A Sacrifice for Love

Thank you everyone for the reviews. Just so you know, I will not lose my job and Amy just may return. It has been hard to write because of New Year's, so much to do, but I am trying my best. Hope you like it.

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After brewing the potion like Amy had said, Severus Snape had rushed through the halls and to the Hospital Wing. Poppy Pomfrey had been sitting at a desk, dozing when he rushed by. He had run into Miss Granger’s room and warded the door. Amy had appeared beside him and watched as he poured the potion into Miss Granger’s mouth.

“This will work Amy?” he asked.

“Most certainly, my dearest Severus.” He heard Amy say in a silky voice. It sounded sad to him, but he did not have time now. He would ask her later what was wrong. He waited a few moments and there was no change.

“It isn’t working, Amy” he cried out, in desperation.

“It is the Snow White Potion. You must kiss her to wake her, Severus.” He gave her a doubtful look. Amy looked completely sure of herself. “Go on before it’s too late! It will wear off.”

Snape hesitated for only a moment. For the first time since meeting Potter and Weasley, he dearly wished they were here. Then he pressed his lips to Miss Granger’s.

They were soft and warm under his. Not sure how long he was supposed to kiss her, he waited. Amy was silent behind him and he wished she would tell him when he could stop. Unexpectedly the lips under his opened and were kissing him back. Her tongue slipped out and touched his lips. He opened his in response and deepened the kiss, forgetting for a moment who he was kissing and why. It felt good.

Suddenly, she stiffened. He pulled away in horror realizing just who he was kissing. She stared at him in equal horror. Blood suffused his pale face, turning it bright red. He turned to say something to Amy, but she was not there so he turned back to Miss Granger.

“Glad to see you awake, Miss Granger. You have missed almost two weeks of classes. You will need to study hard to catch up” he said coolly. She could only stare at him, her own face flushed and he wanted to kick himself. Was this the way he was supposed to be acting when she had saved his life? Without another word, he fled back to his dungeons.


Hermione stared at him in horror. He had kissed her. Her lips were still tingling. Her whole body was tingling in fact, including that special place between her legs. She frowned. Two weeks of classes? Oh my. She would have a lot of work to do.

She stood up, finding her legs a little unsteady beneath her but nothing she couldn’t handle. She found a thick robe on her bed stand and made her way out the door.

Madame Pomfrey was still sleeping and Hermione could see the dark circles under her eyes, so she didn’t wake her. The castle was quiet and she could see the sky beginning to lighten in the windows. Soon the students would be up and about so she rushed to the Gryffindor common rooms.

The Fat Lady was snoring in her picture and Hermione had to call her name three times before she woke. She stared at Hermione sleepily.

“Is the password still Snickerdoodle?” Hermione asked impatiently. The Fat Lady smiled. “Yes it is. You may enter.” She opened the passage and Hermione went through. When the door was closing, Hermione heard her say “Wasn’t Hermione supposed to be dead?”

Hermione didn’t stay to explain. She rushed up to her room, where the other girls were sleeping and quickly dressed. She wanted to get started on catching up before everyone woke.

Two hours later she was reading a book in one of the chairs when Harry and Ron came downstairs. She was a bit surprised because they were not usually the first ones up.

“Morning Hermione.” Harry said sleepily when he saw her. She smiled. “Good morning Harry, Ron. “ she replied.

Suddenly realizing who was sitting in the common room he stopped in his tracks. Ron, who had not seen Hermione and had not heard Harry greet her, ran into the back of Harry. Neville and Seamus had been behind him and they collided with Ron. Hermione giggled as the four boys fell in a tangle.

In a moment Harry was on his feet. He ran to Hermione and grabbed her. “You’re awake!” he shouted as he lifted her and swung her around. They were both tackled by Ron, who had finally realized she was there. Hermione listened to them babble, not really understanding much because Seamus, Neville and several others had also surrounded her.

“Stop. Stop. Hold on, I can’t answer you all.” She finally said, laughing. She realized that she was crying as well. She had not known what an emotional reunion it would be when she saw them. Almost everyone had tears in their eyes.

Everyone backed away, but Harry and Ron, who held her hands. They did not seem to want to let her go. “Professor Snape brought me back.” She said. She and Amy had agreed to keep Amy’s part secret. She did not miss the dismay on Harry and Ron’s face at that news.

“Well I woke up and he was there so I imagine it must have been him.” Her face flushed when she remembered how she had awoken. Harry gave her a curious look but didn’t say anything. He would ask her later when there weren’t so many people around.

They told her about the battle, about classes and about everything else that she had missed. She listened to them a warm feeling in her heart that this was where she belonged.

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Snape had come back to his rooms as fast as his feet would carry him. He had kissed Hermione Granger, the Gryffindor Know-it-all Princess. What was worse, he actually liked it. He had become aroused while kissing her. It had quickly faded once he had realized what he was doing, from his body if not his mind.

He paced his rooms wondering how he would face her. She was likely horrified at the thought of kissing him and would probably tell everyone what had happened. He wondered if he could explain to Minerva about the potion before she fired him. It might save his job.

As he paced, his mind racing, he suddenly wondered about Amy. It was not like her to just give him a potion recipe and disappear. She usually stayed to gloat over her successes but he had not seen her since he kissed Hermione.

