The Error of My Ways

 "Do you think they are going to accept your plan, Malfoy?" Ron asked for the hundredth time.

 Draco turned his tired eyes to the red-haired youth standing next to him and nodded.

 "It's the only chance we have," he replied quietly, "Voldemort doesn't know about me...I mean, the real me. My father made sure that no one told him."

 Ron shuddered slightly at the mention of the Dark Lord's name.

 "Yeah," Harry said with a smirk, "It wouldn't make Lucius too popular if Voldemort knew that his son, the son of one of the top Death Eaters, was conspiring against him."

 "I wish you guys would lay off calling him by name... it gives me the creeps," Ron muttered.

 It was the Monday after the Yule Ball. Hermione had been gone since just after midnight Saturday night. Although Sirius had managed to perform an advanced locating spell on the promise ring Percy had given her they still had to come up with a workable plan to get her back, and had spent Sunday doing just that. Dumbledore, Professors Lupin and Snape, Sirius Black and Percy Weasley were meeting in the staff room, discussing Draco's plan while Ron, Harry and Draco waited outside. They were getting impatient.

 "I just want to get her back," Draco sat down on a bench and drew his knees to his chin, "you don't know what Voldemort is capable of."

"I don't want to know," Ron leaned against the wall, running his hands through his hair.

Harry looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Do you think Voldemort will be able to sway her?"

"No way!" Ron exclaimed.

Harry ignored Ron and looked at Draco.

"Malfoy?" Harry asked.

Draco would not raise his eyes to meet Harry's. "Potter, if anyone has a chance, it's her but..."

"But what? Hermione is a strong person... she has a good heart... she just can't... " Ron spluttered helplessly as if the very notion was too incredible to even be remotely possible.

Draco turned to Ron with a serious look.

"It's not that... Voldemort plays on your weaknesses and your hidden desires. He manipulates every event in your life in such a way that you can't see a future without swearing allegiance to him. It's... it's awful... " Draco shuddered and rested his forehead against his knees.

Ron looked at Harry but Harry shook his head.

They looked at the pale boy with pity.

All three boys were deep in their own thoughts when the door to the staff room suddenly opened. Percy and Professor Snape, both looking exhausted, stepped out.

"When do we go?" Ron rushed towards him.

Professor Snape held up his hand as if to hold him back. Ron stopped.

"We need to speak with Draco first," Percy said, "It won't take long."

Draco got up off the bench and walked over to them. Harry noticed that he had an expression of resignation on his face.

"Are you sure about this, Draco?" Percy asked him quietly as they entered the staff room and the door started to close behind them.

"No," Harry could only just make out Draco's voice, "But it's the only way."

The door shut.

"What is Malfoy getting himself into and why do I feel he did not tell us what the entire plan was?" Ron asked Harry.

Harry shrugged. Something about the expression on Draco's face bothered him.

"He looked as if he was going to be fed to dragons," Ron sat down on the cold floor and rubbed his tired eyes.

Harry said nothing. He just wished he knew an eavesdropping spell.

 The door opened again and Dumbledore stepped out.

"You may come in now," he said in a neutral voice.

The two youths walked into the staff room and saw the others standing around a table with a conjured image of the house in question. Professor Lupin was talking to Sirius quietly. Professor Snape was giving Draco a small bottle of what looked to be a misty green liquid. Percy stood with arms crossed, a thumb rubbing his lower lip thoughtfully as he stared at the image in front of him.

"First of all, it has been decided that Professor Lupin and myself will remain behind to ensure the safety of the other students here," Dumbledore spoke to the group as if this was news to all of them and not just to the three newcomers.

"What is the plan?... I mean... Malfoy's told us a bit but... " Harry began hesitantly. Somehow, not having Dumbledore and Professor Lupin with them made him slightly nervous.

Professor Snape looked at Sirius, who nodded back at him.

"In order to save Hermione, Draco will ask to join the ranks of the Death Eaters..."

"What?!?" Ron exclaimed hotly.

