Severus took a sharp breath at the sudden change of weight on his injured legs where all of the feeling...all of the pain was all coming back now. Inwardly, he cursed McGonagall and himself for not paying better attention as he sideways glanced down to Hermione who was vainly trying to look like nothing had happened.
She was worried. He could feel it pouring out of her like a fountain. She, of course, had right to be...seeing as Minerva had just seen them practically all over each other.
Severus had never actually been at a loss for words before...except for now, that was. His mind was racing at an alarming pace trying to think of something to say; anything that would explain what she had just seen that would be a hair shy of the truth. Obviously, nothing was coming to mind except the glaring truth that he was...he swallowed hard...falling in love.
It took Minerva a few moments of stunned silence before she could even find her voice. She was telling herself she did not just see that...it was impossible...but of course, her other side told her better.
But before Minerva could force words out of her mouth, Hermione spoke up in the most nervous voice Minerva had ever heard from her, although the young witch was doing well to hide it.
"Pr-professor..." Hermione said, swallowing, trying to push her obvious anxiety to the back of her mind, hoping it did not all show in her face. But what do you say to a person who just walked in a scene like this? She figured she had two obvious options: concoct a very good lie...or tell the truth. The glaring, observable truth...something Hermione figured Minerva McGonagall would not take in the best way.
"Miss Granger," McGonagall all but stuttered, clearly unable to think straight right away. "What on earth—" The older witch opened and closed her mouth several times, but nothing came out. She pursed her lips tightly in true McGonagall fashion and just stared in the guilty party's direction, as if awaiting and demanding an explanation.
Hermione nervously glanced in Severus' direction very briefly but only received the shadow of a raised eyebrow, which she found she could not interpret. What she could see was frustration. Not anger, no, although it was slightly there, but only a trained eye could tell the difference. He too seemed to be thinking very fast indeed.
This will not end well...Hermione thought, shaking her head slightly in hopelessness. Unless...
She had a sudden thought and her eyes jumped to the waiting professor who was looking even more irked and impatient now at the lack of information coming her way.
Hermione knew Severus would not like this one bit, but how else was she to explain what McGonagall had just seen? Or at least divert her attention elsewhere...
But before Hermione could speak up at all, McGonagall seemed to find it in her best interest to come to her senses completely.
"Miss Granger, come with me quickly," she said very urgent-sounding and moved towards her, took her arm and starting pulling it along to the door. She obviously had just concluded that Hermione was being held captive and by doing this, she was saving her.
Forgetting all things pertaining to her original plan, Hermione tried to slow the old witch down, glancing back in confusion to Severus' half-stunned face, and in looking back, tried to resist.
"No, professor, please...you don't understand! Wait!" Hermione urged, pulling back and practically digging her feet into the raised cobble stone floor, anything to stop herself from moving. But McGonagall only persisted saying something about getting Hermione out of there when she was clearly bewitched.
That was where Hermione put the breaks on full-force.
"Bewitched?!" Both Hermione and Severus exclaimed simultaneously in utter shock. At this, Severus made an attempt to stand and succeeded; only needing to slightly lean on the desk for support.
He was now quite outraged...Minerva first barges in without so much as a knock on the door and now she was making wild accusations of him casting spells on Hermione to do God only knows what...
Hermione had been successful in halting herself behind McGonagall who was jerked back slightly and turned to look at Hermione, obviously trying not to lash out at her.
"Forgive me, Professor McGonagall," she said in a tone she had never used with any teacher. Ever. "But I am not bewitched!" Hermione stood firmly grounded as she said it, sounding scandalized that her professor would even think something like that.
"It is quite true, Minerva," Severus finally spoke up making both witches jerk to look at his face, deep with anger lines now that he had just been as good as insulted. "You may find me to be a low being, but never so low as to attempt to place spells upon youth for my own," he paused, "...pleasure."
"Are you telling me then," McGonagall said with all the venom in her person, "that what I just walked in on was genuine?" She released Hermione's arm to place on her hip, now focusing totally on Severus. Hermione subconsciously backed away slightly, not wishing to be found in the crossfire of an uncalled for duel.
