Disclaimer: see One
Forward to Time Past
By Claudia
Three
Hermione blushed, more from surprise than from modesty. She knew she was good, and she had wanted nothing more than have him tell her that she was. "Thank you, sir."
Severus smiled. He had finally been able to express his feelings about her abilities. He had got to know Hermione Granger a lot better in the past twelvemonth, well enough to appreciate her intellect - and to admit to himself that she was more like him than he had cared to even think about. Next to Minerva, she was a woman whose company he enjoyed without feeling seized up or pitied or ... whatever. He enjoyed talking shop with her, and some of her thoughts were quite stimulating. It was a pity that they would not see each other often in the future. Maybe they could continue their friendship - if you could call it that - via owl post. He would send her a letter and see how things would develop from then on.
He was aware of the fact that Granger had noticed his smile. He looked at her askance.
She smiled in return.
They stopped to cross the street. Both directions were clear.
A sudden indistinct feeling of dread rushed down his back. Severus was not certain what exactly this feeling was - anticipation, dread, a warning. But he knew this feeling could be trusted, since it had been very reliable in the olden days. Just what was he supposed to do? What was this warning about?
Or was it more than a warning, was it-
It was more like the strange feeling of temporal disorientation that remained after a déjà vu.
Severus noticed the car that sped around the corner too late to grab Granger by the arm and pull her back on the pavement.
There wasn't even time for a scream before the car hit her and she was hurled over the car's bonnet, against the windscreen and hence rolled off onto the street. Tyres had screeched and the thud of her body hitting the beast of metal was a sickly sound. Then again, tyres screeched as the driver realised what had happened, and fled the scene, once again at top speed. It was over - quite literally - in a flash.
Severus was by her side with four long strides. She lay sprawled on the wet, tarred surface, and she was very still. Except for some angry bruises that started to bloom on her skin, and a couple of scratches, she seemed unharmed. But Severus knew that appearances were deceptive in a case like this.
"Ms Granger?" He touched her arm. "Hermione? Can you hear me?"
She opened her eyes, and managed with some effort to look at him. Surprise and a thousand questions were reflected in her glassy eyes, and when she tried to say something, Severus knew that he hadn't experienced a déjà vu. It had been foreboding, and he had had it because this had happened before.
"It is all right, Ms Granger," he said. "I shall take you to St Mungo's."
Ms Granger's lips closed and she sank into the darkness of oblivion.
Severus took her hand - he didn't dare touch her for fear of aggravating her injuries - and Apparated them to the wizarding hospital.
Other than the first time, though, he wasn't ushered out of the casualty ward. Instead, he was pushed rather rudely into a corner, and some nurse forced Ms Granger's belongings on him. But this was all quite irrelevant when he caught glimpses of her in the gaps of the live wall that the Healers had busily erected around her. She was naked except for her underwear, and her skin was very fair. He could see her feet and toes, and the Healers' hands were all over her body. The air was filled with the colours, hisses, lights, crackles, iridescence, and popping of spells, with the curt, precise pieces of information passed between the Healers and nurses.
"What are you doing here?" a nurse snapped at him, waking him from his stupor. "Are you a relative?"
"Absolutely not," he replied, matching her in tone.
"You're supposed to wait in the relatives' room then," she instructed him and ushered him out quite rudely.
Once in the relatives' room, Severus sank into an old worn out armchair. He still hadn't realised what had happened. Well, of course he knew about the accident - but this wasn't just a dream, and it wasn't quite a déjà vu either. The former you experienced for an instant only, and it was just a feeling of having done or seen something before. This was much longer than an instant. And Ms Granger's belongings were very real in his hands.
So what was this if not history repeating? Had somebody hexed them? Whatever it was obviously only affected Ms Granger and himself; otherwise the Healers would have commented on their appearance in the casualty ward. Madam Bones would have, at least.
He folded Ms Granger's robes and put them on the seat next to him. Again, he was the only person in the relatives' room.
Again.
So he was already thinking along the lines of ... whatever his - their - situation was.
He looked at her book bag resting on his lap, and he felt an urge to go through her things so as to find an explanation. Or at least the semantics that described the situation properly. Then again, why would he find the answer to all his questions in Ms Granger's bag of all places?