"... and he will offer Voldemort a most enticing prisoner... Sirius Black."

"No," Harry said in a hollow voice.

Draco turned to Harry.

"Can you think of a better plan, Harry?" he asked. There was neither a smirk nor any trace of sarcasm. It was a question, simply asked.

Harry shook his head dejectedly.

"Ron?"

"Why does it have to be Sirius?" Ron asked the question since Harry would not.

"Voldemort has always wanted to capture Sirius almost as much as... well, others that he considered to be a true threat to his plans," Professor Snape faltered over mentioning Harry's parents by name.

"A while ago, I was captured but, before I could be brought to the Dark Lord, I escaped... with some help," Sirius glanced over at Professor Snape, who was busy placing a number of tiny vials into his moneybag.

"So that's why you aren't at each other's throats?" Ron asked, earning a glare from Harry and an amused look from Professor Lupin.

"It wasn't just that... there was much we had to discuss. But, in the end, well... yes, I suppose we decided that killing one another was not the most reasonable course of action," Professor Snape smirked, but without malice.

Sirius simply smiled and put an arm around Harry's shoulders in a reassuring manner.

Dumbledore walked over to where Harry was standing.

"I know this is hard for you, Harry, but it is the only way to get by Voldemort's defenses. We need to do something he will not expect to gain that element of surprise."

"I know that," Harry answered in a small voice.

Ron walked over to his brother.

"You're coming too, right Perce?"

Percy looked up at him and Ron was shocked to see so much raw emotion on his older brother's face. For a moment, everything was laid clear before him. Stripped aside was the façade of pride and cool professionalism leaving behind a vulnerable, soulful young man who was obviously suffering. Ron had never been particularly close with Percy, rather he'd always considered him to be pompous and horribly pretentious, but the last couple of months and the last couple of days in particular had shown that there was more to his brother than met the eye. In that moment, he realized that he cared about his older brother and that realization rather floored him.

"We Weasleys have to stick together," he prodded Percy in the ribs.

Percy grimaced and punched Ron in the shoulder.

"We'd better get going," Draco spoke up, a strange light shining in his eyes, "We have to take our broomsticks the whole way...don't want to give Voldemort any indication that we're coming."

The group nodded and said good-bye to Dumbledore and Professor Lupin, who quickly walked towards the staff chambers, presumably to call a meeting.

Percy, along with the others, walked over to the side entrance and opened the doorway. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day but no one took any notice. As he mounted his broom and took off, Percy reached into his robes and pulled out a thin silver chain he was wearing around his neck. On that chain was the ring he had given to Hermione the night of the Yule Ball. He clenched it in his fist.

He hoped they would be in time.

* * * * * * *

It had been a quiet journey and somewhat long. As they were traveling during the day, they had to be very careful to avoid being spotted by muggles. They could not fly too high so they took to areas that were more rural, offered some kind of cover to fly through and were not particularly well-populated. Progress was slow but they neared their destination.

"We should land here," Professor Snape remarked, "we can walk the rest of the way."

"I don't want to leave our broomsticks here," Harry protested, "we might need them for a quick getaway."

Professor Snape gave the matter careful consideration.

"We can bring them with us," he said finally, "You are right, we should be prepared for anything."

They walked the short distance until the house came into view. The sun was just starting to set and the dying rays gave the house a very morbid look, of shadows and light in all the wrong places.

"We have to get ready," Draco's voice sounded strained as he pulled out a coil of rope tied to the belt of his robes, "I won't make them too tight, Sirius."

Sirius held out his hands and Draco bound them carefully but firmly.

"How do the bindings that feel?" Draco asked when he was done.

"I can maneuver my hands a fair bit... it will be enough," Sirius answered.

Professor Snape checked Sirius' bindings and nodded.

"Harry, you can take out the invisibility cloak now," Ron whispered.

Without saying a word, Harry pulled out the silvery cloak and draped it over himself, Ron and Percy. To the others, they simply appeared to have vanished.

"Excellent," Professor Snape said approvingly.