"While we're on the subject of you walking in on people," he said in a tone to rival her own, "might I gently remind you of the wonders of knocking on a door..."
"You will not turn this conversation to suit you, Severus," McGonagall retorted angrily. "I came here tonight with the intentions of finding some...explanation for your actions in these past months, hoping something would fall into place for me. But this..." she shook her head, "...this is beyond the lowest I thought you could get."
Hermione knew this was her cue as she watched Severus rear up to retaliate.
"Please, Professor," she said as gently as she possibly could, daring to place a hand on her arm. McGonagall looked down at it, her expression not softening in the slightest.
"Please," Hermione repeated, closing her eyes briefly. Forgive me, Severus...it's the only way she'll understand all of this...
"There is something you must see."
Severus' eyes jumped wildly to Hermione when he heard this. No, he thought. No, she cant possibly...
Pleadingly, Hermione glanced over at Severus whose worried expression was hidden under layers of other emotions, all of them battling for his attention. She knew he didn't want others to see those memories but it was the only way...the only way to make her see the real truth.
Please, please allow her to see, she begged in her mind, knowing he'd hear her. If not for yourself, then for me...for us.
After an eternity of silence bogging the room, a reluctant flash of understanding and acceptance flashed in Severus' eyes and Hermione finally let the breath out she just realized she had been holding, newfound relief in his permission.
She looked back to McGonagall whose eyes were wildly and curiously jumping from one person to the other, trying to figure out what was going on. She met Hermione's eyes and then nodded, acknowledging the younger witch to show her what she wanted to.
Knowing it would be in bad interest for Severus to go through that entire ordeal again, Hermione only went to the basin herself and after McGonagall appeared at her side, plunged once more into the pensive, knowing it would not be better the second time around.
Hermione stood and watched again, chin up, trying not to cry out with the sadness she was holding inside of her as she observed his worse memories come to life once again. McGonagall said nothing as they watched, but quietly gasped several times, her hand moving to cover her mouth at times.
When the two of them were pulled back out, Hermione straightened up and waited...studying the professor's face for any sign at all...anything that would give her an idea of what was going on inside McGonagall's head.
Minerva almost immediately looked to Severus, a pitying expression very apparent on her face, completely devoid of the hostility she had held before.
"Severus—" she started, but he put up an impatient hand to stop her.
"I need no pity," he growled in a low voice, having known what she was about to say. "What's done is done...and now you know."
She nodded solemnly, and then sighed. "Very well then," she accepted. She looked to Hermione as if calculating. "Shall I assume it is your wish to remain here," she said in a tone that made Hermione feel slightly uncomfortable but she hid it.
"Professor," she started and walked so she was standing slightly in front of Severus as if that was where she knew she belonged. "He saved me," she motioned behind her, "I am safe here, I know that...I don't know what else to tell you. It's all that I know in my heart at least right now."
Hermione instantly cursed herself for her word choice because behind her she could hear a slight sneering sound but as if hurt. She closed her eyes. She had not meant to say it like that but Hermione also had to assume McGonagall would not approve of her true feelings.
After nodding several times and surveying Hermione once more, McGonagall spoke again:
"I shall leave then...perhaps we can all talk about...all of this...sometime in the near future, yes?" Hermione nodded, thinking that would be a very good idea indeed. And with that, McGonagall turned and left with a final nod, the door clicking softly behind her.
Hermione breathed out with a sigh of relief and turned around to face Severus. Only when she did, she turned around to nothing. Momentarily she panicked but shoved it out of her mind as she closed her eyes briefly as she remembered what had just been said. Idiot, Hermione.
Severus was standing in the middle of the dark living quarters when Hermione walked in. He didn't move an inch when she softly said his name, her voice full of remorse. "Severus..."
No answer.
"Severus, please," she said moving closer to him and studying his back for any signs of movement. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean it like that." Hermione knew what this was about...what she had just said to McGonagall...it had all just happened so fast.
Getting closer and coming to his side, she reached out and placed her hand on his arm, trying to look up into his face which was obscured with his mass curtain of black hair. Severus barely flinched when she touched him.
