Chapter 8

"Here you are, professor," a voice announced from outside the curtains.

Severus sat up in bed and watched as a short girl with blond, bobbed hair and Hogwarts School robes parted the curtains with a tray held in front of her. She timidly approached the bed and placed the tray on the bedside table, her hands shaking as the tray hit the table. Coffee sloshed over the side of the cup and pooled around the base of the mug.

"Careful you foolish girl!" Severus snapped, making the girl flinch back, her cheeks white with shock.

"I, I'm sorry," she stammered, taking another step back from the bed.

"Don't offer your apologies!" he exclaimed, picking up a piece of the toast. "If you would just be less careless you wouldn't have to worry about it!"

She simply stood there, staring at him with wide blue eyes, wringing her hands in front of her.

"Well, what are you still doing here?" he bellowed, waving the piece of toast irritably at her. "Please leave me in peace!"

She turned on her heel and flew out of the room, curtains waving dangerously as she left the enclosure.

"Stupid girl," Severus muttered, taking a bite of the toast and savoring the flavor in his long-deprived mouth.

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Hermione looked up from her desk as an ashen-faced Jennifer Wilson flew past the door and out into the hall.

"What in the world?" she asked, standing up and racing after the girl. She caught up with her just down the hall.

"Jennifer!" Hermione called, skidding to a halt in front of the girl. "What's wrong?"

Jennifer turned her face up to Hermione's, eyes wide, lower lip trembling slightly. She gulped a few times before finding her voice.

"P...P...Professor Snape," she stuttered, twisting the fabric of her robes in front of her.

"What about Professor Snape?" Hermione demanded, narrowing her eyes.

"He yelled at me because I accidentally spilled some of his coffee," Jennifer replied. "I know I shouldn't let it bother me, but,"

"But nothing!" Hermione exclaimed, reaching over to put an arm around the girl's slender shoulders. "Don't you worry about him." She steered the girl toward the stairs and stopped at the edge. "Go on now. I'll take care of him."

Jennifer smiled gratefully at Hermione, then started down the stairs, chin held just a little higher.

"Oh yes, I'll take care of him," Hermione muttered, turning on her heel and marching back to the hospital wing.

She threw the door open, then yanked open the curtains around his bed. His head snapped up in surprise, then he flinched back at the blatant fury on her face.

"Who do you think you are?" Hermione hissed, coming over to stand right next to the bed. "What gives you the right to treat one of your students like that?" Her face was inches from his now, her hands planted firmly on the mattress. "That poor girl was shaking like a leaf when she came out of here. What made you so angry that you had to do that to her?"

He glared back at her, dark eyes glinting dangerously.

"That girl has got to learn how to handle pressure," he answered, sitting back up, and forcing her to back away from the bed. "She spilled my coffee all over the tray, then didn't even try to clean it up. She simply looked at me as if asking if everything would be okay." He smirked up at her, a small laugh escaping his throat. "Gryffindors have such high opinions of themselves, they believe they don't have to atone for their mistakes. Typical."

Hermione spun on her heel and started to leave when his hand shot out and grabbed her around the wrist. She gasped in pain. His fingers were digging into her skin horribly. He forced her to turn and look at him. His jaw was clenched and his eyes were narrowed dangerously at her.

"There is a war coming, Hermione," he whispered, pulling her a step closer to the bed. "These students must learn to deal with pressure and ridicule in order to be strong enough to defeat Voldemort." His grip loosened slightly, allowing the blood to flow into her hand again. "There is no room for weakness now. We must make them strong!" He released his hold on her, then sat back in the bed and closed his eyes.

Hermione was silent for a moment, rubbing her wrist where his fingers had left deep red marks.

"You're right," she said, reaching out to take his hand. "I'm sorry. There is no room for weakness if we're going to defeat Voldemort."

He opened his eyes, then looked down at their entwined fingers and sighed.

