DISCLAIMER: Not mine! It's all J. K. Rowling's.

BETA READERS: GinnyW and Indigofeathers – thank you very much!

A/N: Chapter Twenty-five! Nathan is locked outside of his body, worrying his parents.

Chapter 25: Outside

The day was dawning, and Nathan knew he wouldn't wake up that morning when the light hit his face from the gap in the hangings. Not even the strongest sun of the brightest summer day of all summer days would be able to make him open his eyes. After all these distressing hours of fretting, crying, or simply staring at his sleeping self, Nathan's body was still a soulless shell.

Soon, his roommates would be up for the day and someone would come check his bed. Nathan sat cross-legged next to his body, waiting for that moment. He had tried to verify his mood necklace, to see what it showed, but it was covered by his pajamas. He wondered if it was clear, like when he took it off, angry with his father. Perhaps it was black – death black. Would Professor Snape notice?

Nathan lowered his head. If his father came through the dormitory door, thinking he was dead, and found his peacefully sleeping, hollow body, what would he do? He wanted to believe Professor Snape would flick his wand and solve everything.

Even if it was only to have Nathan whole so he could separate his soul from his body properly by killing him afterwards.

His mother would be very disappointed, he knew. At least she wouldn't see him like this. He glanced at his body again. They would get him fixed in no time, his mother would only hear of it afterwards. Nathan was sure she would panic if she looked at him lying unconscious like that….

But they would put him together; Madam Pomfrey, Professor Lupin, Professor Snape, someone! They had to. It was an easy spell.

An easy spell he didn't master….

Nathan took his head in hands again, elbows resting on his translucent knees. How pathetic was he? Yes, he had answered this question many times already, but he was so utterly disappointed with himself that his thoughts were going in circles, always coming back to chastise him. This time, though, the cycle was broken. There was movement in the room, distracting him from his thoughts.

Nathan left his bed to see who was waking up. Great! Andy! Cautiously as not to startle him, Nathan walked a step forward and called, "Andy."

Maybe he was too cautious, for Andy continued rummaging through his clothes as if not listening to him.

Nathan hissed, "Andy!" He didn't want to wake up the others just yet. He walked and was standing in the middle of the circular room now. "Andy?" he called in a normal voice, if a bit hesitantly.

Andy still had his back to him, taking out whatever he was taking out of his trunk, but then he turned around, looking at him.

"Don't fret," Nathan hurried to say, raising his hands before him and waiting for the shock to show on his friend's face. But when he could see none….

When Andy didn't say anything or show any sign of surprise, Nathan realized he was looking through him and not at him, and he was the one shocked.

He can't see me.

Nathan couldn't believe it. He was translucent, yes, but so were all the ghosts in the castle, and Andy, or any other person for that matter, had no trouble seeing and talking with them. Why would it be any different with him?

"Andy! Please say you can see me! That you're only joking!" Nathan was panicking, coming closer to his friend, standing right in front of him. Andy didn't seem to realize his presence. "It's not funny!"

Andy stood from the bed and left for the bathroom, ignoring and almost walking through him. Nathan stared wide-eyed at the door that had closed behind Andy.

If they couldn't see him, how would they know what happened? If no one knew what happened, how would they fix it? They wouldn't! Couldn't!

I'm locked outside my body forever!

Nathan went back to his bed with tears spilling down his translucent cheeks. He tried in vain to perform the reverse spell ten more times, crying even harder. He hadn't realized just how utterly screwed he was until Andy couldn't see or hear him.

His other roommates were all awake by the time Nathan had calmed a little. The book was still opened in the page of the spell, so when they find his unconscious body, they would know what happened and how to fix it. That thought was the only think holding his hopes of getting back into his body anytime soon.

"Is Nathan in the bathroom?" he heard Kevin ask from somewhere in the room. Nathan was back in his concealed bed. It wouldn't take much longer now for them to find out.

"No, Josh is there."

"Is he still sleeping, then? Did he think he could be late for class just because it's his birthday?" Kevin said, making Nathan close his eyes at the mention of his birthday.

"I'll wake him up," Andy volunteered.

The hangings of his bed were pulled open abruptly.

"Wake up!" Andy cried, expecting to startle him. His friend was smiling, but when Nathan's body didn't even stir, the smile faltered. "Wake up, Nathan. You can't stay a lazy slug in bed if we can't."

Nathan was watching his friend intently, seeing all the emotions crossing his face.

Andy shook his body's shoulder. "Come on! Stop it! I thought we could go to breakfast earlier today."

Of course his body didn't react. "I won't wake up, Andy. Go get Professor Lupin." Nathan's unheard words were those of sad resignation.

"It's not funny, Nathan," his friend said, shaking his body again. "Wake up!"

