Chapter 4 - reactions and plans
*But the Death Eater Hermione had just struck dumb made a sudden slashing movement with his wand; a streak of what looked like purple flame passed right across Hermione's chest. She gave a tiny 'Oh!' as though of surprise and crumpled on to the floor, where she lay motionless.
'HERMIONE!'*
Hermione woke to what she thought was the sound of soft singing. The world was blurry and she blinked repeatedly until it came into focus. Professor Snape stood beside her and she gasped when she realized she was in the hospital wing, back at Hogwarts. She was alive. Her memory of the ministry came rushing back- she remembered being cursed by Dolohov and then… nothing.
'Whe-'
'Don't speak just yet Miss Granger.' Snape paused his song-like murmuring to glance at her.
Hermione kept quiet and watched as he passed his wand over her chest, repeatedly muttering in those sing-song tones. Hermione felt a strange sensation in her chest and down over her ribs, as if her skin was knitting together, it was tingly and uncomfortable but not terribly painful.
After another moment the professor stepped back and summoned a chair. After seating himself at her bedside he met her eyes.
'I will give you 15 minutes, Miss Granger, to ask your questions, so make the most of them.'
Hermione felt overwhelmed, she had so many questions about what had happened at the ministry, she hardly knew where to begin.
'Were you singing that counter-curse?' She asked, surprising herself. It wasn't what she had meant to start with, but her curiosity got the better of her.
Snape cocked his head to the side, considering her for a moment. She wondered if her question had surprised him as much as it had herself.
'Not quite singing. You were hit with a combination of curses. One is a specific cutting curse that requires a rhythmic counter-curse. I wasn't singing as much as sticking to the rhythm needed to best heal your skin. That will repair the external damage, although you will have a significant scar.'
'The external damage?'
He gestured to a night stand covered in various potion bottles.
'You will be on a strict regimen of daily potions to repair any internal damage, and your ribs will be tender for a few days.'
Hermione nodded in understanding, she would have to look closely at those potions later. She thought for a minute, she knew she could find out what happened at the ministry from Harry and the others but she wanted to make sure she didn't waste this moment with Snape.
'It was about a prophecy.' She said in a quiet voice.
'This whole time, that's what he wanted.' She said as she looked at Snape warily. His face was shuttered, but she knew she had his attention.
'Do you know what it is? The prophecy?' she said in a whisper.
Snape was quiet for a long moment. Finally when Hermione thought about trying to say something else, he replied.
'I do.' He said, in a voice that sounded rough and unused.
'Wha –?'
He shook his head, cutting her off.
'I don't know the whole of it… and I won't answer your question.'
'You only know part of the prophecy?'
He nodded warily. Hermione had a number of follow up questions, but she sensed that the subject was closed as far as he was concerned, and she didn't want to lose anymore of her time with him.
'Did you understand Harry's message in Umbridge's office? The one about Padfoot?'
He let out a breath and nodded again.
'I did, however, I wasn't able to get help fast enough. I was waiting for you and Mr. Potter to return from the forest. When you didn't arrive back at the castle, I notified the Order. I was hoping that Sirius would remain at quarters in order to notify Dumbledore, but he did not.'
There was a tone of finality in his voice that Hermione was afraid to interpret.
'Sirius. Is he alright?' She asked finally, her voice was strained.
Professor Snape shook his head and she thought she saw a glimmer of sympathy or pity in his eyes when he looked at her.
'He fought Bellatrix Lestrange and was hit with a killing curse.'
Hermione felt her eyes fill with tears at that. Just when Harry had found him, he was gone.
'Did anyone else…?'
'Nymphadora Tonks will spend a few days in St. Mungo's. He shrugged.
You and she sustained the worst injuries.'
Hermione glanced around, trying to think about a different question and a different subject. She guessed she was nearing the end of her 15 minutes.
'Is she ok?' Hermione asked- tilting her head to Umbridge. The woman didn't seem to hear her, but seemed to be almost catatonic in her stillness. She was staring straight ahead of her and sat up in bed.
Snape smirked at her question.
'She is in a state of shock.'
Hermione raised her eyebrows at that.
'She will be fine physically, Miss Granger, However, I suggest you think back about your muggle mythology about Centaurs if you want a more complete answer.'
Hermione could feel her face grow pink when she realized what Snape was referring to. Hermione remembered reading certain Greek Myths that depicted Centaurs as being notorious for lusting after human women…
Snape stood abruptly.
'I believe your 15 minutes are up.' He said as he nodded once before turning and walking toward the doors to the main hall.
'Thank you for curing me, Professor.' Hermione called out to him. He stopped for a moment but then started walking again, not turning back to look at her.
Snape struggled to keep a straight face as he looked at Minerva McGonagall. She looked considerably worse for wear, leaning heavily on a cane as she shot him a satisfied smile. She arrived back at the school just as he had been about to give Potter detention. She went ahead and awarded points not just to him, but to all of his little friends.
'Good thing I got here in time to award my Gryffs some points, eh Severus?'
He scowled at her but then let it transform into a small smirk.
'Welcome back, Madam. He said, raising one eyebrow.
It is good to see you, despite the fact that you are far too easy on your students.' He said, bringing up a familiar argument that had almost become an old joke between the two colleagues.
