Hi, Sorry for the delay. But had a lot of work to do. Could have posted half a chapter, but didn't like that idea, so I finally made time to write instead of study. Hope you review, as the reviews keep me writing.

I own nothing but the plot...

Chapter 5: The healing process

The explosion had happened only a week before Christmas vacation. Now, as everyone was packing to leave to spend the Christmas period with their family. Hermione was sitting next to Snape's bed.

The past week had been devastating. Hermione had to go to class, but with every sigh Snape gave, a magical bracelet she had received from Poppy would light up, and she would be summoned to the infirmary. She gave up on going to classes after only 2 days. She could do nothing but copy her friend's notes. Snape's injuries had healed, but he was still in a coma.

Ron had invited her and Harry to come to the burrow for Christmas, but as Snape was due to waken up every moment now, she couldn't leave the castle.

She was studying when she heard three familiar voices call her name. She opened the curtains and was face to face with Ron, Harry, and Ginny.

"You sure, you can't come with us?"

"Sorry Ron, You know I want to come, I just....can't. He's going to wake up very soon now, and I have to stay with Snape to see everything's alright"

"But, can't Poppy take care of him?"

"no, she can't , besides, Dumbledore told me he was my patient, I have full responsibility"

"but hun...."

"I just can't ok?"

"yeah, I know...."

"But enjoy the holidays ok? I will see you in 2 weeks, he should be cured by then"

"ok, see you soon hun"

Ginny, Harry and Ron wished Hermione a happy Christmas, and left the infirmary, leaving Hermione again, whole by herself"

There was nothing else for Hermione to do than go back to studying 'advanced potions'

"Miss Granger, if you are hungry we would love to have your company"

Dumbledore opened the curtains.

"He still hasn't awaken yet? Oh, dear"

"No sir, but I don't think it will last any longer now"

"Do you think you can leave him for half an hour to join us into dinner?"

"I would be delighted sir."

Hermione followed Dumbledore into the great hall, which was almost deserted. Instead of the separate house tables and the head table, there was now only one big table standing in the middle. The entire staff was there, but only a few students. She recognized none of them but Neville Longbottom and Draco Malfoy. She placed herself between the two of them.

Draco was the first to talk to her.

"so.... How come you are not staying in the tower anymore? Did I scare you off?"

"no, not really, I've just been avoiding you...."

None of the students knew Hermione was helping out in the infirmary, except for the ones she helped out. No-one except the teachers know that she is helping Snape, or what is behind the mysterious curtains.

Hermione was about to take a sandwich, when she got summoned back into the infirmary.

When she arrived she saw that Snape was tossing and turning in his bed. She took a firm grip on his arms and held him still. When he was once again calm, she put the sheets back in order, and placed herself back into the chair.

As the hours passed the same scenario took place another few times. To kill the time, Hermione did nothing but studying Potions.

Snape lay on his back, his eyes wide open. He didn't know where he was, but soon he saw the familiar surroundings of the infirmary. He sat up immediately, not liking the thought Poppy has been taking care of him. He was shocked to find Hermione sitting next to the bed. Potions book in hand, but fast asleep. What was she doing here? He stood up, determined to go back to his dungeons.

"Go back to bed, you need your nights rest."

Snape turned his head around, and saw Hermione looking at him intently.

"You don't think I am going to listen to you now, do you! I'm still the teacher here!"

"Yes you are, but you are my responsibility at the moment, and I tell you to go back to bed"

"I will most certainly not!"

"Oh, Yes you will!"

As Snape was walking away, Hermione got angrier.

"You come back right now and go back to bed!"

Hermione was really furious and in only 1 second Snape was laying back in his bed.

Hermione didn't know what happened. It was like magic. The one second Snape was walking out of the door, the other he was laying back in his bed.

Snape didn't know what had happened, he fell a cold rush wash over him, and the next thing he knew he was lying in his bed, not able to get out of it.

"You got yourself detention miss Granger! Now release me!"

Hermione twitched at the thought of detention. It calmed her down a bit, realizing she was still dealing with her potions master

"No, you're staying in bed, and sleep. Tomorrow I will do a little check up and when everything's ok, you can leave, but no sooner."