A cup rattled on its saucer, breaking into Severus' thoughts. It was floating in front of him on a well-laden tea tray. He helped himself to a drink.
He had probably wanted to go through her things because he valued her opinion and insight so much. At times, Ms Granger had proven a completely different approach to her work and problems than he had, but it had turned out that the two of them worked better together because of this.
He sipped at his tea, lost in thoughts.
His memories were clearing up somewhat as he relaxed. The images of Ms Granger in a state of dishabille were still vivid in his memory, but he didn't derive pleasure from them. She had been so vulnerable, he realised, and there had been nothing he could do. The images had touched him, because he had never seen her like this, injured and-
Dying.
He had seen her die.
That was the last memory he had before finding himself in the London street again, thinking that he had been there before. And he had. And the accident had left Ms Granger fatally injured.
A cold spread within him that he had experienced only very rarely. Ms Granger had died before his very eyes, and he had stood by, doing nothing. Just as he could not do anything, something, to prevent the accident.
Severus closed his eyes.
"Sir?"
A female voice broke into his thoughts, whatever they were at that moment. He himself couldn't tell, for his discovery made everything even more foggier.
"Yes?" He rose, teacup still in hand.
"Ms Granger is being transferred to her ward now. I'm afraid to tell you that she has suffered severe injury."
Severus recognised the Healer now. It was Bones. He nodded.
"I'm sorry. I ought to introduce myself. My name is Nicola Bones," she said, proffering her right hand. Absentmindedly, Severus grasped it firmly.
"Ms Granger has asked for you," Bones continued. "Is there anyone else who needs to know about this?"
"I'll talk to her first, if you don't mind," Severus replied.
Bones looked at him hard. "All right," she said eventually. Never mind her opinion of them.
The ward was the same. The white-painted bed, the crisp linen, and muted light outside the window. Ms Granger sported the same bandages, and again, her shoulders were bare. Severus warmed a towel with a charm and covered her shoulders.
"Thank you, Professor," Ms Granger said softly.
"You wanted to see me?" he asked. Sliding towards him from its corner, the chair scraped its legs over the polished wooden floor and stopped for him to sit.
"What happened?" she asked. She turned her head slowly to look at him. Her eyes were glassy with pain. He winced inwardly. Why that foolish Gryffindor bravery?
"A car hit you."
"Again," she pointed out.
"Apparently so, yes," Severus said.
She moaned.
"Let me get you something for the pain, Ms Granger," he said. It was hard to see her like this. Physical pain was something he could remedy quickly enough. He had been in a situation like this often enough himself to know-
No, he had never been in a situation like this. Whatever it was.
"Please listen to me, Professor," she said softly, but firmly enough to catch his attention.
"I'm listening," he said. Leaning forward a bit, he supported himself with his hand on the edge of the mattress. He almost jumped when he felt his hand covered by hers. It was a gentle touch, but it was powerful enough to keep him where he was. "I'm here, Ms Granger."
She attempted a smile. "Please don't let them call my parents." Her fingers were light on his. He tried hard not to enjoy it, but it was difficult. He mustn't do this, not in a situation as this.
"Very well," he agreed. She must have her reasons.
"Professor McGonagall gave me the Headmaster's old Time Turner," she continued slowly. It was obviously very difficult for her to speak. Severus filled the glass on her bedside table with the water provided in a pitcher, and let her drink some with a straw.
"I think it's broken," she said. "It's in my bag. In an envelope."
Severus picked up the bag he had put next to her bed earlier. "They entrusted me with your belongings, Ms Granger," he informed her, and to her great relief, he noticed. He found the envelope quickly enough. It had been trapped between two books, and when he opened the flap, sand trickled out of it, and tiny bits of glass.
"You are right."
So this was the cause of their situation. He had read once that a shattered Time Turner could cause a time loop, but he had always thought that such a time loop only affected the space in its immediate proximity. But this was very different. It affected the two of them, although Ms Granger had been carrying the Time Turner.
"It's a time loop," Ms Granger said. "Isn't it?"
Surprised, Severus nodded. "And we are both in it."
"I'm sorry for that."
"Don't be, Ms Granger," he said.
