Chapter 37: Tears of The Broken Soul

The Corridors, Hogwarts...

Draco Malfoy's heart was beating a mile a minute. His gray eyes had been filled with worry beyond that of a boy his young age and his lungs burned as if he had inhaled ash from a volcano. The junior Malfoy had not even been close to the dungeons but he was in desperate need of his Uncle's assistance. The boy continued running until he crashed into something and it sent him falling to the ground immediately. Bewildered, Draco's gray eyes met those of obsidian. Momentary relief flooded the boy and he had nearly forgotten why he had been seeking him out in such a hurry.

"Uncle Severus." said Draco trying to gather his words while he scrambled to his feet.

Snape glared at him for being so informal when they were out in the open.

"Uncle Severus...you have to come quick..." said Draco distressed. "I-It's Granger...somebody's cursed her sir..."

Snape shook off the annoyance now understanding why the boy forgot himself. A node of panic set in that he hardly had time to push down.

"W-WHERE IS SHE!?" he demanded grabbing Draco by the collar.

"B-By the lake sir..." replied Draco now even more terrified.

Snape let go of his godson and made a mad dash toward the lake.

If what Draco had told him was in fact true, then Hermione Granger was in grave danger.

He had only hoped that he could reach her in time.

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The Grounds. Hogwarts...

The Potions Master's heart was pounding as loudly as Draco's had been. He had hardly noticed the boy had run after him concern still plainly etched across his pale face. Hermione cursed this cannot be happening. Snape's eyes grew wide when he caught sight of Hermione lying on the grass looking ghastly pale with Harry Potter kneeling beside her trying his best to comfort her. Ron Weasley had been standing equally worried as he was helpless to save his friend from this situation. Remus Lupin had evidently been summoned and arrived before he had. The werewolf kneeled beside Hermione as well waving his wand over her trying in vein to identify the spell she had been under.

"Remus." said Snape in a tone so soft it was almost like a whisper.

"Severus, I'm glad Draco could find you." said Lupin. "Hermione's been cursed by dark magic."

Snape's obsidian eyes fell back to the young witch in question. The situation proved to be quite dire indeed with no one taking notice of Snape referring to the DADA Professor by his first name.

"C-Can you identify it?" he asked Lupin without taking his eyes off her.

"I may have a way." replied Lupin. "But we'd have to get her back to my classroom."

Snape nodded still not taking his eyes off the fallen witch. He felt as if all the life had been drained out of him. It had been comparable to the night he entered Godric's Hollow and found Lily had been murdered by the dark lord. The Potions Master steeled himself as he looked at Hermione. She was still alive and she needed him. There was way to save her they just had to find it.

"Severus, I'm going to need you to carry her. " said Lupin. "I must keep my wand trained on her to keep the curse in stasis and you levitating her would cross the spells."

Snape nodded. He would have carried her anyway but this had given him a more plausible excuse. He kneeled down and lifted the nearly lifeless girl into his arms. She had been unconscious due to Remus having the stasis spell on her but she was breathing. Soft shallow breaths came from her as her small frame pressed against his ebony clad chest. Harry had not let go of his friend's hand the entire time. Ron was busy fighting back tears as he watched the scene before them.

Lupin got to his feet with his wand trained on Hermione.

"Ready whenever you are." said Snape softly.

Harry released Hermione's hand as the two professors took her away. The green eyed wizard turned his attention to Draco Malfoy who had been desperately trying to catch his breath.

"T-Thank you, Draco." he said.

The junior Malfoy nodded.

"N-No worries Potter." he said with a sly smile. "Besides...Bastian would kill me if I let anything happen to her."

It was Harry's turn to nod.

If only you knew Draco.

If only you knew.

Both boys remembered all too well what happened the last time a curse made its way onto the Hogwarts grounds. Draco had been utterly upset about the reminder that he had nearly killed a fellow student. Harry had not been too comfortable recalling that he had very nearly killed Draco as well. Ron had not said a word since they found Hermione. He had ran as if his own life depended on it to fetch Professor Lupin while Draco took off in search of Professor Snape.

The boys had done all they could in the hopes of helping Hermione.

Now it was up to the professors.

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The Defense Against The Dark Arts Classroom, Hogwarts...

