Chapter 8

Waking from his light sleep Severus glanced at his watch. About to stand, his dark eyes caught those of the witch lying in the bed before him. Her hazel eyes fixed steadily on him. Hermione had been watching him for several minutes as he rested. She was intrigued by the way his face relaxed has he slept, the permanent scowl disappearing revealing the face of a much younger man, the man she now recognized as the one who she had come to know. She was fascinated how his narrow chest rose and fell as he slept and how his hair contrasted his face as it spilled across.

"Miss Granger," he greeted her. Too tired to lift her hands she nodded in greeting. Standing from his chair Hermione watched his slim frame move like silk, a much more inviting display than with his forbidding cloak. Slipping his cloak on, he turned to her.

"I am afraid I must return to prepare for my classes Monday. Unlike you I have a life outside these walls." Even though his remark was as cutting as usual it did not have the same effect without his icy voice behind it and the fact Hermione didn't find him scary any more.

Nodding Hermione's hand slipped under her pillow taking hold of her wand as she brought it back to her side.

Making a decision he added, "I will return this afternoon to run some tests to try and restore your hearing."

"Thank-you for everything," she told him sleepily.

After he had left Hermione started counting down the hours until he returned.

ooOOoo

Mid-morning Madam Pomfrey came to visit her, followed eagerly by Harry and Ron.

"Hermione," Ron said as soon as they saw her. "Madam Pomfrey told us that you were awake. We were so glad to hear you had your hearing back but she wouldn't let us come see you until now. She kicked us out last night but we were back here first thing in the morning."

Hermione smiled at the sight of her two friends. She found Ron's display very entertaining. When he had finished she pointed to her ear and shrugged, telling them she could see them but didn't have a clue what they were saying.

Ron just smiled reaching forward and pulling her into a brotherly hug, followed by Harry. Gesturing for a quill and parchment Hermione tried to write. It was a total disaster. Firstly she knocked over the ink pot dipping her quill before dropping the quill three times before it even touched the page. What she was trying to write made sense but what came out was a mess of squiggles and splotches. Eventually giving up she put down the quill and pushed it all away.

An idea sparking Harry, he grabbed the quill and started writing.

We have been so worried about you Hermione.

Hermione smiled and the one sided conversation began. The boys would write, Hermione would read and then respond nodding or shaking her head and several times finger spelling.

The trio had a wonderful time until Madam Pomfrey kicked out the boys. Taking off her top she applied the balm and made a general overview of her. The Matron was too worried about scaring Hermione to make a full examination, deciding to save it until another time. If there was anything, it could wait.

ooOOoo

Making use of the time alone, Hermione opened her mind to her surroundings and for the first time that morning, shutting her eyes to the world. Again she began to feel her surroundings seep into her mind. Smiling Hermione could tell he had left, he was gone and she was alright for the moment. Finally relaxing she sat back and ate her lunch by herself, only spilling it twice.

After lunch, Harry had to attend detention with Filch for trying to sneak out and see Hermione one night during the past week so Ron stayed with Hermione. Most of the conversation topics had already been exhausted so helped by Ron she made her way to the bathroom for her first bath in quite a while.

Sending Ron out she was determined to do this herself. Turning on the bath taps she sat down on the bath seat pulling off her pyjamas. Eventually she was free of her clothing, sitting naked in the bathroom while she waited for the bath to fill. Determined not to look at her body, she busied herself with getting the temperature right and adding some salts. Knowing she couldn't avoid it any longer she stepped in front of the half length mirror.

Her face was a mess of fading purple bruises. Several cuts she knew had been there had been healed and barely visible. Breathing deeply she looked down on her body. Tears came to her eyes as she took in the sight of her mutilated body. There where tiny white lines scattered over her torso, a rather large one near her side touching it gently she flinched. Over the scars were healing wounds from her most recent encounter. Fortunately they were all only superficial wounds, no of which would have needed attention thankfully. But not only was her flesh scared, her skin was bruised. Ranging from purple to black, the discolorations littered her skin. Gently Hermione ran her hand over her once imperfection free skin.

Seeing the bath was full she slipped in watching her body disappear under the pink water. Lying down she closed her eyes, relaxing into the calming aromas. Eventually she reached for the loofah and gently cleaned her body washing away the grim from her mind at the same time.

ooOOoo

After she had finally finished, Hermione crawled out of the bath. Sitting down on the seat again she began to towel dry herself. First her back and arms followed by her tender torso. Drying her thighs she noticed a mark on her inner thigh. Moving to see it better she recognized it. It was Voldemort's mark, the Dark Mark.

Out of total shock she screamed falling off her chair onto the hard floor. Hermione was in total shock. How could she have not noticed this before now? Sensing a movement to the side she grabbed her towel around her.

Thinking on her feet, so to speak, she tried to tell Ron she had fallen off the chair using crude sign language. Getting the idea he stepped outside at her instance to let her finish dressing.

Removing her towel she looked at the tattoo marring her skin. It was horrible. The thought of it on her skin made Hermione feel physically sick. Not looking at herself, Hermione dressed quickly as to not arouse suspicion with Ron.

