Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Secrets ― Chapter 10
The next morning came too soon. The light from the windows woke me, and then Poppy bustled in. She didn't really say anything at first. Just smiled; one of those smiles where you know the other person knows something. Something they feel is important. I gently untangled myself from Hermione. Then I motioned for Poppy to follow me outside the hospital wing. She followed, still smiling that smile.
"What's wrong, Severus?"
"What's the smile for?" I hate it when someone does this to me. Smiling an 'all-knowing' smile; it makes me nervous. "You look ridiculous."
"Oh, it's nothing. Really, Severus, you shouldn't be so paranoid. It's not like I'm going to Albus about it." Her eyes widened when she realized what she had said. "I do know something then. I'm just curious…does Hermione return your feelings?"
"Yes. At least that is what she's told me. Repeatedly."
"Does anyone else know?" She doesn't mention your name this time; it remains unspoken.
"Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Potter, and Weasley…I believe." I paused while I considered what to say next.
"Remus and….Sirius? And you're still alive? Impressive." She laughed nervously as if she had made a joke. I knew she was remembering my time at Hogwarts. "How is that possible?"
"Hermione made the Aficionado Potion." Poppy's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "And before you ask…yes it worked the way it was supposed to."
"So…so you're…."
"Soulmates…"
"No wonder Sirius didn't kill you. Hermione would have killed him in return." A loud crash came from the hospital wing. "What was that?"
"Hermione."
We rushed back into the wing. Luckily Hermione had decided to repeat her failed attempt from the night before. She had knocked over a chair; she appeared half awake. Then she started talking. Terrible things…about Voldemort, Lestrange, and Dullet. She screamed. When walked closer to her, she backed away. Babbling, she curled up on her bed. Then I realized she was still asleep. I inched my way closer to her, and sat down beside her. I placed my hand on her lower back and began making soft, small circles. Trying to calm her before waking her up.
"Hermione…you need to wake up." I applied more pressure to her back. "Wake up."
"Wha…?"
As she became awake and coherent, she began to cry. I pulled her into my body, and hugged her tightly. Her hot tears spilled onto my shoulder. I turned my head to Poppy. She was near tears herself.
"Dreamless Sleep Potion." I whispered. Poppy quickly brought a vial to me. "Hermione, dear, drink this."
She did I requested, and soon she had drifted back off to sleep. I sat on the bed beside her, and held her hand. I looked to Poppy, but never had to ask my question.
"I don't know what we can do, Severus." And the tears, which had lined her eyes, finally fell.
A/N: Sorry this is so short. I can't really decide what should happen next. Any ideas?
Secrets ― Chapter 10
The next morning came too soon. The light from the windows woke me, and then Poppy bustled in. She didn't really say anything at first. Just smiled; one of those smiles where you know the other person knows something. Something they feel is important. I gently untangled myself from Hermione. Then I motioned for Poppy to follow me outside the hospital wing. She followed, still smiling that smile.
"What's wrong, Severus?"
"What's the smile for?" I hate it when someone does this to me. Smiling an 'all-knowing' smile; it makes me nervous. "You look ridiculous."
"Oh, it's nothing. Really, Severus, you shouldn't be so paranoid. It's not like I'm going to Albus about it." Her eyes widened when she realized what she had said. "I do know something then. I'm just curious…does Hermione return your feelings?"
"Yes. At least that is what she's told me. Repeatedly."
"Does anyone else know?" She doesn't mention your name this time; it remains unspoken.
"Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Potter, and Weasley…I believe." I paused while I considered what to say next.
"Remus and….Sirius? And you're still alive? Impressive." She laughed nervously as if she had made a joke. I knew she was remembering my time at Hogwarts. "How is that possible?"
"Hermione made the Aficionado Potion." Poppy's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "And before you ask…yes it worked the way it was supposed to."
"So…so you're…."
"Soulmates…"
"No wonder Sirius didn't kill you. Hermione would have killed him in return." A loud crash came from the hospital wing. "What was that?"
"Hermione."
We rushed back into the wing. Luckily Hermione had decided to repeat her failed attempt from the night before. She had knocked over a chair; she appeared half awake. Then she started talking. Terrible things…about Voldemort, Lestrange, and Dullet. She screamed. When walked closer to her, she backed away. Babbling, she curled up on her bed. Then I realized she was still asleep. I inched my way closer to her, and sat down beside her. I placed my hand on her lower back and began making soft, small circles. Trying to calm her before waking her up.
"Hermione…you need to wake up." I applied more pressure to her back. "Wake up."
"Wha…?"
As she became awake and coherent, she began to cry. I pulled her into my body, and hugged her tightly. Her hot tears spilled onto my shoulder. I turned my head to Poppy. She was near tears herself.
"Dreamless Sleep Potion." I whispered. Poppy quickly brought a vial to me. "Hermione, dear, drink this."
She did I requested, and soon she had drifted back off to sleep. I sat on the bed beside her, and held her hand. I looked to Poppy, but never had to ask my question.
"I don't know what we can do, Severus." And the tears, which had lined her eyes, finally fell.
A/N: Sorry this is so short. I can't really decide what should happen next. Any ideas?