Beth Ann - A big thank you to you for your supportive comments.
Marston Chicklet - I imagined it to be shampoo with 'Extra Grease Remover!' g
dangermouse, Goddess-Isis-112, Mara456, RoseFyre, Zoe - Thanks!
gorgegirl - Don't worry, I won't!
snapefan51, Tegan - You'll see.
Terentia - Hmm.a flame.well, if you're going to make comments like that on every fic written by people where Snape shows some happiness you're going to be occupied for a while.
A/N: Well, CoS finally opens this Thursday here in New Zealand and I'm going this Saturday (rubs hands in gleeful anticipation).
Part 18
Severus moved swiftly to Hermione's side; reaching out with his senses to her in alarm as he kneeled down beside her. She was alive he realised with relief, just concussed from the fall. But why had she fallen in the first place - had it been because she was tired and as a result stumbling on a step? She had been quite weary after all. He cursed himself for not having enough torchlight available - had he brought this upon himself?
Hermione would no doubt have a splitting headache when she awakened, but for now the best place for her was in the hospital wing. He carefully lifted the comatose Gryffindor in his arms to take her to Madam Pomfrey's, though when he walked up the stairs he didn't quite expect to be greeted by Remus and Potter, who were staring at him and Hermione warily, wands at their side....and Sirius, a grim look on his face with his wand pointed straight at Severus. What in Merlin's name?.....
"What did you do to her, Snape?" Sirius growled at Severus.
His temper rising, Severus looked back at Sirius with narrowed eyes. "I hope you're not implying that I was responsible for Miss Granger's current state. Because if you did..then I would be watching my step," he hissed.
"I'm not implying anything; I'm damn well saying it!" Sirius snarled.
The atmosphere grew oppressive, and to defuse it Harry stepped forward, swallowing as he did so.
Before, looking at Professor Snape carrying an unconscious Hermione up the stairs in his arms, looking like a fallen angel risen from some unholy pit, his thin mouth tight and his eyes a chilly black, it would be easy for a casual onlooker to assume that Professor Snape was in some way responsible. Indeed, the thought had immediately jumped into his mind. Certainly Sirius was thinking that way - but Harry was starting to wish he hadn't told his godfather what was going on.
Looking at Professor Snape and seeing an expression briefly flashing through his dark eyes, the years flashed back in Harry's mind. He was alone in his living room, scrubbing out the fireplace, his young body already grimly accustomed to infrequent meals. A sudden breeze blowing through an open window had caused a fragile ornament to teeter, then fall over and shatter.
Not surprisingly Aunt Petunia had quickly rushed in, her sharp face already set into an expression of wrath, his uncle and cousin following on her heels like predators aware of spilt blood nearby. Despite his protestations of innocence, Harry had been blamed for the accident (and subsequently confined to his cupboard room for days) because in their eyes it was something he would do, that they automatically believed the worse of him.
Harry had had the feeling of being backed into a corner, with the grim awareness of feeling that no one was on his side. No one to help, not now and not anytime soon. A similar awareness he had seen in Professor Snape's eyes.
Seeing how protectively the professor was carrying Hermione, it came to Harry that unbelievably, he did love Hermione - that if he hadn't at Christmas time, then he did now.
Now, seeing Hermione unconscious and with a smear of blood on her forehead, Harry asked Professor Snape urgently, "Professor, what happened? Is Hermione all right?"
With effort Professor Snape turned his hostile dark eyes away from Sirius. How dare Sirius practically accuse him of pushing Hermione down the stairs? He stared at Harry for a long moment, as if he was something that might need squashing if he proved to be a threat. But then in a curt voice the professor said, "I found her at the foot of my steps, Potter - not through any of my doing, thank you! Whether it was an accident or not I had no idea. But if the lot of you would Get.Out.Of.My.Way I can take her to Madam Pomfrey as soon as possible."
But Sirius wasn't finished. "And what was she doing in this part of Hogwarts at this time of night in the first place, eh Snape? You just couldn't wait to get your hands on her again, could you?" Sirius breathed.
Professor Snape's eyes whipped back to Sirius in renewed fury. If looks could kill then Sirius would have been a corpse at that moment. "How dare you talk to me like that!" Severus snapped.
[He knows!] Severus realised. They all did, that he and Hermione were seeing each other. Of course, this meant that Sirius had to come charging down here like some goddamned knight in shining armour, Potter and Remus in tow to 'rescue' Hermione from his supposedly evil clutches. But how had they known?
Suspicious, Severus flicked his eyes quickly back to Potter who started, and yes, there was a flash of guilt in his green eyes, he grimly noted. Potter, so much like his father. Potter, always sneaking around and prying where he shouldn't. Potter, with his damned invisibility cloak..
Unexpectedly, Remus stepped forward to put a restraining hand on Sirius. "Sirius, get a hold of yourself, man! Can't you see Hermione needs treatment? Deal with the rest later..."
