My Gift To You

Chapter 20

Hermione waited impatiently with Harry. They stood at the top of the Astronomy Tower.

The scene below was one too gruesome to watch. Screams filled the air. Lives were lost. People were injured.

"We can't do this, Harry. We have to fight!" Hermione cried in frustration.

"I want to fight just as much as you do! I'm supposed to keep you safe. And away from battle," said Harry with a sad expression.

Hermione's eyes filled with tears. She was stuck. She only had Harry with her. Severus was nowhere to be seen. Dumbledore wast last seen fighting.

Hermione sat as she looked up at the stars in search of answers. She couldn't be going through this. Not now. Bree's birth was only a few months away.

She was already uncomfortable even if her stomach wasn't exactly big yet. Harry looked at her with sympathy. She wasn't allowed to fight. The man she loved was...lost?

No one knew where he was. Harry guessed he was battling Bellatrix. He knew Hermione was thinking the same. Her eyes were filled with tears, probably fearing the worst. She bit her lower lip, which was something he knew she did when stressed.

"Hey, he'll be okay, Mione," Harry said as he sat next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

She rested her head against him.

"I wish I knew where he was," Hermione said with a sniff.

"I know. We all do. But he's Severus freaking Snape. He's the Half-blood Prince. He knows what he's doing. Besides I don't know who would be stupid enough to duel him," said Harry as he smiled at his friend.

Hermione smiled slowly.

"You must be feeling sick. You just praised Severus," Hermione said with a smirk.

"I'm doing this to help you. He makes you happy. Therefore I am happy," Harry said with a smile as he hugged her.

Hermione sighed. She shook her head. Harry was selfless. Putting his feelings toward Severus aside for her.

Suddenly she felt something wrong. Something...off. She looked at Harry. He watched her in confusion.

"What's wrong Mione?" Harry asked as he looked at her.

"Something...I don't know what. But something is wrong," she said as she tried to concentrate.

"Like what?" Harry asked with a frown.

"I'm not sure--"she stopped abruptly as fear filled her eyes.

"Mione what is it?" Harry asked,now worried.

"It's--Severus. He's hurt," she said as she tried to stand.

Harry helped her up.

"What--how do you know?" Harry asked in surprise as they headed to the door.

"I'm not sure. I just do. It's a feeling. I think," Hermione said as she pushed in front of Harry, taking the lead.

"Hermione, you have to slow down," Harry warned as they rushed down the stairs.

"I can do that later. Severus needs me now," she said as she kept her pace.

Harry sighed as he stayed close behind. He made sure he was in reaching distance if she lost her footing.

They reached the ground floor and entered the Great Hall. Hermione stopped abruptly as she took in the sight.

Bodies lay everywhere. Dead, injured. All together. Witches and wizards rushed around to help the injured. Poppy wasn't there though. Hermione guessed she was in the infirmary.

She would be needed there anyway so it made more sense. Hermione teared up as she saw all the dead bodies. Her dead classmates, some children she never even knew.

They had died because of her. They didn't know her yet she was the reason for their death.

Hermione...

She looked around. Her face was pinched with confusion. Harry looked at her in question.

"Someone called me," she said as she looked around frantically.

"I didn't hear anything, Mione," said Harry as he frowned.

"I heard it. I heard my name," she said as she turned.

Hermione...

She froze.

"I just heard it again," she whispered to Harry.

His frown deepened.

"Hermione, I--I didn't hear it," Harry said with concern.

It was Sev. I know it was, she thought to herself.

Yes, my love. It's me. I'm hurt, Severus' voice came through her mind.

"Harry, it's Sev! He's hurt," she said as they ran toward the stairs.

"What? Is it him you're hearing?" Harry asked as he followed her.

"Yes! In my mind," she answered when they reached the first stairs.

Harry frowned. How did she hear him? In her mind of all places? How did he do that?

Harry would worry aboutthat later. Right now, he had to follow Hermione and make sure she's okay.

They burst into the infirmary as Poppy ran around, helping patients. She looked up at them quickly, giving Hermione a sympathetic glance, then carried on running around.

Hermione searched every bed as she passed it, pulling the curtains back slightly and moving on.

If Severus was hurt,he should be there. In one of those beds. She couldn't enter his mind like he could with her.

She didn't know how. Her breathing quickened as the number of beds left decreased.

She had to find him!

She yanked curtains back as she became desperate. She yanked the curtain of the one bed she was passing, and glanced in, moving on.

Then stopped. She retraced her steps and stopped where she had been a moment before. She pulled the curtain back slowly.

She walked in, stopping to gaze at the person's face. The crooked nose, the jet black hair. His eyes were closed. His hands lay limply beside him.

It was him. It was Severus.

Hermione pulled a chair to the bed. She ran her fingers through his hair. Tears escaped her eyes as she sat next to him, holding his hand in hers.

She raised his hand to her face. She squeezed it as hard as she dared.

She sniffled as Harry walked in. He ran to her side.

"He'll be okay. He will. Don't worry. He'll pull through. He isn't Snape for nothing," said Harry as he hugged her.

She climbed onto the bed next to him. She pulled him closer as she held him tight.

"No one will take you away. I'm here, Sev. I'll look after you," she whispered through tears.

Harry left her as a lump rose in his throat.

"I love you, Sev," she said as she cried,"Always, my prince. Always."