"Snape," Sirius spoke up, "I look a little too... clean. Would it not be more realistic if I at least looked as if I had put up a struggle? It's a matter of pride... I certainly would not have run into my captors' arms."

"A good point... I see now why you were such an exceptional troublemaker when we were in school together. When you plan a scheme, you really think it through to the conclusion, don't you?" The Potions Master had a small grin on his face as he waved his wand. Instantly, Sirius' hair became matted and muddy, his beard rough, his skin looked as if he had not taken a bath in weeks and there were bruises here and there. In short, he looked a truly sorry sight.

Sirius looked at himself and groaned. "Don't you think you were a little too enthusiastic, Snape?" he grumbled.

"Realism, my dear Black... we are aiming for realism," Professor Snape said airily with a definite amused gleam in his eyes.

"Realism my..." Black's voice resembled more of a dog's growl.

"Quiet now," Draco admonished the bickering pair in a fierce whisper, "Remember the plan."

"I know what to do," Percy said in a firm voice, clenching his wand tightly, "You two keep him occupied, I'll take care of the rest."

"Right," Draco said, straightening up and grabbing the loose end of the ropes that bound Sirius, "Let's go."

And the group, three visible and three invisible, made their way carefully to the seemingly unguarded front doorway to the house.

* * * * * *

Hermione was sitting in an armchair by the fireplace, a glass of water untouched in her hands. She stared deeply into the fire, at the beautiful and ever-changing shapes of the flames as they flickered over the logs.

"Beautiful, is it not?" Voldemort's voice came up from behind her. She did not turn around... did not look away from the fire.

Ignoring her lack of a response, he sat down in the other armchair.

"Such a destructive power... able to level forests, cities, civilizations and yet, properly controlled, it is a necessity of life," he stated quietly, "It is the same with water... giver of life... destroyer of life."

Hermione still did not respond.

Voldemort glanced at her in satisfaction. He knew that she still struggled internally, that he had not yet managed to capture her entire soul. It surprised him that someone like her would still be resisting... still be fighting against the inevitable. All the others had capitulated almost immediately. She had been different. Her thoughts were still partially her own.

The sound of shuffling feet announced Wormtail's entrance.

"M.. M.. Master," he whimpered.

"Yes, Wormtail... what is it?"

"We... we... have visi... visitors... " the smaller man squeaked in fear.

"Really, how delightful," Voldemort drawled, completely unconcerned as he negligently held his wand in his long, pale fingers.

Wormtail gulped.

"Severus Snape and... Draco Malfoy and they... they have brought a prisoner, Master."

Voldemort stood up quickly and walked right up to Wormtail, grabbing him by the cloak and lifting him right off the floor.

"Is it the Potter boy?" he hissed.

Wormtail shook his head, fearing his master's wrath.

"Then who is it, you miserable excuse for a sentient being?" he shook Wormtail fiercely.

"It's Sirius Black, Master. Draco Malfoy has brought you Sirius Black," Wormtail whispered, starting to gasp.

A strange expression crossed Voldemort's face and, for a moment, Wormtail thought he was doomed. But then an insane grin slowly manifested itself...

...and he dropped Wormtail onto the floor as if he were nothing more than a useless utensil.

"Well, that is welcome news indeed. I do not know how he managed to escape last time, but this time...it will be different."

He looked down at Wormtail, who was still gasping for breath, with annoyance and kicked him sharply.

"Get up, Wormtail. Show our guests in. I am sure they will be interested to meet the newest addition to our group."

Wormtail, fearing another blow, scrambled quickly to his feet and ran to the hallway.

"Well, my dear," Voldemort came up behind Hermione's chair and idly ran a finger through her hair, "it would appear we have guests and most opportune, I might add. The arrival of Sirius Black provides you with an excellent opportunity to show your loyalty to me."

Deliberately, he traced the finger down and across her neck. Hermione did not flinch... did not move... she simply waited, the firelight dancing in her eyes. Unseen by Voldemort, one hand clenched into a fist under her robes...