Andy was panicking, Nathan realized. He saw Kevin come to his aid.

"Come on, Nathan. You're annoying Andy," Kevin said, shaking his shoulder. "And now you're annoying me, too."

"I think there's something wrong with him. I think we should call Professor Lupin," Andy finally said, but didn't leave the side of the bed. Nathan realized he was still hoping it was all a joke.

When not even those words made his body open its eyes, Kevin was convinced. "I'll do it." He left to find Professor Lupin.

His other roommates were now gathering around his bed, asking what was going on. Kevin soon came back to tell that Professor Lupin was on his way. That was when something terrible happened.

"Kevin, I don't think Professor Lupin should see that." Andy was pointing to the open book near his body's right knee.

Nathan's translucent self followed Andy's pointing finger and got agitated.

"Is that the book he took from the Restricted Section yesterday?" Kevin asked so only Andy – and Nathan – could hear him.

Andy nodded.

"Professor Lupin can't see it!" Kevin agreed, then.

"Don't move the book!" Nathan shouted when Kevin reached for it, trying to take Kevin's hands away. Of course, neither his words nor his actions did anything to prevent Kevin from doing just that. And useless were all his other pleas. "No, no, NO! Don't close it!"

He followed Kevin and the book to Kevin's trunk, and when the book was very well closed and concealed from everyone's eyes, Professor Lupin entered the room.

"NO!" Nathan screamed, and he had new tears in his ethereal dark eyes. "How will he fix me now?"

When Nathan went back to where his body lay, Professor Lupin had already broken through the boys who surrounded the bed and was touching his fleshly forehead, calling his name with worry in his voice. "Nathan. Nathan, can you hear me?"

"Yes, I can. But you can't hear me!" Nathan snapped, unable to control his frustration after having his biggest hope taken away and hidden into Kevin's trunk.

He climbed into bed and watched Professor Lupin inspect his body's eyes, arms, taking his wand and murmuring some words under his breath. He observed dispassionately his body glow in a red light after one of the spells had hit it.

"Andy, go to the Great Hall and get Professor Sna–"

The door flung open the very moment Professor Lupin was saying that, calling the attention of everyone in the room. Well, not everyone; Nathan closed his eyes and missed the image of his roommates getting out of Professor Snape's way as the man crossed to room, cursing under his breath.

Nathan opened his eyes and kept staring at his body. The glow from Professor Lupin's spell was fading slowly, in the same pace of his own perceptions of his surrounding. Nathan was watching it fade, staring without really seeing, lost in his hopelessness. His father's hand came into view when the remaining of the red light dissipated. It touched his body's forehead. Nathan finally looked up, following the length of arm.

Professor Snape was scowling down at him. Well, not at him, but at his body. He was holding his wand and seemed to be concentrating.

"What happened?" Professor Snape asked.

Nathan was opening his mouth to answer, forgetting he couldn't be heard, when Professor Lupin spoke, "The boys called me when they couldn't wake him up. I don't know what happened, but he doesn't seem to be physically injured."

Professor Snape listened while casting apparently the same spell Professor Lupin had cast before, for Nathan's body was glowing red again. Professor Snape turned from the sight, looking at the others in the room. "Who can tell me what's going on here?" he asked.

Silence was his answer.

"Mr. Brown?" Professor Snape singled out, arching an eyebrow.

"I don't know, sir."

"Mr. Wood?" Professor Snape tried.

"I couldn't wake him up, sir," Andy said.

His father turned again, watching his body once more, running his eyes from Nathan's face to feet and back again. The conscious part of Nathan startled when the feet he'd been staring at moved. He watched his body being lifted from the bed into the arms of his father.

"I'll go ahead of you to forewarn Poppy," Professor Lupin said.

"Why?" Professor Snape challenged. "You'd be more useful if you knew what was going on in your own House, Lupin." He adjusted the weight in his arms and left for the door.

Nathan followed, not knowing what else to do. They went down the common room, exited by the Fat Lady's door, and continued through the corridors that would lead them to the Hospital Wing.

It was still early, and they found very few students out of their common rooms. Not that either part of Nathan was aware – his unconscious body held by his father and his soul following the socked feet of it as if in a trance.

When the feet rocked up and down one last time and then stopped, Nathan snapped out of his reverie and really looked at his father. He took in the image this man made carrying his body. His father's face sported the usual unreadable expression, but his eyes were different in a way Nathan couldn't classify.

Professor Snape rearranged the body in his arms, holding it more upright, head on his neck, chest on his chest, supporting the weight with a single arm and freeing a hand to get to his wand. He cast Alohomora, and they entered the infirmary.

"Poppy!" His father called after the mediwitch while he carefully set his body down to a bed, making sure its head rested softly on the pillow. "Poppy!"