'It is good to be back, Severus, though it seemed I missed a great deal of excitement.'
'You shouldn't have taken such a risk,' he said seriously. Looking at her with a bit of reproach. Referring to the stunners she had taken when trying to defend Hagrid from the Aurors.
'Your colleagues have been worried for you.'
She stumped up to him and patted his cheek,
'Thank You, Severus, I know you were among the worried and it's appreciated. I also wanted to thank you for sending along those potions.'
'You shouldn't put your trust in the incompetent potion makers at St. Mungos. He said curtly.
I shall see you at dinner,' he said before turning and heading to his quarters. Minerva would no doubt be surrounded by well-wishers as soon as she arrived at the staff lounge.
He hadn't been 5 minutes in his quarters before the headmasters face appeared in his fireplace.
'Severus, do you have a moment?'
He was offered a small tumbler of fire-whisky as soon as he stepped through. He raised his eyebrows at this, Dumbledore usually stuck to tea before the dinner-hour.
'I find I needed something stronger this afternoon, Severus. Young Harry is having a hard time adjusting to his godfather's death and I know I am partly to blame.' Dumbledore said in a tired voice.
Severus didn't respond. I told you so's wouldn't do any good and Dumbledore was looking his age today.
'I had hoped he could get past his animosity of you Severus but I'm afraid it's even more pronounced now than it was before – he is looking for someone to blame.'
Snape felt a familiar anger well up inside him and took a few deep breaths to calm himself. The only person to blame was Potter himself. He was as foolhardy as his father and indeed as his godfather had been.
'Headmaster, It hardly matters if he decides to blame me for one more misfortune, there are already so many that lay at my door according to Potter– one more will hardly matter… I didn't want Black to die. I did try to stop him.' He said, his voice growing pensive.
There was no love lost between him and Sirius Black and he didn't believe in false mourning, but death was not something he have wished on the man. Lily had loved Sirius Black and been his friend, for that reason alone, Severus would wish him well in the afterlife.
'I know, Severus. I've made a number of mistake with Harry, I admit. Things will only be harder for him from here on out. He will need help from his friends and his protectors. Dumbledore said, gesturing to the younger man.
Silent as they are.'
'Does he know about the prophecy?'
Dumbledore nodded. 'He does now.'
'Upon waking, it was one of the first things Hermione Granger asked me about.'
'An intelligent young woman – she is quite good at reaching the heart of the matter. Did you tell her, Severus?'
'How can I tell her, when I don't even know the whole of it. Perhaps her friend will tell her now that he knows.'
Severus realized his voice was bitter and sharp, but he couldn't seem to help himself.
'Don't you think it's time you told me, headmaster?'
Dumbledore shook his head and looked at him steadily.
'No, my boy, I'm sorry but you really don't need that information.'
'Even after all of this, you cannot trust me?'
'Don't you see Severus, it's easier if you don't need to conceal it from your other master.'
'Sir, do not obfuscate with me. You know one lie is the same as any other and occlumency doesn't really work that way. I could hide one thing just as well as the myriad other items I am hiding from the dark lord.'
He finished his drink and set his tumbler down abruptly.
'Thank you for the drink, headmaster, was there anything else you wanted?' He said, already making his way towards the door.
'Actually there was, Severus, please give me a few more minutes of your time.' Dumbledore said in a voice laced with steel.
Severus stopped and turned at his employers command, his face set into its familiar sneer.
'If I understand your reports from earlier, Miss Granger seems to have a natural talent for occlumency?'
Severus nodded, they hadn't gotten far in her training, but the girl was picking it up quickly, she had an organized mind. It also helped that she practiced daily and followed his instructions to the letter. Mr. Potter hadn't bothered to even try.
'I think it would be wise to continue her training, Dumbledore said, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
We might find that she needs training in more than just occlumency in the coming year, it would be wise to set up a schedule of extra training for the girl.'
'Indeed, headmaster, and you expect me to be the one training her?' He asked, although he already knew the answer.
'Yes, Severus, you see, I'm counting on her to keep young Harry alive. There are dark times ahead and we need someone watching over him… and the Weasley boy of course.'
Snape held back a snort of disgust. Dumbledore had always been quite obvious in his preference of favorite students. Hermione was just a tool, conveniently in place to watch over the favored Potter…and Weasley was an afterthought apparently.
'Your concern for all of your students is so very obvious, headmaster.' He said in a voice dripping with sarcasm.
He held up his hand when Dumbledore opened his mouth, no doubt to defend the importance of Potter over the other two.
'Never mind your protests, I will set up lessons with Granger. I agree that she could do with some training… for whatever it is you have planned for those three.'
With that, Severus turned on his heel and left.
*Indicates lines from The Order of the Phoenix, as written by JKR
AN: Lots of dialogue in this one- it was a struggle to write I admit...Severus Snape is such a sneaky Slytherin that I find it difficult to write dialogue in a way that shows the layers of his complicated relationships (as I see them) with his colleagues and Hermione. If I am not extra productive this week, this will be my last chapter before the Holiday, so Merry Christmas to those who celebrate and enjoy your day off to those who don't! (hopefully you are getting a day off). Thanks for the review and keep them coming - those are what keep me wanting to add chapters and I am hoping to get at least one more posted before the new year!
Also- please excuse the typos as this story is not yet beta'd!
