AN: Ah, many of you thought we'd be moving on to the…inevitable…encounter. I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve…This chapter is dedicated to CR Mediagal…whose inspiration has been like a godsend! Please check out her amazing stories: Unquestionable Love, Unquestionable Love The Prequel…and her many other awesome writings.

I own nothing. Not even Snape's cravat…although that would be intriguing…

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Chapter 21: A Friend in Need

Severus felt himself being jolted awake only an hour later. His floo was alerting him to a call coming through. That was odd, he thought, his brain muzzy with sleep, eyes still bleary, watering now as the cool air hit the dry sockets, parched from too little sleep. Grumbling he rolled out of bed, trying desperately to ignore the creaks and groans of his old bones protesting at the sudden unwanted movement. The fire continued to glow brighter, the chiming sound growing louder and more urgent, and with a deep, throaty growl Severus was yanking on his bathrobe, muttering: "All right, bloody…buggering…floo…" He sunk down onto his knees and un-warded the grate, allowing the call to come through. "I'm here. What the bloody hell is the meaning of this?It's…" he glanced at the clock on the mantle, "four in the morning."

"Professor Snape? Can you hear me?" Severus was alarmed to recognize the distressed voice of Ginny Potter coming through his floo. He watched, more alert now as her face flickered into view in the flames, and he was taken aback when he saw the worry in her expression.

"My hearing is as sharp as ever. What's going on," he responded testily, trying not to show is growing anxiety that something was wrong with Hermione. The sinking feeling pooling in his gut was telling him that his suspicions were founded, though, and he struggled to swallow down the sour taste of bile in his throat.

"Professor, it's Hermione…she's here, but she's…well…I think she might be having another siezure. She's screaming in her sleep, and thrashing around. I thought it was a nightmare, but then I couldn't wake her. I'm sorry for bothering you but I didn't know who else….

"No matter!" Severus' reply was short and sharp, and Ginny's face in the fire showed only mild surprise at the vehemence of his response. She was surprised at the tone of concern she detected. She was not used to seeing her old professor this way, despite what she knew of his budding relationship with Hermione. She saw him spring up violently from his kneeling position and grab for his clothes. "I'll be there in two minutes," he growled tersely, "keep your floo open," and without another word, the connection was closed.

Severus threw on his white silk shirt, his fingers flying on only the necessary buttons as he simultaneously shoved his feet into his trousers. He cursed himself, not for the first time, for having so many blasted buttons on his attire, but there was not enough time for him to lament his situation to any great length. Pants fastened, shirt done up-mostly- Severus threw his frock coat over his shirt, not bothering with the troublesome cravat he usually wore. Quick as he could he dashed to the medicine cabinet in his bathroom and grabbed a handful of the vials Hermione had been using the last few weeks, and returned to his floo at a run. No time, dammit all, no time! Severus' mine was racing a mile a minute. Was she having a another seizure? Damn and blast her for her foolish…brash….He swallowed as he realized he meant none of it. He blanched as the true threat posed itself in his mind. What if he lost her? Hermione…his dear, sweet, lovely beautiful, kind and good, darling girl…woman. His Hermione, with her big doe eyes and pretty mouth. The woman he loved so deeply that hid heart had felt nearly full to bursting these last many weeks since her ordeal. Luna's misty words echoed in his mind; never go to bed angry. Summoning all of his mental fortitude and strength, he pushed his negative His hand raked his ratted hair out of his face and with a bellow of the Potter's floo from his lips, he swirled out of his chambers with a flash of green, leaving behind an empty chamber and a few slivers of ash fluttering to the cold stone of the grate.

Ginerva Potter was pacing nervously in her living area, her teeth worrying her lower lip as she gazed down at her friends with worry filled eyes. Hermione's thrashing and cries on the sofa next to her were growing increasingly distressing to the young redhead. She'd placed a shielding charm around the woman so as to keep her safe and secure whilst Hermione rode whatever this was out, and she'd placed a silencing charm on the room so that her son would not waken. Seeing her friend so indisposed made her feel sick to her stomach, and she bit her lip concernedly. Hermione didn't deserve this-any of this. She was such a good person. And it was such a shame everything that had happened recently. Well, she thought, when her floo came to life, not everything had been bad lately. She eyed the dark professor warily as his imposing figure stepped through the grate and into the room. She was immediately struck by how distraught and ill kept he looked. Ginny realized that she had never seen him so…ruffled. He looked markedly upset, the line bisecting his dark brows etched deeply at the moment. His eyes were flashing with what looked to her like worry, and his whole body was rigid.

