If Time Could Stop

Chapter 1-Prologue

Another violent explosion forced them back to reality. The three of them couldn't stand about for long; they had to get back and throw themselves in the battle once more. Although they had wished it away a million times, the war wasn't over. And neither was their part in it. Harry was the first to make a move.

"Right... Let's go then."he said and headed to the door, vial in hand.

Hermione's brain agreed but something inside her, held her into place. It took her only a few seconds to process the feeling in her gut and even if time was of the essence, even if it would mean that acting on her impulse would stall them, she couldn't help but point her wand to Severus Snape, whisper "Congelasco Tempus" and watch as a pale, blue light momentarily covered his body. Harry gasped and Ron didn't say anything, as he hadn't heard of that spell before, but still managed to look annoyed. She didn't know what made her use this spell- she wasn't even sure it was going to work. But it was done.

"What are you doing, Hermione? Are you really trying to save him?" Harry questioned and pulled her by the arm.

"Yes, yes, I am!" she said. For a moment, she saw herself through Harry's eyes and imagined she did look a little crazy; covered in dirt, blood and with her hair flying around her face, she mustn't have been a pretty picture. She felt the fire in her veins as adrenaline shot through her once more.

"But it's Severus Snape! The man who killed Dumbledore!"he screamed at her and squeezed her arm a little too hard. Hermione pulled her arm and took a step back.

"And since when are you judge and jury, Harry?"she yelled, her eyes full of anger. "Since when do you dictate who gets to live?"

If Hermione wanted to be honest, she wasn't convinced herself that Snape deserved to be saved. Harry was right. On top of being a cruel and mean individual, making their school years as uncomfortable as possible, he was also a Death Eater. And Harry had witnessed him killing Albus Dumbledore. But she was also not convinced about whether he did it because he simply wanted to, or because he had been forced. She couldn't believe that Dumbledore's trust in him, all those years, had been misguided. Snape was a professor at Hogwart's, after all! He couldn't be so bad, he simply couldn't! And besides, it was her deep belief, that in a war every life was sacred.

"Fine, then." Harry gave up. "I'm going back to the castle. Whatever is in his memories, he probably wanted me to see it as soon as possible. Ron?"he turned to his friend. Ron shook his head in agreement.

"I'm going back too, Hermione... My family's in there!"Ron told her, hoping that she'd change her mind. All the better, Hermione thought and assured them, she'd be with them shortly. The boys took to running, as soon as another explosion was heard.

Congelasco Tempus... Who would have thought that it would work? Hermione approached Snape's corpse-no, he wasn't dead just yet. He couldn't be... She put her hand over his mouth but felt no breath. Agitated, she pulled her hair back and placed her head on his chest. A heartbeat, slow and weak, but a heartbeat nonetheless! It was there and it meant he might be saved still. His eyes were still open, which gave her an eerie feeling but she tried to dismiss it.

"Alright, Professor... You'd better be worth my time..."she said and hoped he could listen. "I obviously can't take you to the castle. I believe they have their hands full there, at the moment."

Her voice became squeaky and she scolded herself. No time for tears! Think, Hermione, think... Saint Mungo's... Yes, they'd be able to help him there.

"But how do I take you to them? No floo network here, that's for sure. Apparating, yes?"she asked him, not really expecting an answer. She couldn't look away from his eyes. Unmoving, open, dead... The tears she had been forcing back suddenly flooded her eyes.

"You can't die now, you hear me? You can't do this to me! I've been through too much, do you understand? You will survive this! You just have to!"she told the man lying in her arms, looking dead as could be. "Apparating it is and don't you dare splinch on me!"she threatened. She tried to focus her mind, Saint Mungo's clear as daylight behind her closed eyelids. Saint Mungo's, Saint Mungo's, Saint Mungo's...

A loud crack was heard. Hermione opened her eyes. She looked down at Severus Snape; he looked so pale, covered in his own blood but otherwise, unharmed by the means of transport. For a mere second, she let out a sigh of relief, before she remembered why he had to be brought here in the first place. She looked around. For a hospital, it looked very empty. There was no one in sight, not a living soul. She thought about leaving him there and running to fetch someone but her hands wouldn't let go. She didn't want to leave him alone...

"SOMEBODY, HELP US!" Hermione's scream echoed in the empty corridor.