Remus Lupin and Severus Snape arrived in the Defense Against The Dark Arts classroom with Hermione Granger. Snape used wandless magic to clear Lupin's desk as they examined the poor girl. Lupin kept his wand trained on her. She had been ghastly pale from head to toe and her eyes looked lifeless even in stasis. Snape felt his heart ache just looking at her.

"W-What spell is it?" asked The Potions Professor.

"It's not a spell Severus." replied Lupin. "So no counter spell can be used."

"Is it a poison then?" asked Snape the desperation growing in his tone.

"No." replied Lupin. "As I told you before it is a dark arts curse...but one that I have never seen before."

"WHAT!?" asked Snape clearly upset.

"Severus, this magic is from a very old line." replied Lupin. "It predates anything you or I know of."

"What do you mean it predates our knowledge?" asked Snape becoming unhinged due to distress. "WHAT THE HELL KIND OF DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS PROFESSOR ARE YOU!?"

Lupin sighed.

"Severus, I know you love her, but you have to focus." he replied. "Is there any old knowledge that you posses from your death eater days that can be used here?"

Snape quickly thought back searching for something anything that would help. He sighed unable to come up with anything. He looked at Hermione once more. Black veins had started to make themselves known beneath her skin. He had to think of something fast or he would lose her. It was only in the face of sheer desperation did Snape finally find some type of a solution.

"Lupin." he said. "Keep her under stasis until I return."

Remus looked at him for a moment.

"You've thought of something?" he asked hopeful.

"No." replied Snape gritting his teeth. "Someone."

The Potions Professor left the classroom and made his way out toward the grounds. He hated to do this but there was no other option. If this had been something that predated the knowledge at Hogwarts then there was only one person who could be of assistance. Malfoy had been of no use, he hardly had the knack for the dark arts and Dumbledore was out of the question.

He had not known anything that would be of use either.

No he had only one option in this case.

One option only for the sake of Hermione's life.

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Hamershal Estate, Wizarding World...

Lady Hamershal had been just sitting down to her evening tea, when a crack of thunder announced the arrival of someone unexpected. Jiles made his way over toward the door and she waited patiently for the visitor to enter her dawn room. It had been quite the surprise when a disheveled Severus Snape stepped into view. He had looked more ghastly than usual and a good deal upset. Snape took a deep breath and addressed his mother.

"Severus." said Lady Hamershal pleasantly. "What brings you here?...have you come to join me for tea?"

"Eileen, I have come to make a request of you." he said biting back the bitterness that seeped through him.

The woman's ears seemed to perk at this.

"Have you now?" she asked suddenly interested.

Snape had no time for pretenses Hermione's life was at stake he dropped down to his knees before the older witch.

"I need your help." he said in a broken tone.

Lady Hamershal suddenly realized why her son had been so upset.

"Hermione?" she said softly.

Snape nodded.

"Tell me what's happened." she said calmly.

"S-she's been cursed by dark magic." replied Snape keeping his voice even. "Neither I nor Lupin can identify what it is as it pre-dates our collective knowledge."

Lady Hamershal nodded.

"So you've come to me." she said.

"Y-Yes." replied Snape.

"Even though you want nothing to do with me." said Lady Hamershal.

"Yes." replied Snape through gritted teeth. "For her."

"Your Miss Granger must mean a great deal to you." said Lady Hamershal.

"Obviously." replied Snape bitterly.

"What will you give me in exchange for my assistance?" she asked with a raised eyebrow in a manner similar to his own.

Snape had not been a fool. He knew she was Slytherin to the core and would not assist him without getting something in return. As much as it pained him. He knew what she wanted more than anything in the world.

"Y-Your son." he replied looking into her dark eyes.

Lady Hamershal studied him for a moment.

"You have a deal." she said.

She held out her hand and Snape kissed it in a manner similar to how he had when he was Sebastian Prince.

"Mother." he said painstakingly.

Lady Hamershal touched his cheek softly and gave him a small smile.

"Come my son." she said. "Let us save your Miss Granger."

She and Snape got to their feet and made their way out of the main house. With a crack of thunder both the older witch and her son were gone from the view of the butler Jiles.

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The Defense Against The Dark Arts Classroom, Hogwarts...

The Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor had been watching Hermione very closely looking for any sign that the cure may be spreading. She had not appeared to exhibit any change since Severus Snape had left them in search of some kind of way to save her. Lupin sighed. It there was ever a time for the man to come through for them it was now. The werewolf's dark eyes took in the sight of Snape and a woman that looked very similar to him as they entered the classroom.

