But now I'm in demand

Draco heard the distinctive "pop" behind him and sprang to his feet, with his wand drawn. His former head of house assessed him briefly. "Mr. Malfoy," he observed, unconsciously taking on his superior air that was so familiar.

Draco slid into his role as well, "Professor Snape." The two men eyed each other up.

Visions of Draco manhandling Hermione filled his mind. Severus advanced on the younger man. Then the words of Albus Dumbledore pushed the vision away, "Draco has been working on our side since his father's death." He halted, noticing Hermione lying on the table.

Quickly, he ran to her side. He grasped her cold hand in his and smoothed the hair from her forehead, kissing her gently there. Her eyes opened and met his briefly. She smiled slightly and was gone again.

"What happened?" Severus demanded, "Quickly boy, tell me."

"Black was beating her when I arrived. Kicking her mostly. She has bruises about her stomach and ribs. She also had a couple of nasty gashes on her head. She's been losing blood from her mouth and nose. I get it stopped, but it starts again. I'm sure she's bleeding internally."

"Get me some warm water and some towels, so I can clean her up a bit. Hopefully I remember a bit more from my healing arts classes than you do."

Severus removed his cloak and rolled his sleeves up. He looked at her carefully, noting that she now wore Draco's shirt. He lifted an eyelid, relieved to see the pupil of her eye dilate against the light.

He opened the buttons carefully, exposing her naked body to his view. Flashes of pleasure and contentment blew through his mind. He placed his cheek to her bare breast, listening. Her breathing was shallow, but regular. Her heart beat a soft tempo against his temple. Closing his eyes briefly, he reveled in the scent of her. Jerking himself back up, he chastised himself for the moment of weakness.

His hands moved carefully over her body, gently assessing the extent of her injuries. He mentally noted the bruises and swelling. Fury was carefully placed in the back of his mind. He would channel it later. Right now, the most pressing matter lay before him. He continued on, categorizing each area of injury. Now and again she would moan or mumble incoherently as his fingers probed an especially painful area. He took this as a good sign; he had to.

He finished his assessment and grimaced. If he had access to his lab at Hogwarts he could do so much more for her. He smiled briefly at the irony of the situation. "Ah Hermione, hold on tight. It's now time for some foolish wand-waving."

Reaching for his wand, he closed his eyes. With steady hands he began to work on her body.

You're thinking of the way you should have held my hand

Draco returned a short time later with a basin and towels. Stopping dead in his tracks, it seemed he saw his Potions Master for the first time.

Hermione was still unconscious, but a bit of warmth had returned to her skin. Severus Snape sat in the chair next to the table, gazing at her. He held her hand in his, resting it against his cheek. He spoke to her softly, gently, too soft for Draco to make out the words. This was not the hard, cold man most students feared.

Shaking his head briefly, Draco blinked several times, trying to get a grip on what he was seeing. He then looked down, embarrassed, not sure of how to interrupt the scene in front of him.

Luckily for him, he didn't have to. Several pops echoed through the room. Harry, Professor Lupin, Professor McGonagall, and Madame Pomfrey appeared in front of him.

Rushing straight to Hermione, Madam Pomfrey pulled a small box from inside of her robes. She waved her wand over it saying, "Engorgio." The box grew in size. She set on the table and opened it. Inside was a plethora of magical equipment and potions. She immediately began working on the young woman in front of her, listening to Severus fill her in on the injuries she had sustained and what he had done to repair them.

Meanwhile, Minerva, Remus, and Harry filled Draco in on the destruction of Voldemort. Draco assured them that, with the capture of Sirius Black, the Deatheaters were now history. There was no one else. The reign of terror was ended.

"What did Sirius do to Hermione?" Harry asked tentatively. He was not sure he wanted to know the answer, but knew that he had to.

Severus leaned over Hermione, and kissed her on the forehead. He joined the others, needing to hear Draco's recounting.

After a brief history of Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew, Draco began a detailed account of what had transpired the last several weeks. He turned to Severus before continuing, "Professor, you have to know that I had no idea that Black was planning to kidnap Hermione. If I had known, I would have gotten word to the castle."

Severus nodded briefly and motioned for Draco to continue.

I was just coming downstairs when I overheard Black bragging about, please forgive the expression, "snatching the mudblood" right out from under Albus' nose. I knew it had to be Hermione. I ran up to the owlery and sent a message to Hogwarts immediately, then returned downstairs. When I entered the room, Black was kicking and stomping all over her. Before I could intervene Vold……"

Severus didn't need to hear any more. He had heard and seen enough. Overcome with rage, he stalked over to where Sirius Black still lay stunned. "Finite Incantatum," he spat, tossed his wand aside, and was upon the man in a flash. "This time, no one will save your sorry ass. By the Gods, I will kill you." Driven by pure hatred he began systematically beating Sirius into a bloody pulp.

No one made a move to stop him.

Soon Sirius Black was making no sound, aside from a wheezing sound, which escaped from the side of his chest. The wet sound of flesh meeting broken, bleeding flesh was deafening. Still the Potions Master continued his assault.

Suddenly, someone grabbed his arm. He threw the beaten man to the floor and spun around, ready to shove himself free to finish what he had started. Through the angry red haze that was clouding his vision, he saw Hermione held his arm.

"Enough Severus."

He looked at her standing before him. Instantly, The fury was gone. Physically and mentally spent, he dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around her waist. Burying his face in Draco Malfoy's blue shirt, Severus Snape cried.

Minerva spoke quietly. "Remus, Harry, get Mr. Black out of here while he still lives. Poppy, please make sure he stays alive until he can be sent to Azkaban. Draco, show me to the owlery, I need to send word to Albus that things are secure here."

And all the times you said you didn't understand

Hermione stood in the middle of the Malfoy dining room with the Potions Master at her feet. Carefully, Severus gained control of the emotions that were raging through him. He lifted his head and looked up at her. He realized that her skin was a ghastly gray color, and she was trembling with the effort of staying on her feet. He arose quickly and swept her into his arms.

Severus grabbed his discarded cloak and wrapped her in it. He crossed to a chair and sat down, cradling her in his arms. Neither said a word. He didn't know how to begin to use the words that were completely foreign to him. She was none the worse for the lack of those words. She knew the rules of their relationship. No flowery proclamations of love. She just took what she could get and was content. She had to be.

Quietly, Minerva entered the room and touched Severus lightly on the shoulder. She smiled when he didn't flinch. "We're ready for the return trip when you are. We'll apparate from the lawn to the oak. Hermione, are you up to the trip, dear?"

"I think so, but I don't think I can apparate alone. I'm not quite steady enough."

"Oh Hermione, you don't have to go it alone. I have you." He stiffened at the sound of his words. Such sentiment was sounded so unfamiliar, so weak. Severus rose to his feet and walked from the room, still holding her close. "Never alone."

Minerva had seen many surprising things the last few weeks where Severus Snape was concerned. But, the sight of him on his knees before the former Gryffindor Head Girl, well that was one she surely would never forget. It still astonished her the changes in him. But, he still had a long way to go. She smiled sadly and shook her head. With a last, long look at the blood on the floor, she left the room to join the others on the lawn.

With a "pop" they were gone.