Love's Journeys *COMPLETE*

Love’s Journeys


Chapter 15- A Gryffindor’s Test of Strength and Courage


Hermione woke up and found an empty bed. Slowly she climbed out of their bed, pulled on her robe and walked into the sitting room. She found her husband sitting in a chair staring into the fire. She walked up behind him and slid her hands over his shoulders causing him to jump slightly.


“You startled me love.” Severus said as he reached behind him and placed his hands atop hers.


“I woke up and you weren’t there.” Hermione replied as she walked around to kneel in front of him.


“I couldn’t sleep.” He stated.


“Nightmares?” she asked.


“No. I woke up and couldn’t fall back to sleep. You looked so peaceful I didn’t want to wake you.” Severus answered as he leaned forward and placed his forehead against hers.


“Last night was the first night I didn’t have a nightmare.” Hermione replied as her arms came to rest around his neck.


“That’s good.” Severus whispered as he kissed her softly.


Hermione rose to her feet and snuggled into his lap and his arms. Severus rested his head on her shoulder, just relishing the feel of her in his arms, her smell, everything about her. He still couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have the love of this beautiful woman in his arms.


“Severus, when are we going to make our marriage known? I’m tired of hiding it.” Hermione breathed.


Severus sighed, “I know. So am I. I want to make it known as soon as this trouble with Malfoy is over. It would be too dangerous for you if we make it known before. He still has friends here at Hogwarts in Slytherin. We don’t want to give him too much information.”


Hermione nodded. They sat in front of the fire just holding each other for about two hours before they went to shower and get ready for their day. Hermione gave her husband a lingering kiss good bye before she flooed back to the Head Girl rooms and went to breakfast. Ron and Harry were waiting for her in the common room as she emerged from the bedroom.


“Ready for breakfast?” Ron asked.


“Yeah. Let’s go. I’m starving.” Hermione said.


The golden trio headed for the Great Hall. As they sat eating their breakfast three sets of eyes were watching Hermione from across the hall.


************************************************************************


“Here’s the plan. We watch her and the first chance we get we strike. Draco doesn’t want her killed just put out of commission for a while. He says for about a week or two. Can you guys get that?” Pansy asked Crabbe and Goyle.


“Don’t worry Pansy, we got it.” Goyle said as Crabbe nodded and cracked his knuckles.


All morning Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle watched Hermione. Everywhere she went she was surrounded by either, Harry, Ron, Professors Lupin or Black or members of the Order and Aurors. They were just about to give up when at lunch they got the perfect chance.


“Guys, I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Hermione said.


Ron and Harry nodded. She rose from her seat, cast a slight smile up at her husband and headed to the bathroom. Along the way were Aurors and Order members. Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle followed her. Outside the bathroom was an Auror. They waited for about five minutes before the Auror left.


“Let’s go.” Pansy whispered.


The three of them quickly entered the bathroom, locked the door and placed a silencing charm on the room. Hermione was standing at the sink washing her hands. When she looked into the mirror she found Goyle, Crabbe, and Pansy standing behind her. She remembered the words Severus had said this morning, about Malfoy still having friends there at school.


“What the hell do you want?” Hermione demanded.


“We just have a little message for you from Draco. You see, you are the cause for his pain. It’s your fault Lucius is dead. If you would have just died in the war Draco wouldn’t have to be hiding now.” Pansy spat as she shoved Hermione against the sink.


“No! It’s Voldemort’s fault that Draco’s father is dead. It’s Draco’s fault he is in hiding. He kidnapped and raped me. He then tried to kill me by pushing me down the stairs. He’s lucky they haven’t caught him or else he’d be in Azkaban right now!” Hermione yelled.


“Too bad you don’t see things our way or else this might not have to end this way. Get her boys.” Pansy said as she snapped her fingers.


