Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, and various other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Shattered Hearts and Broken Dreams
Chapter 1- Initial Observations
17th July 1996
Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry paced his chamber floors, glancing at the Floo every so often, waiting. Waiting for news, any news, on the current state of affairs in the magical community.
"Stupid children think they can do the work of adults, if they only knew the trouble they were getting themselves in too...," he mumbled under his breath. He had been mumbling things of a similar nature ever since he had heard the news, close to an hour ago. He had been at the Ministry not five hours prior, checking on the Prophecy, and now Potter was going to ruin their plan. The same plan for which he had given up many nights' sleep while trying to implement.
The sight he had waited for greeted his eyes; the fireplace shone green. Albus stepped through, not caring about the thin layer of dirt which sullied his face.
"Severus, my boy," he sighed, and Severus could see the weariness behind his eyes. "The Department of Mysteries-"
He pre-empted the news. He already had sufficient knowledge to know what was going on.
"I know, Albus, I can't go there. I have to wait until-"
"They're back ... and it's bad."
He paused for a moment, to recollect himself, when Albus said that a situation was bad, it was very bad. "Who?"
"Hermione Granger."
The Headmaster paused for breath while mourning for the student lying in the hospital wing, though she was not yet dead; he was mourning the inevitable loss of her innocence. "Severus, I don't wish to burden you with more bad news, but the damage was done by Dolohov."
A mutual understanding passed between them both. However bad they thought her situation was, they had to double their expectations of the damage. Dolohov was the only Death Eater towards whom Severus towards felt something akin to fear. He was the only Death Eater capable of creating spells which had repeatedly flummoxed Severus.
"I'll be right there."
Granger. "Out of all of the students, it had to be Granger," he mumbled to himself, before following the Headmaster through to the infirmary. And, when he entered the infirmary, all he saw was chaos. Madame Pomfrey bustled over to him, her hands creating complex patterns as she worried them.
"Severus! Oh, thank goodness you're here. She's over there, in the private room."
A quick glance towards the rooms in question told Severus all he needed to know. If she was that bad to have to be put into the private room, then, it was going to take everything he had to bring her back from the damage Dolohov had inflicted.
"I'll leave you to it," Poppy murmured at his side. "You won't be disturbed; Albus and I have made sure of that."
Squaring his shoulders he made his way over to the room, Poppy watching him go, a tear trailing its way down her wearied face.
17th July 1996
Upon entering Miss Granger's room Severus noticed two things. One; there was muggle equipment in the room, and two; he had no idea what the equipment did, which made his presence useless unless he knew how the blasted contraptions worked. Ducking his head out of the door, he called for Poppy.
"Yes?" she questioned, discretely wiping a tear from her eye.
"What's all ... this?" he said, pointing to the thing hooked up to her, the thing making her chest rise and fall.
"Oh, that's what a muggle calls a 'respiryator'. From my cursory examination, any attempt at sealing the wound, containing the spell, or treating her with magic, results in the curse spreading to another part of her body. Thankfully, I figured out what was happening as soon as I cast the first spell, but I fear even that caused irreparable damage to poor Miss Granger. I then called Healer Deligue from St. Mungo's – who specialises in muggle medicine, and he suggested one of these to keep her breathing. He also taught me how to do the 'Kiss of Life' - strange concept the muggle's have of how to keep someone alive, kissing them until they breathe again."
It was times like these that Severus forgot that the Matron was a Pure-blood, and had not encountered muggle medicine before. And so, he offered up an explanation she would surely understand, "The Kiss of Life forces oxygen into the patients lungs, almost like the respire spell, but it is more intimate as the action forces the care giver to have direct contact with the patient."
"Oh, I see. Well, in any case, Healer Deligue is on standby at St. Mungo's if you need his assistance with any of this," she said, waving her hand around the room, "Floo him if you need him. I'm afraid I can't tell you much more than that, this is all nonsense to me, but he did leave some notes on the machine – they're at the end of her bed if you need them. I need to go and tend to Mr. Weasley, but call me if you need me, Severus."
"Thank you, Poppy."
Before leaving the room, she flashed Severus a sad smile, glancing at the girl, who lay motionless on the bed. Severus closed the door behind her, shutting out the cries of the Weasley boy; he would have to go and check on him later, if only to make sure that he didn't need any potions Poppy didn't have in stock.
"Well, Miss Granger," he said, turning back to the bed, "it looks like we have a mystery before us. We can't use magic to heal you, nor to wake you, which means you can't tell us what you know of the curse ... which means we have no way of knowing what Dolohov hit you with."
Using up the last remains of the energy he had left, Severus crossed to the room, slumped down into the chair beside her bed, and let his head fall into his hands. There was no need for grace now there was no one left in the room. How was he expected to solve a riddle with no clues, and no magic? It was an impossible task, but, he mused, after many years of being the Dark Lord's spy, he had learnt a few things. Every curse left a mark on the body, whether it meant to or not, and, much like serial killers in the muggle world, dark curses left their mark on the intended victim. Severus hoped, (and begrudgingly wished) that this mark could give him a starting point, something he could work with to solve this puzzle, if not, Miss Granger could remain in ventilated stated for months, if not years.
"Curse him, and curse you too, you're supposed to be the know-it-all," he murmured, giving into the grips of the sleepiness that welcomed him after the day.
17th July 1996
Poppy came by a few hours later to check on her patient, only to find Severus slumped over in the chair by her bedside, head resting on the complicated set of notes the healer had left, hand clutching a quill which lay on top a piece of tattered, ink-stained, parchment.
"Oh, Severus," she murmured, making her way towards him, and removing the quill from his hands. Though the man usually woke when something was removed from him, she knew this from the many times she had been at the end of his wand after dark revels, it was a testament to how tired he was that he did little more than shift in his sleep when she removed the parchment. Glancing down at it, her heart was heavy.
Name: Hermione Granger
Age: 16
Initial observations:
Reacts unfavourably to magical spells – causes the curse to spread.
Discolouration of the skin and surrounding areas where the curse hit –purple/black speckles on the skin, almost like bruising.
Small, spiral triskele seemingly burnt into the skin at the top of the breastbone. (Skin is black around this area)
Distinguishing feature of the triskele is that one of the spirals is bigger than the other two. (Dolohov's signature)
Red welt stretching diagonally across torso.
Could the spell be feeding off her magic?
With one last glance, hoping that the information would somehow change to show a brighter outlook, she folded the parchment, and placed it beside the notes. Summing up there was no more that could be done until Severus had rest; she left him to sleep - transfiguring the chair into a cot as she left.
So, I'm slightly nervous about putting this chapter up, seeing has I've actually got big plans for this one, and I would greatly appreciate reviews. What do you like about it? Do you like the direction it's heading? What do you hate?
Also, if anyone would be willing to beta this story, please leave me a PM. As a bit of a warning, my PM feature has been playing up, so if you've already sent me something, please, re-send it. I promise I haven't ignored you. :)