A/N: Sorry this update took so long, but I've been so very busy. On November 6th it was my birthday and I had parties throughout the week, which was very draining I must say. I turned 16 and here in Holland that's kind of a big deal, cause then you're allowed to buy alcohol.
Thank you so much for all the amazing reviews, I love every single one of them, even the really short ones saying; 'nice story'. I left my own comments on them at the end of this chapter I expect to be doing it like that for the rest of the story.
I also wanted to use this little bit of time you guys grant me to bring to your attention that my dear dog Milou died. It was the most stupid accident of all; she was running, stumbled and broke her neck. She was a whippet so she runs about 50 km/h and of course that's a deadly speed when you fall. She had only just turned one.
A leap in the dark
Chapter three
And what a rough night it was
Brown eyes fluttered open, it was still dark. Hermione's tiredly glanced at the little alarm clock on her nightstand, because of the full moon it was just light enough to read it. Nearly half past two, an hour after Dumbledore had brought her up to the dormitories. She hadn't particularly been sleeping until then either, more like half asleep. She felt something constantly nagging at the back of her mind, but she didn't know what.
She turned to lie on her other side, but suddenly she heard a muffled bang from outside. She silently got up and shuffled towards the window. Outside she saw a bright red light fading, like they had just shot fireworks. She also noticed two figures running across the lawn for the gates. There was another one much behind that didn't run, it was just walking fast. Among the running pair, she recognised Hagrid, at least it must have been Hagrid seeing the size of the man. She had no idea who the other two figures were because they were still all moving within the shadows of the castle.
Hermione watched on tenterhooks as the running pair rushed out of the shadows and unto the moonlit grass. Indeed it had been Hagrid who had been running and next to him was madam Pomfrey. The last figure now entered the lit area and she identified it as Professor McGonagall. A small sigh of relief escaped her mouth, as she'd feared for the worst.
White flakes swirled around him. How happy he was when he had finally been able to get away from his master. The night had been everything but pleasant for him, though Voldemort seemed to have had a ball.
When he had fainted Voldemort had released the Cruciatus curse and the shock of relief had brought him back to consciousness. He had explained Voldemort how Albus was putting him under pressure about telling more about their operations; that that was why he was so exhausted. Of course this had been a lie, but somehow he had had enough mind to show the Lord sufficient altered memories when he had broken into Severus's mind. Naturally that hadn't been the end of things and Voldemort had announced a round for the rest of his followers to have a go at him because of his supposed inability to uphold Dumbledore's trust. The other Death Eaters hadn't been allowed to use any of the Unforgivable's and Severus was glad not for the first time that most of his fellow followers weren't very creative.
They attacked him with spells that made his body erupt in icy burning boils, several different vomiting spells and someone cast a very painful spell that made his eyes bleed, which was quite an exception among the spells he had endured that night.
Most had cast spells that broke his bones or cut his flesh and he noticed now how the snow around him started colouring into a deep red. After the trashing was over Voldemort continued the meeting and left him in a corner to die. Severus had had trouble keeping unconsciousness aloof during the rest of the meeting, but regardless his state of health he remembered most of what had been spoken of.
When he was finally allowed to leave, he dragged himself up, barely able to do so, and left the house in an as dignified way as possible. He managed no to Split himself while apparating back to Hogwarts and cast a red beam that warned his colleagues of his return.
Any second now Hagrid would come pick him up, at least he was almost home now.
Home, how unfamiliar the word always felt to him, as it still did. Hogwarts had always been the place he considered most to be his home, yet even now he had nothing to come back for.
For many years he knew home only as a feared place, a place where his father hurt is mother, the place where she breathed her last breath. His time at Hogwarts had never been pleasant either, but it was where he pursued what he was best at; potions and dark magic.
Suddenly Severus was roughly put out of his thoughtful state as Hagrid threw him over his shoulder.
"Gently Rubeus! He's in a bad enough shape as it is!" he heard Poppy panicking and Hagrid apologised. He couldn't think anymore and the words went in one ear and immediately out the other.
Hagrid hurriedly carried him towards the castle and the comforting thought that it would take mere minutes until he could lie down and rest was what kept him conscious in the end.
He couldn't feel any pain either way, his whole body was numb, all he felt was exhaustion.
