Insufferable Attraction

SeverusxHermione

Rated NC-17

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling

Insufferable Attraction

Chapter 30

Attack on the Princes!

Earlier today Harry Potter's friend and one-third of the Golden Trio, Ronald Weasley, made an unprovoked attack on Lord and Lady Prince. Witnesses have come forth and confirmed this, as they were witnesses to it when the commotion caused by the trading of spells brought their attention. This Daily Prophet writer has all the details here.

One witness told that Mr. Weasley had accosted Lady Prince, cornering her in Knockturn Alley, before assaulting her and attempting to use an Unforgivable Curse on her. Luckily, Lord Prince appeared to her rescue, along with Lady Prince's Muggle parents. Mr. Weasley then began to attack Lord Prince, prompting him to duel the younger wizard, as well as defend his wife's honor. Mr. Weasley, in a last ditch effort to cause more damage to Lord Prince, used an unknown, yet very dangerous curse against him. And as a result, Lady Prince was hit with the curse while saving her husband.

Lady Prince is now in St. Mungo's in critical condition, her loving husband Lord Prince diligently by her side. I have attempted retrieving a statement from Lord Prince, but he has refused as well as Lady Prince's Muggle parents. Therefore, in respect, I left them alone to be together as a family. Let us all pray for Lady Prince's recovery and hope there will be no lasting damage to her from the unknown curse.

As for Ronald Weasley, he is now on the run but is being charged with assault, as well as attempted murder. If he is spotted or found, please alert the Ministry Aurors immediately. Do not give him sanctuary, or those that do will be punished by the Wizengamot as well for aiding and abetting a criminal.

No updates have been given concerning Lady Prince's condition as of yet. But this does make us wonder what would cause Mr. Weasley to not only attack Lady Prince, the other third of the Golden Trio, but to attempt to kill her by cursing her. Hopefully the truth will come to light before something as egregious as this happens again.


Black eyes stared at the unmoving form of Hermione, his wife still unconscious ever since falling so in Knockturn Alley. Severus had luckily gotten his wife to St. Mungo's in time so the Healers could continue healing her after he had reversed much of his own curse. Thank Merlin she was healing though, and so far, her recovery seemed imminent. Even so, this caused Severus to do nothing but worry as he sat next to her, her tiny hand held in his large pale one.

He wished this hadn't happened to her. Severus cursed himself for not being with her when Weasley decided to ambush his wife. He would have nipped it quickly if he had been present with her. But instead, she was alone with that prat before he even knew she was in trouble, and now she was hurt because he hadn't been quick enough to protect her like she had him against his own curse. Thinking of his curse, Severus felt worse than he already did; guilt was eating him alive. If he had never invented that curse and left it in an old Potions book for someone else to find, then Potter wouldn't have learned it or told his friends about it. And because Weasley had knowledge of it, he had used it against him, but instead cursed Hermione. Severus's own curse put his wife in the hospital; he didn't think he could ever feel so much lower than he did right now. It was his fault she was here, and he had no one to blame but himself.

On the other side of the hospital room, Jean and Robert were sitting together as they looked at their daughter worriedly. They were happy to be told that she pulled through and was likely to recover, and they just needed to wait for her to wake up. But they were still worried as they looked at her still form, her bruised cheek evident she had been assaulted by that redhead she had once called her friend before he hurt her with whatever spell that was. They were worried and praying for a full recovery for their daughter, but they were also worried over their daughter's husband. Severus looked much paler than usual as he sat with a worried expression next to his wife. He looked very much sick, like he could throw up at any moment. It was obvious he was having some sort of inner turmoil over what happened to Hermione, and Jean felt she needed to reassure the man.

Standing up from her seat, she walked over to Severus and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. When he looked up at her, she gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze and said reassuringly, "She will be alright, Severus. She'll wake up soon, just you wait."

"That's right, Severus. Our ladybug is a fighter, she'll pull through," Robert said from his seat.

Severus gave a small smile before saying, "I'm not worried that she won't recover. I know she will; she's been through much worse than this and came out fine on the other side."

"Then what has you so dejected?" Jean asked.

She waited for her son-in-law to answer, but she could see he was struggling to do so. Deciding to leave it alone, she bent down to hug him before saying, "It's alright, Severus. Whatever the reason, everything will just fine in the end. And when Hermione wakes up, she will tell you the exact same."

