Hell is a place on earth

6 YEARS LATER

Hermione was studying for her forthcoming N.E.W.T.S. She had fallen asleep at her table. Professor McGonnogall found her moaning and sweating she could not waken her despite all the spells she tried. Severus Snape was alerted by the despair he felt in his friends paramour. He was the only person in Howgarts who was allowed apparate due to his double agent status. His skill at occumens meant that he could easily transport to where he was needed within a heartbeat. Severus quickly deduced that Hermione was under a dream charm and this was literally draining the very life from her. After quickly explaining to Minerva they decided that he should directly apparate her to the Hospital wing.

Madam Poppy Pomfrey was distressed to see her patient was Hermione. She loved this young lady who was not only clever enough to assist her in sick quarters but also took up the cause most dear to her heart, that of the rights of the so called lesser magical beings.

Hermione was placed on a bed and after an hours examination that appeared to be very thorough, Madam Pomfrey came from behind the curtained and addressed her audience of Dumbledore, McGonnogall and Snape

"There is nothing physically wrong with her, that I can find. No evidence of head injuries, no anaemia, no nutritional deficiencies, no signs of drugs, no pregnancy. in fact the opposite she is Virgo Intacta, no nothing that makes any sense. This has to be magically induced "

"What was her last mission for the Order, Severus? Can anything account for this?" asked Albus

"No, she was on a straight recon mission and out she had been following The Malfoy Family in Diagon Alley just to se who they spoke to, no danger should have passed. The only thing she did let us know of was that my Godson had taken the mark and that we told you of straight away."

"well there must be something" wailed Minerva " she is dying before our eyes"

"Now Now my dearest" crooned Albus "let us not count our proverbial phoenixes before the embers of the flame have died"

Madam Poppy interjected "Minerva is not far off, Albus her vital signs are crashing, her heart rate is racing, her breathing is erratic her blood pressure is in her boots all the fluids that i am putting into her she is seating out, her elimination system has ceased to function and if I cannot find a reason for all of this then I am very much afraid that is what will happen.

Snape took in all that was said and apparated to his lab he picked a phial from his innermost cupboard and came straight back. "I started work on this five years ago, it is yet untried,I do not know what ails her but if she is as near death as you say there is nothing to lose"

Wordlessly Poppy took the mixture and somehow managed to get the wretched girl to swallow. A few anxious hours later her breathing and heart rate appeared to be back to normal. She vioded urine via her catheter and her blood pressure was comming up nicely. It was a close shave, she would have to stay in the infirmary for a week to ensure she was going to be fine.

Two days later Hagrid came running into the hospital carrying what looked like a bloodied bunch of rags, he laid down on the bed the broken but breathing body of Severus Snape. Madam poppy came straight away. This was nothing she had not seen before,his duties of spy would one day kill him or kill the order. Asking Hagrid to alert Dumledore she quizzed him as to where he was found, shamefacedly Hagrid told her he was lying beside Fluffy his pet three headed dog but this could not have been him as the lute was continuously playing Danny Boy and this was Fluffy's favourite tune. He went on to explain that this tune also meant a lot to Snape. In fact their was a bloodied trail where he had crwled in order to get nearer the lute.

Dumledore appeared in the infirmary and saw that Harry and Ron were visiting Hermione, he asked them to take her in a chair to the Gardens as he was sure Ginny and Lavender were there too. Reluctantly but somewhat gladly they complied as they were afraid who on earth could do this to Snape why this man could cut his way through a whole herd of Norwegian Dragons just with his sarky tongue.

Dumlbledore looked into the mind of his faithful friend and paled, he quickly left to talk to Minerva. He needed a cool head if what he saw was true.

Later that night Albus related to Minerva the plan that he saw in Snapes head. The cause for Hermione’s illness lay at the hands of Lucius Malfoy. He planned to ensnare her through his son at the Samhain Ball. It was his intention to offer her to the Dark Lord and while Voldermort was amusing himself picking her brains and ripping her virginity away from her both literally and figuritvly he would use this time to overthrow as many of his followers to ensure a higher position for himself and his son and if the Gods pleased he might take the mantle of the Dark Lord Himself. Either way many lives were doomed and the resulting chaos would make the Bloody night seem like a five year old's birthday party.As he was telling Minerva,she shivered and vowed that with her last breath she would protect her favoured student.

In the Infirmary Hemione gathered enough courage to sit by the bed of Professor Snape, his unconscious moans told their own tale of pain and misery she felt helpless but then she remembered Hagrid telling Poppy of his dragging himself to hear Danny Boy one more time. Hermione sat next to him as they were the only two patients that night. She sought to bring comfort to this man whom she had a secret yearning for but who had never shown her any attention beyond sarcasm and certainly never addressed her in any other way then Miss Granger

With her soft soprano voice she sang

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.

And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me
I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

Severus opened his eyes tried to smile placed a gentle hand on her cheek and murmerd "Hermione" feeling brave Hermione kissed the palm of his hand and sang again, Severus closed his eyes and fell into a much gentler sleep. Neither of them noticed the Lights swirling around them. They were not to know that their pact was sealed by the Gods and always was from that night sixteen and a half years ago.

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A/N

What is to happen? will they realise they are for each other will the coming war tear them apart will Severus start feeling anything and what is Lucius playing at. Lemons next chapter as the Samhain Ball weaves its old magic