severus..." Hermione had heard nearly all of it, woken initially by the boy's first plea, she'd feigned sleep to learn more, to understand the man she'd gone to bed with more. She hadn't needed to see his face to hear the pain in his voice. How much she knew he understood exactly what it was to pay the price for your mistakes, "Leave him with me..."

Severus turned on his heel, his brow tight with confusion and fear, "What?"

"Leave him with me...if what he speaks is the truth then...We're all going to be needed." Hermione turned her soft eyes toward the fireplace, "We'll go together...find the diadem and destroy it. It is the only one left."

"And I am to?" His voice was sharp but he could begin to see her train of thought.

"As you need to, I shall find you this night..." Hermione's voice was strong, and though she stood only in the sheet wrapped around her frame the power she'd come to form was radiating forth, "I shall not leave without you. Come Hell or high water."

Before Severus could refute her last stand his arm seared to life. A sharp hiss brought his hand over the brand and his instructions were given. Find Potter, bring him to the Dark Lord by any means necessary. His chest heaved, "Do not die on me."

"Never." Hermione smiled just a touch as the man turned away towards the door, instead of letting him make his retreat she quickly took hold of his elbow halting his progress. When his eyes snapped to her own she offered him a hidden smile just under her right eye, "We will win this war. This nightmare will end."

Severus turned slowly, his piercing gaze looking through everything that bumbled through her inner eye. The determination he'd sought to return to her broken frame from the first moment they'd met each other. The fire he'd remembered from her time walking the halls and filling a space in his classroom. The passion she had shown him through the hours they spent showing each other just how much they cared for the other. How—to his exceptional surprise—she felt nothing but admiration for him.

"I—"

"No—no excuses." Hermione raised her chin, running her hand down from his elbow to his hand where she entwined her fingers tightly with his. A heavy breath raised her chest and her eyes lowered down to his chest and before he could protest further she lowered her head down over his heart closing her eyes to take in his scent one more time.

Severus turned his eyes toward the heavens before he raised his hand to cradle her head. Though it was within his wont to speak of how all of this could go wrong, his tongue would not lift to his fears. Instead—and oddly, he found a building peace rolling inside his stomach. A sort of resignation to what was to come. That his desperate fight to seek his redemption was finally coming to an end, that all he'd suffered for was finally coming to completion.

"You should get dressed..." His words were spoken into her hair, his lips resting just over the crown of her head, "I...I've made some alterations to your uniform..."

"My uniform?" Hermione grinned into his seam before tilting her head up to look into his darkening eyes.

Severus' lip twitched to share her humor but the weight of the clock kept the muscle from completing its path, "Your coat."

"Mmm, I made some alterations as well." Hermione let out a slow sigh stepping back to hold the sheet that was beginning to slip, " Though, I don't suppose I could take a shower first?" A small turn of her body reminded her very vividly of what they'd done to steal away the sunlight, "You're welcome to join me," She paused at the doorway, "I can still smell myself on you." A Slytherin smile slithered across her lips as she slipped inside though her heart was beating just a bit too fast as she waited to hear if she'd crossed some invisible line.

Severus let out a deep grunt, his eyes rolling towards the heavens. His heart beat heavily in his ears before he let out a heavy sigh of resignation. If this night wouldn't kill him—the woman who had stolen away into his world surely would.

oOOo

The halls trembled with the impending battle. Severus' eyes dark and focused as he stalked the halls leading towards the Ravenclaw common room. It was the logical place to look for Potter. The portraits had whispered of a figure moving unseen though they hadn't offered up any more information than that to him. He was labeled as a man not to be trusted. A man that did not deserve to walk the hallowed halls. They would not speak to him.

A small noise caught his ear as he rounded the next bend. A small tick on his internal radar picking up two distinct thought patterns though his eyes did not see to whom they belonged. A sharp sneer crawled over his face. The sheer idiocy and arrogance the boy possessed ruffling all his feathers.

"Who's there?"

"It is, I." Severus took a slow step, his chin raised and his eyes leveling on the woman whom he had hoped had come to understand his role in this life. A small exchanged passed between them as they stared the other down. They were not alone, it was too soon. Despite the help the woman had provided in the small moment of weakness he did not believe he could fully trust her to understand the complexities of the situation they'd found themselves in.

"Where are the Carrows?" His voice dripped lazily, his hands coming behind his back while he drew his wand from his sleeve, for all the world appearing apathetic while internally he was preparing himself for battle.

"Wherever you told them to be, I expect, Severus," Minerva's voice was level their secret communication not lost on her. A small tilt of her head gave him the answer he was looking for but she did not receive an answer to her inquiry in return.

A small step on the hard stone brought them nearer, Severus' brows furrowing ever just so as he debating on answering the woman's question. A brief deliberation raised his eyes behind her shoulder before he allowed his jaw to relax, "I was under the impression," He allowed his voice to drag while he waited for her to understand before taking just one more step, his fingers tightening around his wand, "That Alecto had apprehended an intruder."

"Really?" Minvera's voice mirrored his drawl, her hands coming over her front to tap the tip of her wand against her hip, "And what gave you that impression?"

