Disclaimer: It's all JKR's.
A/N: Once again, a very large apology for the tardiness of this chapter. We've been stuck in a writer's block for the past
few days; so if this chapter isn't all it's hoped to be, we apologize for that as well.
The weeks passed by slowly, in a blur to Hermione; who's attempts to avoid Malfoy and keep her husband from murdering him
were for the most part, successful. The Snapes had taken to eating meals in their quarters; much to Severus' liking. He
had never enjoyed dining in the Great Hall, only doing so because of Hermione. He had been overjoyed at her sudden request,
and obliged willingly.
On the rare occasion that she did pass by Malfoy, it was always with a sneer on her face; a self-satisfied smirk on his.
Whenever she was around him she could sense pure evil radiating out of every pale little pore.
Though she had vowed revenge, her brain was so preoccupied with classes and her family that she found herself nearing
Halloween without a plan.
As much as she wanted him out of there; however, she would never sabotage his job. Just make sure he did that on his own.
The evening before Halloween, Hermione and Severus found themselves in a passionate discussion over Albus' sanity.
"What was the old man thinking when he hired that...that...THAT!" Hermione ground out, boiling rage dancing in her darkened
gaze. Severus' own expression was similar, and Hermione noted that he was on his fifth glass of brandy. Taking the glass
from his hand and placing it on the table beside her, she smiled half-heartedly at her husband.
"I'm beginning to think he has lost whatever sanity he had left. Old age must be getting to him." Severus grumbled, pulling
his wife into a warm embrace. All she could do was nod in response.
"He's evil, Severus." she spoke at last, barely a whisper."Malfoy, I mean." Severus hugged her closer, planting a soft kiss
on her head.
"I know."
~*~
The next day during lunch, Hermione and Severus were on their way to Harry and Ginny's quarters to eat with Taryn, when they
heard muffled shouting emanating from Harry's classroom. Curious, the moved closer until they were able to make out who
the owners to each voice was.
One was obviously Harry; the other, much to Hermione's chagrin, was Malfoy's. They swung open the door just in time to see
Malfoy lunge for Harry, who was holding both their wands. As Draco's hand grabbed Harry's wrist, a blood curdling scream
emanated from Harry's thin lips. Malfoy sneered, squeezing tighter, causing smoke to rise from the grip. Hermione
rushed forward, taking hold of Harry's arm and trying to pull it out of Draco's grasp. Unsuccessful, she glanced behind her,
noticing how white her husband's face had turned.
"Severus! Help!" At the sound of his name, Severus seemed to snap out of it; and seeing the plea for help on Hermione's face,
coupled with Harry's screams, charged forward. Just as Hermione was about to give up, she heard a sickening crunch and then
felt the heavy weight of Harry's body slump against her as he cradled his injured wrist with his good arm.
Sitting Harry down in a nearby chair, Hermione turned to where they had been moments ago. Draco was on the ground, groaning
in pain and attempting to stop the rush of blood spewing forth from three different cuts to his face, and his nose as well.
Severus was beside him, rubbing his right fist in an attempt to sooth the slight ache.
Handing Harry his discarded wand, Hermione turned to pick up Draco's. By now, her husband had dragged Draco out into the hall,
and was straightening his robes. Closing and locking the door behind her, Hermione squatted down beside Draco.
"What I wouldn't give to give you a swift kick in the groin right now." she seethed. Attempting to sneer at her, Draco
grimaced in pain instead. Hermione continued. "However, I don't take advantage of the weak and incompetent. Maybe next time
you'll think before injuring my child; and if you don't, you'll find yourself unable to procreate." Standing, she
held Severus back as he tried to kick him. "He's not worth it." she spat, pulling her irritated husband in the direction of
Harry's quarters.
Pausing, she turned around once more and tossed Malfoy's wand at his limp body.
~*~
When the entered the Potter's living room, it was to see Pepper and Taryn playing on the floor, and Ginny tending to Harry's
wrist. Severus moved forward quickly.
"Wait!" he placed a gentle hand on Ginny's, effectively stopping her from bandaging the wrist. "I'd like to see it first."
he explained. Nodding solemnly, Ginny moved out of the way to stand by Hermione who was positioned behind Harry's chair.
Severus carefully lifted Harry's arm, so as to put the least amount of pressure on it as possible. It was definitely burned,
but instead of turning a sick shade of red and pink, it had turned black; steam still rising forth. Severus took out his
wand, and pointing it at the burn, muttered a quick cooling spell; causing Harry to hiss in pain.
When his assessment was done, he muttered another quick charm to coat it in a soothing medicine, before signaling for the bandage.
Ginny quickly passed it over and watched, mesmerized, as Severus quickly and efficiently bandaged her husband's wrist.
"Where did you learn to do that?" she inquired sheepishly.
"I was a mediwizard before I became a Potions Master." he explained. "I'll bring up a few potions after classes are finished.
They should help sooth, as well as heal the burn." he murmured.
"There's something you're leaving out, Severus." Hermione accused quietly. Desolate eyes glanced up behind thick lashes, moving
rapidly amongst the three people before him.
"I've never seen a burn like this before." he admitted quietly. Everyone regarded him, confusion, anxiety and anger
evident on their faces. "I can't tell you what caused it, or even if those potions will work."
"Severus..." Hermione gazed intently at her husband. He frowned apologetically at everyone, before continuing.