"Severus?" The mediwitch came rushing to where his father stood and his body lay.

"There is something wrong with him," Professor Snape said.

The mediwitch started to wave her wand over Nathan's body, making Professor Snape step away from the bed. Nathan stared at his own pale face, watching the first couple of diagnosis spells hit it.

The mediwitch concentrated on her examination, and Nathan's attention was drawn from her to his father. The same strange glint of earlier still shone in his eyes, his expression locked in a frown. Was he worried or angry? It was difficult to tell. Looking at the man's hand, two fingers rubbing at each other, Nathan added anxious or irritated to his list of possibilities.

Madam Pomfrey was still for a moment, catching his attention. The only indication that his father had noticed the change as well was when he took a step closer to the bed and toward Nathan's body.

"There is nothing physically wrong with him. For all I know, he's sleeping deeply; more deeply than a Stupefy would make him, and so Enervate won't bring him to awareness. My spells also tell me he didn't ingest any sleeping potion, at least none of the common ones. His condition seems stable enough for now, which is good in a way, but also bad, since he's not waking up on his own." Madam Pomfrey paused and turned from his body to his father. "What happened to him?"

Professor Snape stared, still frowning, at the pale face making little contrast with the white pillowcase as he answered, "I don't know, yet. He was on his bed in his dormitory when we found him, and none of the other students revealed anything useful. I was hoping you could tell me."

The mediwitch frowned. "I suspect this is the consequence of a curse, although if he was inside the dormitory when you found him…. I can't think of any Hogwarts-level curse that would have such a strong effect."

Nathan listened to Madam Pomfrey's speculations, growing more and more worried with her assessment of his condition. Did this mean she couldn't fix him, either?

"If it's a curse, it's one I don't know of," Madam Pomfrey added, and that answered Nathan's question.

Somehow, he'd known already, but against all odds he'd hoped the mediwitch might have been able to reverse this situation.

"You can't bring him back." Professor Snape came to the same conclusion, voicing it.

She shook her head. "Not without knowing what hit him."

Nathan's helplessness and frustration brought tears to his eyes once more. They couldn't hear nor see him, they couldn't find the book describing the curse and counter-curse, and they couldn't help him back into his body without it. This couldn't get worse.

"I'll Floo Minerva and then St. Mungo's," the mediwitch told his father

St. Mungo's? If they sent his body away from Hogwarts…. Nathan didn't think that was a good idea. He didn't want to be sent away from the castle. He looked at Professor Snape, waiting for some miracle. Luckily, his father intervened when Madam Pomfrey was already turning to the hearth.

"That won't be necessary."

"Severus, the Headmistress must be informed–"

"Yes, yes. Minerva yes, but not St. Mungo's," his father interrupted annoyed.

"I can't heal him, Severus. He should be sent to St. Mungo's–"

"I disagree," the man interrupted again, looking pointedly at the mediwitch, who glared at him. Their silent struggle for power seemed to go on forever.

Nathan observed one and then the other in turn. He didn't want to be sent to St. Mungo's, but if Madam Pomfrey couldn't help him… why was his father opposing to the idea of sending him to the hospital? Right now, Nathan only wanted Professor Snape to win this glaring contest; he could think about his motivation later.

Madam Pomfrey finally went to the hearth and called the Headmistress. She didn't Floo St. Mungo's, but was still looking cross, making very plain to Professor Snape what her thoughts were on the matter.

The Headmistress arrived on the silent ward, and Madam Pomfrey went about explaining what was going on. The two witches approached the bed where his body lay. Nathan followed them, paying attention to everything that was said. Nothing new was disclosed, and finally Madam Pomfrey made known her wishes to send for St. Mungo's.

"Why haven't you Flooed them yet?" the Headmistress asked.

The mediwitch made an exasperated gesture in Professor Snape's direction; he'd been quiet since the Headmistress had arrived.

"Severus?" Professor McGonagall prompted, turning to him as if only then noticing his presence in the ward. Nathan followed her.

"He won't be sent to St. Mungo's."

Professor McGonagall seemed taken aback by his finality. Nathan was getting nervous with the situation. Was his father denying him help? Didn't he want him to be well again?

"If there is nothing Poppy can do here, we need specialized help."

"I'm his father and I say he won't be sent to St. Mungo's."

It was the first time since the day Nathan had heard the man confessing he was his father that he'd heard Professor Snape admit to their blood relationship. What was he playing at?

"He might be seriously injured, Severus–"

"Poppy said he's stable."

"Yes, but this can change at any minute. We don't know what hit him," Madam Pomfrey said exasperated.

Professor Snape glared at her from the corner of his eyes: a warning.

