Disclaimer: ...still belongs to JKR...

Chapter 10

Checking Out

Severus ripped the covers off his legs and pulled himself out of bed, his wand fisted tightly in his right hand. Any weakness he felt had been quickly overpowered by the rage that rippled through him. He began to stagger from the room, glad that Healer Arangia hadn't yet replaced Barney at his entry door post.

He turned left from his room and began down the corridor, his eyes squinted against the bright greens and whites that surrounded him. His swimming head forced him to walk much slower than he would have liked. He wasn't exactly sure where he was going, only that he had to find Miss Granger. Granger. The name pounded in his mind. Each step he took caused a syllable to ring in his ears like the clang of a hammer on an anvil. Gran-ger. Gran-ger.

Severus didn't acknowledge the squeaking voice screaming at him to get back into bed. He rounded a corner, still making slow progress, and walked directly into a very large, solid mass.

"He-healer Arangia said to get back into b-bed," Barney stuttered, looking a little angry, but mostly nervous.

"I'm checking out," Severus snarled, taking a step back. He whisked his wand through the air and to Barney's eye level so fast, it could be heard cutting through the air like a whip. Barney went cross-eyed to look at the tip, and whimpered. "Now, unless you wish to attempt and stop me, I suggest you get out of my way."

Barney swallowed visibly and stepped to the side, away from the wand and out of Severus's way.

"We were on the verge of booting you as it were!" he heard Healer Arangia squeal after him.

Severus continued forward, swaying dangerously as his head spun. He decided the best place to look first would be the lobby, so he continued on, using the walls as a guiding support and navigating the maze of halls by following the signs. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he reached the lobby. He growled audibly when his eyes rested on Miss Granger and Minerva McGonagall, looking as though they were have a tender Gryffindor heart-to-heart. He swallowed hard against his sudden urge to vomit.

Hermione had run from Professor Snape's room overwhelmed with a kaleidescope of emotions. As soon as his fingers had touched the wand, her mind was inundated with images of herself that were exaggeratedly beautiful. She was sure that she had never seen herself glowing like that before. She wondered if it was what Professor Snape had seen when he awoke in the Shrieking Shack.

She was sure he too had felt something when he touched the wand. His black eyes that usually seemed empty were in sharp focus and had held hers intensely, and like in a trance, she hadn't been able look away. It was almost as though they had shared some sort of connection through the wand. For her, the most confusing aspect of the whole experience was that it had been pleasant, comforting, and somehow, it just felt right, which of course, seemed completely wrong.

It had taken all her willpower to release the wand, and as soon as she had, she felt hopelessly lonely, like she might never feel such a link to someone again. She felt empty, as though she might never be whole again, only half a person. She had wanted to reach for the wand again, but instead, she forced herself to run away.

"Miss Granger?" It wasn't until she heard herself being addressed did Hermione realize that she was standing in the middle of St. Mungo's lobby, staring off into thin air.

"Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall repeated, sounding breathless. "Are you okay?" Hermione took a deep breath and turned to her Professor that approached from behind.

"I'm fine," Hermione said, forcing a weak smile to her lips.

"A woman of my age," McGonagall panted, "should not be made to run that fast."

"I'm sorry," Hermione said. She hadn't meant to be followed.

"That's quite alright," McGonagall said, fanning herself with a hand. "Let's find a bench and have a sit, shall we?"

Hermione guided Professor McGonagall to a nearby bench. They sat in silence for a few minutes, McGonagall still catching her breath. Hermione took her own wand from her robes and studied it. For some reason, she could sense that it still wasn't going to work for her. She felt oddly disconnected from it, as though it were just a stick that she might have picked up from the ground. Hermione felt McGonagall's eyes on her, and she looked up to find her watching her curiously.

"What happened back there?" she asked. Hermione shrugged.

"I'm really not sure. It was almost like Professor Snape and I..." Her voice trailed off as she tried to decide what word to use.

"Connected?" McGonagall offered.

"Yes, I suppose so. It was like we connected through the wand," Hermione said.

"I must say, I was rather shocked when Severus didn't yank the wand out of your hand. You both froze on the spot. The look on Severus's face...he just looked so relaxed," McGonagall said, a slight smile brushing her lips. "It must have been quite the connection to calm a man as stubborn as he is."

Hermione didn't have a chance to respond because she looked up to see Professor Snape staggering toward them in his papery gray hospital gown. It didn't cover his legs and Hermione felt a blush warm her cheeks as her eyes swept over them. They were absurdly white and covered with scraggly black hairs. They were thin and resembled pipes that were jointed with very knobby knees. His feet were bare and she was surprised to see he had well groomed toenails, she would've imagined them to be yellowed and overgrown.

Hermione might have giggled if she hadn't seen his face. He looked utterly deranged. His facial expression was rigid and she could see a vein pulsing at his temple. His crooked teeth were bared and his bloodshot eyes were narrowed at her murderously. She couldn't help but to gasp out loud. Professor McGonagall looked up and saw him just as he approached their bench.

