Hey guys sorry for the delay. Chapter 12 is finally here. Thank you to all my reviewers I greatly appreciate your patience with me. Enjoy!
Chapter 12
The next morning Hermione appeared from her room drawn and pale. Her brown eyes fixed to the floor. Snape watched the girl discretely while he pretended to read the Daily Prophet at the table where an array of breakfast food lay hot out of the kitchen.
"Good morning Miss Granger." He said folding the paper and lying on the table beside his plate.
"Morning sir…" She whispered taking her seat across from him quickly.
Stomach rumbling Hermione carefully looked at the food before deciding on a piece of toast and some fruit. Taking a bite of toast she barely noticed the taste as she chewed on it slowly not daring to look up.
Snape watched her eat noticing that she was ignoring him. He ate his own breakfast waiting patiently for her to finish her own.
"Miss Granger we must talk about the events of last night." Snape said after breakfast ended.
Hermione looked up for the first time that morning at her professor's words. "I'm sorry Professor Snape." She whispered
"What caused you to harm yourself last night Miss Granger?" Snape asked.
Letting the question sink in Hermione carefully shielded her emotions debating whether or not she should tell the potions master. You can't get out of this one A little voice in the back of her head whispered.
"I had a nightmare sir." Hermione stated. "About what had happened with my parents." She added as an afterthought.
When Snape stayed silent a thought entered her mind. "How did you know I was….I was cutting myself?"
"I placed wards and alarms in and around your room to detect that kind of behavior." Severus drawled.
Smart man. Hermione thought. "You don't trust me do you?" she asked hurt in her voice.
Severus sighed. "As you know Miss Granger, I myself was in your shoes. I know how a self-mutilator's mind works. It has nothing to do with trust."
"Oh"
"We must find a solution." Severus said looking straight into Hermione's eyes.
For a moment Hermione looked confused. "What kind of solution sir?" She asked bewildered.
"To begin with…" Snape started. "We must find something for you to do that isn't harmful to yourself."
Hermione sat back thinking hard on what activities that would help. A number of things ran through her mind at once. She could easily get a head start on homework, but she really didn't feel like it. Quidditich was out of the question, besides it was too cold outside to really enjoy it. There was reading for pleasure, but the thought of reading another book made her groan. What else was there?
"Might I make a suggestion Miss Granger?" Snape asked a few minutes later.
Startled out of her thoughts Hermione looked up at her professor before nodding slowly.
"You did a fine job on the potions you helped with. I fine that when I'm working on potions it helps clear my mind." Snape stated.
Hermione gaped. Was Professor Snape asking me if I wanted to continue to help? She thought tilting her head a bit to the side.
"Professor….are you asking me if...if I wanted to continue to help with the potions?" She timidly asked.
The corner of Snape's mouth quirked ever so slightly as he gave a small nod. "Along with brewing the potions I will help you to clear your mind at night before bed so that you will have less of a chance of recurring nightmares that you experience." He added.
A small smile appeared on Hermione's face as she thought it over. "I'd love to help you professor."
"Very well, let us start then." He replied rising from his seat and moving towards the door to his private lab.
He stopped at the door realizing the girl was not following and turned around. "Are you coming Miss Granger?" A black eyebrow raised in question.
"Yes sir…" Hermione mumbled clambering to her feet and walking quickly across the chambers to where Snape stood.
Snape entered the room followed quickly by Hermione. Like the day before there were two cauldrons and a great amount of different ingredients spread in neat piles along the table.
"Potter has diminished Madame Pompfry's supplies of medicinal potions." He growled handing her a piece of parchment.
Hermione scanned the parchment where the ingredients were written down. The list was very long and she knew it would probably take all day to make.
"Well let us get started." Snape said pulling several plants to him to chop.
Lighting a fire under her cauldron, Hermione shakily picked up the knife staring at the silver blade longingly. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Snape stare at her sternly before turning to his cauldron.
