Chapters 101-110

The Risks We Take

‘Alina, slow down. I didn’t get what you’re trying to tell me at all.’

The small pale face contorted with anguish. ‘I can take you to Professor Snape, I think. I think he’s going to some place where only Necromancers can go. It’s not Death, or not quite. I think it’s where those students were that I put to sleep with that bell. Only I can go there, too, in my sleep, only I’m not really sleeping when I go there. And I’ve been thinking about it. And practicing. It works almost every time now. And I can take you with me. I think. I hope.’

Hermione inhaled with a gasp, pressing suddenly icy hands to her face. That was the reason why Alina had insisted she had to return to Hogwarts early?

In her mind she went over what she knew about Necromancy—from her own studies, from Harry’s course material and the few conversations with Severus. She did not know much.

There were two dimensions to Death, a subjective and an objective dimension. Necromancers had power in both. The Realm of Death itself consisted of the River of Death with its nine Gates and precincts. Beyond the Ninth Gate lay True Death, from which no one except the Peverell brothers had ever returned. The banks of the River of Death were obscured by everlasting mists, the Mists of Dreams. While this fog did not form the dreamscape of ordinary slumber, it was a place that Muggles and wizards alike could reach, in coma or nightmares.

Necromancers could go there voluntarily, even without the aid of magical bells or whistles. That was how Severus had woken the students Alina had put to sleep.

Would it be dangerous? Of course it would be. But would it be too dangerous? Hermione bit down on her lower lip, trying to assess the risks she had taken as a First Year, as a Second Year…fighting Voldemort.

But they were not fighting a Dark Lord now. Was it worth the risk nevertheless?

oooOooo

Hermione needed a whole day to lift Severus’ wards from the bell.

Then, at last, they were ready.

Alina rang the bell only once. A sweet, low sound floated in the air of the bedroom.

One moment Hermione was staring at the curtains of her bed, the next she was surrounded by darkness and drifting mists. But she wasn’t alone. A small, but surprisingly strong hand was holding her right hand.

‘It worked! You’re here!’ Alina’s voice sounded oddly muffled, but ecstatic all the same. ‘Professor Snape is here somewhere, I know he is. We’ll find him! Come on, Hermione!’

oooOooo

They literally stumbled over him. He was lying on his side, near the edge of the river. From the corner of her eye, Hermione could just make out the glittering surface of whirling currents in the distance.

‘Severus!’ She dropped to her knees.

‘Don’t let go, Hermione,’ Alina cried and clasped her hand more strongly. ‘I don’t know how to find you and bring you back if you let go.’

Hermione nodded, but her attention was on the man in front of her. ‘Severus!’ She reached for him. He felt strangely fragile and thin in this land of dreams than in life. When he opened his eyes, his gaze was unfocused and dazed.

‘Severus,’ she whispered.

‘Hermione.’ He blinked at her. ‘I could never dream of you before. And I wanted to see you so much. What does it mean that you have come to me now? Is this the end, then?’
He smiled at her, relief softening the harsh lines of his face. ‘Had I known that I would be able to see you again, I would not have hesitated so long…’

‘Severus, no!’ She bit back a sob and clutched at him desperately with her left hand. ‘No! Don’t say something like that. Don’t even think it!’

‘Hermione?’ He frowned as he began to realise that she was not a vision or a hallucination. Black fire flared up in his eyes. ‘What are you doing here? How –’ His gaze fell on Alina. ‘You promised not to come back! And you not only disobey me, but you endanger my wife as well? Merlin! Hermione, don’t let go. No matter what you do, don’t let go of Alina.’

‘I’m sorry, Professor,’ Alina mumbled. Hermione almost winced at how tightly the girl was squeezing her hand. ‘But I had to. Hermione’s been so worried.’

‘Severus, she’s right. I have an audience with the Minister in two weeks. Andromeda is working on the Chalice. She’s convinced that something went wrong. We’ll get you out. Severus? Do you hear me?’

He had trouble focusing his eyes, and even in his dream he was shaking with weakness.

‘Severus!’ Hermione cried, wrapping her arm around him, pulling him as close to her as possible. ‘Don’t you dare to give up! I’ll come for you. And I expect you to be alive and sane when I do.’

To her surprise, his lips twitched into the faintest echo of a smile. ‘You’re quite bossy sometimes, do you know that?’

Hermione sniffed primly. ‘How else am I supposed to keep you safe?’

‘Not at all, you foolish, foolish woman.’ But already he was reaching for her, trailing tender fingertips over the lines of her face, temples, cheekbones, jaw line, chin. ‘Very well,’ he murmured. ‘I shall do my best to stay alive for you. And sane. If you cannot wake me when you come for me, Alina should be able to call me back.’

He turned to Alina. ‘But for Merlin’s sake, do not ring that bell again on your own. And don’t attempt any other bell you might have found. You could have killed BOTH of you.’

But then his arms wrapped around Hermione and he whispered into her ear, ‘Still—even if this is just a dream, I’m glad to see you…to feel you…even if it’s just one last time.’