"Why don't you want to send him to St. Mungo's, Severus?" the Headmistress asked, seemingly curious. Nathan was also interested in the answer.

"I don't trust his safety outside the castle. He stays until I say otherwise."

Nathan tried to gauge the true feelings behind that statement. Was Professor Snape really worried about his safety? Thinking back, Professor Snape had always come to his aid when he was in some kind of trouble. Maybe he was in fact worried.

"His safety?" Madam Pomfrey asked, puzzled.

"Yes." His father glared at her again. If Nathan could be heard, he would have told her not to cross him again.

"Severus, if you haven't noticed, the war has been over for more than a decade now. Are you really this paranoid about–"

"He has his reasons, Poppy. Is Mr. Granger really stable?" The Headmistress intervened just in time, for Professor Snape was glaring at her with such intensity that his face was turning red with what Nathan was sure was fury.

"He is, but–"

"I'll order some breakfast and you can explain the situation in more detail while we eat." Professor McGonagall led the mediwitch away by the arm.

Professor Snape was left alone with Nathan. He made an irritated noise after the retreating pair before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Nathan saw him turn to the bed and look at his body in silence. As usual, his expression showed nothing of his thoughts, and Nathan was again at a loss at how to interpret it. His father closed the short space to the bed and fixed his eyes on the chalk-white face. It was then that his expression changed.

Nathan observed in amazement as emotions passed over his father's face. He had never seen such things in those black eyes; they were almost warm, tender. Then long fingers reached out to touch smaller ones. Nathan gasped, a pain that couldn't be physical pulsing in his ethereal chest. His father had never touched him like that before.

"Why don't you wake up?" It was almost a whisper.

"I don't know how," Nathan answered, desperation building again. He wanted to go back into his body, he wanted to feel that.

When the fingers left the small hand and brushed back the hair from his fleshly face, a tear escaped Nathan's eyes. He blinked it away and looked up into his father's face. The man was frowning.

"You're cold," he whispered. "What happened to you?"

"I'm sorry," Nathan apologized, feeling the enormity of what he'd done, thinking playing with Dark spells wasn't so serious. Looking at his father now…. Oh, how sorry he was for not being able to feel those caresses, for causing so much trouble. What if they never find out what had happened to him? His vision blurred with the accumulated energy that composed his invisible tears.

"Did your birthday unleash some curse on you?" His father continued his quiet interrogation, and Nathan realized he knew it was his birthday. "I don't believe someone invaded the castle to curse you."

"I cursed myself," Nathan sobbed. "I'm sorry!"

Professor Snape didn't react to Nathan's anguish, only stared at his body in contemplation. The same finger that had been touching Nathan's face was now rubbing his father's thin lips, held there by the support of his other arm crossing his middle. Although the man seemed to be observing the weak rise and fall of his unconscious body's chest, his eyes were glazed, staring into space in concentration. Taking in his father's pensive face, Nathan observed that apparent calm and tried to reign in his own emotions.

Professor Snape didn't voice any more questions, but it was obvious that he was trying to figure out what had happened to him. Even if he had doubts about his father's feelings for him, his simple presence there by the bed was reassuring. Nathan was much calmer when the Headmistress and the mediwitch approached them again. His father's posture straightened and his expression turned colder, Nathan noticed.

"Any change?" Professor McGonagall spoke first.

"No." His father glanced at the bed one last time. "If you'll excuse me, I want to go to my quarters before heading for the classroom." He nodded to the women, but before he could leave, the Headmistress spoke again.

"Severus, do you have means to contact Hermione when she's teaching at university?"

Mum. Nathan closed his eyes, already bracing himself for her disappointment.

"Not by any other means you have, Minerva."

"Then I'll need you to go to her during your free period. She needs to know what has happened as soon as possible."

"Minerva, I'd prefer to use my free period to research the possible curses that are influencing the boy. I'm sure Hagrid wouldn't be averse to the task, or even Filch."

"Severus, I can't send a half-giant amongst Muggles, and Filch can't Apparate. Be reasonable." The tone in the Headmistress voice was of annoyance, but also of authority.

His father mumbled something about details that had never stopped other Heads of that school before and agreed halfheartedly. "Fine."

"Very well, then. I can be sure that you'll warn me if there is any change in his condition in the meantime?" The question was directed at the mediwitch, who nodded.

"Warn me, too, if you please," his father added, then nodded courteously to the women again and finally managed to leave the ward.

Nathan lost interest in the women's talk. His mind now filled with thoughts of his mother, making him oblivious of everything else.

oo0oOo0oo

Severus walked the corridors of the castle with long strides. With all he had to deal with right now he really didn't need Hermione Granger added to the lot. It wasn't until Minerva had mentioned her that he had realized the absence of her in his thoughts for a full hour – the first that week. Their imminent encounter was not what he need right now.