"You are giving me a check up? What happened to madame Pomfrey? I will not let you touch me !"

"It's a little bit late to discuss that now, isn't it, who do you think has healed your injuries, who.."

"That's quite enough, miss Granger, I'm sure Professor Dumbledore wouldn't let you, as you are only a student with no medical degree"

"Ah, Severus, you are awake. I must say, you could be a little more appreciative towards miss Granger as it was her who healed you, and I must say, she did a wonderful job"

"She has no experience in medicine what so ever, how could you let her cure me, she could have killed me for heaven's sake!"

"You know as well as I do, she's a very experienced student. She has been helping Poppy since the beginning of term, as a project. She has been studying very hard for it. I think you two have a lot to talk about, So I leave you be. Good night miss Granger, Severus"

"Goodnight professor Dumbledore"

"Goodnight Albus"

Professor Dumbledore was standing in the doorway, when he turned and walked back to Severus' bed, holding a vial in his hand"

"Take this before you go to sleep tonight"

"What is it for?"

"You'll see"

Professor Dumbledore left the infirmary once more.

"What time is it?"

"I think around 12"

"Why am I here"

"Well, there was an explosion in potions class, and you were in a coma the entire week"

"ah"

"The other students are all fine now, and have left for Christmas holidays today"

"Goodnight miss Granger"

"Goodnight Professor, don't forget to take your vial"

Professor Snape drank the vial, and dozed of immediately. Hermione didn't know whether she could leave him, as this was his first night out of coma, so decided to stay with him to be sure he was ok, and didn't run of

"What happened?"

"There was an explosion in first year's potion class"

"You can start with professor Snape, as he has to be handled before he awakes. He doesn't like being taken care off. Do you know what to do?"

"I think so, yes"

"You do not need to fear him. He will be asleep for a few hours."

"I do not fear him, professor, it's just....Although I can handle students, this I can not. He still is my professor, and is angry with me as it is. I am not looking forward to be dismissed again, nor do I look forward to receive one of his snarky remarks....again. If he wakes up, and finds out I have undone him of his clothes..."

"Excellent Miss Granger, I will leave him in your responsibility now"

In his dreams Snape learned what had happened to him. He saw the fear in Miss Granger's eyes; he felt the gentle movements of her soft hands, and the concern with which she took care of him. He saw her skipping classes and meals for him, the things she has sacrificed for him, he even saw the disappointed but determined look in her eyes when she rejected the offer to go to the burrow with her friends.

It was still early when Snape woke up. He felt he couldn't but appreciate the work miss Granger had done, but when he saw her sitting in the chair next to his bed, sleeping, he didn't know what to do but run. The warming feeling she was spreading was terrifying him, so he got out of bed and apparated to his private chambers in the dungeon, far away of Miss Granger.

Hermione woke up very early that morning as she felt something was wrong. She sat up and looked at Snapes bed. It was empty.

"Ow fuck ! There's no need to panic, he probably just needed to go to the bathroom...That's quite normal, isn't it?"

After 10 minutes she still felt something was wrong. If he was in the bathroom, he should have returned by now, so ... Hermione wished Snape would be back in his bed, or that she was there (where ever he was) with him to take care of him.

She felt the temperature had lowered, and the next thing she knew she was in a unknown room.

The room was dark, black and cold; she was standing in front of a king-sized bed, made out of black ebony. She was in the dungeons en probably In Snapes private chambers. She heard water running down as from a shower. He was probably taking a shower, but she couldn't help it but having a bad feeling.

" Professor? Are u in there? It's me, Hermione Granger"

There was no answer

"Professor, are you alright?"

still, no answer

"Professor, talk to me! If you don't answer me in one minute, I'll come inside whether you like me to or not"

Again, Hermione didn't get an answer. This wasn't normal anymore. She only waited half a minute, before entering Snapes private bathroom.

That's when she saw him laying on the floor, water streaming over him. Apparently he had passed out while taking a shower.