Finally she was back in her bed in clean pyjamas. Ron was trying to engage her in some conversation but she just wasn't interested. She couldn't get the sight of that hideous mark out of her head. Giving up on trying to comfort Hermione while she was so distant, Ron went to see if Harry had finished his detention yet.

Hermione continued to sit there, her mind blank. She felt dirty, a level of filthiness that could not be erased. She wanted to crawl into a hole where no one would find her and die. No one would understand this. They would think things. Have preconceived ideas of who she now was because she had been marked. She felt alone. No one was in the same position as she was, she thought as she pulled her knees up.

Then she remembered then there was someone who was in the same position as she was. Well as close as anyone could get. They would give her understanding and through this prospect of understanding, she received a sense of hope.

As if hearing her thoughts that very person stepped through her doorway, hidden under voluminous folds of black fabric.

"Miss Granger," he greeted emotionlessly. Smiling she nodded her greeting. "I've talked with Poppy and am going to be running some tests to see if we can't return your hearing." Stepping forward he removed three identical vials, placing them on the bedside table. "The Matron should be along soon I do believe, but for now I would like to get started. If you will please lie back."

Moving back she rested on her back. Normally she would have felt very vulnerable in this position but at the moment it didn't worry her.

Taking several minutes he cast several spells before getting her to drink the first potion. A few more spells and then the second vial. Shortly after, she was given the third vial of tasteless potion.

It was around the second vial that Hermione had felt the medi-witch walk in. Now the two visitors were conversing. Although Hermione couldn't make out what they were saying she knew something was wrong. It was no use trying to read the Professor, but the Matron was very open with her expressions. She was slightly distressed about something but she was hard to read, a mixture of emotions which worried Hermione slightly.

Next thing she knew Professor's Dumbledore and McGonagall were there. None of them paying her any attention all deep conversation about something. Then Harry and Ron where there, sparing her a quick greeting before becoming absorbed in the conversation. Ever so often someone would gesture to her in general so this had something to do with her but other than that they were completely ignoring her.

Before she knew it the boys were clearly against something that had been said. It wasn't until Professor Snape sneered at them that they quietened down a little.

Getting frustrated she tried to get there attention before finally shouting out when no one would listen to her. Suddenly all attention was on her.

"What is going on?" she asked. Harry and Ron both shook their heads in an apologetic manner saying something. Ignoring them she turned to Severus. "Well?" she insisted.

Sighing dramatically he turned to face her. "We are discussing where you are going to go as it is no longer safe for you here."

Harry, Ron and McGonagall were shell shocked, gawping at the dark Professor.

"Well doesn't this concern me? And is it no longer safe here?" she asked oblivious to the others in the room.

"Yes it does and it was no long safe here the moment your attacker stepped through your door. The tests I completde have revealed that your hearing is damaged beyond my potions at this time. It appears that it was damaged before you were given the potion."

Recalling the night her attacker visited her she stopped the Potions Master before he could continue. "Could it have anything to do with restorative charms?"

"Yes. I fear that in getting you here you lost your hearing."

"I don't think so," she told him softly.

"Really, why is that? Are you now an expert on your hearing?" he signed, sarcasm written all over his face.

Ignoring he last question she answered; "Because he when he was here he returned my hearing until he left." There was no need to elaborate who he was.

"I see. In any case there is hope for a cure but it may take many weeks to create." Pausing briefly, Hermione barely had time to comprehend what he had just said before he continued. "You are still disorientated. As the component in the potion you received to restore your senses, which eliminates the disorientation and restores hearing would have taken effect after a few minutes, it did not have time to begin before you reacted to the other components." Trying to divulge his complex sentences Hermione watched intensely. "The active component can be created on it's own but will take a week or two. As for living arrangements, all of your guests here seem to think that you should be staying somewhere safer than Gryffindor Tower." A look of hatred slowly crossed his face has he continued. "Many of those here seem to think that it would be appropriate taking into consideration the situation at hand, if you were to stay with a teacher. As it so happens that you require potions and I am the Potions Master here and the fact that Poppy seems to think we have a bond the Headmaster has insisted you situate yourself in my guest room until such a time that you have retained your hearing. I have no say in the matter. All they await is your decision. My rooms or St. Mungos?"

Hermione was shell shocked. She had to decide between living with the Head of Slytherin for several months, or basically being expelled from Hogwarts.

There was no way she was going to leave Hogwarts. In any case until such time as she could get back to classes she might as well be some use, she would still be able to brew potions when she received the first concoction. Then she remembered her discovery this morning. He would be able to fill her in on whether she was linked with Voldemort or whether it was just a tattoo. Not only that, he was the one person who could understand her, and the only one she felt safe with.

"I'll stay with you," she answered finally.

After relaying the decision to the others he turned back to her. "In that case you better pack your things, you will be moving this afternoon. I have things to attend to. Madam Pomfrey will bring you to my quarters when you are ready."

With that he turned, swooping out of the odd room containing two dumbstruck teenagers, a bustling nurse, a slightly stunned Head of House, a cheerful Headmaster and an unsure woman.