Severus could feel his hold slipping as her body lifted from the ground, her cries echoing in the vast space as her legs started to become wrapped in the light.

"Please! Don't let go!" Her desperate voice was starting to sound far away as her hands slipped catching on his outstretched arms as he continued to try and hold on. The world around them was starting to warp, the memory beginning to take shape.

Severus held on with all the strength he had inside him as her hands clutched his. He knew—he knew, he wouldn't be able to save her.

The last thing Hermione saw as their hands slipped, was a bright crack splintering down his already cracked visage.

Severus felt himself violently land back to reality, the force of which actually knocking him flat on his arse where he struck the side of his head. He hissed, feeling the blood run down his temple but he paid it no attention, turning his eyes towards Hermione.

Blood was running down from her nose and one eye, evidence of the force of her will against the creature. She was strong, but the creature was stronger. Stronger than them both. Her body was lax in the chair her head having fallen to the side and her hands awkwardly lying in her lap.

He had never felt so helpless as he did in that very moment. Caught between an impassable force and himself. Her words, echoed through his entire being as he felt the first tear roll down his cheek mixing with the blood. Like a cracked dam it fell slowly to the floor before them. He on his knees staring up at the only thing that gave his current life a purpose. He had promised, promised.

His breath felt heavy when he pushed himself up to his feet. His arms didn't hesitate to wrap around her, pulling her up against him. His lips rested on the crown of her head briefly before he turned, taking them slowly upstairs.

Severus could feel the frail young woman trembling against him as the memory played, trapping her in its horror. He didn't hesitate as he moved to his own room, laying her upon his bed without apology. He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it gently into the drying blood under her nose, meticulous as he cleared it away. He saw her eyes moving viciously under her lids, a drop of blood from his own wound falling heavily against her long lashes rolling down the side like a macabre tear.

Snape closed his eyes tightly, bowing his head as if in prayer. He could feel the tear in his soul. His fierce need to protect had always led to his immeasurable suffering. He had tried not to care, he really had. But she, she had brought out something inside him none had before.

He had seen it as she grew before his eyes. When she and her friends had broken countless rules endangering themselves in one way or another. He had noticed, it was she, who had always kept a level head. It was she, who had saved all three of them countless times. She was all he could have been. She had made all the right choices. All the hard choices. He inhaled deeply as he brought himself to center, the walls around his heart were cracked but unbroken. He would remain as strong and steadfast as he ever was. He had no choice.

Reaching up, he wiped away his blood watching her eyes that had begun to slow. Was he losing her? Was she fighting it? He could feel their connection wavering back and forth. He could feel her fear but more than that, he could feel her determination. His eyes narrowed marginally and he pushed himself up more, watching her diligently.

Hermione was running, she was always running. But this time around she refused to focus on what chased her. She was compelled by an unseen force to recreate her actions but she pushed hard against it. She just needed to change one thing she told herself. Just one thing, to break the cycle.

She felt the air leave her lungs as she landed on the other side of the broken staircase. She heaved a breath into her lungs as she pulled Ron up as she had so many times before. The image in front of her warped like static over a TV. She attempted to focus on it, to no avail.

She hissed when the memory started to change and she felt herself running towards the shrieking shack. Dread filled her heart as she knew what was to come.

How many times had she watched him die? How many times had she cried silently for his loss in the world? She could feel their connection growing even now as she neared the room. The memory went static again as she tried to pull herself away from the scene.

"Take them..."

She pushed his broken voice from her mind. A pressure pressed deeply on her weakened soul. Trying to remember what he was—now. What he was when he was with her; in the real world and inside her mind. The image of his broken soul as he came to her that first night.

"Look at me..."

Hermione couldn't stop her head from turning as it had that night, looking into the face of the man who had stood before them so many times before. Her eyes stared deeply into those of a man ready to die. All the pain of his life washing away as he took his final breath. When his head turned away from Harry's, she pushed hard. She felt a searing pain as the smallest of cracks formed against her soul, splintering out over her heart as she screamed out in the void.