Severus nodded and thanked Jean lowly before turning back to his wife. Just as Jean had taken her seat next to her husband, the door to the hospital room burst open and the Potters rushed inside, Harry's green eyes frantic as he looked around before landing on the hospital friend where his friend lay. Rushing over to her he grabbed her other hand and said, "Hermione!"

Daphne looked with wide eyes at the brunette before turning to her former professor. "What happened, Professor Snape? We read the Daily Prophet, but what really happened?"

"This incident is in the newspaper?" Severus asked annoyed.

"Yes. Apparently, there were some witnesses that told the Prophet. And you were right between Knockturn Alley and Diagon Alley. It isn't really a surprise someone else saw what happened."

Harry looked up from Hermione's face to look at Snape. "Did…did Ron really do this?"

Severus's black eyes hardened and his voice was ice when he replied, "He did and I will kill him with my bare hands if I ever see him again."

Daphne looked at her husband in concern, having never seen her former professor so pissed off. He seemed absolutely murderous, at least that was the aura he was giving off now, though luckily not at any of them. Harry returned her look before gesturing towards Hermione and discretely tapping on his chest, right above his heart. Daphne's green-blue eyes widened in realization before she nodded. Before anything else could be said, the hospital door opened once again and the Lestranges stepped inside, followed by Narcissa and Draco Malfoy. Luna walked over to the bed where the still brunette was and hovered her hands over her form, eyes closed for a while before opening them and smiling at the Potions Master.

"Do not worry, Professor Snape. Hermione's spirit is strong with she will wake up soon. Her fire spirit is vigilant and is tirelessly working to help her recover," Luna told Severus with a reassuring smile.

Severus stared at the blonde witch for a moment before his eyes darted to Rabastan, only to see the man smiling adoringly down at his wife. Black eyes moved to meet green ones behind round spectacles, and he raised an eyebrow. Harry just shrugged and made a gesture with his hand as if to tell him to just go with it. Giving a nod, Severus replied, "Thank you, Miss Lovegood."

Luna smiled at her former professor's use of her maiden name. Rabastan looked down at his friend's wife and asked, "Has there been any word from the Healers since she was brought here?"

"Not yet, though they are positive she will be fine," Severus answered. "Though, they are still determining the extent of the damage that was done, if it is worse than what is seen on the surface."

Narcissa walked around the bed to stand next to Severus and placed and gentle hand on his shoulder. "She will be fine, Severus."

Draco nodded in agreement. "Yes, she will. I know what she's going through well, but she'll be fine." He gave Harry a pointed look, causing his former rival to flush a bit. He smirked before continuing. "Granger is too stubborn to let go any time soon, after all."

That would have been some sort of jibe towards the brunette if Draco was still the same person Harry had known back at Hogwarts. But Draco was now a different person—they were all different people since the war—and Harry knew the blond wizard's words were more so a compliment. He smiled at him and said, "Thanks Malfoy."

"Yes, thank you Draco," Severus said.

"You're welcome. By the way, Astoria sends her well wishes. I was with her when we got the news."

"Be sure to send my thanks, then."

Rabastan cleared his throat and said, "By the way, the Weasleys were trying to get in to see Granger, but I stopped them."

Robert glared and hissed, "Absolutely not! I don't want to see that wretched boy's family or him near my little girl!"

Jean grabbed her husband's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Robert, please."

"I agree, Mr. Granger," Severus said. "I'd rather not see another Weasley near me or Hermione."

"But you can't blame the whole family for their son's actions," Jean said. "Be upset with him, not his family. If they care for Hermione, then they should be able to see her. Besides, our daughter would like to know there are still some members of that family that care about her and won't harm her."

Severus and Robert didn't agree with the Granger matriarch, but they said nothing in retaliation. Everyone that was there to visit Hermione and Severus stayed for a bit longer before having to leave, the Potters promising to return the next day to check on Hermione around noon. They left with the Lestranges and the Malfoys following, but not before Narcissa called Severus out into the corridor to talk for a moment. Severus looked at his wife's unconscious face once more and gave her hand a squeeze before standing from his seat and following the two blondes out of the room, leaving Jean and Robert with their only child.

