Hey guys, getting pretty tense in the plot now... Let's see what happens. This chapter will be a bit shorter as we are nearing the finale!

Usual Disclaimer: Plot belongs to me, characters belong to J.K Rowling x

Chapter 19 - Saving Hermione Granger

She could feel the soft comfort of the pillow beneath her head. The warmth of the fire coming from the hearth opposite where she lay. She could hear voices in the room next to her, in deep, serious discussion. She could hear the anger and tension in their voices. She could feel the power of her ring slowly healing her body. She felt weak. Her vision was blurred as she awoke, opening her eyes, squinting them at first from the reaction of her eyes meeting the light of the candles that lit the room. Slowly she looked around, recognising the study, memories of what had happened not long ago rushing back to her.

Slowly, Hermione pushed herself up on the red sofa that she had been laid upon, pushing the blanket down off of her that had been placed neatly on top of her. She peered above the back of the sofa where she saw the door was open ajar. With what strength she could muster, she hoisted herself into a seating position, took a few deep breaths before placing her hands either side of where she sat, using all her mite to get herself to stand. She bit down on her lip hard to refrain from letting any noise escape her mouth as her muscles begged for no weight to be put on them as they strained.

She used the sofa as her support as she made her way around it, silently creeping towards the door. She outstretched her left arm as she readied herself to let go of the sofa, knowing full well she was too weak to support her own weight. She made a grunting noise as she pushed herself off the sofa, and used her outstretched arm to grab a hold of the door handle. She took a few seconds to compose herself. Hermione inhaled slowly before she opened the door, doing so in a manner that it would not creak. She looked left and right down the corridor before sneaking out of the study, using the wall now as support, her hand gliding along the cold stones as she shuffled along the slabs beneath her feet. Her body making it very clear of its rejection of her movement.

Wincing with every step she took, she made it to the end of the corridor, where the voices were now louder and more prominent. Her Master was angry, and his followers were scared. She knew that without even having to hear what they were discussing.

'The boy has them all?' A voice she recognised as Dolohov's.

'All but one. And he is in the process of destroying them.' Voldemort hissed.

'My power's are not what they were. Hermione Granger is our last hope.'

Hermione's eyes widened slightly. She looked down at her bump, astounded how much the child has already endured before even entering this world, and how much she has already survived. He needed Hermione for her powers, and for the heir. The curse that the Dark Lord hit her with had somewhat dulled the ring. It still consumed her, but it wasn't as powerful as what it was. Not now that it's concentrating on healing her, it was controlling her far less.

'Lucius...' Voldemort's cold tone continued. 'Your son has dishonoured your family name. He has been unfaithful. Let it be known that this is punishable by death.'

Lucius stuttered 'M-My Lord... Bu-But Severus... He...'

'Severus has been testing my patience, Lucius. That much is true. But he did not join the opposition to fight against me.'

Hermione's ear was pressed firmly against the door, trying to listen to every word.

'We are only a few months away from the birth of my heiress. Let it be known that when she is of age, she, too, will not let mistakes that your son has made pass her by.'

Hermione pushed herself away from the door and turned away from it, leaning herself on the wall.

He can't corrupt her... He can't...

Just as Hermione was lost in thought, she heard footsteps coming down the corridor.

Shit

Hermione attempted to rush back to the study but she stumbled, just as she was about to brace herself for impact, strong arms, clad in black, grabbed her before she could fall. She looked up into the dark eyes of her Potion's Master. Her stomach did flips, she could feel butterflies in her abdomen, and a pang in her chest. It had been a long time since she had felt that.

I'm gaining control.

'Professor Snape...'

'Miss Granger, you should be resting.' He whispered as he picked her up bridal style and carried her to the study, placing her back on the sofa. Hermione let out a groan of discomfort.

'What were you thinking?' Snape's tone was harsh, but she could hear the caring in it too.

'I was just- AH!' Hermione's hand instantly went to cradle her bump. Snape rushed to her side in a second, kneeling by her.

'Miss Granger, what is it?'

'The baby... she kicked.' Hermione rubbed her stomach. 'Little bugger.'

Snape's shoulders un-tensed as he sighed in relief.

'Help me get out of here.' She said quietly. He looked up at her, searching her eyes. This was the Hermione he fell in love with. She was slowly coming back. But the ring, she'll never fully be back until that ring is gone.

