Disclaimer: I do not own Potterverse, just the plot of this story.

Never Judge a Book by it's Cover
Chapter Two

Whipping his wand out he called her body to him. Not touching her for fear of a shock he noticed the slight flicker of movement under her eye-lids showing she was still alive, if barely.

Stories of Hermione and the Potion Master storming through the school spread like wildfire - leaving the dark corridors empty of the younger students and his path clear. Professor Snape calmly walked to the Infirmary, students looked closely at Hermione's lifeless face, and wet clothing; jumping when she occasionally convulsed. Horror and guilt were felt, while the others thought that finally justice had been served. Professor Snape was worried. Things weren't that bad that she was going to kill herself... surely? He shook his head and increased his speed, reaching the infirmary in record time.

"Madame Pomfrey! Madame!" He scowled as silence was all the response he got. "POPPY!" He growled as he saw a note that had been attached to the door, but was now lying on the floor.

'I have urgent business at St Mungo's, but will back in the morning.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Madame P. Pomfrey'

Professor Snape lowered Hermione onto a bed. He racked his memory, trying to remember the spell that would de-charge her body. No matter how much he didn't want to help the girl... woman, there was nobody else around. Muttering the words under his breath, a glow emitted from his wand, encasing Hermione before sinking into her body. Testing her and touched her fingers lightly. She was freezing.

Without any further hesitation he cast a warming spell on a blanket, quickly covering her, before rushing over to the Potion cabinet to fetch something to help her.

His eyes searched the shelves frantically, but not finding anything worth using. "Damn it! I don't remember the charms!"

He turned back to Hermione, who seemed to have stopped convulsing, and her pale dull features had brightened slightly. She mumbled something and he rushed to her side. He could make out what she was saying though. "... Office... bottom... under..." Suddenly he realised that she was trying to help him.

He moved quickly to Madame Pomfrey's office and searched the cupboards for more Potions.

Finally he found what he was looking for, a small olive green Potion, luckily he had only made the Potion two weeks ago, any longer and it wouldn't have worked. He swept over to Hermione's bedside and lifted her neck slightly causing her head to tilt back.

Slowly pouring the Potion down her throat he tried not to shake as he felt her breathing become more ragged.

"Come on, Hermione, you are stronger than this." He placed the empty vile on the side, and lowered her head gently to the pillow with a sigh. "I believe you Hermione. Even if you had wanted to, you didn't have it in you to hurt the Weasley's. I believe you."

As if by magic, more colour appeared on her cheeks and her breathing evened out. He watched as her tense muscles seemed to relax and he reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze.

"You can do it. Come on." Hermione moaned, but her eyes didn't open.

Professor Snape sighed. This was going to be a long night. He summoned a chair to him and sat down beside the bed. He hadn't planned on sleeping much because of the Potion he was in the middle of making. But that didn't matter too much. The Wolfsbane needed to be started tomorrow and would have forced him to stop the process anyway.

Unknown to Professor Snape, the reason Hermione had yet to wake, was a deep hole in her magic. The faith she had lost in herself had caused her powers to dampen, and when the lightning hit, it had tried to protect her, but the doubt had weakened it as well as her.

Without the extra strength her magic provided, her body was slowly falling into a coma, barely held out of it by the slowly diminishing magic field within her.


AN: Loving you all for reviewing, and big virtual hugs to you all.