Story: Me Characters: JK Harry has found Hermione and now he's gone to get Snape. Hermione wakes up in his arms and wants to know the answer to one very important question.
It was just before dinner and Harry and George stood outside the door to Severus' quarters, each of them too nervous to knock. "Go one Harry, this was your idea."
"Right, it's just, well what if he's in the middle of something? He's mad enough already."
"Come on Harry, you're the hero of the wizarding world. Grow a pair." George reached around him and knocked then quickly stepped behind Harry.
The door flew open almost immediately and they were left staring at an extrememly annoyed Snape. "Potter. Weasley. I suppose you're here to advocate on behalf of your disappearing chit of a friend."
"Professor, I know she means more to you than you're letting on, so you might as well drop the act." Harry didn't know where the courage to say that came from but he hoped it stayed with him. "I found her sir; she's in a muggle hospital in London."
If that news affected him, he didn't show it as he billowed down the hall toward dinner like an ominous storm cloud. George continued, "She's been unconscious almost since she arrived, so of course she couldn't send word to you. I'm sure otherwise she would've told you."
Harry grabbed Severus' arm to stop him. "She wants you though; she's been whispering your name this whole time." He steeled himself for what to say next. "She may be dying and I know you don't want that to happen without telling her how you feel. Not again." He gave Severus a moment to think about that. "Professor, she's my best friend and I'm going to do whatever I can to help her. Right now, she needs you, and I'll do whatever I must to bring you to her." He swallowed audibly and raised his wand. He could feel George do the same.
Severus arched an eyebrow; he really didn't think they had it in them. He found it ironic that this Potter was trying to get him together with the woman he loved when the last one had taken the woman he loved. And now Hermione may be dying. That thought struck more fear into his heart than any encounter with Voldemort had. Still, he had no intention of letting them in on his feelings. "So the reason for the Weasley becomes apparent. He's the 'muscle'. Lower your wands you fools. I'm sure Hermione wouldn't approve; nor would she want you two thrown in Azkaban for attacking me. I will come with you if only to put a stop to this melodramatic farce."
"Thank you Professor." Harry put his wand away, relieved he wasn't going to have to try and duel with him.
Severus turned back to his room, "I must first gather some potions that might be necessary."
They waited in the hall while he gathered the potions he would need, and he was grateful since he couldn't stop his hands from shaking. He couldn't believe he'd been so stupid; he hadn't even considered the possibility of her being in a muggle hospital. When he emerged from his potions closet his mask of indifference was back in place. He wrapped his cloak around him and rejoined them in the hall.
"Well, this is where I leave you two." George winked at Harry and stepped into the floo. Before he shouted his destination he pointed to his ear and back to Severus in a silent warning.
"How did you intend for us to get there? I assume that this muggle hospital doesn't have a connection to the floo network."
"Floo to the Leaky Cauldron then take a cab. Unless of course you'd prefer me to side-along you into the men's loo?" The look on his face was worth Harry's joke. "The Leaky Cauldron!"
Severus emerged from the fireplace a moment later, wiping soot from his robes. He followed Harry silently into the street and almost smiled at the perfection of the weather; it perfectly matched his mood, grey, and it was raining. Harry hailed a cab and got in and Severus followed after him.
The short cab ride passed in silence. Severus was too afraid to talk. He worried that as soon as he did, he wouldn't be able to stop the torrent of emotions he was holding back. Harry was content to let him sit silently. He knew that he was in for a great shock.
Harry led him through the white halls of the hospital and into Hermione's room. He went in immediately and took Hermione's hand. Severus halted in the doorway, his breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful, but it was a sad sort of beauty. She was pale and it pained him to see how much flatter her stomach was now. Briefly he wondered about the baby, but she was more important to him than anything else at that moment.
He came to her bedside and gently swept her hair back from her face. She had a fever, and that was something he could fix. He withdrew a potion from his robes and trickled it into her mouth. A moment later he was relieved to feel that she as cooler to the touch. Now to make her conscious again. "Leave us."
"I'll stay just the same Professor."
"Please Harry, leave us." His voice was soft and gentle, full of worry; Harry acquiesced and left the room. Severus sat down in the chair, pulling it as close as he could to her bed. He didn't know what her reaction to seeing him would be and he didn't want an audiences. "Please Hermione, please wake up. I need you too much for you to be gone. I love you." He pressed his forehead to her cold, tiny hand, letting his tears drip onto the hospital blanket. Sniffing, he wiped his eyes, and then he lifted his wand, "Ennervate."
His efforts were rewarded by the gentle flickering of her eyelids. Soon she was staring at him with her chocolate eyes and has breath seemed stolen away by their beauty. He realized that his heart and his life now rested firmly in her hands.
If he had any doubt of her feelings for him they were wiped away when she threw her arms around him with a halting cry of "Severus!"
He held her firmly to him, softly stroking her hair, ignoring the tears that now rand down his face. "I thought I'd lost you."
He could see the panic suddenly grip her. She clutched at his coat. "Severus, where's my baby?"
Now that he was certain she was safe he was able to turn his attention to the baby as well and was surprised to feel the same fear that had gripped him when he worried about Hermione rising in him again. He hadn't realized that he had wanted this child just as much even though he never said it. "Harry!"
Harry appeared in the doorway but seeing Hermione awake he was at her side before Severus could even begin to question him. "I'm so glad you're awake 'mione, you really had us scared."
"Harry, what happened to my baby?"