A knock on the door interrupted them, and an instant later, Madam Bones slipped into the room. "I just wanted to see how you're doing, Ms Granger."
Hermione smiled weakly. "I'm fine."
"Is there anything you need? Shall I owl somebody for you?" Bones asked.
"No, thank you," Ms Granger replied.
Bones frowned.
"Ms Granger's parents are currently abroad, on holiday," Severus told her. "I think she would like a potion for the pain," Severus continued.
"No, I-" Hermione protested weakly.
He shot her a sharp glance. It told her of false Gryffindor strength. And of his worry.
"I'll bring something as soon as possible," Bones promised. "Just let me know if you need anything else."
"We will, thank you," Severus said. Bones left.
Severus sat down again. He drew his wand and cleaned up the mess the broken Time Turner had made on the crisp white sheets.
"Thanks," Hermione said. Again, she touched his hand. Severus managed a small smile. "I don't want my parents to see me like this again," she explained. "If this is really a time loop - it's bad enough as it is."
Severus nodded. He had a feeling that it was a time loop that would end in her death time and again. He tried hard not to dwell on this particular thought too long. "We will find a way out of this."
Hermione nodded, and she managed to press her hand down onto his a bit.
Again, a warmth long lost filled the Potions Master.
"You don't have to stay here all the time," she said after a little while.
"I am aware of that Ms Granger," Severus replied. But the truth was that he didn't have anywhere else to go. It was a theory that still needed testing, but if his limited knowledge of Time didn't fail him, he was quite unable just to leave. He and Ms Granger had been joined magically by the accident. Even if he could leave her, he was bound to return to her sooner or later; and if he could leave her the question of how far he could go remained. He decided to explore this theory later, when she was asleep.
"Please, sir," she began. "I don't-"
Just then, the door swung open again and Madam Bones hurried in. She had barely left them time enough to register her knocking. A simple goblet was in her hands, the long-awaited painkiller. "Ms Granger ought to get some rest now," Bones advised. "The potion will make her sleepy anyway." Severus stood, making place for the redhead by Ms Granger's bed.
After Bones had administered the draught, she asked Severus to join her in the hall.
Yet it was Severus who started the conversation. "Why do I get the impression that my presence is disapproved of?"
Bones had the grace not to blush. "Well," she began, rather feebly so, as Severus noted.
"Madam Bones, with all due respect," he began in a soft voice that never failed to get the attention of his audience. "Ms Granger's and mine relationship is of a purely professional nature. There is nothing going on between the two of us that warrants being frowned upon. Ms Granger's parents are currently unavailable as they are on a cruise to Norway, and she has asked me to stay with her. I'm here for no other reason than the respect of her wishes."
His voice and the intense gaze he gave her seemed to convince her. "Of course, Professor." If there had been any convincing necessary at all. She seemed as though she had never assumed any such thing.
"Now, what is it you wanted to discuss with me?" Severus asked, in a more friendly if still cool tone.
"I just wanted to let you know that I found your latest work for The Tempest very enlightening," Bones said. "I'm sure that in the long run it will change the approach to the problem."
Severus raised his eyebrows. So his feelings had been misleading. It was ... embarrassing, even more so because of the praise he had just received. "Well," he began.
"Perhaps we could arrange for a more detailed discussion of the topic?" Bones continued as if his little speech had never existed.
"I would like that very much."
"Splendid," the Healer said, genuinely pleased. "Now, if you'll excuse me?"
He looked after her as she hurried down the hall, then he went back into Ms Granger's room. She met his gaze with slightly fearful eyes. "What did you talk about?"
"Nothing to worry about," he said curtly. His words had the opposite of the desired effect. He should have known. So he added, "Bones asked me something regarding my article for The Tempest."
"Ah," she just made.
An almost uncomfortable silence ensued.
"Did the potion help?"
"It did," Ms Granger replied softly. "But it makes me drowsy."
"Then do rest a bit," he advised. "It will do you good."
"You don't have to stay," she repeated with an imploring look.
This time, he nearly touched her hand, instead, he tugged a little at the wrinkle-free sheet. "I know." Hermione closed her eyes, and her features relaxed as she slowly drifted off into sleep. He rose and undid the buttons of his frock coat. It was fairly warm in the room.
