Chapter Two

Information

Severus waited in the hall while Madame Pomfrey examined Hermione. He was trying to decipher the spell he had heard. Finio was obviously Latin for 'end,' but he hadn't heard the other words before. Not knowing the answer had caused Severus to adopt his signature scowl by the time the school nurse snuck quietly into the hallway, easing the infirmary door shut behind her.

"Thank you for bringing Ms. Granger directly to me, Severus. She very well could have bled to death otherwise."

"What in Merlin's name happened to her Poppy?"

"She miscarried a fetus in that corridor. Forcefully and against her will from what you told me. From what I can tell, the pregnancy was approximately ten weeks along. Do you have any idea who the boy was?"

"Miscarried!" Suddenly to spell translated perfectly in Snape's mind. "No, I didn't recognize his voice. I'm bloody well going to find out though."

Snape started to move towards the infirmary door, but Madame Pomfrey cut him off, saying that Hermione needed as much rest as possible. Severus growled briefly in the back of his throat and turned to stalk off.

"Would you let Minerva and Albus know what's happened? They will wonder why Ms. Granger is absent for the next day or two."

Snape grunted a response, but headed for the Headmaster's office. His head still throbbed in time with his heartbeat, but what Poppy had said was true. Dumbledore and McGonagal were worry-warts and Ms. Granger's perfect attendance record would help to heighten their confusion. He mumbled the password to Albus' office (Sugar Quill this week, of all things) and headed up the stairs.