"Master?" Wormtail's voice heralded the arrival of his visitors.

Voldemort turned around.

"Show them in, Wormtail," he answered in a mockery of politeness.

Wormtail returned to the hallway and brought in Professor Snape and Draco, who had Sirius Black bound.

Voldemort's eyes widened upon seeing Sirius and immediately walked up to him, ignoring both Severus and Draco.

"Sirius Black. Well, I must say that I had not expected you here tonight. To what do I owe the great pleasure of your company?" he drawled as he took in the prisoner's state with smug satisfaction.

Sirius simply scowled at him.

"You really are a most intriguing individual, Sirius. You are the only person I know to have ever single-handedly escaped from Azkaban. Not even the LeStranges, two of my most devoted followers, were able to accomplish that. I have always wondered what was your secret... What was it about you that allowed you to do what was thought to be impossible?"

"Perhaps it was the thought of blasting you into a thousand pieces," Sirius growled as he struggled dramatically against his bonds.

"It is nice to see that twelve years in Azkaban did not rob you of your pleasing personality. I am not surprised that, even bound as you are, Wormtail will not get within ten feet of you. You never had much of a backbone, did you, Wormtail?"

Wormtail simply slunk back against another wall. He remembered the incident at the Shrieking Shack far too well.

Voldemort turned to Severus.

"Well, Severus, I see you have arrived here as well. How is that fool of a headmaster at Hogwarts?"

"Does it matter?" Professor Snape replied neutrally.

"Am I to understand that it was young Malfoy here that captured Black?" Voldemort turned to face the young man with interest.

"He was responsible. He found out that Potter had been meeting with him and so he followed Potter out one night and caught him off-guard."

"Taking advantage of Black's reckless and imprudent happiness at seeing Harry. Well done, young Malfoy. Your father has taught you well," Voldemort laughed.

"Yes, Master," Draco responded in a deliberately subservient voice, "I hope that this will prove my loyalty to you and my eagerness to become one of your followers...to go in the same footsteps as my esteemed father."

Voldemort looked at Draco and nodded. "Capturing Sirius Black in such a manner is proof enough. The only thing missing is Potter himself. But that will come, and soon enough at that."

Draco noticed that Voldemort could barely take his eyes off of Sirius and was hoping that he would not notice an invisible trio of unwelcome visitors.

"I have a surprise for you tonight," Voldemort was talking to Professor Snape and Draco but was still staring at Sirius, "I have another visitor. Miss Granger, please come here to say hello to our guests."

Hermione rose out of the armchair automatically and came over to where Voldemort was standing. Sirius gasped. Draco and Professor Snape looked at one another briefly.

Percy nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw her. He had not realized that anyone had been sitting there at all. She looked all right, physically. He could not make out any bruises or anything of that nature. He wanted to move closer, to see her eyes, but he could not. Harry and Ron were holding on to him as if their very lives depended on it. And they were right.

"Miss Granger will become one of us tonight as well," Voldemort said, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"What, in the name of Merlin's ghost, have you done with her?!?" Sirius screamed

"Done? I have not done anything to her, you miserable cur. We have merely had an interesting discussion of who her true friends are."

"And I am sure you filled her head with your damned lies!!" Sirius screamed, looking as if he were ready to lunge at the Dark Lord. Draco kept a firm grip on the rope.

"Do you wish me to place a Full Body Bind curse on him, Master?" Draco asked.

Voldemort waved him off.

"Ropes have a way of cutting into skin that is most appealing," he hissed into Sirius' ear. "Crude, perhaps, but effective nonetheless."

"I am the one you want, not her!! Let her go!!" Sirius spat out.

"On the contrary, Sirius. I want you both. The only difference is I want her alive," the Dark Lord fingered his wand deliberately.

Sirius paled as he saw the evil intent in Voldemort's eyes.

"But, before that happens, there is much we need to discuss, specifically your stay in Azkaban. I am sure that Severus and young Malfoy will greatly enjoy your dissertations on the subject."