Another thought struck him as he contemplated the scenery outside the window. Instead of some grey and grimy courtyard or a narrow alley, he saw a garden with tall, ancient trees, gravel pathways and a fountain. Quite a few patients, nurses and visitors were walking around or sitting on benches, enjoying the bright early summer day.
If only Hermione could be taken outside, but so they were trapped inside.
When had he started to refer to Ms Granger by her given name?
Severus turned around and looked at the witch in the white hospital bed. And it was Hermione lying there, not Ms Granger. After all that had happened, not today - or whatever today was - but ever since he had become her mentor, but particularly so towards the end of her Master's Thesis, they had gotten to know each other, and something like a professional friendship had developed between them. He wondered if formalities such as names and titles were still necessary. Probably not, when he had already started to call her Hermione in his subconscious.
Severus looked at his pocket-watch. It was early in the afternoon. He decided to get a sandwich and a drink from the tearoom; Hermione's sleep seemed to be sound enough to leave her alone for a minute or so.
Some time on his way back he decided that just waiting for the inevitable to happen was not the best approach to their problem. He could not just sit there and wait.
When he entered Hermione's room, he woke her.
"Go back to sleep," he whispered, stepping up beside the bed. "I will stay here."
"You must be hungry," Hermione pointed out.
Severus almost smiled, he could feel the corners of his mouth twitch. "I just had a bite."
"Good," she sighed, and dropped off again.
This time, she slept until late into the afternoon, and when she woke, she appeared a little bit more relaxed. Severus had no idea how long she had been awake when he looked up from his reading. He had had a feeling of being watched. Hermione's eyes looked clearer now. The potion had helped.
He put away the journal he had nicked from the relatives' room, and sat on the edge of his chair. "How are you feeling?"
"Better. May I have a drink?"
He supported her head as she drank water with the straw. Her hair was very soft, he noticed, despite its frizzy look.
"We'll need to keep track of how often time repeats itself," Hermione said while Severus was putting the empty glass away.
"Good thinking," Severus agreed.
"If you don't mind," she began, "perhaps you could read me a chapter each loop from Ginny's novel?"
"It is the only thing of keeping track," Severus continued her train of thought, " because we will remember, but anything we write will be wiped out. And during the loop, my pocket-watch will serve us well, since it is probably turned back at the beginning of every loop."
"You've had a lot of time to think," Hermione observed. Her tone was very apologetic. Severus decided to ignore her implication.
"Why did McGonagall give you the Time Turner instead of returning it to the Ministry by owl?" he asked instead.
"My best guess would be that she wanted it to get back safely."
Severus snorted.
"You never know what happens when this is over," she said. "Maybe you'll save me and nothing will ever happen to the Time Turner."
"I'm hardly the type in shining armour, Ms Granger," Severus replied.
"You are now," she insisted. "I'm afraid I won't be of much help outside the thinking department."
He nodded. She was quite right, that much he had to admit.
He changed topics, always good tactics. "May I take Ms Weasley's book?"
Hermione nodded. "Just help yourself."
Again, Severus read Sebekhotep's story to her, if, however, from now on only a chapter at a time. When he had finished, he checked the table of contents. He had just finished chapter seven, and there were still eleven to go.
"You have a beautiful reading voice, Professor," Hermione said.
He looked at her, but didn't say anything. He smiled a little.
"How long does one loop take anyway?" she asked.
Severus took out his pocket watch again. "It has been almost ten hours since the accident, I think."
"You think?"
"It's rather difficult to have a look at your watch when your student has just been hit by a car," he pointed out.
Hermione blushed. "True. Sorry."
Severus pressed his lips together. Until then he had not spent many thoughts on how he would take seeing her sprawled on the ground time and again, or being hurled through the air, or the hearing the sound of-
-or seeing her die time and again.
His thought were interrupted by a touch. Hermione's hand was warm as she gripped the place where the Dark Mark had once been. He met her eyes. They were glassy again, but it took him a while to realise that it wasn't because of the pain but because of guilt. A rather unwarranted guilt.
He covered her hand with his. "I'll be all right." He gave her an encouraging look before taking out his handkerchief and dabbing at her cheeks.
It was mere minutes after Severus had last checked his watch when Hermione passed away.