Waking up from another dream of lips and hands on his face and confessing words, had sent him moodily to his bathroom that morning. Angry with his traitorous thoughts, he had bathed methodically. He had gone through his morning rituals with a frown on his austere face, not even bothering to address himself in the mirror with recriminations, like he'd done the previous morning. He'd simply scowled at himself and left the bathroom to dress and leave his dungeon quarters for what promised to be another infernal day.

Infernal was an understatement, now he knew. When Severus had assessed the condition of his son's mood before leaving like he did everyday, the grey of his enchanted potion took all thoughts from his mind, nothing else mattered but finding Nathan.

Now he had a son in an infirmary ward, a class of dunderheads to teach, and Hermione Granger to meet. His head ached, reminding him that he hadn't had time to drink any coffee.

Severus entered his quarters and banged the door behind him, grimacing at the pang the loud noise brought to his head. He went straight to his small kitchen and prepared a cup of coffee, then slumped into an armchair and sipped at the strong brew. He hoped this would make some of the pain dissipate, and when it didn't, he pressed his eyes with his fingers, remaining like that for a while. Headache Potion, he thought. He silently Summoned a vial that came straight into his hand. Severus unstoppered the vial and drank from it, not even bothered by the foul taste.

In the silent room, his headache receded and he started to Summon books from his shelves. A pile of them now rested on the coffee table, only some of the many Severus thought might bring some insight into the curse ailing his son. He made a face at the large number of books, but he had to start somewhere. He took the first three on the top of the pile and left for his morning class.

Severus reduced his lecture to a minimum and soon pointed to the page of the textbook where his third-year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws would find the potion to be brewed. He didn't have to warn them twice of how he wouldn't tolerate any interruptions and chit-chat during the rest of the class – apparently the first twenty points he'd taken during the lecture were enough to show them he wasn't in the best of moods.

The first book Severus scanned had nothing enlightening about what could have hit his son. He was again trying to understand how the boy could have been cursed right under his rather large nose. He should have been aware that something was about to happen, that something wasn't right. He'd been constantly reading his son's "fan mail", but nothing had jumped to his suspicious eyes as actually threatening. Obviously, he'd missed something or someone.

Severus left his table to wander about his classroom, scrutinizing over the cauldrons of nervous students. Granger had obviously also missed any clues that could have warned them that something like this would happen, but then Severus hadn't expected her to see anything. The woman was incredibly blind – about everything – and he would soon meet her again after one of her huge displays of blindness, if not the biggest one.

Severus took two points from Miss Landers for stirring too hard. Thinking about that woman was frustrating. She would sometimes fool him, showing intelligence, seeing into things, predicting happenings, but those moments were now completely overshadowed by…. He frowned, already back to his desk. Her lips were far too soft for someone with such an inflexible mind. He really didn't want to think about that.

He opened the second book and focused on Nathan's problem. He knew Poppy had discarded any school-level curse, but he wasn't ruling them out yet. He had stopped being amazed by what dunderheads were able to do when not even trying. Of course, that would widen his search for a treatment greatly, but he didn't want to be too simplistic and miss the obvious.

Another book without a curse that seemed to match what had happened to Nathan. How could it be that none of his friends saw anything? If Nathan was hit while already asleep, some of those Gryffindors must have heard or seen something. He needed to interrogate them. He would do that right after this class….

Only after this class he would be Apparating to London to meet Granger. He rubbed his eyes and closed the book he'd just opened. Why did she have to inflict those supple lips upon him? And she had caught him by surprise. Severus Snape hated surprises. What would he do about her? The class was almost over, he had to think fast, he told himself; as if an acceptable answer which hadn't come to him in all these days would suddenly pop into his head.

He took the third book he'd brought from his quarters and tried to focus on it again. He was halfway through, noting the lack of help it has been so far, when the students handed in their sample vials and moved out of his dungeons. Alone in his classroom and without any of the answers he needed, Severus left for his quarters to change into Muggle clothes. He would stick with Plan B: ignore their last meeting and simply tell her about Nathan, getting rid of her as soon as possible.

oo0oOo0oo

Severus felt exposed without his robes. Even if his winter cloak covered most of his black suit, too much of his white shirt still showed. The warmer temperature inside the Chemistry Department building didn't help in the least, obliging him to dispose of his cloak and expose even more of himself.

The guard informed him where Granger's office was located, but she wasn't there. He pondered the possibility of leaving a note under the door and going back to Hogwarts. She would know soon enough and would be obstructing his investigation of the curse in earnest. Only the concealed warning in Minerva's voice made him walk further down the hall, searching for Granger. It was obvious that Minerva had promised Poppy that they would send Nathan to St. Mungo's if his mother agreed, and Severus couldn't let that happen. He needed Granger on his side for this matter, and to achieve that, he had to talk to her personally.

