It had been a long time since she had sat down and listened to someone play the violin, and it was coming from a basement. Well, it was coming from below her and considering she was sitting on the roof she guessed it probably wasn't the basement. In all fairness, it was probably from the room directly below her since she could hear it quite clearly, maybe a window was open. She loved the sound of the violin, ever since she was a little girl and she listened to her grandfather. The deep notes pulled tears to her eyes and the high chords made them fall. She'd been sitting there for nearly two hours listening to the violin sing, unable to pull herself away. Unfortunately, she had a schedule to keep and if Hermione Granger was anything she was punctual.

Huffing quietly to herself over her nonsense tears she stood and started to make her way to the stairs but only managed to get a couple of feet before the violin stopped and thundering footsteps were racing towards her. She'd been sitting there so long the silencing charm had worn off. Cursing quietly to herself she tried to think of a way to get out without being seen. Suddenly inspiration struck.

She apparated down to the alley below and quickly wrapped Harry's cloak around her not even daring to take a breath. Not that it would have mattered, his harsh breathing as he leaned over the ledge to check the alley would have completely covered hers. He looked desperately up and down trying to find whoever had been on his roof. The tight crease between his eyebrows showed his frustration at finding nothing and she knew that it would be bringing on a headache, from personal experience. Just as she nearly gasped in a breath he pulled back and she heard his trek back to the internal stairs. She cast a new silencing charm and apparated to the into a small but dense thatch of trees near the Albion Gate entrance of Hyde Park.

Folding the cloak gave her time to take a deep breath and re-sort her thoughts. She was calling in a few favours. She wasn't even sure it would work but she was damn well going to try.

She was doing this for Severus. He still hadn't woken up.

There was brain activity and all the medical and magical scans came back within normal limits. It was obviously just him being stubborn, but as that wasn't a first for Hermione she pushed through.

The venom from Nagini's bite was devastating, it was liquifying his flesh before her eyes, not to mention the massive gouges taken by her fangs. Hermione grabbed a towel to soak up the initial flood of blood and venom, as soon as red and a shocking fluorescent yellow started to stain her fingers she pulled the towel away to see the damage. With the blood oozing out rather than flooding, she could see all the layers down past his hyoid bone flayed open before her. She could barely believe that Nagini hadn't ripped open this larynx. Choking back sobs and the incredible urge to throw up she drew Bellatrix's wand from her sleeve and began any healing incantation she could think of. The skin was knitting but the venom was still inside, at least she has stemmed the bleeding. As she searched through her supplies for any anti-venom she could get her hands on. In-between each round of searching she'd pour blood replenishing potion down this throat, massaging the tender area to force him to swallow. The twinge his closed eyes made at the contact was enough to make her laugh as she took again to having a search. A hand on her wrist shocked her but the cool vile against her palm and the ferocious look in Severus' now open eyes pushed her to action. She immediately poured the potion down his throat keeping eye contact and continuing to make his swallow manually. As the potion started to disperse in his system he closed his eyes and started breathing shallowly but consistently.

"Florrie!" Hermione yelled. A pop behind her was most welcome.

"Florrie is here Missy Hermione, is I be taking the Headmaster back to the castle? To the hospital?" the sweet house elf asked coming closer to the two figures huddled in the corner.

"Please Florrie, and protect him with everything you've got, we need him," Hermione said before standing and making her way back to battle. A last glance back showed the little house elf Hermione trusted with her life gently patting the cheek of a pallid, unconscious Severus Snape and the sight made her smile. One last smile before her life crashed and burned.

The memory from years ago re-surfaced as Hermione reminded herself why she had left. Shaking herself out of the past and putting on the happiest face she could she strode out of the trees.

She'd timed the walk to a leisurely half hour from the park to the apartment. Today Hermione had gotten there in twenty-five.

There were only seconds between the knock and the flurry of arms engulfing her.

"Oh, Hermione! Let me look at you. Oh, you've grown so much I can't believe it. Oh, I feel so old, look at me. But you look amazing honey, I can't believe you're back. I've missed you so much," the woman finished her greeting by dragging Hermione inside.

"Mrs Hudson, it's lovely to see you too. I've missed you so much, I know that dad would have loved to visit too but they are too busy at their practice in Australia, you know how it is, unfortunately," Hermione replied, knowing where Mrs Hudson would take the line of questioning. Kerbing the inquiries into her parent's new lives was the top priority.

"Of course Love, of course. Anyway, there wouldn't be enough room in the lower apartment for you if Helen and Robert were here too. I remember how independent you were even at a young age. Why I even remember the time when you decided to take yourself, by taxi mind you, to the library when you were visiting. Without telling anyone young miss. All of 7 and there you were in the middle of London Library trying to reach the psychology shelf because you had the notion you'd like to know what people were thinking. I think your parents nearly died laughing on the inside but you coul…"

"Mrs Hudson," Hermione interrupted. "I remember, and I am appropriately embarrassed. I have just arrived from Australia though and could really use a nap. I'd love nothing more than to come back for morning tea tomorrow. I even have that special blend you told me you'd run out of," she bribed, needing just a moment to herself to do some organizing before tomorrow. It was already 6 in the evening.

"Oh yes of course Dear. Just let me get you the key. I can introduce you to your neighbours tomorrow at tea. Oh, it'll be lovely. They'll love you," Mrs Hudson conceded remembering the jet lag of her youth and taking pity on the young woman in her kitchen.

It only took them a moment for Hermione to be shown to her new lodgings and with a last crushing hug from the surprisingly strong woman she was finally alone.

A huge sigh left the woman and she flopped down on the couch that was already there. The huge plume of dust that exploded around her caused a sneezing fit that covered the sound someone at the door picking the lock. The sneezing also managed to cover up the door opening and nearly the cough to get her attention. But not quite.

She rolled off the couch and immediately into a fighting stance but having enough forethought not to draw her wand.

"Well, I wasn't entirely sure what I was expecting but another soldier was not it. John look, you've got a new buddy."