Immediately upon entering, he brushed past Ginny and threw himself upon the floor next to Hermione's writhing form on the couch. He muttered words of comfort as he waved his wand and performed a few basic diagnostic spells. Ginny watched as the blue runes appeared and faded. The dark man kneeling before her couch had his eyes narrowed, the blue blaze from the runes igniting in his eyes, before fizzling out once more, the orbs returning to the sparkling, liquid ebony. Deftly, he removed a small vial filled with a murky brown liquid from his frock coat. With one hand braced against Hermione's struggling forehead, he uncorked the vial with his teeth and spat the small cylinder to the floor as he coaxed the tawny solution into Hermione's throat. He was shocked at how cool her forehead was to the touch, though it was soaked with perspiration. Placing the vial down on the floor, he returned his large, elegant hand to Hermione's throat to massage her swallowing reflex, and he thanked the gods when he felt her throat ripple beneath his fingers.

Ginny watched as his shoulders slumped slightly and he sunk down further on to his knees, his arms braced against the side of the couch, his breathing harsh and noisy and a bit labored. She found the courage to speak up. "Is she…was it…"

"It was not a seizure," he replied, his voice was strange; hoarse and grainy-as if he hadn't spoken in weeks.

"Then…what…" she moved and tentatively placed a hand against his straining shoulder, and was unsurprised when he tensed beneath her touch. He did not, however pull away. Instead, he shifted his body so that he could hoist himself onto the couch where a now still Hermione lay prostrate. Her eyes remained closed, and Severus gently lifted her shoulders and placed her upper body upon his lap, his hands stroking absently through her shortened locks, his eyes resting on her face. He looked like a man solely focused on one thing…the woman in his arms. Ginny sat on the chair opposite the couch and tried to calm her racing heart. She let the relief of the situation wash over her, grateful that her friends' suffering seemed to have stopped thanks to Severus, but she could not get her hands to stop shaking. She squeezed her fingers together in her lap and clamped her knees firmly together, trapping the offending extremities between them. She remained quiet, waiting for Severus' response.

"Hermione, it seemed, has overdosed slightly on Dreamless Sleep," he responded quietly, his eyes flickering up to Ginny's own wide stare.

"Overdosed? Will she.."

"Wake? Yes. It was a mild overdose, and the potion I have given her will counteract the effects. She will come around once the potion has gone through her system. But the Dreamless sleep is the reason she would not wake when you attempted to do so." Severus quirked a brow. "Mrs. Potter…"

"Please call me Ginny." Severus frowned slightly in response.

"What exactly did Hermione tell you when she arrived here tonight? Did she seem…hopeless to you?"

Ginny immediately felt her temper flare. "Professor…Severus, what you are asking is impossible. Hermione had no intention of harming herself tonight!" Ginny's hackles were raised, and Severus was humored to note the faint similarities the girl had with her mother. Molly would be proud.

"Indeed? Yes," he responded bitterly, "I'm sure she's informed you what a bastard I've been. It's a wonder you'd let me in your home, Ginerva."

Ginny was visibly fuming. "If you must know, she came her upset about the row you two had this evening. I didn't pry for details, but Hermione has been my friend for a long time. What she shared she shared willingly, and she was circumspect at that. Whatever I gleaned on my own is neither here nor there. But no way was she upset enough to try anything foolhardy! Hermione has much to live for, and she knows it. Severus, she may have been angry with you, but she cares for you a great deal." Ginny took a breath and regarded Severus then. His lips were twisted in a half arsed version of his normal scowl, and she saw the sadness in his eyes. She continued, gentler this time "And I can see that you care for her too." She paused then, and looked at Hermione, still sleeping peacefully it seemed, though the dark bruises underneath her closed eye lids did not speak of a well rested woman.

