A/N: I don't own JK Rowling's stuph. Duh.

Chapter 14

Severus was lost in his thoughts, watching Andraste sleep when he heard a knocking on his door. Thoroughly irritated at what could only be a student – the other professors all knew the password – he chose to ignore the banging. Whoever it was, however, refused to go away. Absolutely furious at the intrusion and having already decided to give whatever prat it was a months worth of detention with Filch, he stalked towards the door and slammed it open with enough force for the door knob to put a hold in the wall it hit. "WHAT?" Had he been in a better mood, he would have been amused at the looks of sheer terror coming from Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "This had better be important, Potter," he growled viciously.

"How is Professor Andraste?" Harry asked weakly.

"That is none of your concern," he said firmly, moving to shut the door in their faces.

"Wait! We can help!" Hermione exclaimed, causing him to stop the door mid-swing. If there was one thing Professor Snape could say for the insufferable know-it-all, it was that she really was an insufferable know-it-all. If she thought they could help, chances were it was worth listening to.

"Come in," he said, the true anger in his voice replaced by something less volatile. The boys followed Hermione into Snape's living room, both shifting their weight from foot to hoot and looking very uncomfortable. "Get on with it, Miss Granger," Snape demanded, totally ignoring the presence of Misters Weasley and Potter.

"I was reading a book on rare magical stones this afternoon, when you and Professor Andraste went flying," she began, totally confident of herself. "I wanted to know more about the Dragons Tear Diamond she gave Harry. IT seemed to me that with the powers she described – it stopping the visions and making him stronger magically, that it simply must have other uses as well." She paused for a moment, seeming to collect her thoughts.

"Please go on, Miss Granger," he requested, obviously very interested.

"What I discovered is that I was, of course, quite right." Professor Snape mentally agreed with the eye roll that he say Harry and Ron give her." The stone pulsates color when it's not being worn because it's not needed. As soon as it touches a persons skin, it senses the purpose it's being worn for, and changes color to represent it; much like Miss Andraste's energy seems to. In this case, the purple to block the visions. Magical enhancement is simply a side effect of wearing the stone, not a purpose for it."

"What does that have to do with Professor Andraste?" he asked impatiently.

"Don't you see?" she exclaimed, thinking that apparently growing up didn't change a boy's lack of common sense. "Healing is one of the powers the stone has! If my research is correct, and I'm positive it is, if we lay the stone across her stab wound, it should glow orange and heal her."

"How did you know she was stabbed?"

"Professor Lupin told us."

"Very well, it's worth a try. Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, I think it would be more appropriate if you waited here. Miss Granger, come with me." Hermione took the necklace from Harry and followed Professor Snape back into the bedroom where Andraste was. They both went to the bed, Severus noting to himself that she was even paler than she had been before. He pushed her shirt up just enough to reveal the fresh bandages he had put on her that were already soaked in blood. Hermione studied her potions teacher's face, thinking that the gentleness she saw suited him well, and hoping that Andraste could permanently change his demeanor. When Professor Snape had removed the bandage and cleaned the wound again, he stepped back, motioning for Hermione to take over. She placed the necklace across her new teacher's stomach so that the stone was centered in the cut, and then stood back. It immediately began to glow orange. Barely a minute had passed before Professor Snape interrupted the silence. "Nothings happening, it's not going to work," he said, reaching for the necklace.

Without first considering the repercussions, Hermione slapped his hand out of the way. "Get out if you can't shut up and be patient." Severus did as he was told, but made a mental note to deal with that outburst later. As more time passed, Severus slowly saw the color return to her face, and soon he watched the wound close itself. Forty five minutes after they began Hermione picked the necklace back up, and Andraste opened her eyes. Severus rushed to her side, and momentarily forgetting there was a student present, pulled her close to him. Out of the corner of his eyes he say Hermione walking towards the door. "Please wait for me in the living room, Miss Granger." She nodded and he turned his focus back to Andraste. "Could you please stop scaring me like that?"

"What happened?"

"You passed out while we were flying. Miss Granger used the necklace you gave Harry to heal you."

"Smart girl."

"Yes."

"They're good kids."

"They have their uses."

"Tell Ron and Hermione to join Harry for detention Monday. Six p.m."

"Why?"

"We're going to do something special for them."

"We?"

"Yes, we. Now, you should go out there. She's waiting."

"Very well." Severus wiped the emotion off his face and walked back to the living room... to the waiting students. "Miss Granger, 10 points from Gryffindor for telling me to shut up."

"You told him to shut up?" Ron exclaimed.

"And that would be five points for interrupting me, Mr. Weasley. As I was saying. Your behavior was unacceptable. Regardless of the circumstances, you do not speak like that to a professor. You and Mr. Weasley will be joining Mr. Potter for detention Monday, six p.m."

"I thought it was seven," Harry questioned.

"It's six now, Mr. Potter. You are all dismissed." Professor Snape was truly enjoying dragging this out, living up to his greasy git reputation. He walked to the door and opened it for them. "And Miss Granger?"

"Yes, sir?"

"50 points to Gryffindor for being a know-it-all. Thank you." She simply nodded and continued to walk. Once they had gotten down the hall, Ron spoke. "How is he going to take 15 points, give us detention, at dinner time mind you, give her 50 points, and say thank you all in the same breath?" he asked in exasperation?

"Just like that," Hermione responded.

"I wish I had enough guts to tell him to shut up."

"Me, too," Harry agreed.

Severus laughed to himself as he shut the door behind the students, walking back to the bedroom. "How are you feeling, Andraste?"

"Fine." She hesitated a moment, "Severus, do what you think is necessary with Sarine."

"I already have." He said, thankful his actions weren't going to cause another fight. "Why didn't you tell me to get the necklace so you could heal yourself?"

"I didn't know it could do that." Severus nodded, not quite sure of what else to say.

"What time is it?" Andraste asked.

"Around four."

"Let's take a nap before dinner."

"You've spent most of your stay at Hogwarts passed out. Haven't you slept enough?"

"I realize that, and no."

"Very well." He crawled into the bed beside her, and soon they were sound asleep again.