Disturbed


"Yeh sure yeh don't want anything ter eat Professur?" Hagrid sat heavily beside him.

Severus stirred slightly and kept his eyes on the lake surface. He shook his head in negation. When he woke up this morning he was bearing a heavy head and a wounded pride. He partly remembered what he did last night. The gift he offered to the child was still vivid in his mind, but the conversation with the woman and any obscure details were buried in deep fog. He felt thankful for that. Whenever he tried to recall his actions his gut twisted uncomfortably, so he shoved them back in the dark corners of his mind. He hoped he had been prudent towards that annoying woman and that he said nothing inappropriate even though Hagrid had been reassuring him all morning that even in a drunken state, he was always a gentleman.

This morning he regretted last night's venture, but surprisingly he didn't regret Teddy's present. The child had nothing to do with his old grudges. He was completely innocent and unaware of the nightmares they had lived through, years ago. It mattered little that he was Lupin's son…or maybe that is what helped.

"Weather is beautiful today right? Sun is shining, birds are singing" Hagrid took a large bite out of his ham sandwich.

Severus gazed at him in apathy.

"Always hungry after a drinking contest" he explained taking another bite.

Fang came close and took a whiff near his face. Severus winced and pushed the dog back gently "Leave him alone boy!" Hagrid chastised. Severus scratched the dog's neck lost in thought.

"He's fine" he whispered.

"Glad, yeh decided ter come for some fishing this morning" Hagrid pulled his fishing rod and adjusted it between his huge thighs "They aren't biting though" he was unable to hide his disappointment.

Severus shook his head uncaring about his successful fishing career. Just sitting there peacefully was everything he needed to clear his head from the previous evening. As it was Saturday and one of his days off, he decided to keep the library locked this morning and come down to find Hagrid. He didn't know why he liked the half giant's company, but he was a person that didn't try to coax him into agreements and pleasantries. He was being himself, and that allowed Severus to do the same. Even if he sometimes had to mute Hagrid's insistent blabbering.

"Even though I enjoyed yeh company last night, I have ter ask yeh" Hagrid gazed at him.

Severus's mouth twisted in a silent question.

"Yeh been arguing with anyone?"

Severus shook his head.

"Problems with the library?"

Another negation.

"Then what?"

"What do you mean?" Severus whispered with a deep crease between his brows.

"Cannot help but think that summat happened last night. Yeh came too strong on the booze. Yeh downed most of me bottle. Running low on supply, I am" he spoke thoughtfully. Mostly observing the calm lake waters. Not sounding accusing, just genially worried.

"I'll get you another bottle from Hogsmeade"

"It's not about the bottle Professur, It's about yeh"

"As always. I was fine last night Hagrid. I just took up your offer"

Hagrid's beady but kind eyes gazed at him for several moments " Just don't wanna find yeh lying dead on some lakeside…"

"I didn't want to commit suicide last night" he whispered and adjusted his fishing rod, not liking the turn this conversation had taken.

Hagrid signed and as if deciding that Severus was speaking the truth he took another hearty bite out of his sandwich "So it was just companionship yeh're after?"

"As do you…if I remember correctly"

"Yeh're right. I enjoy yeh company…even though most of the staff fear yeh" Hagrid smiled, seemingly oblivious about the seriousness of his words. Severus's brow creased even more and his eyes got lost into the lake. Hagrid spoke in an afterthought "Except Charity and the Headmistress of course!"

"All the rest fear me…" he thought loudly.

"Or try to avoid yeh…yeh're not the easiest person ter be around Professur. It's alright"

Severus scrutinised him "Why do you seek my company then? Because Minerva appointed you my guardian?"

"Nah. Yeh and me both are mangled remember? We understand each other, don't we?" Hagrid smiled down at him.

Severus looked back at the lake with a heavy heart.

