Chapter 14
Hermione attempted to slow her breathing and pretend to be asleep but she was a poor actress and her chest rose and fell rapidly, giving her away.
"Hermione dear your still awake?" Hermione gave up the act and opened her eyes, "Yes Madame", she whispered. Madame Pomfrey rummaged around in her apron pocket, "I have just the thing."
She pulled out a small brown bottle which made a little pop as she uncorked it. She pulled a tiny cup from her other front pocket and measured out a dose.
Hermione wasn't the slightest bit interested in falling asleep but she could think of no plausible excuse to refuse the sleeping aid. She wanted to stay awake, she was not finished with Snape, not at all finished.
"Here you are dear", Madame Pomfrey handed the cup to Hermione, "Drink up." Hermione raised the cup to her lips and reluctantly drank the bitter potion.
"Good girl", Madame Pomfrey took the cup back from her and pulled the blanket up, tucking her in snugly. "Sleep well dear."
She exited the room. Hermione struggled to stay awake but the potion worked much too fast. She tried to sit up but her limbs became too heavy to lift.
She managed to tilted her head toward the curtain that separated herself from Snape. Her eyelids began to droop, in her last efforts to stay awake she called out his name but it rolled off her lips only as a whisper as she closed her eyes.
Snape lay there feeling much relived. Madame Pomfrey had administered a sleeping potion to Miss Granger, now he would not have to submit to her further questioning him.
His ears were trained on the tiny room next to his. He greedily caught every sound that escape through the thin curtain, even the rustling of her head on the pillow.
He sat up, his body tensed as he heard her whisper his name ever so softly. She had called out for him. He struggled to remain where he sat as he was plagued by a deep yearning to go to her.
After a few moments he concluded that she must be asleep as the only sound he could hear was her rhythmic breathing.
He heard it as keenly as if she were laying right next to him, and oh how he wanted to lay her down next to him…to wrap his arms around her…to brush his lips along the silky skin at the back of her neck.
He shuttered at the thought of her warm body curled up to his. Once again he turned his back to the room and tried to block her out.
What happened didn't change who he was, it didn't change anything. He could never be with her, but he would make sure that no harm came to her because of this accident. He drifted off into a troubled sleep.
Hermione opened her eyes and turned her head to find Harry seated in the chair next to her bed. "Feeling better?" he scooted the chair closer to her.
"Yeah a little…what time is it?" Harry raised his wrist and checked his watch, "It's 7:42 am" Hermione sat up on the edge of the high hospital bed and hopped to the floor.
Harry gave her a questioning look, "Where are you going?" Hermione brought her index finger to her lips signaling him to be quite, as she crouched down and lifted up the curtain to the adjacent room and peeked beneath it.
Her hospital gown fell open in the back revealing the curve of her rounded backside.
Harry's face redden, "Uh Hermione" she was oblivious, he reached forward and pulled the back of the gown closed as she stood up.
"He's gone?" "Who's gone?", Harry handed her the gathered fabric from her gown that he still held together.
"Snape, last night he was right here in the next room." Harry's demeanor changed instantly, "They put him right next to you?" he exclaimed with a hint of disgust that was lost on her.
"Yes, and I heard McGonagall talking to him, she said that she couldn't let him return to his chambers in his condition. Harry's interest was now peaked, "His condition…what does that mean?"
"I don't know but when I snuck over there to see him he had his robe on and his hood pulled up to conceal himself and even when we spoke he didn't remove it."
Harry looked concerned, "You were alone with him in his room…Hermione you need to stay away from him, you cannot trust him."
"But Harry I can trust him , you don't know… he is keeping…"
Harry was incredulous, "I don't know!" he yelled in a whisper, "I know that my parents couldn't trust him…listen to me Hermione, I know that your opinion of him changed after we found out that he was working for Dumbledor but he is still dangerous, if you give him your trust he will only use it against you."
