Punishment?

“Is there any other way to find out what happened to her?” Harry and Ginny were standing either side of the door frame watching Snape examine Hermione in her bed. Snape had worked out already that her mind was all but gone, and the morning had been spent trying not to imagine her like Neville’s parents, handing them bubble gum wrappers when they visited. Harry shrugged, trying not to cry as he watched the cleverest person he had ever known lie there, almost brain dead. Ginny put her hand on his shoulder comfortingly as Snape briskly walked out and closed the door behind him. Even he looked shaken, and the usual sneering dislike was not present.
“We need to have a meeting downstairs; this is something I would like to say as few times as possible.” Ginny wordlessly sent patronuses to people not at Grimmauld place and Harry hurried around the house collecting people.


The dank kitchen matched the mood of the meeting perfectly as the Order of the Phoenix sat grimly at the kitchen table, staring at Snape. He looked up sharply as Ron, pale as a ghost, shuffled into the kitchen and sat down.
“I know we are all prepared for a different evaluation of her wounds, and it is my…deepest regret to deliver this unexpected and terrible news.” He paused, letting this sink in and took a deep breath.
“She… she did this to herself.” He looked down, as the expected tidal wave swept over the room. Emotions ranged from furious to hysterical to distraught to disbelieving.
“You’ve made a mistake. Go back and check again.” Harry sat with his arms crossed, not even bothering to consider the option.
“Potter, you think I have not double and triple checked? If there was any other way I would have found it, she tried to kill herself and succeeded only in killing major parts of her brain.” Snape’s eyes flashed angrily around the room, daring anyone else to contradict him.
“But… she’s definitely been tortured by someone else, hasn’t she?” Tonks’ voice was small and confused.
“That much is certain, we all know that Gr… Hermione was a strong witch, it would’ve taken incredible torture to cause her to do this to herself. The only way to find out what happened to her, and therefore find out if we can cure her, is for me to go back to the Dark Lord.” There was muttered discussion, on Dumbledore’s orders Snape had been ‘travelling the world to gather allegiance to the Dark Lord’ in an attempt to keep him away from Voldemort and protect him as much as possible.
“That would be a drastic plan, Severus, is there no other way to find out?” Snape shook his head and Molly bit her lip, looking doubtful.
“I must go, and I must go soon. Remus, I will leave a list of potions and charms I think may help.” Remus nodded looking a little sick, and Snape swept out the door.


The next few days were full of the most anxious waiting the houses had ever experienced, waiting for Hermione to wake up and Snape to get back safely. The inhabitants barely sat still, pacing up and down the rooms and halls. When they spoke it was short questions and one word answers, the house had the atmosphere of a death bed. Remus was looking greyer and thinner than ever as he spent every waking moment in Hermione’s room, feeding her various potions and muttering incantations above her. Often one of the others would sit in the chair by her bed and hold her hand while he did this. Harry was there, sitting silently and sadly when Remus muttered the last incantation on Snape’s list and Hermione’s eyes fluttered open.
“HERMIONE!” Harry choked on his tears as he cradled her hand, afraid of hurting her. Remus sank back into his chair, eyes closed while doors slammed and people hurtled along the corridors. Soon her bed was surrounded and once everyone had hugged her or stroked her hair, Remus stood up.
“I know this is exciting, but she needs rest now, and space. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” Everyone nodded grudgingly and shuffled out. Remus kneeled besides her bed and looked into the blank, brown eyes.
“L…how…i…err…” Hermione’s eyelids drooped across her unfocused eyes as she murmured incomprehensively.
“Hermione,” Remus prompted gently, “my name is Remus Lupin, I’m a member of the Order of the Phoenix and was your teacher. Do you remember me?” Hermione continued to stare blankly past him, and he sighed. He got up and began to walk out the door, thinking she’d need food, his hand was on the door knob when she spoke.
“Lucius?” She whispered.