A/N: Hey guys! thanks for the reviews, you're the best!
My father recently seems to be very interested for what I'm writing on the computer the hole day long. So he always asks me how my "romance novel" (he calls it that, and I'm not going to tell him more than: "I write a love story.") is going. But today he clearly went crazy:
At lunch: "So, flea (that's what he calls me, he's the only one who does so, and I'm used to it. I just translated it, he calls me "Floehle"), am I going to turn up in your romance novel?"
My hole family had a good laugh at this, I was nearly lying on the floor as I asked him: "Have you gone crazy?" (to my German speaking reader: [Lisi, I know you're there!] "Was tuat's dir?")
lol, my father is some kind of very strange old man.
I'm sorry for this, I'm sure you want to read the next chapter, so go on. ;-)
ah, well, Disclaimer, I don't own anything, and I'm not making money with this.
Nice conversationDraco was on his way back to his dormitory.
Unfortunately, on the other side of the corridor he saw Crabbe and Goyle, looking rather combative.
He tried to hide himself in a dark corner, but they'd already seen him.
"Hello Draco." Crabbe sneered. "We've had a little less exercises today, you know? And I wondered if you wouldn't like to help us a little out… as a target." Crabbe smirked and Goyle laughed loudly.
"Shove off! If I would have an IQ like you I wouldn't talk big. I'm not sure if you recognize the difference between the target and the wall." he said calmly.
"Hear, hear, someone wants to provoke us. C'mon Crabbe, I've seen a nice toilet where Draco's head would perfectly fit in."
When Crabbe took a step forward, Draco pushed his fist in his stomach and tried to run away, but Goyle was faster and grabbed his arm.
"You'll stay here."
Draco considered his chance. He could scream, but no-one would hear him expect Slytherins, and they didn't care.
*Why don't they care? They are supposed to care! He is in need for someone, why isn't anyone coming this way?*
Draco struggled, but gave up quickly. Goyle was nearly twice as big as him.
'So, someone is watching me? Why don't they come and help me, huh?'
*I would! But I can't!*
Hermione swore, wishing she could do anything to make Draco feel better. Then she felt a fist slamming in her face. No, in Dracos face.
"See, this is what we do with filthy little traitors like you."
Suddenly she became aware that the thoughts of Draco, which were surrounding her just a minute ago, were completely died away.
What does that mean? He doesn't think anymore? Draco opened his eyes and Hermione could watch a foot beating up Draco's stomach. But wherever the foot impacted, she felt just numbness.
Suddenly darkness washed over her, and she was knocked out.
"Get me Miss Granger here. Immediately. No, I'm not about to answer your question. So, why the hell isn't anyone doing anything about this! He hasn't awoken yet, and you gave him a strong wake-up potion! ANSWER: WHY?"
Snape roared through the hole hospital wing. Nobody has ever seen him this angry before. Even Madam Pomfrey was afraid, and she was a lot older then the man in front of her.
"I think its because his body isn't about to react to potion anymore. Maybe he has taken a potion in the last 24 hours? A very strong one, I think, because he doesn't show any signs of reaction to anything."
"Yes, damn, he has taken a potion. Isn't there anyway to heal him?"
"Well, of course there are some potions who are for some… extreme cases. But I'm afraid to give it to him…"
"Why? If it helps him, so give it to him, he's looking so pale, his chest don't seem to move, are you sure he's still alive?"
"Yes, he is. What I was about to say is, that not the injures outside are the problem. He's often come up here with that kind of bruises, and I would be able to care for those with potions at any time, but he has got interior injuries, too. And if I give him those strong potions I don't know how he'll react. Severus, calm down now. We first have to make the potion retrogressive. What kind of potion does he have?"
"Levechsdrank." Snape answered quietly, wondering if Draco would be ok.
"You're serious?", she looked at him questionably.
"D'you think I would joke?" Snape looked at her as if he would explode the next moment, so she didn't snap back.
"There are some difficulties with mixing this because it needs some werewolf hair, but fortunately professor Lupin left me some of his here when he went 3 years ago. You sure don't mind mixing it? It wouldn't take long, just some minutes."