"I shouldn't have to look after yeh, but having ter do so, is both a pleasure and a pain. Pleasure because I like yeh. Pain because I know how strong yeh used ter be" Hagrid continued solemnly. After a moment he placed his ham sandwich down and scratched his beard "I lost me appetite, I did"

-then stop speaking of he past you fool- Severus thought but decided against voicing it. The silence drew between them more comfortable than ever. All that Severus could hear were some blackbirds above the cottonwood trees. Fang was lying with his back on Severus's back and the sun was warming his silver-black hair. He begun to doze off and closed his eyes letting the peacefulness around him sip through his skin when Fang sprang to his legs and began barking. The same moment Hagrid spoke "It is Professur Sinistra with that little boy Teddy"

Severus looked up and saw Teddy running quickly in front of Sinistra towards the lake. She was yelling at the boy with her hands extended "Ι think there must be some trouble with them…what do yeh think?" Hagrid frowned deeply as the kid approached the waters dangerously close.

"What the hell is she doing?" Severus thought out loud and his frown deepened.

"Come back boy! You hear me! Come back here NOW!" they heard her voice holler now that she was closer to them.

"No, I am not coming to you! I want my auntie! I want to play in the Gidditch field!" Teddy looked back at her as he was running, and Severus's body tensed quickly when he saw the boy's foot slip at the mud that was at the edge of the lake. Disaster was upon them as Ted slipped into the cold water and begun yelling for help.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake" he whispered and sprang to his feet. Hagrid was already running in front of him, but Severus's agility made him bypass the giant easily and he reached Sinistra that was trying to get Teddy to grab a long stick. The boy was panicking and his hectic movements were pulling him away from the shore.

"Help Severus!" was all that Sinistra managed before he jumped into the lake head first. The cold water shocked him awake as he resurfaced. He looked at Teddy splashing around a little further from him and with two strokes he grabbed the boy by the waist. Teddy grabbed him by the throat with both arms.

"Don't choke me" Severus whispered at the boy and began swimming towards the shore.

Teddy was crying with his head buried on his shoulder "I want my auntie!" he kept repeating after each sob.

"I'll take you to her, give me a moment" he tried to sound as compassionate as he could manage. Reaching the shore he tried to untangle to boy from his arms. Hagrid took Teddy with great difficulty as his small hands were pulling Severus by the cardigan.

"Come here laddie. I've got yeh" Hagrid took him in his arms.

Severus pulled himself outside with difficulty since his cardigan felt ten times heavier now that it was soaked. He turned to Sinistra angry to the bone and gave her a deadly glare "What the hell was all this?!" he growled and heard his broken voice struggling to deliver. At that moment he didn't really care. The fear that the boy almost drowned topped everything else.

"I am sorry Severus, I am sorry Teddy…are you ok?" Sinistra checked on the boy visibly shaken herself.

"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED!?" Severus thundered and his voice crackled and riddled him with pain. Hagrid took the boy a little further off and put him down. Teddy was still crying and rubbing his eyes obviously shocked.

"He wanted to visit the Quidditch field, but the Headmistress has given strict orders to keep everyone away when the teams are practicing. Today Slytherin and Gryffindor are having double practice and you know how violent these two teams can become with each other. I denied him and he went into a frenzy. He fell to the floor and began kicking and screaming. When I told him this attitude shall not be abided he run away from me asking for his aunt. That's how we came down here" Sinistra was rubbing her forehead with a trembling hand "I cannot believe he almost drowned" she muttered to herself, but Severus heard pretty clearly.

"He's fine Professur. Just a bit shaken" Hagrid offered a smile. Teddy's hair had taken a deep purple colour and he was still wiping away his eyes.

"Can you dry him?" he asked Sinistra feeling even more furious at being unwilling to do that small thing for the boy.

"Of course" the witch agreed wholeheartedly, but the moment she approached Teddy begun screaming again. She stopped and covered her mouth "Oh, bloody hell" she murmured.

Severus placed his hand on her arm and pulled her back "Go and inform his aunt of what happened. We'll take care of him" he whispered feeling his vocal chords in serious pain. They felt absolutely abused.

"She is in the middle of a private tutoring to a couple of senior students, shouldn't we wait? Seeing the boy is alright?" Sinistra noted carefully.

"He is doing fine Professur. He didn't down any water" Hagrid caressed the boys hair.

"Fine, inform her when she finishes, but tell the Headmistress now" he gazed at the astronomy Professor warningly.

"Sure Severus…take care of him will you?" her voice was trembling.

