Authors Note:
Here comes the good stuff! Severus' story begins in St. Mungos. Thanks for reading! I appreciate the reviews! The beginning is a bit slow but picks up towards the middle. Already started on Chapter 2 and its going to be a good one! Lots of Severus/Hermione Happy READING!
Desvario-Thank you for your review. I hope this chapter is to your liking it is definitely much longer and more detailed.
Draco Lover 91 - Thank you for your review!
I do not own these characters nor do I own the world of JK Rowling!
Chapter 1: Escape from St. Mungos
Darkness fell upon Severus and he knew he was taking his dying breath. Staring into Harry's eyes he fell into the abyss.
St. Mungo's four months later…..
Severus felt as if he had been in a dream. As consciousness was coming forth in his mind he was suddenly aware of his toes, legs, and fingers, up through his arms and into his face. The feelings of little pricks tickled his body. Attempting to gauge his surroundings by sound he tried to determine what the afterlife would bring for him. Yet he heard nothing. He felt cold and was lying on something that was dreadfully uncomfortable. It reminded him of his youth when he would sleep under his bed on the old hardwood floor to escape his father.
He attempted to open his eyes but they felt heavier than anything he could imagine. Almost…as if his eyes were sown shut by an invisible force and he was suddenly aware of how tired he was and sleep consumed him again.
As the sun began to rise so did Severus. He awoke to loud noises, constant chitter chatter from unknown sources and something warm and soft lying on the top of his hand. If this was considered heaven he was surely hoping for hell.
With a fierce attempt Severus opened his eyes. The bright light burned and he closed them quickly. On his second attempt he opened his eyes slowly and they easily adjusted to the light. Taking in his surroundings he could see a short plump woman chatting away to a rather large and burley man walking out of the doorway. The room was silent again yet his hand was still warm. He looked at his hand wondering where it was that he could be and saw the untamable bush he could recognize anywhere, Hermione Granger was apparently napping on his hand. Merlin! He was surely in HELL!
What in the name of Merlin was happening! Surely he was missing something there had to be some sort of clue as to what was going on! Severus yelled, "MISS GRANGER! REMOVE YOURSELF FROM MY HAND!"
Hermione fell into the floor and nearly wet herself from the unexpected outburst. She was not certain who had yelled at her, however, upon looking at the Professor she knew exactly who had yelled and woke her from her slumber. "PROFESSOR SNAPE!" She threw her arms around his upper body in an awkward embrace refusing to let him go.
Severus could not help but find her falling to the floor amusing. For reasons he cared not to admit he always found that inflicting emotional distress on Miss Granger to be gratifying. As he heard her shriek out his name his eyes grew wide and instantly knew she was going to touch him again. NO NO NO NO! Blasted insufferable little know it all is hugging me…she is touching me again! Has she forgotten who I am? He pulled all his strength within him and managed to pull his arms up to get her off of him. He wanted to know what in the world was going on for the last he remembered he was dying. This was not the afterlife it couldn't possibly be!
"Miss Granger if you could please contain yourself and refrain from touching any part of which is mine." He drawled out.
"Oh. I'm…I'm sorry Professor. Perhaps….I…perhaps I should retrieve the nurse." She said walking out the doorway.
Thank Merlin she left. Sitting up in the bed became an almost exhausting job. Looking around the room he seen a medal and was almost for certain it said Order of Merlin First Class and had his name across the middle. Upon a second glance at the medal he was correct in seeing his name across it which only meant one thing. He did not die as anticipated. Grasping at memories to try and figure out what had happen. Struggling to remember that last moment, he could see Lily's…no…Harry's eyes; he remembered thinking he was dying, and then, nothing.
He was in shock. How on earth did he survive? He only knew of one person surviving an attack from Nagini, Arthur Weasley, and that was because of Potter…."Potter." he muttered in barely a whisper. He was surely the reason for this and his nosey side kicks.
As he lied back into the bed sulking over the golden trio interfering with his death the daily prophet appeared on his bed side table. Severus reached over and picked it up and gasped! How in the name of Merlin did a picture of him lying unconscious in what appeared to be a hospital bed…that explains why its hard as a rock….and that little brat asleep on his hand manage to get a full page front cover photo in the daily prophet! The embarrassment! The SHAME! He will surely never hear the end of this! Beneath the picture in very fine print he read, "Full Story, Page 3". Severus quickly turned the page.
To Severus' horror he began to read the title, "An Unfulfilling Love, By: Rita Skeeter", an unfulfilling love my ass! He had already started making his death list and Ms. Skeeter was on the top! Nosey, wretched woman! How dare she intrude upon his privacy? Where was Granger she put that horrid woman up to this! Severus began to read the article:
An Unfulfilling Love,
By: Rita Skeeter
After popping in on the two love birds
in question we noticed right off the bat
they were sharing a bed together.
Such a sweet and tawdry love affair,
the infamous war hero and heroine
will soon be reunited. Interviewing
Ms. Granger was quite fun.
