-HG-

Hermione spent the day at home after waking sixteen hours later, calling the doctor and taking a couple days off. Knowing full well that she was in no condition to operate on someone, much less hold a scalpel. Sebastian won't leave her side, she woke up to nestled against her back with his nose about a millimeter from the injured arm. When she went to crawl out of bed, she realized she bled a little as some of the new skin had split in sleep. Using more of her dittany, she waited until the arm mended and put it in a splint to prevent any further reopening.

She used her one good arm to brew the dreamless sleep, which proved more difficult than she thought with just one free hand. But if there's one thing she learned from Severus and his classes, magic and potions never mixed during the brewing process. Sebastian curled up in the corner of the room and watched her brew. As she always configured the living room into a brewing lab, Hermione had a fire going and some of her favorite music in the background to calm her.

Brewing always brought peace to her, even during the most trying times. She would start a project and be able to focus on it until its completion without any other distraction or thought. Slowly stirring the rod counterclockwise she began to hear his voice instructing her on how to continue. It was the best part about potions and probably why she was so in love with it. Because the man who taught her, who's voice she heard every time to took part in brewing was a man she could have easily considered to be the one for her. It was something she had known before she left Hogwarts, she knew the moment she had melted into his arms and he held her whispering calming things. From that moment she knew that Severus Snape could have owned her heart if she stayed any longer. Part of the reason she wrote that note and got it to Minerva so soon.

As the brewing process continued, Hermione let the music and atmosphere absorb her into the work.

-SS-

Severus hadn't gotten any sleep that night, everything he did resulted in thoughts of how he had officially ended his only chance at happiness. Completely ruining the only chance he had in possibly forming a friendship with her or being able to help her. It led to a despair so strong he fought tears during numerous points of the day. Even had a moment in class where he left one of the seventh years in charge while attending the loo in order to get a grip.

As the last student of the day left his classrooms, he began to pack up the homework he needed to grade that night when a familiar presence entered the class room.

'Headmistress?'

Minerva stopped in front of his desk with a confused and concerned look on his face. 'Severus, what is wrong? The students have been talking all day about how little you've spoken or corrected anyone. You even had a fourth year blow their cauldron and all you did was vanish the properties before anyone got hurt and dismiss the class.'

Severus continued collecting his papers and refusing to look the older woman in the face. Minerva had always been someone he had respected deeply and at times considered and welcomed her concern. Right now, he knew if he took one look he wouldn't be able to hold back the information he knew shouldn't be said. 'I'm fine Minerva. It's the night terrors again. I just need some sleep.'

As he left the classroom and his friend in it, he threw up the most powerful wards and locks on his private quarters that he could muster. Knowing the only thing to do was to get on with his life, Severus took his place in the office and began grading the incompetence that most students considered a finished essay.

-HG-

She never realized how much pain Ron must have been in after his arm had been splinched. It was constant and a dull throbbing stabbing pain that only kept the reason behind the failed travel fresh in her mind. Ever throb brought Severus's voice whispering her name, and every time a fresh waver of sorrow would take over. Hermione had done everything she could think of. Brewed potions, went for a run, even tried pampering herself and getting lost in a book. Nothing helped. She had been off of work for almost three days now and the pain in her arm wouldn't go away.

It had begun to lesson but was still present enough to cause the cycle to remain. Pain then sorrow then panic and back again to the pain. So she had decided on one of two choices, she could either cast a numbing spell on her arm to block all nerve receptors until it healed. This option had potentially devastating results, most importantly being her career as a surgeon. Operating with a numb arm could be potentially fatal for her patients. The other option was to wait it out, stay away from the hospital. Maybe travel (without apparating) for a week or so. As the second option seemed the best, she had her clothes start to pack themselves while preparing a bag for Sebastian.

'Want to go for a trip little man? Where shall we go?' As she cleared away the potions brewing equipment back to her normal living room furniture, Hermione took a seat in the armchair and motioned for Sebastian to join her. 'What do you think bud, France….No definitely too fancy. Hmm….what about Asia? Maybe its time to visit those monasteries I've always read of and been interested in. You know its on my bucket list.' As she curled up while scratching behind Sebastian's ears, she watched as the bags were finally finished and floated to land at the front door.

