Fighting for True Love

Disclaimers: I by no means own the characters of Harry Potter. They belong to the ever-talented J.K. Rowling. This story is strictly for entertainment purposes and not for profit.

Summary: This is in response to redsugg’s Snape challenge. Severus and Hermione have been in love for two years. Suddenly their lives are thrown for a loop. Will they make through together? Read and find out.

Fighting For True Love

Chapter 15- Gift Number Two and Three

A week had passed since Severus was attacked. They told their friends. Draco and Harry were upset the most by it.

“Damn them!” Harry cursed.

“Harry, calm down. Everything will be fine.” Severus said.

“How do we know that? This time we were lucky, what if next time we aren’t as lucky?” Draco asked.

“Draco, Albus has increased the wards surrounding the castle and both Severus and I have added more wards to our chambers.” Hermione replied.

“How? Hermione adding your power with Severus’s should have drained you? That’s not healthy, especially with the baby and all.” Ron questioned.

“It seems that’s another gift of ours. We are able to combine our magical abilities without it draining either of us.” Severus answered.

At the same moment Voldemort was furious.

“You were supposed to kill him! How is it he’s still alive?” Voldemort yelled at Goyle Sr.

“I…I don’t know my lord. I wasn’t seen and no one was anywhere near the dungeons. Albus Dumbledore was in his office and everyone else was in classes. No one should have found him until it was too late to safe him.” Goyle answered.

“Lucius!” Voldemort cried.

“Yes my lord.” Lucius said as he bowed.

“I want you to pay your old friend a visit. Find out what happened. Then I want you to report back to me. Also, I have heard rumors that your spell over him has been broken and he has his memories back. Do you know anything about this?” Voldemort asked evilly.

“Yes my lord. Severus told me Dumbledore removed the spell. When I showed up a few months back he almost killed me. I was able to convince him that it was for the best. He still doesn’t trust me the way he used to.” Lucius lied easily hoping Voldemort bought the lie.

“I see. Find out what happened! And before you leave…Curico!” Voldemort cried.

Lucius fell to the floor writhing in pain but did not cry out. Lucius wasn’t about to give the bastard the satisfaction of hearing him cry out in pain. After ten minutes Voldemort removed the spell. Before Lucius could catch his breath Goyle and Crabbe Sr. started beating him. Lucius never once cried out. Once Crabbe and Goyle were done Voldemort once more used the Cruciatus Curse once more.

“Never, keep information from me again. Is that clear?” Voldemort hissed.

“Y…yes…my…lord.” Lucius gasped out.

“Leave!” Voldemort ordered.

Lucius somehow managed to get to his feet and apparated away. A few seconds later he appeared at the front gates leading up to Hogwarts. He swayed on his feet then crumpled to the ground. Inside Hermione and Severus sat on their couch reading. Above their heads a thunder clap was heard.

“Sounds like it’s going to storm tonight.” Severus said.

“Hmmm. Sounds like it.” Hermione replied.

A few minutes later the steady sound of rain falling around the castle was heard. Severus climbed to his feet and walked to the only window in their rooms and looked out onto the grounds.

“You all right honey?” Hermione asked.

“Yeah, I’m just worried about Lucius. He had a meeting tonight and was suppose to be back right after dinner. Dinner has been over for two hours now.” Severus answered.

Hermione closed her book and walked to her husband’s side. She wrapped an arm around his waist and looked out the window.

“I’m sure he’s all right. If something was wrong he would have sent us word.” Hermione said.

Severus sighed. His wife was right. Severus turned and sat at his desk and started grading his first year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff papers. After fifteen minutes of grading he heard a voice inside his head.

*“Severus. Hermione. Help me.”*

Severus gasped and dropped his quill.

“Severus? Severus are you all right?” Hermione asked worriedly.

“I…I thought I heard a voice in my mind. It sounded like Lucius.” Severus answered shakily.

“Try replying to the voice in your mind.” Hermione said as she stood in front of his desk.

*“Lucius? Is that you?”* Severus asked.

*“S…Severus? I…I need…help.”* Lucius answered.

*“Where are you?”* Severus asked.

*“The…front…gates. Hurry.”* Lucius answered.

*“I’m on my way.”* Severus said.

“It’s Lucius. He’s hurt. He’s at the front gates. I have to go and help him.” Severus said.

“I’ll got tell Poppy and have a bed waiting for you.” Hermione said.

Severus and Hermione hurried from their chambers. As Severus reached the entrance way he ran into Remus and Sirius.

