A Debt Of Life

Hermione Granger had been feeling different for the last few weeks, and what ever it was, was getting stronger, the closer it got to her birthday.

She also had a feeling that she was being watched and tested at times.

Hermione had no idea just how right she was.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hecate was watching over her son Devlyn, and his new friends. She had over heard the tale of these mortals saving and protecting her son.

She owed them a life, and she always made good on her debts.

Just before she was going to appear and take her son back, she looked over at Hermione and saw something that changed everything.

He would be safe here, now she knew why her son was so happy around this particular pair of mortals. He sensed the difference in them like she could now.

She would do what was needed and then return for her son. Being who she was, she knew no-one should mess with destiny, or the powers that be. In other words, everything happens for a reason, and she had to let this play out.

*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~

The day of Hermione’s birthday the tri celebrated well into the afternoon, with food, drink and games that Devlyn could take part in.

Unfortunately, it was cut short when Severus suddenly stiffened and cursed.

His mark was burning for the first time since the night he had rescued Devlyn, and he knew he had to go and explain his actions to the Dark Lord, or be killed.

He left instructions with Hermione and sent a missive to the Order informing them that their spy had been called back into action, then prepared himself mentally and physically before touching his wand to his mark and disapperating to the location of the Dark Lord.

When he appeared before the Dark Lord he got on his knees and bowed his head as a sign of submission.

"My Lord, you have called for me!" Severus stated as a question.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*`

As the clock struck midnight a distinct pop sounded through the house.

Hermione rose from the dining table calmly, with two phials of potion, because she feared the worst was about to be faced.

She found Severus unconscious on the floor of his study.

She poured one of the phials of liquid down his throat, the blood replenishing potion, and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calmly think of what to do next.

What Hermione failed to notice was that a new power that came from within knew exactly what to do.

When she opened her eyes and looked down, she was surprised to see her hands, which she had set on Severus’ body, began to emit a small controlled light. It was as if they were glowing.

When she moved her hands, she realised that one of the major wounds that her hand had been concealing, was closed up, nearly completely healed.

When she focused her mind and body on the task of healing Severus and moved her hands over the necessary wounds, they slowly began to heal him.

It didn’t take long for him to look fully healed, but what Hermione hadn’t counted on was that the feat of healing him exhausted her, physically, mentally and magically. Hermione passed out beside Severus, whom was slowly regaining consciousness, unsure of what had just occurred.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hermione opened her eyes two days later and found a worried pair of onyx eyes staring back at her.

"Hi," Hermione said gruffly, her throat very dry from disuse.

"Hello, Hermione, you finally decided to join us I see!" Severus replied dryly.

"Mia!" Devlyn screamed happily as he jumped on the bed next to her.

"How long have I been out?"

"Two days, two very long days,"

Looking over to Devlyn both Hermione and Severus smiled in their own way, he was asleep with a smile on his face, and anyone who knew the child would recognise it as a smile of relief. And in that moment Hermione felt very guilty for not being conscious.

But the out right look of relief that had been on Severus’ face was almost worth the guilt, because she now knew that he did care.

Hermione realised when she was faced with his possible demise that the feelings that had been growing between them over the last few years, the ones that had started as friendship now went much deeper, and even though it was terrible to think of the circumstances, everything had come to a head because of this little boy Devlyn.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next forty eight hours consisted of a lot of talk, coffee and sleep. They talked about how Hermione had been able to heal Severus, and came to the conclusion she had been given some sort of magical inheritance, that helps her speed up the healing process of ones body. They also agreed that this great power had been influencing her decisions over the years, and thus it was destiny that she went into healing for a career.

Severus told Hermione that he was once again in the good books of the Dark Lord by informing him that the old manipulative codger Dumbledore was staring to get suspicious of where his loyalties lay, so he had to prove it without making it look set up. He informed the Dark Lord that it had worked and even though it had taken him some time to recuperate from his extensive wounds that his fellow Death Eaters left it had served its purpose and he was once again welcomed with open arms to all the order meetings.

The fact that it was done for a good reason, and that the Dark Lord was happy about the end result didn’t stop him from dealing out a large amount of punishment, including many doses of the Cruciatus Curse, a few slicing and burning hexes and the occasional bout of being used as a muggle boxing bag.

He had barley been conscious enough to apperate away from the Dark Lord, and had no idea if he would survive his welcoming back to the Dark Lords ranks long enough to get any useful information.

Now all he had to do was survive an Order meeting and life would once again be quiet, until the next summoning.