The death of a git, the rise of a hero...

\"A tracking spell?\" Ron questioned almost in a panic as his two friends exchanged looks of mutual knowledge, making him feel left out. \"What do you mean?\"

\"Since Severus and I received twin rings Voldemort.\" Hermione said, turning to face Ron and pointing to her ring. \"I can use a tracking spell to guide me from my ring to his own.\"

\"How does that work?\" Ron implored further, feeling more than perplexed. Hermione\'s patience was stretching, but she remained calm.

\"I found that our wedding rings are quite unique, in that they are both made from the rarest form of gold in the wizarding world. We can track his ring through mine, and in turn be lead right to him.\"

\"But, don\'t all of Voldemort\'s married followers have those rings?\" Harry asked curiously.

\"That\'s just the thing. Each set of rings are made from separate forms of gold, branded with separate spells and so forth. Since both of our rings came from this same origin in a sense, my ring will only guide me to Severus\' ring.\"

\"My God.\" Ron said in a breathless whisper, \"I can\'t believe it...you\'re actually going to go track him?\"

Hermione looked to Ron severely. His face was that of perplexity, for he couldn\'t really understand what a girl like Hermione saw in a man like Snape. It just didn\'t seem logical to him. It seemed perverse, and now having Hermione so intent on saving him at the cost of her own life...seemed almost wrong.

\"Yes.\" Hermione said in a low voice. \"I intend on tracking him. And saving him.\"

Ron and Harry exchanged a look for a moment, both confused at the emotions her words swelled within them. It was Ron who first nodded, giving her a soft yet awkward pat on the shoulder. If she loved him, she loved him. Hermione Granger was like that, if she had her mind set on something, that\'s the way it was. One need only look at her SPEW association to see that.

It was Harry\'s silence that startled them both. Hermione had been almost certain that he would automatically congratulate her for such a daring venture, perhaps even offer to come along. God knew she needed the help. But he said nothing, and his light eyes were to the floor.

Before either of the friends could question him, McGonagall had appeared, looking shakily to Harry.

\"Potter.\" She whispered almost inaudibly. \"He wishes to see you-\"

She needn\'t clarify who it was that needed Harry, for it was evident. It was nearing the end. Everything in her Professor\'s eyes and tone told her that. Dumbledore was going to die. Right here. Still, in a selfish way, Hermione couldn\'t help but feel the initial pang of hurt at the fact that Dumbledore hadn\'t requested to see she or Ron. She was about to question this occurrence when McGonagall continued lowly;

\"-After Granger and Weasley.\"

Harry, who had been about to stand, now nodded and slumped back to the floor, looking to his friends intently. As if he wanted to warn them of something he knew nothing about. Ron looked shakily from friend to friend, almost afraid to venture forth. He needn\'t have worried, for moments after McGonagall\'s announcement; Hermione had stood, smoothing her skirt down in habit.

\"I\'ll go first.\" Hermione said automatically, her position as the group\'s overachiever clear. She was shaking inside at the prospect of losing all resolve when she saw Albus. Why, he was a father figure to everyone at the school, especially Harry and...Severus. Her chin trembled.

McGonagall nodded to her, motioning towards the Infirmary where the Headmaster lay dying. Hermione passed her Professor, giving her small shoulder a small pat of comfort before she began the trek to the Infirmary. The tears were already beginning to well up in her eyes and she silently told herself to stop. He didn\'t need to see her so weak, he didn\'t need any fear as he slipped from them.

She was nearing the door, questions ringing in her ears. Should she inquire what to do about Severus? Should she tell him everything? The baby, the life, the sudden love.... how she couldn\'t live without Severus? How she was so scared?

No. He had other things to worry about. For the first time in her life, Hermione would just listen.

The door moved open with ease as she pushed it, finding the white glare of the room to be almost too much. Madame Pomfrey was nowhere in sight, and Hermione gave a small sigh of relief at this.