"I don't like being so harsh, Hermione," he said, placing his other hand on top of hers. "But in times like these it is a necessary evil." He looked back up at her, then reached a hand out to stroke the soft skin of her cheek lightly with the back of his hand. "If only we could all simply live our lives without worry. Just read poetry, eat wonderful food, drink wine, learn" he paused and ran his thumb over her lower lip. "Love."

She felt her cheeks redden at his words. She tried to speak but found that her voice had left her. She was lost in the indescribable depths of his eyes, unable to tear herself away. It was as if an invisible hand were pushing the two closer and closer together. Brown eyes locked onto black, sparks almost dancing between the two, they moved closer. Their lips were inches apart when the door to the hospital wing crashed open. Hermione jumped back guiltily, cheeks flaming.

"Miss Granger!" a small voice was calling.

Hermione stared at Severus for a moment, eyes wide with wonder, then turned and flew out to the main area of the hospital wing where a small boy was holding onto his arm in pain, tears leaking down his cheeks.

"What happened?" Hermione asked, rushing over to the boy.

"We were joking around in our dorm room," the boy's friend said. "We were shoving eachother around when he fell off of his bed and landed on his wrist and sort of cried out."

Hermione pulled the little boy's hand out in front of her, noting the damage. The wrist was swollen to the size of an orange, black and blue already starting to come out on his skin. She led him over to one of the beds, then helped him up onto it.

"What's your name?" she asked, taking out her wand and running it over his wrist. It pulsed deep blue once.

"Aaron," he answered, hiccuping as he talked. "Aaron Renaldi."

"What house and year are you, Aaron?" she asked, holding her wand over the break and muttering the words to heal it. He gasped as the bone slipped back into place.

"Hufflepuff, first year," he replied, staring at her with wide eyes. "How did you do that?"

Hermione grinned at him.

"Magic," she replied, winking at him. "You stay right there and don't move that wrist."

She bustled away, then came back with a bowl full of the same white cream she had used on Severus and some bandages.

"Hold still, now," she instructed, rubbing liberal amounts of the cream over his wrist and hand. She wrapped the wrist with the bandages, sealed them closed with a spell, then sat on the bed opposite him. "Better?"

He smiled at her and bobbed his head, a lock of his blond hair falling over his eyes as he did so. He was such a cute, tiny boy, Hermione couldn't help loving him.

"Now, take this potion," she said, handing him a small bottle with a light orange liquid inside. He stared at her.

"Now?" he asked, raising both of his eyebrows.

"Now."

He pulled out the stopper with his good hand, tilted his head back, and swallowed the whole bottle down in one gulp. He sputtered and coughed, eyes watering horribly.

"That was awful!" he exclaimed, handing the bottle back to her. "What was that?"

"Just a pain relief potion," Hermione answered, slipping the bottle into a pocket of her robes. "You'll be making that this year in Potions class."

He scowled at her darkly.

"I don't even want to think about Potions class," he muttered, looking down at the ground.

"Why not?" Hermione asked, coming over to sit down next to him. "Not your favorite subject, I take it."

He scowled up at her then sighed dramatically.

"No. It's definitely NOT my favorite subject," he said, picking at a spot on the bedspread. "Professor Snape scares me."

Hermione couldn't help but smile at that. He had once terrified her as well.

"Don't let him scare you," Hermione began, putting her arm comfortingly around his shoulders. "He may be a bit intimidating, but he is, without a doubt, the best teacher Hogwarts has." He looked up at her skeptically. "I know what you're thinking. I must be crazy." He laughed lightly at that. "But think for a moment. Have you ever forgotten something he has taught you in one of your classes?"

He looked off into space for a moment, then shook his head no.

"Don't you always try your hardest in his classes?"

"Yes," he answered, his brow furrowing. "He expects that from us."

"Exactly!" Hermione exclaimed, giving him a light squeeze. "He gets you to work hard where otherwise you might just be happy to squeak by." She looked into his eyes and gave him a little shake. "THAT is what makes a teacher great. One who is able to get the best out of his students."

He smiled widely at her, then stood up.

"Thank you, Miss Granger," he said, grinning cheekily up at her. "I'll remember that."