She was more than willing to
provide the answers to the readers,
had to know section, of last week's edition.
Here are two of those questions and Ms. Grangers answers:
What are your plans for the future Ms. Granger?
My plans for the future are simple. I will stay by Professor Snape's side until he awakes.
Do you think Harry or Ron is jealous of your relationship with Professor Snape?
Jealousy isn't exactly the word I would use as the description.
More Q&A next week!
As Ms. Granger excused herself…
BLASPHEMY! Severus couldn't believe what he was reading. Why would she be staying by his side? He most certainly did not want her there nor did he ask her to stay there.This picture of her looks quite annoyed so hopefully that's a good indication that Rita was being Rita the stupid cow! I sincerely hope she dies a thousand deaths in the bottomless pits of hell!
Hermione at this point had returned with what seemed to be half the St. Mungos healers. She was visibly frustrated considering she had only asked for one healer to come to Severus' room. She watched as all the healers rushed to his bedside and stepped back out of the room.
Severus watched in horror as the healers surrounded his bed. Don't touch me, don't touch me, don't touch me DAMN IT! "Stop!" He stopped them just as they swarmed his bed. He was two seconds from going into full on Death Eater mode. First the news paper then all these stupid insignificant people swarming his bedside attempting to administer Merlin knows what. He abruptly sat up in his bed, swung his legs around to the side, pushed the Healers away and stood demanding his wand and personal belongings. The Healers all stared at him in complete and utter shock.
"Headmaster Snape it is not advisable for you to be standing in your condition. Nor is it advisable for you to be making demands at this time. Would you please lay back down so that we can do some vital scans?" Bravely said one of the Healers.
As smooth as silk Severus simply stated, "No. I want my belongings."
The brave healer took a step closer to Severus attempting to gauge his stone cold face. And again showed his foolishness, "Hea..Headmaster Snape. I assure you that once we check your vitals and you are well you will be able to leave."
Severus knew that this was his one chance to leave he allowed them to check his perfect vital signs. He felt like a new man there could be nothing wrong with his vitals. Smoothly accepting but with a fierceness in his voice, "Proceed."
The healer waved his wand over Severus watching the results in complete awe. He turned to request one of the other healers in the room to fetch his belongings and noticed that only one other person remained in the room, Hermione Granger. He instantly felt a knot in his stomach. He knew he was lucky. He turned back to Severus and cleared his throat, "Headmaster I will fetch your belongings and will return in a moment." He nearly ran out of the room leaving Hermione to face the man alone.
Hermione could barely suppress her giggles. After seeing the Professor in such a feeble state the last four months she knew he was not invincible nor was he as scary as she had imagined while in school. He was giving her his famous scowl. "That doesn't work anymore Professor Snape." She said with a smirk.
"Obviously…." He drawled out waiting for her to leave. Which she obviously was not doing the insufferable witch! "What are you doing here Miss Granger?"
She knew that question was coming and for the first time in her life the answer did not come. So she simply stared at him with what could only be a puzzled look on her face. She must give him an answer. "Looks like I'm standing in your room Professor."
"You insufferable witch, what do you want!?" He was fairly certain the entire hospital could have heard him shouting at her but he really didn't care he just wanted to be alone.
"I would appreciate a softer tone Professor. Between working all day and staying here all night I do not get much rest." She said with as much passiveness as she could muster. She walked around the bedside and fetched her books and put them in her bag. She began to take Severus' gifts he had received and sat them on the bed. She walked over to the wall and removed his medal and put it on the bed as well. After gathering all of his things and laying them on the bed she turned to her professor and stared at him. He had not taken his eyes off of her the entire time. She knew he must be confused so she thought the conversation could simply start off by giving him the date. "The date is September 8th. It has been four months since the Battle at Hogwarts."
Severus could not believe this woman was tidying up his room. What in the world was she thinking? He was desperately attempting to stare a whole through her until she turned to him and began to speak. FOUR MONTHS! He suddenly felt dizzy. He had lain in this bed for four months and according to the wretched Rita Skeeter Hermione had been there every night. He sat down on the bed nearly knocking everything off of it into the floor. Four months…four months of his life….gone. He stared at Hermione. She stayed by his side for four months. She had clearly lost her mind.
The healer walked into the room with Severus' belongings. "Headmaster Snape, I do believe that these are all of your possessions. Please verify the contents and sign your dismissal form."
Severus walked over and rummaged through his belongings. He found his wand and gently caressed it in his hands he didn't care about the rest. The magic made him feel as if he were glowing as it flowed through his body. He took the box from the Healer and dismissed him after signing his papers. He sat the box on his bed, placed the other belongings that Miss Granger had left on his bed into the box. He stared at Hermione for a moment nodded at her with appreciation. He couldn't bring himself to say thank you. He took his wand and swished it across his torso successfully changing his cloths swiftly turned with his cloak billowing behind him and walked out of the room. Leaving Hermione standing speechless….