Forward to Time Past
By Claudia
Three
Hermione blushed, more from surprise than from modesty. She knew she was good, and she had wanted nothing more than have him tell her that she was. "Thank you, sir."
Severus smiled. He had finally been able to express his feelings about her abilities. He had got to know Hermione Granger a lot better in the past twelvemonth, well enough to appreciate her intellect - and to admit to himself that she was more like him than he had cared to even think about. Next to Minerva, she was a woman whose company he enjoyed without feeling seized up or pitied or ... whatever. He enjoyed talking shop with her, and some of her thoughts were quite stimulating. It was a pity that they would not see each other often in the future. Maybe they could continue their friendship - if you could call it that - via owl post. He would send her a letter and see how things would develop from then on.
He was aware of the fact that Granger had noticed his smile. He looked at her askance.
She smiled in return.
They stopped to cross the street. Both directions were clear.
A sudden indistinct feeling of dread rushed down his back. Severus was not certain what exactly this feeling was - anticipation, dread, a warning. But he knew this feeling could be trusted, since it had been very reliable in the olden days. Just what was he supposed to do? What was this warning about?
Or was it more than a warning, was it-
It was more like the strange feeling of temporal disorientation that remained after a déjà vu.
Severus noticed the car that sped around the corner too late to grab Granger by the arm and pull her back on the pavement.
There wasn't even time for a scream before the car hit her and she was hurled over the car's bonnet, against the windscreen and hence rolled off onto the street. Tyres had screeched and the thud of her body hitting the beast of metal was a sickly sound. Then again, tyres screeched as the driver realised what had happened, and fled the scene, once again at top speed. It was over - quite literally - in a flash.
Severus was by her side with four long strides. She lay sprawled on the wet, tarred surface, and she was very still. Except for some angry bruises that started to bloom on her skin, and a couple of scratches, she seemed unharmed. But Severus knew that appearances were deceptive in a case like this.
"Ms Granger?" He touched her arm. "Hermione? Can you hear me?"
She opened her eyes, and managed with some effort to look at him. Surprise and a thousand questions were reflected in her glassy eyes, and when she tried to say something, Severus knew that he hadn't experienced a déjà vu. It had been foreboding, and he had had it because this had happened before.
"It is all right, Ms Granger," he said. "I shall take you to St Mungo's."
Ms Granger's lips closed and she sank into the darkness of oblivion.
Severus took her hand - he didn't dare touch her for fear of aggravating her injuries - and Apparated them to the wizarding hospital.
Other than the first time, though, he wasn't ushered out of the casualty ward. Instead, he was pushed rather rudely into a corner, and some nurse forced Ms Granger's belongings on him. But this was all quite irrelevant when he caught glimpses of her in the gaps of the live wall that the Healers had busily erected around her. She was naked except for her underwear, and her skin was very fair. He could see her feet and toes, and the Healers' hands were all over her body. The air was filled with the colours, hisses, lights, crackles, iridescence, and popping of spells, with the curt, precise pieces of information passed between the Healers and nurses.
"What are you doing here?" a nurse snapped at him, waking him from his stupor. "Are you a relative?"
"Absolutely not," he replied, matching her in tone.
"You're supposed to wait in the relatives' room then," she instructed him and ushered him out quite rudely.
Once in the relatives' room, Severus sank into an old worn out armchair. He still hadn't realised what had happened. Well, of course he knew about the accident - but this wasn't just a dream, and it wasn't quite a déjà vu either. The former you experienced for an instant only, and it was just a feeling of having done or seen something before. This was much longer than an instant. And Ms Granger's belongings were very real in his hands.
So what was this if not history repeating? Had somebody hexed them? Whatever it was obviously only affected Ms Granger and himself; otherwise the Healers would have commented on their appearance in the casualty ward. Madam Bones would have, at least.
He folded Ms Granger's robes and put them on the seat next to him. Again, he was the only person in the relatives' room.
Again.
So he was already thinking along the lines of ... whatever his - their - situation was.
He looked at her book bag resting on his lap, and he felt an urge to go through her things so as to find an explanation. Or at least the semantics that described the situation properly. Then again, why would he find the answer to all his questions in Ms Granger's bag of all places?