He grimaced and didn't answer. Instead he moved towards Hagrid. Sinistra quick gait thudded on the grass behind him.

"Can you dry him?" he said to Hagrid and loomed above the child.

Teddy looked up to him with his red puffy eyes and his lip pouted sadly. Unexpectedly he tore himself away from Hagrid and fell on his thigh embracing it with such force that Severus lost his footing and fell down. The boy found the opportunity and let his thigh go, instead embracing his chest. Severus looked at Hagrid feeling at a loss. The half giant's lips pulled back in embarrassment "Maybe yeh should hug him back Professur. He needs it". The gentle note of reproach on Hagrid's voice didn't get lost on Severus.

"Dry him!" Severus spat trying to control his annoyance with how this day was turning out. He had really hoped for a quiet Saturday morning. Slowly his arms came around the little boy and he held him as he stood up. Teddy's legs went around his waist and his head rested on Severus's shoulder. Hagrid threw a spell on both of them through his umbrella and they dried up immediately. Teddy's hair turned bright pink and he giggled in Severus's arms.

"That tickled!" he cried.

Severus glared at the boy's head and lowered him to the ground, not wanting to admit that he felt relieved. "For goodness shake boy, what got into you" he whispered keeping his hand on Teddy's shoulder to engage his attention.

"I wanted to see the Gittich" Teddy looked down embarrassed. He knew very well he'd done something seriously bad.

"Didn't Professor Sinistra tell you that you cannot?"

"She is mean!" Teddy frowned angrily.

"Just because she insists you abide by the rules of this school doesn't make her mean. Your reaction makes you a brat actually" Severus chastised.

"What's a brat? What's apipe?" Teddy asked picking on his nose again.

Severus stilled his hand and looked back at the abandoned fishing rods "Abide is to accept a rule. A brat is what you became when you started screaming and running away from your guardian. Your behaviour is unacceptable" he spoke strictly, not feeling any remorse. The boy needed to learn how to follow some rules. This world was not his playground.

"She was mean!" Teddy insisted.

"Why?" Severus pulled him by the hand and made it to their picnic area.

"She didn't take me to see the Gittich" Teddy crossed his arms and sat down dejected.

"And neither will I, or Hagrid. What will you do? Run away from us and fall in another lake?" Severus sat down and rubbed his throat carefully above the turtleneck. His failed yell on Sinistra had probably bled his throat internally. It felt raw and butchered.

"I'll go find my auntie!" Teddy looked at him stubbornly.

"I see Andromeda failed to shape you up for proper behaviour" he noticed.

"Musta been because of his parents" Hagrid sat down at the other side of Teddy and cleaned his umbrella.

Severus turned to Hagrid "Give him half your sandwich"

"I don't want food. I want my auntie!" the boy stubbed his feet to the ground looking pissed off again.

well this is not a good day…at all - Severus thought and rubbed his forehead "Your aunt has some private tutoring and we cannot interrupt her. You have a choice to either sit with us and help us catch some fish, or go back to Professor Sinistra. Everyone else is too busy to mind your nasty attitude at this moment. Like it or not the world doesn't revolve around you. Consider yourself lucky you didn't drown today"

Teddy's hair turned deep blue and he wrapped his small arms around his legs. Severus felt slight remorse in telling him off "I am sorry Presser Snape", the boy finally said.

"Don't let me see you repeating this attitude" Severus warned.

"I won't, but can I go see the Gittich?" Teddy looked up to him beseechingly.

"When they are not practicing I suppose so" Severus felt his whisper so painful that his eyes watered.

"Yeah!" Teddy jumped in happiness.

"And if you ask politely and don't act like a complete brat" Severus's whisper was barely audible by now. He was mostly mouthing his breath to make sense. His hand went protectively around his throat.

"Yeh in pain Professur?" Hagrid was frowning clearly worried.

He nodded to the half giant.

"I'll be polite. Please Presser Snape, can you take me to see Gittich? Please…please pleeeease" Teddy begun jumping up and down in front of them.

"Me?" he mouthed and glared at the boy who nodded furiously.

"Ask Professor Sinistra, when she gets a green light from the Headmistress" he mouthed and winced.