As he had expected soon he was laid down on a soft surface and he heard raised voices. It was Poppy demanding everyone else in the room to leave. As soon as he heard a door close Poppy started undressing him, for the second time this night. Like it mattered at that moment. He might've sighed, cause Poppy suddenly felt the urge to ask him whether he was awake.
He decided to ignore her and let her believe him near death, which he probably was, he reasoned in the back of his mind. He knew his eyes were half opened, but he hadn't made a sign of life as of that moment so closing them seemed suspicious. Like I'm about to sneak off the minute she's gone, he chuckled at the back of his mind again. It was a part of his mind he had never liked, it was too careless, too self-willed and the only times he got into serious harm thanks to himself it was when he listened to it, screaming at him impudently. Slowly his eyes closed without his notice.
Hermione lay back down in bed and thought about her night. Only seconds ago she had seen professor McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey and Hagrid hurry back to the castle, with them an unconscious Snape.
She had transformed a book on her nightstand in an omniocular to see what it was Hagrid was carrying. And how strange it had been seeing in what shape Snape was brought in. She shivered at the thought of the bloody mess his body was and the worried looks on her other teacher's faces.
As she lay, thinking back to the horrifying memories, she slowly drifted into sleep, the nagging feeling nearly gone.
Severus woke to the sound of a closing door and he made out several people talking.
"It's amazing and very much distressing at the same time." A voice said in worry.
"I agree, we must find out what has happened to him. It may have saved his life, but even werewolves in their transformed form don't heal that fast."
"Could it be that he was hit with a spell during the bite?"
"I don't know, but I'll ask miss Granger about it when I examine her tomorrow. In all haste and commotion I forgot to do it, but Severus couldn't have infected her with the curse as he's not a true werewolf yet."
"What will we do about when the next full moon comes around?"
"He'll take shelter in the Shrieking Shack. Minerva can keep an eye on him in her animagus form."
"Good idea Albus."
He heard some more bustling and a few mutters, but after he heard the doors open and close there were no sounds left but the sounds of the smouldering torches.
Snape opened his eyes and looked down at the sheets covering his bare chest. He felt no pain and it disturbed him. He threw back the covers and watched his imperfect chest. It was as scarred as it had always been, but what was missing were the many great gashes he had sustained during the night. He sat up and examined the rest of his body in the fading light and got to an exceptional conclusion: there was absolutely nothing wrong with him except for the fact that he was exhausted.
He let his head fall back on the pillow and threw the sheet over his healthy body. He lay on his side, trying to think, but the sleepiness made it impossible.
Tomorrow, he promised himself, tomorrow he would find out what had happened to him.
It was still dark when Hagrid walked out of his cabin followed by his huge black dog Fang and finally Dumbledore, who closed the door. Hagrid was carrying a long plank, a few robes and some thick blankets. They walked straight into the Forbidden Forest and followed Fang as he searched for a familiar scent.
The dog lead them deeper and deeper into the forest and after half an hour walking the sun decided to make its bright presence known. It wasn't long before they finally found what they were looking for; a naked man lying unconscious on the cold snow-covered ground.
Albus felt his pulse and let a relieved sigh get away he didn't know he had been holding, "He's alive, but we need to hurry!" he told his companion, "Oh Remus, what happened, old friend?"
Silently they covered the man with the blankets, pulled him unto the plank and bound him lightly so he wouldn't fall off it so easily. Albus levitated the bunch of sheet and man with ease and they began their trip back.
Not long before they closed the doors behind them to the infirmary the castle began to wake up. Excited bustling send energy throughout Hogwarts as the last day before Christmas break had finally started. Quietly Albus put down the homemade stretcher and got Poppy from the other room.
"He's not well Poppy, worse than usual. Colder too, I think he transformed back earlierl." The old wizard whispered, Severus was still asleep in there as well.
"I'll see what I can do," she whispered as she became examining Remus, "but by the looks of things he'll be out of here in just a day."
"How's Severus' condition?"
"Probably better than ever, I'd reckon, except he's completely drained, I've never seen him sleep so long and deep without a potion." Poppy smiled as they looked over at the white bed with only a few fluffs of black hair sticking out from underneath the sheets.
During breakfast Hermione got a letter from Poppy requesting her presence that later morning to get a small examination to determine whether all was fine, as she had the first two hours off.