"Will you not even allow me to explain," she said sadly wishing he would look at her.
Still, nothing.
Hermione sighed and removed her hand from his arm and turned to leave, but without warning, Severus took hold of her wrist, pulling her back and drawing her straight up to him, his grip painfully tight.
Hermione breathed out with a twinge of pain and looked up into his now-cold eyes, practically glaring down at her.
"Yes..." he drawled slowly. "Please do..." Not a question, it was an order.
Hermione sadly shook her head, mostly to herself. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing was coming out. A grudging face of acceptance came onto Severus' face as he narrowed his eyes. But he did not release her arm, but bent very close so they were only inches apart.
"Tell me," he whispered in a deadly tone, "is it muggle custom to toy with emotions of others?" Hermione shook her head quickly; she was losing her nerve.
"No," she managed to choke out, never looking away from him once, knowing doing so would only make matters worse.
"THEN WHAT IS IT YOU ARE DOING?!" he shouted suddenly, not even bothering to move away from her face. But far from being further intimidated and scared, Hermione's defenses immediately went up.
"Do not shout at me!" she yelled back at him, standing up straighter and trying to release her arm which was an attempt in vain, but she ignored it and got in his face as best she could. "What exactly would you like me to tell you?!" She was angry now...not just at herself, but at him. How could he not understand where she stood?
"The truth. I want the truth. I believe I have been quite straight with you since you have been here...told you my feelings..." he stared her down, surprised when he received the same glare back.
"Oh, you want to know the truth...what on EARTH do you think it is?!"
"You infuriating woman!" Severus yelled, gripping her wrist tighter, getting back in her face. "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking! Now out with it you—"
"I love you—"
"What?"
Hermione let out several deep breaths before she spoke. "You heard me," she said, lowering her voice significantly and looking away from him, staring at the floor. She subconsciously felt the grip on her wrist slacken, but not release completely and Severus take a small step backwards.
Silence followed for several seconds. It had been true, completely and totally true. She had not planned to say it so soon...she wanted time to make sure it wasn't just some fling, some crush, and that he actually returned the feeling. However, she realized that as she said it, it seemed very right...like she had been meant to say it her whole life.
Severus was near dumbfounded. Had she really just told him that? For the second time, he was nearly lost for words. He had heard, but did he believe?
Someone love him? That was a completely new concept to him...he had never intended on finding love, it just did not suit him well...nor his lifestyle. Nonetheless, here was this young woman here standing before him, telling him she was in love with him...and he hadn't a clue what to say.
But who was he kidding? He felt the same, and he knew it.
"Hermione I—I'm," he started very quietly, seeming to have a hard time of it, having completely lost his nerve when she'd suddenly confessed her feelings. Apologies were not this forte. Thankfully, Hermione stopped him.
"Shh," she said gently, reaching up and placing her hand on his cheek, her expression having softened quite a bit. Severus blinked once and looked down at her, straight into her eyes. They both noticed how each other's expressions had softened which came with a wave of comfort.
"It's ok," Hermione continued, "I understand. You don't have to apologize."
Good. Thought Severus. Not because he wasn't remorseful, he just couldn't swallow his stupid pride. He knew he would have to work on that if anything with Hermione was going to last at all.
A faint smile crept onto Hermione's face as she looked up at him. He was thinking again...something that she had found was not always a good thing. She wondered what he was planning...God only knows what goes on in there...
Severus only nodded for a moment as he reached up to hold her face gently in his hands, then pulling her as close as humanly possibly and kissing her with every real feeling he possessed; all of it, the love, even the remorse. He knew she would understand through feeling.
Although he had done it without warning, Hermione had been ready this time and though she was breathless already, she had been able to compose herself and kiss him too, not holding back one ounce of her love.
The arm that Severus wasn't using to hold her arm he placed on the small of her back, ensuring she wouldn't move away at all. (Not that she wanted to by any means.)
When they broke apart, neither of them moved, their lips lingering centimeters away from the others', breathing as if they had just run a marathon.
"Go and get Potter's cloak," Severus said suddenly and quietly. "I want to show you something."