"Severus!" She screamed his name with all the power held inside her. All the agony of his death filled with the reality that he was there with her, that he had survived that night. He was there fighting for her.

The entire memory tore along its center, shattering mutely. Her body lurched, taking in a gasping breath, her eyes snapping open. The color and sight returned as she stared directly into deep eyes above her own. Her breath hitched in her throat leaving her dizzy as she took in his face, right over her own. It was lined with deep feelings her mind couldn't possibly take in at once.

She went still as her vision shifted and was gone just as quick as it appeared, a dark smoke clouding over, blocking him from view. She let out a deep sob as he became opaque once again.

Heedless of his prudence she reached forward pulling him down over her, her face hidden in the scar at his neck as she cried relentlessly. She half expected him to push her away and even tightened her hold as he shifted.

Severus had lost all his breath when she had lurched forward, her deep fire agate eyes opening making his heart stop. Transfixed, as she watched him watch her. So many things ran through him in that single moment. His jaw clenched dangerously tight,  watching helplessly when her eyes clouded back over.

He couldn't resist her desperate hold. Her arms stronger than he'd ever felt them in her recovery. When she hid her face into his neck he hissed slightly, though the pain barely registered. His own arms moved cautiously as he fought within himself before finally completing the embrace.

Laboriously, he pulled her up with him. She didn't resist and held fast, her legs shifting to his guiding hand when he brought them over his lap. He had been sitting when she woke and her hold had left his body uncomfortably twisted. As he brought her around, his hand returned to her back while the other rested tenderly on the back of her head as he let her cry.

"You did it." His voice was soft against her ear, filled with awe and admiration. It filled her with such pride. A recognition she had sought from the man for so long. She felt them then, the memories, slipping down, falling like snow around her. Memories of only him. She reached for all she could. Good and bad, before they were swept away back into the darkness. They filled her empty mind as she held tight to him.

It didn't change a single thing she felt at that moment. No matter how many of the memories she held of him putting her down, it didn't matter; for she could see through them now so clearly. He hadn't stood in her way, no, he had built a wall for her to climb over. He had challenged her when no one else had. He had pushed her beyond her limits and she had met him step for step every time. Even when the memories of his alleged betrayal filtered through she felt no hesitation on them. Moving unseen like a shadow, never allowing himself to truly be seen. He had been there, during every turn of trouble, every remote possibility of mortal danger.

Always.

"I...I... remember..." Her voice barely a whisper as she pulled back. Her red tear stained face looking searchingly for his own. Her finger tips lightly touched the bridge of his nose and she felt his face twitch but didn't pull back, her hand very slowly moving to cup his cheek.

"I... remember... you..." Her breath ghosted over his lips and she could almost see his furrowed brow. "All of of you..." She took a slow breath inhaling his essence, "Every lesson, every word you spoke to me..." Her lips curved up slightly her thumb lightly moving to his bottom lip.

"You are the most...indomitable man, I've ever come to know..." She smiled softly at him, a tear rolling down her cheek. Her hand fell to her lap before her head lowered down under his chin, where it rested heavily as she lost consciousness.

He could do nothing but look upon her relaxed features, too stun locked at her words. They made him feel lighter somehow like they validated his entire existence.

oOOo

Minerva took the offered seat at the head of the Weasley family table kindly thanking Molly for the cup of tea that was placed before her. She took a courteous sip before leveling her eyes at those sitting around the table.

Harry and Ginny sat hands clamped together in rapt attention, Ron sat across his shoulders and head hung low Molly took the place by his side gently holding the boy's weak hand.

"As previously mentioned, this conversation does not leave this room." Minerva looked pointedly at Harry before straightening herself up. "I have made arrangements for the two of you, to visit Hermione." She waited as they all sighed happily in relief. Ron looked to be paying attention now as he leaned forward.

"When can we see her?" His words spilled out fast and nearly incomprehensible. His mother gently squeezed his hand. She had spoken briefly to Minerva before the boys had made it to the house.

