Time seemed to slow down for Draco as he watched the strongest man he'd ever known fall to his knees in pain. He didn't know how to even react to the sight. Luckily for him, Severus knew exactly what he needed. He grabbed Draco by his shirt tail and pulled him closer.

"The Snake-stone." He growled, his eyes leaving Draco's own wide terrified blues just as Hermione's body started to shift, a black smoke was starting to grow around the wound on her chest. Severus kept tight to Draco as he watched it start to grow. His brain cycled quickly through all the useless information he had stored in his head before something finally clicked into place, "The orb." He said with urgency pushing Draco away from him. "The orb!" He pushed himself to his feet, feeling the magic flowing out of his finger tips. The pain in his chest throbbed loudly between his ears but he couldn't take the time to consider himself. He gritted his teeth as he placed his hand in the center of Hermione's chest, the smoke started to flow like a snake up his arm, slowly lighting all his nerves on fire.

Draco ran as fast as he dared, actually jumping down the entire second half of stairs, stumbling into the wall to catch himself from falling flat on his face. He turned quickly to the kitchen and threw open the box he had brought. He rifled quickly grabbing the orb and the snake-stone. Taking one in each hand, he leapt back up the stairs.

As soon as Draco broke through the threshold of Severus' room his heart jumped into his throat. The dark smoke had almost completely covered his Godfather's chest and was coiling downward slowly to his feet. He could see the immense amount of pain Severus was in just by seeing the red in his eyes, where the white should have been. The man's head snapped towards him and he extended his hand with a snap.

Draco darted forward just as the smoke landed to the floor. As soon as the orb was in his grasp, Severus groaned deeply. The air around him crackled with unbridled magic and Draco had to take a few steps back for fear of injury to his person. The air clicked with blue lightening as Severus struggled against the dark magic he'd released with his presence. Deep down he knew that it wasn't actually his soul that had triggered such a strong response, but the venom that still swirled inside him calling out to it's equally dark counter part. Though as the orb was safely in his fingers, he concentrated all his magic into pulling both energies into it's confines. Agonizingly slowly, the smoke pulled away from the floor twisting and winding down his outstretched arm and swirled trapped into the glass. Severus kept his hand on Hermione's chest as he pulled all the darkness of the curse from her body. It was painful, and slow but finally he managed the last bits before collapsing down to his, knees panting heavily.

Draco couldn't believe what he had witnessed; the fact that such dark magic had resided inside of someone for so long, or the fact that someone was so powerful to be able to bend it to their will. Regardless, when Snape's head rested against the mattress he took it as a sign to advance. The orb was still clutched into his hand, swirling around like a liquid searching for an escape. Severus was panting heavily the blood vessels in his eyes having burst from the sheer amount of stress on his body. Draco slowly knelt down in front of him bending, his head to look more closely.

"What. The. Hell. Was. That?!" He gasped finally breaking from his stupor. His eyes were wide with a mixture of awe and fear. Though they quickly turned to confusion as he watched the man before him break out into a full smile.

"That..." He said taking another slow breath and swallowing a bit of bile that had come to his mouth during his dance with darkness, "Was what the healers-were too afraid- to do." He said simply, setting the orb gently on the floor. He hadn't actually intended to use the orb in Hermione's care but after seeing the reaction to his own curse, how could he not? Why not rid both himself and her of the accursed darkness all in one go? He had such a goofy grin on his face as he caught his breath. His skin crawled with residual pain but it was fading fast. He took another look at Draco before turning his head to his bed. He could just barely see over the top and half expected the woman above to simply wake up and shout out some useless obscure fact about the orb. Though as moments passed Severus' smile quickly faded. Draco himself was just trying to process what he'd just witnessed and hadn't even began to understand the after effects of such magic.

"Up...I need up." He said childishly, shifting his weight to try and stand. Draco quickly blinked out of his trance and took hold of his bicep, helping him to sit on the edge of the bed. Severus quickly threw the blanket he'd used to cover her modesty aside and started just as quickly on he ties of her shirt. When he'd all but ripped them free of their knots he pulled it back.

