Chapter nine - Just Like you?
Hermione stood outside the dungeons waiting with Harry; she was not sure whether Snape was going to show up, she had already been waiting twenty minutes. 'Suppose this is payback for this morning – me turning up late' she thought then giggled to herself.
"What's so funny?" Harry asked Hermione, she did not reply instantly as her thoughts were on Snape, what had he let her call him Severus last night? She closed her eyes for a moment deep in thought, her thoughts were broke by the sound of footsteps on the stone flooring; they echoed throughout the corridor, then the familiar dark eyes, dark hair and pasty skin greeted Hermione's eyes. It was no on other than Snape. He was limping and clenching hold of his arm, he struggled to open the door. He was clearly injured. Harry had said his goodbyes to Hermione and left. She was concerned for Snape at the moment, she was curious to what had happened to him.
"Sir, you do not look well," Hermione stated the obvious, he was paler then usual. Severus did not look up to meet her eyes at all; he was staring down at his hands he finally decided to speak: "I do not feel well," He snarled his tone was aggressive, Hermione began to question why he was being so abrupt with her; he usually was bearably nice enough. Maybe yesterday he had crossed the teacher/student boundary too much – he was trying to distance himself away from the sort-of friendship he had gained with Hermione over the last few months. He had spent a lot of his time with her; perhaps they were getting too close? "Maybe you should go to see Madam Pomfrey sir?" She suggested. Severus simply laughed in response.
"If you haven't noticed Granger I am living and breathing fine, it is nothing I cannot fix myself. And on another note, I am in no mood to be bossed around by a little know-it-all." Severus grunted really not wanting to see Hermione after the image of her in her from last night was burned into his mind. He knew he was acting a bit of bastard but he did not care, he had just had a Summoned by Voldemort not long ago – the meeting did not go well and Severus was suffering now. The fact that he was in pain put him in an even fouler mood, Voldemort had completely ripped him to shreds simply because he had no new information for him. How Severus hated being a double agent, he hated Voldemort and especially hated Dumbledore. He had devoted his life to protect others, he really had nothing else to live for, and as much as he hated his job he would put his life on the line for one of the students. Hermione watched as Severus clutched his stomach tighter, he showed no signs of pain on his face he had his normal expression spread across his face – perhaps a little more angry. "Professor Snape, look you clearly are in some sort of discomfort; I can either ask Dilys to fetch Madam Pomfrey and deal with you or I will myself. You look as if you can barely walk sir," Hermione began to order him. Severus rolled his eyes 'bossy bloody women' he thought to himself.
"As I told you Granger I am perfectly fine, now get out and stop pestering me," Severus snapped at her again.
"I am not going anywhere sir, I am learning healing to help people. So let me?"She began to persist at him. Severus glared at Hermione, he knew she was stubborn but she had never behaved like this around him, it was usually the other way round. After all he was the teacher, she was the student. But for some reason he just was going to let her have her own way only because he knew she would not give up.
"Well I certainly do not want Poppy here, I do not feel it is necessary, I am not suffering that much. Have you way Granger," Severus sighed then added: "But, I would rather we headed to my quarters; I have many potions and ointments that you can use as resources, I think you will need a few of them..." Hermione smiled with relief and decided to skip out of the room, she followed Severus to his quarters; she stood gazing around the small living space, it was pretty bland and impersonal. There were plenty of books in the room, rows and rows, of books stacked with books. There was arm chair and a simple sofa; a blue one. Severus stood in the middle of the room, he looked rather odd and out of place here.
"Sir can you erm..." Hermione's face turned red as a tomato, she was blushing with embarrassment. Severus met her eyes – Occlumency hiding his every emotion he immediately knew what she was hinting towards. He tilted his head giving her a nod in response to her unasked question. 'Fuck sake, really, really do not need this now.' With a sigh he started undoing his black jacket, he placed his jacket on the back of the arm chair; he then turned his back getting a little embarrassed himself. His hands lingered over his shirt buttons; he had a rather large blood stain on his white shirt he undid the buttons of his shirt then slid it off his shoulders. Hermione had to hold a gasp as he held his shirt in the air; it was covered in deep scarlet blood, stained. Severus' back and sides of his torso had been slashed, deep gashes all over his skin. He was clearly already scarred severely over his whole upper body – they were all old scars, or still healing. Hermione began to feel sympathy for Severus Snape as her eyes wondered over his pale, scarred skin – she began to wonder what exactly he had been through. Was You-Know-Who that evil? Well, she was not surprised You-Know-Who was capable of anything. 'Poor Severus' she thought sympathetically. He was immensely thin, it looked unhealthy – but then again she had never really seen him eat much at the dinner, or breakfast. She decided to speak to lighten the mood: "Sir, you know I could get rid of the blood from that shirt, it is more of the Muggle way though" She smiled slightly taking his shirt. "All you have to do is soak it in cold water and washing powder. You see, putting it in hot water would not remove the stain," Hermione informed him, she filled the small sink with cold water then used her wand to summon washing powder, she then scrubbed lightly at the stain and stepped away from the skin.
