"Looking for something, Miss Weasely?"
Ginny felt as though her heart had completely left her chest, jumped out of the Astronomy tower window and drown itself in the Black Lake. Out of the very corner of her eye she could see a name, that certainly wasn't there before, standing right behind her own. Not that she needed the map as he was literally breathing over the top of her head.
"Your imitation of a fish is not a sufficient answer." Severus made sure to speak his words very clearly and lowly into her ear before moving around her shoulder towards Longbottom who was possibly about to faint, or piss himself. Either one wouldn't be pleasant, "The sword, Mr. Longbottom?"
Neville let out a slow breath handing over the pouch without a single word. His eyes never leaving the man's impossible to read face. When he turned away from him, slipping the pouch into his pocket as he went, Neville had to blink. Ginny had been standing right there, right there by the desk. He'd been talking to her and everything, and now she was gone.
"Miss Weasley? Would you care to join your co-conspirator on the couch as you wait for your head of house to personally escort you both back to your rooms?" Severus could have made syrup from the danger dripping out of his tone. He didn't have much time to waste on the pair. He'd gotten the alert to his rooms as soon as they'd entered the hall but he'd been unable to actually leave Granger's side until she was assured that he'd return. He'd left her a towel and a robe and explicit instructions to wash her hair and body.
Neville's brow ticked as Ginny seemingly reappeared out of thin air from beside the desk, to join him. Her face—just like his—pale with wide eyes. She was however, slipping something up her sleeve as she came closer, crossing her arms to keep it hidden.
Severus eyed them closely as they went to the couch. He could tell the redhead had done something but to what he wasn't sure. The fact that she kept avoiding his eyes with her guilty posture not helping him to decipher what it was.
"Agustus, send for Minerva." Severus raised only his eyes towards the painting on the wall. The man inside looking perturbed at being put to work but left his frame none the less.
"She…might be a bit busy professor." Ginny bit the inside of her lip but it didn't help her tone from being swotty, "There was an incident before I got here."
"Do tell." Severus didn't mind playing her game, in fact, the more information he could pull out of her the better. Having been stuck in his rooms and office had left him without a set of eyes and ears on the ground. He knew things were growing more dangerous inside the castle but he had yet to take in the full extent of it.
"Like you'd believe me." Ginny sneered from under her lashes.
"Try me." Severus drew out his words, matching her mocking tone with one of his own. Taking a seat behind his desk, he adjusted the glamour on his way so that the two could see him. A wave of his hand lit the lamps inside the room and the teens winced as the room came to light.
"Not a chance." Ginny crossed her arms and legs tighter around her form. She wasn't going to give the git anything else to charge her with. She was still amazed that the both of them hadn't been outright expelled yet.
Snape tilted his head ever just so, his face showing his disinterest. Leaning back into the chair, he adjusted his small mirror over the bathroom so as to check that Granger was doing as she was told. He didn't care that the two teens were sweating bullets over their possible punishment. He just took a small bit of satisfaction in making them squirm.
While he wasn't malicious by nature, catching stupid teens doing stupid things was a partially enjoyable experience. Mostly, he just wanted to keep them from getting themselves killed. Whether in his classroom or under his reign as headmaster.
He very well couldn't expel them, that would just set them up to being taken to the gallows, or worse, teaming up with Potter. As much as the boy needed help, a large group of teens running about was not conducive to either side of this war. No, he'd need to think of an appropriate yet overly excessive punishment to ensure that their 'heroics' were not repeated.
His eyes rolled down to the mirror, his lips pursed as he watched the image of Granger running her hands down her face to rinse the soap from her hair. It felt odd, to be watching her in such a state of undress with her former friends sitting just across from him. It brutally reminded him that the girl was very much that, despite the hardness that had grown around her.
Ginny looked at Neville through the corner of her eyes as the room grew silent. Snape was curiously just staring at something on his desk leaving her to worry her bottom lip on what he could be possibly planning. The boy beside her looked as if he was going to lose his meager dinner all over the both of them and she desperately wanted to do something to assure him that all was not lost.
Wary of the man behind the desk, she very gently poked Neville's hand with her pinky to get his attention. When she had it, she gave him a ghost of a smile and a soft caress with the pad of her finger. She could tell he'd tried to give her an encouraging look in turn but it looked more like a grimace.
The door opening to the office startled the both of them, actually making them jump nearly an inch from the cushions. Their heads turned as their Head of House strode in with her chin held high and her lips pursed tight. Her eyes narrowed slightly when she saw them but she clearly kept her thoughts to herself.