Hermione slowly shook her head back and forth, "No Harry you don't understand." He grabbed her hands, "Hermione please listen to me, I couldn't stop him from hurting my parents but I wont watch him hurt anyone else I love, stay away from him please."
Hermione was too touched by his passionate words to argue any further. She just knew in her heart that she could trust Snape and in time so would Harry.
She wrapped her arms around his waist squeezing him tightly, "Harry you worry about me far too much." Once again her gown fell open in the back, Harry reached around and pulled it closed, "Yeah, well sometimes I think I don't worry about you enough."
"Come on", he joked, " You really need to get dressed, I am becoming far to familiar with the sight of your bum, you may be my best mate and all but still I am only human" he smiled down at her.
Hermione blushed self-consciously as reached back and grabbed the fabric as she muttered out an embarrassed apology.
Hermione dressed quickly as Harry waited for her outside the room. "Are you all set dear?" Madame Pomfrey called out from behind the curtain.
"Yes." Hermione replied, as she slipped on her left shoe. "Good", Madame Pomfrey entered, " I have a note here from Headmistress McGonagall instructing that you will be excused from your classes today and you are to await her in you room or common room, so that you are available when the Ministry Official is ready to question you."
Hermione's heart raced, "Question me!" "Yes dear, he will need to get your version of events for his report, its quite common dear, nothing to worry about."
"Professor Snape, he was here last night, where did he go?" Hermione asked in a voice barley above a whisper.
"Headmistress McGonagall came for him quite early this morning, I believe he was to be questioned first, so I imagine he is still meeting with the Ministry Official."
Hermione suddenly felt ill, what if Harry was right, what if Snape couldn't be trusted. Could her own instincts be wrong? What if he was lying when her told her he would keep her secret about what she was really trying to do in the supply room. They probably would come and arrest her right there in the Gryffindor tower. She walked out and grabbed Harry's arm, "Will you walk me to the stairs?"
"I'll do better than that, I will escort you back to the common room." Fear began to well up inside her, "What about your classes?' Harry grinned as he patted her arm appreciatively, "Nope, seems I get out of class today too as I have a date with a Ministry Official, Ginny will be so jealous."
Hermione was horrified, not only was Snape involved but now Harry was dragged into this mess as well.
"I am sorry to get you involved in this Harry." "What are you sorry for, I couldn't be happier to get out of class."
The gentleman stood up as Snape and Headmistress McGonagall entered the potions classroom. Snape seethed with rage as he observed that the Inspector had made himself quite at home behind his desk, his personal effects spread all out before him.
He offered his hand to McGonagall, "Inspector Furpo with the Ministry", he introduced himself gruffly. McGonagall reached out and shook his hand, "Pleasure to meet you Inspector." she replied without warmth.
He turned to Snape who merely glared at the Inspector's outstretched hand. The forced smile on Inspector Furpo's face faded, "If you will excuse us Headmistress, I would like to begin with the interview."
McGonagall made no attempt to leave, instead she pulled out a chair and sat down, looking over to Snape who then did the same. "If you are to interrogate my staff and students you can do so in my presence."
Inspector Furpo cleared his throat, "Very well lets get to it then, shall we." he took a seat behind Snape's desk and pulled out a quill and jotted down a few notes before speaking.
Snape folded his arms out in front of him. He then began to speak in a booming voice, "Professor what exactly was Miss Granger doing in the supply room after school hours?"
Snape was irritated, this was his best attempt at intimidation, Snape was unimpressed, "Serving detention."
"And what offense did she commit to receive this detention?"
"She misbehaved in the way school children often do?" Snape knew these questions to be just a ploy to distract him.
He could feel Inspector Furpo's, inept attempt at legilimency, fumbling about as he tried to penetrate past Snape's shield.
Snape smiled to himself as he let just one thought escape his impenetrable barrier, you do think rather highly of yourself if you thought to gain access to my mind with such little skill, inspector.