She stopped the water from running, and accioed professor Snape into his bed. She put the sheets over him, and lighted the fire. She opened his closets while looking for his pajamas or something.

She found a pair of really nice pajamas. They were black and of a silky material. She used a spell to dry him of, and to put on his pajamas. She then took a chair and placed it next to his bed.

He needed a medicine, but she didn't dare leave him here all by himself. She didn't think it right either to go looking around in his chambers for some sort of healing potions.

She decided it best to stay with him. She fell asleep only 2 minutes later....

Snape woke up, he couldn't remember going to bed, and why was he wearing his new pajamas? He had received them from Albus one Christmas, but didn't want to wear them, because they looked to good, and he never slept with pajamas. He thought this over, when he heard some rather silent, but controlled breathing. Apparently there was someone else who was sleeping in his room. He turned his head, and saw Miss Granger sleeping in the chair next to him.

He didn't want to wake her yet, he preferred being dressed before handling with her.

He placed one foot on the ground, and was planning on placing the second one right next to it, when...

"And where do you think you are going?"

Professor Snape was taken a back from this rather sudden approach, but soon answered

"What do you think you are doing in my private chambers, who has given you the right to enter my bedroom, and who do you think you are to command me"

"If it wasn't for me you were still lying unconscious on your bathroom floor."

"You haven't answered my questions, I believe"

"What I think I am doing here I'm taking care of you as you let no-one else do that, and as you are still not fully recovered. I've been given responsibility over you, so that gives me the right to enter when you are in need. And for that last question. My name is Hermione Granger, as you know very well, and Professor Dumbledore has made me your personal nurse, who knows what is best for you, and I say you should stay in bed a bit longer"

"I think I know perfectly well whether I ought to stay abed or not."

"I think you have proven your point incorrect as you've just passed out in the showers."

"Miss Granger, get out of my rooms, now!"

"I'm sorry to inform you that I'm not planning on leaving, I would say you're stuck with me"

"Miss Granger, please, leave me alone"

"I'm not going anywhere until I'm completely sure you're back healthy."

"Get out, now!"

"No"

PLOP

"Severus, Miss Granger, what seems to be the problem?"

"He has left the infirmary without permission, and I found him unconscious in his bathroom this morning, which proves he's not capable of managing alone. I think he has to go back to the infirmary"

"I'm pretty sure I've completely recovered."

"It seems to me, when I hear Miss Granger's story, you are not in a state to be alone yet."

"I'm not going back to the infirmary"

"Ok, that solves the problem then, I guess. Severus, didn't you have a guestroom here, I thought all my teachers rooms had a guest room Miss Granger. You will be staying here, in Severus chambers until the beginning of next term, if needed longer. You will take care of him. And Severus, you WILL follow her instructions."

"But, sir!"

"Severus, it's this or back to the infirmary, and as you have blocked that options....you will bare the consequences. I'm sure miss Granger is a very caring and reasonable person, and you will appreciate her company after you have accepted the situation. I will have the house elves to arrange the guestroom for you

Miss Granger, good luck"

With that Dumbledore disappeared.

Professor Snape didn't like where this was going. He had been able to keep Miss Granger out of his class all term, and now he was stuck with her for at least 2 weeks. He just hoped she would be smart enough to stay away from him.

Hermione didn't know what to do or say...She hadn't expected this, that's for sure.

"Er....maybe you could show me around?"

Snape looked at her suspicious, what was she up to? But when he saw her shaky hands, and the uncertainty in her eyes, he couldn't but loath the idea he had done that to her. What happened to the Gryffindor courage she had shown before? She apparently didn't expect it either.

"Maybe you can give me a second to change? I'm not planning on walking around in y pajamas."

Hermione turned around, now faced to the door. He got out of bed, took his clothes from his closet, and entered the bathroom. Before closing the door, he glimpsed at Miss Granger, standing with her back at him, waiting for him to give her permission to turn round again.

After only 2 minutes, magic really works fast, he was washed and dressed, he opened the door as quiet as possible and was surprised when he saw Miss Granger was still standing in the same position.

"Let's get going then, shall we?"

Hope nobody's disappointed. Please review... i still have to learn....