A cup rattled on its saucer, breaking into Severus' thoughts. It was floating in front of him on a well-laden tea tray. He helped himself to a drink.
He had probably wanted to go through her things because he valued her opinion and insight so much. At times, Ms Granger had proven a completely different approach to her work and problems than he had, but it had turned out that the two of them worked better together because of this.
He sipped at his tea, lost in thoughts.
His memories were clearing up somewhat as he relaxed. The images of Ms Granger in a state of dishabille were still vivid in his memory, but he didn't derive pleasure from them. She had been so vulnerable, he realised, and there had been nothing he could do. The images had touched him, because he had never seen her like this, injured and-
Dying.
He had seen her die.
That was the last memory he had before finding himself in the London street again, thinking that he had been there before. And he had. And the accident had left Ms Granger fatally injured.
A cold spread within him that he had experienced only very rarely. Ms Granger had died before his very eyes, and he had stood by, doing nothing. Just as he could not do anything, something, to prevent the accident.
Severus closed his eyes.
"Sir?"
A female voice broke into his thoughts, whatever they were at that moment. He himself couldn't tell, for his discovery made everything even more foggier.
"Yes?" He rose, teacup still in hand.
"Ms Granger is being transferred to her ward now. I'm afraid to tell you that she has suffered severe injury."
Severus recognised the Healer now. It was Bones. He nodded.
"I'm sorry. I ought to introduce myself. My name is Nicola Bones," she said, proffering her right hand. Absentmindedly, Severus grasped it firmly.
"Ms Granger has asked for you," Bones continued. "Is there anyone else who needs to know about this?"
"I'll talk to her first, if you don't mind," Severus replied.
Bones looked at him hard. "All right," she said eventually. Never mind her opinion of them.
The ward was the same. The white-painted bed, the crisp linen, and muted light outside the window. Ms Granger sported the same bandages, and again, her shoulders were bare. Severus warmed a towel with a charm and covered her shoulders.
"Thank you, Professor," Ms Granger said softly.
"You wanted to see me?" he asked. Sliding towards him from its corner, the chair scraped its legs over the polished wooden floor and stopped for him to sit.
"What happened?" she asked. She turned her head slowly to look at him. Her eyes were glassy with pain. He winced inwardly. Why that foolish Gryffindor bravery?
"A car hit you."
"Again," she pointed out.
"Apparently so, yes," Severus said.
She moaned.
"Let me get you something for the pain, Ms Granger," he said. It was hard to see her like this. Physical pain was something he could remedy quickly enough. He had been in a situation like this often enough himself to know-
No, he had never been in a situation like this. Whatever it was.
"Please listen to me, Professor," she said softly, but firmly enough to catch his attention.
"I'm listening," he said. Leaning forward a bit, he supported himself with his hand on the edge of the mattress. He almost jumped when he felt his hand covered by hers. It was a gentle touch, but it was powerful enough to keep him where he was. "I'm here, Ms Granger."
She attempted a smile. "Please don't let them call my parents." Her fingers were light on his. He tried hard not to enjoy it, but it was difficult. He mustn't do this, not in a situation as this.
"Very well," he agreed. She must have her reasons.
"Professor McGonagall gave me the Headmaster's old Time Turner," she continued slowly. It was obviously very difficult for her to speak. Severus filled the glass on her bedside table with the water provided in a pitcher, and let her drink some with a straw.
"I think it's broken," she said. "It's in my bag. In an envelope."
Severus picked up the bag he had put next to her bed earlier. "They entrusted me with your belongings, Ms Granger," he informed her, and to her great relief, he noticed. He found the envelope quickly enough. It had been trapped between two books, and when he opened the flap, sand trickled out of it, and tiny bits of glass.
"You are right."
So this was the cause of their situation. He had read once that a shattered Time Turner could cause a time loop, but he had always thought that such a time loop only affected the space in its immediate proximity. But this was very different. It affected the two of them, although Ms Granger had been carrying the Time Turner.
"It's a time loop," Ms Granger said. "Isn't it?"
Surprised, Severus nodded. "And we are both in it."
"I'm sorry for that."
"Don't be, Ms Granger," he said.
