First of all I want to say that I don´t own any of the characters that you recognize, they all belong to J.K.Rowling. Moreover I want you to know that this fic implies Severus Snape and Hermione Granger pairing. It is my first fanfic on this subject and I have to admit that I have chosen Hermione Granger because she is some kind of alter ego. Be indulgent with it, I´m not English so words maybe don't came as well as in my mother tongue so… mercy please!

Saying this, enjoy your reading! (and I will be truly grateful if you review)

SPOILERS WARNING: this fic is settled after "The goblet of fire" and continues until a bit after the "Half Blood Prince"

The wound.

Three in the morning. A bushy haired girl was still awake in a room of Grimmaud Place. She was wondering again about how can she feel that way, it was not only weird, it was almost painful. He had been teasing her since the first class, when he took points from Gryffindor due to her anxiety to proof herself being more than a dunderhead. It should be from that very moment. Since that day, she had tried to demonstrate him that she was worthy of being taught. Was it only that? A demonstration of her abilities? No, there was something beyond. She couldn't deny it anymore. Each day she became more and more worried about his fate, and once she discovered about his spying… well, she hadn't had a night of rest since then. And when she got asleep, she had horrible nightmares about him being discovered and hurt. She was in love. Finally, finding impossible to fall asleep, she decided to go downstairs to have a hot cocoa.

As she got to the kitchen's entrance, she overheard people talking inside. She got closer to the door to eavesdrop on the conversation. The voices were muffled by the thick door, nevertheless, she recognized them at once. On one hand there was the Headmaster, his voice sounded more serious than ever; on the other hand, there was his voice. She would identify the cold tone and the bitter accent of the voice of Severus Snape wherever.

"Severus, are you sure that they don't suspect anything? If they do so, you are endangering your life in an unnecessary way"

"I'm positive about that. I'm simply paying the price for staying during fifteen years at Hogwarts and for being two hours late that night..."

"They have hurt you in the Mark. Voldemort don't know about chances and his punishments are not placed by chance"

"It is certainly not a chance." In that very moment, Hermione knew that a bitter smile was crossing her Potions Master face, the words which followed confirmed her impression. "It is only his kind way of remembering me what I am."

"What you were"

These last words were uttered in such a low voice that Hermione came a bit closer to the door, pressing it involuntarily and making it creak. The two men quickly turned to face the door, their wands at the ready. When they discovered it was she, both lowered their wand looking surprised.

"Miss Granger! What are you doing awake at this hour?" asked the Headmaster.

"I-I couldn't sleep s-so… I was going to have some chocolate… I'm so sorry, I'll return to bed right now" While apologizing, she was looking at the Potions Master out of the corner of her eye, as soon as he had seen her entering he had lowered his left sleeve, covering this way a profound bound.

"No matter, come in. Severus," added the Headmaster to the wizard that was standing besides the fireplace, "I must go, I will send you whatever you need but I insist that you should remain here until you are completely recovered. I'm sure that Miss Granger wouldn't mind to prepare another cup of chocolate for you"

"Absolutely" and saying this she made her way toward the cooker. "Would you like another for you Professor?"

"No, I'm leaving. Severus, I repeat that you should remain here."

"Nobody wants me here, including myself." He pronounced these words with a grim look and stood up. By doing this, his face was contorted with a painful gesture.

"Don't make me hex you. Molly will have no problem in helping you. You are as member of the Order as them, or as me."

Snape accepted reluctantly and when Hermione turned to give him the steaming drink, Dumbledore have disapparated.

"Here you are Professor". Severus Snape stretched out his hand to pick the mug but when he was leading it to his mouth, his hand shook spoiling the chocolate over the table.

