Understanding
A/N – Oh my God I really can't believe I'm on the tenth chapter! I know that's not a lot really, but it's still surprising! Anyway, you really don't want to know my opinion on how many chapters I've done so far, so on with the story!
This chapter is back to Hermione's point of view. Please let me know whether you liked the other point of view better, so I can experiment if you want. Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 10! – Too Close for Comfort
This time, I didn't really care about being left alone in the building, even though a raging storm was practically rocking the whole room. Maybe I should have been acting like a real girly girl, like Lavender Brown for example, and fretting about the fact that Severus had just flown out on me. But I was on an amazing high after that kiss, and I couldn't even begin to explain my reasons why. Well, I could begin with his wonderfully deep voice, and the fact that it gives me tingles all over my body like no one ever had before. I knew that he was Snape, the greasy bat, but somehow it just didn't matter. Deep down though, I knew that it was more than just skin deep. I would really miss this easy rhythm we'd built up between us if it were taken away now. What had seemed at first to be a partnership made in hell had somehow turned out to be better than I ever could have bargained for. Then again, I supposed that I had the Department of Mysteries to thank for that.
I didn't know where he had gone, but I supposed a check out of the Riddle House was most likely. The storm wouldn't be dangerous for him as an eagle, I was pretty sure of that, and besides, he was a grown man and could look after himself. I didn't want to spoil what had just happened by worrying, so I transformed into my animagus form on the sofa and curled up in a corner, to wait until he got back, when I would confront him. As a cat, I fell asleep quickly, despite the loud thunder cracks every minute or so. I've no idea how long I slept for, but I was awaken with a bang what must have been some time later, as the storm had eased off considerably by then. Severus had suddenly slammed against the floor just in front of me, face down and what I recognised as his Death Eater mask hanging limply around his neck. I leapt up, meaning to jump across him then transform back to human state, but in my worry I miscalculated and landed with a loud thump on his back, before I gathered myself off him.
He didn't appear to be moving. In fact he was stone cold, I noted as I flipped him over onto his back. To my intense relief, he had a fairly strong, if erratic pulse, and he was definitely breathing. He was out cold though, cold being the operative word. I quickly grabbed my wand from the table and cast a warming charm around him, untangling the ugly mask from his hair and laying it aside. He was deathly pale, and his skin was icy cold, I noticed as I stroked his cheek softly. I needed to know what had happened, before I could do anything more for him. I sat on the floor beside him, cradling his head in my lap as I thought things over. He'd obviously been called to a Death Eater meeting while he'd been gone. But what could have caused this cold. He didn't appear to have any superficial injuries, from what I could see, except for a thin trail of blood coming from his nose, which I guessed was from hitting the floor with such force. I supposed that chocolate would help the chill, after all, for all I knew it could have been caused by Dementors. But how could I give chocolate to an unconscious man?
After a while of worrying and waiting, my problem was solved for me as Severus thankfully began to stir. He opened his eyes slightly, looked right into mine, then shut them again.
'Severus? What happened?' I asked softly.
'Voldemort.' He whispered hoarsely. 'Dementors….on his side.' He took a deep breath and opened his eyes again, looking into mine. Then he seemed to suddenly remember something. 'He knows…..traitor……Black…was there…….Avada Kedavra…..just missed.' He closed his eyes again, now breathing harshly. There had been dementors. He needed some chocolate to warm him up, but where was there chocolate? Severus seemed to be reading my mind, and he spoke, even hoarser than before.
'Storeroom.'
Surprised, I flicked my wand in the direction of the storeroom, shouting 'Accio chocolate!' Seconds later a massive block of chocolate floated swiftly across the room to me. I broke a piece off and held it to his mouth. He ate it very quickly, and to my relief he seemed to recover slightly, enough to take the chocolate from me and eat more himself. I sat in silence and watched, grateful that he was okay, but still not understanding really what had gone on.
'What did you say about Sirius? Is he okay?' I asked when he was able to sit up against the sofa.
'Black was there. As a dog, I mean. I set him free. I just had to. Voldemort cast Avada Kedavra as I was apparating. I think it caught my aura.'
'Why?'
'He found out about me spying. He didn't know who it was, or he said he didn't anyway. He'd captured Black as a dog, but he knew who he was.'
'But you saved him?'
'Yes, I couldn't have dealt with Albus and Potter breathing down my neck if I'd killed him, could I?' He turned and grinned at me, and then I knew he was truly alright. I smiled broadly back at him, and rested my head on his shoulder.
'I'm so glad you're safe.' I said quietly.
'It's a good thing you were here, Hermione.'
'Thank you. Do you think Sirius will be okay?'
'I've no idea. He ran off, quick as lightning. They wouldn't be able to catch a dog, would they?'
'I suppose not. How do you think they got him in the first place?'
'I don't know, Black was probably trying to take him on himself in some sort of heroic, Gryffindor type way. Nearly got himself killed, if it hadn't been for me.' I looked up at him. He had a stupid smirk on his face, he had obviously had far too much chocolate.