“Severus, what’s the matter?” Sirius asked.

“It’s Lucius. He’s at the gates and is hurt. I have to get him inside the castle.” Severus answered.

“We’ll help.” Remus said.

The three wizards hurried out of the castle and out into the pouring rain. They found Lucius lying unconscious at the gates.

“Lucius, can you hear me?” Severus asked as he knelt beside his best friend.

He got no response but Lucius’s pulse was strong.

“Severus, we have to get him to Poppy.” Remus said.

Severus and Sirius gathered the wizard into their arms and carried him inside to Poppy. They reached the hospital wing to find Poppy ready and Albus, Minerva and Draco sitting with Hermione.

“Place him here.” Poppy instructed.

Sirius and Severus gently placed Lucius on the cot and backed away so Poppy could work on him. Poppy worked quietly for an hour. She then turned and faced the group.

“Will he be all right?” Draco asked worriedly.

“He will be fine Draco. It was merely a bad dose of the Cruciatus Curse as well as a few beatings and the weather. He should be fine by tomorrow. Right now I will move him to a private room and all of you need to get some sleep. Tomorrow is Saturday and you can visit him then. All right.” Poppy replied.

Everyone nodded. Poppy moved Lucius to a private room while everyone else adjourned to Albus’s office. Once everyone was seated he spoke.

“Severus, how did you know where Lucius was? Hermione didn’t tell me that part.” Albus asked.

“I was sitting at my desk. Hermione was reading. I had told her I was worried about Lucius. He was supposed to be here right after dinner was finished. Suddenly I heard a voice in my head call for me and Hermione asking for help. I told Hermione and she said to try and reply back. I did and it was Lucius. He told me where he was.” Severus answered.

“I guess you have received yet another gift.” Minerva said.

“I guess so.” Severus said.

“Does it only work if your friends are in trouble or could it work any time?” Remus asked.

“I don’t know. I guess we should test it.” Severus answered.

“Try it on me.” Draco said.

Severus nodded.

Draco cleared his mind and tried talking to his godfather.

*“Can you hear me?”* Draco asked.

*“Yes. I can Draco.”* Severus answered.

*“Cool. I wonder though...”* Draco said.

*“Wonder what?”* Severus asked.

*“Hermione? Can you hear me?”* Draco asked.

*“What?! How can I hear you too?”* Hermione answered in shock.

Draco smiled and turned to face Albus.

“It seems they both have that gift sir. Just now I was able to talk to Hermione.” Draco said with a smile.

“If I do, than how come I couldn’t hear Lucius?” Hermione asked.

“Maybe because it has to be someone who is like family to you. Father and Severus are like brothers. Just like you, me, Ron, Harry and Ginny is like a sister. Right?” Draco answered.

“That would make sense. Could Hermione and I communicate with one another?” Severus asked.

“Why don’t you two try it?” Sirius answered.

*“My love, can your hear me?”* Severus asked.

*“Loud and clear.”* came Hermione’s excited voice.

Both Hermione and Severus were grinning from ear to ear.

“This is extraordinary! Now you have 3 gifts. Hermione’s visions, the ability to combine your powers and now this gift of telepathy. Wonderful!” Albus said, his blue twinkling like crazy.

“For the time being this should stay just between the 7 of us. We will tell Ron, Harry and Ginny when the time is right. Voldemort no doubt sent Lucius here to find out why I’m still alive. It was Voldemort and the rest of the Deatheaters that did this to Lucius tonight. We have to be careful.” Severus said.

Everyone nodded in agreement. They all said goodnight and returned to their rooms. Severus and Hermione reached their rooms, extinguished the lights, stripped off their clothes and climbed into bed. Severus held Hermione close while his left hand rested on her swelling belly. The child within moved beneath his finger tips.

“I’m worried about Lucius. He can’t keep doing this. I’m afraid the next time this happens they will kill him.” Severus said.

“Sshh. Severus, everything will be fine. Lucius is doing this to protect Draco as well as us. He will be fine. Now that we have this new gift we will be able to help him out more.” Hermione said softly.

“You’re right. Let’s get some sleep. I love you Hermione.” Severus whispered.

“I love you too Severus.” Hermione whispered as she snuggled closer to him.

Within minutes Hermione was asleep. Severus stayed awake a bit longer just holding her and running his fingers over her hair. Soon her even breathing lulled him to sleep as well.

T.B.C

Author’s note: Anything marked with a * is the telepathy. Just so it doesn’t get too confusing for you readers out there.

Thanks,
Tiffany