A/N: Alrighty, here's a bit more. Thanks for the review, Avestia, you rock!! A note to everyone: I adjusted "If Life Was Normal, What Would We Do for Fun?" to reflect the relationships I've developed here. Snape and Hermione's dynamic was completely changed after I finished this fic and I decided I liked their relationship here better…if any of that made sense. So if it bothers you the Snape/Hermione dynamic is different…be happy now.
"How are you, Severus?"
"Shoudn't you be asking after, Miss Granger, Lupin?"
"I trust you would tell me if there was anything I needed to know," Remus replied pleasantly. "But how are you, Severus?"
Snape sighed. "Fine. Relieved that she's out and not completely nutters."
"And?"
"And what?" Snape asked, sharply. "What are you getting at, Lupin?"
Remus shrugged. "I'm getting at nothing, Severus. But you left that statement unfinished and we both know it."
"I'm beginning to care for her and it worries me." Snape acceded, reticently.
"Care for her in what way?" Remus asked evenly. Snape eyed him carefully then turned back to the fire roaring in the room.
"As though she were a daughter or sister or…I don't know."
"Or Rain?" Snape shot him an angry glare.
"This is not about Rain!"
"Calm down, Severus, you'll wake Hermione. I know this isn't about Rain. What I meant is that you're beginning to consider Hermione your family. It scares you because you haven't had that sort of connection in a long while, and the last time you did—" Lupin stopped.
"She left me," Snape finished. "You can say it, Lupin. Rain was taken from me and Callah left me. And ran to you," he added bitterly.
It was Remus' turn to look angry. "She did no such thing. She never stopped loving you, you thickheaded ass! Callah came to me for guidance, nothing more, but you couldn't see past your own anger and pain. If you'd bothered, you might have seen how much she was hurting. You never even gave her a chance to explain!" Remus let out a low, frustrated growl.
"Kindly keep out of my personal affairs, Lupin," Snape shot coldly. He sighed, tiredly. "Perhaps you're right and perhaps you're not. In any case, it's over and in the past—she's gone. There's no use agonizing over it any longer."
Remus threw up his hands. "You're a hopeless idiot sometimes, Severus. I would love to sit down and explain to you in detail why you're completely wrong, but I must return to headquarters. We will continue this conversation later. Give Hermione my love and tell her I'll see her soon."
Snape nodded, still staring at the fire. Remus rolled his eyes and flooed out.
Several moments later, Snape gripped his arm and sighed. He left the house and apparated to a clearing in the woods.
"Severus."
"My lord," Severus replied, while bowing.
"How goes the potion?"
"It is still in its initial phases. Results are unclear. It will be effective, I believe."
"I do not deal in beliefs, I deal in realities." Snape mentally groaned.
"Of course my lord." He bowed.
"Leave, Severus."
"Yes, my lord." Snape turned to leave.
"Crucio!"
Snape hit the ground and heard a commotion behind him.
"Avada Kedavra!" Snape was released from the curse.
"Severus?"
"Yes, my lord?" Snape gasped.
"Nott apparently could not take the pressure. You may leave now."
Snape disapparated.
Three hours later:
Snape apparated back to his manor and staggered inside. He considered collapsing in the living room, but hauled himself upstairs instead, and entered Hermione's room.
She was in bed, trying to flex her right knee. Privately Snape feared it was too far damaged to be repaired, but he would never say it to her. Hermione climbed out of bed and began limping over, and Snape icily told her to walk properly. Fuck you, bloody bastard! I was just going to help. Hermione opened her mouth to retort. Snape held up one twitching hand to silence her.
"If you are looking for sympathy, Miss Granger, it is between shit and syphilis in the dictionary."
Hermione took a deep breath and struggled to walk normally to him. His face remained impassive. She reached him and pulled him over to the couch.
"We should both sleep, Hermione." Snape said tiredly.
"Yes, sir." She replied. Hermione pulled out her wand and transfigured his robes into black silk pajamas. She turned to hobble back to her bed, but Snape grabbed her hand. He pulled out his own wand and murmured a spell. Hermione felt the pain in her knee recede.
"Goodnight Miss Granger."
"Daddy?" Hermione mumbled in her sleep. "Daddy? Daddy, no, don't do it, run Daddy, run!" She awoke and struggled against the person holding her.
"Calm down, Hermione. It's only me." She collapsed against Snape, shaking.
"Bloody dreams. They're dead, they've been dead for months now. Just can't seem to get it through my thick skull."
"I am here now, Hermione."
She sighed. "You're all I've got left now, you know that?"
"Hardly. You also have Potter, all of the many Weasleys, Lupin, and all the other members of the Order, not to mention Draco."
"Yeah, I suppose. But," she yawned, "You're what I consider family. You're stuck with me now. As father figures go," she snuggled into him, "You're pretty damned good. Got this saving business down." She fell back asleep as he stroked her hair.
"As daughter figures go, you're pretty damned good yourself," he murmured as he dozed off.
For the next two weeks, Hermione was restricted to her bedroom in Snape Manor, where she recovered and caught up in her schoolwork. Snape slept on the couch in her room every night and occasionally slept next to her, stroking her hair when she had nightmares. She was now corresponding regularly with her friends and beginning to mend the psychological rift her imprisonment had caused. Still, she could not overcome the cynicism that had imbued her and made no real effort to control the snarky wit that was beginning to manifest itself.
I really need to learn the art of controlling my mouth again. I used to do it, once upon a time when I was young, I can do it again, right?
"Miss Granger?" Snape's voice snapped her out of her reverie.
"Yes?" she looked up.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine. Wait, I've been meaning to mention to you: the fingers of my right hand tingle. Is that normal? Will it go away?"
"It is a result of the unfortunate combination of infected wounds and your hands being chained above you for extended periods. I am not capable of treating that, however Madam Pomfrey will take care of it when you return to Hogwarts in a week and a half."
"Week and half?" she inquired. "I was under the impression I was only staying here for three weeks."
"Albus and I agreed it may be a good idea for you to spend a week at the headquarters for the Order, reacclimating to life outside Snape manor with people other than me."
"I see."
"We also thought that perhaps you would like to see a…therapist." Snape said the word with distaste. Hermione considered the option. It might help, Mya. You've been having some major personal issues lately. This is the kind of stuff that comes back to haunt you later and makes you REALLY fucked up.
"Perhaps I shall," she said hesitantly.
"It is worth a try, Hermione," Snape said encouragingly.
"Yeah, I suppose it is." Hermione smiled at him.
"We shall leave for the Order in three days, is that acceptable?"
"Yes, that's fine. Would you like to stay and have lunch?" she asked.
"I was hoping you'd join me in the dining room. I've cooked a veritable feast," he replied mildly.
"Feast with you in the dining room or meal in room again? Tough decision, that one. What time are we eating?"
"Seven o'clock. And kindly put on real clothes, Miss Granger," he tossed back as he exited.
Hey! Pajamas are real clothes. Sort of. Hmmm…five-thirty. Hermione smiled and went to run a bath.