Author's Note: Thank you for reading! All questions, comments and constructive criticism are welcome if you would like to submit a review!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the characters and settings from the series are copyright JK Rowling. They are not being used for profit, only for personal enjoyment.
**********
"Are you quite sure that Draco can be trusted?" Hermione asked a few minutes later, as she lay clutched tightly in Severus' arms.
With a sigh, Severus reached his fingers under her chin, tilting her head back to look into her eyes, "Do you think I would let him anywhere near you if I didn't?"
"I know... but," Hermione closed her eyes before she continued, "I'm sorry, Severus. I trust your judgement, and you know him much better than I do... but I still have a hard time trusting Draco, myself."
"I was under the impression that the two of you had called a truce?"
"A truce?" Hermione scoffed, "No, Severus, it was more of a mutual agreement not to antagonize each other, for your sake. I don't know that I can yet forgive him seven years of torment to formally call a truce between Draco and myself."
"Whyever not? You have forgiven me..."
Hermione smiled as she leaned in to place a soft kiss on his lips, "You, my love, are a completely different story. I have always had respect for you..."
"Indeed?"
"I never could have fallen in love with a man I have no respect for, Severus. I may not have always liked you, but I have always respected you."
"Perhaps, one day, you will look past the boy that Draco was, and respect the man that he has become," Severus replied quietly.
"Perhaps," she sighed. "In the meantime, please understand that I shall remain wary of Draco Malfoy."
*****
Hermione had left late that morning to tend to their son, and Severus' irritation at being cooped up in a room of the hospital wing was increasing with every minute. Determined that he was well enough to return to his quarters, he eased himself out of bed with the intent of dressing himself.
Once on his feet, he wavered slightly as he crossed the room to the wardrobe to retrieve the clean robes that Hermione had brought in anticipation of his coming home. His head began pounding with the effort, and clutching the robes in one hand, he used the other hand to brace himself against the wardrobe as he closed the door.
"What are you doing out of bed?"
Severus let go of the wardrobe as he tried to mask the pain that he was in, and turned to face the nurse who was quickly approaching him to assist him back to the bed.
"It is time for me to go home," he scowled.
"You will not step foot out of this room until I determine that you are capable..."
"After twenty years of this, Poppy, you should be well aware that I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself," he sneered as he shrugged her off and crossed the room. Tossing his robes onto the bed, he turned back to her and hissed, "Now if you will please excuse me, I should like to dress now."
"And after twenty years of this, Severus, you should be well aware that I will not allow you to leave my care until I am assured that your health is in no further danger," Poppy huffed as she approached him, "Now, get back into that bed."
Severus scowl deepened as he sighed in defeat and sank onto the edge of the bed. Poppy smirked as she reached out to smooth his tousled hair, "Now Severus, if you will allow me to give you a thorough check, I may allow you to return home this evening."
"Hmph," he growled in reply as Poppy began to check him over.
"Enough of this!" he hissed a few minutes later, tired of Poppy's prodding and poking, "I am fine!"
Poppy tutted at him as she asked, "How is your headache?"
"It might just go away if I could have a few moments peace..." he replied irritably, "preferably, in my own rooms."
Poppy backed away a few steps, her scowl matching his as she spoke sternly, "I will allow you to return to your rooms, provided that you agree to a few days bedrest and twice daily check ups."
"Fine..." he raised his hands in defeat, knowing that she would come to check on him twice daily whether he agreed or not, "Now, may I go?"
"Not yet."
"What do you mean by that, woman? You just told me that I can..."
"Severus!" the nurse broke into his tirade, "You are in no condition to walk all the way to the dungeons of your own accord. You will wait here until somebody is available to assist you!"
"I would be glad to accompany Severus to his quarters."
They both turned towards the voice speaking from the doorway to see Draco leaning against the jamb, smirking at the exchange between Poppy and Severus. He had never before seen anyone who gave as good as they got when arguing with Severus.
Severus smirked triumphantly at Poppy, who sighed in resignation as she turned back to face Severus.
"Very well, then. You may go." She turned to speak to Draco next, "You make sure that he gets straight to bed," turning back to Severus, "continue to take your headache potion, and be sure to let me know if the pain does not subside this time. And tell Hermione to summon me if..."
"Poppy," Severus growled as he donned his robes, "Hermione will not hesitate to summon you if either of us are in need of your assistance."
Stalking towards the door, he paused for a moment to take her hand, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile as he said, "Thank you, Poppy."
"How Hermione puts up with that man..." she muttered under her breath, shaking her head even as she smiled fondly at the dark man as he swept out the door behind Draco.
*****
Severus didn't slow his pace as he stalked out of the infirmary, and waited until they were well clear of the hospital wing before he paused to steady himself as they reached the staircase. Leaning against the rail, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath as his vision wavered slightly.