With an effort Sirius lowered the wand (though only slightly) and grudgingly stepped aside, as did the others, so that a tight-lipped Severus could sweep off down the corridor in the direction of the hospital, aware of the others following. He was determined not to give up Hermione without a fight - if Sirius continued in his attempts then he would fail. He, Severus Snape, would see to it.
The hospital wing as always, had lights on for patients taken there at night to be cared for by Madam Pomfrey. A peculiar aspect of her talent was to know in advance when patients would be arriving and so the capable lady bustled up to Severus without surprise when he arrived in her domain with a still-unconscious Hermione. He had not been followed in here by the others, a fact that made him wary.
"Professor, what happened to Hermione?" Madam Pomfrey inquired briskly. Severus had learnt years ago that intimidating attitudes did not faze her at all, and so she was one of the few people here he had a grudging respect for.
"She fell down a flight of stairs," Severus replied, a hint of anxiety showing in his voice as he carefully laid Hermione down on a bed neatly made with spotless linen sheets, grimly noting her bruised and slightly bleeding forehead.
"Concussion, then. Poor dear, she will need something for that headache she will have when she wakes up," Madam Pomfrey clucked. "Those bruises look quite nasty and that blood must go." She hurried away to fetch a bowl of water while Severus carefully removed Hermione's shoes, and grabbing a folded blanket at the foot of the bed shook it out and gently draped it over her still form.
When Madam Pomfrey returned with a bowl of water and a cloth with a SpeedHeal charm cast over it to encourage swift healing, Severus said abruptly, "I will do this," taking them both from her. If she was surprised at the unusual concern he was taking in the welfare of a student from a rival house then she showed no sign, moving off to ready some potions to be force-fed to Hermione if she showed signs of deterioration.
[Hermione, come back to me] Severus thought as he sat on the edge of the bed, his black robes a dramatic contrast to the white sheets and the lines of his face more pronounced as he gently cleaned her forehead of its dried smear of blood. It unnerved him to see her lying there so pale and still, even though he had seen far worse sights in his life without blinking or flinching. He wanted to see her cinnamon eyes sparkle up at him again, her dry comments and laughter to keep his shadows at bay.
He stiffened when out of the corner of his eye he saw Potter come through the doorway and approach the bed. Severus ignored him, concentrating solely on Hermione. When he had finished and put the water and cloth down on a nearby table, Severus turned and looked at Harry coldly. "Where's your precious godfather and Remus?" he asked with soft malice. "Busy sending off for the guards of Azkaban?"
Harry paled slightly but looked at him squarely. "They've gone to see Dumbledore."
Marston Chicklet - I imagined it to be shampoo with 'Extra Grease Remover!' g
dangermouse, Goddess-Isis-112, Mara456, RoseFyre, Zoe - Thanks!
gorgegirl - Don't worry, I won't!
snapefan51, Tegan - You'll see.
Terentia - Hmm.a flame.well, if you're going to make comments like that on every fic written by people where Snape shows some happiness you're going to be occupied for a while.
A/N: Well, CoS finally opens this Thursday here in New Zealand and I'm going this Saturday (rubs hands in gleeful anticipation).
Part 18
Severus moved swiftly to Hermione's side; reaching out with his senses to her in alarm as he kneeled down beside her. She was alive he realised with relief, just concussed from the fall. But why had she fallen in the first place - had it been because she was tired and as a result stumbling on a step? She had been quite weary after all. He cursed himself for not having enough torchlight available - had he brought this upon himself?
Hermione would no doubt have a splitting headache when she awakened, but for now the best place for her was in the hospital wing. He carefully lifted the comatose Gryffindor in his arms to take her to Madam Pomfrey's, though when he walked up the stairs he didn't quite expect to be greeted by Remus and Potter, who were staring at him and Hermione warily, wands at their side....and Sirius, a grim look on his face with his wand pointed straight at Severus. What in Merlin's name?.....
"What did you do to her, Snape?" Sirius growled at Severus.
His temper rising, Severus looked back at Sirius with narrowed eyes. "I hope you're not implying that I was responsible for Miss Granger's current state. Because if you did..then I would be watching my step," he hissed.
"I'm not implying anything; I'm damn well saying it!" Sirius snarled.
The atmosphere grew oppressive, and to defuse it Harry stepped forward, swallowing as he did so.
Before, looking at Professor Snape carrying an unconscious Hermione up the stairs in his arms, looking like a fallen angel risen from some unholy pit, his thin mouth tight and his eyes a chilly black, it would be easy for a casual onlooker to assume that Professor Snape was in some way responsible. Indeed, the thought had immediately jumped into his mind. Certainly Sirius was thinking that way - but Harry was starting to wish he hadn't told his godfather what was going on.
Looking at Professor Snape and seeing an expression briefly flashing through his dark eyes, the years flashed back in Harry's mind. He was alone in his living room, scrubbing out the fireplace, his young body already grimly accustomed to infrequent meals. A sudden breeze blowing through an open window had caused a fragile ornament to teeter, then fall over and shatter.