\"Miss Granger?\"

The voice was gravely and melancholy in Hermione\'s mind. She could see Albus\' pale and shaking hand making its way into the air, guiding her to where he lay as if she hadn\'t known before. Another lump formed itself in her throat as she looked to him. So old, so frail, so weak. Where was the jovial Headmaster of not so long ago? Perhaps he\'d never existed...perhaps Hermione had merely envisioned him as such. Just as she had imagined Snape as untouchable, and look where he was now.

It seemed wrong that he was leaving them. Wrong that he wouldn\'t be there for the final battle. Wrong that he shouldn\'t live forever.

She made her way slowly over to where he lay, his eyes barely opened and his hand finally succumbing to gravity, falling with a rustle beside him on the bed. His eyes were mere slits as he looked to the girl, seeing her pained look of confused panic. He absently patted the side of his bed, shifting the best he could so that she could have a seat.

There was no indecision, although she felt minorly uncomfortable. She\'d never really been that close with her Professors, but Dumbledore had something different. She\'d given her trust to him almost immediately, whilst it barely registered with others. He was like the elderly grandparent she\'d never gotten to meet. A surrogate father almost.

She could too readily remember all that he\'d done for her, all the situations he\'d accommodated just for her. The name\'s she\'d called him, the anger she\'d displayed. The guilt and pity racked her, and she tried her best to remain composed as she sat on the edge of the hospital bed, looking down to Albus with infinite love and respect in her eyes.

She felt his gnarled and shaky hand covering her own and she smiled softly, holding back the wall of tears blurring her vision. His hands were comforting, and she was soon at ease, waiting for him to speak.

\"I should have known you\'d be the first to see me.\" Albus said somberly, his cracked lips curving into a mirth filled smile. \"Always first in everything you do.\"

\"Yes sir.\" Hermione replied respectfully, her eyes absently drawing down his pale and aged face. How he had changed before her eyes, and she\'d never noticed. He patted her hand once more, drawing it back to his side. Hermione was sniffling softly, trying not to whimper.

\"Miss Granger.\" he said softly, sensing her anguish and tears. \"Do not cry for me.\"

\"I\'m sorry sir.\" Hermione hiccupped, feeling embarrassed and bad all over again. \"I don\'t mean to.\"

\"Never apologize for feeling emotions, Hermione.\" Albus said somberly, looking to her blearily. \"Why, it\'s that what keeps us most alive.\"

\"I know sir.\" Hermione replied dutifully, wiping her eyes quickly. She didn\'t want to waste another moment on her tears. She was here for him. She wanted him to be more alive. More like the Headmaster she remembered. Not some frail old man in a cot, waiting for death.

\"Severus loves you dearly.\" Albus suddenly piped up, scanning Hermione\'s face as he spoke. \"He told me long ago of his growing affection for you.\"

Hermione was agape a moment, wondering how Albus managed to say the one thing she was never expecting. She knew that Severus loved her...recently in fact. But to know that he\'d known for so long brought supreme relief as well as comfort. The tears started again.

\"Even when he denied it at first,\" Albus was continuing on dreamily as if he were talking to no one in particular. \"I knew it.\"

\"You didn\'t find it wrong?\" Hermione inquired softly, not sure of how to phrase her question. She\'d thought surely that Albus was against it all. \"You weren\'t against it?\"

\"Of course I was against it.\" Albus said with a momentary smirk. \"I loathed the idea. I thought it was completely preposterous, yet needed. Then as time went on I saw a change in Severus. Small mind you, but a change. Then I knew I couldn\'t find it wrong.\"

Hermione fell silent a moment before responding. \"Not even my being his student and all?\"

\"Hermione,\" Albus said with a gentle smile, her name sounding so familiar from his lips. \"You were never his student. You were always his equal. He just never realized it until he thought it was too late.\"

\"Yes.\" Hermione said lowly, her eyes on the crisp white sheets of the cot. She was still suppressing the overflow of tears. \"Yes.\"

They sat in silence a moment, Hermione\'s small cries the only thing heard. Albus soothed her with his presence and kind words, knowing all too well the despair she must be feeling.

