Severus remembered perfectly well that Narcissa threatened him with all the punishment of earth and heaven if he dared to disturb his slumbering wife. Hermione was in a dazed state. She was delirious. She muttered something. She called someone. She was whispering something. Not a word could be made out. Several times, sparks of magic burst from the tips of her pale fingers and immediately disappeared into the darkness of the room, not finding enough strength to live an extra second.
It was a very bad sign... Severus was firmly convinced that whoever did this to his wife would be seriously cursed by him. He just needed to wait until Hermione returned to the world of the living. But it wasn't just his delayed revenge on her enemies. He was terrified. And the enforced helplessness did not help calm his own fears.
Of course, and Snape was sure of this, that he needed only ask: Lucius and the Boy-Who-Lived-to-Irritate-Snape, and that damn Sirius Black, they would immediately call the local "council of war" and rush to help. However, Severus' worries were not at all in a reluctance to cooperate with his former enemies. He watched his wife slip away from him. And he hated himself for it.
Hermione acquired some serious enemy. And Snape was sure that this mysterious stranger was one of his former brethren of Voldemort's Inner Circle. Someone was plotting some serious intrigue, and Hermione's poisoning was a warning.
The door opened, Lucius quietly stepped inside, examined the picture that opened to him, shook his head, and thrust a tonic potion into Snape's hand. Snape uncorked the bottle and drank it in one gulp. Lucius pulled a chair closer and spoke.
"Black promised to help. We are always ready to help you too."
Snape nodded, not taking his eyes off the pale face of his wife, who was tossing about in a fever.
"Do you think we know the enemy?"
"I would say it might be a courtesy of Bellatrix if I hadn't personally seen the damn bitch die from Avada," Lucius winced.
"Why would she do it to Hermione?"
"She would want to avenge the Lord. However, it seems to me that this is someone from the Ministry. You are wrong to think that your wife has no enemies. Think Severus, she's too big a target. You may not have anything to do with this at all."
"Of course, but of course, Severus Snape is a tragic hero who fell victim to the charms of the best witch of her generation! Don't talk nonsense, Lucius. It could be anyone."
"Which is why I ask you not to fall into your habitual state of a pessimist who hates the whole world. Just try to remember that your wife needs you. And we will deal with the enemies. We all will. You know perfectly well: I am indebted to you. And you are my friend."
With that, Lucius got to his feet and left the room. He understood Snape too well since he himself had been in a similar situation three times. Narcissa was trying to get pregnant for a long time, and when she finally succeeded, her poor health did not allow her to keep the baby. It was Severus and his potions that helped bring Draco into the world, and it was his half-blood wizard magic that helped the boy survive to adulthood. The godfather's magic saved the life of Lucius' son and saved Narcissa. Debt or not, they were his family. A strange, crippled, and desperate family.
Hermione stared at the wall: she did not remember what exactly happened to her. One moment she went to the podium to give a speech to the pompous ministers, she was confident in her own victory, and the next second Lucius Malfoy's arms caught her, and his peacock Patronus torn apart the twilight of the room.
Of all people... Mr. Malfoy came to her aid when she least expected it. Hermione remembered vividly how she writhed in pain on the floor of their pompous drawing-room, and how Lucius secretly tried to shield her with his protection spell. Lady Narcissa then sneaked out into the garden and apparently sent word to Severus. After all, it was Professor Snape who lectured Bellatrix about the importance of not daring to spoil Voldemort's toys, and then the chandelier that successfully fell on Bellatrix's head was the courtesy of Snape as well.
Narcissa Malfoy took care of Hermione's wounds, while Snape and Professor McGonagall jointly scolded Ron and Harry for their incredible, simply impenetrable stupidity and short-sightedness. In some incomprehensible way, her life became firmly connected with the Malfoys.
Hermione could feel her husband's presence in the room. She desperately wanted to turn to him, throw herself into his loving arms, and burst into tears: her dream had almost come true! And in the next second, it shattered. She didn't know if she could get pregnant again, especially considering the curse that still hung on her. Hermione gripped the edge of the blanket in her fingers and bit her lip to keep herself from howling in despair. She lost too much blood yesterday, and with the blood, her magical strength left her, leaving her weak and desperate.
"Severus?" she whispered. "Severus, Obliviate me. I know you can do it. I can't close my eyes and see my own helplessness, you know? When I dangled between the haze and reality, I saw him, I saw our son. He looked like a tiny edelweiss flower that escaped my hands every time I tried to touch his. Erase my memory, and then... Do whatever you wish to. I will understand if you want to marry a more worthy witch, than the one who could not even keep her own child safe."