Severus ground his teeth, how he tired of playing this game. His eyes turned, focusing on the light shimmer just behind the woman. His left arm flexed but he didn't dignify her epithet.

"Oh, but naturally," Minerva took a small step, breaking his line of sight, "You Death Eaters have your own private means of communication, how silly of me to forget."

Severus' jaw twitched his feet taking him inches closer, his wand burning in his palm as he turned in it in fingers. His movement was so smooth that he hardly appeared to be moving at all, as though gliding over the stones without sound.

"I did not know that it was your night to patrol these corridors, Minerva."

"Do I hear an air of objection?"

"Perhaps, though it is more curious to know what could have brought you out at this late hour."

"I thought I heard a disturbance," Minerva took another step, further shielding the boy hidden in the cloak behind her. Her head tilted to remain in direct eye-contact with the man who was beginning to tower before her.

"Really? Are you certain?" Severus could feel the air between them beginning to grow thick, he knew Potter was just beyond her shoulder but he was not alone. His plan to intercept the boy before all hell broke look was moot. His loyalties could not be revealed, it was too soon, there was still so much more to be done, "Have you seen Harry Potter, Minerva? Because if you have then I must insist—"

A small spark, a flicker in the other's eyes before the world turned red. Minvera's strike was like a bolt of lightning coming to earth. The force of her magic rippling the air around them as Severus took the defensive. Severus' shield held strong pushing the lashed tongue woman back, his own arsenal coming to his tongue but didn't pass his lips. He needed her alive, she was the best chance the school had in forming protections.

"Minerva!"

"No! No more! You shall do no more murder at Hogwarts!"

oOo

Hermione pushed herself up from the couch, the blood-red band over her eyes 'bleeding' down her cheeks and chin. Her hair as wild as an oncoming storm pulled itself tight from her face to fall back over her shoulders. She summoned her latest pet project from the bedside table next. The leather bracers infused with magic. Runes beautifully pressed into the leather, surrounding a large phoenix in flight.

She leaned down placing similar guards over her shins, attaching them magically to her boots over her black pants. They pulled tight with a sharp snap; the new guards would allow her to roll and jump without the risk of injury but also give some added protection to the coat's already imbued inchantments. She was readying herself for war. She just wondered if it was enough.

A small turn brought her wand to the pin on her lapel. Beautifully repaired. She could almost feel the pulse of her lover's heart against her own. Had he changed the spell? It felt different but it was not the time to discern what he'd changed. She trusted him implicitly. He'd never failed her.

A final breath calmed the storm building in her chest. A deathly calm that came from those who had seen death. Had brought it upon others. It was a warriors peace before the battle. This was it. This was the end of all she'd been working towards.

Her feet brought her out into the office, the heaviness of the night shadowing everything within. It felt odd to be there—like something had changed—as the castle had changed. As though the man who had come to sit beside that desk no longer had the rights to be within its walls.

It brought a sinking feeling to her stomach and her hand came over to try and calm the knots beginning to form. Her darkened eyes turned towards the window overlooking the courtyard, it was an odd angle, but not impossible to see and as she stepped up onto the deep ledge she was sure she could the fire growing along the horizon. This was it. The beginning of the end.

oOo

"What are they doing?"

"They're evacuating." Goyle sneered as he scratched his face with his wand, "We should kill them all."

"A fools move." Draco seamlessly appeared from behind, making the two slack-jawed lackeys jump, "We're to get in and get out, the quieter the better."

"But what if they take too long? What if Potter's in there with them?" Crabb narrowed his eyes looking at the blond with pure contempt.

"The room changes, whatever they're doing isn't what we need. We have to wait." Draco gave him a hard glare in return before carefully looking around the corner once again, "It won't be long now. He's coming, the teachers will be sent to guard the doors. When that happens then we move."

"What if they're just hiding inside there?" Crabb spoke with ignorant curiosity.

"Then we kill them all and get rid of the bodies." Goyle's words were final, a sort of tone that made the clear shift of who was in charge of their little operation, his eyes rolled to Draco noticing how the pale boy grew just a few shades greyer, "That alright with you?"

Draco could feel his meager dinner coming up the back of his throat but nodded his head all the same. How had he ever considered himself friends with the likes of either of them? How had he been so blindsided by his father's connections to allow his relationship with the two of them? A heavy swallow cleared his throat before a small movement down the other side of the junction caught his attention.

With a furrowed brow he adjusted himself before looking out again. There—he was sure he'd seen a moving shadow. Something or someone moving in and out of the alcoves just as he had done, it was only when a sudden beam of moonlight came out from behind the clouds did he get a glimpse of the demon that had haunted his dreams, the woman who had nearly slane his insane aunt.

"They're done. Let's go." Goyle pushed himself out of the alcove pulling Draco along by the shoulder of his shirt.

Draco snapped his shoulder free, his line of sight broken. When he looked back, the shadow—the eyes, were gone. As they rounded the corner his eyes snapped to the doors, "Clear your thoughts, I'll make the room appear."

"Yeah."

"Alright."

Even though it felt exceptionally dangerous to turn his back to the two boys behind him Draco found himself without choice. A deep breath cleared his cluttered thoughts before he pressed his hands along the doors.