Hermione knew that Snape was keeping a watchful eye on her and knew she wouldn't be able to relieve herself of her pain. Her eyes misted over as she pulled some of the needed plants to her.
Better part of the morning Hermione chopped bits of frog legs for yet another potion for Madame Pompfry when there was a sharp gasp from the end of the table. Hermione looked up alarmed.
Snape was bent over by the table grasping hold of his arm in a death like grip. His already pale skin was paling rapidly. Breath catching in his chest. Hermione came around the table slowly cautiously.
"Pro…Professor Snape?" She asked timidly. "Are you alright sir?"
Approaching carefully Hermione came forward but Snape held up a hand to stop her. "I must go." He whispered raggedly. "Go advise Dumbledore that I have left."
Hermione nodded unsuredly as she watched Snape disappear into his rooms. Then as quickly as she could Hermione ran out of the dungeons. Fear predominant in her mind
"Miss Granger?" A voice asked amused.
Startled Hermione slowed to a stop and turned towards the voice. There stood Albus Dumbledore.
"Where are you going in such hurry?" He asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore…" Hermione breathed. "I was sent to….to tell you something."
"Oh and what would that be child?" He asked placing a weathered hand on her shoulder.
Hermione gasped for air bracing her hands on her knees. "Professor Sn….Snape sent me." She said. "Sent me to….tell you that he left." Fear crossed her face remembering the look on the Potion Master's face.
"I see." Dumbledore murmured.
"Professor…" Hermione stammered. "…Before he left Professor Snape grabbed his arm in pain."
Hermione noticed a look of worry cross the old wizard's face and the twinkle in his eyes dim.
"I must see to something Miss Granger." He muttered walking briskly down the hall leaving a very confused Hermione where she stood.
Hermione slowly wandered back down to the dungeons where the cauldrons lay waiting on the table. Might as well continue She thought as she picked up the knife once more.
A half hour passed before Hermione found herself too preoccupied to continue making the potions. Her thoughts seemed to come to rest on Severus Snape and the way Dumbledore looked worried.
Finishing up the last batch of nutrient potion Hermione ladled it into little bottles placing them in a box. Where is he She thought absently. There was no question about it, Hermione was growing restless. Pacing back and forth in Snape's common room she came to a conclusion.
I need to get out of the dungeons She decided.
Going back to the lab Hermione carefully picked up the already full box of assorted potions carrying them out to the hallway. Quietly she made her way up to the hospital wing where she kicked the door softly.
The door opened moments later Hermione found Madame Pompfry in the doorway.
"Why hello, Miss Granger." The mediwitch greeted.
"Hello Madame Pompfry." Hermione greeted in return. "I brought up a box of potions that Snape and I finished so far."
"Professor Snape." Madame Pompfry corrected letting the girl to enter. "Set it on the bed over there." She instructed Hermione.
Hermione set down her load and straightened her shirt. "Good bye Madame Pompfry." Hermione said as she left the hospital wing.
"Now where to?" she thought making her way to the Great Hall.
The corridors were dark as Hermione made her way silently. As she passed a window she stopped suddenly, a dark figure catching her eye. Taking a closer look she instantly recognized him. Severus Snape was back, and obviously hurt.
With great urgency Hermione raced to the front doors and through them open flying down the stairs and across the lawn to where the man had collapsed. Hermione fell to her knees beside the fallen man with fear.
"Professor…" She cried shaking the man's shoulder.
There was no response from the fallen man and Hermione knew he was unconscious. Carefully rolling him onto his back Hermione gasped in horror in just how injured her professor was.
She whipped out her wand pointing it at a bush quickly transfiguring it into a stretcher before levitating Snape onto it.
"Oh please professor be alright." She whispered levitating the stretcher behind her as she made her way back to the hospital wing.
So sorry for the delay. School is finally over and I'm home for the summer. I meant to work on it earlier but I got real sick so I just now finished. I hope you enjoyed!