"Severus, are you..." Draco began to ask if he was feeling up to it, but paused as Severus nodded his head abruptly and began to descend the stairs. When they reached the bottom, Severus paused once again, steeling himself against the nearest wall as he waited for a wave of dizziness to pass.
Draco reached out to place an arm around Severus, who tried unsuccessfully to shirk him off. Supporting Severus' weight as the tall man leaned against him, he didn't let go until they reached the dungeons.
"Thank you for the assistance, Mr. Malfoy," Severus spoke in his best teacher's voice, "You are dismissed."
Draco let go as Severus leaned against the door to his quarters, "Yes sir, Professor Snape," he replied cheekily as he turned to walk away.
"Draco," Severus called after him.
"Yes, Severus?"
"I am aware that classes resume tomorrow. If you would like to come by my quarters tonight, I would be more than happy to help you prepare your lessons... or give you tips on handling my Slytherins."
"I remember quite well how to handle Slytherins," Draco chuckled, "As well as Gryffindors..." he hissed as he sneered and raised one eyebrow in imitation of the Potions Master.
"You'll have to do better than that, 'Professor Malfoy'. Your face is too... 'pretty'... for that sneer to accomplish the desired effect," Severus chuckled as he reached out to shake Draco's hand, "Best of luck to you, son."
*****
Severus entered the room and closed the door quietly behind him, careful not to startle Hermione. Pale and shaking, he paused to compose himself before allowing his presence to be known. He didn't want to worry her by letting her see just how weak he was feeling. Running one hand wearily over his face and through his hair, he took a deep breath before he steadied himself on his feet and walked further into the room. Furrowing his brow as he realized how silent it was in the room, he wondered if she and Samuel were even there. Scanning the room quickly for any sign of them, he smiled gently as he looked towards the bed. Hermione was asleep, with Samuel curled up beside her and a story book laying open on her lap.
Shrugging off his robe and quickly removing his shoes, he slid into bed opposite his wife scooping his son up to lie by his side as he closed his eyes in hopes of drifting off to sleep with his family.
Hermione's eyes fluttered open, and she smiled as she saw the man lying across from her. Closing her eyes, she breathed a sigh of content. A moment later, the shock of seeing him registered in her mind and her eyes flew open again as she squeaked quietly, "Severus?!"
He opened his heavy lidded eyes and smiled at her as he replied, "Yes, love?"
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be..."
"I am right where I should be," he replied as he reached for her hand, kissing her palm before twining his fingers with hers, "Go back to sleep, Hermione. I shall still be here when you wake."
It didn't take long for Hermione to drift back off to sleep, and moments later, Severus followed.
*****
Severus awoke to the sound of giggles beside him, and cracked open one eye to see Samuel smiling at him.
"Fa!"
"Hello, my son," Severus smiled as he reached to caress his son's head.
"'Lo!"
"You clever boy! How many words can you say now?"
Samuel smiled as he began to babble nonsense to Severus, who humored the boy by responding, "Is that so? How very fascinating!" Reaching behind him, Samuel grabbed the story book from his sleeping mother's lap and plopped it into Severus' hands.
"Come," Severus opened the book and patted a space closer to his side for Samuel to sit comfortably, "Let us see what fate befalls our hero this time."
Hermione woke to the soft sounds of her husband's low voice as he read quietly to their son. Her smile quickly turned to a frown of concern as she looked up to see a fleeting grimace of pain flash across his face as he reached up to rub his temples. Closing the book and handing it to Samuel when he reached the end of the story, he leaned back onto his pillow, breathing deeply as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Are you feeling alright, Severus?" she asked quietly as she rolled over to look at him.
He shuddered as he tried to open his eyes and look at her, closing them again just as quickly when the dim light in the room caused pain to shoot across his brow.
"Do you still have a headache?"
Severus sighed and nodded as Hermione rose from the bed, and walked into the bathroom where she retrieved a cool washcloth and a headache potion. Stooping over him, she laid the cool cloth across his forehead and pressed a vial to his lips.
"I fear you've overdone it. Sleep, Severus, while I fetch Poppy."
"No!"
"No what, Severus? No sleep, or no Poppy?"
"No Poppy!" he groaned.
"If this headache persists, Severus..."
"Let me rest... sleep it off... need quiet... lights out..." he whispered hoarsely, wincing as if every word he spoke pained him.
Hermione kissed him as she helped Samuel down from the bed, dimming the lights in the room as she sought out her mother, leaving Samuel with the woman so she could return to Severus' side.