"You will be able to see her tomorrow." Minerva paused watching their reaction go from defeated to extremely elated. She cleared her throat as waited for them to calm down.

"What time?"

"How long can we stay?"

"Is she healed?"

"When can we bring her home?"

The questions continued to roll out of both of the boys' mouths before Minerva finally raised her hand, her face did not share their elation. Harry was the first to realize, he kicked Ron under the table as he started to open his mouth again.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter." Minerva couldn't help the little quirk at the corner of her lip as she took a calming sip of tea. "Now then, I must warn you both." She paused looking between the two of them very sternly.

"She is not yet the girl you remember." She took a deep breath, "You must be very cautious when you speak to her." She looked pointedly at Ron making the boy shrink back into his chair a bit. "And under no circumstances, " She put her glare to the both of them, "Must you touch her without her expressed verbal consent."

She watched the boys look at each other in confusion and could already hear the questions forming on their tongues. "You must promise me here and now. That I can trust the two of you to keep yourselves restrained. Miss Granger is not fully recovered. She may not be able to handle the two of you acting as yourselves so easily."

Harry was the first to see the hidden meaning behind her words and furrowed his brows a bit, "Professor...what's been happening to her?" He knew that McGonagall knew, he could see the sadness in the corner of her eyes when she spoke about Hermione.

Minerva took a deep breath looking to Molly who looked just as eager for any information the elder witch could supply. She relayed to all present, only what she had been able to observe, from her first encounter to her last. She had stressed the progress but she could see that the boys were wary of the circumstance. Minerva had to keep her control tight as Ron made an off handed comment in regards to Snape. She knew that neither boy had any true idea about the man who had taken her care so seriously.

However, she felt it was neither her place nor the time to enlighten them on just how well the man had succeeded. She would hazard a guess that Ron could barely stand to see his own image in a mirror let alone the very lingering of a thought that Hermione no longer would ever be able to love him like his time warped mind had imagined.

She knew that he had taken her illness very hard and it was clear now that she was playing with fire allowing the young man to even go to the girl now. She wanted to trust her two former students though, it was necessary for her to do so. She knew they had been to hell and back, she just hoped that hell hadn't left any lingering messages for either of them.

"Please be prepared for departure around noon." She slowly stood to make her leave, "There are three hours where we may possibly be waiting. Please understand the circumstance and be patient." She thanked Molly with a gentle smile and slowly made her way out into the dark night.

oOOo

Morning came painfully slow, the light starting to filter into the cool room. The curtains blew softly in the breeze letting in the late September air. Two figures laid side by side, one tucked carefully under the covers while the other laid on top, their arm wrapped gently around the other's back keeping them pressed close. Hiding them from the morning light.

Severus had been barely able to sleep at all. The girl curled up to his chest had taken all his attention. Every small shift, every soft voiced breath had woken him abruptly leaving him slightly on edge. She hadn't woken during the night and her mind was completely blank. He had attempted their connection throughout the night but was unable to see anything but darkness inside. She hadn't come back to him. She was still lost inside.

His jaw twitched a bit as he suppressed another yawn. His eyes felt so heavy but he refused to leave her alone in the darkness. Though his mind felt wary as he pushed out once more very lightly against her inner thoughts.

Hermione had spent the better half of the night clutching tightly to the books she had managed to fill. Moving from shelf to shelf as the creature stalked her. Playing with her, like a cat with a mouse.

She had managed to avoid its path countless times. Having pressed her memories against the splinter in her soul, to shield herself. Like Severus' it was emitting a bright light against the darkness whenever she moved. The cracks were small, hairline really, but they easily gave her away if she lowered the books down even for a second. She swallowed thickly, fatigue was wearing her down. She wasn't sure how long she'd been running from it.

She had started her search for the door Professor Snape had brought them through that fateful day, but the creature seemed to be making wide circles around it. Every time she would get close, it would drive her back again into the dark shelves. The wariness pulled at her senses as she sat crouched low next to another shelf watching the creature make another round by the door. She could feel the void around her shifting as her strength drained from her like an hour glass turned on its end.