Hermione's eyes opened quickly at his words. She looked at him with questioning eyes but was only met with a slightly amused look. He had been going through her things had he?
Hermione tried her best to properly glare at him in shock for his rifling through her belongings, but she found that she could only smile.
"Looks like someone's been going through my bag," she said teasingly but trying to sound upset. It wasn't working...
"Oh no, of course not," he said nonchalantly, waving his hand dismissively. "I simply...knocked it over. You'll find I am very clumsy at times."
Hermione gave him an irritated look at this, knowing he had never been clumsy in his entire life. He only smirked back causing Hermione to shake her head and let out a small, pathetic laugh.
But yes, it was true, she still had Harry's invisibility cloak which unnerved her slightly knowing he no longer had it...but what did Severus want to show her that required her to wear the thing?
"Very well," she finally said, surrendering and went to retrieve it, still shaking her head and laughing to herself.
Severus was waiting by the door for her when she came down the spiral staircase, cloak draped over her arm.
Hermione stopped in front of him and stared expectantly as him for a few moments before his expression changed to questioning.
"And you plan on walking...how?" Hermione asked matter-of-factly, looking him up and down once before standing there, arms crossed, waiting for an explanation as to how he planned to walk around with most every inch of his body afflicted by some kind of injury.
Severus just rolled his eyes. "Just concern yourself with staying under that cloak..."
Hermione gave him a skeptical look and moved out to him in concern as he walked to the door, stumbling slightly, trying to stifle a sharp breath of pain, but he put up a hand to stop her and she obliged, although reluctantly.
It took him a moment, which he cursed, not wanting to show any weakness, yet finally composing himself and turned his hand over, reaching out for her to take it.
This time, Hermione didn't pause and walked over to him and took his hand, still giving him a skeptical look, which had turned into more of a grin now. Her heart skipped warmly when their hands touched and she breathed in slightly, starting to lose her way in those eyes again.
With his free hand, and also not looking away from her, Severus took the cloak off of her arm and quite gracefully placed it over her, completely erasing her from his sight, the only knowledge she was still there being their still-clasped hands.
Severus pulled her very close and without a word, started leading them out the door and towards the main door of the office.
Surprisingly, he managed to walk with almost no difficulty, thinking it was in part because all he had to do was remember who's hand he was holding on to...that kept him going.
Hermione said nothing as he led her through the corridors, finally starting to not recognize where they were anymore; it was a part of the Hogwarts castle she had never seen before.
Just as her confusion was really starting to kick in, Severus stopped right in front of a large glass window; a loner in the long, bleak corridor in which they were standing. Hermione looked up at him and when he sensed it, looked back at her, seeming to find her eyes even though she was invisible.
Before she could ask any questions as to what in the world they were doing, Severus raised his brow slightly and then glanced over to his left where the window was...or wasn't.
Hermione followed his eyes and was met by not a window, but an archway that seemed to lead down a short tunnel where sunlight looked to be peaking at them at the end of it.
She was amazed and laughed out once in her awe that it had just appeared there.
"Close you eyes," Severus whispered very softly. Hermione obliged as he found the middle of her back and placed his hand there to guide her as he gently pushed her down the small tunnel.
Now her heart was really flying in anticipation of what the end would show. Eyes tightly closed, she allowed Severus to move her forward. Finally, she felt sunlight hit her face telling her they had reached the end.
Breathing a little harder than she wanted to, Hermione felt it would be ok to open her eyes and so very slowly as if to savor the moment, she opened them.
A small gasp escaped her as she came into sight with quite possibly one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen.
She absentmindedly pulled the cloak off as she gazed around taking in a breathtaking view of a what would have been a simple and forgotten looking courtyard, had it not been for the vinery and moss that was growing up the sides of the cracking stone pillars and partial walls...not to mention the flowery.
It's a garden, she thought to herself in amazement, looking around, almost feeling a tear come to her eye as she just began to smile at what she saw.
At the far end of the courtyard there was a waterfall spilling quietly and gracefully into a shimmering pool, which was sparkling from the sunbeams that had found their way through the vined ceiling.