Severus' eyes shot up to Ginny's own, and she was amazed to see what they held. Grattitude, love,…a myriad of other things. "Thank you, Ginny," he said quietly.

"For…for what?"

"For alerting me to the problem. For trusting that I-I care for her. For trusting me to do what is right. For being her friend."

"Oh," Ginny sighed softly, "you are welcome, Severus." There were a few minutes of silence that was broken when Hermione moaned feebly and stirred slightly from her position on Severus' lap.

"Sev'rus?" she mumbled, her eyes sliding open slightly, squinting at the light of the room.

Severus bent his head slightly and traced a finger across her furrowed brow. His movement was delicate, his face gentle. "I am here, Hermione. Do you know where you are?"

"M' at the Potter's. What're you doing here?" She tried to rise, but found her whole body unnaturally limp and she groaned in defeat, collapsing once more onto his firm thighs beneath her, her whole being shaky from her effort. "What happened to me? Why do I feel so strange?" Her mouth felt furry and her head was pounding as if a thousand gongs were being thrummed inside of her brain. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to quell the rising nausea that was surging in her belly.

"You were having a nightmare induced by a mild overdose of Dreamless Sleep," Severus' voice penetrated her fuzzy consciousness from above her. "Hermione, why did you take so much of that potion? As a potions mistress you well know the effects of ingesting too much." He did not sound harsh or judgmental, just concerned, and it made her heart beat faster knowing he was worried for her. Too much Dreamless Sleep? Her clouded mind tried to wrap itself around the fact. She didn't remember taking too much. But then a moment of clarity…she'd been half asleep already when she'd portioned out her dose. She'd obviously made a grave mistake in measuring it out and she mentally slapped herself for her folly.

"Oh Gods, Severus, it was an accident. I shouldn't have been measuring out my doses when I was so tired. And upset." She moaned slightly and forced herself into a semi upright position, grasping her hands on the open placket of his jacket and staring into his fathomless eyes. "I'm so sorry! Severus, I understand why you don't want me going off by myself. It's just…I was so frustrated. And all of this sitting around like an invalid just got to me. Please forgive me?" Her face became wet with her tears and she buried her head into his neck, reveling in the steady beating of the pulse in his jugular against her cheek. His response was felt by her as a rumble from deep within his chest.

"I will only forgive you if you forgive me my transgressions this night, Hermione. I did not handle your request in an appropriate way. I should not have become so angry…and…" his hands slipped down to her shoulders and pulled her away from him gently. "I love you, Hermione. Please don't hide from me now. I am sorry I said those things. I didn't mean a one of them, you must know that." His eyes were shining in the flickering of the fire in the grate and she was overcome with emotion at the love she saw there. This man, this private, special man was hers and loved her. And she loved him back with all of her might.

"I do know that Severus. Of course I forgive you. Could we start again, please?" she mumbled, her breathing growing even, her mind falling slowly into sleep once more. Severus hitched a breath and pulled her to him closely again, his eyes staring off into space as she nestled further into his embrace.

"Tomorrow I will take you to Diagon Alley. We can replace your wand and the various other things you need. For now, you should sleep. Everything will be better in the morning."

"I love you Severus," she whispered into his chest. "

"I love you, Hermione," he responded equally quietly, his voice a mere whisper of velvet in her ears. "Very much."

Hermione knew no more as sleep finally took her- a calmer and quieter sleep than before. Severus stayed still, his arms wrapped protectively around the small woman, his own eyes closed to the world outside of their embrace. Suddenly a thought struck him, and opening his eyes, he turned his gaze on Ginny, who had been sitting quietly in her chair during his exchange with Hermione.

"Ginny," he said, his voice quiet but serious, "Where is your husband?"

TBC

Well, that was interesting, no? I really wanted Severus and Ginny to have an interaction, and I was not going to let Hermione and Ginny wander off into Diagon Alley. In the next chapter…things go boom…juuuuuuust a warming! Review please, they mean the world to me!

SS