Finding a Lost Soul: Chapter 2: Infirmary

Hermione awoke in a hospital bed. The sheets were loosely covering her. Madame Pomfrey had tried to make it as light as possible so it would not touch her massive gash. Now it was rendered to a mere scar. It was pearly white against her slightly tanned skin. Her bloodstained blouse and jeans were lying in a pile beside her. She tried to turn around, but her scar felt like it was splitting open again. She collapsed back into the position she had awoken in.

"Good dear. You're awake." Madame Pomfrey said from across the infirmary. She bustled her way over to Hermione's bed. She was a plump woman with wispy light brown hair and warming blue eyes.

"Thank you for stating the obvious." She mumbled sleepily. Madame Pomfrey shook her head at the girl lying in her bed. She reached beside Hermione's bed and pulled up a potion vial. The potion was a deep blood red with flecks of black, blue, gold, green, and silver. In other words it was beautiful.

"You have to drink this potion. Professor Snape made it for you specially. It works with only the person it is made for. It will get rid of some of the pain your scar is causing you. It will also put you into a short slumber. Professor Dumbledore would like to talk to you when you are awake. Goodnight dear." She said handing a small cup of the potion to her. Hermione drank it in one gulp. It tasted sweet like fresh picked blueberries. Professor Snape's potions never taste good. They're usually disgustingly bitter. He made this especially for you, she mused.

"Goodnightmadamepomfrey." The potion worked so well her speech was now slurred.

Her head nodded off and her eyes closed. Madame Pomfrey scurried off to her office. The sunlight was shining in on Hermione's face. It lit all of her features.

The front door was pushed slightly ajar. Professor Snape silently walked in and sat beside Hermione. He was wearing his usual jet-black robes. The sneer that usually plagued his face was not present. He looked rather attractive without it. He looked like the Sheriff of Nottingham from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves minus the beard. He still had his seductive low voice that gave any women shivers. He turned his head in Hermione's direction. When he looked at her peaceful face he felt a tingling in his chest.

'Her face is perfect. She is brilliant. More intelligent than anyone I have ever met. She is so beautiful. So right. She has the most perfect red lips. How I would love to see how they taste. She wouldn't get near me. No one would. I'm just a heartless bastard. No one would ever do anything like that. She would never love me as much as I love her. Wait. I love her? No. This is just some silly infatuation. I don't love anyone. Her jaw is perfect. Her nose is just right on center. Her eyes are so lovely.'

Severus just realized something. He was in love. He gently stroked the side of her face. Her skin was smooth and soft. It felt like perfect silk that the Europeans got from oriental China. He looked at her one last time and swept away down to his dungeons, his robes billowing majestically behind him. His cold damp dark dungeons with no one there to keep him company. His lonely dungeons. His safe haven.

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Hermione awoke to the smell of sandalwood and worn leather. It drew her senses far away from her. It felt so safe. There was a food tray beside her. The smell ensnared her senses that had been taken by the unfamiliar scents that were around her. On the small tray there was a cup of hot tea, eggs, and toast. She took it and began to eat. It tasted better than any other food she had ever had before. The tea tasted of orange blossoms and fruit. It slid down her throat warming every inch of her body as it went.

She finished her food when Professor Dumbledore came through the doors. His white beard went down to his knees now and his hair was longer. He had a very powerful aura around him. He radiated power. He sat down in a chair beside her bed. His blue eyes twinkled with concern.

"Who hurt you?"

"I don't know. Whoever did it came up from behind be and hurt me. I had been looking for my cat that had wandered to the dungeons." Dumbledore pondered for a few moments.

"Who has a grudge on you if anyone?"

"The person that hates me the most would have to be Malfoy. It seems like he would do that to me because of his hate for magical people of muggle parentage."

"He might be a suspect. Is there anyone else?" Hermione racked her brain trying to find a person.

"It could be one of the Slytherins considering that many of their parents are death eaters."

"I see your point on that one, Miss Granger. Ah yes, you will be going to your last class if you are feeling up to it." Her face lit up at the thought of class. She was so obsessed with school.

"Oh yes, sir. What class?"

"I dare say it was double potions. You should go and get your books or you will be late." She got up and ran up to Dumbledore.

"Thank sir."

"Don't mention it."

"Goodbye sir." And with that she ran out of the room her hair flying. Dumbledore noticed something on her neck. It was red. Another cut. It was oddly shaped though. It was a dragon encircling itself around a delicate rose. It had perfect detail. Hermione did not even notice it was there. It looked like it would be causing her great pain. It even went unnoticed by Madame Pomfrey. How odd.

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A/n:

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-Bob