Voldemort turned to Wormtail, who was cowering in the corner.

"Wormtail, please bring Miss Granger into her room and then return here. We have... business to attend to," Voldemort drawled.

Wormtail immediately guided Hermione into the bedroom, unaware that three invisible occupants had also made their way inside. Wormtail closed the door and rejoined the group.

* * * * * *

Percy's first instinct was to rush over to Hermione but he placed one hand on his brother's shoulders and one on Harry's as if to tell them to wait.

Hermione walked over to her bed and sat down upon it. She barely moved. She barely breathed. She seemed barely alive.

Percy motioned to Harry and Ron that he was going over to Hermione. They were to stand guard at the doorway to let him know if anyone was approaching.

He did not want to think about what would happen if Hermione was already...

He walked over to where she sat, carefully and quietly. Kneeling down in front of her, he took her cold hands in his own. Her lack of a response frightened him.

"Hermione?" he whispered.

Nothing.

"It's me. It's Percy. Please answer me. I have been so worried about you. Are you... are you all right?"

Still nothing. The blankness in her eyes was heart wrenching.

"Please say something, Hermione. All I have thought about the last couple of days has been you. I haven’t been able to sleep because I didn't know if you even had a bed. I haven't been able to eat because I didn't know if you were being fed."

He reached up one hand to brush away a stray lock of hair from her face.

"Are you a dream too?" Her voice sounded strained, as if the effort of speaking was taking a great toll on her strength. "I have had many dreams lately... sometimes they seem so real... images of you and me... of me and my friends. But I have been told that I have no friends and have no love... but these dreams..."

"You have been lied to by the king of lies. You have friends, Hermione, good friends... true friends who are willing to risk their lives to bring you back safely," he said in a quiet voice, ever fearful of being overheard, although with the loud voices coming through the door, there seemed to be little risk of that.

"I have been told they do not care," she said in that same emotionless voice.

"Of course they care."

"I have been told you do not care."

Percy was taken aback by her words momentarily. What if she really believed that?

"That is not true, Hermione. I love you. I have loved you since the first time I saw you, although I did not realize it at the time. Do you remember that first night at Hogwarts, at the Sorting Feast? We were talking about lessons and you hoped they would start soon and how Transfiguration sounded the most interesting? I thought you were so sweet and I really did enjoy talking to you because you seemed so interested in what I had to say. In your second year, when you were petrified, I came to visit you whenever... well, I did visit you several times. I thought that I felt so bad because you were my brother's best friend. I know now that wasn't the case. The year that we finally won the Quidditch house cup... I... I almost kissed you out of sheer joy. I remember rationalizing that urge to myself afterwards saying that I had been overcome by extreme feelings of joy. Then, for a while I tried to forget you. I thought I saw a growing closeness between you and Ron and I threw myself into my relationship with Penelope. And then, Penelope left and I wallowed in self-pity until... until someone mistook me for my younger brother and opened up my eyes to what had been in front of me all this time. It took me a long time to get up the courage to tell you how I felt. It will take me a lifetime to show you. I love you, Hermione. I cannot put it to you any simpler than that. I love you. I do not want to go back to being the person I was when you were not in my life. I do not like that person anymore. I need you. I do not want to ever lose you."

Hermione closed her eyes. Percy felt a slight tightening on his hands...

 "Percy," Harry whispered suddenly.

...the softest of sobs...

"Percy, get over here," Ron whispered frantically.

...and a solitary tear...

"Percy, come here," Harry whispered, trying to move towards him quickly.

Hermione opened her eyes and looked at Percy. He smiled at her.

"I love you, with everything I am," he said quietly.

Her lips trembled...

"I...I..." she was desperately trying to say something.

The door to the bedroom burst open and there was a stunned silence. Percy did not move. Hermione did not move. They just kept staring at one another.

"I know," Percy whispered as he caressed her cheek. He then stood up, without releasing her hands and turned around.