"You are hurt, Professor! Can I help you?" Severus Snape was nobody but someone who liked to be helped, still, he throw a haughty look at her, then a sneer came to his lips by the time he rolled up his left sleeve. The Professor seemed to feel a mischievous satisfaction about the repulsion he was sure the wound was going to cause in his student. The glimpsed gash was a terrible spectacle. It had the appearance of a recent burnt, specially venomous, bright and dark at the same time. It has the form of a skull from whose empty mouth was coming out a snake. Despite of this and for Snape's astonishment Hermione's eyes showed nothing but pity.

"Wait a minute Professor", and with these words she disappeared returning seconds later with a small coffer bounded in black and red velvet. She put it on the table and, under the penetrating stare of her Potions Master, started to rifle through it. For all that Severus could see, it was full of bottles, bandages and other stuff, undoubtedly Muggle, that he wasn't able to recognize. Finally, Hermione took a flask with a Solution of Murtlap and some lint.

"I think I can clean the wound with this. The curse which did it seems to prevent the healing and the coagulation so we only can clean and bandage it each day". Snape looked at her in disbelief.

"How do you know all that?"

"Well, I want to become a Healer, and I love reading, so I try to be updated. Sometimes it's useful", answered her whit a weak smile. "Anyway", said serious again, "a true Healer should take a look at it"

"That's quite absurd, after your display of knowledge in medicine I thought you were cleverer. Don't you know what is this? Don't you know what is the meaning of the Mark? It is incredible enough that you haven't panicked and looked away from it to believe that after less than five minutes in St. Mungo the whole Ministry wouldn't be there with a bunch of Aurors, throwing all our work overboard. Besides, I can manage with it myself, I'm perfectly accustomed to it"

"I do know what it is and imply, and I don't care. You are my Potions Master and I trust you. So does Dumbledore and it is not I who needs nothing more. Anyway, you don't need to cure the wound yourself, I can help you if you let me. "

While talking, she was bandaging his arm extremely carefully, almost with devotion. Her attention was focused on the bandage although she felt his look fixed on her nape. When she turned to get some plaster, their eyes met and she felt how all her blood went to her cheeks. After this, she looked again into the coffer, took a phial full of a dark scarlet liquid, and gave it to him:

"I think this could agree with you, it would help you to rest and became stronger." He took the vial with his right hand and, after examining it against the light, drank it.

"This is a Revitalizing Potion, but you have added a bit of Asphodel. It is NEWTs' level and you have changed it slightly."

"Well, I thought it could be useful if it is used to help someone to recover, the ingredients combine perfectly and…."

"Enough. I already know those things, I was settling a statement not asking for a lecture."

"Sorry Sir. I'm going to arrange a room for you. There is one on the first floor, it is already clean and… I think it is the one they would assign to you."

"I can do it by myself"

"No, you can't! ...Professor" The sudden tone of authority she had used surprised him. It have taken him off guard, he looked inquisitively at the young witch in front of him. "So-sorry Sir, I just wanted to mean that it is not necessary that you do it, that I can fix it fo…"

"I know what you mean," he snapped. Nevertheless, his look didn't reflected rage if not weariness and astonishment. Nobody ever, even Voldermort, has talked to him in such tone during fifteen year of being respected when not feared.

They went upstairs, Severus Snape leaned against her shoulder, the potion hadn't worked yet and his body was exhausted after having endured a long session of torture with the cruciatus curse to demonstrate his loyalty. Once they reached the room, he leaned against the door and observed how Hermione made the bed. Noticing his curiosity stare, she said in a humble tone: "I'm still underage for the Ministry."

"No mind, they detect magic, but not the wizard. This is a registered house of wizards and it is also charmed with the Fidelius Charm." With these words, he offered her his wand. Hermione took it with trembling hands. It was a fine wand, made of ebony, as her owns, dark and bright. Wondering about its nucleus, she muttered a pair of charms. At once, the bed was made, a bright fire appeared in the fireplace warming the room as if it had been lighten during hours and a jug filled with crystal-clear water rested on the bedside table.

"I see you haven't forgotten that the asphodel makes people thirsty…"

Nodding, Hermione returned the wand and went out saying: "Good night, Professor."