The large curse line that had been so thickly embedded in her skin had almost completely vanished. Salve and all, the skin before him was smooth and almost healthy. He could see an older wound that had laid just under the more recent one. But it too had faded considerably. Leaving just a deep divet, the redness that had encased the sides completely gone. The most recent one had shrunk greatly in size, the deep spiderwebbed blackness that had flanked the wound nearly gone. Severus couldn't stop himself from running his fingers over the lines, feeling no dark magic coming from them. He held his breath for a moment before gently lifting and turning her to her stomach.

His jaw twitched and he had to blink his vision back into focus, but as he gazed upon her back it too had seemed mostly healed. The salve that he had slathered on was finally doing what it was intended and though the results of the first curse were miraculous the second appeared much more resistant, though it would seem to have started the healing process finally. His finger tips lightly brushed away some stray hair at the base of her neck noticing how the scar was just as wide as it always had been but it was no where near as deep or deformed. The skin felt smooth to the touch and just as before, no dark magic seeped through.

It was at that moment he realized he'd been treating her body like a simple doll, moving her to his will and not assessing whether or not she was actually coming to. He could have slapped himself for his carelessness but the weight of the dark magic he'd been living with for so many years having finally gone had left him a bit soft in the head if he were to be blunt about it. Carefully, he turned her onto her back mindful of her hair and arms, as they had twisted most awkwardly from before. He pulled the newly transfigured shirt back into place gently setting it right, all the while his searching her face.

Draco had taken the small reprieve to reset his mind and his body. Though as he finally came into focus it was then that he furrowed his brow in thought. "Did...did the reports say anything about...sensory deprivation?" He didn't know why he suddenly thought about it, or what the thought even meant, but something compelled him to speak. Perhaps it was the way he'd watched the blood vessels burst in Snape's eyes that ticked him to the idea.

"There was a mention in the report about being unaware of stimulus." He replied slowly as his brain was trying to jump onto the same track as Draco's.

"No, yea, no I mean. Like...can she even hear us?"

Severus paused his hands hovering over her wrists, "Hear us..." He repeated softly under his breath, though instead of looking at her ears, he slowly and very gently opened one of her eyes.

"White." He said simply, gently closing one lid and moving to the other, both of her eyes were hazed completely over. His lips pursed as a dull pulse ran through his body. He knew, he knew in the far corners of his mind that it was extremely important but his brain was still pulsing from the exchange of magic. His fingers even trembled as he closed her eyes once again. His own body was struggling to remain upright from the amount of magical energy he had just experienced.

He hissed softly and rubbed the area over his heart, the venom no longer contained any dark magic but it was still a potent natural killer. "The stone?" He took a small breath, his eyes never leaving Granger's face lest she actually rise to the occasion and join their oh so wonderful party.

"Ah yes." Draco immediately moved forward offering out the smooth stone. He was just about to ask what it was used for when Severus unceremoniously popped it into his mouth swallowing it down. Draco blinked dumbly before becoming on the receiving end of one of those world famous scowls. Draco swallowed slowly and took a step back.

"You honestly didn't even bother to cross reference anything I had sent you after did you?" His tone was cool and authoritative, dropping low to show the danger that lay beneath his words. Draco averted his eyes a bit trying not to look as guilty as he was. His tirade was cut short as he rubbed his chest once more. The snake-stone was working it's own magic but it made him almost unbelievably nauseated. He turned his head to assess the state of his charge. It wouldn't do well for her to stay in his bed, especially in the blood stained blanket. Severus pushed himself up carefully and took a calming breath trying to quell the turmoil in his stomach.