Just as he felt the magic within calling out to his wish, two heavy thumps from behind startled him into a spin, his wand raised.

"Oh put that away." Hermione couldn't help but revel in the pure shock and horror that skittered across Draco's face when she stepped further into the light. His two lackeys having been knocked out by her silent stunning spells.

"Y-you're..."

"Don't state the obvious," Hermione glanced behind her, "The walls have ears."

Draco opened and closed his mouth dumbly as Hermione came to stand clearly before him. The air of strength that wafted from her stance was enough to make him want to cower though he held fast, "Uh...right..."

"I'm going to help you." Hermione's eyes ran down the teen's frame as though taking him in, evaluating her decision.

"Wh-why?"

"Well, it's certainly not for anything you've done." Hermione brushed past him turning her eyes up over the doors.

"Severus."

"Correct." Hermione pressed her fingers over the door trying to sense what had been placed inside, though the castle did not speak to her. "How's your aunt?"

"Th-that was you?" Draco didn't know why the words tumbled out of his mouth so ignorantly and even winced at his own stupidity. A heavy breath brought him beside her his eyes narrowed with frustration, "She says it still burns..."

"If she'd not gotten her own hit in, she wouldn't be saying anything." Hermione spoke nonchalantly turning away missing the look of partial horror on Draco's face, "I'll move them, do you know what we should be looking for?"

"Yeah..." Draco swallowed thickly watching her back as she raised Crabbe and Goyle from the floor, "Ah-he called it a diadem."

Hermione grinned taking solace that she had been able to actually guess what Voldemort would have placed his soul inside, "It looks like a tiara, my guess Rowena Ravenclaw's."

"The ghost of Ravenclaw Tower?"

"Her mother." Hermione released the spell letting the two goons collapse over each other inside the alcove she'd levitated them into, "Do you actually know if Harry is in the castle?"

"No...only rumors..." Draco sighed through his nose as she returned to his side. He couldn't explain why she struck such fear inside him, nor why his tongue suddenly felt loose. All he knew was that his Godfather had sent someone to save his life and he had to trust in him to have sent the right person.

"How...how did you?"

Hermione stepped away from the wall her hand coming to the handle of the door, "Don't ask stupid questions." Her voice was hard but not mocking, a small mirth-like tone hidden beneath.

Her body still hummed with the activities that had stolen the day. The power Severus and she had given to each other flowing like pure heaven's thunder through her veins. Severus had shown her a completely new world, one full of pleasure and bliss. Something to which they had sought refuge in to heal their battle-worn souls. She had tasted light, smelled sound and completely understood the meaning of life. It was a knowledge she wouldn't soon forget.

Draco followed her into the Room of Requirement with caution. His mind still turning over everything he'd witnessed. To think that his godfather had...with a...his age and...a Gryffindor? How could he not connect the dots? Her hair? His clothes? How long...how long had they been...? Was she bewitched? Did he...was he forced to? Like the Lovegood girl? It was so much to process.

His head felt light and his feet heavy. He dragged himself over the threshold making sure to close the door securely behind them, his head turning up to the mountains of discarded items the castle had safely stowed away over the centuries. The visual of her bare back, the scars over the surface...what had created them? And her face? What had happened to her face? Would she really help him? Did she have a choice? Did he want her help?

"You're going to give yourself an aneurysm if you try to put this all together by yourself." Hermione paused by a stack looking up the large mountain of chairs with awe and curiosity at how precariously they'd been stacked.

"It's...it's been you the Dark Lord has been looking for..."

"Obviously." Hermione let her voice drop, doing the best impression of Severus she possibly could; though the small grin at the corner of her lip gave her true personality away.

Draco grimaced before running his hands down his slacks trying to push his nervousness away, "What happened to you?" He could almost feel pity for her. Though he couldn't explain why he felt it—but it hurt inside.

"More than you could ever come to understand." Hermione turned down another stack disappearing from his line of sight, though her voice still carried through the eerily silent space, "All you need to know...is that he saved my life and I plan to return the favor." Hermione made sure to catch his wide eyes when she spoke before she turned down another pathway, "That is all you need to understand, can you manage?"

"Y-Yeah...I guess..." Draco blinked dumbly at her, she seemed to have aged since the last he'd seen her. Granted that was nearly a year ago but still. There was something about her, something she seemed to understand, "What uh...what do we do?"

"We find the tiara, destroy it and you find some place to hide until this is all over." Hermione pushed herself away moving on towards another stack.

"I'm not a coward!" Draco's temper flared at her flippant nature, "Is it so wrong to not want to die!?"

Hermione rounded on him covering the distance between the stacks with silent speed, her eyes sharp as the man whom he had come to seek solace in, "No it's not. But life—is a battle. A battle that only the strong will survive. Do you really think you've got the strength to stand in front of everything and everyone who has brought you here? Do you really think you've got the bollocks to stand on the other side of the battlefield?"

A heavy silence fell between them, cold blue-ice and deep chocolate sizing the other up; calculating, evaluating, deciding.

"Yes. Yes, I do."