"What's that?" Harry asked, Ron had yet to make an appearance so Harry came to sit with her. She was still mad at Ron for ruining everything between them and it was beginning to affect her friendship with Harry too. He didn't really take sides and didn't agree with either of them, but Ron still was Harry's best friend and normally they sat together.
"Oh nothing, A couple of days back I didn't feel so well and sought out Madam Pomfrey. Now she just wants to make sure I'm all right. You know how she can get." Harry nodded in response as he shoved the last bit of his breakfast down.
That morning Hermione walked down the Quidditch pitch alongside Harry, who was happily babbling on about how the practice went. Harry had been practising a little with Ron. She shuddered every time he mentioned him. The annoying bastard had been publicly displaying his horniness with that slut of a Lavender for far too long and she wasn't going to take it any longer. Tonight she would go to Professor Slughorn's party accompanied by Cormac McLaggen; that would surely teach Ron to keep a little discretion.
As they walked the nagging feeling from the night before returned, but now stronger. Slowly she recognised the feeling as fright, but why would she be afraid? She looked at Harry who was still in his own fantasy world, telling her about all the wonders that Quidditch brought.
They had left the pitch and she looked beyond him, into the forest. It was dark and gloomy, but she'd never been particularly afraid of it. The feeling grew stronger and she started to panic.
"Oh I forgot, I need to hurry for my meeting with Madam Pomfrey, I'll see you in class!" she said and ran towards the castle.
"I thought you still had twenty minutes!" Harry called after her, but when she didn't reply he just shrugged and walked on.
Hermione needed to get away from there, but once inside, the feeling chased her up the staircases and into the dormitories. She flew upon her bed and cried her heart out. She'd never been this afraid and the feeling refused to leave her alone. Yet suddenly the feeling reached it climax and faded rather fast.
"Severus! Severus wake up!" from the depths of his most terrifying memories Severus was lifted up and landed back into his bed.
"You're alright, it was just a nightmare." A familiar voice told him and he felt a cold hand touch the hot skin of his shoulder. His vision cleared and the black blurry soon became the sight of the infirmary.
"I'm fine, fuck off!" he said and he shook Remus's hand off of him. The gray-haired man stood silently watching him and tightly grabbing hold of the sheets that were covering his still naked body.
"How are you?" he asked guilty.
"Great, now fuck off and for heaven's sake, put some clothes on!" he snarled, pulled the covers off and got up. He grabbed his shirt and robes and headed for the fireplace.
"What's going on in here, I heard screaming." Poppy came bursting in a worried look across her face. "Severus no, you can't just leave I still need to examine you again before you take off." she said as he pulled on his shirt.
"No need woman I feel fine, I need to report to Albus." And he stood in the fireplace.
"Severus…" she hurried after him.
"I said no need!" he growled icily and he seemed to have longer canines then usual giving him the look of a brute. Small streams of sweat ran across his face and his hair was fairly wet because of it.
"Albus's study." He called and he was gone.
"What am I supposed to do with him." Poppy sighed in defeat. Remus neared her, "Don't worry he'll be fine." He simply said and asked her about some clothes.
Hermione lay on her bed still sobbing from the terrible feeling that had just given her a panic attack. She felt like her whole world had just collapsed. Questions were bubbling up inside of her, like what had happened and why it had happened.
She finally calmed down enough to wipe away her tears and in doing so she saw what time it was. She had to hurry or else she'd be late for her appointment with madam Pomfrey. She ran into the girl's bathroom and quickly cleaned her face, she looked fairly well again when she came out but the haunted look in her eyes hadn't gone away.
She hurried towards the infirmary, but when she was about to open the door she heard madam Pomfrey talking to a man. She listened at the door and recognised Remus's voice.
"God what have I done, there is seriously something wrong with Severus. Werewolves never heal that fast in their human form, they don't even have those features yet when they haven't transformed for the first time. I remember it took me until the next full moon when I transformed for the first time to heal the wounds Fenrir gave me and I highly doubt I was in a worse shape than Severus ought to be."
"Why did you transform in the first place, I thought you always had a good stack of wolfsbane stored?" madam Pomfrey's muffed voice asked. Hermione pressed her ear even closer to the door, but let out a cry when she felt something furry brush against her leg. Mrs. Norris, Filch's skeletal cat, looked up at her with narrow yellow eyes, measuring her.
