Author's Note: Been busy editing, yet I managed to pound out one more chapter... I had to get the idea out of my head before my muse abandoned me. Enjoy!
Once again, thank you to my reviewers. I only hope that I can live up to your expectations. Thank you also to everybody else who has read my story, especially those of you who are still here :) All questions, comments, and constructive criticisms are welcome if you would like to leave a review.
*******
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the characters from the books in the series are copyright JK Rowling, and are not being used for profit, only for personal enjoyment
*******
Chapter 20 ~ Someone to Watch Over Me
Severus eventually fell asleep that night, only to wake in the morning sensing that something was missing. It was Hermione... she must have gotten up before him, as she was nowhere in sight. With a sigh, he walked over to the crib and saw that Samuel was not in the room either. He began to become concerned when, after receiving no answer to his knock on her door, he entered her room and found them both gone.
He returned to his room and hurriedly dressed. Hermione must have taken Samuel to the infirmary, but why didn't she wake him first? Surely, if it were an emergency, she would not have gone alone, he thought as he tried to assure himself of his son's well being. Nevertheless, there was nothing that would ease his concern until he saw his son with his own eyes.
He swept out of his quarters and through the dungeons, students hurriedly moving out of his way as they could tell by the look on his face and the billow of his robes that he was not in a good mood, trying not to gape at him after he passed as they wondered where he was stalking off to. They had learned long ago to not get in the way of Severus Snape when he was on a mission.
When he entered the infirmary, he breathed a sigh of relief to see Hermione sitting with Madame Pomfrey, having a cup of tea. Still, he was not happy. How could she have worried him so?
As he stormed across the room, his eyes flashing angrily, he tried to keep his voice low as he hissed, "Why did you not wake me, Hermione?"
Hermione smiled nervously as she apologized, "I woke up early and couldn't sleep. Samuel seemed a bit better, but I was still anxious to bring him in for a check. I'm sorry, Severus."
"Hmph..." he growled, "Did you not think that I would worry about my son when I woke up to find you both gone?"
Madame Pomfrey intervened, "Now Severus! Enough of that. Your son is fine. He's got a nasty cold, but I've given him a small dose of Pepper-up Potion. He should be feeling better by the end of the day."
Severus scowled at the nurse, and had to bite his lip not to snap at her. He was in no mood to fight with Poppy. He was tired, he was hungry, and he had been worried about his son. He turned and stormed out of the room to head downstairs for breakfast, leaving the two women gawking in his wake.
*****
Hermione had long ago grown accustomed to Severus' moods, and lately nothing he said phased her much. But this morning, she had been feeling irritable and was fuming by the time he had stalked out of the hospital wing. She decided to have breakfast brought to her room that morning, as she thought it best to take Samuel back to get some sleep. He was indeed looking healthier now that Madame Pomfrey had treated him, and his cough had nearly gone away. Yet he was still a bit tired from his illness the previous night, and Hermione wanted to make sure that he didn't have a relapse, nor did she want to face Severus again that morning.
She spent the rest of the day in her rooms, studying for her session with Severus that evening. For the first time since she began her apprenticeship, she was nervous about working with him. They had developed such a comfortable companionship over the past few weeks, and she didn't want to ruin that.
Severus had apparently calmed down over the course of the day, and when she arrived in the lab he was as cordial as he ever was during their sessions. Yet, it was awkward, Severus keeping his distance as he instructed her, and Hermione was missing the small touches that she had become accustomed to. When Severus didn't come to her rooms for their late evening chat, she found herself unable to sleep. She sat by the fire, studying alone all night. The little sleep she got was very erratic, as she couldn't seem to sleep more than a few minutes at a time.
The following morning, she woke feeling like her head weighed a ton. She tried to brush it off as a result of her lack of sleep, but as the day went on she felt more and more fatigued. As they worked in the lab that evening, she began to feel a bit faint and beads of perspiration were forming on her forehead. Severus arched an eyebrow in concern, "Hermione, are you feeling alright?"
