Wandering

“Merlin Harry!” Hermione shot awake at the sound of breaking glass. A loud thud sounded in the hall, sickeningly like that of a body, and effectively propelled her from her chair beside Severus.

“Gods Harry STOP!”

Hermione’s heart beat wildly and she moved for the door, when hot fingers wrapped around her wrist and pulled her back. Severus’s eyes opened and he shook his head, pulling her back beside the bed, where he firmly grasped her wand in his free hand.

“Let me have your wand.”

Hermione was taken by the fire in his eyes but shook her head in protest.

“You are ill, I will go—” but Severus was already on his feet with her wand in hand. He carefully pushed her back into her green chair before sweeping from the room. The corridor was pitch black, only the faint glow of the main rooms fire and an occasional gurgling sound directed him.

He arrived at the mouth of the hallways and stepped over Weasley’s body. Swiftly he bent to touch is sallow fingers to the man’s neck, where he found a fast pulse. He straitened and trained the wand in front of him as he rounded the corner. The scene gripped his insides so much that he froze in place.

Harry and Remus stood locked in a deadly battle against the bookshelves. Harry’s fingers curled tightly around Remus’s neck and he dug a silver blade into the man’s chest. Blood welled out of Lupin’s mouth and Severus could tell he was drowning in it, this was the odd gurgle that led him down the hall.

Snape shook himself, silently casting “Impedimenta” on Potter. He froze and Severus quickly closed the gap between himself and the men, carefully prying Potter’s fingers off Lupin’s neck. Potter fell back, pulling the blade from its sheathing and hit the ground with a crash.

Remus’s eyes were glazed and pleading, penetrating Severus’s as he carefully brought the man to the floor, kneeling with him cradled in his arms.

“MISS GRANGER!” Severus’s voice bellowed for her help as he pointed her wand at Remus’s throat, clearing the airway and allowing him a moment to breathe before the passageway again filled with blood.

Time seemed to freeze around him, the fire was warm on his back and its crackles and pops were the only sounds now, casting a yellow and orange light over the main sitting room. Leather, wing backed chairs lay toppled and a table lay in shards. Glass and water washed over the heart rug where a vase full of wintry flowers. Potter lay across the glass with the fire illuminating half his immobilized form, his hand still clutched at the air and the silver blade, now gleaming with blood, pointed upwards in his vice grip.

Remus choked again and clawed at Severus’s robes. What an evil twist of fate, to die by the hand of your most beloved, Severus thought as he cleared his airway again. Hermione clamored into the room and Severus was shocked by her lack of surprise. She immediately kneeled in front of him and took her wand back. Her voice was rhythmic and soothing as she chanted the spells over Lupin. Severus had a difficult time holding him still as his body fought for life.

How much time had passed? Severus was not sure, though his robes were soaked with the werewolf’s blood and his head grew faint. Sweat formed at his brow, damn this fever.

“Remus?” Hermione’s gentle voice called to the man in his arms. The blood had stopped and it seemed that color was slowly rising in his cheeks. His eyes fluttered and he moved to whisper something to Severus, only to drop away again. Severus laid him flat on the ground, worried he may drop him, and covered his face with his hands.

“Where is Harry?”

Hermione twisted to see Ron emerging from the hall, rubbing the back of his wild red hair. His wand swiftly pointed towards his friend and his color drained.

“He…he was asleep. I don’t know what happened. He was yelling, so loud. I went to wake him and he started. I…he didn’t know it was me… Merlin, is Remus all right? Gods Harry.”

Ron’s eyes were distant as if he were not speaking to them, he stared at Harry and then to Remus. Severus listened as they spoke, trying to stifle the waves of pain washing through him. Slowly, so he would not draw attention, he pressed the heel of his hand into his chest.

Ron conjured a stretcher for Lupin and headed for his rooms. Hermione got to her feet and slowly went to Harry. Her hand shook at the sight of the blade as she lowered herself next to him. His eyes were clear and wide and full of horror, a trail of tears glistened in the firelight.

“Harry…Harry I am going to release you but don’t you move or I will bind you again.” She reached to him with hands shaking so hard she could scarcely control them, and prized the blade from his fingers before releasing his bonds.

Harry slowly sat up and covered his face with bloody hands.

“I didn’t…I didn’t see him…it wasn’t Remus Hermione…gods what have I done?” Tears dripped from under his hands and his body trembled.

His words caused Severus to lower his own hands and look at Potter. Shakily he rose to his feet and found himself standing next to Hermione, resting his hand on her shoulder so that he would not sink to the floor.

“Potter.”

His voice had a detectible gritty sound mixed deep in the velvet tones. Harry lowered his hands and met the Professors eye.

“What did you see?” Severus inquired further. Hermione grew more concerned for him as he listed into her more and she rose to her feet, stealthily wrapping her arm around his back so that Harry could not see.

“Death Eaters…and then…Voldemort.” His voice was so quiet they could hardly hear him. Severus gave him a knowing nod and was about to speak before Harry shot to his feet. Hermione, worried that he was not in right mind, found her wand jabbing his neck and her eyes flashing with warning. Harry froze, defeat and self loathing plastered across his face.

Severus gently put his hand atop of hers and lowered it to the ground.

“It is not Potter’s fault Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley.” Ron had reentered the room to see Harry on the receiving end of Hermione’s wand. Severus continued.
“I believe it is my presence in this house, my proximity to you…that has caused this…trouble. You have all but one of the Dark Lords Horcruxes destroyed and I believe that he uses anyone with the dark mark to get to you. Mr. Potter should find himself right again after I am gone.”

With that he turned from the room, Hermione close at hand, and searched his mind for a place to go.

“Careful!” Hermione cried as his legs failed him, she caught him under the arm and let him lean into her. She did not release him until he was safely seated on the bed. He was pale, sweating, and hot to the touch. Hermione tried to touch his face but he brushed her away.

“You must leave me now Miss Granger; there is nothing more you can do.”

She did not answer him, but flicked her wand towards him to rid his robes of Lupin’s blood. She then conjured a cool cloth and firmly placed her hand on his chest, sinking him into the bed before gently tracing it over his face.

“I understand you have to go, but I will not allow you to go alone and no there is no use arguing the point with me. Harry has Ron to help him…I am not any use in a battle.”

Severus huffed, from her reaction to Potter it seemed likely she had at least some skill, had she not proven it to herself in the Ministry of Magic, or on the night Dumbledore fell?

“Rest a short while, I will gather what we need and come up with a place to stay.”

Exhaustion won over his need to deal with the situation himself and he found sleep faster then he had in ages.


A/N
Sorry it took a while to get this one out. Let me know what you think. Thank you!