A/N: In case I haven't mentioned it lately, I don't own most these characters. I'm not even going to get into what I'd give to own Severus... even for just a night. :-D

Chapter 12

Severus ran as quickly as he could, wishing that he could still fly. Damnit, he thought he reached her before Lucious did. He was going to kill that man himself before this war was over. Dumbledore looked up from his desk at the footsteps he heard rushing up the stairs. The door swung open, and Professor Snape rushed in carrying Andraste. "She has to go to St. Mungo's. She's been stabbed." Without waiting for an answer he rushed to the large fireplace, called out his destination, and stepped inside.

St. Mungo's was calm, filled only with minor maladies caused by incompetent witches and wizards; so when the staff looked up to see the Hogwarts Potion Master step through the fire covered in blood and carrying a limp woman, he was rushed by doctors. He looked on helplessly as they wheeled her away, through the double doors that led to the non-magical injuries department.

Minutes passed into hours as he found himself again waiting for word, praying that Andraste would live. 'How did this woman survive her first 28 years?' he wondered to himself. 'This is the second time she's been on the edge of death, and I've only known her four days.' He paced the waiting room, stopping occasionally to speak with Dumbledore, who was checking for updates regularly. Eventually he was approached by a friend. "Severus, is this the same woman you needed the i.v. for?"

"Yes."

"Is she always this prone to injury?"

"I have no idea," he said impatiently. "When can I see her?"

"She's not awake yet, but you can go in."

"Good," he said, starting to walk past the doctor.

"Severus?"

"What?"

"There's a cut on her wrist... it looks recent."

"And?"

"Is there any chance that she might be suicidal?"

"Fear not, dear friend. She's not suicidal, just stupid." Severus continued in, somehow knowing where to find her. He sat beside her for a few minutes before deciding to take her back to Hogwarts. The last thing he wanted was for Voldemort to find out she was here. He tracked down the nurse, questioning her on what potions the doctors had ordered, and when Andraste was supposed to take then. "I need to see her doctor. Now." The nurse quickly scurried off, returning once again with his friend. "Bill, I'm taking her home."

"I really wouldn't recommend that Severus. She's going to be fine, but she needs rest."

"She's going to get plenty of rest, I'll see to it."

"If I'm not going to be able to change your mind, and I know full well that I won't, take these with you." The doctor pulled several different bottles from the cabinet and handed them to Severus. "The directions are on the bottles, and I would suggest you take a portkey back. It's more sanitary."

"I had the intention. Dumbledore has already sent one. Goodbye, Bill." With that said, Severus gathered Andraste back up into his arms, activated the portkey, and found himself standing in the middle of the Headmaster's office; along with several other teachers. "I'm taking her to bed," he said before anyone could question him. "If you wish to speak this evening you can come to my chambers later." He strode out of the room without waiting for anyone to respond.

"Was that really our Professor Snape?" McGonagall asked once he was gone. "What's come over him?"

"I do believe, Minerva," Albus replied, the twinkle in his eyes bigger than they had ever seen it, "that he is falling in love."

Lupin's laughter took over the room. "It's a shame she's far too good for that greasy git. She'd never want him."

"If Hermione Granger's observations are correct, Remus," Albus chuckled, "and they usually are – you are quite wrong. Now the only question is, do they know it?"

Severus laid Andraste down in his bed, and watched her sleep for an eternity. When the time came for her to have more potion, he gently brushed her cheek with his hand and called her name, eventually her eyes opened. "Severus..." she said with a weak smile. "It's nice to know I'm still alive."

"And you will be for a very long time," he said gently. "I need you to drink these for me, okay?"

"What are they?"

"One is a pain killer, and the other is to speed up the healing process." He held each potion up to her lips, and she drank them both quickly, and then he held up a small glass of water.

"Why am I wearing a hospital gown?" she asked, lifting up the covers, and changing into satin pajamas with a wave of her hand.

"That's what people usually wear in the hospital."

"Oh, yeah... That bastard stabbed me, didn't he?"

"Yes, he did. And he will pay dearly for it."

She let out a little laugh that Severus found amazingly inappropriate, given the circumstances. "I guess they found a way around me being impervious to magic, huh?"

"Yes, Andraste, they did." He replied, clearly not amused. "Now get some sleep."

"Only if you do too."

He sighed, thinking that a long nights rest would do him wonders, and crawled into bed beside her. "You know, you can get under the covers," she told him, laughing again.

"I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."

"Don't be silly Severus, we're friends."

"Very well," he said, moving the covers that were below him to above him. "Goodnight, Andi."

She moved closer to him, and he but his arm around her waist, carefully avoiding the area where she had been stabbed.

"Severus?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Saving me again."

"Always, Andi." Her response cam in the form of a soft kiss as she snuggled closer to him, moving so she could feel the length of his body against the length of hers. He held her as she fell asleep, thinking about how much this woman he had just met had so thoroughly turned his life upside down – and maybe around. His last thought before he drifted to sleep, was to wonder if he was the one she was here to save.

Just another side note, thankyou to The Dark Lady Of Ravenclaw for my first review... one that I very much appreciated. You might find some changes in the relationship between Severus and Andi, so I hope you still did it lots; and please spare me the random veggies.

It was a run by fruiting! sorry, couldn't resist.