Chapter 26
February 17th
Three days after the battle at Hogwarts, Minerva called another Order meeting. Promptly at seven p.m. She tapped her wine goblet and began.
"Thank you all for being here. Sadly, seven of our members met their deaths three days ago at Hogwarts. Voldemort is no more, but many Death Eaters escaped and are up to who knows what," she cleared her throat and continued. "Additionally, 12 other Order members are recovering at St. Mungo's and are expected to be released in a few days time, with the exception of one, Miss Granger, who suffered the effects of a killing curse backlash. She is comatose and lost her right hand in the process."
"Poor Mione," Ron sniffed.
"Miss Granger would want no one's pity, Mr. Weasley," a voice drawled from the doorway. "Be strong for your friend, as she's been for you all these years," Severus drawled.
"Come out of hiding, have you?" Ron snarled.
"Ron," Harry warned. "Why don't you listen to what he has to say?"
"To him? Are you joking?" Ron asked.
Two days ago, when Hermione was settled in her bed at St. Mungo's, Harry arrived to find Severus already there. He was brushing her hair of all things! He had much the same reaction as Ron until Severus very civilly offered to buy him lunch and explain what had been going on over the months. By the end of lunch, he was convinced of the depth of Severus' feelings for Hermione. He understood; he would have done the same for Ginny in a heartbeat. Severus stood at the head of the table by Minerva and told them about his role as Matthew Tillman the past five months and the events at the battle at Hogwarts.
"Your soul, Severus? If that's not love, I don't know what is," Tonks said quietly.
"You know you've got a long way to go to try and win her back, don't you?" Harry asked.
"Winning her back is a secondary concern Potter," Severus said. "I need her forgiveness first and foremost."
"Admirable sentiment," Remus said.
Severus looked pensive for a few moments. "Are you all right Severus?" Minerva asked.
"It's more than sentiment...I don't know if I can fully convey the experience to you, but when my soul faced hers..." he stopped talking and rushed from the room, overwhelmed with emotion.
March 20th
Over the weeks, Severus all but took up residence at St. Mungo's at Hermione's side. On Saturday March 20th, Harry came into the ward, kissed Hermione's head and greeted her good morning.
"Interesting news in the paper today," he said and gave the morning edition of The Quibbler to Severus. His face paled when he read the headline:
Story by Gaile Wynde
You've probably heard the saying "It's What's Inside That Counts" as a trite cliché used by parents when their children fail to see the goodness of people beyond their appearance or reputation. This has never rang more true than when I received word of the story regarding Hermione Granger and Severus Snape, at the Battle of Hogwarts last month on St. Valentine's Day. Those with a strong sense of irony will appreciate the story and for those readers who have little faith in fate, the events of the day might change your mind.
Through pensive memory of the day by way of a reliable, anonymous source, I was witness to the touching scene of an Auror gently cradling the limp body of an Auror trainee, a pretty, young witch by the name of Hermione Granger. Apparently, the loss of his love was too much to bear, so he invoked an ancient magic to literally exchange his own soul for hers.
Who was this Auror? It was none other than the enigmatic Severus Snape, under the guise of a specialized Polyjuice potion of his own invention. The romance between the former Death Eater spy/Hogwarts Professor and his former student, a pretty Auror trainee, had remained largely private. A misunderstanding between the two, that Severus admits entirely his fault, drove the two apart. Harry Potter, the Hero of Hogwarts and best friend of Hermione Granger, acknowledges the romance the two once shared and the sincerity of Severus Snape regarding Hermione. "Although Severus would like nothing more than to have Hermione back in his life, he assures everyone who cares for her that his first and foremost concern is to have Hermione's forgiveness for his wrong against her."
Miss Granger currently resides in the Long Term Care Ward at St. Mungo's, in a magical-backlash induced coma that also cost her her right hand. Due to medical confidentiality, the details of her convalescence cannot be released, but everyone who knows her expects a full recovery, and we at The Quibbler extend our best wishes for a speedy recovery. It's the least we can extend this brave heroine.
"It's a smidge dramatic," Harry conceded.
"At least there's nothing false in the article," Severus said.
What article? Hermione wondered.
"So, how's our girl doing today?" Harry asked.
"Our girl is doing fine. Her feet and left hand have sporadically moved this morning and as you can see, her color is much better," Severus said. "I was also wondering if you would retrieve another book from her house, we're almost done with this one," he said, holding up Great Expectations.
"Of course I will," Harry said.
Bring Lord of the Rings, Harry! she thought.
"Could I also trouble you to bring one of her dressing robes? I would hate for her to awaken and find herself arrayed in these hospital gowns, she'll get a chill," he said, smoothing the sheet around her body.