\"But it\'s not too late.\" Albus said firmly, looking to Hermione intensely. His words were thick with meaning, and he gave her the most comforting of looks. \"Is it, my dear?\"

\"No.\" Hermione responded automatically, giving Albus a small, gentle hug. \"Not at all sir.\"
_ _ _ _

\"It\'s far too late for you Severus.\" Lucius sneered as he looked into the pale face of an unconscious Snape. He shook his head quickly before standing at his full height looking down at the comatose man. The Great Severus Snape. Lying unconscious on a dirty floor, his chest shallowly rising and falling. How times did change.

He\'d moved him into the miniature prison moments before, on Voldemort\'s command. This was deemed a special privilege and so Lucius reveled in his new power.

How foolish the great bat had been. What opportunity he had given up. But Lucius had known it all along. At first he was merely detached from the girl, claiming she was a mere prize...and he had almost believed him. Until he\'d seen the change in his friend...the subtle change in malice. He wasn\'t the Severus he used to raid with.

But now it was different. He was Voldemort\'s right hand man now. He was the one with the real power. He was the one that would have the ultimate power when he disposed of all those Voldemort thought he had dominion over. He would be the most powerful wizard in history...hell, he could re-write history when was done if he wanted!

There was a small gleam in his icy eyes then; a feeling of anticipation swelling within him that soon dwindled the moment Voldemort stepped into the small prison, his reddened eyes scanning the two figures. The room became cold, and Lucius looked to the thin, jerkily moving creature coming towards him. He held in a repulsed shudder.

\"Up to a bit of fun, Lucius?\" The elder man mused darkly, scanning Snape\'s placid form on the floor beside Lucius who turned a slight shade of pink before shaking his blonde head. His mask was at his side, as the room had become quite stuffy.

\"No master.\"

\"I could never really tell with you Lucius.\" Voldemort continued darkly, before he looked back to the form of Severus and offered a small, despondent shake of his misshapen head. His bulging eyes scanning the lithe and lifeless body.

\"Foolish boy.\" he hissed, nudging Severus with his boot. \"He could have had it all...and instead he flits it away on a Mudbloodof all things.\" He shook his head once more, as if not fully understanding the man\'s emotions.

\"He claims he was in love.\" Lucius offered with a nonplussed shrug, not truly understanding the words.

\"Love?\" Voldemort scoffed, giving a dry cackle. \"What a pathetic emotion.\"

\"Indeed master.\"

\"The weakest of all...\" Voldemort continued distractedly. \"Makes any king a fool...I find it almost impossible to think Severus of all people could feel such an emotion, considering his past.\" He gave another sick grin, \"How easy it is to manipulate the forgotten.\"

Lucius continued to nod, not fully understanding. Voldemort knew things of all his followers that Lucius could barely grasp on. While he\'d known Severus a good part of his life, the man was as enigmatic as they came. He knew nothing of him. Severus shared nothing.

Voldemort however, knew much.
_ _ _ _


\"He\'ll see you now Ron.\" Hermione said as she came to the boys, sitting where they had been when she left. She slumped beside Harry as Ron nodded at her, standing and making his way into the Infirmary.

It was she and Harry then, both silent. Hermione\'s mind though was whirring, trying to find a proper way of asking Harry to come with her. Surely he couldn\'t oppose the decision? He was after all, the Boy who lived. It was practically written that he would face Voldemort at any cause. This surely counted as vital, did it not?

\"Harry?\" she offered quietly, \"I need to ask you something.\"

Harry\'s light eyes drew up from the floor to meet his friend\'s imploring gaze.

\"Yes?\"

Hermione\'s mouth slowly snapped shut, as she was unsure of how to bring for the request. Simply asking; \'Harry will you please save Snape from Voldemort?\' seems a bit brisk, and rather awkward. But how else was she to phrase it? How else could she ask this of Harry?

The time was now. There was no room for indecision. Snape\'s life hung in the balance.

