Time lost. ...EPILOGUE UP!

Sureves Epan- Quick right, it does run in the family. Hopefully Draco can escape his past.

Anya Greyback – Draco was attacked but yeah the rest is right =)

Kaderas – I try to do longer chapters but sometimes with my work load its hard because I get interrupted. =)

Fujin- Your so spot on all the time. ARe you in my head???

Thanks for all the reviews!!!



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Hermione had a plan. It was dangerous but effective. She planned to insert a powerful sleeping draft in a box of chocolates that she will have delivered to Professor Lectin that night. After talking to some of the other students, she discovered that chocolate frogs were a personal favorite. The box was wrapped up in Slytherin green paper, signed from “Malfoy”. Hermione grinned slightly.

The wretched Halloween Dance was coming up soon and she did not have a date. Not that she expected Severus to ask her. So far, only Sirius Black had asked her and she had said she would think about it. Sirius was very physically aggressive and reminded her a little too much of Victor Krum at times. A dance was the perfect opportunity for Hermione to try to push Lily and James Potter together.

Hermione had one of the House Elves deliver the box to the professor, though it grated on her. House Elves were sorely abused and she hated to cost them more work. However, it was important that she was not associated with the package at all, which left Hermione with very little choice in the matter. Besides, Lucius Malfoy was just the type of spoiled person that would call House Elves to do a task that he could manage perfectly well on his own.

Hermione made her way out of the kitchen after dropping off the package. She took a turn by the lake stopping for a moment to think. It was so peaceful by the water at night. The moon was almost full and she wondered how poor Lupin was going to cope soon.

She walked to the rock where Severus had found her crying. Hermione ran her hand over the smooth surface of the rock and the image of Severus panting in her ear as he touched her, filled her thoughts. She closed her eyes in pleasure for a moment. She was not a fool. She knew that Severus would give her to the Death Eaters. He had too, if history was to continue.

Even if he just took her blood and left her alone, Voldemort would command that he finish the job. Tom Riddle was a suspicious man and would read some sort of weakness in Severus for leaving her alive. Also, if the magic was composed of her blood and she was alive, she may be able to counter the effects of the potion, negating it. Voldemort would never risk his power over a filthy mudblood. Severus was young and foolish to think he could simply walk away from this with Hermione’s life intact.

The poison has a high fatality rate. Nevertheless, it was her only chance. If she wanted a chance at staying alive, she had to make Voldemort and Severus believe that she was dead. Voldemort would need to think that Severus killed her to cement his trust in Severus. Even being the brightest witch of her age, her brain felt like chewing gum. She dropped her head in her hands and waited for the hour to pass when she could safely sneak into Professor Lectin’s potion stores.

Severus watched Hermione by the lake. He noticed she liked to come out here a lot and he felt drawn to her defeated looking posture. She was so deep in thought she had not noticed his presence for the last ten minutes. Merlin, she made him hard just looking at her. Something beyond that confident sexiness, she seemed to exude. She had such beautiful, trusting eyes. No one had ever looked at Severus like that in his whole life. It was as if someone had made her just for him. Perfect. From the way her body curved against his own, to the way she tasted, like a sweet apple on the first bite. A virgin. It had churned his guts to find it out.

He had considered lying to Voldemort. Lucius had gotten to him first. Someone was passing information among the Slytherin. Someone who saw the whole thing and had told Lucius Malfoy everything. Voldemort expected his potion now. Severus knew that if he did not provide it, he would die. If he provided it then Voldemort owed him. He could ask for the Mudblood, for a plaything. Severus nodded to himself. He could never love her, but he could protect her. She would be his and his alone. Surely, Voldemort would not deny him such a small request.

Feeling a bit bolstered by his thoughts Severus continued to watch over Hermione silently until she rose up and started walking back to the Castle. He followed her determined little walk as she headed towards the dormitories. Hermione looked around furtively for a moment and moved to the left.

Severus stopped in momentary shock. Hermione was heading towards the Slytherin section of the rooms. He was beginning to wonder if she was looking for him when she turned and knocked on Professor Lection’s office door in the dungeon. After a moment, she opened the door and went inside. The door swung shut firmly behind her.

Once inside Hermione turned to face the Potion Master with a ready smile. Professor Lectin was asleep and her heart pounded in relief. She tiptoed past the snoring Professor and went into his potion stores. Hermione began searching cabinets and trunks. Finally seeing more supplies hidden in the closet she rushed forward as quiet as possible. Hurriedly, she sorted through the various bottles with nervous fingers. Belladonna, aloe, toenail clippings, Gridleylows hearts, Tetr…Hermione grasped the bottle gingerly and pocketed it.