Inspector Furpo was in the middle of his next question when he mentally received Snape's insult, his eyes narrowed as he paused in mid sentence gritting his teeth together.
"Do go on inspector", he said mockingly, and to Snape utter satisfaction, Inspector Furpo came at him again upping his effort to break through into his mind, but it was like a kitten challenging a tiger, he was no match.
Inspector Furpo's heavy jowls flushed with anger, "What were you doing in the supply room, alone with Miss Granger when the incident occurred?"
Snape was unflappable. "Catching her", he replied calmly.
Inspector Furpo was visibly agitated now, "I know but before that.."
Snape sighed, "I walked in the door…Miss Granger was on the ladder organizing supplies near the top shelf…the ladder wrung snapped … she fell and I caught her as the shelf collapsed…that is all I can tell you… as that is all that happened."
"What happened after the shelf collapsed Professor?' "I am afraid I don't recall what happened after that", Snape lied.
Snape glare at him as Inspector Furpo continued to write for a few moments and then put his Quill down.
"That will conclude our interview Professor , in light of your current condition.." Snape interrupted, "My disfigurement." Inspector Furpo began again, " In light of your…disfigurement as you call it, I will need you to come with me to the Ministry so that we can perform some testing to determine its nature and origin and the likelihood of its reversal."
McGonagall stood up, "Well lets be off then shall we, Severus?" She stood and turned to Snape who rose reluctantly. "Follow me we will take the Floo Network." Snape lifted the hood up over his head as he walked silently behind her.
Once in the elevator inside the Ministry, Inspector Furpo requested to be transported to Level 3.
The elevator lurched in several directions before coming to a stop. As the doors opened, the disembodied voice inside the elevator announced that they had arrived on Level 3 Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes.
Inspector Furpo exited the elevator and continued down a long brightly lit hallway followed by McGonagall and Snape.
They entered a small sterile looking office where they were greeted by a pretty blonde witch in a long white lab coat. "Good Morning , Inspector, did you bring me the samples I requested?"
Inspector Furpo rummaged around in his brown leather satchel, "Yes..I have them here somewhere…ah here they are…, he handed her several vials that contained samples of the hazardous mixture from the supply room floor, "They were collected by Headmistress McGonagall directly from the accident site."
"Excellent.", she held one of the vials up scrutinizing its contents, which still churned and bubbled violently within the glass.
She turned to Snape, "Severus I presume?" Snape removed his hood, "Correct".
"My name is Aure'lie, please come with me, I will be performing your examination." McGonagall took a seat outside in the waiting room as Snape disappeared behind the swinging door.
Hermione paced back and forth in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor Common room, "Why haven't they come to talk to us yet?"
Harry gulped down his last mouthful of lunch, 'Relax Hermione, come on you need to sit down and eat something."
Hermione continued to pace around the room.
"What a wonderful day" , Harry leaned back putting his hands behind his head, "No classes and Room Service...Hermione your lunch is getting cold."
Hermione sat down on the floor next to him and took a couple bites of food to appease him, she looked up as Headmistress McGonagall entered the room.
Hermione jump to her feet frantically chewing her food so that she could speak.
"There is no need to get up, I have just come here to inform you that Inspector Furpo has been called away on an emergency and your meetings have been rescheduled to tomorrow."
Hermione swallowed hard, "What about Professor Snape, is he…" "He is back in the Infirmary however he is not permitted visitors at this time." "I will see you both again in the morning." she turned and disappeared through the door before Hermione had a chance to ask anymore questions.
Hermione lay outstretched on the floor before the fire place, hypnotized by the flickering flames, they reminded her of the burning heat she felt inside the supply room as Snape had held her against him. She had felt so close to him. It had to have been a hallucination, because she felt as if she had actually become a part of him. She wanted to feel that way again, she wanted to be near him to feel him as she had felt him that night. She had to be going insane because she felt as though a part of her was missing without him.