\"Harry.\" She finally said diplomatically, seeing the worry in his eyes. \"Harry I need to ask you something.\"

\"Yes?\" Harry ventured again, this time a little more impatiently. Hermione knew that he was tense due to Dumbledore, and so she ignored the strain in his tone and tried to calm the rapid beating of her heart. Why was she so nervous asking her friend for help?

Because it\'s not like asking for a library book, Hermione. the little voice in her head called out, You\'re asking him to risk his life for a man he hates!

\"Harry, will you please come with me to find Snape?\"

Hermione drew her eyes up to meet Harry\'s, expecting a sort of understanding glimmer to shine from them, calming and assuring her that everything would be all right. A futile need indeed considering what they\'d been going through, but one that she desired greatly.

Instead she was greeted with a look of complete skepticism, and ultimately, negative. She knew the answer before he said it, although coming from him it still hit her hard.

\"No.\" Harry answered with a dark shake of his head, his eyes back to the floor. \"I can\'t do that Hermione.\"

Hermione fell silent, her hands on the stone floor beneath her. She hadn\'t honestly been expecting it. He was Harry Potter after all...he was destined for this. Wasn\'t he? She honestly couldn\'t understand why he was being so difficult about all of this...why, he\'d risked his life time and time again against Voldemort...why was now any different?

She felt her eyes filling with tears that she blinked back furiously. She didn\'t need Harry after all. She\'d been determined to go by herself in the first place. She would save Snape. He was her match...and she wasn\'t giving him up without a fight. Voldemort couldn\'t have him any longer. He was hers.

Still, Hermione felt her courage slowly crumbling as she was hurt beyond all belief that her friend of so long would leave her at such a time. She was afraid then, of facing Voldemort alone. So afraid.

\"Why Harry?\" she managed to choke out after a few moments, her throat feeling small and closed off. It was becoming difficult to breathe. All she could see was Snape, being beaten to death by Deatheaters...or being given spells of the unspeakable nature...all because of her. A tear slipped down her cheek, ticking the side of her lips.

Harry drew his eyes up to meet Hermione\'s glassy gaze, as he prepared to say something tentatively and then stopping. His lips slipped shut and he looked back to the ground. He was unsure.

His fingers absently traced against the cuff of his trousers, and again his lips parted, this time giving Hermione an answer she found she could not argue against, no matter how much she longed to.

\"It\'s because I don\'t want to die.\"

- - - - - - --

\"I wonder though master.\" Lucius said tentatively as he and Voldemort faced each other. He was sure to lower his eyes as he addressed the older man.

\"What if Severus\' feelings are one sided? What if the Mudblood\'s affection isn\'t deep enough to face death? She is after all just a child...and a bothersome, bookworm at that.\"

\"I am duly aware of the fact, Lucius.\"

Voldemort said as he gave Lucius a jagged smile. His teeth were jagged and vampire like, and whenever he gave any of his followers a knowing smile, all found themselves beyond repulsed. It was the way that singular look contorted his face into a most gruesome type of mask. It was beyond revolting.

Voldemort gave a knowing smile then, seeing the indecision on his follower\'s face. He couldn\'t do with that. It only took one rotten apple to ruin the whole bunch, and he\'d worked far too hard for that to begin.

\"Worry not Lucius,\" He cooed darkly, causing a shiver of apprehension to go up Lucius\' back. \"I have ways of knowing of the girl\'s affection, and believe me, they are deeper than expected. Much deeper.\"

Lucius nodded, not completely convinced. He knew that Voldemort had most likely read Severus\' mind, gone back to memories and so forth and compiled an assessment from that. But still, a girl\'s mind in his opinion was a fickle thing.

\"Just give it time.\" Voldemort said with a wry grin, seeing Lucius\' minute indecision. \"If my calculations are correct, it won\'t just be that disgusting Mudblood we get.\" He gave Lucius a knowing smile, speaking the final name in a hushed whisper of intense hatred;

\"Potter.\"
- - - - - - - - - -

Hermione was about to question Harry further when Ron appeared at the end of the hall, looking contemplative as Harry rushed past him into the Infirmary, not giving as much as a backwards glance at Hermione. She suppressed a helpless cry.