"You really are a know it all..."Severus smirked; his usual sarcasm was back in full vengeance. Hermione just let out a small giggle then replied with: "Well, I better get to work on healing you," She held her wand out, scanned it down his body murmuring diagnostic charms; there were multiple issues wrong with him but many were not recent issues. Damaged liver that could result to liver failure in future – too much alcohol consumption, clearly a previous drug history, Jesus there was so much medical wrong with him he was practically a dead man walking. No one should still be alive with these sort of medical issues. He had obvious physical gashed that needed attention, hence why he had been clenching his stomach so tight, but she wanted to see what was causing him to limp; she waved her wand over his right thigh. 'Jesus his leg has been broken, how could anyone walk on a broken leg?'
"A few simple healing spells and you should be fine, a little pain but nothing that rest will not fix," Hermione gave him a reassuring smile. Severus rolled his eyes. "You know Miss. Granger you will make a great Healer with you bossiness," Severus joked.
"That she will, at least she is thinking of your welfare Severus," Dilys piped up from the picture frame. Severus rolled his eyes again in annoyance. "Oh Jesus Christ, not you again Dilys do not breath a word of this to Madam Pomfrey," he snapped at her. Hermione blissfully carried on with the healing.
"Vulnera Sanentur," Hermione whispered as her wand lit up and fixed the blood flowing from his gashes, the skin knitted together; this was one of Severus' own spells that he had created a proud smile illumed over his lips as she said the spell. Dilys had disappeared knowing she was not wanted there. Hermione had soon finished healing Professor Snape. "I have finished now; I recommend you get a bit of rest sir. Sit on your feet and relax," Hermione stated being slightly bossy yet again.
"You really are as bossy as Potter and Wesley say," Severus hissed at Hermione, his eyes cold and hard. Hermione had just had about enough of his snidely comments, she had been nothing but nice and caring with Severus and he could not bring himself to even be grateful. Hermione scowled and was sick of him making her the joke; she tucked her wand into her belt.
"Enough! You know I did not have to do this. I could have dragged Madam Pomfrey down here to treat you. Instead you insult me, you are not even remotely grateful! All you males are the same; I really do surround myself with idiotic people. I will see you in lessons Snape!" Hermione really had snapped and outlet all her anger. She was utterly outraged at him that it made her forget everything she had discovered about his health tonight. She knew being a Death Eater was dangerous as well, she had seen him once before on the hospital ward were he had been cursed severely, Hermione had only got a glimpse at him before Poppy had shooed her away. She had saw Severus shaking, sweating and gripping hold of the bed sheet; he really did look on death's door that night. Severus now was glaring at Hermione with his usual stony expression; he had a hint of anger glint in his eyes but he seemed calm. Hermione turned on her heel breaking the eye contact – she was utterly furious and wanted to punch Snape.
Snape did not even bother saying anything as she left; she had slammed the door behind her. 'I really did not mean for her to take offence like that. It was just a joke' he had thought to himself. He really had drove Hermione away this time, he was kind of happy in one sense just because he needed space away from her. To get her out of his head, the image of her the other night really would not leave him; he was not certain why – well she was an attractive young women but she was still a student that he taught. 'Oh Hermione Granger you have not the slightest clue' He thought to himself. Dilys reappeared in the picture frame hung above his black fire place.
"Severus Tobias Snape, you really are a fool! The girl had a point you know, she was trying to be a friend, as much as you may not like it Hermione cares about you. She appreciates you, the way you have been there to support her lately through everything she has been going through. Whether you like it or not I can see you like the girl; you have an ally there Severus use it to you advantage. Do not push her away, stay friends with her Severus. I think you owe her an apology too; you were out of line with her. Take time to cool off, and allow her to cool off." Dilys informed him the truth of the situation then added: "She was a little harsh with her wording towards you as well, I am sure once she has reflected on the words she had said, she will apologise as well," Dilys said sympathetically. Severus' dark eyes pierced through the picture frame, his glare was deadly.
"She is a silly, perpetuated, deluded Know-it-all," Severus snapped in response. "She was completely out of line, and since when had she become my friend Dilys? Granted I may have helped her but only out of pity! No one had helped me when I was being threatened to death, feared for my life. Ridiculed, bullied severely; who was there for me? The Marauders had ripped me to shreds. I felt that worthless I took it out on myself Dilys! " Severus said bitterly pain clearly written across his face; in the memories flashing all over his mind. Severus really did hate James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Luppin and Peter Pettigrew. Severus worked up his anger that much he went and punched the wall.
"Severus please, I know what happened to you was torture but do not let Hermione go through the same. She has suffered enough so far, you need to get her to tell you who has done this to her, she trusts you Severus. Please," Dilys began to plead with him.
"Fine, fine, fine. You are a bloody nuisance, but I know you are right. I have already been trying to do that." Severus reviled.
"Good, now Severus get your rest," Dilys ordered.