Gah, why did he have to keep reminding himself about the damned kiss and why did he suddenly think of her as Hermione. He usually thought of her as Miss Granger, or the Gryffindor Know-it-all or part of Potter’s damned group of friends but not as Hermione.

He grabbed the nearest thing at hand, a glass decanter and threw it against the wall. Oh Gods what am I doing, he thought. I am letting that little witch get to me. I cannot lose control. He sat and took deep breaths trying to clear his mind. It worked, for the most part and he was able to concentrate on what was most important, Potions.

Hermione waited until she was alone with Harry and Ron before she told them what was bothering her. Harry could tell she had something on her mind, but hadn’t wanted to say anything in front of everyone. Hermione had considered what to tell them and decided to give them a diluted story.

“So ‘Mione, what is on your mind?” Harry said

She gave him a sickly smile. She knew he would not like what she had to do. “I was sent back for a reason. I didn’t die for a reason.” She started.

“You shouldn’t have died in the first place! Why in the name of nine hells did you throw yourself in front of Snape, of all people?!!” Ron interrupted. Harry gave him a quelling look, but raised an inquiring eyebrow to Hermione. He wanted the answer too.

“I don’t know. It just seemed right when I did it. Instinct.” She tried to explain, still not sure exactly why she had done it. “But it doesn’t matter. What matters is I am alive and now I have a task. It won’t be easy... I would like to ask you for help.”

Harry gave her a suspicious look. “What kind of help?”

“I died, Harry.” Tears filled her eyes.

“We know Hermione. We tried to save you.” Ron answered She could see the tears in his eyes and he reached out and held her hand.

“But I was sent back for a reason. A very difficult reason.”

Harry let out an impatient snort. “We get the idea, Hermione, just tell us.” So she did. She told them she had been given a second chance at life if she helped Snape find someone who could love him and care for him.

Harry stared at her as if she had two heads. Ron fell over in his chair laughing. “Difficult? Bloody hell, Hermione, just say impossible.”

“What do you want us to do?” Harry said, surprising her. She had thought he would be completely against the idea. Ron must have thought so, too because he sat up and gave Harry a shocked look.

“He saved you, Hermione. He brought you back to us, so if we must help him find happiness, then so be it. We owe him and as much as I hate the greasy git, I pay my debts.” He said.

Hermione gave him a sly smile. “Is that why you let Malfoy help?” she said. She had not told anyone what she had seen and she had no plans to but there was one question burning in her mind. “Ron, aren’t you dating Lavender Brown still, or did you break up?”

He gave her a confused look. “We are still dating. I think it is getting serious too.” He admitted. He did not understand Hermione’s laugh or when she said “You’ll never change Ronald Weasley.”

Headmistress McGonnagall rushed into the room just then. “Harry, Hermione is missing!” she stopped when she saw who Harry was with. “Miss Granger! When did you wake? Why did you not tell Poppy? She was frantic. We were all frantic.”

Hermione looked down at the floor and blushed. “She looked so peaceful and tired; I didn’t have the heart to wake her. I didn’t mean to worry anyone.”

The headmistress sat down heavily on the couch. “Mr. Weasley, please inform Madame Pomfrey that Hermione is here and is well.” Ron nodded and left the room.

Minerva McGonnagall sighed and gave Hermione and Harry a tired smile. “Tell me what happened, Hermione, when you woke. Please.”

Hermione repeated her tale again. She did not tell about the kiss. That was something she did not want to admit to. For one, she did not want to get Professor Snape in any trouble and another, it felt personal, like something she should keep to herself and treasure.

She shook her head and hesitated in her tale. Treasure? Where had that come from? A kiss from Snape was not something to treasure. She realized she had stopped talking and started again. When she was finished, the headmistress stared at her in disbelief.

“You threw yourself into the path of the Avada Kedavra and then woke up in the hospital wing with Professor Snape in the room, came here and talked to Harry and Ron? That is it?” she asked suspiciously. She had the feeling Hermione was hiding something from her. “What did Professor Snape say to you?”

Hermione pursed her lips and repeated his words.

“Glad to see you awake, Miss Granger. You have missed almost two weeks of classes. You will need to study hard to catch up”

Minerva hid a smile. She believed her about that. It was exactly something Snape would say, but she couldn’t get past the feeling that Hermione was leaving something out. Glancing at Harry, she saw he was thinking the same thing. She decided to leave it alone and wait. If it was important, Hermione would tell her.

“Do you feel up to classes or would you like to wait? I can have Harry give you his notes on everything we have been doing.”

Hermione gave Harry a doubtful look. She had seen his notes before. “Umm... I think I will return to classes. I feel just fine. I need to catch up.” She said, as Minerva had expected.

Minerva nodded. “Then you may go to class. You have History of Magic first. I will send someone with the rest of your schedule.” With that, she swept out of the room her robes fluttering around her. Harry watched her go with a small smile. Her exit was almost impressive as Professor Snape’s entrances.

“So what are you not telling us?” he asked bluntly. Hermione winced inwardly. She should have known Harry would see right through her. Ron, she did not have to worry about. He was oblivious to such things unless it slapped him in the face.

“It’s nothing bad Harry, just something that confused me and I don’t want to talk about it until I figure out what happened. Trust me?”

He grinned at her. “With my life, Hermione. If you need to talk, I am here. How did you know about Draco?”

She gave him a cheeky smile. “I have my ways. Race you to class?” without waiting for his answer she grabbed her books and ran.