"Severus, you've returned." he said grateful.

"Yes Remus." replied Snape letting his eyes fall back to Hermione.

"W-Who is this woman?" asked Lupin.

"T-This woman is....my mother." replied Snape not taking his eyes off Hermione.

"Y-Your mother?" said Lupin stunned. "I-I thought she was...well...wasn't she dead?"

Lady Hamershal turned toward Lupin.

"As you can see Remus, the rumors about my death have been greatly exaggerated." she replied.

Lupin was utterly speechless.

She even talked like him.

The DADA Professor had a great deal of questions for the woman, but Hermione's condition took presidency over anything else at the moment.

"Please, Mrs. Snape..." he started.

"Hamershal." replied Lady Hamershal disgusted by her former married name.

"Lady Hamershal...if there is anything you can do to help us save her." said Lupin letting his eyes fall to Hermione as well.

The older witch made her way over toward Hermione. Snape watched her intensively as she studied the young witch.

"It is worse than I imagined." She said.

"How so?" asked Snape with a raised eyebrow.

Lady Hamershal shifted her focus to her son.

"In my quest to undermined the despot...you refer to as the dark lord...I came across many works depicting the dark arts." explained Lady Hamershal. "I had been trying to find a way to combat the dark curses he may have used on anyone that stood against him."

Lupin gave her his partial attention.

"I came across one curse that intrigued me more than others." continued Lady Hamershal. "It is referred to as Lacrimas in anima contrtia."

Snape shook his head as the translation came to mind.

"Tears of The Broken Soul." he said in disbelief.

Lady Hamershal nodded.

"It is said that those who are wronged need only their tears infused with the dark magic to exact their revenge." she continued. "Whom ever sent this curse meant to destroy the heart of the one they seek to have their vengeance upon."

Snape knew exactly who would come up with such a thing.

"LeStrange." he said in nearly a whisper.

Rodolphus LeStrange had invoked the curse to get revenge on him because he murdered Bellatrix.

Hermione was dying because of him.

Because she had his heart.

What have I done?

"I-Is there a counter-curse?" asked Snape.

Lady Hamershal fell silent. She seemed to be unnerved by his question.

"Mother?" he asked.

Lady Hamershal nodded.

"It is as I said...the heart of the one who invoked the wrath of the caster...must be destroyed." she said. "Y-You must draw the curse into yourself and let it destroy you...it is the only way to save her."

Lupin looked at Snape for a moment.

"Severus." he said. "This could very well kill you."

Snape gave Lupin a half smile.

"I know." he replied.

The Potions Master cast off his teaching robes, undid the buttons on his frock coat and let it drop to the floor below. He stood before Lupin and Lady Hamershal in only a long sleeve white shirt and his black trousers and boots. Lady Hamershal shook her head. Her son would look the part of a dashing rouge under better circumstances. She sighed as she took in the sight of him so willing to save the life of the young witch. This was going to be a very painful experience for her son. She could tell by looking at him that he had been very much in love with Hermione Granger despite her being his student. He would never admit it out loud, but his whole world seemed to revolve around the young Gryffindor witch.

Snape looked at his mother.

"Will she survive this?" he asked in an emotionless tone.

"Yes." replied Lady Hamershal. "She'll hardly remember a thing about the attack...but she'll be fine."

Snape looked down at his hands. He took a moment to process what he was about to do. There was no other way to save her and despite the pain he would have to endure he was willing to try anything.

"Omnia revelare." he said softly.

The serpent ring appeared. He slid it off his finger and held it up so that he could see the inscription. {I Love you, Slytherin Git.} Snape walked over to Lupin. The werewolf had been quite confused when The Potions Master held out the ring for him to take. Lupin held the silver serpent band in his hand.

"Make sure she gets this." he said. "I-I won't have any use for it and it will only bring confusion."

Lupin nodded. His dark eyes had been wet with tears. He read the inscription himself and understood everything. Hermione had given him this ring on his birthday...when he had been Sebastian Prince.

Lady Hamershal's dark eyes met her son's obsidian gaze.

"Thank you, for your assistance." said Snape in a civil tone. "Mother."

She nodded.

Although, she didn't see how good this assistance would be after what her son would have to endure.

"I'm am sorry, Severus." she said softly.

Snape gave her a half smile.

"As am I, Mother." he replied looking back to Hermione.