When she returned to their quarters, Severus had finally drifted back to sleep. Sighing as she noted the state of the tangled bedsheets, obviously the result of his thrashing about in bed, she feared that Severus was suffering from more than a simple headache.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the characters and settings from the series are copyright JK Rowling. They are not being used for profit, only for personal enjoyment.
**********
"Are you quite sure that Draco can be trusted?" Hermione asked a few minutes later, as she lay clutched tightly in Severus' arms.
With a sigh, Severus reached his fingers under her chin, tilting her head back to look into her eyes, "Do you think I would let him anywhere near you if I didn't?"
"I know... but," Hermione closed her eyes before she continued, "I'm sorry, Severus. I trust your judgement, and you know him much better than I do... but I still have a hard time trusting Draco, myself."
"I was under the impression that the two of you had called a truce?"
"A truce?" Hermione scoffed, "No, Severus, it was more of a mutual agreement not to antagonize each other, for your sake. I don't know that I can yet forgive him seven years of torment to formally call a truce between Draco and myself."
"Whyever not? You have forgiven me..."
Hermione smiled as she leaned in to place a soft kiss on his lips, "You, my love, are a completely different story. I have always had respect for you..."
"Indeed?"
"I never could have fallen in love with a man I have no respect for, Severus. I may not have always liked you, but I have always respected you."
"Perhaps, one day, you will look past the boy that Draco was, and respect the man that he has become," Severus replied quietly.
"Perhaps," she sighed. "In the meantime, please understand that I shall remain wary of Draco Malfoy."
*****
Hermione had left late that morning to tend to their son, and Severus' irritation at being cooped up in a room of the hospital wing was increasing with every minute. Determined that he was well enough to return to his quarters, he eased himself out of bed with the intent of dressing himself.
Once on his feet, he wavered slightly as he crossed the room to the wardrobe to retrieve the clean robes that Hermione had brought in anticipation of his coming home. His head began pounding with the effort, and clutching the robes in one hand, he used the other hand to brace himself against the wardrobe as he closed the door.
"What are you doing out of bed?"
Severus let go of the wardrobe as he tried to mask the pain that he was in, and turned to face the nurse who was quickly approaching him to assist him back to the bed.
"It is time for me to go home," he scowled.
"You will not step foot out of this room until I determine that you are capable..."
"After twenty years of this, Poppy, you should be well aware that I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself," he sneered as he shrugged her off and crossed the room. Tossing his robes onto the bed, he turned back to her and hissed, "Now if you will please excuse me, I should like to dress now."
"And after twenty years of this, Severus, you should be well aware that I will not allow you to leave my care until I am assured that your health is in no further danger," Poppy huffed as she approached him, "Now, get back into that bed."
Severus scowl deepened as he sighed in defeat and sank onto the edge of the bed. Poppy smirked as she reached out to smooth his tousled hair, "Now Severus, if you will allow me to give you a thorough check, I may allow you to return home this evening."
"Hmph," he growled in reply as Poppy began to check him over.
"Enough of this!" he hissed a few minutes later, tired of Poppy's prodding and poking, "I am fine!"
Poppy tutted at him as she asked, "How is your headache?"
"It might just go away if I could have a few moments peace..." he replied irritably, "preferably, in my own rooms."
Poppy backed away a few steps, her scowl matching his as she spoke sternly, "I will allow you to return to your rooms, provided that you agree to a few days bedrest and twice daily check ups."
"Fine..." he raised his hands in defeat, knowing that she would come to check on him twice daily whether he agreed or not, "Now, may I go?"
"Not yet."
"What do you mean by that, woman? You just told me that I can..."
"Severus!" the nurse broke into his tirade, "You are in no condition to walk all the way to the dungeons of your own accord. You will wait here until somebody is available to assist you!"
"I would be glad to accompany Severus to his quarters."
They both turned towards the voice speaking from the doorway to see Draco leaning against the jamb, smirking at the exchange between Poppy and Severus. He had never before seen anyone who gave as good as they got when arguing with Severus.
Severus smirked triumphantly at Poppy, who sighed in resignation as she turned back to face Severus.
"Very well, then. You may go." She turned to speak to Draco next, "You make sure that he gets straight to bed," turning back to Severus, "continue to take your headache potion, and be sure to let me know if the pain does not subside this time. And tell Hermione to summon me if..."
"Poppy," Severus growled as he donned his robes, "Hermione will not hesitate to summon you if either of us are in need of your assistance."
Stalking towards the door, he paused for a moment to take her hand, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile as he said, "Thank you, Poppy."
"How Hermione puts up with that man..." she muttered under her breath, shaking her head even as she smiled fondly at the dark man as he swept out the door behind Draco.
*****
Severus didn't slow his pace as he stalked out of the infirmary, and waited until they were well clear of the hospital wing before he paused to steady himself as they reached the staircase. Leaning against the rail, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath as his vision wavered slightly.