Harry and Ginny sat on the floor beside her, leaning against the sofa while Ginny rambled on about their plans for the upcoming holidays.
"Right Hermione?" Hermione looked up from the fireplace, "What? Oh sorry Ginny, what were you saying?"
"That your coming to the Weasley's for Christmas like you do every year", Harry replied as he stretched his leg out and poked her with his toe, "Besides you have to come or Molly will be devastated."
"I don't know, I mean what about Ron, wont that be weird since I am not his girlfriend anymore?"
"Who knows if he will even bother to show up, besides you came to the Weasley Christmas dinner's long before you and Ron dated and I have been going there since before Ginny and I were together."
Ginny leaned forward with a rare serious face, "Hermione we are all family, nothing can change that , not Ron or anyone else, your not just coming to our family dinner... you are a part of it…Please say you will go."
Hermione could not refuse after Ginny's heartfelt speech, "Of course I will go, but if Ron's starts anything.."
"If Ron misbehaves I will shove an apple in his mouth and roast the pig for Christmas dinner!", Ginny declared as all three of them burst out laughing.
Their discussion of the upcoming holidays served as a pleasant but temporary distraction for Hermione, but it was over to soon. Ginny had already left for bed and now Harry was yawing too.
Harry stood up and stretched, " Don't stay up too late Hermione you don't want to fall asleep during your interview tomorrow," He patted her on the cheek affectionately before disappearing down the hall to his room.
Hermione stood up as well but instead of going to her room she walked over and took a seat on the cushioned windowsill. She leaned back onto the stiff fabric as she gazed out the frosty window pane, large fluffy white snow flakes danced and glittered as they floated upon the wind.
The ground below was covered in an icy white veil of snow that sparkled beneath the moonlight. Hermione couldn't imagine how something so beautiful could at the same time be so dangerous if one didn't protect themselves from exposure to it.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the wall as the darkness slipped in and stole her off to sleep.
Somewhere deep within the darkness she heard him. Calling to her without words. She felt his presence invade her, pulling at her, beckoning her to him.
Her blood circulated feverishly throughout her veins as her heart pumped out an aching heat that spread rapidly to her every nerve, her nerve endings began to throb steadily harder as he called out to her again.
Her head was spinning as the tension began to rise in her body as she fought against bending to his will.
Give in to me…you want to…I feel it… "NO!", Hermione sat straight up on the tiny bench in the window, her hand clutching her heart that raced beneath her chest, as she panted, trying hard to catch her breath.
It was just a dream she repeated to herself over and over again until her heart slowed and her legs ceased to quiver.
Dream or not she was shaken. Hermione was tormented by anxiety, was she wrong to trust Snape? She need to see him again, to make sure he was being truthful to her when he said he would keep her secret. Most of all she needed to look into his eyes to see that she could trust him.
She would not sleep until then. Hermione resumed her pacing in front of the fire.
McGonagall had all but forbidden her from visiting him, if she snuck down to the Infirmary to see Snape, she would be knowingly disobeying her.
Oh well what was one more deceit, tomorrow she could be on the Ministry's Most Wanted list. She had made up her mind, she was going to go seek Snape out.
On her way to the Infirmary, Hermione decided, that if she couldn't sneak past Madame Pomfrey she would simply fake an illness and be admitted.
Hermione stood outside the Infirmary door listing for any signs that Madame Pomfrey was still awake. She crack the door open and cautiously peeked in.
Her desk was deserted and a soft snoring was coming from behind a partition in back of her desk. She was asleep.
Hermione shut the door softly behind her and crept down the hall and stood outside exam room #2.
She hesitated for a moment as she was unsure of exactly what she planned to say to Snape. She would just have to improvise as she could think of nothing at the moment, she pulled the curtain back and stepped inside the tiny space.
She was stunned to see that the bed remained unoccupied, she was sure that McGonagall had said that he was back in the Infirmary.