"I need her in her bed." He said simply. "Can you handle this task while I see to our own sustenance?" Draco nodded and started to pull out his wand but a strong hand quickly stopped him, "No magic. " He looked over at her once more, "Can't risk it." His voice left no room for comment. He released Draco's arm and moved towards the door. He seemed to be favoring one leg as he moved but Draco simply filed that information away for later. It had suddenly occurred to him that his Godfather too, wasn't in the best of health. He had idly wondered if the dark mark had been to blame for his father's death and now suspiciously, thought the same of Severus. He unconsciously rubbed his own arm, the mark had completely faded for him but not for his father, and he would hazard a guess that the discoloration he had seen the other day that it hadn't disappeared for Severus either.

Draco pushed those thoughts aside for now and slowly moved closer to the bed. He swallowed thickly in the back of his throat as he leaned over. Her head was now tilted off to the side, her once wild and mane like hair having been tied tightly back away from her face. It highlighted her features well, though he couldn't have said that out loud, he did have to admit that she had grown into her body just as they all had. Though hers of course was seriously underweight, she didn't look like she would fill out badly at all.

He reached forward with utmost hesitance as if she would suddenly open her eyes and punch him in the face. He lightly touched her wrist pulling away quickly just in case his fears were warranted. Though when not so much as a twitch to her eye lids greeted his efforts he gradually relaxed. He mindfully pulled her arms over her stomach and started to weave his arms under her shoulders when his eyes fell upon a mark all too familiar to him. His eyes clouded and his ears drowned to the sounds of screams, echoing off stone walls.

"I'm so sorry..." He whispered as he pulled her up into his arms. She felt so light, yet so heavy on his heart. He turned slowly, her head rolling over his arm as he moved carefully across the hall. He laid her gently atop the new bed. Minding her head, he rested it on the new pillow watching it turn away from him. He pulled the blanket over her and moved to pull the rocking chair closer to the bed. He took his own cleansing breath before gently taking her hand in his own. His eyes gazing over the words he could never forget.

"I don't know if you can hear me..." His voice felt so loud in the silence of the room. He ran fingers lightly running over her knuckles, "I was so scared that night." He started, his eyes focused on the way her fingers slipped lifelessly through his own. "I was so scared, that I would watch you die." He licked his bottom lip, "That I would watch all of you die, that the war would end right there in my own parlor." He glanced to her face, running his teeth over his upper lip. "I ran away that night." He said softly looking down at her hand resting in his own. "I ran away the night of the final battle." He clarified, "I watched so many of my friends die. I know you did too." He nodded his head, "But the war is over now." He spoke with a small remorseful smile tugging at his lips, "It's over now." He repeated softly as if still trying to convince himself that his nightmare filled nights were things of the past and nothing more.

He sat there in silence just watching her hand move lifelessly around his fingers as he fidgeted. He hadn't known how long he'd been sitting there before the sound of retching from downstairs met his ears. He gently placed her hand back over her stomach and stood to follow the sound.

Severus had busied himself downstairs, the stone rolling in his stomach pulling the venom in his blood being into it. He sat down heavily in the kitchen chair holding his sweating head in his hands, his eyes closed tightly, he knew it was but a temporary solution, but it was what he needed the most in that moment.

He had responsibilities to tend to, a life to save, that wasn't his own. He took a few deep breaths before standing and moving to lean over the sink. He had managed to fill a cup of water, gulping down it's contents just in time for the retching to begin. The liquid he'd managed to consume making the process a bit more smooth as the stone started to make it's way out of his body. He leaned heavily against the sink as his stomach lurched and contorted. After a few tries the stone finally made it's reappearance. Splattering the sink with his blood in the process before thunking down heavily into the porcelain.

He ran the tap again watching with a sort of morbid curiosity as the poison and the stone started to dissolve away in a small puff of green smoke. His body gave one more lurch before his stomach finally settled. He ran his cup under the water and rinsed his mouth spitting none to gracefully into the sink.

That was how Draco had found him. He had paused in the doorway for a moment to give the extremely private man time to compose himself, "You were ill, all this time." He said softly coming to stand before the box he'd brought, his fingers lightly trimming the edges, "I didn't see it..." Remorse filled his words. Idly he opened the lid and looked at the ingredients he had requested.

