A/N: Sometimes, when you put yourself into a character, and I don't mean putting my traits into a character, that transformation of mindset carries over into your RL for a bit. It's almost the opposite of putting "myself" into a character and instead "becoming" someone else. It can be a bit unnerving, and yet, I find it strangely comforting. You know it's happened when someone random that has no idea what you're interested in, or write behind closed doors at 2am due to insomnia, asks you why you are looking at them like Severus Snape or some other character (and you totally didn't intend to!) But sometimes, I find myself standing in the kitchen drinking my tea, folding my hands just so, tilting my head perhaps in a way I would not normally, and staring through one of my family members like I'm reading their soul as I'm going through dialog in my head. I've had arguments like I'm suffering from multiple personality disorder, and probably had my family and relatives ponder if I've just gone round the bend. What I'm trying to say, is that, I had a really odd moment this morning channeling Viktor (the bloke, not the tiny hippogriff, mind you I've had moments where I think I am channeling little Vik too…)where I basically couldn't make a complete sentence in proper English and I had given myself a crazy foreign accent. I think my family thinks I'm certifiably insane, if they didn't already know that.
Chapter 21: Rest and Recovery
Ginny hurried over to the Hospital Wing after Headmaster Dumbledore had given her permission to visit Hermione, and Ginny wasn't about to wait around and let the Headmaster change his mind.
Her knowledge of the commotion that had taken place in the Great Hall while she had been sleeping in had left her brimming with questions about what had really happened. Ron had been totally unhelpful, save to mutter that Hermione had been carried off by Durmstrang and would probably be dead by morning.
Harry had been slightly more helpful, but he wasn't really giving vivid details. All he had seen was Professor Moody kick a house-elf that was calling him Barty into a wall. Moody become another man and then that other man become… something that was more animal than man. Hermione, he said, had pushed him out of the way of the wizard they knew only as Barty, taken a hit from "the beast," and the rest was a chaotic mix of fighting from both the upperclassman, the visitors, the Hogwarts professors… and Ginny had missed it all by sleeping in.
Ginny entered the Hospital Wing with a grunt, pushing open the heavy wooden doors with a heave. Hermione was laying back on one of the beds, but around her were four Durmstrang students that had taken up positions around her bed, standing like gargoyles keeping watch over their home. Viktor was standing by her bedside. He had his hand held out towards her, fire forming into a fire-bird that hopped onto her bed and sang sweetly.
Hermione looked at him with a smile as the bird flapped its wings and poofed in a wisp of smoke. "Do you all study fire manipulation in Durmstrang?"
"No," Viktor said with a nod. "But, Aleksander is better. Lazar prefers water. Valko adores earth. And Petya," Viktor gestured to the student nearest him. "Petya full of hot hair."
Petya sputtered, averting his eyes.
Hermione laughed. "You know, you don't have to stand guard around my bed. I should be fine."
The group of Durmstrang shook their heads.
"Do you plan on lurking there like a crocodile in a river full of wildebeests, Ms. Weasley?" a low voice startled Ginny half out of her skin.
Ginny gulped as the Potion Master strode by her, robes whipping behind him. In his hand was a goblet filled with something that looked absolutely foul.
The "guards" around Hermione's bed, including Viktor, bowed out of the way of Snape like the parting of the seas. Ginny didn't really blame them. She felt like shaking in her boots as it was, just by hearing his voice. Yet, strangely, the Durmstrang students kept their heads bowed. Unlike the students of Hogwarts, there was a deference of respect, and Snape seemed tolerant of their presence.
Snape knelt beside Hermione's bedside. "The Headmaster wishes me to insure you are untainted by any residue from your attack, Ms. Granger, if you will… indulge him."
Hermione nodded, her eyes flicking to Ginny almost apologetically.
Ginny shifted uncomfortably as Snape ran his wand over her friend, but Hermione did not show the discomfort she knew she would have had if their positions were reversed.