"Hmmm?" she replied distractedly, "No... Just a bit tired," she yawned, "I didn't sleep well last night."
"You're looking pale," Severus approached and tried to brush his hand across her brow, "And warm, too..."
"I'm just overheated from standing over this cauldron, Severus," she expained as she pushed his hand away. She removed her robe and rolled up the sleeves of her blouse before she returned to brewing her potion. As she reached her hands up to twist her long hair into a knot she said, "It's almost finished, and then I will go take a cool bath and get to bed."
Severus' concerned looks did not go unnoticed as Hermione finished her work for the evening. She sighed when she finally finished, "All finished... I'll just get it bottled up and then I'll go..."
"Go now," Severus urged her sternly, "I'll bottle it for you."
"Thank you, Severus." Hermione walked over to the desk where she had left her robe, and as she tried to pull it on, she began to feel faint. She tried to brace herself against the desk as she felt her knees buckling beneath her. The last thing she remembered was a glass vial shattering on the stone floor followed by the sound of hurried footsteps and two strong arms catching her as she collapsed.
*****
Hermione heard a murmer of hushed voices as she slowly drifted back into consciousness. She didn't know if it had been minutes or hours since she had fainted, but it felt like it had been days. As her eyes slowly fluttered open, through her blurred vision she saw two concerned faces hovering over her as a soft cool hand brushed against her brow.
"How are you feeling, Hermione?" she recognized the voice of Madame Pomfrey.
"Mmm... sleepy..." she replied in a hoarse voice. A strong warm hand gently lifted her head as another held a glass of cool water to her parched lips, "What happened?"
"It seems that you have the flu, young lady. Severus told me that you were looking quite peaked this evening... why didn't you tell anyone that you weren't feeling well?" the nurse chastised her.
"Didn't feel sick... just tired," she mumbled.
"Hmph." Poppy tutted at her, "You should be fine once the Pepper-up Potion takes effect. But I want you to get some rest! No getting out of this bed until I say so!"
Hermione opened her eyes fully, and to her relief she was in her own bed rather than in the infirmary. "Samuel..." she began.
"Is fine," Severus voice cut her off, "And I'll be here to make sure that he is well cared for while you get some sleep."
Hermione didn't have the strength to argue, as she drifted back to sleep.
*****
Severus hadn't taken his eyes off of Hermione, watching her out of the corner of his eye as he began to bottle her completed potion. He saw her brace herself against the desk, and the vial that he was filling slipped from his hand and shattered as he rushed across the room to catch her before she collapsed to the cold stone floor.
He swept her into his arms and carried her through the deserted dungeon corridor to her quarters. As he entered, his eyes flashed to Ginny Weasley, who had been on babysitting duty that night, and he snapped, "Madame Pomfrey... NOW!" as Ginny jumped to her feet and ran from the room.
Severus gently laid Hermione on her bed, and after retrieving a cool wet washcloth from her bathroom, sat beside her and began to mop her brow. A few minutes later, Madame Pomfrey and Ginny rushed into the room. As Poppy hovered over Hermione, Ginny paced worriedly as she looked on in concern. Severus was nearly relieved to hear his son crying, as it provided a distraction for the girl who's pacing was beginning to grate on his last nerve.
"What happened here, Severus?" Poppy asked.
"She's not been looking well all evening, Poppy, and just as our session was ending tonight she fainted."
Poppy shook her head and mumbled, "Stubborn girl... should know by now to ask for help..." she looked up at Severus and shot him a reassuring smile, "It's just the flu, Severus. She'll be fine after I administer some Pepper-up Potion, provided that she get some rest."
Severus stood up to stretch his legs just as Hermione's eyes fluttered open. He and Poppy both leaned over the bed and looked at her in concern. As Poppy brushed her hand against Hermione's brow, Severus reached down to assist the young woman with a glass of water.
