Disclaimer: See chapter One.

Author's Note:

When The War Is Over - is a song sung by John Farnham. Les Liaisons Dangereuses - was a stage play Alan Rickman was in.

Unexpected Emotions

Chapter Two - Friends Forever

Hermione grabbed two pieces of toast and a cup of coffee; she quickly downed them on her way to Snape's office.

She walked in the office and looked around the room, it was well organized as ever and she found the stack of notes neatly piled in the centre of the desk. "So predictable Severus." She sighed.

Holding the notes to her chest as though they were her lifeline, she made her way to Snape's bedside. On arrival she saw Dumbledore slumped in the chair asleep muttering about his last encounter with Bertie Botts every flavor beans. She stifled a giggle, and gently woke the aged man. "My turn Albus. Was there any change?"

Dumbledore's eyes said it all. 'No my dear. Ah I see you have some reading to do."

Hermione gave a small smile, "I thought reading him, his notes would help him to come back."

"Hermione, school starts in less than a week, and I don't think Severus will be up to teaching then, could you take his classes, just until he is able."

"I'd say I'd be delighted under different circumstances, but yes, I will take Severus' classes for him."

"Thank you my dear. I will be back later; unfortunately Cornelius Fudge needs my assistance again. Remind me to take a holiday as soon as he retires at the end of the year."

"I will Albus,"

Hermione turned back to Snape; she watched his chest rise and fall. 'At least he is still breathing with out assistance.' Taking a seat she laid the papers on her lap and sighed loudly, "Well Severus, let's see if you can wake up. I should take points away from Slytherin for your stubbornness."

She read the notes aloud, and found herself engrossed in the latest research on the wolfsbane potion. Hermione reached the end of the page and looked up at Severus checking for a sign of change. "Severus, you are so close to the cure, you have to wake up. I promise if you wake I'll help you, I'll leave you alone, and I'll do anything you ask of me, just wake up so you can complete the cure." Hermione's thoughts went to Remus Lupin. Lupin had enjoyed teaching at Hogwarts, but had left when the school had discovered he was a werewolf, with little thanks from Snape spilling the beans. "If we found the cure Remus could teach again." She whispered.

"And Remus would love to."

The voice startled her. "Harry!" she hugged her friend fiercely.

"How is the greasy git?" Harry gave a nod in Snape's direction.

"Still no change. I do hope he will wake up. I'm dreading teaching the first years. They're so full of bravado, they think they are invincible. It was always Severus who made them realize their mortality."

"He also made them realize that he was the nastiest person in the world, second to Voldermort."

"He was never that bad Harry. The Malfoy's were on Voldermort's heels for that title."

"True, but that didn't mean that Snape had reason for making life unbearable for us while we were at school. Anyway, how are you holding up? You look like you could use a strong cup of coffee."

"That would be wonderful Harry. I got very little sleep last night."

"Sure Hermione, I'll be right back." Harry left then returned minutes later with two cups of coffee. "Look who I found out in the hall."

"Ron!" Hermione hugged him so hard that he couldn't breathe.

"Mione, I don't want cracked ribs,"

"Sorry Ron," Hermione's face flushed. "I haven't seen you since."

"Yeah." Filled in Ron. Hermione and Ron had broken up two weeks before the war ended. They had parted on mutual terms, but the heavy silence still remained.

Hermione took the cup of coffee from Harry and settled back in to the chair.

"Hey 'Mione, Albus told me that your going to have to take the potions class if the git doesn't wake up." Ron grinned at the thought.

"I know, I hate to think what it's going to be like. Severus has only ever missed one class in all his years here at Hogwarts."

"Yeah and I'll never forget it either." Ron recalled the day that Snape had missed class. He had later been found, by Harry in the hospital wing. Snape had been there since Neville had melted another cauldron in detention the night before. Poor Snape was covered head to toe in boils.

Of course Harry had informed Ron and Hermione. And the trio had gone up to get a look at the potions professor under the invisibility cloak. Ron and Harry had gone to laugh, and Hermione had gone to deliver a present.

The two boys had mocked her for it. But she didn't care; she had felt compassion for Snape's dilemma.