That is how the headmaster, nurse, and headmistress found them. The sleeping woman curled in the arms of the also snoozing Potions Master. All three decided to let them sleep, since they knew that Severus had not slept in the two days the young woman had fallen into his arms – literally – and the young woman's ordeal none of them could imagine.
*~*~*~*~*POV Shift*~*~*~*~*
Severus woke with an ache in his neck, but also a strange feeling of 'Home.' Hermione was still in a peaceful slumber, and as he had no wish to disturb that which may be her last for a long time, he didn't move. Instead he thought back to her sixth year, when he realized he had fallen in love with her.
She had been running from the library because she was late for curfew. She had somehow known that it was his night to patrol the halls, so she didn't bother with stealth, just outright ran, hoping, he supposed, that he was elsewhere. He wasn't. She crashed in to him, and had he not been who he was, they both would have been sprawled on the floor. Instead, she was in his arms (arms that had gone around her in reaction to the impact), snug against his body. Even as he snarled at her, he couldn't ignore the sparks and pure electricity that the position brought to him. She was staring at him with eyes wide in surprise, but not fear.
"Ms. Granger! Not only are you out past curfew, but you don't watch where you are going. Which results in you barreling down a hallway and undoubtedly knocking everything down. 50 points from Gryffindor for being out past curfew, and 25 more points from you for running in the hallways!" The surprise in her eyes turned to fury as she pushed back from his chest. He cringed inside, but he had not really know any other way to react.
"Well, if I hadn't been in the library researching for YOUR homework, I may not have been out past curfew. And in an effort to make it back to my dorms to save YOU the trouble of bothering with me, I ran. It certainly is not my fault that you, with your black robes and hair, look like part of the shadows!" She had her hands on her hips, fury burning bright in her eyes. He was so taken back by that beautiful sight that he forgot to take points for talking back to a teacher.
"Ms. Granger, if you would return to your dorms, and make sure I don't ever catch you out past lights out again." She picked up her books and fled. Once out of his sight, his anger at her bubbled up. How dare she talk back to him? On his way back to his rooms he decided that he liked that look on her. She was breathtaking when she was angry. With her body pressed so close to his own, he couldn't help but feel how she'd filled out. She was no longer the first year he had striven to keep imposed over her actual shape. She was a gorgeous 16 – 17 because of the time turner – year old with a fiery temper. As he entered his chambers, he found himself wondering if she would have that much fire in her eyes in the midst of passion.
He had snarled at that thought, and was determined to make her life hell. He couldn't have her – she, a student; He, a teacher – so he would make her miserable. It wasn't like he was pushing her away –she'd never love him anyway. He had frozen with that thought, in shock at himself for even thinking such things. He had fallen in love with Ms. Know-it-all-Granger. As muggles said, perhaps Hell just froze over.
Severus wasn't the man he strove to convince the students he was. He used to be, but then Lily and James died – killed by the very man he called Master – and he had gone to Dumbledore. Despite what everyone thought, James and Lilly Potter were his best friends, even though the mutt and the wolf did not approve.
He had known that a lack of a body wouldn't keep Tom Riddle down. It had taken nearly fifteen years, but he had learned to be human again. And the first thing he had to go and do with his newfound humanity was fall in love with his best student, one of the Golden Trio. The very kind of witch that he, as a deatheater, was supposed to despise with his whole being, became the center of his attention for the rest of her sixth, and all of her seventh year. He had always enjoyed irony, when someone else was the victim. Now that he was said victim, he found himself despising it.
Oh, he was careful that no one knew of his new affections for Hermione. Until three days ago when he ran with her in his arms to the infirmary, he was sure that not even Dumbledore suspected anything. Now that no students were around, and she herself had graduated three terms before, he could at least be human. He had decided, whilst brewing the potion he was about to give her, that he would let her get to know the real Severus Snape. He was still miserable, guilt-ridden, and surly on the best of days, he just wasn't evil. He knew that she would never love him, but perhaps a friend could be found in her.