"I'm stumped."
A/N: Once again, a very large apology for the tardiness of this chapter. We've been stuck in a writer's block for the past
few days; so if this chapter isn't all it's hoped to be, we apologize for that as well.
The weeks passed by slowly, in a blur to Hermione; who's attempts to avoid Malfoy and keep her husband from murdering him
were for the most part, successful. The Snapes had taken to eating meals in their quarters; much to Severus' liking. He
had never enjoyed dining in the Great Hall, only doing so because of Hermione. He had been overjoyed at her sudden request,
and obliged willingly.
On the rare occasion that she did pass by Malfoy, it was always with a sneer on her face; a self-satisfied smirk on his.
Whenever she was around him she could sense pure evil radiating out of every pale little pore.
Though she had vowed revenge, her brain was so preoccupied with classes and her family that she found herself nearing
Halloween without a plan.
As much as she wanted him out of there; however, she would never sabotage his job. Just make sure he did that on his own.
The evening before Halloween, Hermione and Severus found themselves in a passionate discussion over Albus' sanity.
"What was the old man thinking when he hired that...that...THAT!" Hermione ground out, boiling rage dancing in her darkened
gaze. Severus' own expression was similar, and Hermione noted that he was on his fifth glass of brandy. Taking the glass
from his hand and placing it on the table beside her, she smiled half-heartedly at her husband.
"I'm beginning to think he has lost whatever sanity he had left. Old age must be getting to him." Severus grumbled, pulling
his wife into a warm embrace. All she could do was nod in response.
"He's evil, Severus." she spoke at last, barely a whisper."Malfoy, I mean." Severus hugged her closer, planting a soft kiss
on her head.
"I know."
~*~
The next day during lunch, Hermione and Severus were on their way to Harry and Ginny's quarters to eat with Taryn, when they
heard muffled shouting emanating from Harry's classroom. Curious, the moved closer until they were able to make out who
the owners to each voice was.
One was obviously Harry; the other, much to Hermione's chagrin, was Malfoy's. They swung open the door just in time to see
Malfoy lunge for Harry, who was holding both their wands. As Draco's hand grabbed Harry's wrist, a blood curdling scream
emanated from Harry's thin lips. Malfoy sneered, squeezing tighter, causing smoke to rise from the grip. Hermione
rushed forward, taking hold of Harry's arm and trying to pull it out of Draco's grasp. Unsuccessful, she glanced behind her,
noticing how white her husband's face had turned.
"Severus! Help!" At the sound of his name, Severus seemed to snap out of it; and seeing the plea for help on Hermione's face,
coupled with Harry's screams, charged forward. Just as Hermione was about to give up, she heard a sickening crunch and then
felt the heavy weight of Harry's body slump against her as he cradled his injured wrist with his good arm.
Sitting Harry down in a nearby chair, Hermione turned to where they had been moments ago. Draco was on the ground, groaning
in pain and attempting to stop the rush of blood spewing forth from three different cuts to his face, and his nose as well.
Severus was beside him, rubbing his right fist in an attempt to sooth the slight ache.
Handing Harry his discarded wand, Hermione turned to pick up Draco's. By now, her husband had dragged Draco out into the hall,
and was straightening his robes. Closing and locking the door behind her, Hermione squatted down beside Draco.
"What I wouldn't give to give you a swift kick in the groin right now." she seethed. Attempting to sneer at her, Draco
grimaced in pain instead. Hermione continued. "However, I don't take advantage of the weak and incompetent. Maybe next time
you'll think before injuring my child; and if you don't, you'll find yourself unable to procreate." Standing, she
held Severus back as he tried to kick him. "He's not worth it." she spat, pulling her irritated husband in the direction of
Harry's quarters.
Pausing, she turned around once more and tossed Malfoy's wand at his limp body.
~*~
When the entered the Potter's living room, it was to see Pepper and Taryn playing on the floor, and Ginny tending to Harry's
wrist. Severus moved forward quickly.
"Wait!" he placed a gentle hand on Ginny's, effectively stopping her from bandaging the wrist. "I'd like to see it first."
he explained. Nodding solemnly, Ginny moved out of the way to stand by Hermione who was positioned behind Harry's chair.
Severus carefully lifted Harry's arm, so as to put the least amount of pressure on it as possible. It was definitely burned,
but instead of turning a sick shade of red and pink, it had turned black; steam still rising forth. Severus took out his
wand, and pointing it at the burn, muttered a quick cooling spell; causing Harry to hiss in pain.
When his assessment was done, he muttered another quick charm to coat it in a soothing medicine, before signaling for the bandage.
Ginny quickly passed it over and watched, mesmerized, as Severus quickly and efficiently bandaged her husband's wrist.
"Where did you learn to do that?" she inquired sheepishly.
"I was a mediwizard before I became a Potions Master." he explained. "I'll bring up a few potions after classes are finished.
They should help sooth, as well as heal the burn." he murmured.
"There's something you're leaving out, Severus." Hermione accused quietly. Desolate eyes glanced up behind thick lashes, moving
rapidly amongst the three people before him.
"I've never seen a burn like this before." he admitted quietly. Everyone regarded him, confusion, anxiety and anger
evident on their faces. "I can't tell you what caused it, or even if those potions will work."
"Severus..." Hermione gazed intently at her husband. He frowned apologetically at everyone, before continuing.
"I'm stumped."