Severus woke slowly, one sense at a time. He couldn't remember the last time he'd slept so well or so deeply. His mind felt warm and fogged. Something tickled across his face. Brown, nearly gold this close, spread right across his eyes. Smelling of... flowers, and soap. But not his soap. Not his hair. Hair?

He freed his face to take further inventory. He was on his couch, in his lab at Grimmauld place. Not particularly unusual, he preferred his bed but often ended up on the couch after an exhausting night, or if he was monitoring a touchy brew. A small sound brought his attention back to the couch, startling him. He felt the warmth then, took notice of it, the warmth and the weight in his arms. The hair. Flowers and soap. Who on earth was sleeping on his couch with him? He reached a hand up and gently pushed that cloud of golden brown hair back to reveal a small feminine face. Big brown eyes blinked up at him sleepily, before the face buried itself against his chest with a soft satisfied sigh as a small arm wrapped around him drawing them even closer.

He could feel his mouth hanging open in shock like an idiot. He shook his head to clear it even as his arms tightened reflexively around her. What the devil had happened last night?! Another small sound brought his attention back to his... The person on the couch with him. This one sounded pained. She was blinking up at him again but this time her face was pinched in pain. Her hair had shifted to expose a bruise across the side of her face that had been turned away. He smelled the bruise paste now and it all came flooding back to him, his arms tightened at the memories of the night before, and she cried out. Stupid! She was hurt and he was making it worse. He started to pull away as he eased them both up to a sitting position, but one of her hands clung to his shirt keeping them together.

She started to cry. "I... I don't understand."

"Miss Granger, do you remember what happened last night?"

At that she cried harder and he surmised she did. A hand came up and clutched at her forehead, the other still gripping his shirt. "Ah, my head!" She began to shake and fold in on herself. The hand he had raised to put across her shoulders had a bare moment to draw back her hair as she gagged and then vomited over the edge of the couch. His mind was a whirl with possibilities of negative interactions between the healing agents he'd used, and the potions and elements she'd been exposed to in the brewing they'd done, as she fell back into his lap clutching her head and crying. So stupid! He'd tended all the visible injuries but failed to cast a diagnostic spell. He grabbed his wand and did just that. As he suspected, a concussion. He was infuriated with himself over this failing, he wasn't a healer but he had taken responsibility for her! But now was not the time for recrimination. She needed a healing potion. It wouldn't be as effective as if she'd had it immediately, but it would speed her recovery. She needed rest, and he would bet the crying and vomiting was only adding to the pressure in her head. He'd mix a half dose of calming drought with the healing potion, and perhaps something to make her sleep.

He evanescoed the mess, and then made sure to temper his usually sonorous voice in deference to her condition as he spoke to her. "Miss Granger you have a concussion, I apologize, I should have caught it last night. I need to get up to go get you a healing potion. You must rest, and I would advise against any quick changes to the elevation of your head."

He would have liked to tell her to stop crying as well but had learned long ago that was very infrequently effective. Even if it was for her own comfort.

He eased her head off his lap and carefully slid a cushion underneath to replace it. As he turned to get the potion he realized they were attached. That small hand still had a death grip on his robe.

"Miss granger-"

She whimpered.

His voice softened. "Hermione. You need to let go for a moment so I can fetch the potion and make you more comfortable."

She shook her head violently and then cried out with the motion. He was crouched over her stroking her hair back and whispering comfort before he could even think about it. "It's ok, I'm here, I won't go. Hush. Hush now."

He thought for a moment and then simply accio'd the things he needed to where he sat perched on the couch, and mixed them in a tray in his lap. Once the mixture was ready he began trying to coax her hand from her face so he could feed her the potion, but she was fighting him. After a moment he thought to spell the curtains closed and once the light was dimmed she allowed him to assist her in drinking it down. He sat with her as she ease back into sleep, resisting the irrational urge to quietly sing something. Once she was completely out he drew the blanket over her and pried that small hand off his shirt, concentrating very hard on not thinking about whether he may or may not miss it being there.

He stood and marshaled his thoughts as he watched her sleep, preparing to face the proverbial world and the ugliness that transpired last night head on. This was not going to be a good day.

There were hands in her dream, hands with claws that bit, snapping teeth, hot breath on her neck. She was screaming, trying to fight, trying to get away, anything-

She woke screaming and her head pounded and swam, she swooned and strong arms caught her. She screamed again, and her head throbbed with it as she collapsed. But those arms were gentle, no biting claws, and that smell, she'd know that smell anywhere. She went limp with relief, pressing her face into his chest. That smell meant safe, he would keep the bad away.

"Oh Professor!" Her hands sought him out, one digging into a fistful of robe, the other finding the back of his neck. She clutched him tight and ignored the twinges from her injuries.

"You're safe Miss Granger."

"I know."

AN - I'm having a really terrible day, so here, have a present. It's been sitting in my documents waiting for more, but the next parts all plot-y and its been a while, so. Here. Enjoy. Have a better day than I am please. I reiterate that this may never be done and if you'd like a spoilery plot sketch just let me know.