He moved to put her down in the bed, made sure she could easily see the clean cloths he had retrieved from her trunk after Minerva went to the hotel she was staying at, and got them. She was to be put in a set of chambers next to his own. He didn't want to see her reaction to that. Now that she had woken up, he was going to shower and change. He had been planning on a nap, but seeing as how he had fallen asleep with the lovely Hermione, that could be crossed off the list.
Moving to his chambers with years of practiced ease, sliding from one shadow to the next, he finally allowed his thoughts to return to this morning, and the last thing Hermione had said.
"They were muggles." His whole body had frozen before he had gotten into her bed and pulled her into his arms. Now she didn't even have the comfort of knowing that there was nothing she could have done. She didn't have the comfort of knowing that wizards cast spells on her, such as the Imperious curse (allowed the caster full control of the target, one of the Unforgivable Curses), that she couldn't have done anything. The 'They' part suggested more than one assailant. And knowing that Ms. Granger was the top of her class, her *magic* class, would only make it worse. Severus just hoped that he could convince her that in a crises situation such as the one she had found herself in, the mind reverted back to what it knew as a child. In Hermione's case, the muggle way of doing things, as was proved by the bloody knife she had used as a portkey to get to Hogwarts.
*~*~*~*~*POV Shift*~*~*~*~*
She woke up when she heard Poppy moving about the infirmary. She sat up feeling like something was off. It took her a minute, but she remembered. She had fallen asleep in Professor Snape's arms. How he must have hated that. She hadn't meant to, but she had been exhausted. No surprise really, considering what her week had been like. She wasn't going to start crying again, she wasn't going to cry, she was crying again damn it. Poppy heard her sobs and moved slowly into the curtained off area that was her 'room.'
"Good morning dear! Afternoon rather. Would you like something to eat?" Poppy had taken care of one or two rape victims, and she knew never to ask how they felt or how they were doing or anything of that nature.
She sniffled and nodded. With a flick of the nurse's wand, a house-elf came in carrying a tray of food. To her surprise, it was Dobby. The little house-elf still wore Harry's sock, along with a strange array of clothing. As Dobby slid the tray on the table that Poppy had conjured, She sniffled and noticed that at least the little elf had washed his clothing in the years since they had left.
"Dobby is glad Hermione Granger is back at Hogwarts. But Dobby wonders WHY Hermione Granger is back home." She shook her head at the elf and managed a weak smile.
"Its good to see you to, Dobby. And I am glad to be home. But, could you not ask about the why, right now please." Dobby smacked his hand against his forehead. Then he picked up a fork from the table in between them and started beating his head with it.
"Dobby should have known. Dobby stupid. Dobby sorry for upsetting Hermione Granger!" She grabbed at the fork that Dobby was using to punish himself with.
"Dobby no! You didn't upset me! I just…"
"Dobby, don't you have a job to do?" She jumped at the voice she was sure she wouldn't hear for quite some time. Obviously everyone knew what had happened to her, and so far the only people she had seen were the only professor that hated her, the nurse, and a wayward house-elf. She'd seen neither hide nor hair of the Head Master or her old Head of House. The two she was sure would show up. She snorted inwardly. It was the middle of the summer, assuredly they had better things to do. Her old professors certainly didn't need to bother with her. Which led her to wonder why this one kept showing up. She'd rather just wallow. Harry certainly perfected the art, why couldn't she?
"Dobby was welcoming Hermione Granger home to Hogwarts, Severus Snape! Dobby will go now!" Dobby scrambled off the bed and disappeared. Snape took his place as she kept her eyes on her platter filled with various fruits and meats. She picked meagerly at the food, steadfastly refusing to look up.
"Hermione, if you're going to ignore me, at least eat. All you're doing is pushing food around. I won't allow you to starve yourself." Still the same old Snape, she thought as she put a grape in her mouth and went back to pushing food around. The form in black robes sitting on the food of her bed did something she'd rarely hear him do. He laughed.