A few minutes later, after Poppy gave Hermione strict orders to stay in bed and Severus assured her that Samuel was fine, the young woman drifted back off to sleep. Remembering that Ginny was still in the next room tending to Samuel, Severus saw Poppy to the door and went to retrieve his son.
"Miss Weasley," remembering his promise to Hermione, he spoke softly to the girl instead of snarling or sneering. Ginny looked at him, her eyes full of concern for her friend. "Hermione will be fine. It's just the flu," he assured her. "You may go," he dismissed her, pausing a moment before adding a soft, "Thank you."
Severus returned to Hermione's bedside, sitting in the rocking chair with his son as he watched over her. After rocking his son to sleep and returning him to his crib, Severus reclaimed his seat in the rocking chair. Extending his legs in front of him as he leaned back and closed his eyes, he stayed the night watching over the mother of his child.
He was drifting off to sleep and didn't notice Hermione's sigh as she half-opened her eyes and smiled at the presence of the man sitting beside her bed.
*****
When Hermione woke the next morning, she was beginning to look much better. Still exhausted after the previous evening's ordeal, she followed Madame Pomfrey's orders to stay in bed. She opened her eyes and saw Severus still sitting in the rocking chair beside her bed, now awake with their son content in his arms. She smiled tiredly at him as he asked groggily, "Feeling better?"
"Mmm... much," she yawned, "still tired..."
"Get some rest, Hermione." he ordered her.
"Bring Samuel to me?" she asked, continuing quietly as Severus frowned, "I miss him. I just want to hold him. I promise, I'll rest."
Severus hesitated only a moment before carrying Samuel to Hermione's bed. He could see just how weak she still was, and was not quite sure if she could manage holding their son in her arms. He sighed at her in resignation as he saw the look in her eyes telling him that she would not sleep until she had nursed her son. He laid Samuel in the crook of Hermione's arm, and sat down on the bed beside them, supporting Samuel's other side to make sure that he was in a secure position.
As he found himself drifting off to sleep again, he allowed his head to slowly drop to the pillows he had propped up behind him. He fell asleep there, beside Hermione with their son nestled contentedly between them.
Once again, thank you to my reviewers. I only hope that I can live up to your expectations. Thank you also to everybody else who has read my story, especially those of you who are still here :) All questions, comments, and constructive criticisms are welcome if you would like to leave a review.
*******
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the characters from the books in the series are copyright JK Rowling, and are not being used for profit, only for personal enjoyment
*******
Chapter 20 ~ Someone to Watch Over Me
Severus eventually fell asleep that night, only to wake in the morning sensing that something was missing. It was Hermione... she must have gotten up before him, as she was nowhere in sight. With a sigh, he walked over to the crib and saw that Samuel was not in the room either. He began to become concerned when, after receiving no answer to his knock on her door, he entered her room and found them both gone.
He returned to his room and hurriedly dressed. Hermione must have taken Samuel to the infirmary, but why didn't she wake him first? Surely, if it were an emergency, she would not have gone alone, he thought as he tried to assure himself of his son's well being. Nevertheless, there was nothing that would ease his concern until he saw his son with his own eyes.
He swept out of his quarters and through the dungeons, students hurriedly moving out of his way as they could tell by the look on his face and the billow of his robes that he was not in a good mood, trying not to gape at him after he passed as they wondered where he was stalking off to. They had learned long ago to not get in the way of Severus Snape when he was on a mission.
When he entered the infirmary, he breathed a sigh of relief to see Hermione sitting with Madame Pomfrey, having a cup of tea. Still, he was not happy. How could she have worried him so?
As he stormed across the room, his eyes flashing angrily, he tried to keep his voice low as he hissed, "Why did you not wake me, Hermione?"
Hermione smiled nervously as she apologized, "I woke up early and couldn't sleep. Samuel seemed a bit better, but I was still anxious to bring him in for a check. I'm sorry, Severus."
"Hmph..." he growled, "Did you not think that I would worry about my son when I woke up to find you both gone?"
