I Will Always Find You

AN: Okay I have a few hours here to work, so I will try and finish this chapter. I might be able to get it up this millenium. LOL Special thanks to Sunflower for some plot ideas and for Beta-ing for me! Thank you sweetie!

Reviewers: Wow you guys! Thanks, and hugs to all!


kbluesmom: Glad you\'re enjoying! Thanks for the comments. I love it when people tell me specific things that they liked.


Sunflower: Okay I will. And no, I\'m not completely evil, just mostly. LOL

TaintedAngel: Glad the idea meets your approval. I am as obsessed with CSI as I am with Harry Potter! LOL Don\'t admire me girl, the reason it was up so fast is I couldn\'t sleep. Yeah, I kinda thought it was fast too; but she had just said something equally revealing to him and I think he just got taken up in the moment....YEP That\'s my story and I\'m stickin\' to it! LOL


sarah: glad you\'re happy! LOL Don\'t hurt yourself girl!


JTBJAB: Men always underestimate women. It\'s like a law of nature. I can\'t tell you how many men think I\'m stupid because I dont\' talk a lot.


Cristie: Thank you!! I thought so too. And yes Sera is going to be very smug when she finds out. LOL


angel: I\'m glad everyone liked that chapter. I was a little nervous. I\'m glad you like my crossover idea. I\'m head over heels for CSI and Harry Potter, so I wanted to see if I could cross them over believably.


Kayree: *Blushing profusely* ;) Thanks a lot! Hope you enjoy this one as much!


anya: Short and to the point. Nice. LOL Thanks for reviewing!


Morrigan Malfoy: Thank you!!! Hopefully you won\'t have to wait too long.


Shadowknight: Thanks for reading! I\'m glad that you are enjoying it. LOL Yeah, sometimes I get really (and I mean REALLY) into the story and I type so fast I have to go back through the whole thing and find the mistakes I made! I try to go back and fix the ones I notice when I can, because it drives me crazy.


shilohdarke: Hopefully I can get this one up soon. The resident computer hog is off until the 18th, so I can\'t make any promises! Thanks for reading!


Ch.14 Yes, the Quill IS Mightier Than the Sword


Severus sat in his armchair by the fire for a long time after Hermione had gone. He was replaying the night in his head.


\"What have I done?\" He whispered. \"That was not supposed to happen yet. I\'ve just put her in more danger than even Potter is in.\"


He couldn\'t help but smile at the thought of her lips on his. It had been a long time since he had felt such a response from another person.


But his brain refused to let go of the fact that she was now in danger because of him.


And then, with the worst timing possible, his arm began to burn white hot.

After gasping in agony for a second or two, he got up and ran to his bedroom. He dragged out Dumbledore\'s pensieve and removed any important memories, including and especially the ones of Hermione and himself. He\'d rather die than give her up to Voldemort.


He threw on his death eater robes and jammed his mask onto his face. He had to be quick or he would find himself punished. Voldemort did not like tardiness.

His luck held and he arrived in the middle of a throng of other death eaters. They all took thier places and waited until everyone was present.

Voldemort was looking almost bored in his chair as everyone assembled. Severus knew not to be fooled by this. He was known for sudden mood swings and one did not want to be in the way.

When everyone was there Voldemort spoke, still looking as if he was slightly bored. His voice held no trace of boredom however.


\"What news have you for me, anyone?\"


Severus spoke up instantly, knowing if he didn\'t there would be a large price to pay.


\"My Lord, Dumbledore has put up new wards around the castle. Only he and a select few know how to successfully bring them down.\"


\"Are you one of the few, Severus?\"


\"Yes, my Lord.\"


\"Very good Severus. When we attack the castle you will bring down the wards, and start from the inside.\"


\"My Lord.\" Severus bowed low.

The others gave what information that they had and then Voldemort began to talk.


\"We will attack the school while the students are having finals. Late at night, while they are all asleep. Severus you will be able to inform the Slytherins you can trust?\"


\"Yes my lord.\"

He outlined the details of his plan and then dismissed them all.

Severus went directly to Dumbledore after he\'d changed out of his death eater robes.


The old mans\' eyes hardened when he heard what was to happen. \"Severus, we must have an order meeting with every member that can possibly come. Will you go to Minerva and have her rouse the children?\"


\"Yes Headmaster, of course.\" Snape didn\'t normally agree with letting the children in on order information; but he knew that they deserved to be there. They would have to fight. Every child of age at the school would have to fight, or go home.

He quickly went to get Minerva and then the other teachers.


Finally, they were all at headquarters looking sleepy and a little disgruntled. It was also crowded with the amount of students that had been allowed to join the meeting. Most of them were standing until Dumbledore conjured up an amount of folding chairs and indicated that they should arrange them around and sit.