"Don't want her" Teddy crossed his arms stubbornly and his lip pouted.

"Ask your aunt"

"I want to go with you. Can I? Please? Please?"

Severus closed his eyes and placed his palm protectively on his face.

"Please…please" Teddy continued.

-oh, for goodness shake- he didn't move at all.

"Pleeeeease Presser Snape…pretty pleeeease" Teddy begun whining.

-I hate children-

"Teddy, me think yeh should leave the Professur alone fer a minute" Hagrid tried to intervene.

"Please? I am polite…please can we? can we? Can we? I won't be a brat anymore! I will say please and fenk you and listen to you!" Teddy was still jumping all around him.

Resisting the instinctual urge to snap at the child he lowered his hand and looked at him through murderous eyes "Fine!" he mouthed.

"YEAH! WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE GITTICH, WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE GITTICH!" Teddy begun hollering.

Severus raised his finger in a clear sign of warning "When I feel that your attitude deserves it, I will come find you".

Teddy looked deflated for a moment and then he beamed up to him with the brightest smile "Ok, Presser Snape!"

He exhaled and rubbed his face feeling way too exhausted by every interaction with this little creature.

"Yeh want me ter take him fer a walk and then to Mione?" Hagrid asked still the traces of worry in his voice.

Severus shook his head negatively. He took over the boy from Sinistra, he would make sure he kept him until his aunt was free from her obligations. When this year started the last thing he had been expecting was to become a male nanny to a four year old. Nevertheless it seemed that this was the plan for today at least. He coughed slightly to clear his throat and the pain made him squeeze his eyes tight "Want to try fishing with us?" he mouthed with difficulty.

"Fishing?" Teddy's eyes looked curiously at the rods.

"We haven't' caught any yet" Hagrid agreed with a huge smile and when Teddy looked up, he winked.

"I can get you fish!" Teddy exclaimed and flicked his hand. A small fish jumped out of the lake and fell on Severus's boots leaving a water mark on them.

Severus looked at the boy sideways "Not by magic" he mouthed and then turned to Hagrid "I need pen and paper". Then he grabbed the small fish and threw it back in the lake.

Hagrid looked at his lips confused for a few seconds and then his mouth opened with sudden understanding "I have me some, here yeh go". He checked in his huge pockets and drew a yellow looking paper and a pen.

Severus scribbled something down and gave it to Hagrid. The half giant held the paper and told the boy "The Professur says don't' use magic, learn ter fish with the rods"

"Oh ok, how do I do that?" Teddy looked at Severus with large questioning eyes. Severus called him over and when Teddy came, he took the boy between his thighs and made him sit down. Then he picked up his rod and wrapping his hand around the small one he begun demonstrating to him how to hold the rod and how to swing it back and forth until the fishing line could be thrown into the waters.

The boy followed his lead rather patiently even though he kept asking questions that Severus had a difficulty answering. His throat was in agony and he mentally kicked himself for trying to holler at Sinistra. His throat had been damaged as it always did when he was yelling. The pain if he tried to whisper would feel insufferable, yet he still wasn't going to go and beg for a treatment from Poppy. Maybe if Hagrid was able to heal him, he could accept, but not these people in the castle. The ones that feared and avoided him. He wanted nothing to do with them, nor accept any help they wanted to offer.

He passed most of the remaining morning showing Teddy how to use the rod and how to sit relaxed next to it, until they felt a small movement from it. Only then was Teddy allowed to draw back the fishing line to see with growing happiness that he had caught as a very small fish. He wanted to bring it back to his aunt and put it in a small jar with water, but Hagrid took over and explained that the small fish wouldn't survive. Teddy released his prize back at the lake with a heavy heart, but soon enough he was bright and happy again. Holding Hagrid's ham sandwich on one hand and chasing moths all over the shore.

