Disclaimer: The same as the previous chapters.

Chapter 25

Blaise felt a bit dazed and saw Hermione Granger was grabbing the edges of the bed, panting slightly.

"Oh, Merlin! You shouldn't have done that, my words would have been enough...my magic" instantly, he was by her side, trying to help her lay down.

Waving him away, Hermione propped herself against the headboard, as the man helped her by arranging the pillows, "No, it's not so bad this time, just knocked the air off my lungs. I am fine, trust me, Fratello."

He studied her features for a while and said in understanding"Is this why you insisted on coming back. You couldn't explain this in any other way but to show me how this is happening. I was so miffed because Old Wise refused to teach me Soul Magic. I kept on telling Sister Marge, complaining that my intentions were only to help you...but they were right I could never understand, or manage to help even if I managed to learn the basics. But Sorella, would you be able to stay away from him? Don't you think you are being unfair to him and to yourself?"

The young woman stammered," Blaise if I died at the Misty Mountains, my magic would have damaged a school, killed innocent people. I was a bomb about to detonate. And I have a feeling, with me, Severus Snape would have died as well. I didn't have the strength to run away. You saw for yourself, the distance severed Omjir's magical anchor and killed him. I felt that happen. McGonagall's damaged soul tried to help me but her motherly instincts got rebuffed, depleting her core further. I cannot risk his life. I am telling you all this because in case of a crisis you might be able to at least save his life."

"We knew Old Wise wouldn't make it through the night. Probably that's why he too was eager to sent you off in a hurry." when she made a face, he corrected himself," Look I am doing all the guesswork here? It's only today that you are patronizing my efforts by dropping a couple of hints!"

Her eyes turned cold and he immediately corrected himself, " I am sorry, but I do feel like that, I can't help it. Um, So you are giving me permission to share my thoughts with him in case of an emergency? Why can't you show them to him yourself? You can even retrieve them in a pensive..."

"To begin with he has to realize things himself, but not through me or you. In the later stages, you can help but only in crisis."

"But how is he supposed to figure things out from scratch! This is unfair, you are not giving him enough hints," Blaise pressed, getting frustrated.

"The manifestation of soul magic relies heavily on our emotions, we need to feel it to harness it. His touch alone has improved my conditions. Let just say, he dragged me away from the clasps of death. Today, he has established his strong intention to heal me. Trust me, Blaise, he knows, he knows and feels more than he lets anyone guess. You were the only person to continue casting spells for a while. But then things deteriorated faster and you couldn't."

"Because your twisted soul recognized me as a well-wisher. And maybe something complicated the whole thing!" running his fingers over his small cropped hair, Zabini tried to change the subjects," These journals..." pointed at the many black leather bounds stacked around the room. Hermione confessed," I have documented everything that happened with me so far…"

"And you will not show them to me or to Snape?"

"She replied firmly, leaving no room for further argument," No."

"Sorella, tell me at least one thing?"

"I wish to tell you so much Blaise, but I cannot…"

"Just tell me, is it just Snape's soul, or several fragments of death eaters souls or someone else has turned you into a Horcrux?"

Hermione leaped out of the bed and growled at him, like a caged beast. Blaise had scrambled back several steps in fright. He gulped watching those dark chocolate brown eyes turning into swirling black whirlpools. He stammered," Easy, ignore it. Why don't you just rest and I go and grab some food?"

Without casting a backward glance the man took off as fast as his feet to carry him.

Hermione heaved a sigh, it was dangerous enough to tell the Italian assistant healer so much. There were several things she had written over the last few hours. She had felt Omjir's anchored ties, burning into ashes the moment her feet touched Scotland. She had learned newer things when she had entered McGonagall's bed-chamber.

She had felt the pull of Harry's, Neville's, and Ginny's magic. Above them the pull of McGonagall's magic was fierce. She could make a distinct difference between the presence of Snape's magical essence. But this was not the case with the others present in the room. Blaise's magical signature was similar to that of Malfoy's but a bit dense and Luna's was more mystic. She had put a question mark beside this paragraph making a note to come back to it after further research.

Madam Pomphrey's magical presence was like a healing balm on her wounds but she was afraid to allow her to come any closer. It was safe for all of them to avoid performing magic on her. Then, Severus had turned this entire flowchart upside down.

She had opted for that blood oath to see how she fared after Blaise's magic brushed against hers. The pain was surely absent, she was just out of breath.

Staring at her familiar who was merrily snoozing at her feet, she looked over the single page where she had noted down his name. Crookshanks had attached himself to Snape, guessing Hermione's soul was present in him, or something like that.

The familiar had recognized his mistress before anyone else and had remained unaffected. A big question mark glared next to that line. This was new and she never heard Omjir say anything about Soul magic and its relation to familiars.

Apart from the academic questions, there was a marriage to deal with. She would have to work out a plan, a fabricated speech, or write up that the press could lap on. She could no longer hide behind veils if she was going to marry Severus Snape, the youngest headmaster of Hogwarts, and if she was going to replace McGonagall from the next session. She would need to decide on her wardrobe. Students wouldn't warm up to a shrouded lady.

A knock at the door drew her out of her reverie and she found Neville Longbottom standing at the doorway. The Herbology professor bobbed his head and softly said," Hello."

Despite her dueling emotions, she felt like crying with joy. He had definitely grown up into a handsome man. She blurted out the first thing that came to her mind, rearranging her blankets and pushing aside her journals. "Still to find a special witch?"

Neville turned a deeper shade of beetroot, then smirked back," that is so unladylike, the bride-to-be has eyes for another man!" She threw her head back and laughed hard. It felt liberating to laugh like that. Stretching her jaws, feeling the action pumping fresh blood into her facial muscles, feeling that sound roll through her throat and finally letting it out. She even enjoyed those rebounding vibrations, of course, Longbottom could feel none of it.