Hermione summoned her cellphone (muggle portable telephone) and called the airlines to get the next tickets out. With a flight time of seven the next morning on her hospitals private jet, she took Sebastian and gathered shrunk her bags to fit within her pocket. After attaching his leash and ordering a pet friendly taxi, Hermione locked up the house and awaited her ride out front.

When the taxi arrived about ten minutes later, Hermione was busy letting her dog walk around her property. 'Ma'am?' the driver yelled to get to her attention. Hermione spun around and saw a very handsome man about ten years older waiting with the back door open for both her and Sebastian to take a seat.

'Be right there, he's finishing his business.' Hermione watched as Sebastian showed off and cleaned his paws off on the road before jumping into the man's car.

'That's a very interesting dog you got there ma'am.' Hermione chuckled as she crawled into the cab next to Sebastian.

'I suppose he is isn't he.' Sebastian was a husky wolf mix that she had found on her property about two years ago. All by himself and only about 5 weeks old, Hermione had rescued him and brought him home. While she lay in bed with the puppy curled up against her neck, Hermione lay thinking of the best name. Turning to gaze upon her new addition to the family, Hermione watched as Sebastian gazed back. With eyes that had the most pure and silver color she had ever seen in an animal before, she instantly thought of the last patronus she had seen that wasn't her own during the war. Severus. Knowing his middle name to be Sebastian she named him that.

'What breed is he? I've never seen that size and color on a purebred husky before.'

Hermione rubbed Sebastian's head as he had curled up on the seat next to her and laid it on her lap for the ride. 'He's half wolf I assume. I'm not sure and haven't really checked. But the vet made an educated guess when I took him in for his shots.'

'And his name?'

'Sebastian.' She smiled fondly down at the animal as he snoozed soundly during their conversation.

'Well, he's very well behaved so I suppose a human name for him is accurate isn't it?'

'Yes, it does suit him doesn't it.' Hermione's thoughts left the beautiful animal of hers and turned to the man he was named after instead. Wondering if he was having as hard a time after the abrupt departure as she was.

While her thoughts took off, the cab driver remained silent almost as he understood that her thoughts were anywhere but in the cab. The ride was pleasant enough as the sun was barely present and the dawns darkness was holding true. Hermione watched as the sunrise took its flight while her thoughts were still in Hogwarts.

'Ma'am. We have arrived.' Hermione shook herself from her train of thought and yawned when she realized the sun had fully risen and she was indeed in front of the private airstrip the hospital used.

Gathering the payment from her wallet, she paid the cab driver with a polite goodbye and thank you before walking out to the check in area. Instead of checking her luggage it remained shrunk inside of her pocket, once she had her tickets Hermione proceeded through security in a timely fashion before boarding her plane. As she was the only passenger with Sebastian, she let him loose once the flight attendant closed the door.

The plane took its ascent rather gracefully and Hermione smiled at the lifestyle she know led with muggle flight and enough muggle money to live rather comfortably. Perks of choosing a career in medicine as a surgeon she supposed.

-SS-

Severus couldn't focus on his essays and grading them all night. Instead he had spent the better part of the night attempting to sleep. Once failing that, he had decided to drink himself to sleep instead. A bad choice on his part as he now began teaching his first class of the day with the worst headache ever. Instead of taking a hangover potion, he chose to deal with the pain instead in hopes of being distracted for his reason behind restlessness in the first place.

With the class running smoothly and every student focused on brewing their potion for the day, Severus took his place behind the desk and attempted to catch up on grading the fourth years before their class in two periods.

-HG-

Hermione landed in Hong Kong, China approximately sixteen hours later. When the flight attendant woke Hermione, Sebastian was already panting happily in the seat next to her with his nose against the planes window. Drawing a small chuckle from Hermione at the sight, she stood and attached his leash before leading the silly dog from the planes confines.

Stepping into the afternoon air of Hong Kong, Hermione took a long breath and savored in the unfamiliarity of it all. When a younger boy came running up to her, he bent instantly to Sebastian and began speaking to him in English.

'Oh hey boy, how are you? Good flight I hope?' Hermione chuckled once more and smiled down at the little lad as she assumed he was to be part of the guide she had hired for the occasion.

'Hello sir. The flight was decent indeed. However, this little one needs to use the restroom before we take off to the cabin I rented if that's suitable?' The little lad nodded and smiled pleasantly before leading her and Sebastian out of the airport and to an area with enough foliage to appease Sebastian for an after flight restroom break.

