(All characters belong to JKR)

AN: Second one in one day, so don't ignore 35, everyone. :)

I haven't seen this musical in over a year, but suddenly this song popped into my head and I haven't been able to get it out of my head all day. Hopefully this chapter isn't too bad. Mild spoilers for DH.

Racing With the Clock

"Severus, don't you die on me!"

The words sounded harsh and sorrowful to her ears as Hermione frantically attempted to stop the blood that was gushing out of her secret lover's throat. The blood was coming from a wound to his neck, inflicted by that horrible snake. Seeing the snake bite Severus had been almost too much for her to bear. She had almost cried out in horror when the fangs pierced his flesh. Had she not bitten her lower lip hard at that exact moment she would have screamed.

After Harry had retrieved the memories from Snape, Hermione had told him and Ron to go on ahead; that she would catch up with them soon enough. It had been a fib of course, an excuse so she could stay and try to save the dying man's life.

"Damn it Severus, open your eyes!" she demanded fiercely, blinking back the tears that tried to impede her sight. This wasn't the time for crying, she knew, though she couldn't stop the tears from coming all the same. She knew that if she didn't do something soon Severus was a goner. But... what could she do? Taking a deep wavering breath she tried to think. That snake probably had poisonous venom, so... A bezoar!

Despite the rarity of the potion ingredient, Hermione knew their significance. Besides, she had received that strange note at the beginning of this year... Carry a bezoar with you. It had instructed. A strange note to be sure, but now that she needed one, it didn't seem all that strange.

A strangled groan of pain came from Severus's lips and Hermione acted, quickly ripping the bezoar from her coat pocket and forcefully opening the potion masters mouth with her free hand. His glittering black eyes, clouded with pain and ever-so-slightly glazed, snapped open to stare at her. "Don't worry, I'm trying to help you," she murmured in what she hoped was a comforting voice as she got the bezoar into his open mouth. "Can you swallow?"

A moan was her answer. Damn. Not good... Gently Hermione rubbed the man's throat to coax him into swallowing. He did, painfully. She winced as he moaned again. She hated causing him pain, but she had no choice. Now, what next... she had to stop the blood from flowing, or else he was going to bleed to death. No point in using that precious bezoar if he died from blood loss only moments after.

She took a blood replenishing potion from her sack and once again coaxed his mouth open and his throat to swallow. But now that that was done... what could she do? The potion would only give her a little more time, and although she hated to admit it, her healing spells were shaky at best. She had never had enough time to really try them, and since students didn't actually learn healing spells, her knowledge came entirely from books. She had never even tested them. Biting her lip she hesitated. Should she attempt to use one of them or try a potion? This would all be so easy if she still had that dittany...

"H-Hermione..." said on a moan, it lacked the usual purr that Severus's voice held.

The witch bent over him, eyes wide with concern. "Please, Sev, don't speak... I'm doing all I can... so please, just hold on as long as you can..."

"H-hurts..."

"Shh... I know, I'm sorry..."

Hurts... that actually gave her another idea. Opening her sack she took stock of the potions and things she had left. A small vial of purple liquid caught her eye and she smiled grimly. That would have to do. Uncorking the vial she poured the contents directly onto the bite marks, eliciting a sharp his from her patient.

"I'm sorry," she told him quietly. "It's the only way to clean your wound..."

But...what could she do now? She had no other potions that would work, so that just left her wand. And that thought terrified her. What if she made a mistake? A misspoken word on a healing spell could make matters worse. As if sensing her fear Severus turned his head slightly so he could look at her.

"U-use v-vul-" He was cut off by a coughing fit.

She was running out of time and she knew it. They both did. She had to figure out what to do. He had said use vul... before being cut off. Vul... what could that mean? Was he talking about a spell? Wracking her brain Hermione tried to recall if there were any spells like that.

"Three...." He coughed. "Times..."

Three times? What in heaven's name did that mean? Three... Hermione's eyes widened as she realized what he meant. A spell that had to be used three times to work properly that started with vul. "Of course! Vulnera Sanatur!" Whipping out her wand Hermione took a deep, wavering breath. "Vulnera Sanatur!"

She watched with bated breath as the blood still flowing unending out of her lover's throat slowed, gradually coming to a halt. She released the breath and once again cast the spell, and then again. The wound healed, slowly, though when it had closed the area was still red and puffy. Hermione knew that there was still more healing that needed to be done, but she didn't have the kind of skill required to finish the job. Tears spilled out of her eyes as she looked down at the now unconscious man. The healing had been too much for him in his current state, she reckoned. Sniffing softly she cast the patronus charm, sending the pearly white otter that emerged from her wand tip off to fetch Madam Pomphrey.

Once the otter was out of sight she placed her hand lightly on the side of his face and smiled weakly. "Everything will be alright..." she whispered.

EN: "Racing With the Clock" from The Pajama Game.

Very shoddy work, I know, and for that I apologize. Didn't have much editing time, so therefore I am sorry for any mistakes, grammatical or spelling.