When Severus observed the sky becoming heavy with grey clouds he beckoned Teddy into Hagrid's cabin, where the willing half giant cooked for them some stew. By the time they finished it was early afternoon and the skies had opened up with heavy rain. Severus tried a few bites only to feel them burn his wounded vocal chords and he pushed his plate away not in any mood to eat. Without, asking for any permission he reclined on Hagrid's couch half closing his eyes. Enjoying the game of checkers Teddy was trying to learn from Hagrid, behind his heavy eyelashes. Thankful that at least for now he was not required to speak anymore, and hoping that Granger wouldn't take long to pick the boy up. The weather outside was heavy and the light of day was slowly going. The last thing he wanted was to go to her door again today. He was still feeling very uncomfortable from last night's events, not wishing for a meeting with her again so soon.

-.-

When Hermione closed the doors of her office she felt tired and her head was swirling. Her private tutoring took far longer than she had planned that morning. When the last student left she was surprised to see that it was close to five in the afternoon. She hurried through the corridors to Professor Sinistra's apartments, already feeling embarrassed for overusing her kindness with Teddy. The fact that nobody interrupted her classes was an assurance that everything was alright. This certainty lasted her up to the moment Professor Sinistra opened her door. Immediately Hermione knew that Teddy was not with her. The apartment's silence was evidence of that.

"Hi Professor, how are you guys doing? I hope I am not too late. My last class took a lot longer than I had anticipated" Hermione looked above Sinistra's shoulder to check for a sign of Teddy.

The Professor seemed melancholic and reserved "It's ok Professor Granger, Teddy is not here anyway"

"Where is he?" she hurried to ask.

"With Professor Snape and Hagrid" the woman said as if nothing was the matter. Granger couldn't understand how that was the case since she left the boy under her supervision.

"How did he end up with them?" she tilted her head trying not to sound too biting even though her heart was racing with adrenaline.

"Me and Teddy didn't hit it off too well in the morning. He wanted to go visit the Quidditch field and I denied him, since it was occupied for Slytherin and Gryffindor practice. The child lost it completely. I think he went into a frenzy and run away from me towards the lake. He slipped and fell in, and thankfully Severus was there with Hagrid. He dived in and got Teddy who …don't look at me like that…the boy is fine! I wouldn't have left him with them if there was something wrong" Sinistra sounded defensive.

"He was under your care! Why didn't you notify me immediately?" Hermione's voice raised as she neared panic.

"Professor Snape said it was not necessary since you had classes and that we should not to interrupt you. He said he would take over the kid until you finished" Sinistra said with a peculiarly coy look that Hermione didn't like one bit.

"He did?" she titled her head.

"Yes, Teddy didn't want to come with me anyway after the event with the Quidditch field"

"What I don't get is why no one notified me immediately. You people make no sense" Hermione picked up her bag and started quickly for Hagrid's cabin, not knowing who she wants to yell to first. Sinistra, Snape or Hagrid.

"Because the child was fine honestly" Sinistra yelled behind her.

"That's no excuse Professor, sorry" she raised her hand without slowing her pace.

"Needless to say I won't be able to care for the boy from now on" Sinistra cried.

"Fine!" she hollered back and turned to the main hallways that were leading to Hagrid's cabin "As if I'd ever ask you again" she muttered under her breath. Her heart picked up speed from her quick pace and from the adrenaline that run through her until she made sure that Teddy was ok.

When she rapped Hagrid's door ten minutes later she was panting for breath. The door opened up and she didn't address anyone. She barged into the hut and found Teddy sitting at a chair with an old game of checkers open in front of him "Oh for the love of heavens, are you ok baby" she embraced him way too tight.

"Auntie you are hurting me!" Teddy grumfed.

"What happened? Are you ok?" she repeated half mad with fear and began checking his arms, legs and torso.

"I am fine! Hagrid is teaching me checkers. Wanna see?" the boy pushed her away.

When she was certain that he was truly ok, she turned to the rest of the occupants in the cabin. First Hagrid that was standing behind her "What happened to the child?" she asked seriously.

"Fell in the lake. Professur Snape retrieved him. I dried 'em both" Hagrid replied nonchalantly.

"Why didn't you people notify me?!" she tried to keep her voice levelled.

"Professur Sinistra advised us against it" Hagrid flicked his shoulder "Said yeh had too many classes and ter wait. Want some hot coco?"