"Right. Give the hair to me, and I'll make the rest. You just take care that Draco don't die." he croaked.
"Erm, Professor? … Why should Miss Granger be here?"
"Oh… I've forgotten 'bout that. It's important that she takes the counter-potion by herself, because the two of them took it. I'm surprised you didn't figure that out by yourself, Poppy."
Madam Pomfrey looked at him startled. She would have never thought that Severus Snape let Hermione Granger, one of his least favorite students took the Levechsdrank with Draco Malfoy.
Hermione hurried down the corridor to the hospital wing. She didn't know why she ran there, she had been told that she was needed, but nothing else.
When she finally reached the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey greeted her, looking concerned.
"What's the matter, Madam Pomfrey? Why did you call me?"
"Professor Snape said you would be needed. But please, just go in now, he will explain everything to you."
Hermione wondered why Snape needed her. She hadn't done anything wrong, or had she?
"Granger, come on," he was just as unpolitely as ever, but she didn't care. Hermione just looked at the face of her professor to see that he was in real pain and sorrow.
'But for whom?'
'Draco.' the thought suddenly shot into her mind.
The only reason why Snape would be concerned is Malfoy, so she figured that he would have had another attack. But why did they call her?
"Take this potion."
"But-"
"Don't ask questions!", he yelled, completely loosing his nerve.
"What is it with Malfoy?"
"Why do you know it's Draco?"
"I just know it. Is he ill? Did they attack him? Why do you need me? TELL ME, OR I WON'T TAKE THE POTION!"
That did the effect. Snape looked at her madly.
"Ok, Granger. Yes, Draco was attacked, and we need you to take this because the two of you took a potion from me yesterday -"
"-No, I would remember-"
"- do not disturb me. Of course you don't remember, silly girl. Now take this counter potion that we can help Mr. Malfoy, will you?"
"But-"
"IMMEDIATELY! Or I'll force you to swallow it!!!", he screamed.
Hermione took the potion from him and drank it. She felt dizzy again, but this time she wasn't able to find her way to bed.
She fainted on the floor.
Snape pulled her to the bed next to Draco.
"Can you use some potion for his injuries now, Poppy?", Snape asked, still nervous.
"Yes, it should work. But nevertheless, he's harmed and I can't heal the psychically wounds. Severus, you need to do something about Mr. Malfoy. I know you're concerned too, please, stop this hole thing. Don't you see that he can't stand this much longer? He's only sixteen. Remember when you were sixteen."
Snape remembered very well the time when he was sixteen. He hadn't had anyone to help him out of this.
He always waited for someone to help him, but it never came.
It has a reason if history repeats.
Suddenly this sentence was in his head.
He loved this boy so much. He loved Draco as much as he always wished someone to love him. He had to save him. He couldn't just stand there and watch him fade away.
He took a seat next to his bed and took Dracos hand. He watched his chest moving barely and his eyes twitching nervously, as if he would had a bad dream.
Snape was deeply in his thoughts so he didn't notice that Hermione was already awaken.
She was flooded with memories from the past day, watching Draco, and she was kind of tired but she couldn't sleep anymore.
Then she turned around and watched the two men silently. She had already seen Draco in a bad case, but this one was near death. Too near. But as he had been given some potions she was sure that he would be healed.
But Snape gave her really a shock. He sat next to Draco and held his hand, his dark eyes were suddenly warm and Hermione couldn't help but think he looked like a father, watching his son full of sorrow and angst.
She had never seen him this… emotional.
She stood up silently and took the chair on the other side of Draco's bed.
"Professor?", she asked softly, not wanting to disturb him.
"Yeah?", he croaked, his voice was weak and hoarse from screaming.
"He will be ok, won't he?"
Snape looked up. He tried to manage a smile, but failed terribly, and Hermione saw the pain in his eyes, again.
"If you mean his body, yes, then he'll do fine. Potions can fix nearly everything."
"What's with the other thing. I mean, will he be also fine psychically?"
Snape thought about it.