In the next second, her husband's protective embrace was shielding her from the whole world. Severus didn't care about Narcissa's warnings. Severus' healing magic enveloped Hermione, tending to her wounds and infusing her with strength.
"Never. I will never do that, dear heart. What happened is neither your nor my fault. But we will find our enemy and take revenge, I promise. And now go back to sleep, darling. I'm with you."
Narcissa placed a tray of food and potions in front of Hermione, and with a gesture of no objection, told her to start eating. Then she ordered the house-elves to change the bedsheets, put a diagnostic charm on Hermione, smiled with satisfaction, and sank regally into a chair. Comparing to elegant Lady Malfoy, Hermione felt like a drenched and badly beaten garbage rat.
"I have to thank you, Madame Malfoy," Hermione began timidly, spreading jam on her favorite croissants. Narcissa just brushed it off in response.
"That's not why I'm here. And putting aside all the protocols and rules of etiquette, I want to assure you that you do not owe us anything. We helped you and Severus get married, we used Family Magic to help you survive blood loss. In fact, you are now a part of our family. Whether you like it or not, it's not customary among Slytherins to leave their dear ones in trouble."
Noticing Hermione struggling to make sense of what she was hearing, Narcissa let a slight grin touch her lips and continued.
"And yet, I know all too well what you've been through, my girl. Let men be the avenging angels, I want to tell you not to rush to declare yourself a worthless witch and ask Severus for a divorce."
Hermione, completely taken aback, stared at Narcissa. Narcissa made a warning gesture:
"For all that has happened, you do not notice the main thing: you managed to get pregnant. And you would have been able to give birth to an heir if dark magic had not intervened. The curse has fallen, girl. The same dark magic that has been ruining your life for so many years does not threaten you anymore. Therefore, I want you to fight to bravely meet all the troubles that come your way. Remember the virtues for which Gryffindor House is renowned and go ahead. Show the entire Ministry how much they underestimated Severus Snape's wife."
In the late afternoon, in the Malfoys' drawing-room, logs crackled merrily in the fireplace, candles glowed softly, and a tense silence rang out. Narcissa sat across from Severus and patiently waited for her best friend to finish wallowing in his pity party and tell her everything, as he desperately wanted.
Severus sat in an armchair with his head bowed low, fingers running through his matted hair, and mumbled, not particularly addressing anyone.
"I almost lost her, Narssi, you know? What if Lucius hadn't made it in time? These ministry cretins would let her bleed! And the next day, The Daily Prophet would have a field day! Narssi, what would I do if I lost her?"
Before Severus could say too much and mention the Time-Turner, and Hermione overheard this information for she was standing at the entrance of the room, Narcissa got up from her chair and drew Severus closer.
"Nothing would have happened, Sweet Darling, let's not talk about "what have beens" here. As well as about the fact that you should have been wiser to share your power with Hermione. And I warned you about it! You've almost used up your magical reserve! What would have happened then?"
Severus shook his head stubbornly. Narcissa smiled with satisfaction: Reverse psychology worked wonderfully well for young children and desperate best friends. She knew that nothing terrible would have happened to Severus' reserve and that a flash of magic would certainly have brought him out of the depressive stupor in which he had been brooding for several days. Which meant, her inhibition and cunning tactics had borne the expected results: Hermione recovered. Severus stopped brooding and blaming himself for what had happened to his wife.
Narcissa gave Snape a last stroke of the head and left the living room.
"Don't scare me like that anymore."
Hermione met her knowing glance and, walking into the room, settled in the chair next to her husband. He looked at her carefully, noting the subtle changes, the firmness of her gaze, the determination, some new power that sparkled in her already so familiar magic.
"I'll make them all pay back! I will find the one who is to blame for this, and will take revenge on him. I swear on my own magic. I will not obediently shed tears as they sought. And you will help me with this."
Severus nodded, embracing her: that evening, the old Hermione Granger, who sought to do good to everyone, died. And in place of her was born the one whom he called his wife: a force of nature, a liquid flame, a spark ready to kindle a fire, a flash of lightning that prophesied a storm.
That evening, the Gryffindor Lioness went on the warpath to avenge her lost edelweiss, worthy only of the brave and desperate. And the Slytherin Serpent will help her with that.