She sighed as the puzzle pieces fell in place. It was not them, but Sinistra that wanted the confrontation delayed as she had been responsible and the boy fell in the lake under her supervision. Well, Hermione was not finished with her "No Hagrid thank you. So Teddy was lumbered onto you"

"I don't think me and Professur Snape find Teddy any trouble" Hagrid's smile beamed under his beard.

Snape yes, where is he?- she thought and looked around the cabin. He was reclining in a protective stance at Hagrid's threadbare couch. His face half hidden by the shadows, the orange light of the fire catching in his dark eyes. She pressed her lips feeling rather apprehensive in his presence after last night. His approach to the child and to her was careful and very considerate. Two things he was not famous for, so she assumed that his drunken state had driven him to rather uncommon actions. Whilst she still appreciated them, she feared that on hindsight he would not be as easy with her tonight "Thank you for saving Teddy Professor" she forced a smile. His eyes remained upon hers for the longest of times before she saw a slight inclination of the head. The only thing that betrayed he ever heard her.

"I'll have to start counting all the times I need to be thanking you. The book you brought to Teddy last night kept us both up until late" she took the offered chair that Hagrid brought up behind her and caressed Teddy's bright pink hair that showed how relaxed he felt in these surroundings.

"Book?" Hagrid looked up with interest.

"Yes the Professor gave Teddy Solomon's adventures. He asked me to read him and I ended up enjoying it more than the child" she admitted with no embarrassment.

"Can you read me again tonight?" Teddy asked and hopped off the chair. He climbed on her lap and embraced her.

"After you take a warm bath, I'll make you a cup of hot milk and I will read you to sleep ok?" she spoke tenderly and caressed his back. Then she looked back to the shadowy place where Snape was hiding from the rest of them "I really cannot thank you enough for today, and about last night" she spoke with honesty.

He kept his eyes on her stubbornly without uttering a word and then he leaned his head back and closed those eyes that burned her. She felt slightly thankful for that until Teddy spoke "Presser Snape hurts, he cannot talk"

She frowned and looked at him again "What happened?"

He didn't move, nor speak. She turned the silent question this time to Hagrid.

"He hollered at Professur Sinistra fer endangering the boy" Hagrid lowered his head sadly "His vocal chords are mangled yeh see"

The movement from the couch grabbed her attention. Severus sat up austerely. She shook her head in understanding. Suddenly she felt remorse for both endangering Teddy by leaving him with Sinistra, and for unwillingly causing this man to suffer as a result "Are you in pain?" she asked solemnly.

"No" he mouthed and stood up. She looked up at him as he approached the table and found a piece of paper that was written all over. He took a pen and scribbled something on it. Then he shoved it in her direction and dropped the pen angrily at the table.

"You should try calling Miss Libby to care for the boy unless you want a repetition of today's adventure" the paper read.

"I intend to do that tomorrow. Thank you for the suggestion" she tried to find his eyes.

He gazed at her in obvious apathy and nodded imperceptibly.

She singed "Can I help you with your throat? You do seem in pain"

"No" he shook his head negatively and sat down on the couch again. Leaning his forearms on his thighs and lowering his head, his body language didn't seem as strong as his words were.

"He just don't want anyone to touch him" Hagrid spoke in a low tone close to Hermione's ear. He didn't want Severus to overhear them.

"Whisper to me" she turned at Snape.

He seemed taken aback for several seconds.

"Whisper to me something" she provoked.

He shook his head and avoided her stare, looking at the wooden panels under his boots.

"You cannot even whisper anymore can you?" she muttered mostly at herself. She reposed Teddy on the floor and stood up "You wounded your throat. Come let me have a look" she drew her wand from her sleeve.

"No" he whispered and immediately he began coughing. His face broke painfully and he turned away from her trying to control the intensity of his coughing. Seeing such a taciturn man, that could go for days uttering only five words, coughing with so much pain, stirred her in unexpected ways.

"Why are you doing this to yourself? What kind of inhumane punishment is this?". The crease on her forehead deep.

He was both unwilling and unable to answer to her because of the insistence of his cough, but his temper begun raising by her probing and he clasped his hands as he felt the familiar rise of magic around him. The uncontrollable part. He didn't want to cause any more damage to Hagrid's house. He needed to leave.