Ron came over to her, giving her a gentle look before sliding onto the floor. Many minutes went by in which they sat across from each other, looking to the floor and just thinking.

A small tear falling to the floor caught Ron\'s attention, and he viewed that Hermione was silently weeping. His rusty brows drew together worriedly as he moved closer to her.

\"Hermione? What happened?\"

\"Nothing.\" Hermione answered quickly, brushing the tears from her face hurriedly. \"I\'m just worried about Severus.\" she answered lamely. Ron said nothing, and instead chose to watch her a moment.

\"You\'re visit was quick.\" Hermione suddenly said, feeling the gaze of Ron upon her. \"Did he give you any valuable, sage advice?\"

Ron, knowing that she was referring to Dumbledore, gave a curt nod. \"Yes he did.\"

Hermione nodded, knowing not to implore him further. For if she did, Ron would surely do the same, and to Hermione, it felt as betrayal. As if she were breaking some unwritten code...a sense of solid sacred something between she and Albus.

\"Hermione.\" Ron suddenly said somberly, breaking her from her thoughts. \"I\'ve given this a lot of thought...and I can\'t have you leaving to get Snape back yourself.\"

Hermione was stunned a moment, trying to process the information. Is this what Albus had told him to do? Was he doing it out of his own accord? She couldn\'t be positive.

\"Oh Ron,\" Hermione finally said with a friendly pat on his freckled hand. Ron? Coming with her to rescue Snape? She could see him now, hiding behind a rock or something just as absurd. Still, the gesture was kind. \"I couldn\'t possibly-\"

\"You will.\" Ron said firmly, his face serious, causing Hermione to second guess her notions as he continued. \"I am coming with you Hermione, and don\'t try to reason your way out of it, because you simply won\'t win.\"

Hermione gaped at him, finding that this new Ron was quite a surprise. Where was the pale, frightened boy she\'d always known? She\'d been convinced she\'d have Harry to go with her, but considering his response she knew Ron was perhaps her last hope.

Perhaps he would sway Harry in the end? Yes, and then it would be like first year! Their mighty defeat of the troll! The occurrence in the shrieking shack! It would be the dream team reunited! It would be destiny....

\"Fine.\" She said with a shaky smile, her spirits lifting ever so slightly. She hadn\'t received Harry\'s answer yet. \"It\'s you and me Ron.\"

\"What about-\"

At that moment Harry appeared at the end of the hall, looking to them with a tearstained face. He needn\'t say anything, for already Hermione\'s sobs were becoming louder. Ron was shaking his head heavily as McGonagall -who had been standing idly by the door up until this point- covered her trembling mouth shakily with her gnarled hand.

Harry moved to her, whispering something to her as she blanched, giving out a soft cry before rushing to the Infirmary, leaving a stunned Harry to continue his long walk down the hall to his friends. He viewed as Hermione cried out, clutching onto Ron tightly for support. Ron merely looked stunned...and who could blame him?

Harry was in front of the two of them in a matter of minutes, and Hermione finally brought her face up from Ron\'s shoulder, enough to see the pained look that crossed Harry\'s features.

\"He\'s gone.\"

Harry\'s soft voice cracked on the words and Hermione\'s tears slid down her face more hurriedly now. It was real. Dumbledore was gone from them. He was no longer there to help them. Sweet Dumbledore...fatherly Dumbledore...dead Dumbledore. The pain seared through each of them.

They slumped back onto the floor once more, finding that the task of standing was becoming trying. They all felt emotionally drained, and wanted nothing more than the loving embrace from someone they loved. Hermione most of all.

\"What did he say?\" Hermione inquired Harry against her inner will. She knew it was wrong to ask...but she needed to know. She held her breath tightly, watching Harry\'s light eyes flick from her face back to the floor. He swallowed thickly a moment, and Hermione felt her own eyes falling to her shoes in embarrassment at being so forward.

\"Nothing much.\" He offered gravely, and Hermione knew to implore him no further. She had a feeling that what passed between Harry and Dumbledore was something she wasn\'t meant to, or just didn\'t, want to know. She felt ashamed for asking.