Voldemort was looking at him with cruel interest. Behind him, Percy could see Draco and Professor Snape trying not to look concerned, although Draco looked as though he was in physical pain. He could not see Sirius or Wormtail.

"Well, if it isn't our besotted Professor Weasley. It seems I greatly underestimated your powers...I will not do so again. I do not know how you managed to get in here but, rest assured, you will not be leaving."

With a wave of his wand, Percy found himself bound so tightly he could not move a muscle and, indeed, found it difficult enough to simply breathe. Hermione's hands dropped to her lap. Voldemort walked over to her and, taking one hand, made her stand up.

"And now, my dear, the time has come for you to prove yourself to me," he announced, leading her out of the bedroom.

Percy found himself floating in his bindings and following unwillingly. Ron and Harry positioned themselves by the open bedroom door and waited for an opportunity...anything that might give them a chance. Professor Snape was casting furtive glances around the room as if to evaluate the various escape options. Draco was hugging his arms around himself tightly in agony. Wormtail still cowered by the opposite wall as Sirius, looking more haggard and exhausted, stared daggers at him.

"Stand here on my left side, my dear," Voldemort instructed. Hermione complied with a stormy look in her eyes.

Percy settled to the ground several meters away from them and stood facing Hermione.

Professor Snape cautiously reached into his robes pocket and grasped his wand. He nudged Draco to do the same. The young man, wincing, grasped his wand carefully.

"As you know, before a witch or wizard may join me, they must perform an act of faith... a means by which they prove themselves and bind themselves to me for now and forever."

Wormtail nodded nervously. Professor Snape shuddered imperceptibly.

"Young Malfoy has already proven himself by bringing me Sirius Black. For that he has earned the right to become one of my followers and he has already received his Dark Mark."

Percy saw Draco pull his left sleeve back and cringed when he saw the insignia of the Death Eaters upon his pale skin.

"Beautiful, is it not? Miss Granger shall be next. I originally thought that I should like nothing better than to have her kill Sirius Black but that particular pleasure shall be reserved for me... once I extract all the useful information I can from his head," he hissed menacingly at Sirius, who did not pay attention, focusing instead on Wormtail.

"Your presence here is certainly a fortunate coincidence, Professor Weasley, as I will have Miss Granger kill you instead."

Percy paled as Voldemort conjured up a cruel-looking dagger and handed it to Hermione.

She walked towards Percy slowly, holding the knife as if to strike him through the heart... her face, expressionless.

"Hermione, don't do this," he pleaded.

Ron was nudging Harry, both with wands drawn. They could see Professor Snape and Draco getting ready while Sirius simply stood and stared at Wormtail, thereby ensuring that all his attention was on him and not on the others.

"Kill him, Hermione, and everything you desire will be yours," Voldemort's voiced crackled like the flames in the fireplace.

"He's lying to you. Yes, you can have everything you desire but look at the cost. You will lose your friends... your family... your soul. You will have everything you desire... everything you want... but you will lose everything that really matters," Percy strained against his bindings as he tried desperately to reach her.

Something flickered in her eyes... a moment of confusion... indecision...

"You are mine, Hermione... finish him off," Voldemort urged.

Percy looked into her eyes.

"You are not his, Hermione. You belong to no one... no one but yourself," he said quietly.

She raised the knife higher... her hand was shaking badly...

"I love you, Hermione... no matter what... I love you."

She looked into his eyes... hesitated... the knife lowered slightly...

"Remember your drive for knowledge... for perfection... for power. Only I can give that to you," Voldemort hissed.

"None of that is important if there is no love in your heart," Percy answered calmly. "You taught me that."

Tears were forming in her eyes... silent sobs wracking her body...

... and then...

CLANG

The knife fell from her nerveless fingers, clattering loudly on the floor.

"Nooooooo!!!" she screamed, putting her head in her hands and crying loudly.

"If you will not do it, Mudblood," Voldemort waved his wand and the knife rose suddenly. Percy closed his eyes, knowing what would come next, "Then I will."

Before any of the others could react, the knife suddenly flew towards Percy.