He stopped a young man, probably a student, and asked where he could find her.

"I think I saw her with Professor Brice in the Laboratory of Synthesis. It's down the hall, the last door to the left, sir."

Severus inclined his head in thanks and followed the student's instructions. From the glass windows that gave the room a fish tank appearance, he could see her, and indeed she had company. Perfect, Severus thought sarcastically, now I'll have to mind the secrecy of the wizarding world of all things. He decided to wait and see if the Muggle would leave.

He observed them interact, unaware of the world outside. He could see the Muggle better than he could see her. The man was young, maybe older than Granger by a few years. She was busy with something on the workbench, and they were engaged in conversation. The Muggle smiled while he talked, and Severus didn't like the way he looked at her when he did so. How long would that go on?

More students filled the hall now, and Severus felt even more out of his element, standing there waiting. He looked around for a better place to stand, and in doing so he caught some of the conversation going on around him, and a comment stood from the rest.

"Don't be silly, Sarah. Of course he's dating Professor Granger. Haven't you noticed how they're always together?"

"That doesn't mean anything."

"Oh, please. Just look at them."

Severus followed the girls' eyes to the couple in the lab and caught the Muggle professor pulling Granger's hair from her face, placing the curly locks behind her ear. At first he only stared, not knowing what to make of the scene, or even why he needed to make anything out of what he was witnessing. Then he was angry and not caring why he felt so.

He decided he had waited long enough and that it wouldn't be much of an inconvenience if he had to Obliviate the Muggle after all. He crossed the hall and opened the door to the laboratory. Granger looked to the back of the room where the door and he were.

"Severus?"

He glared at them. "We need to talk," he told her, going straight to the point.

She didn't react right away, only looked at him with surprise and then turned back to whatever experiment she was conducting. The Muggle, though, continued to look oddly between them.

"I'm at a critical stage of the experiment," she said at length, still attentive to her work. "Can it wait five minutes?" She finally turned her head to watch him for his answer. She seemed uncomfortable with his presence in the room.

Sorry for interrupting the love birds, he thought sarcastically and advanced to where the couple was. The situation disturbed him more than he felt comfortable with. As if I had any time to spare here while our son is in a hospital bed. It was what he wanted to say, but he decided to lean back against the empty workbench parallel to the one where Granger worked and waited for her full attention, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at the Muggle just to be sure. When that didn't make that bothersome man leave the room, Severus prepared to deliver his sweet venom on him. Granger glanced quickly at where he stood almost behind her, and he held his tongue to take his scrutiny from the Muggle to her.

Averting her eyes again, she spoke before he could. "Severus, this is Professor Brice, a colleague of mine. William, this is Professor Snape from that boarding school Nathan attends."

The Muggle extended a hand to him in courtesy. Severus looked at it, contemplating his next move. Coming to a decision, he finally grabbed the hand and held the man's eyes, adding to Granger's introduction, "And Nathan's father."

Glass chimed over at Granger's workbench, and Severus felt a corner of his mouth pulling up, trying to form a smirk. The Muggle seemed taken aback by the statement, as he should be.

"It's nice to finally meet Nathan's father," the man managed, covering his uneasiness quite well and tightening his grasp on Severus' hand uncomfortably before letting go.

Granger couldn't disguise her nervousness nearly as expertly. "I'm done here," she said, turning to them. Her eyes looked for his, searchingly. Severus had her attention at last.

"We need to talk," Severus repeated his earlier statement.

"We can use my office; it's down the hall–"

"Or he can leave," Severus suggested, pointing a thumb in the direction of the inconvenient Muggle.

"I'll stay if you want me to, Hermione."

Severus raised an eyebrow at that Muggle's petulance and then looked at Granger. She was fidgeting. He crossed his arms over his chest again.

"That won't be necessary, Will. Thank you."

But to prove that annoying was his trait, the Muggle insisted, "Are you sure? I wouldn't mind staying."

Severus rolled his eyes.

"I'm positive. Thank you again, Will. I'll talk to you later." She physically pushed the glaring man towards the door. He acquiesced reluctantly, murmuring something to Granger before finally walking out the door.

"Your boyfriend is very protective of you," Severus commented. "Does he know you go around kissing other men behind his back?"

Granger gasped and then glared at him. "There is nothing between William and me, Severus. I wish there was, but alas, I can't care for him as more than a friend. The heart is a dumb thing. Take mine for an example, it chose you instead of him."

Severus grimaced, angry. "A Hufflepuff would have been touched."