'Is the cabin far?' Hermione wondered aloud.

'Not too bad. It's about an hours drive into the mountains. You'll be about half an hour from the monasteries, within walking distance if you'd like?' Assuming the boy was referring to her muscle body type Hermione felt pride instead of annoyance as would typically be the case.

'Yes that would suit myself and Sebastian very well.' The lad beamed at her agreement. 'And are you to my be guide during my trip or just to pick me up from the airport?'

He led Hermione and Sebastian to the car and opened the door for them while answering. 'Yes ma'am. If that is okay with you. Also I wanted you to know I've spoken with the lead monk at both monasteries and they have informed me they look forward to having Sebastian's presence within their walls soon.'

Hermione smiled heartily at the news, she had wondered if he would be allowed to attend her time within the monastery and was pleased to hear he would. 'Oh that's good. Thank you so much eh….goodness I've almost forgotten what's your name?'

'Well my English name is Samuel ma'am. We guides have given ourselves easier to pronounce names for those visiting.'

She laughed out loud at this prospect as she knew that the local language was something she had little to no knowledge of and was definitely grateful the guides had taken this into account for those traveling. 'Well Samuel, shall we?' He agreed and began driving through he windy roads of the mountains.

Hermione spent the time during the drive checking her emails and confirming the hospital had granted her time away. Once she had confirmed the thought, she turned the phone off and stowed it away. Sebastian was busy panting and enjoying the days wind while traveling through the beauty of nature that Asia possessed. Hermione found herself doing the same, enjoying the wind through her hair and the sun on her face as the distance was traveled in silence.

As the car finally came to a stop in a small gravel driveway In front of wooden cabin on the edge of the mountain, Hermione opened the car door herself to take in the scenery. The cabin overlooked the cliff's edge with a beautiful porch that bordered the glass wall of the backside of its structure. Hermione marveled at the beauty in it's wooden log build and yelled for Sebastian to join her within it's walls.

Immediately inside the front door was a large living room with two couches, a fireplace and an armchair next to it. Through a small opening in the wall behind the living room was a rather large kitchen and the wall of windows that overlooked the cliff of the mountain. To the right of the front door was a spiral staircase that led to the upper floor. Hermione looked to find the guide standing at the front door, motioning for her to look around. Sebastian curled up on one of the couches as she took flight up the stairs. At the top of the stairs it opened into a hallway with four doors. Hermione opened the first to find a beautiful little bedroom with a massive bed and two dressers. Proceeding through the hallway she opened the next door to the left, it held a large bathroom with a beautifully sized tub that stood gleaming with its jets along the inside of its walls. On the farther ride side of the room was a glass walk in shower, with a decent sized sink next to it. On the wall on the left, it held a ceiling to floor window that overlooked the bordering woods that provided privacy and a view for the bathroom. Hermione left the room and checked the end of hall door to find a small closet. Opening the only door on the right she found her jaw hanging at a rather luxurious master bedroom. With its dark wood green and silver color scheme on the bed linens and furniture, its complete back wall of windows that overlooked the same scenery as the kitchen, Hermione found she was definitely going to enjoy her time here.

Coming back downstairs, Hermione found Samuel petting and playing with Sebastian. 'It's beautiful Samuel, thank you!'

Samuel looked at Hermione and smiled in reply. 'No problem ma'am, we find the better comfort within the cabin leads to a more relaxed traveler for their studies.'

Hermione tipped Samuel while thanking him again before saying her goodbyes for the day. Samuel had informed her before leaving that he left a schedule for tomorrows traveling on the kitchen counter and to enjoy her day of rest and solitude. He would return tomorrow bright and early.

As Samuel left the driveway, Hermione took a moment to listen to the sound of nature as it enveloped her completely. The only thing to break it's beauty was the dull throb that began in her injured arm.

Hermione decided to put the bath to its use.

After taking her bags from her pocket and returning them to full size Hermione set her belongings off to be packed properly as she began undressing. Once the last of her clothing hit the floor, Hermione set the bath to fill as her candles from the house floated to the bathroom and lit themselves. Illuminating Hermione in a homely and familiar lighting and smell.

Hermione climbed into the tub once it filled completely and set the jets to begin their timer. Once the jets began and Sebastian laid down on the carpet next to the window, Hermione finally relaxed completely to the ambience of the cabin and it's scenery.