"Do not blame yourself for the past." His voice was a bit rougher than usual thanks to the large stone passing through his throat, though it held the same power.

Draco slowly closed the box and turned his eyes to him, "She's resting..." He stated calmly, "As if nothing has changed." He said glancing up to try and meet his gaze.

"Nothing has changed." Severus wiped the corner of his mouth with a tea cloth, "She's still under the curses effects, I simply pulled the plug in the drain if you will." He pushed himself away from the counter, his body already feeling much more energetic than he could possibly remember. His magic surged through him igniting all the synapses in his brain, kicking his thinking into top gear.

Draco nodded just a bit, moving to sit in the only chair. He rested his head in his hands, running his fingers through his long hair. Severus paid him little attention as he pulled a bit of bread from the icebox set it on the counter.

"The reports say that there is approximately 3-6 hours between episodes." He spoke mostly to himself as he started to prepare a small sandwich for Draco and himself. "Do you plan to stay here during that time?" He asked over his shoulder as he continued to work as if he hadn't just been on the brink of death just moments ago.

The normalcy of the entire set up was starting to grate on Draco's nerves. Filling him with an anger that he didn't even know he possessed. His mind spun through an entire cycle of emotions before the words even fell on his ears.

"I don't work today." He said simply as he was trying to come to grips with the fact that Snape was walking and moving about like he hadn't just nearly died. That he hadn't just literally laughed in death's face and walked away with his tail held high. Draco thought he'd matured with the passing years but it appeared there were still so many mysteries to the man who had all but raised him.

"I'll take that as a yes." He spoke simply as he thumped the plate down before his Godson, watching with a small smirk as the boy looked dumbly at the simple sandwich. Not something the great house of Malfoy served on a regular basis he'd suspect.

"It's food." He said turning to walk to the sitting room. "Eat it and be of use boy." He called over his shoulder as he moved to sit before the hearth, pulling the file back into his lap to read as he ate.

Draco lightly poked the sandwich before slowly picking it up. It was simple turkey with tomatoes and lettuce, he gave it a small sniff before taking a small bite. It didn't taste all that bad, and considering the morning he'd just had he wasn't going to complain.

He finished in record time and set about pulling all the books he'd brought with him and resizing them at the table. After which he carried the heavy stack to the sitting room dropping them heavily to the floor beside Severus' chair.

Severus held out the hospital report for Draco to take, having marked his place with a small bookmark and leaned over to inspect the stack. He shifted through a few before finally pulling one out about magic that could control the mind and opened to the index.

They sat in silence for several hours, pouring over the materials before them. Severus had made them tea at some point that had long since gone cold. Draco had moved past the doctor's reports to one of the books he had brought with him. Though his eyes often left it's pages to observe the other occupant in the room with more interest.

Severus was completely focused on his task, one hand in a tome while the other scribbled on a bit of paper. He used a muggle ballpoint pen and wrote without even looking at his hand. His words filling page after page as he calculated exactly what his next move would be to render the curses inert and hopefully gain a bit more insight into the curses crossed effects. He believed her eyes to be the key and was currently writing down a possible potion that would fix the problem when the first scream rattled through the house.

Draco was startled by the simple power of the noise dropping his book from his lap as he looked up at the ceiling. It sent a wave of coldness throughout his entire body.

"Stay here." Severus stood setting his book face down to mark his place. His movements were a bit slower now, as the adrenaline had since worn off but made quick for the stairs. Her screams rattled the inside of his skull but he didn't hesitate in his ascent. He pressed open the door to her rooms and moved quickly to her side.

Hermione's body was just as misshapen as before; her face contorted in pain, hands grasping like claws into the air. He made no hesitation when he sat down upon the bed, pulling her form into his lap. He pulled her arms down and wrapped them around her body, mindful that she didn't claw at herself and held her wrapped in his arms. He had only held one other woman so tightly in his entire life, but he knew that was exactly what she needed in this moment. She needed to feel another human's touch against her writhing form. Something to ground her to the reality that was shared with everyone but herself.