She sighed. "Why are you here?" she asked.

"Nathan, why else?"

"What about him?" she asked, her features completely changed to concern.

"He's in the Hospital Wing," he said and braced himself for the barrage of questions that was sure to follow.

"Why? What happened? Is he all right? Of course he's not; you wouldn't be here otherwise. It's serious, isn't it?"

He waited.

"Say something!" she demanded.

"Are you quite finished?" he asked.

"Just say it!"

"He's asleep," he started. She frowned. "We can't wake him up," he added, and her lips parted before he completed, "yet."

She took a hand to her forehead. "Why is he asleep? What happened?"

"We suspect it's a curse-induced sleep," he answered, not wanting to prolong her visible distress.

"A curse…. Who did that to him?" The eyes that stared at him were now fierce and bright. "Severus?"

"I don't know." He let his own distress over the situation emerge as impatience and brushed back his hair.

"What? You mean you don't know who cursed him? What cursed him?" Her indignation and its veiled accusation were not lost in him.

"He was perfectly fine yesterday. I only found him this morning, in Gryffindor Tower, on his bed, sleeping. If I didn't have to teach or waste my time coming here under Minerva's orders, I might have found out what is happening to him already."

"Why didn't you say so? We're wasting precious time!" She turned from him and headed for the door.

They hadn't discussed St. Mungo's yet. "Granger! I'm not done with you yet!" he called, but she didn't stop. "Damn!" he cursed under his breath. He couldn't use magic to lock the door before she would leave; he would have to go after her.

Following her through the halls, he reached her by the end of the corridor. "Granger!" He grabbed her arm, halting her progress.

She turned, angry with him. "We're wasting time, Severus!" she repeated and tried to free herself. "Let go of my arm, please."

He looked around them; there were Muggles everywhere. "Stupid Muggle institution," he cursed in a murmur, annoyed that he had to measure his words. "Poppy wants to send him to St. Mungo's. If she asks for your permission, deny it." He released her arm. "Now I'm done with you."

"St. Mungo's?" Her worried frown deepened, her eyes became unfocused. He could see her throat working as she gulped. "How grave is it? Don't hide anything from me, Severus. Just tell me what you know."

"There is no need to send him to St. Mungo's. He's stable, there's nothing wrong with his vital signs; he's merely sleeping."

"Why would Poppy suggest St. Mungo's, then?" She bit her bottom lip.

"I already told you, we don't know how to wake him up yet. When Poppy doesn't know what to do, she sends for St. Mungo's instead of taking her lazy arse off of her chair and doing research."

She stared at him for a moment. When the moment extended for more than he felt comfortable with, Severus sighed, annoyed.

"Until I know what's going on, he won't leave Hogwarts."

She took her eyes from him and looked somewhere in the distance, seeming to consider his words, or so he hoped. At least the woman wasn't stupid; she would know the risks involved in taking Nathan out of the castle.

"I need to see him," she said suddenly. Her eyes focused on him again, brighter than before. "I've got to see him." She turned from him and took her way through the corridor, taking a right turn where it ended.

Severus clenched and unclenched his hands before deciding to follow her, cursing again. It wouldn't help if she were to Apparate and splinched herself in her haste; he really didn't need that right now. He turned the corridor in time to see her going through a door and, unfortunately, that Muggle following her inside.

A few quick strides left Severus in front of the open door, and he could see Granger shuffling papers about a desk, her back to him, and the Muggle hovering about. He could also hear what they were saying.

"You're distressed. I think you should sit down and calm yourself, Hermione."

"I don't have the time, Will. Can you do me a favor and explain to Dr. Ghazali that I had a family emergency and had to leave in a hurry? I don't think he's in his office right now, and I don't want to wait for him."

"Hermione, tell me what's wrong with Nathan…. Maybe I can help."

Severus really didn't like the way that man spoke his son's name.

Granger blinked a few times, visibly trying to rein in her emotions. "You're helping," she answered, eyes on the desk.

The man finally caught sight of him by the door. Severus crossed his arms authoritatively. Granger glanced up to look at… that Muggle nuisance and followed his attention to the door and him. She paused in what she was doing and seemed to be expecting Severus to say something.

"You're coming with me," he said.

She didn't argue and quickly resumed her task. The Muggle continued to stare at him, though. Severus held his gaze impassively, leaning against the doorframe.

The staring continued for a while longer, until Granger broke their concentration. "I'll be going, then. Here's a note for Dr. Ghazali. Thanks for everything, Will. I'll let you know if I have to be absent for long." She handed him a folded sheet of paper, took her coat and bag, and walked to where Severus stood.

Severus straightened his posture and moved aside. The Muggle left the room before Granger, but waited in the corridor while she locked the office.