"Presser Snape taught me how to fish today!" Teddy decided to chime in suddenly with a bit of useless information.

"What?" she looked confused.

"With a fishing rod" Teddy nodded eager to share his experience.

"He did?" she looked back at Snape and his face was hidden behind his serious amount of hair.

"YEAH! I caught a little fish and threw it back in the water. Hagrid told me it would die if I kept it, right?" he looked at the half giant awaiting affirmation.

Hagrid nodded, but Hermione's attention was once more on the brooding man on the couch that had just stopped coughing. His face still hidden and his hands clasped white knuckled in front of him.

"I am so happy you had such a lovely time with these men today Teddy. Now will you allow me to help Professor Snape?" she tried to keep her voice neutral.

"No" he shook his head and raised his hand to stop any gallant ideas that she might be having.

"I am not going to hurt you Professor. I just want to help you heal. Just as a thank you for helping Teddy out today" she flicked her shoulder indicating to him that this was not something special. Yet it was even though she couldn't understand it.

"No thank you" he shook his head again and kept his eyes religiously away from her.

"Do you trust me to do a better job than Poppy?" her voice tried to sound lighter.

He couldn't resist meeting her eyes. They were kind and soft upon his. He nodded curtly and a small smile tilted the corners of her mouth "Thank you, so can I try to heal you? You look in pain and I hate seeing people in pain"

He shook his head again and looked towards the fire.

"I don't know why you are so negative towards me. You've known me for seven years. Yes, we've never been friends, but you helped us all these years. Now I have a small chance to repay that debt and you don't even want to let me try"

"Thank you for the offer, but no thank you" he mouthed not knowing if she could lip read him.

"Why since I'll be gentler than Poppy" her eyes tried to find his, but his face was away from her. Her heart drummed heavily under her chest.

"I have to leave" he stood up abruptly. He didn't want this woman to mess with him, even though today she was trying to approach him politely. He waved in the general direction of the room and made it for the door. Before he had the time to reach it and get away from her, Hermione cast a silent spell straight at his throat. Her wand shone bright for a second and Severus grabbed hold of his throat and crashed upon the door ledge. His eyes went red from the excruciating burning pain. It lasted three seconds and took his breath away. Then it subsided as quickly as it had come taking away with it all the pain from this morning's misadventure. He inhaled deeply and glared at her murderously.

what have I done now?- she thought when his eyes killed her from a distance and she took a step away from him. He looked ready to blow the hut up with all the occupants inside.

"Don't ever do that again" he warned, surprised at the absence of pain. Granger healed his wounds forcibly and that made him feel thankful but the positivity of those feelings was pushed aside viciously as now he was forced to feel obliged towards her. And he wanted to have no obligations towards anyone. Also her words of pity were too fresh to be ignored.

"All I wanted to do was heal you" her eyes looked up to him with sad abandonment.

"I really could do without your pity" he spat with menace.

The look or recognition was hard to miss in her eyes "Oh no, you are so wrong about this. It has nothing to do with pity I assure you!"

"Those were your exact words as I recall correctly from yesterday morning" his eyes pinned her in place.

"Yes, and I regret them deeply, for they have been misinterpreted as it looks" she pointed at him vaguely with her hand.

"No matter what you might regret, I don't require help either out of pity, nor because of Ted. Just keep your wand away from me" he warned with a low tone that made her hair stand on end.

"I didn't help you for neither of these reasons. I just did it for you…I don't know how to make you understand that" her brows came together in frustration.

"Heed yourself warned" he pointed his finger at her, not even listening to what she was telling him. He felt so defensive at that moment that his hearing had somehow muted all intruding sounds. Including her voice.

"I will, but a thank you would have been better appreciated you know" she stood up at her full height looking at him straight in the eye with no fear whatsoever, but her heart felt disappointed at his rejection. More so for her stupidity when she had uttered those stupid remarks yesterday.

"I would have thanked you, if I had requested this intervention. As it was seriously unwanted, I am just keeping myself from bringing down the roof on your head!" he barked and felt his voice crackling again. He placed his palm around his neck protectively and opened the door. He didn't want to stand there facing her and uttering obscenities in front of the little creature. Ted had nothing to do with all this. He was also aware that his magical mishaps would be happening again soon if she didn't leave him alone. The door opened up behind him and her voice stopped him "Wait!"