A knock on the door interrupted them, and an instant later, Madam Bones slipped into the room. "I just wanted to see how you're doing, Ms Granger."
Hermione smiled weakly. "I'm fine."
"Is there anything you need? Shall I owl somebody for you?" Bones asked.
"No, thank you," Ms Granger replied.
Bones frowned.
"Ms Granger's parents are currently abroad, on holiday," Severus told her. "I think she would like a potion for the pain," Severus continued.
"No, I-" Hermione protested weakly.
He shot her a sharp glance. It told her of false Gryffindor strength. And of his worry.
"I'll bring something as soon as possible," Bones promised. "Just let me know if you need anything else."
"We will, thank you," Severus said. Bones left.
Severus sat down again. He drew his wand and cleaned up the mess the broken Time Turner had made on the crisp white sheets.
"Thanks," Hermione said. Again, she touched his hand. Severus managed a small smile. "I don't want my parents to see me like this again," she explained. "If this is really a time loop - it's bad enough as it is."
Severus nodded. He had a feeling that it was a time loop that would end in her death time and again. He tried hard not to dwell on this particular thought too long. "We will find a way out of this."
Hermione nodded, and she managed to press her hand down onto his a bit.
Again, a warmth long lost filled the Potions Master.
"You don't have to stay here all the time," she said after a little while.
"I am aware of that Ms Granger," Severus replied. But the truth was that he didn't have anywhere else to go. It was a theory that still needed testing, but if his limited knowledge of Time didn't fail him, he was quite unable just to leave. He and Ms Granger had been joined magically by the accident. Even if he could leave her, he was bound to return to her sooner or later; and if he could leave her the question of how far he could go remained. He decided to explore this theory later, when she was asleep.
"Please, sir," she began. "I don't-"
Just then, the door swung open again and Madam Bones hurried in. She had barely left them time enough to register her knocking. A simple goblet was in her hands, the long-awaited painkiller. "Ms Granger ought to get some rest now," Bones advised. "The potion will make her sleepy anyway." Severus stood, making place for the redhead by Ms Granger's bed.
After Bones had administered the draught, she asked Severus to join her in the hall.
Yet it was Severus who started the conversation. "Why do I get the impression that my presence is disapproved of?"
Bones had the grace not to blush. "Well," she began, rather feebly so, as Severus noted.
"Madam Bones, with all due respect," he began in a soft voice that never failed to get the attention of his audience. "Ms Granger's and mine relationship is of a purely professional nature. There is nothing going on between the two of us that warrants being frowned upon. Ms Granger's parents are currently unavailable as they are on a cruise to Norway, and she has asked me to stay with her. I'm here for no other reason than the respect of her wishes."
His voice and the intense gaze he gave her seemed to convince her. "Of course, Professor." If there had been any convincing necessary at all. She seemed as though she had never assumed any such thing.
"Now, what is it you wanted to discuss with me?" Severus asked, in a more friendly if still cool tone.
"I just wanted to let you know that I found your latest work for The Tempest very enlightening," Bones said. "I'm sure that in the long run it will change the approach to the problem."
Severus raised his eyebrows. So his feelings had been misleading. It was ... embarrassing, even more so because of the praise he had just received. "Well," he began.
"Perhaps we could arrange for a more detailed discussion of the topic?" Bones continued as if his little speech had never existed.
"I would like that very much."
"Splendid," the Healer said, genuinely pleased. "Now, if you'll excuse me?"
He looked after her as she hurried down the hall, then he went back into Ms Granger's room. She met his gaze with slightly fearful eyes. "What did you talk about?"
"Nothing to worry about," he said curtly. His words had the opposite of the desired effect. He should have known. So he added, "Bones asked me something regarding my article for The Tempest."
"Ah," she just made.
An almost uncomfortable silence ensued.
"Did the potion help?"
"It did," Ms Granger replied softly. "But it makes me drowsy."
"Then do rest a bit," he advised. "It will do you good."
"You don't have to stay," she repeated with an imploring look.
This time, he nearly touched her hand, instead, he tugged a little at the wrinkle-free sheet. "I know." Hermione closed her eyes, and her features relaxed as she slowly drifted off into sleep. He rose and undid the buttons of his frock coat. It was fairly warm in the room.