"Take care of that wrist, Aaron!" she called, watching him join his friend and exit the hospital wing. She smiled at the closed door a moment longer, then stood to go to her office and fill out the appropriate paperwork. It didn't matter that she used magic to heal. She still had to fill out the bloody paperwork! That was the only part of her job she didn't like.

She picked up the bowl, then made her way to her office, passing by Snape's bed on her way.

"Hermione," he called, stopping her in her tracks.

She turned and peered into the curtained-off area at him. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, legs dangling onto the floor, a strange look on his face.

"Yes?" she asked, taking a step closer to him.

"I didn't know you felt that way about my teaching," he said, holding her with his piercing gaze. "I always assumed that my colleagues felt I was too harsh with the students."

"Severus," Hermione began, shaking her head. "I meant what I said to Aaron out there. You are a great teacher." She set the bowl down on a small table and took a few steps into the enclosure. "You are great because you earn the students' respect."

He snorted lightly then said, "The students don't respect me, Hermione. They fear me."

She smiled at him.

"True," she said, chuckling lightly. "Some of them do fear you. But if you were to pull back a few of those layers, you would most definitely find that they hold great respect for you." She strode toward him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "I always respected you." She gave him a light squeeze. "I still do."

He looked up at her and, for the first time in days, smiled. He smiled a real, true, brighter-than-the-sun smile. And it was all for Hermione. She felt herself going weak as he looked at her and involuntarily squeezed his shoulder tighter to keep from tumbling right to the floor. They stayed like that for several moments, Severus smiling up at Hermione, and Hermione smiling down at him. She finally broke the silence.

"Well, I have some paperwork to fill out."

She took a step back and picked the bowl up off of the table.

"How are you feeling right now?" she asked, turning back to him.

He settled back onto the bed and leaned his head back on the pillows.

"I'm fine," he answered, closing his eyes. "Just tired."

"Alright," she said, smiling at the serene look on his face. "You just stay here tonight and tomorrow you can go back to your rooms, okay?"

"Okay."

She turned to leave when his voice stopped her.

"Thank you, Hermione," he whispered, "for everything."

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Dear Harry,

How are you and Ginny? Is Lily still driving you mad on that broomstick you bought her for her birthday? You know Harry, I don't have to say I told you so! That little girl is just like you when it comes to Quidditch. I miss her terribly!

Well, I hate to break it to you Harry, but you have some competition here for best Seeker Gryffindor has ever had. Jennifer Wilson, a sixth year, is probably the best Seeker I've seen in a long time. She also helps me in the hospital wing after classes a few nights a week. I absolutely adore her and she talks about you all the time! She can't believe that I'm best friends with the "Famous Harry Potter." And, believe it or not, she isn't referring to you know who. She doesn't even blink when Voldemort is mentioned! No, she would be referring to the handsome, charming Seeker for the Chudley Cannons. Now, don't tell anyone, but she keeps a picture of you in her pocket at all times! It's absolutely adorable! So, getting to the point of this whole letter, it would be so wonderful if you could come up here for a visit. You could visit with me and Remus, and make Jennifer's dream come true! She is just dying to meet you! You could even give her a few pointers. So, what do you say? Owl me back with your answer.

Give Ginny and Lily big hugs for me!

Love,

Hermione

Hermione rolled the piece of parchment, pressed hot wax to seal it, then pressed her very own seal into the wax. The seal pressed an image of a dragon into each letter she sent. People always wondered why, of all things, Hermione Granger had chosen a dragon for her personal seal. She didn't feel the need to explain. Dragons were, to her, quite simply, the most magnificent creatures in existence. They were fierce, majestic, and everything that she fancied herself to be in her mind. They embodied everything she tried to be.

"Off you go, now," she murmurred to the brown owl perched on the arm of her chair. She sent it off with a slight shove, then sat back and stared out the window.