Madame Pomfrey intervened, "Now Severus! Enough of that. Your son is fine. He's got a nasty cold, but I've given him a small dose of Pepper-up Potion. He should be feeling better by the end of the day."
Severus scowled at the nurse, and had to bite his lip not to snap at her. He was in no mood to fight with Poppy. He was tired, he was hungry, and he had been worried about his son. He turned and stormed out of the room to head downstairs for breakfast, leaving the two women gawking in his wake.
*****
Hermione had long ago grown accustomed to Severus' moods, and lately nothing he said phased her much. But this morning, she had been feeling irritable and was fuming by the time he had stalked out of the hospital wing. She decided to have breakfast brought to her room that morning, as she thought it best to take Samuel back to get some sleep. He was indeed looking healthier now that Madame Pomfrey had treated him, and his cough had nearly gone away. Yet he was still a bit tired from his illness the previous night, and Hermione wanted to make sure that he didn't have a relapse, nor did she want to face Severus again that morning.
She spent the rest of the day in her rooms, studying for her session with Severus that evening. For the first time since she began her apprenticeship, she was nervous about working with him. They had developed such a comfortable companionship over the past few weeks, and she didn't want to ruin that.
Severus had apparently calmed down over the course of the day, and when she arrived in the lab he was as cordial as he ever was during their sessions. Yet, it was awkward, Severus keeping his distance as he instructed her, and Hermione was missing the small touches that she had become accustomed to. When Severus didn't come to her rooms for their late evening chat, she found herself unable to sleep. She sat by the fire, studying alone all night. The little sleep she got was very erratic, as she couldn't seem to sleep more than a few minutes at a time.
The following morning, she woke feeling like her head weighed a ton. She tried to brush it off as a result of her lack of sleep, but as the day went on she felt more and more fatigued. As they worked in the lab that evening, she began to feel a bit faint and beads of perspiration were forming on her forehead. Severus arched an eyebrow in concern, "Hermione, are you feeling alright?"
"Hmmm?" she replied distractedly, "No... Just a bit tired," she yawned, "I didn't sleep well last night."
"You're looking pale," Severus approached and tried to brush his hand across her brow, "And warm, too..."
"I'm just overheated from standing over this cauldron, Severus," she expained as she pushed his hand away. She removed her robe and rolled up the sleeves of her blouse before she returned to brewing her potion. As she reached her hands up to twist her long hair into a knot she said, "It's almost finished, and then I will go take a cool bath and get to bed."
Severus' concerned looks did not go unnoticed as Hermione finished her work for the evening. She sighed when she finally finished, "All finished... I'll just get it bottled up and then I'll go..."
"Go now," Severus urged her sternly, "I'll bottle it for you."
"Thank you, Severus." Hermione walked over to the desk where she had left her robe, and as she tried to pull it on, she began to feel faint. She tried to brace herself against the desk as she felt her knees buckling beneath her. The last thing she remembered was a glass vial shattering on the stone floor followed by the sound of hurried footsteps and two strong arms catching her as she collapsed.
*****
Hermione heard a murmer of hushed voices as she slowly drifted back into consciousness. She didn't know if it had been minutes or hours since she had fainted, but it felt like it had been days. As her eyes slowly fluttered open, through her blurred vision she saw two concerned faces hovering over her as a soft cool hand brushed against her brow.
"How are you feeling, Hermione?" she recognized the voice of Madame Pomfrey.
"Mmm... sleepy..." she replied in a hoarse voice. A strong warm hand gently lifted her head as another held a glass of cool water to her parched lips, "What happened?"
"It seems that you have the flu, young lady. Severus told me that you were looking quite peaked this evening... why didn't you tell anyone that you weren't feeling well?" the nurse chastised her.
"Didn't feel sick... just tired," she mumbled.
"Hmph." Poppy tutted at her, "You should be fine once the Pepper-up Potion takes effect. But I want you to get some rest! No getting out of this bed until I say so!"