"I need you to drink this, Ms. Granger," Snape said in a low voice. "It will not be… a pleasant experience."
Hermione, much to Ginny's dismay, simply nodded, grasping the goblet in her hand and taking a deep breath. She looked up at Snape with a look of trepidation.
Snape simply stared at her, his dark eyes were unreadable.
Hermione seemed to come to a resolution, and brought the goblet to her lips. The steaming green liquid sloshed sickeningly as she drank it. Her face twisted into a frown as she swallowed it. She trembled, her hands beginning to shake, her grip on the goblet was failing.
Snape brought his hand up to the drinking vessel, his hand covered hers as he helped guide the goblet to her lips.
Hermione continued to drink, but her body began to shudder and slump forward. The Potion Master caught her, stiffly, taking the goblet out of her hands and placing it on the side table. Hermione groaned, her hands clutched the Potion Master's sleeve so hard her knuckles turned white.
Convinced that Snape had just poisoned her best friend, she started to run forward, unsure what she was going to do about it, but convinced that she had to do… something.
Wooden staves blocked her way almost immediately, the Durmstrang students stood on her way. She looked towards Hermione and back to those blocking her with frustration.
Then, Hermione released her death grip on Snape's sleeve, and she slumped against him, her hands fell into her lap.
The Potion Master carefully lay Hermione back onto her pillow, pulling the blanket up to her shoulders.
There was a plaintive chirp that came from Hermione's shoulder, and Ginny spotted the small hippogriff head-butting into her chin, rubbing up against her much like Crookshanks would to wake her up in the morning.
"If you will allow me, Master," Viktor said formally.
Snape's stood and nodded silently to the Bulgarian seeker.
Krum tugged on the blanket, lifting it up, and Vik trotted dutifully in with a chirp, forming a hippogriff shaped lump under the blanket on top of Hermione's chest. His hand alighted on the small hippogriff before he stepped away from Snape with a bow of his head.
Snape stood, taking the goblet back off the table. He turned and fixed Ginny with a gaze that caused her blood to run cold and her previous bravery to waver. The look was not friendly, nor was it neutral. She had no doubt at all, at that moment, that he knew she had thought he was poisoning her friend.
Dumbledore came in behind Ginny, startling her yet again.
"Ah, Severus," he greeted. "Did you see to Miss Granger as I asked?"
Snape looked at Dumbledore impassively. "Yes, Headmaster."
"Good, good," Albus muttered. "We don't want her to suffer any ill effects, if any were to be had, from her attack earlier."
"Ah, Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said. "I thought I told you to visit your friend in the morning. Why are you here?"
Ginny stammered. "I'm sorry, Professor, I think I misunderstood you."
"Mmm," Albus replied. "Well, no harm done. But do let, Ms. Granger rest. You can come visit her tomorrow."
"Yes, Professor," Ginny said. "Sorry, Professor."
Dumbledore turned to address the Durmstrang students. "You do Ms. Granger a great service watching over her, but if you should wish to return to your ship to rest, I'm sure she will be fine now."
The Durmstrang wizards chattered quickly in a different language. They gestured quickly, shaking their heads emphatically.
"We prefer to stay until she wake in morning, Headmaster," Viktor said with an incline of his head. "Is matter of honor."
"Very well," Albus said with a nod. "I will let Madam Pomfrey know of the exception this time, as the circumstances are… exceptional."
The Durmstrang students returned to their positions around Hermione's bedside.
"Come with me, Miss Weasley," Albus said. "Let's get you back to your Common Room. Severus, if you could join us for a meeting in my office in a half hour?"
The Potion Master's face was neutral. "As you wish, Headmaster." With that, he turned and exited the hospital wing, his dark robes fluttering behind him.
The last thing Ginny saw before she was herded out the door by Dumbledore, was the grim-looking Sons of Durmstrang standing watch over her friend's bedside, as unmoving and stoic as sculptures.