Hermione tried to run but Goyle blocked her way. Before she knew what was going on Crabbe grabbed her from behind. Holding her still Goyle backhanded Hermione. Hermione screamed as pain shot through her face and head. Crabbe then threw her across the room, causing Hermione to slam into the wall as she slid to a stop against the linoleum floor. Everything began to swirl around Hermione. She went for her wand but Pansy kicked it out of her hands. Hermione heard her wand slide to the other side of the room.


‘Think! You’re wand less and there are three of them. Do something!’ Hermione thought fuzzily.


Hermione saw Crabbe and Goyle begin to advance on her. She kicked at them and tried to scramble away. Goyle grabbed her ankle and pulled her back to them.


“NO! LET ME GO! HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!” Hermione screamed as she kicked and thrashed out at her attackers.


“Scream all you want. There’s a silencing charm on the room and the door’s locked. You’re ours now mudblood. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!” Pansy laughed.


Hermione’s screams echoed off the walls as she fought for her life against Crabbe and Goyle as they proceeded to beat and torture her. When Pansy called them off Hermione was bleeding all over, bruises and cuts covered her face and her body. She was barely breathing and tears were silently falling from her closed, swollen and blackened eyes. Pansy, Goyle and Crabbe unlocked and unsilenced the room, made sure the coast was clear then left Hermione alone in the bathroom.


************************************************************************


Sirius was walking to the boy’s bathroom when he heard faint sobbing and moaning coming from the girl’s bathroom. He moved closer to the door to make sure his ears weren’t deceiving him. He stood at the door and definitely heard the sound of someone inside and they were in terrible pain. Sirius opened the door.


“Hello? It’s Professor Black. Is everything all right?” he called out.


All he got in response was a groan of pain. He walked further into the bathroom and froze. A few feet in front of him was Hermione. A small pool of blood was forming underneath her unmoving body.


“Hermione! Oh god! Hermione, answer me. It’s Sirius. Can you hear me?” Sirius asked as he gently rolled her onto her back. He got no answer from Hermione. ‘I have to get help.’ He thought as he gently placed her on the floor and ran to the door. “HELP ME! SOMEONE! HELP!” Sirius screamed down the corridor.


Within seconds footsteps were heard running to the bathroom. Minerva, Flintwick, Dumbledore as well as Aurors reached the door.


“What is it Sirius?” Albus asked.


“Hermione…she’s…she’s hurt. In here.” Sirius said as he led them to the bathroom.


“Oh my god! Hermione!” Minerva cried as she ran to the injured girl.


“We have to get her to the hospital wing and notify Severus. Sirius, go get Remus. I’ll get Severus.” Albus ordered.


Sirius nodded and sprinted down to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. While Albus went to the Potions classroom. Minerva and the Aurors managed to move Hermione from the bathroom and into the hospital wing.


“So, who can tell me…” Remus started just as Sirius burst into the room.


“Professor Black? What’s wrong?” Remus asked, worry evident on his face.


“Professor Dumbledore…needs you…in the hospital wing. Now.” Sirius gasped out.


“Class, return to your common rooms. Read the chapters I gave you at the start of class and I want a three foot essay on vampires ready to turn in at the start of next class.” Remus said as he hurried out of the class. “What really happened?” he demanded.


“It’s Hermione. She was attacked. I found her in the girl’s bathroom. I was heading to the boys bathroom when I heard faint sobbing and moaning. I thought some girl was sick. When I opened the door and asked if everything was alright no one answered. I entered and saw Hermione.” Sirius explained.


“Oh god. Is she all right?” Remus asked.


“She was barely breathing. It looked like she was beat nearly to death.” Sirius answered.


******************************************************************************************


Down in the potions classroom Harry and Ron sat in their seats writing down the ingredients they would need from the blackboard. They were worried about Hermione, because she wasn’t there in class. Severus sat at his desk and kept looking at the door. Waiting for Hermione to show up. Class had started fifteen minutes ago and she still wasn’t there. Harry and Ron had said she went to the bathroom during lunch and that they hadn’t seen her since.


