Chapter 2: On The Outskirts Of Inquisition

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Uncharted Forest, Unknown Location, Unknown World...

Snape had another fire going when Hermione awoke a third time but the cold had not been as bad as it was before. She sifted the bearskin off her and sat up. She couldn't understand how they had gotten from shrieking shack on the grounds of Hogwarts to the middle of an uncharted forest in Scotland. The young witch had her suspicions that all had not been quite right with Professor Snape as he moved about defensive in his posture and seemingly on edge. He had called her Lily as he turned in for the night. She had been almost sure of it.

"Profess...Sev." said the cautious witch needing answers as well as not wishing to upset him.

Snape turned to face her still evidently confused as he moved closer. She noted yet another stick with some poor charred animal in the center of it. Her growling stomach had left no room for debate and nor had her Potions Professor as she took it and ate what she could. He seemed satisfied that she had chosen to comply once more and turned his attention toward getting to the stream.

"I-I'd like to come with you...if you don't mind." she said.

Snape looked at her confused for a moment.

"No." he replied. "W-Water bad."

Hermione looked the peculiar wizard over, finding herself sharing in his confusion.

"Water...you mean the stream?" she asked.

Snape said nothing for a moment then nodded once more.

"W-Water hurt Lily." he replied. "Sev get drink."

"Lily?" asked Hermione not at all understanding him.

Snape seemed to smile a bit before reaching down to stroke her cheek much to the witch's utter shock.

"Sev get drink Lily." he said before taking off once again.

It had come to Hermione's attention that Snape was using a strangely simple speech so unlike the vastly intellectual speech he had been so quick to show off when addressing his lessers.

She noted he looked rather strange as well, his hands trembled often and he seemed to be incapable of relaxing even for an instant. She also noted he favored one side of his neck in the wake of Nagini's attack.

Before she could recall any major changes in his otherwise abrasive personality, well aside from him referring to her as "Lily", Snape returned with a container of water for her to drink.

"Drink." he said handing her the container.

Hermione looked inside inspecting it for a few moments before meeting his curious gaze and finally drinking it down. She had been quite thirsty for some reason and in need of more answers.

"Profess...Sev." she began getting his attention.

"Lily." he replied meeting her eyes.

"Sev...why are we all the way out here?" she asked. "We have plenty of people worried sick about us back at Hogwarts."

Snape suddenly narrowed his eyes at her.

"Lily want Potter?" he said almost bitterly. "Potter back at Hog...Hog-warts."

Hermione's eyes widened as she noted the aggressive stance he had taken.

"Profess...Sev." she began. "We have other friends...they're probably worried about us."

"Potter not get Lily." he said rather testily. "Sev keep Lily."

Hermione blinked now understanding why her Professor had been speaking so strangely.

"Professor...Sev did something happen to you?" she asked. "Something bad?"

Snape grew quiet for a few moments as if trying to come up with a decent reply.

"S-Snake...bite." he seemingly forced out. "Sev hurt...Sev always hurt."

He took off his trademark frock coat tossing it onto the ground as he showed off his glaring wound. Hermione's eyes widened when she saw the swollen red flesh surrounding the despot's serpent pet's bite marks. From the looks of it she could tell the Bezoar had been effective and it had been the initial reason his life was saved drawing a good deal of the lethal aspect out of the venom, but it seemed to have left a few devastating effects in it's wake.

Turning her attention toward figuring out what had been wrong with Professor Snape, Hermione carefully inspected the wound.

She noted the puss and blood that seemed to fill the wound.

"I've got to find some way to drain that or it might become infected." she said.

Snape narrowed his eyes at her.

"Sev I don't have time to argue with you." said Hermione shifting into crisis mode. "Who knows how long this has been in your system."

"Lily bossy." he muttered.

"If it will get you to do what is necessary to save your life then I am." replied Hermione leading him back toward the fire and near the log he had sat on moments before leaving to get water. "I need you to hold still."

Snape seemed to be without a rebuttal as she moved her hand along the fine teeth pricks. He grunted as she reached into his inner pocket and pulled out his wand. She didn't know if her idea would work but Snape had to trust her at least a small amount if she was going to keep his wound from doing more damage.

The black veins that accompanied the bloated colorless flesh of his neck unnerved her but the guilt of having left him to suffer in silence before finding out that he was always a member of the Order of Phoenix had been what kept her on course.

"I'm apologize if this hurts you...Sev." she said. "But we have to drain it before it becomes a much bigger problem."

Snape clinched his fists as Hermione summoned forth a bit of magic to puncture the wound and drain it's dangerous mixture. The Potions Master's body temperature shot up and he was sweating profusely as his immune system kicked into high gear in a bid to force out the poison filling his veins.

Once the magical puncture and draining had been complete, Hermione had been unable to use the wand to seal the wound given Snape had passed out in the wake of the fever getting the better of him.