"Ah, Minerva. Kind of you to join us." Severus made a point of putting the mirror face down on the desk. His little glamour might work on more weak-minded and inexperienced magical practitioners but it was only so good against someone as experienced as she.
"I can assume that you've decided not to expel these two as clearly you wouldn't need my presence for that." McGonagall kept her tone even but sharp around the edges.
"No, I've decided that their transgressions would be better punished here." Severus turned his eyes up towards her own but kept his voice so calm that it almost sounded kind, "Three months detention with Filch, zero Hogsmeade privileges for the rest of the year and of course, all their prefect duties suspended for the remainder of their time in this school." Severus let his words hang heavy in the air, watching the woman slightly seethe, "Any objections?"
"Might I ask what it is that they've done?"
"They have attempted to steal school property. With the express purpose of passing it on to someone who is very much an outlaw and a danger to the safety of this school." Severus was sure his double meaning was completely lost on the Gryffindor as she had the nasty habit of becoming a tiny bit irrational when her cubs were involved.
Minerva pursed her lips but decided not to comment one way or another. Instead, she turned away from him and motioned for the two of them to come to their feet, "Since we are discussing punishment, perhaps it would be fit to enlighten you that Mister Colbart has been found unconcious next to Miss Patil, it is unclear at present who exactly is the agressor was as both have found themselves on a trip to the hospital wing. Though I would be remiss if I didn't inform you that Devil's Kiss was found at the scene."
Minerva gave him only the side of her face when she spoke, her hand having come to rest on Ginny's arm, "Their Heads of House have been informed."
"Then I am sure I shall be informed at a later time as to who might find themselves in need of my diciplinary services." Severus came to his feet, his eyes dangerous but his jaw set. There was a moment where he believed the elder witch was going to rival his authority but it seemed that today was not the day.
"Indeed." Minerva gave Ginny a small push and ushered Neville just as gently to walk in front of her, it was clear by the look on her face that she was far from done with the both of them.
Severus remained standing until the door had closed. A heavy silence filling the room. He had yet to hear back from the house elf he'd set out to search the castle, in one manner or another but the night was still young. With a wayward glance towards the portiats feigning sleep along the walls, he quickly exstinguished the sconces and turned towards the hidden door to his quarters. His eyes noticed just a small slip of light that shouldn't have been there had the door been closed properly.
"Miss Granger?"
There was a small shuffle as he came closer before his hand made it to the frame. When he pushed the heavy door aside he was greeted with a face so broken it might have been his own. She was wearing his coat over the towel he'd left behind for her; the sight of it made his stomach feel odd. Somewhere between childish anger over someone touching something that was his and the more confusing feeling on how right the image appeared. A deep red tear rolled down her stained face and his hand rose without hesitation.
"It... started to bleed... in the bath...I...I wasn't trying to...to.." Her words were silenced with his thumb on her lips and her closed eyes relaxed as his hand craddled her cheek. Clear tears mixed with the red that came down and her own hands came up to hold his arms when he tilted her head back, "I'm... I'm really here... at Hogwarts..."
She had heard the very tail end of his conversation with her former Head of House. The elder's voice having struck her heart like a hammer. She'd been stuck in place, unable to move herself forward. She had fought within herself rather harshly before she'd opened the door just enough to hear clearly. Though she hadn't for a second thought about going through.
Despite having been in the office before—a fact she was certain as she'd recognized the feeling of the handle as the one she'd use to retreat to his rooms—she didn't know about any of the protections he had put in place to ensure her safety. When she had spent her time in that room it had almost always been with him, alone. Unless she'd been asleep, he had always sent her out when someone was approaching.
"Does it hurt?"
"No..."
"It's just a little blood left over, it's nothing serious." Severus didn't resist the urge to lightly run his finger over the healing burn over the bridge of her nose.
He had deliberately ignored her observation as she was clearly someplace else in her mind. He would have to make a habit of locking the door to his office in the future. It wouldn't do well for her to wander in on her own, even if she had no intentions of exposing herself.
Hermione's eyes fluttered when his hand pulled away, though her own remained on his forarms. She wondered what came next, what she was expected to do. There were many things she wanted to do but lacked the strength to do any of them.
"There is one more potion for your eyes that should finish healing it. We'll need to wait at least three days before I can attempt the same with your right." Severus wanted to give her something else to think about, something that wouldn't crowd her exceptionally busy thoughts. It was a wonder she could even find the coordination to stand.
Hermione nodded her head, her eyes slowly coming open, the left looked much clearer despite the redness from the blood that had spilled over her lashes. The white looking to have retained more of it's natural color, "I...I was wondering if—maybe you had an extra hairbrush?"