Severus didn't speak as he road out her screams. Nor did the smell of blood reach his nose. When she quieted down, he gently pulled her away, her sweat sticking a bit to his hair giving it a bit of a pull as he looked down at her. No blood, this was a promising sign. He shifted her gently and pulled the back of her shirt away to look down her back, the scars had remained inert. That was at least one hurdle down. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply as he pulled her back to his chest. His hand raising to gently comb through her messed hair.

He could feel her magic slowly returning to her malnourished frame. Bit by bit, but oh could he feel the burning power that laid just beyond her consciousness. He could feel the magic reaching out to him in this moment, calling to his own. He knew it was a cry, a begging plea for help. That she was in fact, still inside waiting to be let free. He closed his eyes and pressed his cheek to the top of her head, promising that he would find a way. He would find a way.

A soft voice entered his mind, but it wasn't the voice he'd remembered from the halls of Hogwarts, no it was a more ethereal voice reaching out beyond the void. He pressed his eyes tighter as he tried to hold onto their words, but they seemed just out of reach.

Severus hadn't realized he'd been rocking ever just so. When he opened his eyes he could feel her warm breath against his chest. It felt odd to feel something so intimate on his flesh. He made a bit of a face and slowly shifted his hold. It wasn't a pleasant or unpleasant feeling. It was an odd sort of middle ground. He didn't know what to make of it as he gathered her up more fully into his arms, intent on bringing her downstairs.

Now that the lounge was clean, he didn't see the need to keep her so far from his watchful eye. He could have almost carried her with one arm had she not been so tall. He mused at the thought before carefully pulling the duvet up with her. Mindful of her head, he moved through the door frame and down stairs. He noticed Draco was clearing up his things presumably to leave. Severus said nothing as he laid her out in front of the window. The sun was just starting its descent into the horizon. Its amber rays illuminating her no longer ashen colored skin. He would have guessed at some point she would have had a nice tan to her. He didn't linger on the thought as he turned away he reset his shirt feeling more comfortable that it was more closed.

"I need to return." Draco said softly motioning to the clock. "I've no doubt been missed." He said softly as he came to stand.

"Quite." Severus tilted his head just a bit. The boy looked like he was seriously going to hug him but thankfully thought better of it. Severus observed many things in his eyes that he didn't need to a be a legilimens to see.

"Just uh...send word if you need anything." He scratched the side of his chin a bit, "I left a communication scroll in the box this time." He glanced over at Hermione one last time before nodding his head and turning to the kitchen.

Why did none of his visitors ever use the front door? Snape moved to stand in the doorway, "Draco."

"Yes?" His eyes were hopeful as he turned to answer him.

"Cut your hair." He said crossing his arms keeping his best professor posture, "You look ridiculous." He said with a smirk knowing full well his own hair was just as long as the boys.

Draco couldn't help but let out a suppressed laugh. The tension he'd been carrying on his shoulders seemed to melt away from just that one comment. He nodded his head just a bit before transforming. He took off just as effortlessly and Snape found himself staring after him.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes starting to feel his body relax at the simple reality that there was no one there to judge him. No one there to assess his every step. He felt his shoulders sag and he rubbed his neck absently. He glanced over his shoulder just to check that nothing needed his attentions then moved into the kitchen to make a proper meal.

oOOo

"Harry."

"Mmm?"

"Harry, wake up." Ginny's voice was rather strong as she shook her husband's shoulder. "It's time to get up already." She leaned over nipping lightly at his nose to try and spurr him forward. The black haired wizard simply groaned and pulled her over him.

"Ah! Harry!" She giggled as she flopped over him and lightly hit his chest. Harry smiled and chuckled softly. "Harry you release me this instant your son needs to be taken to mother's!" She laughed in between her words as the man under her tickled her mercilessly.

"Harry!" She screeched her voice filled with laughter as she smacked him once more.

"Alright, alright." He said slowly sitting up on the couch. He ran a hand through his messy hair and let out a large yawn smiling up at Ginny who just placed his glasses over his nose.