At lunch, a nurse chased Severus from the room for Hermione's thrice-daily treatment. It wasn't unusual for the healers or nurses to threaten to bodily evict him from her bedside. After she had read The Quibbler that morning, she was hard-pressed to order him away, but Hermione's treatments were private. The bandage on her right arm would be removed that day as well. When Severus returned from lunch, the barriers were still around her bed. He heard the quiet talk between the healer and nurse.
"The laceration has healed perfectly, no sign of infection," the healer said. "When she wakes, we can run tests on the arm to determine the proper prosthesis."
"The night healer noted that she opened and closed her fist," the nurse said.
"Excellent progress, Miss Granger has youth on her side," the healer said. "I'm going to consult with her guardian about the possibility of having someone take a peek into her mind. We could better determine her level of cognizance and move to stronger treatment."
Severus cleared his throat from the doorway. The healer peeked his head around the barrier.
"Master Snape, we're just about finished here," he said.
Two days later, Molly and Severus sat at Hermione's bedside while the specially trained Medical Legilimens performed his probe. When he finished, he nodded and said "Interesting."
He saw Molly and Severus waiting for an explanation.
"She's cognizant, that much I'm sure of. She's also dreaming, mainly of her animals and a dog named Hannah," the man said.
"Cognizant? Do you mean to say she hears us?" Molly asked.
"I'm fairly certain of it," he said. "It's different with each comatose patient. The more intelligent ones, with ordered minds, tend to recover quicker than most. I understand you read to her? That's excellent. I would also suggest you present different scents, but not too much, it might overwhelm her."
"She likes the smell of coffee," Molly said.
"And chocolate covered strawberries," Severus said.
"I also found something else," the wizard said. "She's not in a hurry to...well, wake. She's feels happy and safe in her mind with her animals, or she may not feel she has a reason to wake."
"The poor dear," Molly said.
"But as I said before, she is cognizant, that's good news for her recovery," the man said.
The next day, Harry brought one of Hermione's dressing robes and Lord of the Rings.
"Ah! Now this is something I can sink my teeth into," Severus said, flipping through the book. "Potter, did you know Tolkien was a Wizard? The Wizengamot wanted to toss him in Azkaban for his impudence."
Really? Hermione thought.
"Impudence? For what?" Harry asked.
"For writing the book," Severus said.
"I've had a book offer," Harry said. Severus snorted in reply.
"That's exactly what I thought," Harry said. "I won't even think about it until I talk to Hermione, she's a part of it."
"Wise choice," Severus said.
I can't believe what I'm hearing! Harry and Severus are being civil within five feet of each other! Hermione thought.
"Bye Hermione, I'll see you Saturday," Harry said and kissed her cheek.
She twitched her nose- he was wearing the pepper-like cologne she didn't care for. God Harry, throw that stuff out! You're killing me! she thought.
"She doesn't care for your cologne," Severus said. "Come to think of it, neither do I."
Harry laughed. "Good, it may force her to sit up and fuss at me to wash it off," he joked. "Besides, it's Ron's."
That explains a lot! Hermione thought.
"I guess there's no accounting for taste," Severus quipped.
March 25th
Severus was standing at the window, facing away from her bed, his hands clasped behind his back as he gave his personal commentary about the similarities between Gandalf and Albus. Hermione mused that although they were well thought out, his theories between the two were absurd and wanted to tell him as much. Severus heard a soft sigh from behind and whipped around. Her eyes were open! He stood over her, peered into her eyes and ran from the room, calling for a healer.
For her part, Hermione was never more confused in her life. My body feels so odd, especially-bloody hell- I don't even know which arm it is! Why can't I move? Why can't I talk! Where am I?
The healer hurried into the room, looked in her eyes and waved his hand over her face. She blinked at the action. At least I can blink!
"Her-my-o-nee, can-you-hear-me?" he asked, loudly punctuating each word.
I'm not deaf, moron!
"If the answer is yes, blink once," the healer said. She blinked once.
"If the answer is no, can you blink twice?" he asked. She blinked twice.
"Does that mean you can't?" he asked.
Severus leaned over and whispered something to him.
"Professor Trelawney is the greatest professor that Hogwarts has ever seen," the healer said.
Hermione furiously blinked twice. If I could only talk!
Later that day, Minerva, Molly, Harry and Severus were at her bedside.
"Sometimes patients waking from a coma are understandably confused and frightened. They have to start over again, so to speak, with the most basic functions," the healer said. "When she is walking and talking again, we can start discussing a prosthesis."
Prosthesis? What the bloody hell for? she thought.
"This is a good day, a good day indeed," the healer said.
Author's Note:
I know Tolkien wasn't a Wizard, just thought it would be an amusing tidbit for Severus and Harry's conversation. For the record, I think the Lord of the Rings books are the best ever written, hands down.
Next Chapter: Hermione's Complete Recovery and Severus Comes A Grovelin'