There, There

"...All of which makes me anxious, at times unbearably so..."

Hermione heard voices above her. Her vision was blurred, and her head weighed twenty times its' normal weight.

Into her field of vision swam Professors Lupin and Snape, and Madam Pomfrey. Madam Pomfrey was bending over her, applying a cool cloth to her head.

"They just- appeared."

"But Severus, one can't apparate into Hogwarts."

"Poppy, you must realize that with the Dark Lord behind this, anything is possible. He will use any means to get what he's after."

"Did they rape her, Severus? Is she okay?"

"Well, look at her Remus, of course she's not okay. But at least she's still alive."

"It's a wonder even you came round, Severus, I almost gave up hope until Lupin here appeared."

"Oh, how very lucky for me, then, Madam."

"Oh, look, she's coming round."

Hermione began to regain feeling in her body. It was heavy and unmovable. She ached more than she ever had ached before. She remembered nothing but pain. She wanted to cry, but had no energy for tears.

"Hermione? Can you hear me?" asked Lupin, shock and fear in his face.

"Y-yes," she squeaked, her eyes loose in their sockets. The vision of Snape swam into her vision. She immediately felt a surge of anger and confusion coming over her.

"What-why...why did you do that to me, Professor?" she spat out.

Lupin looked angrily at Snape. "What does she mean, Severus? Did you have any part in this?"

"For the last time, no, Remus. We were standing in front of the door to the dungeons, and MacNair pulled her in, and-"

"And what?"

"And that's all I can recall," he said, not entirely remembering what had happened. Only that he had talked to somebody...

"Liar!" shouted Hermione from her place on the floor. "I heard voices! You were talking to Lucius Malfoy!"

Snape grimaced, but went with it. "Yes, now I recall Mister Malfoy... it seems that he was not too happy to see me. Well, he was at first, but when I refused to partake in... the..."

"In my torture??" Hermione's strangled voice issued from her floored body. Snape, a twinge of something unfamiliar in his gut. Could it be... guilt? Hermione, with her trembling lip, look of insanity in the eyes.

"Can you tell us about it, then?" asked Madam Pomfrey, with a careful pragmatism.

Hermione, her eyes filling with tears, nodded. "But not here, please. I need to get out of here." The tears were streaming down her cheeks as she looked around the room, terrified, as if there were black shadows lurking in the corners.

Madam Pomfrey elevated Hermione into the arms of Lupin, who looked devastated.

"Severus, I must ask you to floo the Headmaster at once to alert him of this. He should have returned from his conference in London by now," said Madam Pomfrey.

He gave a curt nod, and watched as Lupin and Pomfrey walked out with a battered Hermione.

Snape was outraged, at what he knew not. Everything appears to be my fault now, doesn't it, he yelled at himself. If you hadn't been so utterly ridiculous in your attempts to fuel an old, as well as nonexistent rivalry, none of this would have happened.

He heaved a sigh so great that it would appear that he was carrying the entire castle on his back. He walked to the hearth and threw in a generous amount of the sparkling powder.

"Albus," he spoke into the flames. "I need you now."

After a brief moment, Dumbledore's head appeared, looking concerned. "Is this about Miss Granger?"

Not bothering to even ask how he knew, Snape continued. "Yes. It appears she has been- accosted.

"Sir, in case you are not aware, this is extremely bad."

"I am aware of the grave nature of the situation."

Snape became frustrated with the Headmaster's frankness. "Well? Is there not the option of performing a memory charm so that she will not remember?"

"Severus, do you really think it will do her any good in the long run if she can't remember the events of this evening?"

Snape sighed. "It's not as if it will help her. Usually, torture leaves one emotionally fragile, and Miss Granger is already on edge enough as it is. She will become entirely insufferable after this, especially after torture by command of Voldemort. Viewing it first hand, well, one just knows."

Dumbledore sighed, disturbing the wreath of flames writhing around his neck. "I know it is your wishes that her best interests are kept at heart, but-"

Snape began to protest at this. "Dumbledore, you know that's not-"

Dumbledore interrupted. "Severus, there is no need to make excuses for yourself. You can't pretend to hate everything or everyone forever. I think it shows character that you are worried about the welfare of Miss Granger."

Snape sighed again. "Well, of course I don't want her to die or anything, but it was as if you implied that I actually enjoyed her company by the tone of your voice."

"I did nothing of the sort," replied the Headmaster, with as much of a smile as the situation would allow him. "Well, Severus, I place absolutely no blame on you whatsoever. But, just a question, why exactly was she coming to the dungeons with you?"

Snape grimaced. "Well, I needed her to... double check something for me. I wanted her to... look over a paper. A second opinion was all I wanted. So, I found her in Professor Lupin's office, and-"

Dumbledore looked alarmed for a moment, but the look passed. "Well, I must be going to the hospital wing now to check on our young Miss Granger. Shall you be coming along?"

"Yes. I'll be there in one minute's time."

As soon as Dumbledore's head disappeared from the fire, he whisked out of the room, as brooding as ever.

*

Walking down the corridor with a weak and pale Hermione in his arms, following Madam Pomfrey at a long distance, Lupin bit his lip. She looks so vacant, he thought.

"Hermione, for someone who has gone through so much, you most certainly aren't screaming as much as I thought you would be," he began, trying to make a joke.

She gave a feeble smile, accompanied by a grimace. "I'm sorry, I just, can't remember much. Pain, that's all I remember."

He sighed, feeling angry. "I can't believe Severus. I can't believe him, I just- Somehow, I feel as if he knew what was waiting for you."

"No! No, Professor Snape would never... even if he doesn't like me as a person, he wouldn't. Dumbledore trusts him, he wouldn't have just let that happen."

Looking at Lupin's skeptical expression, though, she felt confused. What if he really had called her down to the dungeon in order to have her tortured? And in any case, what for? It's not as if she had ever done anything to him... Hermione stood firm, however, in her belief that Snape didn't mean any harm.

Though comfortable in Lupin's arms, the situation felt uncomfortable. "Um, Professor, I think I can walk it from here," she said, looking at him.

Lupin, pulled from his own thoughts, raised his eyebrows at her. "If you're sure you can, then okay."

He set her down gingerly, and she stumbled at once. "Hermione, I know you probably don't think it's very modern, but I think it's best that I carry you. Don't try to be strong, it's okay. Cry if you want, don't hold it in."

Hermione allowed him to pick her up again. She felt the tears brimming in her lids, but they were not for her torture. She had already cried for that. She was crying for the confusion she felt when she looked at her Professor, his eyes filled with genuine concern.

Does this man's caring ever stop? She thought. Oh, God, I have feelings for him. I have feelings for my Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. And I don't even know why...wait, that's a lie. Because he's sweet, smart, funny, and it doesn't hurt that he's good-looking, I suppose...

Hermione couldn't believe that she was thinking such thoughts. She blinked her tears back and shook her head, clearing her head of it. "No, Professor, I've cried enough for one day. But thank you."

The creeping feeling of affection came over her again, however, and she leaned her head on his shoulder, taking advantage of her position as victim. If it made him feel uncomfortable, he didn't acknowledge it.

What a weird night, she thought, as Lupin kicked the swinging doors of the hospital wing open. Ron and Harry will never believe me if I told them.

If I do tell them...