Hermione opened her eyes fully, and to her relief she was in her own bed rather than in the infirmary. "Samuel..." she began.
"Is fine," Severus voice cut her off, "And I'll be here to make sure that he is well cared for while you get some sleep."
Hermione didn't have the strength to argue, as she drifted back to sleep.
*****
Severus hadn't taken his eyes off of Hermione, watching her out of the corner of his eye as he began to bottle her completed potion. He saw her brace herself against the desk, and the vial that he was filling slipped from his hand and shattered as he rushed across the room to catch her before she collapsed to the cold stone floor.
He swept her into his arms and carried her through the deserted dungeon corridor to her quarters. As he entered, his eyes flashed to Ginny Weasley, who had been on babysitting duty that night, and he snapped, "Madame Pomfrey... NOW!" as Ginny jumped to her feet and ran from the room.
Severus gently laid Hermione on her bed, and after retrieving a cool wet washcloth from her bathroom, sat beside her and began to mop her brow. A few minutes later, Madame Pomfrey and Ginny rushed into the room. As Poppy hovered over Hermione, Ginny paced worriedly as she looked on in concern. Severus was nearly relieved to hear his son crying, as it provided a distraction for the girl who's pacing was beginning to grate on his last nerve.
"What happened here, Severus?" Poppy asked.
"She's not been looking well all evening, Poppy, and just as our session was ending tonight she fainted."
Poppy shook her head and mumbled, "Stubborn girl... should know by now to ask for help..." she looked up at Severus and shot him a reassuring smile, "It's just the flu, Severus. She'll be fine after I administer some Pepper-up Potion, provided that she get some rest."
Severus stood up to stretch his legs just as Hermione's eyes fluttered open. He and Poppy both leaned over the bed and looked at her in concern. As Poppy brushed her hand against Hermione's brow, Severus reached down to assist the young woman with a glass of water.
A few minutes later, after Poppy gave Hermione strict orders to stay in bed and Severus assured her that Samuel was fine, the young woman drifted back off to sleep. Remembering that Ginny was still in the next room tending to Samuel, Severus saw Poppy to the door and went to retrieve his son.
"Miss Weasley," remembering his promise to Hermione, he spoke softly to the girl instead of snarling or sneering. Ginny looked at him, her eyes full of concern for her friend. "Hermione will be fine. It's just the flu," he assured her. "You may go," he dismissed her, pausing a moment before adding a soft, "Thank you."
Severus returned to Hermione's bedside, sitting in the rocking chair with his son as he watched over her. After rocking his son to sleep and returning him to his crib, Severus reclaimed his seat in the rocking chair. Extending his legs in front of him as he leaned back and closed his eyes, he stayed the night watching over the mother of his child.
He was drifting off to sleep and didn't notice Hermione's sigh as she half-opened her eyes and smiled at the presence of the man sitting beside her bed.
*****
When Hermione woke the next morning, she was beginning to look much better. Still exhausted after the previous evening's ordeal, she followed Madame Pomfrey's orders to stay in bed. She opened her eyes and saw Severus still sitting in the rocking chair beside her bed, now awake with their son content in his arms. She smiled tiredly at him as he asked groggily, "Feeling better?"
"Mmm... much," she yawned, "still tired..."
"Get some rest, Hermione." he ordered her.
"Bring Samuel to me?" she asked, continuing quietly as Severus frowned, "I miss him. I just want to hold him. I promise, I'll rest."
Severus hesitated only a moment before carrying Samuel to Hermione's bed. He could see just how weak she still was, and was not quite sure if she could manage holding their son in her arms. He sighed at her in resignation as he saw the look in her eyes telling him that she would not sleep until she had nursed her son. He laid Samuel in the crook of Hermione's arm, and sat down on the bed beside them, supporting Samuel's other side to make sure that he was in a secure position.
As he found himself drifting off to sleep again, he allowed his head to slowly drop to the pillows he had propped up behind him. He fell asleep there, beside Hermione with their son nestled contentedly between them.