Another thought struck him as he contemplated the scenery outside the window. Instead of some grey and grimy courtyard or a narrow alley, he saw a garden with tall, ancient trees, gravel pathways and a fountain. Quite a few patients, nurses and visitors were walking around or sitting on benches, enjoying the bright early summer day.
If only Hermione could be taken outside, but so they were trapped inside.
When had he started to refer to Ms Granger by her given name?
Severus turned around and looked at the witch in the white hospital bed. And it was Hermione lying there, not Ms Granger. After all that had happened, not today - or whatever today was - but ever since he had become her mentor, but particularly so towards the end of her Master's Thesis, they had gotten to know each other, and something like a professional friendship had developed between them. He wondered if formalities such as names and titles were still necessary. Probably not, when he had already started to call her Hermione in his subconscious.
Severus looked at his pocket-watch. It was early in the afternoon. He decided to get a sandwich and a drink from the tearoom; Hermione's sleep seemed to be sound enough to leave her alone for a minute or so.
Some time on his way back he decided that just waiting for the inevitable to happen was not the best approach to their problem. He could not just sit there and wait.
When he entered Hermione's room, he woke her.
"Go back to sleep," he whispered, stepping up beside the bed. "I will stay here."
"You must be hungry," Hermione pointed out.
Severus almost smiled, he could feel the corners of his mouth twitch. "I just had a bite."
"Good," she sighed, and dropped off again.
This time, she slept until late into the afternoon, and when she woke, she appeared a little bit more relaxed. Severus had no idea how long she had been awake when he looked up from his reading. He had had a feeling of being watched. Hermione's eyes looked clearer now. The potion had helped.
He put away the journal he had nicked from the relatives' room, and sat on the edge of his chair. "How are you feeling?"
"Better. May I have a drink?"
He supported her head as she drank water with the straw. Her hair was very soft, he noticed, despite its frizzy look.
"We'll need to keep track of how often time repeats itself," Hermione said while Severus was putting the empty glass away.
"Good thinking," Severus agreed.
"If you don't mind," she began, "perhaps you could read me a chapter each loop from Ginny's novel?"
"It is the only thing of keeping track," Severus continued her train of thought, " because we will remember, but anything we write will be wiped out. And during the loop, my pocket-watch will serve us well, since it is probably turned back at the beginning of every loop."
"You've had a lot of time to think," Hermione observed. Her tone was very apologetic. Severus decided to ignore her implication.
"Why did McGonagall give you the Time Turner instead of returning it to the Ministry by owl?" he asked instead.
"My best guess would be that she wanted it to get back safely."
Severus snorted.
"You never know what happens when this is over," she said. "Maybe you'll save me and nothing will ever happen to the Time Turner."
"I'm hardly the type in shining armour, Ms Granger," Severus replied.
"You are now," she insisted. "I'm afraid I won't be of much help outside the thinking department."
He nodded. She was quite right, that much he had to admit.
He changed topics, always good tactics. "May I take Ms Weasley's book?"
Hermione nodded. "Just help yourself."
Again, Severus read Sebekhotep's story to her, if, however, from now on only a chapter at a time. When he had finished, he checked the table of contents. He had just finished chapter seven, and there were still eleven to go.
"You have a beautiful reading voice, Professor," Hermione said.
He looked at her, but didn't say anything. He smiled a little.
"How long does one loop take anyway?" she asked.
Severus took out his pocket watch again. "It has been almost ten hours since the accident, I think."
"You think?"
"It's rather difficult to have a look at your watch when your student has just been hit by a car," he pointed out.
Hermione blushed. "True. Sorry."
Severus pressed his lips together. Until then he had not spent many thoughts on how he would take seeing her sprawled on the ground time and again, or being hurled through the air, or the hearing the sound of-
-or seeing her die time and again.
His thought were interrupted by a touch. Hermione's hand was warm as she gripped the place where the Dark Mark had once been. He met her eyes. They were glassy again, but it took him a while to realise that it wasn't because of the pain but because of guilt. A rather unwarranted guilt.
He covered her hand with his. "I'll be all right." He gave her an encouraging look before taking out his handkerchief and dabbing at her cheeks.
It was mere minutes after Severus had last checked his watch when Hermione passed away.