Hermione grumbled at the cat for ruining everything and went inside the infirmary.
"Hi madam Pomfrey, Remus. I almost stumbled over Mrs. Norris." She smiled as she took in the sight of Remus looking rather well after such a night. She had missed his company for he had much intelligent things to tell. He was a smart man and she had missed the conversations they had had, conversing like that with Ron or Harry was just impossible.
"Hello Hermione, long time no see, although I guess you saw me just yesterday." He looked at her gently, observing her face shift into an uncomfortable gaze.
"Yes well, I thought it better to just stand aside at that time." She looked down, ashamed for letting Snape get thrown about, not even trying to help in some remote way.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of, it was very brave of you to even stay put and help him once I was gone." Remus said as he laid a hand on her shoulder. Hermione knew otherwise, but she also knew that Remus wouldn't be persuaded and he was only trying to comfort her. He was probably feeling horrible as well, she figured.
"How is professor Snape anyway?" she asked looking up at Remus again.
"He's fine, he left 10 minutes ago, don't worry you have no idea how tough he is." Remus smiled at her and Hermione looked at him questionable. How could he have been completely torn apart that night and already be up and about the next day? Or was that what they had been talking about before?
"I know you must wonder how that seems possible, but he's really fine." Remus secured her, but suddenly his mood shifted into a gloomy one, "Dumbledore must have already told you not to let one word of this whole accident slip to anyone, but I must impress it on you as well. You can't even tell Harry or Ron about this. It's not that I don't trust them, but sometimes things don't seem very clear and mistakes are easily made. Don't ever tell this to anyone." Hermione looked confused at madam Pomfrey in search for a clearer explanation, but she only shrugged, indicating she didn't get it either.
Remus smiled as a goodbye and left the room, but his head peeked just back inside.
"About earlier, I'll tell you later on, I'm guessing Albus will call in a little meeting." And then he was gone.
"Alright miss Granger, I need to inspect you thoroughly, so if you would be so kind as to take off your clothes, just leave your underwear on." Poppy said smiling kindly, she led the young woman behind a curtain and waited until she was done.
A/N: Hi, whew this was a difficult chapter to write, especially the beginning. Again sorry for the delay but to be honest I had no idea how to progress… but no worries I have thought up a wonderful scene that'll probably come up in a chap or two. Or at least I think it's a nice way of moving on with the story, no fluff for the next chapters though, but I have some great thoughts swirling my head.
Anyway I hope you liked it and please review what you thought of it and how you want the story to develop.
My comments on the reviews:
Goldnote: wow thanks, I feel very flattered, I've read a lot of SS/HG stories and I know what's out there, to be considered one of the strongest by you means the world to me, thanks !
GryffJr: haha I believe you're reading too much into it, I love it! no the potion wasn't used on Snape and besides Hermione threw away all the contaminated pieces, but I love the thought you put in it, and it would've made an awesome twist in the story, sadly it wasn't my idea but yours and I don't steal thoughts from others, love it though!
Forest Jaguar: haha no problem, I got the same feeling when I got you reply so I guess where even ;P. about Snape, yaay I like him mean, I don't want him falling out of character, it's the part of him we've secretly all fallen in love with in the first place. I'm not going to tell anything about the first kissing scene by the way, I've taken you idea in considering and something very lemonly came out, but I'm not gonna kiss and tell, so to speak of course.
Jopot: I think you're at the wrong place if you don't wanna read about Snape shagging Hermione cause I'll be the last person on the planet not to involve those two haha, but of course it may all turn out wrong between the two of them, you never know.
katgirl13605: thank you for your reply, I try my best to get them as 'right' as possibly can. To be honest I don't know whether my writing style or descriptions are quite as accurate since I've never read the Harry Potter books in English only in Dutch, my native language (I know, I'm a pathetic fan..) but I try my best. About Remus and Snape being careless, I seem to have a very simple mind but in fact I'm very complicated, you'll find out what's going on in the next chapter, I promise. :D
All other reviewers, I loved you're reviews so much as well: Barb8, ShadowCup, notwritten, iceball19, Kiliho I'll continue to love you till the end of times!! (god, I'm bootlicker haha)
Furthermore:
Merry Christmas Everyone and a Happy New Year:D