Thanks for the reviews they really help. I'm sorry if I disappointed anyone who wanted a romance. I can't write romance and I've been really hurt in that department so it is hard for me. Plus depression and romance don't really mix. I know from personal experience. I'm sorry.
Chapter 5 Fear of the Unknown
Soft warm light filtered into the narrow hospital wing window waking Severus from his slumber. His back ached horribly from sitting in the hard backed chair. His vision cleared as he sat up and looked around the wing before his eyes settled on the girl's form on the bed. Her pale skin shone in the pale morning light.
In the light Severus could see how thin the girl really was which surprised him. Her skin was almost as pale as the off white sheets that lay around her form. Her bandaged arms lay at her sides, her thin hands involuntarily clenched in fists.
Hermione sighed in her sleep, shifting onto her side. Snape sat back and watched the girl sleep wincing anytime pressure was applied to her wrists.
-------------------------
Hermione woke feeling warm. She could feel a soft bed underneath her, stiff sheets clenched in her fists. Am I dead? She thought.
Slowly she opened her eyes blinking away the sleep. Hermione glanced around the room vision slightly blurred. Blinking rapidly her vision cleared allowing her to see. She could see the beds lined against the walls and realized that she was in the hospital wing. As she turned her head Hermione gasped at seeing who was sitting in the chair by the bed.
Brown eyes looked up in to cold ebony ones. As usual there was a scowl upon the potion master's face. "I see you have finally awoken Miss Granger." His cool voice reached her ears.
"Why did you save me?" She hissed in anger. "I didn't want to be saved." Her voice lowered to a whisper.
Snape sat forward resting his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands together in front of him. "Miss Granger pray tell me why would want to end your life. Surely life is not that bad?"
Hermione glared at Snape crossing her arms across her chest. "What would you know of my life? You seem to only want to make our lives miserable."
A low growl emitted from Snape's throat. "I know what you're going through Miss Granger. Professor Dumbledore has asked me to watch over you." He said with smirk on his lips.
Groaning Hermione turned away from Snape and sighed. "I can't believe this." She whispered. "Leave me alone."
"Very well Granger, I will leave you for the time being." Snape replied coolly as he rose from his seat. "I will collect you tomorrow morning."
With that Snape turned on his heel, striding quickly out the door which closed with a soft click behind him. Hermione stared at the door long after the man left her wondering what he meant.
"Why couldn't he just let me fall?" She cried bringing her palms to her face and grinding them over her eyes.
Bringing her hands away Hermione stared out the window seeing the bright clear blue sky. Thoughts began to come into her mind all at once overwhelming her.
I've surely done it now She thought drearily. Snape is going to come back in the morning to deliver me to St. Mungos. They'll lock me up with Professor Lockhart She shuddered at the thought.
The silence of the hospital wing was becoming so crushing. Madame Pomfrey was nowhere in sight. Hermione wished that her friends were there. But the thought stopped cold in her mind. What will they think of me when they find out? She thought
Dread filled her as she thought of it. Thoughts of what they might say came to her mind, her eyes brimming with tears. Hermione curled up into a fetal position pulling the blankets over head and began to cry. Her soul was torn; she didn't know what to do. Peaceful darkness surrounded her calling her. It didn't take much for her to beckon as she slipped into a troubled sleep.
Pushing her way through the students that lingered in the crowded corridor of the train her eyes searched the compartments for her friends. Anger coursed through her veins as well as hurt for all summer she had not received any word from either of them. Close to the end of the train she spotted them in the second to last compartment. Pulling the door open she glared at them fiercely.
'Hey Hermione how was your summer?' Ron asked looking up at her.
Hermione sat in the seat closest to the door folding her arms across her chest glared at the two boys.
'I got your letter' Harry said. 'I think your exaggerating. Your parents were thrilled to find out you were a witch'
Staring in disbelief Hermione couldn't believe what she had just heard. One of her best friends didn't believe her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared down at her feet. Her chest felt rather tight and she knew that she wanted to cry.
The rest of the trip was spent in silence and when they arrived at Hogwarts Hermione climbed into a different carriage to hurt to be anywhere near Ron and Harry.
That first night Hermione lay in her bed unable to sleep. In the room around her she could hear the other girls' soft breathing. Silently she crept out of bed and padded across the stone floor to the bathroom. From her bathroom tote she had left in the corner she pulled out her razorblade quickly running it across her skin. Dully she stared down at the blood and sighed. She wasn't understood. Her friends didn't believe her and if she asked them for help they would go straight to Dumbledore. She couldn't have that; she would have to keep her pain silent…
Hermione gasped and bolted up in bed bathed in cold sweat. Scanning the room wildly she remembered where she was and settled back down. Her heart was racing as well as her mind.
Glancing out the window Hermione could see the sky beginning to lighten and knew that morning was not far away. She didn't want to be anywhere near Snape and she feared him more then anything.
Rubbing sleep out of her eyes she stretched her sore muscles and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Carefully slipping out of the bed Hermione crept across the room to the door. Her heart was pounding and she hoped that she wouldn't be caught.
The halls were quiet when she crept out the door; the stones were cold beneath her feet. The portraits on the walls glanced down at the girl who passed beneath them. She looked up at them and a faint smile appeared on her face.
"Hello Hermione, what are you doing up at this hour?" Sir Nicholas asked as he floated into view.
His sudden appearance startled Hermione as she quickly tried to hide her bandaged arms behind her back. She didn't want him to know anything.
"I… I couldn't sleep." She whispered looking down at her bare feet.
"Ah I see." Sir Nicholas said softly. "Is there something bothering you my dear?"
Hermione's eyes shot up at the ghost. Could she say anything… no she couldn't. Shaking her head she stepped around the ghost saying a quick goodbye and continued down the corridor.
Wrapping her bathrobe tighter around her she wandered down the corridor. The stairs wound below her as she tiptoed down them finding herself in the dungeons. The walls there were dark and sparsely decorated with Slytherin wizards who glared down at her as she passed.
As she was turning the corner she heard a dark chuckle behind her. "What are you doing out of bed Miss Granger?" The cold voice said.
Hermione turned and faced the potions master with a glare fixed on her face. "I couldn't sleep sir." She responded.
Snape scowled at her. "Come with me Miss Granger." He said turning and walking back towards the stairs.
Sighing Hermione grudgingly followed her professor down the corridor and back up to the stairs. She had to quicken her pace to keep up with his strides. He led her back to the hospital wing stopping at the end of her bed crossing her arms in front of him. Hermione glared at him as she crawled back into bed pulling the covers up around her.
"Now Miss Granger, please stay here until I collect you later this morning." Snape said quickly leaving the room.
Hermione leaned back against the headboard and sighed again. This was going to be long holiday.
Hey I hope you liked. I'm sorry for the short chapters, just having a little writers block. R&R!