He paused but didn't turn around. The rain drenched him quickly.

"Why are you acting like I smashed a bottle in your face?" the hardness of her voice making him frown. She walked closer to him.

"You raised your wand towards me, same principle!" he rejoined angrily.

"I have a difficulty seeing people in pain…you wouldn't have ever given me permission. I took it upon myself" she hurled at him using her hands to make her point even stronger.

"How very gallant of you, Miss Congeniality, so-thank-you" his lips sneered and he turned his back at her.

"What the hell is the matter? What got into you? Last night you were almost civil" the crease deep in her forehead with disapproval.

Her voice made him stop and he turned around angrily. His hair resting on his chest and his eyes blazing "Don't ever dare raise your wand against me like that again!" he hissed, the lack of pain on his throat bypassed. His blood was boiling from anger at her audacity to hold up to him in this manner.

"Against you? what I did was hardly against you" she rebuked equally pissed off that he didn't appreciate her help.

"Well, don't ever do it again!" he glared at her with fiery eyes.

"Fine!" she rejoined.

"Good!" he tilted his head imperiously as if he was expecting her to submit to him. That made her even more furious.

"You should get drunk more often you know" she threw at him expecting him to ask a question so she could clarify.

His raised brow was enough for her.

"I like you better drunk. Sober you are built like a brick-house…I helped you, because I didn't want to see you in pain. I didn't do it from pity. Maybe I did it because I appreciate what you have been doing for the kid since we arrived. Because your actions that are gentle speak louder than your cold and angry words. Maybe I get you better than you think and I want to assist you…ever thought of that Professor?" she hurled at him sadness overflowing her, by his inability to get in touch with his environment.

A sharp crackle, made her turn around with a yelp of fear just in time to see one of Hagrid's window panes blowing into a hundred pieces. She turned to him again with a mingled look of shock and fear in her eyes.

His were cold and calculating on her. He didn't reply. He simply turned around and walked away haughtily. She fumed and bit the inside of her lip trying to stop herself from keeping him there in some manner. He had dismissed her by his attitude and that annoyed her beyond belief."I could get to like your drunken self, but this one? No way…" she muttered to herself and then pursed her lips suddenly annoyed with everything around her. She looked at the broken glass just as Hagrid opened the door.

He walked over to the glass dismayed "He was holding himself in there. Didn't yeh notice?" he picked up a sharp piece.

"Not really" she admitted and raised her wand to the window. Slowly it mended itself, the last piece escaping from Hagrid's hand and sliding in place.

"Thank yeh" Hagrid smiled.

"Is Presser Snape gone?" Teddy asked disappointed.

"I'm afraid so honey"

"He promised to get me to see Gittich" Teddy yawned and stretched.

"I don't think he will be coming soon baby. I don't want to disappoint you. I might take you to see a Quidditch practice the next few days. What do you think?" she asked kneeling in front of Teddy.

"No, Presser Snape promised!" Teddy's lips pouted.

She looked for silent solicitude from Hagrid. The half giant landed a huge palm on Teddy's back "Come laddie, off te bed yeh go. It's late now"

"Thank you for everything today Hagrid" she smiled and took Teddy by the hand "And sorry about the burden and the consequent mess" she looked at the fixed window.

"No harm done Mione. Bring Teddy over tomorrow if yeh like. We left the game mid way" Hagrid offered them both a big smile.

"Bye bye Hagrid" Teddy waved sleepily.

"Bye'" Hagrid crossed his hands contently "Goodnight' Mione"

"Goodnight" she said and half heartedly dragged Teddy back to their apartments. She washed him and readied him for sleep, but sleep didn't come easy for her no matter her tiredness. The boiling anger Snape's haughty attitude awakened was difficult to subdue and she found herself tossing and turning to no avail. This man was simply impossible. Finally near the early morning hours she fell exhausted to a deep sleep.


A/N:

-Would you have cast a spell forcefully to help him heal or would you have respected his wishes to be left alone?