Love Everlasting
Chapter 11
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns the characters in this story, but I own the plot. Thank you.
Severus woke up before Hermione and he looked at the clock. They had about an hour until the Sorting Ceremony started. Hermione could easily be excused from the ceremony, but Severus had to be there. He softly kissed her cheek and her eyes fluttered open. She smiled at him moved to kiss him back, but it hurt too much when she tried to turn to face him. She cried out and Severus quickly sat up, moving away from her to make sure he wasn't hurting her.
"Are you alright? Did I hurt you?" the concern was heavy on his voice.
"I'm okay, Severus. I just moved the wrong way."
"Let me get you some more pain potion."
Hermione nodded and he uncorked the bottle on the bedside table. She took a sip; the pink liquid chilled all the way down again. The pain subsided and she smiled. Severus sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand.
"The Sorting Ceremony's in an hour. I have to go, but you don't need to be there unless you want to. And don't say you're going because it is the Head Girl's duty to be at the ceremony."
"I want to go, I really do. This is my last Sorting Ceremony as a student. But I'm going to need some help. Can you find Harry for me and then get me some clothes from my rooms? The password is "perfunctory" and I don't care what you bring, as long as it's comfortable. I'll have my robes on, so no one will be able to see what I'm wearing anyway."
"You're doing this to try to make me become friends with Mr. Potter, aren't you? I doubt he will allow that, but I will find him and tell him to come here."
"He might not to come because he and I got into a fight this morning. Tell him I'm sorry for yelling at him, please?"
Severus nodded to let her know that he would and he left the room. Madam Pomfrey entered shortly thereafter and helped Hermione sit comfortably as she braided her chocolate brown hair. Poppy just finished tying the white ribbon at the end of Hermione's braid when Harry entered, looking a bit sullen. He sat in a chair near the bed, staring into the fire. Hermione shifted a little so she could see Harry.
"Listen, Hermione, I…"
"Wait, Harry. Let me say something first please. I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier. I wasn't expecting you to get so angry. It scared me and I guess I was being defensive. But before you say anything, I've got to tell you the truth. Severus and I are back together. I'm not asking you to be his best friend. I'm only asking you to accept the fact that we're together. If you want, I won't say anything about him and me to you. Okay? Can we be friends again?"
"He really makes you happy, Hermione?"
"Yes, Harry, he does. More happy than I've ever felt before."
"Then who am I to stand in your way? You're my best friend, Mione, and if being with Severus Snape makes you happy, then I'm happy for you."
Hermione smiled and Harry carefully hugged her. Now that their friendship had been renewed, Hermione had a difficult question to ask Harry.
"Harry, now this is pretty hard for me to do. You know that I've never asked anyone for help before. I want to go to the Sorting Ceremony, but I'm going to need some help."
"Okay, what kind of help do you need?"
"I don't know how steady I am on my feet and I need you to walk with me."
"I'll help you, but how are you going to make it down the stairs? I mean, what if the staircase starts to move and you fall? I would feel really horrible if you fell and got hurt more."
"Severus will help me down the stairs. He'd help me the whole way, but I'm sure he doesn't want the entire student body to find out about our relationship just yet. The staff doesn't know either, well, except Professor Dumbledore and he won't tell anyone."
"You bet, Mione. Sounds like a good plan to me. I'll wait outside and tell Madam Pomfrey to let me know when you're ready."
"Thanks Harry."
Harry was leaving when Severus returned with Hermione's clothes. Severus put a quick locking charm on the door and pulled back the quilt, helping Hermione to the edge of the bed. Slowly, and with gentility that no one could imagine possible for Severus, he helped Hermione get dressed in a loose red sweater, a pair of black sweatpants, and her robes. When he finished tying the laces of her sneakers, he laced his arm under her armpits and helped her stand up.
"Are you alright, Hermione?"
"I'm fine so far. Thank you for helping me."
"I would do anything for you. Now come on, Potter's waiting."
Severus and Hermione walked slowly as her legs were very unsteady. They made their way to the outer waiting room and Harry stood up, smiling. Harry and Severus traded places, so Hermione was leaning on Harry. Severus looked at Hermione as if to ask, 'Does he know about us?' to which Hermione replied by nodding.
"Be careful with her, Potter."
"Don't worry, Professor. She means a lot to me too."
Harry and Hermione carefully walked to the stairs. Hermione leaned on the balustrade and waited for Severus. He picked her up and carried her down the stairs. Gently putting her down, Harry helped Hermione into the still empty Great Hall. As if on cue, when Hermione was sitting comfortably all the second through seventh year students came filing in and sat at their proper house tables. Hermione was sitting at the head of Gryffindor's table, with Harry and Ron on either side. When Ron saw the bandage on her hand, he went a little nuts.