The Potions Professor walked over to his Gryffindor witch. He took one of her small hands into his and kissed it as he had so many times before when they were together in his secret room. He brought her hand to his chest pressing it against his heart in the hopes that she could feel it beating. The dour wizard leaned close to her ear and whispered softly to her for a few moments. Lupin had strained to hear but was immediately backed off by loud buzzing. Snape lightly stroked Hermione's cheek like he had so many times before.

His obsidian eyes filled with absolute love for this young Gryffindor witch.

"I love you too, Insufferable Gryffindor." he said softly.

Lady Hamershal turned her attention to Lupin.

"Release her." she said softly.

Lupin lowered his wand cancelling the spell.

Snape leaned down letting his pale lips crash into her soft pink ones drawing the witch into a deeply passionate kiss. If Hermione had been awake she would have been able to remark on how this scene looked an awful lot like that in the Muggle story sleeping beauty. The black veins began to recede from Hermione's body and appear on Snape.

The Potions Master pulled away from the Gryffindor witch feeling agony so intense that it made him collapse onto the floor. There was no dignity in this pain. Snape would have gladly traded the agony of The Cruciatus Curse than to have to endure this. That curse was meant for the body. This was eating away at his very soul. Lupin could do nothing as he watched the Potions Master crawl clutching at his heart and screaming as tears poured down his sallow cheeks. The transformations had not even been that terrible and the werewolf did not wish this curse on his worst enemy let alone, Severus Snape.

He couldn't imagine what the poor man was being forced to endure.

"I-Is there no way to help him?" asked Lupin unnerved by the screaming.

Lady Hamershal shook her head sadly.

"No." she replied.

Snape continued to crawl around in his feeble attempts to stop the agony that ripped through him.

"M-MOTHER!" he called out helplessly.

Lady Hamershal steeled herself.

A single tear escaped her and rolled down her cheek as she listened to her son cry out for her. There was nothing she or anyone could do. Snape had to endure on his own.

"MOTHER PLEASE...!" he cried in absolute agony. "MOTHER MAKE IT STOP!"

"I'm sorry, Severus." she said softly. "I'm so sorry."

"P-Please mother make it stop." he said reaching out to Lady Hamershal as his body began to weaken.

She kneeled down and offering her son the only comfort she knew how. He took her hand grasping it for dear life, but it did little to stop the pain. Lupin looked over at Hermione. She appeared to be doing much better although she had still been unconscious.

If this is what the cure was like for Severus, Lupin couldn't imagine what it had been like for her.

"K-KILL ME." he said looking into Lady Hamershal's eyes. "PLEASE...PLEASE KILL ME!"

Lady Hamershal shook her head.

"I know it hurts, Severus." she replied still in a soft tone. "But you will be fine...you'll see."

A numbness set in that meant the curse was doing it's job and Snape finally passed out from sheer exhaustion. Tears still rolled down his pale cheeks and his mother did her best to wipe them away.

"I-Is he...?" asked Lupin unable to finish.

"No." replied Lady Hamershal. "He's alive...and it is over."

Lupin nodded.

"So they're going to be alright?" he asked.

"Miss Granger will most certainly be fine." replied Lady Hamershal. "She has her whole life ahead of her."

"And Severus?" asked Lupin looking down at the unconscious Potions Master.

"I can't rightly tell you, Remus." replied Lady Hamershal. "My son's heart has been destroyed."

Lupin looked at her confused.

"I-If his heart's been destroyed...why does he yet alive?" he asked.

Lady Hamershal sighed.

"You must be a Gryffindor." she said with a sigh.

Lupin didn't get it.

"What's that got to do with anything?" he asked.

"You take everything so literal." replied Lady Hamershal. "One does not have to die to have their hearts so broken that it can only be described as being destroyed."

Lupin suddenly caught her meaning.

"Oh." he replied. "B-But why was it killing Hermione?"

"She's young." replied Lady Hamershal. "Young people always associate their heart break with death."

Lupin nodded.

"Let's get them to the infirmary." said Lady Hamershal.

"Of course." replied Lupin in agreement.

He didn't know what would happen when both Severus and Hermione awoke but he had hoped that this business with the curse would be long over. Still he pondered what Lady Hamershal meant by Severus would have to destroy his own heart in order to save Hermione's life.

If it didn't mean that Severus would die then what did it mean?

Slytherins....always so cryptic.