The void around her was losing its shape and she could feel it lurking furiously in the growing darkness. She had managed only a minuscule amount of all that had fallen. She had seen them all and felt their loss as the creature swallowed them whole. Now, she found herself lying in the aisle, too exhausted to move as she clutched to the three full memories she had managed to save.

Time passed languidly before she had found herself completely at peace, floating softly through emptiness that came with unconsciousness. As morning rounded she felt him, ever just so, right at the edge. She felt extremely exhausted but also strangely energized. She reached out slowly towards his weakened aura.

The outside world was starting to come into focus and she felt unbelievably warm. A little too warm, she let out a soft noise and squirmed lightly under the weight that pressed her into the soft mattress beneath.

Her brain told her that she was in a bed, but it wasn't the bed she remembered, it felt much larger, more worn. The weight over her shifted and lightened as whatever it was pulled away. She sighed heavily and rubbed her nose squirming to pull down the covers that were tucked around her chin.

"Miss Granger?"

Hermione groaned heavily, her hand slipping out from under the blanket. It landed squarely on the face that had produced that rough and grating sound far too early in the morning. Her palm laid flat over thinned lips and she gave them a gentle push. It was too early, who ever it was needed to shut it, immediately.

Severus blinked, too shocked to really process, his sleep muddled brain too groggy to really understand that the girl was coming to. It took him a few seconds too long to gingerly pull the hand from his face. Blinking slowly down at her when she sighed again, shifting to roll away from him. A smirk tugged dangerously at the corner of his lip when he realized, she too wasn't a morning person. Very shocking indeed.

Hermione curled herself up a bit tighter, mumbling softly in discontent when her body tried to adjust to the temperature change. She didn't want to be cold. She squirmed more, reaching out another hand from under the covers. It fumbled as it searched for the source of warmth from before.

When her hand landed on familiar fabric it stilled. That wasn't a blanket, and it surely wasn't a teddy bear. She swallowed slowly as her brain gave a small spark of life, it was a body. A very warm one at that, but they were over the covers leaving their outer layer of clothing cool under her finger tips. Her mind struggled to recall anything from the evening before.

Severus jumped internally as her hand landed on the curve of his hip in its blind search. His eyes narrowed while he tried to decide whether or not he should remove himself from the bed. As it went still, he leaned forward just a hair trying to see her face.

She was deep in thought, he could tell but he didn't have the energy to reopen their connection. His last little push had been all he had left. He went rigid as the hand gave his waist a squeeze. What on earth did she want?

He leaned forward just a bit more about to ask that very question when she pulled her hand back with a sigh, scooting her back just a bit closer to him so that his chest pressed lightly into it. His brow raised to his hairline. Did she want him to stay? He leaned back just a bit to test his theory, causing the girl to let out a most unattractive disconsolate grunt.

"Stop moving..." She let out a soft huff, reaching her hand back behind her. "Cold..." she mumbled taking hold of his arm, giving it a pull over her own waist. "Warm..." She kept a tight hold over the appendage pressing her back into the chest attached to it.

Severus felt himself pulled forward before his brain could even register the indignity of the entire situation. He wiggled his fingers just a bit in her hold only making her curl herself tighter. Like a viper she was. He made a bit of a face, he didn't want to press closer but the twinge in his back left him no choice as keeping himself propped on his side was not going to be a long time option. His heart had calmed hearing her speak to him.

Knowing that she was still with him. It had lifted the burden that had kept him awake all night. He could feel himself losing the battle against sleep as he finally allowed himself to be pulled closer. He kept his head back on his pillow the girl having squirmed her way down to the bottom of it in her curled state. He felt his chest relax against her back unwillingly as his body released all the tension he had built through the night. The woman in his hold sighed contently as he pressed closer his warmth radiating through her allowing her to drift back into a blissful sleep.