But he sobered quickly. "I'll feed you myself if I have to Hermione. One grape is not going to do." She put her knife and fork down and crossed her arms, keeping her eyes on the tray. She didn't know why, but she was feeling very immature. She didn't understand why Severus Snape kept coming around her. It made it seem like he cared, and she knew good and well that not even her two 'best friends' cared any more. Harry was too busy with Cho and Quidditch. Ron worked for his brothers while he went to college for something-or-another. He changed majors so often she wasn't sure what it was anymore. She hadn't spoken to either in a few months. Ginny was busy with her husband, Colin Creevey, whom had turned out to be a top rate Charms Master. His job was research and developmental Charms. Interesting job. Really. Not.
"What if I'm not hungry?" She spit out, all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and sleep. She really wasn't hungry, but she had sense enough to know that if she didn't eat, she wouldn't in the long run, and she'd just get sicker. She just couldn't bring herself to eat when her mind kept wandering to 'that night' as she'd dubbed it, and why she hadn't gone for her wand.
"You only think you aren't." She snorted at his answer. Something she'd expected from the surly Potions Master. She pushed the table away so she could lay down. She curled up around a pillow she'd taken from anther bed and curled around it, closing her eyes. She'd yet to even look at Severus Snape.
*~*~*~*~*POV Shift*~*~*~*~*
He hated to see her like this. Strange, because he normally loved to see people suffer. Hermione Granger just broke all the rules with him. He cringed when she said that to him, the first words she'd said since he'd come back. "What if I'm not hungry?" Oh, he knew that she felt alone. He just hated that she hated him. It was going to be hard to help her with her hate between them.
He sat down on the bed below her feet and pulled her up, gently pulling her face up to look at him. He knew that his face bore none of the expressions that students ever saw on him, some might even go as far as to call the expression a gentle and caring one.
"Hermione, you need to eat, and you can not sleep all of the time. Albus has gone to fetch Minerva, and they should be arriving sometime this evening. Now, you may come to the great hall for supper, or have your meal in here. Either way I will be with you to make sure you eat it." Without knowing it, he had answered two of her questions. He was also yet unaware that the two he was speaking about were already back, and were waiting until he returned to Albus' office. She looked into his eyes, and he fought his desire to fall into those chocolate eyes. Eyes that were watering up again. His heart twisted in his chest when she asked her next question, from the question itself as much as the utter confusion, simple agony, and small spark of hope he read in her lovely eyes.
"Why are you doing this Professor? Why do you even care – or pretend to care?" Severus ran his hand up her jaw and settled it upon her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into it, a small crystal-like tear leaking from her eye to his hand.
"Hermione, I never did *not* care. I'm also quite possible the only person here who will be able to help you. You shouldn't complain – I doubt that Misters Weasley and Potter will come running when - if - you decide to let them know about your attack. You will need a friend. Now come and finish your lunch. If you'd like I'll call for my own in here and will eat with you." The spark of hope that had grown and brightened in her eyes belied the look of bewilderment on her face.
"I'm shocked Professor. I had thought – like everyone else – that you were just a heartless bastard. It seems that the assumption isn't entirely true." She sat up and pulled the table back. "I would like for you to join me with lunch Professor."
"You are no longer a student Hermione. Call me Severus." He told her as he waved his wand, summing a house elf. The other free elf in Hogwarts employ – Wendy he believed – came in. "Fetch my lunch. I'll take it in here." The elf nodded and left the room. In short order his own lunch was on the table between himself and the younger woman before him. He kept bite for bite what she ate, watching her carefully, and encouraging her to take another bite when she moved to lay down her fork. When they had finished enough of the meal that he was satisfied, he called for an elf to take the dishes away. He did not want to bring up her ordeal again, but it was a subject that had to be broached.
"So, Prof-Severus, when are the Head-master and Deputy-Head-mistress supposed to arrive?" She interrupted him, and he was a little relieved.
"Soon. Hermione, the potion I gave you healed your physical wounds, but Poppy will want to give you a contraceptive potion. It – angers – me to think that this would have to happen to you, that such precautions should have to be taken for any reason." Bloody Hell, her head was bowed again, and the smile she'd had on through lunch had disappeared. He cursed inwardly at himself.
"As that is a potion I've had no reason to look up, what would exactly be the side effects and results?" her words were covered by her hair, so that he barely heard them. He reached out and brushed her hair aside, and lifted her chin.