“All right class. Get your ingredients and…” The sound of the door opening interrupted Severus.


Severus looked up to see Albus in the door way. He knew something was wrong.


“Sorry for the interruption Professor Snape. I need to speak with you.” Albus said.


“Of course. Class, return to your common rooms. I want a five foot essay on the uses of the ingredients for this potion. I want it ready at the beginning of next class.” Severus ordered.


The students gathered their things and filed out. Harry and Ron held back. Soon it was just the four of them.


“Harry, Ron, please return to Gryffindor common room. I’ll have Professor McGonagall talk to you later this evening.” Albus instructed.


Reluctantly they left the classroom. “Albus, what’s wrong? I know something is wrong.” Severus said. ‘Please let Hermione be alright. Please don’t let this be about her.’ Severus pleaded in his mind.


“Severus, Sirius was heading for the bathroom when he heard a sound coming from the girls bathroom. He went in to investigate. He found Hermione. She was laying a small pool of blood. She had been beaten. She was barely alive when Sirius found her. Minerva and a few Aurors were moving her to the hospital wing and Sirius has gone to get Remus. I’ve come to take you to her.” Albus explained.


Severus didn’t wait for Albus. He ran from the dungeons and straight to the hospital wing. He burst through the hospital doors. Luckily there were no other patients in the wing. “What happened? Where’s Hermione? Where’s my wife!” Severus demanded as Remus and Sirius ran to hold him back as he went straight for the draw curtain around a bed.


“Severus, calm down. Please. We don’t know anything yet. Poppy is still with her.” Remus said calmly.


“Let me go! She needs me! I have to be with her!” Severus yelled as he tried to shake off Sirius and Remus.


Minerva walked up to her godson. “Severus, if you don’t calm down I will be forced to stun you. Now calm down.” she said sternly. Severus calmed down slightly.


“Minerva, where’s my wife. I want to see her. Please.” he pleaded.


“I have to clear that with Poppy.” Minerva said as she headed for the curtain.


Severus stood still as Remus and Sirius slowly let go of his arms. A few minutes later Minerva and Poppy walked up to him. “Severus, she’s…she’s alive, but barely. She has lost a lot of blood and has severe internal bleeding and injuries. I have stopped the internal bleeding. She is hooked up to a muggle breathing machine to help her breath. I’ve had to give her a blood transfusion.” Poppy explained.


“Will…will she be all right?” Severus said.


“I don’t know. There’s more. She’s slipped into a coma like state.” Poppy said.


Severus’s legs shook and finally gave way. Remus and Sirius caught him before he fell to the floor. They managed to get him onto a cot. “Oh god no. No. Can I…can I see her?” Severus whispered as tears fell from his eyes.


“Yes. But I warn you. It might come as a shock when you first see her.” Poppy warned.


Severus nodded as he rose unsteadily to his feet and followed Poppy. Poppy pulled back the curtains that surrounded Hermione’s bed. Severus gasped as he saw his wife. Hermione lay before him with bruises and cuts all over her face and arms. He was sure there were more but he couldn’t see them.


She had a tube in her mouth helping her breath. Both her eyes were closed, blackened and swollen. Her skin was so pale. He saw the IV in her right arm that was pumping the blood back into her body. Severus dropped into the chair beside her bed. He took hold of her left hand where her wedding band rested. He removed the invisibility spell that covered the ring. He dropped his head against her hand. Her hand felt like ice against his forehead.


“Oh Hermione. Please forgive me. I couldn’t protect you. I’m so sorry. Please pull through this. Please. I can’t live without you.” Severus sobbed as his tears fell in rivers down his cheeks.


Minerva walked over to him and knelt beside her godson. Severus looked over at her and threw his arms around her neck and cried like a child. But he never released his hold of Hermione’s left hand. Sirius and Remus walked up and each placed their hand on Severus’s shoulder. They both knew he was going to need their strength and support. Now more than ever.