"There now." She said with a small huff, "No excuses, Albus has been so excited to go to the burrow since this morning and you had the gull to take a nap mid-day." She was playfully baiting him but Harry just chuckled as the sound of little feet that came bounding into the room.

"Papa Papa Papa!" Came the toddler's excited voice. "You wake?" He asked but didn't wait as he leapt forward into his father's waiting arms.

"Hey now." He said as the boy almost stepped on something not too pleasant in his struggles to stand on his father's thighs. Harry held the boy steady and tilt his head back into those shining eyes, "Did you get everything packed and ready to go?" He said keeping his head out of reach of the boy's wandering hands.

"Yea yea. I did all that." He huffed jumping just a bit, "Are we going to take the broom this time papa? Oh oh can we take the chimney? I like it when I get dirty!" He said with a chuckle.

"I think we'll take the chimney this time. Just for you." He said with a gentle smile as the three year old jumped with extreme excitement.

Ginny had moved off to prepare her own things for departure, her stomach was a bit swollen now but not obviously so, she moved a bit slowly but she felt fine. She rubbed her stomach subconsciously as she watched her loving husband and son play with each other.

Ginny made to turn knowing they'd be gone for at least a week, she turned to adjust the calendar so that it'd be right when they returned. Her hand stilled as she realized the date circled in blue, her fingers hesitating over the date. "Harry..." Her voice had dropped all semblance of happiness and her face had turned deathly serious. Had it really been so long, that they could possibly have forgotten? Sure they'd been a day off before but they'd always remembered. When had their day to day lives finally taken a solid place in their minds, and pushed out all other things that were of great importance?

Ginny ran her fingers lightly over the date glancing over at her husband who was lifting their son happily into the air. "Harry." She said with a bit more strength in a very no non-sense tone. Harry paused turning towards his wife, his smile instantly fading.

"What is it?" He asked gently as he set his son on his hip. The boy could sense the shift in the mood and his in mother's face. His own smile had faded a bit as he looked between the two of them.

"We...we forgot." She said softly turning her head back to the calendar, her fingers lightly grazing over the date.

"No...we couldn't have I mean..." Harry slowly moved to his wife's side, a deep pain starting to fill his chest.

Ginny stood aside so that he could see for himself. They hadn't just forgotten by a day, they had forgotten by a little over a week. Harry's jaw twitched just a bit as he too, ran his fingers over the date. He swallowed thickly and looked to Ginny at a loss on how he should feel.

"Wha'd you forget Papa?" Albus asked innocently looking between them. He frowned as his mother's eyes started to tear up and reached for her. Ginny took him gently into her arms and sniffled just a bit.

"We forgot a very special person's birthday." She explained softly.

"But Mama...if they so special how did you forgets?" Albus asked innocently but Ginny couldn't help but feel a stab to her own heart and turned her face away from him. Harry too had a look of shame on his face. He found no words to justify his son's innocent question and simply came closer to his wife wrapping her and his son in his arms. How could he possibly forget?

"We'll go see her." Ginny said softly into his shoulder, "After we settle down at the burrow. We can take Ron with us." She said gently.

"I wanna see her too!" Albus said with a bounce, he loved birthday parties. They had such yummy cakes! "I wanna eat birthday cake." He said matter of fact.

Ginny took a deep breath and smiled gently at her son, "We'll save you a piece, but you can't come with us to this party." She spoke gently, wincing at the word party. She pushed some hair from his face pulling away from Harry's embrace. If she didn't start moving she'd start crying. She blamed it on the hormones but she knew it was just a rouse.

Harry didn't speak, he was torn between feeling deep shame, and the strong desire to leave that life behind him. Leave all of the pain and the heartache of that time behind him. He slowly pulled the page on the calendar away and dropped the paper into the bin. He moved to his wife once more and nodded his head, kissing her forehead. Muting out his son's rambling about birthday parties and presents. He pulled them into the fireplace and with all the strength he could find sent them on their way to the burrow.