"Severus, are you..." Draco began to ask if he was feeling up to it, but paused as Severus nodded his head abruptly and began to descend the stairs. When they reached the bottom, Severus paused once again, steeling himself against the nearest wall as he waited for a wave of dizziness to pass.
Draco reached out to place an arm around Severus, who tried unsuccessfully to shirk him off. Supporting Severus' weight as the tall man leaned against him, he didn't let go until they reached the dungeons.
"Thank you for the assistance, Mr. Malfoy," Severus spoke in his best teacher's voice, "You are dismissed."
Draco let go as Severus leaned against the door to his quarters, "Yes sir, Professor Snape," he replied cheekily as he turned to walk away.
"Draco," Severus called after him.
"Yes, Severus?"
"I am aware that classes resume tomorrow. If you would like to come by my quarters tonight, I would be more than happy to help you prepare your lessons... or give you tips on handling my Slytherins."
"I remember quite well how to handle Slytherins," Draco chuckled, "As well as Gryffindors..." he hissed as he sneered and raised one eyebrow in imitation of the Potions Master.
"You'll have to do better than that, 'Professor Malfoy'. Your face is too... 'pretty'... for that sneer to accomplish the desired effect," Severus chuckled as he reached out to shake Draco's hand, "Best of luck to you, son."
*****
Severus entered the room and closed the door quietly behind him, careful not to startle Hermione. Pale and shaking, he paused to compose himself before allowing his presence to be known. He didn't want to worry her by letting her see just how weak he was feeling. Running one hand wearily over his face and through his hair, he took a deep breath before he steadied himself on his feet and walked further into the room. Furrowing his brow as he realized how silent it was in the room, he wondered if she and Samuel were even there. Scanning the room quickly for any sign of them, he smiled gently as he looked towards the bed. Hermione was asleep, with Samuel curled up beside her and a story book laying open on her lap.
Shrugging off his robe and quickly removing his shoes, he slid into bed opposite his wife scooping his son up to lie by his side as he closed his eyes in hopes of drifting off to sleep with his family.
Hermione's eyes fluttered open, and she smiled as she saw the man lying across from her. Closing her eyes, she breathed a sigh of content. A moment later, the shock of seeing him registered in her mind and her eyes flew open again as she squeaked quietly, "Severus?!"
He opened his heavy lidded eyes and smiled at her as he replied, "Yes, love?"
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be..."
"I am right where I should be," he replied as he reached for her hand, kissing her palm before twining his fingers with hers, "Go back to sleep, Hermione. I shall still be here when you wake."
It didn't take long for Hermione to drift back off to sleep, and moments later, Severus followed.
*****
Severus awoke to the sound of giggles beside him, and cracked open one eye to see Samuel smiling at him.
"Fa!"
"Hello, my son," Severus smiled as he reached to caress his son's head.
"'Lo!"
"You clever boy! How many words can you say now?"
Samuel smiled as he began to babble nonsense to Severus, who humored the boy by responding, "Is that so? How very fascinating!" Reaching behind him, Samuel grabbed the story book from his sleeping mother's lap and plopped it into Severus' hands.
"Come," Severus opened the book and patted a space closer to his side for Samuel to sit comfortably, "Let us see what fate befalls our hero this time."
Hermione woke to the soft sounds of her husband's low voice as he read quietly to their son. Her smile quickly turned to a frown of concern as she looked up to see a fleeting grimace of pain flash across his face as he reached up to rub his temples. Closing the book and handing it to Samuel when he reached the end of the story, he leaned back onto his pillow, breathing deeply as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Are you feeling alright, Severus?" she asked quietly as she rolled over to look at him.
He shuddered as he tried to open his eyes and look at her, closing them again just as quickly when the dim light in the room caused pain to shoot across his brow.
"Do you still have a headache?"
Severus sighed and nodded as Hermione rose from the bed, and walked into the bathroom where she retrieved a cool washcloth and a headache potion. Stooping over him, she laid the cool cloth across his forehead and pressed a vial to his lips.
"I fear you've overdone it. Sleep, Severus, while I fetch Poppy."
"No!"
"No what, Severus? No sleep, or no Poppy?"
"No Poppy!" he groaned.
"If this headache persists, Severus..."
"Let me rest... sleep it off... need quiet... lights out..." he whispered hoarsely, wincing as if every word he spoke pained him.
Hermione kissed him as she helped Samuel down from the bed, dimming the lights in the room as she sought out her mother, leaving Samuel with the woman so she could return to Severus' side.
When she returned to their quarters, Severus had finally drifted back to sleep. Sighing as she noted the state of the tangled bedsheets, obviously the result of his thrashing about in bed, she feared that Severus was suffering from more than a simple headache.