Chapter 119: All In Good Time

{A/N: Here's Another Long Awaited Update...}

My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.

The Granger Residence, London England, Muggle World...

A familiar stinging and burning sensation that traveled well within the confines of his veins had saw to Severus Snape's obsidian eyes opening rather swiftly as his sweat slick pale form had convulsed and his muscles bulged as Nagini's rancid venom worked it's way inside him once again. Flashes of the first time he felt it, the initial bite of the twisted serpent had replayed in his mind as he began to gaps and reach for a familiar woman with amber eyes. She wiped his rather feverish body down via a wet cloth and urged him to "hold on a bit longer."

His large pale fingers gripped the bed-sheets in a bid to claw through the mattress due to the overwhelming sensation of pain following the injection. He could feel the rancid venom making it's way throughout his body poisoning everything in sight. The main casualty had been the lesser venom as Hermione and Lucius had intended but it had not stopped until all trace of it had been gone. The ailing Potions Professor had known all too well what would occur now that the venom had run it's course.

Hermione gasped as his tension began to ease and he lied quite limp on her childhood bed. He had not the energy to even look upon her as hot and salty tears streamed down his sallow pale cheeks. She was here. He had believed for a moment that he'd lost her to his mother's treacherous games but she'd been there the whole time searching for a cure and keeping him company.

"I'm here, Severus." she said softly pushing the sweat blasted curtain of raven locks from out of his face. "It's almost over."

Snape didn't reply as he drifted out of consciousness once again.

He recalled the brief notion of rage in Hermione's voice and then the sorrowful tone her father spoke in as he looked over his rather unwanted son in law.

They seemed to go one like that for quite a while, the enraged Hermione questioning the older Granger about his involvement with Irma Pince and why they were so cruel as to poison a man when he merely wished to implement good will.

John Granger had no words to excuse his actions as he looked upon his only daughter's tear stained and worried face. It had taken him quite some time to see what had already been known by his wife and everyone whom had come into contact with her, that she'd loved this man...her own Potions Professor. Her fierce temper had not been spared even for him given the situation and still, he couldn't bring himself to allow the inevitable.

"Herms..." began John still baffled that it had been his daughter in disguise this whole time. "You...you left."

"No." replied Hermione rather harshly. "I let you believe I did."

John sighed.

"Herms I was only trying to protect..." he began only to be cut off by the now molten flame ball at the tip of his daughter's wand.

"What you did, not only hurt me...but it nearly killed my husband." said Hermione in annoyance. "Suppose we didn't figure out what had occurred...suppose he had died and never even met his children?"

John sighed once more not knowing what it had been that his daughter wished for him to say.

"Herms..." he bean again.

"You know nothing of what we went through during that war and how close we all came to being Voldemort's victims!" shouted Hermione narrowing her amber eyes at her father. "If it wasn't for Severus none of us would even be alive!"

John knew better than to speak this time around and merely kept silent with his head down.

"Hermione." came a voice breaking the awkward silence that had befallen them.

She turned to see Snape wide awake and trying his hardest to sit up but his body had been much too weak and feverish. She instantly dropped to her knees at his bedside and took his hand in hers.

"Severus..." she said as tears streamed down her cheeks. "You need rest...don't try to move so much."

Snape had wanted to say more but felt the onset of nausea that cause him to fight to keep silent. He had not wanted her to be upset with her father. He knew all too well how close they were and that this turn of events was devastating for all involved.

Lucius Malfoy smirked seeing his little brother awake after such an ordeal. He had been terrified he'd contributed to his premature demise after having waiting so long to find him.

"Lucius..." managed Snape sensing his older brother's terror, despite the nausea. "I'm still here."

"Yes, you are." replied the elder Malfoy with a bit of relief in his tone. "Little Brother."

He had been just shy of bursting into happy tears but he could hardly contain his fury.

Eileen had to pay for what she had done and what she tried to do. He knew he would never get Severus' direct approval, but he couldn't let the slight to his family's honor stand, let alone the attempted murder of his own younger brother.

"No, Lucius." said Snape knowing all too well what had been on the handsome blond's mind. "I...will deal with her."

Hermione had only a few moments before she managed to conjure a bucket for the ailing wizard to vomit in. Her swift thinking saved her a good deal of cleaning given how Snape wretched.

John watched the sickly Potions Professor for a few moments. It was amazing how Hermione doted on him. He wasn't in the least off putting by her standards. It puzzled the man to no end. He had not known what had taken place those agonizing years they'd all spent waging war against the despot Voldemort, but it had a profound effect on not only Hermione but the Potions Professor as well.

"Now lie back and rest." instructed Hermione not taking her eyes off him. "You're still too weak and the fever lingers."

"E-Everything hurts..." groaned Snape falling back into the pillows after vomiting in the bucket.

"I know." replied Hermione wiping the sweat from his brow via a moist cloth. "Please, for me just rest."

Snape sighed looking into her eyes, knowing full well he'd do whatever she asked of him. He knew from the moment he left the desert and she found her way back into his arms that he'd do whatever she asked of him.

"He was just concerned about you." said Snape not taking his eyes off Hermione. "Let it go."

"He helped that wretched harpy you call a mother poison you." said Hermione, with her temper flaring a bit before she got a hold of it.

"For me, let it go." he reasoned.

Hermione sighed as Snape had won this particular debate.

Still, she could not bring herself to even look at her father without being furious. She refused to leave her husband's side and simply nodded in agreement.

John had not known what to say. Snape seemed to bare no ill will toward him at the given moment, despite having all rights to do so.

Lucius on the other hand had not been so forgiving, but he would defer to Hermione's judgement on how best to deal with her father.

"So...when are we going to pay the harpy a little visit?" he asked balling his fists in furious anticipation.

"All in good time." replied Snape before settling back down and drifting off despite his inclination to stay awake.

Hermione treated him to a soft kiss and a warm smile as the room and everyone in it aside from her faded away and her touch remained.