-=-=-=-Chapter 26: Unexpected Comatose State -=-=-=-=-

Minerva, as promised, began to take Hermione under wing a little more with the stress of the reconstruction simmering down to a manageable stress level. She drilled the rules into the young witch, or rather insured she knew which ones she was obligated to be strict in reprimanding and which she could turn a blind eye to as long as it wasn't hurting someone. Minerva's list of acceptable blindness was terribly small, but Hermione expected nothing less from the witch who was a known disciplinarian.

Minerva showed Hermione the places to patrol for loitering often missed by the prefects and Head Boys and Girls as well as when it perfectly acceptable to step in as an intervention. By the time she was done doing a mock patrol with her, Hermione's head was full of rules, what-ifs, and things to look out for that she began to understand why being caught by a patrolling professor was more apt to bring more stern punishment than by a patrolling prefect. It wasn't that Hermione hadn't been aware of the rules, but there were subtleties that ebbed and flowed in the life of a professor that she was expected to follow when the students swarmed the walls of Hogwart's.

When Hermione wandered back into the lab after a long day with Minerva, she saw Severus sitting down on a comfortably transfigured couch in the middle the lab. He nodded to her soundlessly upon her entry, inclining his head towards a waiting teacup and the empty space beside him.

"Minerva filling your head with rules, regulations, and subtle interrogation techniques?" Severus questioned as she sank into the couch with a sigh of relief.

"I used to think you made up most of the things you docked house points for," Hermione replied, sipping her tea and leaning back into the couch.

Snape's mouth curved upward slightly in amusement. "It becomes even more complicated when you are Head of House."

"Oh I don't even want to go there," she said as she shook her adamantly, closing her eyes. "We always thought we were so clever sneaking into places unseen, but you knew the places all along."

Severus snorted. "You cannot be everywhere at once, but it helps to make everyone think you can." He met her gaze with his impenetrable black eyes. "When we patrol together, I'll be sure to show you some quality places to check for errant rule-breakers."

Hermione sniggered, setting down her teacup and leaning back against the couch. She closed her eyes for the moment to relax, but within a few moments was fast asleep, her body wilted in the couch until she leaned against Severus. Severus' brows furrowed for a moment before he pulled a blanket out of thin air and cast it over her as she slept on obliviously.

Severus had finished his tea and a few more chapters in the book he was reading when Minerva came wandering in looking for either him or Hermione. Snape's eyes glared at her as she started to say something, his eyes flicking downward to his sleeping apprentice.

"That will be quite enough abuse of our apprentice, Minerva," Severus admonished quietly. "There is nothing so important that cannot wait until tomorrow."

McGonagall seemed torn as to what to say or do at the sight of Hermione passed out against the Potion Master. Her face softened and she whispered, "The poor dear. I overtaxed her."

"You are dreadfully talented in that area of expertise," Severus rumbled, his eyes going back to his book.

McGonagall rolled her eyes and shook her head. She turned and left the dungeons to find other duties to attend to.

Severus flipped a page of the book he was reading, unfazed.