Severus instantly came to her mind. His first summoning had come and gone, and things seemed to have gone well. True, she could never erase the pain dwelling in her heart from seeing him crumpled on the ground, but she also felt that much stronger because of the ordeal. She smiled widely to herself. She would be able to handle it. No matter what happened, she would be able to take care of him. Not just because it was her job, but because she couldn't bear to lose him. He was quickly becoming her best friend, and more. She loved him. She knew, deep in her very soul, that she loved him and needed him in her life more than anything else.

He occupied her thoughts from the moment she woke up in the morning to the second she slipped off to sleep. Well, that wasn't entirely true. He occupied her dreams, as well. Hermione had always had very vivid dreams, but they never consisted of the same person night after night. But Severus was in her dreams every single night. Sometimes just a glimpse of sparkling black eyes, other times very intimate dreams with her in his strong arms being showered with kisses and caresses. She blushed as the previous night's dream came to mind. She and Severus had been in a beautiful garden, roses blooming at every turn, fountains bubbling out crystal clear water, and lovely statues peering at them with wide, unseeing eyes. They were dancing slowly in each other's arms, tongues moving together searchingly, hands exploring skin and cloth with no sign of stopping. The dream had gone on and on like that, Hermione feeling as if she were suffocating in pleasure as she slept. She had finally woken up only because Crookshanks pounced on her chest, rousing her out of her fitful dreaming.

"Thank God for him," Hermione muttered to herself, absently reaching out to stroke the cat's ginger fur. She wasn't sure she would have survived much more of that dream.

She shook her head, clearing her muddled brain of the thoughts that had been racing through it for the last hour, then stood and reached her arms up above her head, stretching her aching back muscles leisurely. She glanced over at the clock on the wall. It was 4:30pm. A nice brisk walk was what she needed right now, and there was plenty of time before dinner to do so. She stretched her arms up one last time, then headed out of the hospital wing and down the stairs to the entrance hall.

"Where are you headed, Hermione?" Madam Hooch asked, stepping out of a door along the side wall, broomstick slung over her shoulder.

Hermione smiled kindly at the yellow-eyed witch.

"Just out for a walk," she answered, nodding her head toward the entrance doors. "I need to get out for awhile."

"Yes, I suppose you probably could use a little time out of the hospital wing," she said, taking a few steps toward Hermione. She reached out and squeezed Hermione's arm, a sympathetic smile on her face. "We all appreciate what you did for Severus," she said quietly to Hermione. "He's very important to all of us."

"Thank you," Hermione said, nodding. "He's important to me, too."

Madam Hooch smiled, a very forced smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Yes," she said, stepping back, her smile thinning on her face. "I suppose he is. Good day."

With that, she turned and strode away in the opposite direction, black robes flying out behind her, booted feet clicking loudly on the marble floor. Hermione stared after her for a moment, a thousand different things running through her mind from what Madam Hooch had just said. Was she being sincere? Or, heaven forbid, did she have a thing for Severus as well? Hermione shook her head, shrugged her shoulders, then turned and pulled open the door to the outside.

She immediately felt more clear-headed as the sharp September wind blew into her face, whipping her hair up around her neck and into her face. The leaves were almost completely off of all the trees now, and her feet crunched with every step she took across the grounds. She wasn't sure where she intended to go, but almost before she knew it, she was standing before Hagrid's hut. A pang of nostalgia shot through her as she stood staring at a place where she had spent so much of her childhood. Almost immediately snatches of conversations and events that had taken place here were rocketing through her mind. Saturday afternoon teas and lunches, heated arguments over ridiculous things such as broomstick models and exam results, fun-filled evenings of wizarding chess and Exploding Snap, all made their way into her mind as she stood staring at the old hut.

She wasn't sure if he would be there, but decided to take her chances and knocked loudly on the door. Loud, booming barks answered her knock, then she heard heavy footsteps coming toward the door. She took a step back, suddenly thrilled at the prospect of seeing Hagrid for the first time since she had been back. She wasn't sure how she hadn't made it down here earlier, but she intended to change that right now. The door slowly swung open, creaking loudly on the hinges. A large, hairy head peeked around the door, dark eyes opening wide at the sight of the woman standing alone on the doorstep.

"Hermione?"