Not surprisingly Aunt Petunia had quickly rushed in, her sharp face already set into an expression of wrath, his uncle and cousin following on her heels like predators aware of spilt blood nearby. Despite his protestations of innocence, Harry had been blamed for the accident (and subsequently confined to his cupboard room for days) because in their eyes it was something he would do, that they automatically believed the worse of him.
Harry had had the feeling of being backed into a corner, with the grim awareness of feeling that no one was on his side. No one to help, not now and not anytime soon. A similar awareness he had seen in Professor Snape's eyes.
Seeing how protectively the professor was carrying Hermione, it came to Harry that unbelievably, he did love Hermione - that if he hadn't at Christmas time, then he did now.
Now, seeing Hermione unconscious and with a smear of blood on her forehead, Harry asked Professor Snape urgently, "Professor, what happened? Is Hermione all right?"
With effort Professor Snape turned his hostile dark eyes away from Sirius. How dare Sirius practically accuse him of pushing Hermione down the stairs? He stared at Harry for a long moment, as if he was something that might need squashing if he proved to be a threat. But then in a curt voice the professor said, "I found her at the foot of my steps, Potter - not through any of my doing, thank you! Whether it was an accident or not I had no idea. But if the lot of you would Get.Out.Of.My.Way I can take her to Madam Pomfrey as soon as possible."
But Sirius wasn't finished. "And what was she doing in this part of Hogwarts at this time of night in the first place, eh Snape? You just couldn't wait to get your hands on her again, could you?" Sirius breathed.
Professor Snape's eyes whipped back to Sirius in renewed fury. If looks could kill then Sirius would have been a corpse at that moment. "How dare you talk to me like that!" Severus snapped.
[He knows!] Severus realised. They all did, that he and Hermione were seeing each other. Of course, this meant that Sirius had to come charging down here like some goddamned knight in shining armour, Potter and Remus in tow to 'rescue' Hermione from his supposedly evil clutches. But how had they known?
Suspicious, Severus flicked his eyes quickly back to Potter who started, and yes, there was a flash of guilt in his green eyes, he grimly noted. Potter, so much like his father. Potter, always sneaking around and prying where he shouldn't. Potter, with his damned invisibility cloak..
Unexpectedly, Remus stepped forward to put a restraining hand on Sirius. "Sirius, get a hold of yourself, man! Can't you see Hermione needs treatment? Deal with the rest later..."
With an effort Sirius lowered the wand (though only slightly) and grudgingly stepped aside, as did the others, so that a tight-lipped Severus could sweep off down the corridor in the direction of the hospital, aware of the others following. He was determined not to give up Hermione without a fight - if Sirius continued in his attempts then he would fail. He, Severus Snape, would see to it.
The hospital wing as always, had lights on for patients taken there at night to be cared for by Madam Pomfrey. A peculiar aspect of her talent was to know in advance when patients would be arriving and so the capable lady bustled up to Severus without surprise when he arrived in her domain with a still-unconscious Hermione. He had not been followed in here by the others, a fact that made him wary.
"Professor, what happened to Hermione?" Madam Pomfrey inquired briskly. Severus had learnt years ago that intimidating attitudes did not faze her at all, and so she was one of the few people here he had a grudging respect for.
"She fell down a flight of stairs," Severus replied, a hint of anxiety showing in his voice as he carefully laid Hermione down on a bed neatly made with spotless linen sheets, grimly noting her bruised and slightly bleeding forehead.
"Concussion, then. Poor dear, she will need something for that headache she will have when she wakes up," Madam Pomfrey clucked. "Those bruises look quite nasty and that blood must go." She hurried away to fetch a bowl of water while Severus carefully removed Hermione's shoes, and grabbing a folded blanket at the foot of the bed shook it out and gently draped it over her still form.
When Madam Pomfrey returned with a bowl of water and a cloth with a SpeedHeal charm cast over it to encourage swift healing, Severus said abruptly, "I will do this," taking them both from her. If she was surprised at the unusual concern he was taking in the welfare of a student from a rival house then she showed no sign, moving off to ready some potions to be force-fed to Hermione if she showed signs of deterioration.
[Hermione, come back to me] Severus thought as he sat on the edge of the bed, his black robes a dramatic contrast to the white sheets and the lines of his face more pronounced as he gently cleaned her forehead of its dried smear of blood. It unnerved him to see her lying there so pale and still, even though he had seen far worse sights in his life without blinking or flinching. He wanted to see her cinnamon eyes sparkle up at him again, her dry comments and laughter to keep his shadows at bay.
He stiffened when out of the corner of his eye he saw Potter come through the doorway and approach the bed. Severus ignored him, concentrating solely on Hermione. When he had finished and put the water and cloth down on a nearby table, Severus turned and looked at Harry coldly. "Where's your precious godfather and Remus?" he asked with soft malice. "Busy sending off for the guards of Azkaban?"
Harry paled slightly but looked at him squarely. "They've gone to see Dumbledore."