When everyone was settled, he began to speak, \"Professor Snape has broght me some disturbing news tonight. Voldemort has decided to make Hogwarts his first major target.\"


When the outbursts died down, he continued, \"This is as expected. We know his entire plan inside out and with the help of everyone here we should be able to contain it to Hogwarts and turn it into the final battle.\"


Severus already knew every detail of what was to happen, so he covertly stole a look at Hermione. She was sitting between Potter and Weasley, listening intently to Dumbledore. The corners of is mouth turned up a little. \'Always the student.\'


She seemed to feel his eyes on her and flicked her gaze to him. She indulged him with a smile, and then focused on the headmaster again. He almost chuckled at the blush creeping up her neck.


When Dumbledore had finished telling the Order what Voldemorts plan was, Severus had to turn his attention away from her and attend to the meeting.


People were quickly volunteering for positions during the battle. Voldemort wanted to take the castle one floor at a time and wipe out the students and teachers as quickly as they could.


The younger students were to be sent home early to be safe, and all students of age and willing to fight would be ranged around the school. All the students present seemed to be scared; but willing and eager to help.


The only one that didn\'t seem scared was Potter. Severus only saw resignation and determination in the boys\' face. \'Good.\' he thought. \'The boy\'s realized that it is inevitable and the only choice to be made here is to fight.\'


After the meeting, Dumbledore wanted to brief certain people alone, so some of them remained, Hermione among them.


He found her alone standing in the clean; but still shabby hallway after he had spoken to Lupin about something, and went up to her.


\"Hi,\" she whispered, not wanting to wake Mrs. Black, whom they still hadn\'t been able to remove.


\"Hello yourself.\" he whispered back. He had been debating on telling her the danger she would be in if they were found out by Voldemort and had decided against it. She didn\'t need anything else to worry about. The chances of Voldemort finding out about them were slim, especially if they were smart. He had replaced his memories before they had come to headquarters.

She was leaning against the wall, waiting for Potter to come back from talking with Dumbledore. He didn\'t know where Weasley was, so he asked her.


\"He\'s upstairs talking to Tonks.\" she replied. \"He\'s bothering her about auror training.... You look tired.\"


\"So do you.\"


\"I am. I can\'t wait until he\'s dead and we can go to bed without worry of being awakened to be told someone is dead, or an attack is coming. It\'s so wearing.\"


\"Yes, yes it is.\" he moved forward and brushed her hair out of her face. \"It will be over soon.\" He left his hand cupped to her cheek. Neither of them was aware they were being watched.


She smiled up at him and placed her hand over his. He was about to lean in and kiss her when they heard the door at the end of the hall being opened. They jumped apart and started talking about a potion, both trying to look innocent.


In the shadows, a painting smiled and slipped from her frame.


Dumbledore,and Potter appeared and then Weasley came tiptoeing down the steps. The Headmaster asked him to escort the three Gryffindors back to Hogwarts.


When they were back safe in the castle, after hurrying up from the apparition point he ordered them all to bed.


Hermione turned around as they were walking up the steps and he gave her a smile. She returned it with a wink and went back to talking to Potter and Weasley.


He retreated to his rooms and went to bed. He was exhausted and he had plenty of work to do the next day, even though it was Saturday.

~Saturday~


Hermione woke up, and had time enough for a bath before she had to go meet Sera at the door. She was feeling a little anxious and needed the calming effects of her bathtub, which if possible, had more bubble and oil scents than the regular prefects bathroom.


She chose lavender bubbles, and sank into the fragrant steamy water. She didn\'t have long to soak; but the heat and the lavender helped her relax. She was still worried about last nights meeting. She knew that whatever Dumbledore might say, there were going to be casualties.


She had the job of guarding Harry until it was no longer possible. Then she and Ron were to be his backup. She had an idea that she was going to take to Dumbledore later. A very important idea that had come to her after mulling over what Harry had described feeling when Voldemort had possessed him in fifth year.

When she was done in the bath, she got ready and went to the doors to meet Sera. She wasn\'t aware of someone watching her from a shadowy part of the entrance hall.

Sera came right on time and Hermione helped her brush the snow from her cloak.


\"Let\'s go on up for lunch.\" Sera said brightly.


Hermione couldn\'t help but feel better in the presence of her new friend. The woman was so bright and just exuded happiness.


They chatted a bit on the way up to the room of requirement, neither aware of being followed.


In the room of requirement, they continued chatting over non important things over lunch. Afterwards they sat down in front of the fireplace again with their tea.


\"You know Hermione, I noticed something about the room this week.\" Sera said, gazing about.


