Ritual disclaimer: not mine, hers.
Snape reached the dungeons and realized he had absolutely no urge to just go quietly to his rooms and relax. He was still far too angry to do that so when he reached the turn that led to his rooms he bypassed it and continued on deeper into the labyrinthine paths that twisted under Hogwarts. He followed the hallway he was on, torches flickering to life as he neared and dying after he passed, the shadow of his flapping robes as he passed looked much like the bat that some students persisted in seeing him as. His steps slowed as he reached a familiar door, a simple oak door that if you didn't know was there you wouldn't even see it. He stood in front of the door and spoke "Pateo Arcanum".
The door swung open and he stepped inside. This was his sanctuary; even Dumbledore wouldn't disturb him here. He inhaled the scents of oils paints mingling with chalky pastels and clean canvases. He seated himself at the desk in the corner of the large room and reached for clean parchment and his charcoal pencils. He began a series of quick sketches of what he had seen tonight trying to get the memories out of his head and down on paper where they could be dealt with. He drew the first moment he had seen her cowering against the wall with short violent strokes of his pencil roughly drawing in the surroundings and concentrating on the hopeless way she sat there with her head upon her knees, the nape of her neck visible and seemingly so fragile. He finished that one and started on one of just her face when she had looked up and seen him. That disbelieving expression and the hope in her eyes when she saw one of her teachers in a place she had never expected to see one. He put that one aside and started a new one. He slowed down and began to draw the scene that was behind his eyelids. He drew the peace that was on her face when he told her where she was going. The relaxation of her body when she felt she was finally safe and whispered "home" not caring if her evil potion professor heard her. With his every stroke he drew the trust she had bestowed on him. When he finished this last sketch he exhaled slowly and reached for a prepared canvas and set it carefully on the easel next to his desk.
A quick sketch was not going to purge him of the emotions that girl had caused in him when he had seen her, not as a know it all who had been put on the earth to annoy him but as a fragile hurting being deserving of care and compassion. He stood up and went to the cabinet where he stored his paints. Returning to his chair he stated a spell that directed light to his canvas and began to work blocking in the general shapes in the under painting. A few hours later he put his brushes down and looked at what he had begun. All that was visible were lights and darks blending into a jumble of shapes, nothing like what it would be but in his minds eyes he could see the finished piece and was happy with his nights work. He tidied his workspace and went over to the sink on the far wall and cleaned his brushes and himself. He took one last look at the painting and walked over to the door. Stepping outside he spoke the word that sealed off his secret place "Celo". He went on to his room knowing he could sleep at last.
When he awoke the next morning his first impulse was to visit the hospital wing for news on how Miss Granger was doing but he managed to restrain himself. *I can't let that girl take up anymore of my time* he thought as he attempted to go about his normal morning routine. Since it was summer he thankfully was not expected to join the other teachers staying over for meals unless he chose to and this morning he definitely did not want to deal with their twittering. He walked over to fireplace which was kept lit and maintained at all times to ward off the chill in the dungeons and sent a message up the kitchens letting the house elves know it was safe to bring his breakfast down now. They never came in the morning until he had let them know he was up. They still remembered what had happened to poor Jingles when he had woken the professor up. They came in quietly and set his breakfast down on the nightstand beside his bed while he showered. He came out and sat on the bed grabbing for the pot of coffee on his breakfast tray and pouring a cup. He held the cup in his hands and inhaled the fragrance of hazelnut coffee before finally taking a sip. "Mmmm" he moaned. "This day may be worthy after all." He finished his first cup of coffee and looked over at his breakfast, an English muffin with butter and black currant jam. He picked up one half with one hand and poured himself another cup of coffee with the other. He finished his breakfast and decided it wouldn't hurt anything if he strolled in the general direction of the infirmary.
Once he reached the medical wing he paused to catch his breath before pushing open the door and entering. Madam Pomfrey was nowhere in sight. "Poppy?" he called annoyed that she wasn't right there for his convenience.
"Yes?" she replied coming out of a storage closet at the end of the room. "Severus, have you come to check on miss granger?" she asked knowing he had but wanting to push him into saying it. She just smiled at the glare he favored her with before he opened his mouth.
"Yes, actually I just wanted to know how badly she was hurt when I brought her in." he said trying for an unconcerned tone but failing miserably.
"Well, she had bruising over most of her body, three broken ribs and internal bruising as well. Also looking at the extent of healed bones in her body she had been dealing with a high level of abuse for years." Madame Pomfrey said sadly, it broke her heart to think of what this poor girl had had to deal with in her life. "I just don't understand why she never told anyone what was going on."
"Neither do I" Snape said "is she awake yet?" he asked.
"Not yet, I don't expect her to really wake up until tomorrow at the earliest. She needs this time to rest." Pomfrey said
"When she does awaken inform me, I wish to speak with her about what happened at her home." At Poppy's nod he turned to go. "Thank you" he said as he left the room.
Poppy smiled at his retreating back, *poor Hermione* she thought *she has no idea what she's in for.* shaking her head she went back to the storage closet to finish rearranging her supplies.
A/N thank you everyone who reviewed me and thanks to the girl blonder. Also this chapter is out so soon because I fear the rubber chicken. Please R&R.