'You should be resting, Severus, not coming up with ridiculously courageous stories to tell everyone about how you saved Sirius Black. I know you. That wasn't why you did it, was it? It would certainly have been easier to kill him, wouldn't it? But you didn't, and that really makes a difference. You risked your own life for him, didn't you?'
'He's more important than me, to the light. There's not much I can do now, with you here capable of taking over from me. Especially now, I won't even be able to spy any more, will I?'
'Hey, don't talk like that. With a bit of luck, you wouldn't have needed to spy anyway, after we give this potion and end this ridiculous charade once and for all. You certainly did the right thing, especially since you're okay.'
'You're right. Look what typically Gryffindor rubbish you've all been fed by Albus all these years! I'm even starting to think like it now, always wanting to do the right thing!'
'Ah, come on, you know you always wanted to be a Gryffindor, really.' I smiled. He arched his eyebrow at me, and we both started to laugh quietly. I eventually convinced him to lie down on the sofa, and he went to sleep quickly, exhausted. I sat by him for an hour or so, then went back to my own room for a bath. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep, feeling as I did, so I planned to stay up to wait until the next potion ingredient needed to be added, in a few hours.
I lay relaxing in a hot bath, thinking that it seemed an age since that morning, when Dobby had first told me that things were going from bad to worse in the wizarding world, and that Harry suspected that Sirius was missing. I hoped so much that Sirius was safe, for Harry's sake. He had no family who cared about him, after all, apart from Sirius, and when and if this was all done and dusted, after this potion was complete, surely if our side won, Sirius' name would be cleared. Dumbledore would surely vouch for him, as would Severus, Harry, myself and numerous others. Especially if Peter Pettigrew was captured alive. That was, if Sirius was alive, even now.
But now, Severus had said that Voldemort had the Dementors on his side. That would surely mean that Azkaban had been opened. The Ministry of Magic surely wouldn't be able to deny Voldemort's existence now. It made me feel sick to think of the Dementors now doing Voldemort's bidding. They could and probably would be roaming the streets freely, sucking the souls out of people left, right and centre. This was truly awful. We needed to finish this potion, and get going. As I was relaxing and thinking things over, I remembered that Severus would not be able to deliver the potion to Voldemort now, at least not in human form. We hadn't actually discussed this, but I had assumed that he would be the one to deliver it, and now he wouldn't be able to.
But, I couldn't transform into an invisible cat at will for nothing. I laughed out loud. It was obvious, I decided, that I should take it. Even if I were found, I was just a stupid mudblood witch, to Voldemort. He wouldn't exactly see me as a threat. He certainly wouldn't suspect me of feeding him a potential magical power destroying potion, that was for sure.
After my bath, I got dressed in my night clothes and went to sit by Severus and read a book, whilst watching the potion. He was still sleeping peacefully on the sofa, his breathing heavy. I sat down next him and minutes later I was dropping off myself.
The room was just starting to brighten when I awoke. Severus was still asleep, his hand dangling on the floor. I stood up and stretched, and that was when I heard it. A faint scratching sound, coming from maybe downstairs, I couldn't really tell. I stood still, straining my ears to hear the noise. It was a definite scratching, not like a tree on a window, although there were no trees around anyway. I tiptoed out of the room and down the stairs. The noise grew louder, it appeared to be coming from the front door, which I had never used. I drew my wand from up my sleeve for safety, and drew back to huge steel bolt on the inside of the large wooden door. The noise was now accompanied by a low growling noise, but somehow I wasn't scared now, I knew who was there and I only felt relief as I dragged back the heavy door and the emaciated form of Sirius Black, the dog, tumbled on to the carpet before me, looking very much the worse for wear, but thankfully alive.
A/N – I'm very sorry that this is quite short, again, but I wanted to leave this chapter there. I hope you can all forgive me, but at least I have got this chapter up only three days after the last! You see, the overwhelming response of reviews that my threat of vomit flavoured beans caused has made my hands free for a while, because all you lovely reviewers have been borrowing Severus frequently, so I've had time to update. So, if you all review this chapter, then I'll have lots of free time to post the next chapter as well. So basically, review, now, lots, every chapter, or you will get vomit, earwax and charcoal(!?) flavoured Bertie Botts every flavour beans. They mean every flavour!
So, here comes the hall of fame: thanks to Ponine, Bex, kittykat52788, in-snapes-cauldron, DragonFireAngelVWP, snapesophelia, StarGazr, and LunaWriter for reviewing, you can all borrow Severus for a few hours or so for your troubles.
DragonFireAngelVWP – I promise next chapter will be longer! I agree that there is no point in sending flames, and they are stupid, but luckily no one has flamed this story. If they did I would post a message here to tell them to go away! Thanx for your extra long review! Keep it up please!
Kittykat52788 – I know Severus probably isn't registered as an animagus, but Hermione isn't either. Neither of them registered because the DoM knows they can do it, and they can do more undercover work if they're not registered in public. Hope this answers your question, thanks for asking!
Less than two months till Order of the Phoenix is published! I can't wait!
Next chapter, we will see the return of Harry, along with some others. Should be up at the weekend. Thank you for reading. Please review!