\"Really?\" Hermione said. She looked around and saw the room was indeed different. She nodded.


\"Yes, last week all the pictures and the flowers and everything were very dull. Taking note of that I assumed your mood was alike.\"


Hermione nodded in affirmation.



\"This week everything is completely bright and vivid. Did you have a breakthrough without me?\" She pretended to pout and Hermione laughed.


\"Actually yes I did. I think I let the pain go.\"


\"And what brought this on?\"


Hermione blushed, and Sera crowed a laugh. \"A guy, wasn\'t it?\"


Too embarrassed to speak, Hermione nodded instead.


\"So who is it?\" Sera asked. She had an idea who it was; but was keeping that notion to herself.


\"I can\'t say.\" Hermione said quietly.


Sera gave her a look. \"Hermione dear, I can\'t tell anyone anything you say during our sessions.\"


\"Not a word?\" Asked Hermione.


\"Swear!\" Sera promised. \"Now spill it!\"


\"Okay; but don\'t freak out.\"


Sera was looking more and more interested and Hermione remembered Severus\' comment about her being sneaky.


\"You probably have all this figured out already, so why don\'t you tell me?\" she said.


\"Okay!\" Sera said and without hesitation she blurted out, \"Severus! It\'s Severus isn\'t it?\"


Hermione gaped at her. \"How did you know that?\"


\"I\'m good. And I can tell things about people. He started getting fidgety when we were talking about you and I could tell something was up with him. It\'s obvious that he\'s taken quite a liking to you.\"


Hermione smiled. \"You could say that.\"

Sera demanded details, and since Sera was the only person she could tell, Hermione gave them to her.


\"He actually told you he loved you?\" she squealed.


Hermione nodded, suddenly thinking that Sera was a lot like Lavender and Parvati. Only older and a lot easier to talk to.


Sera was really enjoying this and Hermione hoped that she wouldn\'t mention any of this to Severus.


Sensing that Hermione was worried, Sera said, \"Oh I won\'t tell him, honey. I\'ll tease him mercilessly, yes; but I won\'t let him know you told me everything. I\'ll even tell him that I guessed it and you didn\'t want to tell me. Okay?\"


\"Sure,\" Hermione said. \"It\'s your hide if you really want to tease him about it; but you\'re on your own! I\'ll walk you down; but when we get there he\'s all yours.\"


Sera laughed. \"Okay then. I think we\'re good for this week. Actually I don\'t think you really need me anymore.\"


\"I\'d still like you to come for lunch with me if you want to. We could invite Severus,\" Hermione giggled.


\"Ahhh, two to one, I like those odds! Sounds good to me dear.\" Sera laughed.


They put thier cups on the table, knowing that when they left the lunch things would be sent to the kitchens immediately.


Hermione walked Sera to Severus\' office door and then beat a hasty retreat after saying goodbye to her friend.


She was walking away when a familiar voice called out to her, \"Hey Granger! You dropped this!\"


Malfoy was running up behind her and she turned to see him holding a quill. Unknown to her, he\'d actually nicked it out of her pocket earlier.


She held her hand out for it and when it touched her skin she knew she\'d made a huge mistake.

Sera knocked on Severus\' door and waited for a resonse. A blonde Slytherin boy passed her and gave her a look of sheer want before continuing on his way. Sera sighed. Sometimes being pretty was not fun.

She heard Snape invite her in and opened the door. \"Hello Severus.\"


\"Oh hello Sera. Where\'s Miss Granger?\"


\"She had something to do.\" Sera replied with a grin. \"I got some interesting information from her earlier.\"


He tensed. \"Oh?\"


She laughed. \"Oh yeah. I knew you had it bad for her!\"


He sighed. \"If I didn\'t like her so much, I\'d hex her.\"


\"Don\'t blame her dear, I got it out of her. She didn\'t want to tell me; but I guessed and she fessed up.\"


\"Slytherins.\" he muttered, though he had a bit of amusement lurking in his eyes.


\"That\'s the pot calling the kettle black.\" she laughed. \"I just figured I\'d come down here and tease you a bit before I went home. And don\'t worry, I won\'t tell a soul.\"


He smiled. \"I know you won\'t. Tea?\"


\"No thanks, I just had some with Hermione. I have to be going anyway. I promised a friend I\'d water her houseplants while she\'s away.\"


\"Allright then. See you next Saturday?\"


\"Yes. Hermione and I wanted to ask you to lunch with us; but I think I\'ll leave that to her.\"


\"Well I\'d be honored; but I\'ll let her ask in case she changes her mind.\"


They said their goodbyes, neither suspecting that Hermione was in grave danger at that very moment.


AN: Hope you liked it!