"I'll walk with you."

This Muggle is truly irritating!

"That won't be necessary," Severus intervened before Granger could say anything. He took her by the arm and led her to the exit, leaving the Muggle to watch.

Some steps into the chilly day, Severus turned to his quiet companion to inquire, "Where can we Apparate from?"

She conducted them through the grounds of the university. Her silence was somehow disconcerting; that wasn't how he thought she would react to the situation or to his presence. Then Severus reflected on what he knew about Hermione Granger and concluded that nothing concerning her should surprise him anymore. This morning was another good example – no yelling, no crying, no running around like mad… and a Muggle boyfriend.

They entered a dead-end between two buildings where they stopped. She had her wand already in hand when he shook himself from the memory of that intruding Muggle's fingers on Granger's hair and grabbed her hand.

Surprised but still haunted eyes answered his move by staring mutely at him.

"I won't come back for any part you leave behind." He held his wand in one hand and moved the other to grab her upper arm instead of her wrist. She stepped closer, and before he could react, he was wrapped in her arms, her head on his shoulder. She had her eyes closed, trusting him blindly.

It took him a moment – an inhalation of her scent – to bring his brain back and in order to manage a successful Apparition. With a crack louder than he had produced in years, he vanished them from London and stood now, still enveloped by her warm body, in Hogsmeade. Apparently, every part of them had made through intact, including her scent. He inhaled deeply, answering to his impulsive need of enjoying her fragrance again.

She loosened her hold of him and stepped back slowly. She opened her eyes to look straight into his chest, where her head had rested and a hand was pressed, fingers running down his tie. He observed her attentively, unsure of what would follow, but she didn't lift her gaze, only turned and, still silent, walked to the gates and into the grounds of Hogwarts.

A shudder ran through his body, and if it was due to the loss of the contact with her body or the chilly winter day, he wasn't going to think about it. His son was in the warm castle, cursed, needing him. That should be the only thought on his mind at the moment.

Crossing the grounds, through the doors and straight to the Hospital Wing, Severus followed Granger so he could make sure she wouldn't go against his will to keep Nathan at Hogwarts.

They entered the infirmary, Granger looking around, trying to decide where to start looking for their son.

"Where?" she asked.

Severus pointed to the left ward and entered just after her. When she caught eye of Nathan, she increased her pace to almost a jog, while he approached with less haste. His boy seemed even paler than earlier, and Severus feared that his condition had changed for the worse in the hours of his absence.

"Oh, honey…."

Granger touched the small, white hand with her trembling one. Severus watched in silence.

"Sweetie, you're so cold," she whispered loud enough that Severus could hear; her free hand flying to Nathan's forehead.

"Why didn't you let me know that she was here?" Poppy admonished him in passing, quickly approaching the bed. Severus didn't reply.

"He's cold. He needs more blankets." Granger had both her hands on Nathan's face. "He's cold!" She glared, but her imperativeness lost some of its force with the tears flowing freely down her face.

Poppy cast one of her diagnosis spells, then addressed the woman still attached to her patient. "He's deeply asleep; it's not uncommon that his body temperature is lower than normal. Ms. Granger, even though we suspect the cause of his slumber is a curse, we don't know for sure what curse it is, if it's any. I don't have means to treat him here. I need your consent to send him to St. Mungo's where a specialist can examine him."

Severus stepped closer to the bed when the mediwitch mentioned St. Mungo's. Poppy glanced pointedly at him; he glared at her. Granger continued to stare at Nathan's pale face.

"How can someone hurt an innocent child? What did he possibly do to deserve this?"

The pain in her voice disarmed him a bit. He was born my son, he reasoned as an answer to her question, fixing his eyes on his son's covered feet.

"Ms. Granger, I think the Healers at St. Mungo's might be able to help him, but I need your consent to send him through," Poppy insisted.

"He can't leave Hogwarts."

At those words, Severus looked back at her and breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

"There is nothing I can do for him here. I don't know what Severus told–"

"That he'll find out what's going on and will find a way to wake up Nathan, that's what he's told me. By the way," Granger sniffed and turned to him, "what are you still doing here? You were supposed to be researching."

His eyebrows shot up at that. When her petulant chin went up a bit more, he narrowed his eyes and said, "I might as well do that, since you've got 'crying over the sleeping boy' covered." He turned, missing the billow his wizarding robes always made, and headed for the door.

"I'll be joining you soon," she called after him.

Of course she will, he thought, striding out into the corridors of Hogwarts.

A/N: I know it took me forever and a day to put this chapter together, but I assure you that the next chapter is written and only needs some adjustments. Thank you for your faith in me and this story, it means the world to me.

Coming next… Severus and Hermione work together, and Nathan finds a way to be heard.