Hermione sagged with relief against the wall wiping sweat from her eyes. Hermione straightened and turned to walk out when she felt the first prickle of warning. The bottle iced over around her, frost collected in the potions and she looked at one of the cabinets she had pried open in her search.

An inky blackness poured out with a whooshing sound and she felt dreadfully cold. Her breath squeaked out in a thick mist as the Dementor rushed towards her. The Dementor’s open mouth screamed in despair as it rushed the unconscious Professor Lectin.

Hermione ran after it and pulled her wand out. The thing hissed and came at her sucking at her breath as she harshly expelled it. She screamed at the forceful strike and tried to steady her wand hand but she felt such despair that it threatened to overwhelm her.

*

Outside the room, Severus paced back and forth in thought. What was Hermione doing with the Potions Master? Severus scowled and he felt an unfamiliar rage fill him. He felt hurt and angry. Jealous. No, not jealous, just protective. Hermione was his project; Professor Lectin was a slimy old wizard. She could have nothing to say to him that Severus could not also hear. Severus growled and knocked on the door sharply. A muffled scream echoed through the door back at him and he pushed the door open with a growl.

“Hermion…!” Severus stumbled backwards as the Dementor rushed him and began to suck at his spirit. He fell to his knees from the force of the anguish coming off the Dementor. He fell forward on his hand and shuddered from the Dementor’s attack. He could see Hermione dead at his hands, blood staining the floor around him. He screamed in rage and tried to fight the Dementor off.

Hermione saw the Dementor attack Severus full force and she screamed as he fell to his knees. Tears fell down her cheeks and she felt desperate, concentrating on her wand she threw herself in front of Severus.

Her voice carried in the little room like a battle cry. “Expecto Patronum!”

She thought of Severus. His elegant hands on her in passion. His bravery in the future. The sacrifice’s he made, the terrible love consuming her for him. She felt a powerful magic pouring off her wand and a bright light shaped like a doe exploded forth from her wand as it repelled the Dementor.

Hermione held onto her wand steadily glaring at the Dementor who was trying so hard to get to Severus. He had so much angst, so much hatred and rage. He was probably a banquet for a Dementor. Severus stared wide eyed up at Hermione and something flickered briefly in his eyes. The Dementor unable to get through her barrier, fled out of the office and into the hallway.

Hermione staggered on her feet and warily held her wand up though the brilliant white light of the doe had faded by now. Her Patronus had changed. It was no longer an Otter. She felt numb from the implications of that. She loved Severus. Her patronus changed to look like his. Or did his look like her’s?

She felt the world go white and fuzzy around the edges and she shook her head. Tears poured down her face as she stared down at Severus with a look of raw bewilderment. Severus stood up and grasped Hermione around her arms.

“Are you okay?” Severus demanded harshly as his dark eyes traveled all over her searchingly.

“You, it was always me…” She choked softly as tears poured down her face in wonder. “It was always me.” She whispered almost singsong and Severus narrowed his eyes worriedly.

Hermione felt a great relief inside her. Even if he did not love her now, he would eventually. Maybe it would be worth it. All of it. She leaned forward and pressed her mouth against his own for a tender kiss and the world went dark as she fell unconscious.

Severus grasped her quickly swinging her limp form up into his arms. She weighed next to nothing and he repressed the urge to gather her closer to him. Her head fell limply onto his shoulder and he could feel her hot breath through his robes. He almost felt dizzy with relief. He had never seen a Patronus that large before and he assumed this was exhaustion. He carried her to his room and swiftly shut the door behind him.

Severus gently laid her down on his bed. He pushed aside her hair from her face and took a moment to look at her. Tear tracks had made their way down her pale cheeks, and her expressive eyes were closed. Her lips parted and soft huffs expelled from her puffy lips as she exhaled slowly. At that moment, Severus wanted to keep her here forever.

Severus sighed and took her small hand in his own. He remembered that first day he met her. How she had looked at him. She would have protected him from his father. He knew that innately now. He resented the feelings, the weakness she brought about in him. A small part of him though wished for this. This contentment of being next to her. He lay down on the bed next to her and pulled her unconscious form close to him. He curled his arm around her middle protectively and rested his chin on the top of her head cocooning her in his warmth. Nobody would have to know.

I hope that this is longer and back to what you guys want to see. =)

As always, Read and Review!