"What happened to you, Hermione? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Ron. A little sore, but I'll be fine."
"But what happened? Who did this to you?"
"Ron, shush. The ceremony's starting."
The Sorting Hat started his song, but Hermione didn't get to hear it. She was too busy trying to get Ron to be quiet; he kept trying to find out what happened. He quieted down when the actual sorting started. They all cheered from "Armhold, Heather" to "Zolin, Frederick". The new Gryffindors seemed to be every bit as ambitious as the seventh years that would be graduating in May. Dumbledore stood up and everyone quieted.
"Welcome, friends, old and new. As this exciting new year begins, I have some announcements to make. As usual, the Dark Forest is off limits to all students. Also, and this is most important, no student is to be out of their room after hours. Any student found out of their room will be severely punished. In case of dire emergencies, a short range owl system has been set up. These owls are trained to locate any professor on duty patrolling the hallways. I am warning you now. Do not be out of your rooms unless accompanied by a professor! Not that that matter has been taken care of, I would like to introduce the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Gorge Proteja. I would like you all to give Professor Proteja a warm Hogwarts welcome."
Everyone began to clap and cheer. Dumbledore held up his hands and everyone quieted again.
"And now, without further ado, dinner is served."
Dumbledore clapped his hands and an extravagant dinner appeared before their eyes. With some difficulty and a little pain, Hermione managed to eat some mashed potatoes and carrots, but was unable to cut her lamb chops with one hand. The bread pudding was easy enough to handle, but she was still hungry when dinner was over. Dumbledore asked the prefects to show the students to their respective common rooms and told them to have a good night. Harry and Ron offered to help Hermione back to the Hospital Wing, but she knew that Severus would be lingering to help her.
"Okay, should Ron and I come and get you for breakfast tomorrow?"
"Thanks, Harry, but I think I'll have breakfast in the Hospital Wing. It would be great if you could come after breakfast so I could go to Transfiguration."
"You want to go to class? No offense, but what are you going to be able to do?"
"None taken, Professor McGonagall has some Quick-Notes Quills that she said I could have. That way, I can still go to class even though I can't really do much. Oh, and Harry, if Severus isn't at breakfast, when you bring Ron to the Hospital Wing, make him wait in the hallway."
"G'night, Mione."
"Night Harry."
Harry smiled and gave Hermione a hug. Once the room had cleared except for the professors, Severus walked over to Hermione, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"How was your dinner, Hermione?"
"I didn't fare too well with the lamb tonight, so I'm still hungry. Maybe I could get a sandwich or something easy to eat."
"If it is a sandwich you want, a sandwich you shall get."
Severus found the nearest house-elf and got Hermione a turkey and swiss sandwich. He sat next to her as she ate the sandwich. While they were sitting there, Professor McGonagall approached Dumbledore.
"Albus, now tell me the truth. What is going on with Severus? He actually appears to be, well, not so sullen and depressed. Is he happy seeing Miss Granger in pain?"
"Quite the contrary, Minerva. She makes him quite happy."
"You're not saying that they…."
"Yes, Miss Granger and Severus are, as you would put it, romantically involved. I'm very glad for the both of them. They are perfect for each other."
"How can you say that, Albus? He's completely wrong for any human being with feelings owing to the fact that he has none!"
"Just look at them. All he sees is her when they're together. Our dear Miss Granger is good for Severus. She makes him happy and it has been so long since Severus has truly been happy."
"I suppose you're right. It is nice to see Severus happy for once."
Dumbledore and McGonagall left Severus and Hermione alone and headed off to patrol the halls. Once she finished her sandwich, Hermione turned to Severus, smiling. Severus stood up and pulled her chair away from the table.
"Ready to go?"
"Yes, thank you," Hermione said through a yawn.
"Seems like someone is going to fall asleep in the Great Hall if she doesn't get back to her room."
Hermione smiled as Severus helped her get up. He scooped her up in his arms; she wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder. Hermione fell asleep as Severus carried her up the stairs. Madam Pomfrey just smiled when she saw Hermione sleeping peacefully in Severus' arms. He took her into her room and laid her gently on the bed. With a wave of his wand, he changed her sweater, sweatpants, and robes into a summery nightgown. Severus took off his robes and pulled off his shirt. Then he got into bed next to Hermione, pulling the quilt over them. Hermione seemed to sense Severus lying next to her and she snuggled in closer to him. Severus draped his arm around her waist and fell asleep, smiling.