Once they were out in the corridor, Severus asked, "What is it?"

Narcissa says nothing at first, just simply looking his face over and searching his black eyes before finally saying, "I've never seen you like this before, Severus."

"Like what?"

"So worried and scared for someone before. You are truly scared for Hermione and whether she recovers or not."

"Of course, I am. She is my wife."

"You know what I mean Severus Snape, and I think it is time you acknowledge it."

Severus didn't like the tone Narcissa used with him, but also wasn't sure he liked where their conversation was going. He noticed Draco cast a Muffliato Charm before asking his godson's mother, "And what is it time that I acknowledge, Narcissa?"

The blonde witch stared at Severus evenly before saying confidently, "You are in love with her."

Severus blinked in surprise before his eyebrows furrowed. Shaking his head in denial he replied, "No, I'm not. I care for her, I like her even, but I am not in love with her."

Draco frowned. "Are you sure? Because you seem pretty convincing to me, Uncle Sev."

"Admit it, Severus. In the five months you have been married to Hermione Granger, you have fallen in love with her," Narcissa said. "And there is no shame in that. She is your wife and you love her. Acknowledge and embrace it, Severus. Like I've told you before, if anyone deserves love, it is you and Ms. Granger will surely provide it to you, if she hasn't already. And something tells me she has been."

"Remember what I said before, Uncle Sev?" Draco asked. "Give yourself and her a chance. Don't run away from your relationship with her, especially if you two have gotten closer. Take this chance at love, and if you love her then do like mother said: embrace it. You love Granger, don't you? You're in love with her, aren't you?"

Severus opened his mouth to deny it once again but closed it when he thought about what they said. Not only that, but he thought back to that night when he had shared his childhood with Hermione, how she had spoken to sweet and heartfelt to him after he was finished. She had spoken truthfully to him and had reassured him he was and would never be the person he thought he was or would turn into. He'd never had someone believe in him like that, other than Lily, but she had given up on him. But it was clear to him his wife was not going to leave his side, and it had made him feel so warm inside. And he then remembered what he had murmured to her when she had fallen asleep, having been afraid to say it aloud. But seeing Hermione protect him from his own curse and having it hit her, he had never felt a fear quite like he had in that moment. All he could think was that he couldn't let someone else that he cared about die because of him, someone that he…loved.

Merlin, he loved Hermione. He was in love with her. There was no thinking involved like that time he had murmured it to her when she had been sleeping. No, he was for sure about his feelings towards his wife now. Severus Snape was in love with Hermione Snape nee Granger. Looking at the two blondes, he opened his mouth and finally answered, "Yes, yes I am. I'm in love with Hermione."

Both Draco and Narcissa smiled and took their leave, but not before Narcissa urged the wizard to tell his wife his true feelings whenever she awoke. Severus considered that for a moment before deciding to think on it later. Instead, he reentered his wife's hospital room and suggested he take his in-laws to Prince Manor so they could sleep comfortably. Robert and Jean agreed, and allowed their son-in-law to take them to his and their daughter's home. Before returning to St. Mungo's, Severus told them that when they were ready to return to see their daughter, just let Inka the House Elf know and she would bring them to the hospital. Once they were settled, Severus returned to St. Mungo's to be by Hermione's side, anxiously waiting for her to wake up.


Around six in the morning the next day, Christmas Even, brown eyes opened slowly and blinked before looking around to take in their surroundings. Hermione frowned for a moment and went to sit up, only to hiss as pain shot through her body, particularly her chest and torso. She looked down at herself, briefly wondering what had happened to her, only for the memories of Ron's attack to come flooding back to her. Looking around once again, her eyes landed on the form of her husband sitting in the chair next to her bed, his black eyes closed as he slept. Or perhaps he was just resting his eyes while still being alert, she wasn't sure. Either way, she decided to wake him up, even though he looked so peaceful and younger in his sleep.

"Severus," Hermione called out softly, not wanting to be rude if he really was sleeping.

Severus's black eyes opened immediately and locked onto her own open ones. Standing up, Severus grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze before saying softly, a fond look in his eyes as a small, genuine smile graced his lips. "You're awake."

Hermione smiled in response and nodded slightly. "I am."

"I'm glad. You had your parents worried."

The brunette couldn't help but giggle softly. "Don't pretend you weren't worried, too."