She leaned on her knees then, looking to her friends soberly. \"Harry. I\'ve got to rescue Severus.\"

\"I know.\" Harry answered darkly, not meeting her eyes. Ron gave a quizzical look to them both before looking back to his hands, his innards shaking. He was going to assist in the demise of Voldemort...if they didn\'t die first, that was.

\"Ron\'s coming with me.\"

Harry nodded once more as Hermione stood, motioning for Ron to do the same. Harry didn\'t look up as he spoke.

\"It\'s Snape\'s fault that he\'s dead.\"

Hermione felt anger mixing about within her, and even the gentle touch of Ron\'s arms on her shoulders did little to quell the fury. But she understood, she understood the pain and the fear. She understood the confusion and the hatred. She understood it all, but she did not believe the words he said.

\"You know that\'s not true, Harry.\"

She looked down to her haggard, green-eyed friend and felt a well of emotions stir within her. Some good, some bad, most confusing. She needed him to know he was wanted, that he was vital, that in saving Snape he was continuing on Albus\' memory. The pain of his death was so imminent that leaving to find Snape seemed almost unceremonious...but somehow she knew this was what Albus would have wanted.

\"I understand that you\'re scared Harry.\" She finally offered in a trembling voice. \"But being afraid never saved anyone. I\'m afraid now, but I know I have to save Severus. I love him. And while you don\'t love Snape, Harry, I know that you love me. So I\'m asking you now, as a friend who loves me...will you please come and help?\"

Ron was beside Hermione, fully understanding now and finding himself to be in a state of angered shock. Still Harry said nothing. Still he looked to his shoes and remained mute. Hermione felt another stab in her chest. It pained deeply.

\"No.\" Hermione said darkly, \"I don\'t suppose you will.\"

Hermione could only shake her head piteously at the dark haired boy, looking so dejected as he slumped against the wall. She felt pity for him, that was for certain. But she also felt anger, and hated herself for it, though she could scarcely stop it.

\"Good bye Harry.\" She offered dimly as she and Ron set down the hall hurriedly. She didn\'t want him to view the tears he\'d started. He wasn\'t worth them. Not now.

\"It\'ll be alright.\" Ron squeaked next to Hermione, patting her shoulder mechanically. They\'d walked a few feet and around a few corners when Hermione lead Ron into her room where they would gather supplies. They didn\'t need Harry. She needed Severus back, Boy wonder or not.

It was halfway through her packing when she realized she was crying. Ron said nothing, and instead gathered her against him, rocking her in his arms. She was surprised at the sentiment, finding that Ron often got flustered and awkward at such moments. She supposed the crisis had done something to him as it had all of them.

\"I just thought...it was right to have all of us together.\" Hermione hiccupped against his shirt, feeling her tears seeping through the fabric. She clung to him like a drowning woman, needing to find the comfort he could minimally give her. \"It just felt right.\"

\"I know.\" Ron said against her cheek, still holding her tightly to him. She slowly stopped her crying, and drew from Ron, who now looked a little embarrassed and took to looking around the room and trying to be helpful.

\"You think we\'ll need this?\" He asked hurriedly, lifting up a small book from her bookshelf. Hermione gave him a smile, wiping the excess tears from her face as she shook her head. She was about to instruct him on how he could be helpful when there was a knock at her door.

\"McGonagall.\" Ron said wincing as he motioned to the door. \"Probably coming to check up on us.\"

Hermione nodded, taking a deep breath. She whirled open the door, expecting a ghostly looking McGonagall to greet her. Instead she was inundated with bright green eyes and a tense looking Harry.

She gave a glance to Ron who looked utterly surprised, and then back to the boy who lived. She was unsure of what to say, and how to act now. She hadn\'t even the chance though, for Harry had already started.

\"Hermione.\" Harry said, breathing shallowly as he leaned against the doorframe. She drew her eyes to the suddenly young looking face of her friend and raised an eyebrow in question. He met her eyes fiercely.

\"I\'m coming with you.\"