Hermione let out a muffled squeal as a hand clamped down over her mouth and she was pulled back into the curtain. "Shhhhh" Snape whispered, his lips pressed against her ear. He let go of her and she spun around to face him, he was still shrouded inside the dark hood.
"What are you doing trying to kill me?" she whispered angrily. "I could ask the same of you Miss Granger…but right now you need to come with me."
"With you?" she was confused, "Where…why.."
"I will explain… now take my hand." he held out his hand to her but she hesitated, he reached forward and snatched her hand roughly and pulled her to him as they apparated out of the tiny room without a sound and reappeared in a deserted hallway.
He pulled her behind him as they approached a stonewall, a door suddenly appeared.
"The room of requirements but why…?" he did not reply instead he pulled her inside the room, which was illuminated by a few dim candles that floated above them, it was empty except for two chairs that faced each other in the middle of the room.
"Sit", he pointed to one of the chairs. "I prefer to stand", she replied cautiously.
"As you wish", he began to slowly walk around her, circling her, "Why do you suppose you sought me out in the Infirmary tonight Miss Granger?"
Hermione opened her mouth but he began to speak again before she could reply.
"I suppose you thought you were dreaming…it was no dream…I called you to me."
Hermione was consumed with flames of embarrassment as she recalled her physical reaction to what she had thought to be just a dream.
"Do not be embarrassed Miss Granger, it was merely a natural reaction."
Hermione's embarrassment deepened to shame as she realized that he was reading her thoughts and emotions.
"I am sure you are well aware of the powers of Legilimency…but what of Occlumencey…how well versed are you in that practice?"
Hermione was becoming agitated, she had sought him out in the Infirmary to see if she could not determine if he was being truthful with her.
"So you still do not trust me?" he shook his head slowly back and forth as he placed one hand over his chest as if he were hurt.
"Please stop", she pleaded.
"Stop what Miss Granger?", he replied sarcastically, "You wish me to stop prying into your emotions…penetrating your mind….reading you as easily as I would an open book…stop me then…block me out.", he continued to circle her.
"Why are you doing this to me?", she cursed the tears that began to blur her vision.
"I AM DOING THIS FOR YOU!", She felt him again, plundering her memories.
"So you find me cruel do you?" She began to cry in earnest as Snape had retrieved the memory of her and Harry's conversation in the courtyard.
"You are weak Miss Granger…block me out…you fought me in your sleep…do it now" again he entered her mind delving deep into her thoughts, stealing images of her talking with Ginny…of her smelling his pillow…of her kissing Ron.
"STOP!", she screamed out as she lunged at him, pounded him on the chest with her tiny fists. "I HATE YOU…I HATE YOU…"
He easily spun her around and pulled her against him. He held her there, his cheek pressed against hers as he whispered hotly in her ear, "Tomorrow you will meet with Inspector Furpo from the Ministry, he is new to his post and he is hungry Miss Granger, he is hungry to persecute anyone to further his career, he is a Legilimens and if you cannot block him using Occlumencey he will pull every last memory from that pretty head of yours and he will no longer require a confession to charge you with a crime."
He turned her around and peered down at her from beneath the shelter of his hood, "Do you trust me?"
She reached up to him, "I don't know I cannot see your eyes" he made no attempt to stop her as she pushed the hood back.
Hermione inhaled deeply as she peered up into the face of a fallen angel.
It could not be Snape, yet it was, he was beautiful, not in the traditional sense but his pure porcelain skin sculpted flawlessly over his squared cheek bones.
She stared up in wonderment at the sensual curve of his soft lips.. at the fine tip of his slightly hawkish nose, his glossy black almond shaped eyes, framed by impossibly long wispy dark lashes.
No he was not beautiful in the traditional sense but all together his features were breathtaking. He stood before her transformed into the first blushes of manhood…he was young…very young.
Her lips parted as he lowered his head to her, she was mesmerized by his smoldering stare. "Do you trust me?", he repeated. She could only utter one word as he pulled her closer, "Completely".