The sickening sound of a knife making sudden contact with flesh could be heard.

Percy felt a sharp blow but, oddly enough, no pain.

He had not been hit at all.

Someone else had shielded him.

The knife protruded from Hermione's chest. She looked down at it in astonishment, as if questioning the reality of the situation.

"Hermione!!!"

"Noooooo!!!"

"You bastard!!!!!"

Percy could not make out the individual voices. He was momentarily stunned.

Voices. Screams. Curses. Wands drawn in battle.

Percy tuned it all out.

He suddenly found himself free and immediately held her.

She stood there unsteadily but slowly sank to the ground. Percy did not let go of her.

Percy had the vague impression that Sirius had captured Wormtail and that the others were focusing on Voldemort... but none of that was important.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, coughing slightly.

"Shh... don't talk... I have to... " he quickly removed the knife, causing her to gasp in pain. He immediately covered the wound with his hand.

Trying not to panic, he pointed his wand at the wound and tried every healing spell that Madam Pomfrey had ever taught him. The wound was very deep and she was losing a lot of blood.

"I love you, Percy... he tried to make me forget... " she was crying weakly now and her eyelids drooped dangerously.

"I love you... you are going to be fine... just hang in there," Percy insisted, kissing her cold cheek as he kept trying to stop the bleeding. She was becoming more pale and there was a bluish tinge on her lips.

More screams. More curses. A strange red-gold light... and then...

... and then there was silence.

"... love you..." her eyes suddenly closed and her head drooped.

"Hermione? Hermione!!!"

He suddenly felt a strong hand on his shoulder. Looking up, he saw Professor Snape, looking extremely anxious. Harry, Ron and Draco were behind him, pale with fright... Draco looking particularly bad.

"Percy... let me... I have some experience in these matters," Professor Snape said, his voice unsteady.

The older man gently lay Hermione down on the floor and was able to quickly close the nasty wound.

"She is still alive but only just. Her heartbeat is dangerously weak and she has lost a great deal of blood."

"Could we take her to a muggle hospital?" Draco asked, his voice shrill with nerves

"Then we'll get stuck with muggle law enforcement," Harry answered fretfully. His entire body was shaking.

"We can't disapparate to Madam Pomfrey's infirmary," Ron was fidgeting and rubbing his sweaty brown as if he had a massive headache.

"We can't disapparate at all... she is far too weak... she'll never make it," Sirius protested loudly, holding onto Percy.

"We can't just let her die!" Percy shouted.

"She will not die," Professor Snape said in a tone that left little doubt in anyone's mind. He quickly went over to the fireplace and threw in an iridescent powder, which instantly flamed to life.

Incredibly, Madam Pomfrey immediately appeared in the room, brushing soot off her robes and looking most concerned.

"I was hoping you would not have to use that, Severus. What has happened? By Merlin's beard, that... that's Sirius Black!! Severus... what is going on and... is that Peter Pettigrew... but that's impossible. What on earth... " she looked hysterical.

"Everything is all right and I will explain it all later. It's Hermione who needs you urgently. She has lost a great deal of blood... she... she is... "

Now, Madam Pomfrey was not the best mediwitch Hogwarts had ever seen for nothing. She immediately regained her composure and rushed over to where Hermione lay. She waved her wand over the young woman's inert form.

"She has lost far too much blood for a replacement serum to work in time. This must be done the old-fashioned way... she needs a direct transfusion."

To everyone's amazement, Professor Snape immediately rolled up his arm.

"Severus... I know you are concerned for her well-being but you have to be the same blood type as her in order..." she spluttered, somewhat in shock, having never seen him act this way before.

"We have the same blood type," he said quietly.

"How on earth would you know that?" Draco asked suddenly.

Feeling everyone's eyes on him, Severus turned to look at Hermione. He reached out a hand to touch her cheek.

Percy looked at him, then looked at her and then looked at him again.

"I know because I was there when she was born. I know because I filled in the required forms documenting her birth. I know...because she is my daughter."