Severus tilted his head. "I may have been."

"Severus."

"Alright, alright, I was worried." Severus chuckled at his wife's satisfied face before bending down and giving her pink lips a sweet kiss. He kissed her once more before pulling away, smiling at her blushing face. However, his smile slipped from his face and he looked into her brown eyes before murmuring, "I'm sorry."

Frowning in confusion, Hermione asked, "What for?"

He held her hand tightly, but not too tight that he would hurt her. "Because it was my curse that put you in danger. Weasley may have used it, but it was the curse that I invited. If I hadn't invented that curse and left it printed for someone to find, then it wouldn't have been found and used by someone else, and worse by someone you know against you. I blame myself for you being here in the hospital, and I'm sorry."

Hermione shook her head and placed her other hand on top of her husband's. "No Severus, it's not your fault. Ron did this to me, not you. I don't blame you for this, and I won't ever. Yes, you may have invented that curse, but I don't blame you for what happened to me. I don't want you blaming yourself, because you have nothing to be sorry for. If anything, I should be apologizing to you for making you worry about me. I accidently deflected the spell towards me, and I couldn't block it. So, I'm sorry for making you worry about whether I would die or not."

"You don't have to be sorry; it isn't your fault. And even if it was, I would still worry over you. I…I care about you, Hermione."

The brunette felt her heart flutter in her chest at his words. Severus had told her he cared about her, something she was used to, but for some reason his words felt different. Even so, she couldn't figure out why they were different, why they touched her more than usual. She couldn't ponder on it much more because just then the door to the room opened and a Healer stepped inside.

Smiling at the couple, the Healer greeted, "Good morning, Lord and Lady Prince. Lady Prince, it is good to see you awake, and rather chipper I'd say. Just so you know, your husband never left your side from the moment he brought you to us."

Severus grunted and looked off to the side, his face stoic but the tips of his ears and his cheeks were tinged pink. Hermione smiled at her husband and squeezed his hand. Turning back to the Healer, Hermione replied, "Thank you, and please call me Hermione."

"Alright then Hermione, my name is Healer Durdridge and I've been monitoring your progress ever since we finished healing you. I'm going to run another in depth diagnostic on you and then I'll tell you my findings."

Without another word, she pulled out her wand and waved it over Hermione in a series of complicated movements, concentrating on what she was doing before a piece of parchment appeared in front of her. She read it over for a moment, showing no expression on her face as she did. This both worried and relieved the couple as they waited silently for her to finish reading Hermione's diagnostic. Finally, Healer Durdridge stopped reading the parchment and looked at the awaiting couple.

"Okay, so I have good news and bad news," the Healer began. "The good news is that Hermione can go home as soon as today to continue her recovery. I can have her discharged at around two o' clock today, and I have the utmost faith you will take good care of your wife, Lord Prince. Also, it is Christmas tomorrow and I'd like for you to enjoy it at home rather than in a hospital room."

Hermione nodded with a small smile, though it was strained. Severus wasn't smiling at all, as he was dreading the bad news his wife's Healer was going to deliver. And it seemed like Hermione was doing the same, though trying to hide it behind a smile that wasn't working. Not being able to stand the wait, Severus asked, "And the bad news?"

Healer Durdridge gave them a melancholic look before taking a deep breath. "The curse that your wife was hit with Lord Prince, it hit her right in her torso, her chest and stomach to be exact. We know that you were able to heal her enough before bringing her to us, and we finished healing her, but the damage from the curse went a bit deeper than we originally thought."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, her stomach churning with dread from the news she was about to receive.

"The curse was some sort of lacerating curse, correct? Kind of like a Severing Charm, but lethal. Some of the lacerations were deeper than others, and unfortunately, one of them cut deep enough that it ended up damaging your womb. I'm sorry to say this, but because of this, you may not be able to carry a child to full term in the future, or worse, carry one at all."

A deafening silence followed the Healer's words, seeming to suffocate the room. Severus's black eyes stared at Healer Durdridge in shock, not believing what he had heard. However, hearing Hermione's breathless gasp broke him out of his shock, and he turned towards her, noticing how her brown eyes were spilling tears, yet seemingly looking at nothing. In fact, it looked like her entire world had shattered from the news. And in truth to Hermione, it had.