Yet he surprised her," Feels better after getting the chance to laugh after a long gap? I can say." shifting his weight between his feet, he tilted his head towards the empty chair and asked cordially," If you are not busy…"

"Please come in."

He stood at the foot of her bed and gulped," err, I prefer to call you Ermin or Madam Genarg for the time being. And once you are married, I am okay with calling you, Professor Genarg or Mrs. Snape."

"Why?", she had to ask even if she could feel genuine care and compassion swirling through his magical aura.

"I feel it is better if we heal Hermione first and then reintroduce her to the world if she is willing to, that is." He shifted his hands again, and Hermione noticed he was hiding something behind his back.

"Did you get something for me?"

He startled and then blushed. Cautiously bringing his hand forward, he twirled a small bouquet," I have been growing some muggle flowers in one of the greenhouses. It's actually a part of the process to make students coming from pureblood families learn more about the muggle world."

Hermione inhaled deeply and genuinely asked," Why the sunflower and the iris?"

She saw his eyes grow soft and his voice dipped further as he whispered sadly," I planted them because I read somewhere, sunflowers indicate durability and long lastingness. I wanted our friendship to be like that. Iris represents the birth of a new friendship or the revitalization of an old one. I have plucked them and tied them together, the muggle way, No magic involved, I swear."

She bowed her head and grimaced, then looked back at him," I...ca'tn allow you to come any closer. I might hurt you." when his face fell, she hastily added," but you can arrange them in that glass over there," indicating an empty glass left over the window sill.

Sitting down after putting the flowers away, Neville watched her intently and whispered," That was an incredible display of magic. I mean conjuring the spirit of Hedwig. Harry couldn't say a word for a long time. He never stopped looking for you, none of us did. But then, they call you the brightest witch of the age for a valid reason. The minister himself was trapped in your pocket, in a way of saying."

"I did what I did because I thought it was the right thing to do Neville."

He quicked replied," Yes, of course, I am not judging you, Miss Genarg. Urgh, that would need some getting used to it. But I didn't come here for small talk, I want to do something for you and I want your permission for that?"

Tilting her head slightly she said," go on."

"It is clear now you would go for the muggle marriage, probably a registry one. I think even the muggles need the presence of a witness…"

"Neville, I have already decided to have Blaise as my witness. I don't wish to…"

He took a few moments to understand then smiled broadly," Zabini is in for a long haul, yah? He is a good friend, we chatted a lot while you were sleeping, went back to the Inn to get your stuff together. Gave him a grand tour of the connecting tunnels in the bowels of the castle, knocked that smirk off his face. I can safely say we are friends now. He still can't wrap his mind around Harry and Draco being closer than ever. Did you know, we never found the Room of Hidden Things. And Draco rediscovered the Room of Requirement. But later on, it kind of warmed up to me once again. This castle is indeed creepy. Too alive, like a living being…"

"Neville...Neville, Neville!" her loud voice made him stop mid-sentence," Neville, I cannot risk your life."

He nodded back but added, his eyes hardened slightly," But I will step in and be next to you like friends do if I see you in need for support. And don't think I am doing that for you, I am also doing it for Harry. He has a family now, while I am still a bachelor. Naturally, I will always be the best option. Don't dare think, you can hide your pain. I might not know legilimency, occlumency, or soul magic. But I am a Gryffindor. I am a friend and would like to also step into the empty spot of a brother. I want you to remember, Hogwarts is home to each one of us and we are a family, are we clear, Miss Genarg?"

The man had left after telling her some hilarious episodes of Snape and Crookshanks. He mentioned Harry and Draco's duels. They had recreated their first dueling match for students. Of course, they had skipped the snake part. Ravenclaws, Slytherins, and Gryffindors were still at each other's throats, but those were healthier in nature. The Hufflepuffs made sure to keep that 'healthy' part intact. If anyone picked on weaker students, that person would have their names up an invisible blacklist. Classmates from all houses would take their turn to harass the offender, till he or she apologized openly to the victim. Snape didn't even have to pick a finger in this matter. In the first few years, bullies were dealt with by the student body, the situation was much like the school against a handful of little Umbridge. And house-elves enjoyed holidays twice a month, but The head of the kitchen insisted they would take leave in rotation so that the school is never left unattended.

His parting words were," Mione, in private, I would like to keep calling you that. We made sure to include several things which you had wished for, in your absence. You were missed dearly. Malfoy has turned a new leaf. But he is very protective of Snape. And he loves Luna to bits. Harry is protective of Snape as well. It is more like one protects his heart and the other keeps his mind steady. McGonagall and Poppy blatantly mother him. Sprouts and Flitwick step in when the younger generation fails to keep up with him. But we know how lost and forlorn he was. He hardly slept. It is a shock, he is sleeping here in the hospital. Knocked out for about eight hours straight! Poppy can't stop skipping on her is gushing now, and then," he is sleeping like a baby!' Trust me, Mione, even the castle is rejoicing your return. Just keep getting better. And the Weasleys would like to meet you sometime later. Just keep that in mind. Don't worry about Ron, he is not here."

The mention of Ron stirred nothing in her heart or mind as if he was a stranger, a piece of a forgotten dream. She just felt a pinch deep inside her soul perhaps, missing their innocent friendship. Staring at the flowers basking in the afternoon sun, Hermione wept quietly, hugging Crookshanks close. "I am glad, he has a huge family. At last, he is surrounded by love and affection, and friends who will die protecting him. He had yearned for years for just that... Only the faces have changed."

A/N: A little drama is waiting around the corner. :)