Then he answered slowly, thinking about every word he spoke out loudly.
"You care if he is fine, psychically, even if he has insulted you this often? He never showed any liking towards you, and you care nevertheless?"
"Yes, I'm afraid I do so. I mean… I can't really explain why. But it isn't true that he never showed a liking towards me. He was the only one who seemed to miss me during lunch today, I was only in the library, but he noticed it. Maybe he thought I'm a bookworm, but he noticed me."
"But that doesn't have to mean that he likes you, does it?"
"No, I'm not saying this. It's just…" he looked at him. Why did they have this discussion?
But Snape looked at her, longing to know why she acted this way towards Draco.
"The reason I'm in sorrow, and the reason why I took this counter potion was not because I knew that he likes me. It's because I know that I like him," she stated.
Now, that she actually said it, it sounded stupid, and she felt herself blush.
Snape thought a while and then answered.
"So you like him? Why are you able to like someone who never showed any kindness to you?"
Hermione was surprised that Snape asked this so bluntly.
But she was much more surprised at her own answer.
"Because you can never chose who you love."
Did she just say this? Did she say that she loves Draco Malfoy? Why did this words find their way out of her mouth? Was it true?
She thought about it, but at every thought of Draco she found the deep feeling of love inside her.
Snape was bewildered. Yes, he somehow always knew, but it shocked him now.
"And what's with Potter?"
'Potter? Harry?'
"What - er - Why - What has this to do with Harry?"
"Granger…", he snarled, "you're still stupid, aren't you? It is so obvious. Everyone knows you're the perfect couple. I can clearly see you two in some years, happily married, having a little baby. Oh, come off it, everyone knows that."
Hermione looked at him startled. Harry was one of her best friend… well.. he had been. What was Snape talking about? She never thought of Harry in this way…
"Erm, as far as I'm concerned, I don't see myself with Harry and having a baby. He's a dear friend of mine, but… there isn't more."
'Oh. My. God. Why the hell am I apologizing to SNAPE?'
"So." he stated, but his eyes showed that he didn't believe any of this. "a dear friend?", he snarled, "as dear as Weasley, huh?"
"What-? Professor Snape, I really don't know what you're talking about. Yes, he is the same kind of friend like Ron, and there will never be more! This is bullshit!"
"Ah yes. You don't know what you're doing to any of your male mates, do you?", Snape smirked. "Yes of course… Innocence yourself, aren't you?"
"Why the hell, can you tell me, do I have the feeling that YOU're jealous, of all people?!?"
Suddenly the elder man looked caught.
"Pah, jealous of what? You don't have to be scared, Granger, I'm not sixteen anymore. God bless me… This time's up. I just think that you're not able to love. And you're especially not able to love him! Seems as if Miss know-it-all doesn't know how to read her feelings, does she?"
"And why, can you tell me, why shouldn't I be able to love Draco?"
"Because you'll never be able to give him what he needs. He isn't one of this happy-and-free people, always enjoying theirselfs! He's not like one of your little friends. And you would find that out by time. But as I have already told you this, I won't give you the chance to try it out. You'll just hurt him more. I don't know if you've heard Poppy, but there's enough damage in his live, he doesn't need this. I'll make sure of that. And now go."
Snape still hold Dracos hand, and now he leaned forward protective, looking at Hermione warningly.
Hermione didn't want to step back first. But then he found that she needed time to rest, and to think.
"I'll leave. But do not think that I'll leave him alone just because you said this. I know how he feels…"
"YOU HAVE NO FUCKING IDEA HOW HE FEELS!"
Hermione left. Snape scared her, and it wouldn't do good to discuss any more, or he would explode.
A/N: yes. hm. That's it. review this one, there's going to be another tonight, I think. Maybe two, it's just half past 10, so I've got plenty of time (until 4 o'clock in the morning *laughs* I still have holidays. *lol*)
What do you guys think: should I get Sevy someone to love? I always thought a girl for him wouldn't be bad. A friend of mine thought about McGonagall (*lol*), but as she is a lot elder than him, I don't think this would be too good. What d'you think?
