Determination

IX: Exposition

May 1993

Harry had been hovering in the air ready for the match to start, when McGonagall had stepped onto the field halting the game.

Currently he and Ron were running behind her towards the hospital wing.

What had happened?

McGonagall had swung open the doors and taken them farther into the wing stopping at a bed towards the back.

Harry felt all the blood rush out of his face.

"Hermione..." he heard Ron say beside him.

Their friend lye on the hospital bed unmoving, and ashen.

Petrified.

The two boys went to move closer when they heard it.

"When will she wake?"

At first the two thought the voice was directed at them but when they cautiously turned to look they realized it wasn't.

No, the question was directed at a somber madame Pomfry, from one Professor Snape across the way.

He held the hand of whomever was in the bed, the boys were not at a height advantage to see who it was from so far.

"I don't know Professor, it's just lucky you found the two when you did. I don't know if she would have made it otherwise." Madame said to him softly.
"I've healed what I could, but unless we find out what's poisoning her, I'm afraid it doesn't look good."

Snape took a shaky breath in, before leaning over the bed ridden lump and then quickly storming out of the hospital wing.

Harry left Ron with Hermione, and he approached the Madame and the mystery person in the bed.

As he neared the bed he saw many bandages covering almost every inch of the person. His breath catching in his throat again at the sight of the person laying there unconscious, chest hardly moving but for minuscule rises and falls.

Miss Night lye in the bed in front of him.

"She was found next to your friend." Madame told him.
"We assume trying to protect her from whatever attacked them. Professor Snape found them both and brought them here."

From what he understood Professor Night wasn't a muggleborn, and those were the only people the monster had attacked so far.

So why was she?

Why in this way?

What even happened?

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July 1993

Severus walked along the desolate hallways of the old Blood of Night mansion.

Mason always hated this place. He thought.

Nothing had changed much in that respect. The mansion was empty, barren, except for its one occupant. One who couldn't even enjoy the gothic vaulted ceilings, or the intricate stain glass windows.

A single occupant Severus went to see for a single day every year.

He had made a promise after all.

No matter how much he hated himself for going, July 31st came around every year, and he found himself back in these same halls.

He followed the same path as always that lead him straight towards the room that was supposed to be meant for her, but was now home to him.

Severus sat on the chair in the otherwise empty room and started the same way he always did.

With her.

"She's back at Hogwarts this year. She still doesn't remember who she is, but she's the most like her old self than I've ever seen her. Her hair is still blue too, she told me you always liked it that color.

Lockhart was there too this year, chased her around like he used to. Never got him anywhere, predictably, but it was funny watching him try nonetheless.

You should be proud to note, she only lost it once this year. No insane surges of power, and I don't think any of the students were intelligent enough to notice the few small incidents she did have."

Severus sighed

Honestly he always felt ridiculous doing this, giving updates to someone who likely couldn't hear him and definitely couldn't answer.

"We almost lost her again, a fucking basilisk if you could believe it. May stood between that giant creature and one of the muggleborn students. Figures really, it's such a blood traitor thing to do, you probably would have done the same.

Than as if some knight in shining armor here comes Potter! Who killed the basilisk, and stopped the return of the dark lord once again.

Then he saved May.
Phoenix tears.
Who could have figured it out but him?

I am grateful he saved her.
I just....
I don't know if I can protect her if they're close."

Severus looked at the lump in the bed next to him, Forever asleep.

"Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban."

No one knowing they're here.

"That's not really your problem though is it?"

Severus sighed again before he continued recounting everything that happened since the last time he was here.

Last July 31st.

But someone could hear him, and they hungrily took all this information he was spilling and saved it in their memories

for a time they could use it.

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