'Miss Granger, I-'

'Professor Sna... Severus... Please...' Her eyes were pleading. He looked away and stood up, turning to face the fire, his hands clasped behind his back. He couldn't look at her. Her eyes were begging him for an escape. One he wants to give to her, more than anything. How his name sounded on her lips, her usual tone and not her dark, sadistic one, brought so much back. He wanted nothing more than to just run away with her, raise the child, be a family, spend the rest of his life with the woman he loves. But it's not as simple as that. Nowhere near as simple as that. Her life was at risk. And so was the child's. He knows the Dark Lord is growing weaker as the horcruxes are slowly being destroyed, but he was still a powerful wizard, a force to be reckoned with.

'You must rest.' He stated plainly before he swept out of the study.

'Sev... Ugh.' She slammed her head back onto the pillow and closed her eyes, temporarily accepting defeat.

There it was, Salazar Slytherin's locket. Destroyed in Dumbledore's desk drawer, next to Marvolo Gaunt's ring and Tom Riddle's diary.

Harry had just come bursting in with Helga Hufflepuff's cup, a basilisk fang penetrating it.

'Three more to go.' Dumbledore said tiredly.

Harry shook his head. Dumbledore looked at him in confusion.

'Just the one...'

'What do you mean?' He said, bewildered.

'We found Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem. After Helena's "If you have to ask, you'll never know. If you know, you need only ask" codswallop, we fathomed it was the Room of Requirement. Crabbe tried to set the place on fire, ended up killing himself in the process.' Harry shrugged 'But it's dealt with, it's was destroyed in the fire.'

Dumbledore raised his eyebrow but nodded. 'As much as you despised the boy, a loss is still a loss and he was a student after all.' Dumbledore's tone was stern.

'My apologies, Headmaster.'

'And Nagini?'

'Interestingly enough Headmaster... That was Neville! During the fight, Neville managed to summon Godric Gryffindor's sword from the sorting hat, and used it to take Nagini's head.'

Dumbledore nodded in amazement.

'Professor... I know I am one of the horcurxes...'

Dumbledore then looked away.

'Harry...'

'Correction, I was.'

'Was?'

'Headmaster, when Voldemort struck Hermione with the curse, her ring deflected it the worst part of it. What he didn't see was, what made her collapse and... bleed...' Harry went pale at the memory. Dumbledore put his hand on the boy's shoulder.

'It's alright, Harry. Please, continue...'

'She muttered a spell before she was struck, I don't know what it was, I only just heard it. She must have used the power of the ring, the curse and the power's of the baby to detach the part of his soul that lived inside of me... She destroyed the second to last horcrux without him realising, and that is what damaged her.'

'Remarkable... She truly is the brightest witch of her age.' Dumbledore muttered in bewilderment.

'I believe we can win this, Professor. But there's the matter of the baby...'

Dumbledore's eyes sparkled momentarily.

'My boy, there is a way she and her baby can survive...' Harry's face lit up.

'But how?'

'You remember the true love's kiss that woke Miss Granger from her coma?'

Harry nodded in disgust.

'The ring wanted her to love Lucius. And because the ring controlled her, she did as it wanted.'

'So...' Harry trailed off.

'So, Harry, it is not Lucius she loves-'

'Professor Snape!' Harry interrupted and slapped his head with the palm of his hand.

'Of course!'

'I believe that is how the ring can be removed. Love is stronger than any spell or curse. I think it is that love. The love that she has for you, for her friends, and for Severus is what is trying to claw its way past the ring's hold on her. That's why she took control and destroyed the horcrux inside of you. As soon as she looked at you, Harry, she felt that love. She needed to learn to love Severus again, and she is doing so, the ring has been putting a barrier there. But she is fighting through it.'

'But the baby...'

'Ah yes, if this ring is removed from Hermione, she will still have enough power to bring down Lord Voldemort.'

'But the last part of him lives inside the baby...?' Harry looked at Dumbledore confused.

'Voldemort struck her. That curse should have killed her, Harry. But it didn't. As you said the ring deflected the worst of it. But this incantation you speak of, not only did it destroy the part of him that lived inside of you. He killed the part of him that was living inside the baby as well, via his own hand.'

Realisation started to hit Harry.

'So what you're saying is... All of the horcruxes... '

'He is defenceless, Harry. It's just him now. He's fed his powers into Miss Granger. Let us hope she uses them to destroy him. Let us also hope it does not cost her her life.'

Harry was dumbfounded. He was amazed. Yet he was also concerned.

'So if she makes it and the baby makes it... And the child is no longer Voldemort's... Then... Who is the father...?'

A soft smile tugged at Dumbledore's lips.

'She will either be a Snape or a Malfoy. There is no knowing until she is born. But I have my suspicions on whom father's the child.' His eyes twinkled as Harry looked at him suspiciously.