************************************************************************


“Harry, what do you think happened?” Ron asked as he and Harry sat in the empty common room. Their classes were over for the day and everyone else was still in their classes.


“I don’t know. I hope that Hermione is alright.” Harry said as he stared out the window. Just then Sirius and Minerva entered the common room. “Professor, Sirius, what’s going on?” Harry asked.


“Harry, Ron, sit down please.” Minerva said calmly. Ron and Harry sat down in front of Minerva and Sirius. “Today, Sirius was heading to the bathroom when he heard sobbing and moaning coming from the girls bathroom. He went in to find out what was wrong. He found Hermione. She was beaten nearly to death. She’s in the hospital wing. She’s on a muggle breathing machine to help her breath. She also has to have a blood transfusion which Poppy is doing right now.” Minerva paused to let the information sink in for the two boys.


Minerva then continued, “She’s has fallen into a coma like state. We don’t know when she will wake up. Severus is taking this extremely hard. He will need his friends right now. I need the two of you to be there for him. Not just for him but for Hermione’s sake. He will be no good to her if he doesn’t take care of himself. Remus and Sirius will help you.”


“Oh no. Who did this to her Professor?’ Ron asked.


“We don’t know yet Ron. Did either one of you see anything out of the ordinary at lunch? Anyone watching Hermione more or anyone who followed her after she left the hall at lunch?” Sirius asked.


Harry and Ron thought long and hard. “I didn’t see anyone.” Ron answered sadly.


“Me either….Wait! I remember seeing Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle leave the hall about five minutes after Hermione! I know that Pansy is Malfoy’s girlfriend and Crabbe and Goyle always do his dirty work for him!” Harry exclaimed.


“I’ll speak to the Headmaster about those three.” Minerva said.


“Professor, I want to talk to Severus. Please.” Harry pleaded.


“All right. Sirius will take you to him. Ron, will you be coming?’ Minerva said.


“N…no. I need some time to gather my head before I go and see Hermione and Severus. I need to let out my anger first. Professor, could I have permission to use a broom and do some laps around the Quidditch field?” Ron asked.


Minerva nodded as Harry and Sirius left the common room. Harry entered the hospital wing and saw a curtain surround a bed. He knew that was where Hermione was. He slowly walked up to the curtain. Taking a deep breath he pulled back the curtain. He stared at the figure of his best friend lying in the cot. Not moving and having to have a machine helping her breath. He then saw Severus. Harry walked over to him and knelt beside him.


“Severus?" Harry said.


Severus turned to face Harry. “Harry? Why? Why Hermione?”


Harry just looked at the older wizard as fresh tears flowed from his eyes. “It will be all right. We are all here for you. Myself, Ron, Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore and McGonagall. We will be here for you whenever you need us.”


“Thanks you Harry. I know I will need you all through this.” Severus said as his tears subsided. Harry pulled up another chair beside Severus as they sat and watched over Hermione.


************************************************************************


A few hours later, after Hermione was moved into a private room in the back of the Hospital, Ron, Sirius, Remus, Minerva and Albus all sat in the room. “Severus, we think we might have an idea who did this. Harry remembers seeing Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle leaving the Great Hall about five minutes after Hermione at lunch. I went to find them, but they too have vanished. It seems Draco has recruited help.” Minerva said.


Severus merely nodded. At that Moment Poppy entered the room. “Alright, I suggest everyone get some rest. Severus I have taken the liberty of putting an extra cot in here for you. I know you won’t leave her side.” Poppy said.


“Thank you. Sirius, will you…”


“Cover your classes? You got it.” Sirius said.


Severus nodded his thanks. Quickly the room emptied leaving only Severus and Hermione. He quickly changed and climbed into his cot beside his wife. “I’m right here my love. I won’t leave your side. Never. I love you Hermione. Come back to me. Come back to us.” Severus whispered as he kissed her forehead and tried to fall asleep.


T.B.C