"Oh dear," she said, standing up and to move in front of Hermione, splaying her arms like a shield.

"What-did-you-do-to-my-wand?" he growled, his eyes boring into Hermione like daggers. Each word was spoken with great restraint, as though it took all his power to keep his voice lowered.

"Severus, I really don't think you should be out of bed," McGonagall said, taking a few steps back from him.

"I've checked out," he hissed, not tearing his eyes from Hermione. "Again, I ask you, girl, what did you do to my wand?" His voice was growing louder. He raised his wand and Hermione could see that he was shaking, probably in anger.

"I-I...uh...well, that is to say-"

"Spit it out! Is it that the know-it-all can't answer a question?" He looked her up and down accusingly. "Or is it that you're too afraid to tell me that you've broken my wand?"

"No! I didn't break it!" Hermione retorted.

"Admit it! You broke it!" he spat, looking as though he were ready to push McGonagall out of the way and attack her.

"I assure you Severus," McGonagall said calmly, her palms open toward Snape in a pleading gesture, "Miss Granger did not break your wand. She was able to perform perfect magic with it yesterday."

This seemed to make Snape even more upset, and Hermione began to feel frightened as his eyes continued to burn into hers. She had the distinct feeling he was trying to penetrate her mind.

"Ah, so you stole it!" he shrieked, spit flying from his mouth. He took a deep breath and lowered his voice again. "Attacking a dying man, that's not a very Gryffindor thing for you to do, Miss Granger."

This was too much for Hermione. She shot up from the bench and lunged past McGonagall toward him, feeling suddenly very furious. Snape took a retreating step back and dropped his wand arm.

"Stole?! Attacked?!" she screamed, her voice piercing through the lobby like a siren. She accented each word by jabbing her index finger into his chest. He seemed to be thrown off for a moment by her sudden anger and close proximity, but he quickly recovered and stood his ground. He drew himself up to full height and straightened his chest.

"Apparently being Potter's lap dog isn't enough for you-"

"I ran to help you!" she interrupted, her voice still shrill.

"Yes, you ran to steal the the wand of the Hogwarts Headmaster-" he raised his voice to meet hers. Losing all self-control, they both began to yell, neither really listening to what the other was saying.

"I was completely covered in your blood!"

"Pretending that you wanted to save me!"

"I got you out of there!"

"Tell me, did you attack me before or after you-"

"And you had the exceeding nerve to call me-"

"-showed up looking deceivingly-"

"BEAUTIFUL!" they both shouted at the same time.

They snapped their mouths shut and Hermione removed her finger from his chest. He growled and took another step back. McGonagall took this opportunity to swiftly step between them again, her wand now drawn.

"If you two are quite finished," she shot each of them her most quelling glare, "I think we should discuss this, as adults, in a more private setting."

Hermione looked around and saw that a crowd had gathered around to watch them. She heard a chorus of whispers and noticed that almost everyone's eyes were on Snape.

"Um-okay," she muttered, looking at the floor, feeling her cheeks grow hot. Snape didn't speak, but nodded slightly.

"Wonderful," McGonagall said sourly, taking Hermione in one arm and Snape in the other. Hermione was surprised that he didn't pull away. "Now, I think it's best if we all go together, since I'm not sure that you're in any condition to be apparating on your own Severus, and neither of your wands seem to want to cooperate with you. Come on then, let's get moving."

She began to pull them through the parting crowd. Hermione looked behind McGonagall's shoulder to glare at Professor Snape, but rather than glaring back, he just glanced at her with a raised, calculating eyebrow. She realized that this was probably the first he had heard of her wand not working for her either. She looked away, not softening the expression on her face.

"Dumbledore will be glad to see you both. Hopefully he'll have some answers for you, because I do not," McGonagall said. "Also, Severus, there's the little matter of your position of Headmaster to consider."

"You take it," he grumbled. "I want nothing more than to officially resign my position as the Hogwarts Headmaster."

"I'm sure the governors will be both relieved and glad for your resignation. But all in due time. I believe Poppy would like us all to pay her a visit first, especially you Severus. She'll be anxious to get her hands on you and your wounds."

Snape muttered something incoherent, but continued to walk along with McGonagall, not fighting her motherly leading arm.

Hermione allowed herself to be led as well. Her mind was running in circles, trying to sort through all of the questions she wanted to ask Dumbledore.

Somewhere, on the fringes of her brain, the trickling thoughts of Ron were being quickly lost to the rushing thoughts of the connection she had just shared with Professor Snape.

A/N: Thanks to coliemcnolie for proofreading! I apologize to Mezzo Princess for being impossibly impatient.

Sorry for the longer than usual update wait! I've been battling a cold for a few weeks now and it won out for a few days.

My wand pondering thought of the day: What did Dumbledore do with his original wand when he acquired the Elder Wand?