Severus could have laughed at the sudden change of mood if he'd been the type. As it was, his brow merely raised and his attention went to her very much still dripping wet hair, "I might have something." He only used a comb for himself as his hair didn't really call for anything more. It was thick but it was as straight as it came, no need to wrestle with it.
A gentle turn and a guiding hand brought him into the room and her out of the doorway, a heavy sounding lock fell into place and the message was very clear. The two of them made their way towards the fire, with Hermione being sat down in the chair.
She closed her eyes as she waited for his return. Her head turning into the collar of the open jacket. Why did it feel so right? Why did her stomach feel so warm? The jacket was grossly oversized for her frame. She could have almost worn it as a dress. The sleeves were long, at least a full hand length over hers. The inlay was possibly the softest thing she'd ever felt, she wanted all of her clothes to be made out of whatever it was.
"Perhaps your own clothes would fit you better?" Severus had returned with a full clean set of pajamas and underclothes. He'd transfigured his comb while a house elf had brought him clean clothes for the girl. With her more mobile her knew he'd have to do something about her dress.
He didn't believe it wise to revisit her home in an attempt to acquire her personal attire and he was sure some of the less loyal house elves were starting to become suspicious at the rate he'd been summoning. He'd never even so much as asked an elf to bring him food before let alone the laundry list of things he was requesting now.
Hermione blushed softly when he sat the clothes she was meant to wear in her lap. A small adjustment of her shoulders released his jacket into his waiting hand. When he turned away into a side room It took a second for her to understand that he was giving her the privacy to dress. A small smile creeped over her lips and she wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. She was certain he would clear the blood from her face when he returned to give her the last potion and thus put no more thought into it.
oOo
"She's gone." Ginny frowned deeply, her eyes fixed on the map. McGonagall hadn't said much to them as she'd led them to the common room. Though her face had spoken volumes.
"Maybe...she really is an angel..." Neville had tried not to get his hopes up when they'd seen her but it had been hard not to try and find hope. It was all they had left.
"Yeah...maybe..." Ginny closed the map before reaching into her sleeve, "Or...it was reacting to this." Ginny shifted, holding up the wand for Neville to see. She'd seen it herself on Snape's desk, it had been sitting with some other things as if it had been brought to him.
"Is that?"
"It is..." Ginny set the wand down on the table in front of them, her eyes growing dark as her heart sunk, "Why do you think he had it?"
"A trophy maybe?"
"Or maybe he's the one who killed her..." Ginny's voice turned from sorrow to anger like the turning of a dial, "After all, he did kill Dumbledore."
"Yeah..."
oOo
Hermione sighed heavily with content. The fingers moving through her hair felt wonderful. She had been shocked when he'd offered to help her braid it, after she'd failed so many times. He'd dried it for her as well leaving her hair soft and smooth. She wasn't sure what he put into his shampoo but she definitely wanted it.
Her attention turned back as his fingers left, a soft spell pulling, parting and folding her hair into a simple French braid. His hand returned to tie the end, his fingers brushing along her sensitive neck as they worked. When he finished she couldn't stop herself from turning to smile up at him from between his knees.
"Thank you." Her hand gave his knee a squeeze and she felt the muscle along his inner thigh jump.
"You're welcome." Severus took a slow breath through his nose, the position she was sitting in bothered him more than he'd care to admit, "I believe I have a plan for you to find some sort of resolve."
Hermione's brows rose with curiosity, "You're going to show me what happened to me?"
"I can only show you what I have seen but I believe we must be cautious. One memory every night if you can complete the tasks I set for you each day."
Hermione's enthusiasm faltered slightly but her will remained strong, " What... sort of tasks," Her eyes flicked down between his legs. The sort of tit for tat that he was proposing bringing up an all different side of her.
Severus' eyes flared at the fear that had swept over her face. He would have crossed his legs had she not been between them. As it was, his temper flared and he had to take a moment to bring himself under control. When he did, he leaned forward and took her jaw in his hand forcing her to raise her eyes to his own.
"I want to make this perfectly clear," His voice was low, sharp and unquestionable, "I have never and shall never illicit sexual favors from anyone by means of extortion or force."
Hermione could only swallow thickly.
"Am I understood?"
A small nod.
"Now then, your tasks will be designed for you to rebuild your strength and stamina. When I feel as though you are strong enough we will discuss your magic." Severus released her jaw and sat back while he spoke. The fear his voice had created made his stomach churn. Despite all her progress she was just barely hanging on. He'd need to be careful.