*~*~*~*~*POV Shift*~*~*~*~*
She was surprised at the subject her old professor had brought up… simply because she had not thought of it. She new that the use of contraceptives, after possible conception, was considered by some to be abortion. That particular argument had made no sense to her. Abortion was the woman's business, not the government's or the general publics'.
She had never had a personal problem with abortion. In the muggle world, the issue was much larger than in the wizarding world. Either way, her personal opinion was that if you didn't want the child, while carry it full term just to give it away? There were enough children placed in foster care because of deceased guardians, the totally abandoned and unwanted children got left behind. Why subject a child to a life knowing that they weren't wanted by their birth-mother?
She certainly didn't want any child that would come from this. She knew… if she were to keep a child that came from this, even without meaning to, she would look at it with loathing and disgust. No child deserved that. One of her 'best friend's were brought up like that. It certainly didn't turn out exceptionally well.
"As that is a potion I've had no reason to look up, what would exactly be the side effects and results?" She felt Severus push her hair away, and lift up her face. She was well aware of the tears in her eyes.
"The potion would force your body onto a Cycle. Your body would discharge any fertilized eggs, as well as any left over semen. Some side effects might be severe cramping and headaches, much like the muggle 'day-after' pill." She took a shaky deep breath and nodded.
"Is it a one dose, or will I have to take it over time?" Her voice shook, and she was on the verge of tears yet again. There was a pained look on Severus' face. She wasn't sure whether it was from guilt over bringing up the subject, or dread of the incoming tears. Either way, she fought to keep said tears at bay.
"One dose should be plenty, but you'd have to speak with Poppy to be sure." Severus wiped a tear that had fallen from her eye away with his calloused thumb. Calloused from holding knives and stirring rods and quills. She could certainly tell, just from his hands, that he worked with them all of the time. "Would you like me to exit the room after I fetch Poppy?" She shook her head, still looking at him. Regretfully, he moved away from her and turned to retrieve Poppy. He followed the medi-witch back in, and stayed on the edge of the curtained off area.
"Albus and Minerva are waiting in his office, for your arrival Severus. Why don't you go and greet them while I take care of Ms. Granger here?" She put a small hand on the witch's arm.
"I would prefer if he stay Madame Pomfry. Couldn't you send an elf to get the Head Master and Professor McGonagall?" Poppy looked surprised as Severus just summoned an elf to do as she had suggested. Poppy had to go through the general list of effects and making sure that she had no problem taking the potion – including asking if she were allergic to any of the ingredients. As soon as Poppy was done, she downed the potion just as Albus and Minerva walked in behind Severus.
The twinkle that usually lightened the Headmaster's eyes was not present, but the smile was. Minerva looked like she wanted to mother her, and she didn't think she would be able to stand that.
"Ms. Granger. I am glad you found your way back to the school, we have missed you here." Albus gave his greeting, waiting for a sign from her telling him what he could do without frightening her.
"Thank you Headmaster. Hello Professor McGonagall. Please do not treat me as if I am about to break, I'm not made of crystal." She managed a small smile, fidgeting with the edge of the blanked piled around her waist. "I do hope I did not pull you away from something Professor McGonagall, Headmaster."
"Please dear girl, call me Minerva, you are no longer a student. And of course you didn't interrupt anything dear. This old woman was only relaxing for the day. I was coming back tomorrow anyhow, so don't you worry." McGonagall said, taking a tentative step forward.
"Yes, and please call me Albus, Ms. Granger." She smiled a bit more.
"Only if you will call me Hermione." Both the professors smiled.
"Hermione, I wish to offer you a teaching position. We have a month until school starts, and you wouldn't have to teach until you feel you are ready, but our Muggle Studies Professor, unfortunately, had to leave." She glanced to Severus, and his nod confirmed her thought. Well, it certainly was an odd subject for a deatheater to teach.
"I would be pleased and honored to do so Albus, I just ask that I be allowed to continue my research." She brightened at the job offer, and sighed in relief at not being made to leave the safety of Hogwarts come September.