Subconsciously dropping the cloak onto a bench next to her, Hermione started to walk slowly to the other end, trying to soak it all in.
"What is this place," she asked Severus with hardly any breath to help her get the words out; it was so beautiful.
"I made it..."
Hermione stopped walking and turned around, a slightly surprised look on her face at what he had just said to her.
"You made this," she said, very impressed indeed. She breathed out once in utter amazement, shaking her head as though she couldn't quite believe anyone could possibly have created such a beautiful place.
Severus showed a flicker of a grin, clearly amused that she found it so amazing. "Doesn't seem like something my magic would do, does it," he asked as a rhetorical question, taking his eyes from Hermione to gaze around at his work, having not visited it in years.
"No," said Hermione in the same breathless voice, smiling now. "I just meant that
I cannot believe someone was actually able to create such a..." she trailed off. Severus looked back to her questioningly for her to finish her sentence. But she only shook her head, lost for words. There was no way to describe this place accurately...
"Why..." she started to ask, but Severus already knew what she wanted to know and he began to nod decisively, ready to answer her.
"After a couple of years here as a student, and I will not lie and tell you that I was popular by any means...I wanted somewhere to go where I would be..." he paused, choosing his word carefully. "Safe," he finished, nodding again to himself this time.
Hermione's smile had vanished, understanding that this had been sort of a safe place, a hide-away for him in his youth. She too nodded, knowing the feeling all too well having only wanted to hide from everyone and be alone so many times during her life as a student.
"When the library wasn't enough..." she said in a tone to match his own, looking towards the ground feeling like she now knew Severus better than he might think...mostly because they were quite alike in many ways...
"Yes," Severus agreed, realizing how she knew exactly what he was talking about...she must...
Hermione sighed and looked back up at him.
"Well it's wonderful," she said sincerely, giving him a small smile. He only scoffed and rolled his eyes, not wishing to let her know out loud how much it in fact flattered him that she found it so utterly amazing.
Understanding again, Hermione just shook her head as she smiled and turned around again to continue exploring the garden courtyard.
It was like a maze of flowers so-to-speak, with a beautiful display in the middle. As Hermione came closer to the center, she crouched down to examine them better, and upon actually seeing what they were, she felt her heart skip.
"Lilies." She stated in a whisper and covered her mouth lightly with a hand, trying not to cry. She knew what they were there for...or rather, who they were there for.
Slowly, Hermione came to a stand, still looking down on the small display of beautiful lilies in front of her.
"You really did care for her, didn't you," she stated, rather than asked, nodding to herself; not even turning around for she knew Severus had walked up behind her.
And Hermione then suddenly felt a pang of her own sadness...worry...Harry. He was still out there somewhere, he had to be, but it was the fact that she didn't know anything about his whereabouts whatsoever. If she could just know what happened to him after what happened in the forest that night...
She supposed the subtle reminder of Harry's mother was what sparked her sudden mood change, but that didn't make it any less of a problem in her mind.
But comfort found her in a few short moments as Severus clasped both of her shoulders with his hands and drew her into him, just to simply hold her.
Instantly, Hermione felt herself relax as she leaned into his warm body, carefully wrapping her arms around his waist, being careful to not aggravate any injuries at the same time.
Briefly, she wondered what she would have said to someone if they told her that one day she would find comfort in the fact that Severus Snape was holding her in his arms. She supposed she would have hexed them within an inch of their lives...
But now the idea wasn't even remotely repulsing...in fact, she knew it never really was; she had always been inwardly attracted to the man, she just never really embraced it...until now; now when she was forced to see the truth for what she felt.
Hermione tenderly rested her head back against Severus' shoulder, taking in the sweet scent of boiled potion that must be on his robes permanently, wondering what she was going to do now that she was falling in love.
They stayed that way for the longest time. No words, only feelings pouring through them both. Hermione didn't need to be a skilled legimens like Severus to know exactly what he was feeling...because it was mutual.
"Come," Severus finally said with an air of decisiveness, leaning down closer to her face to speak in a low, slightly seductive voice (or at least Hermione thought so...).
She turned her head to look over at him, finding his face was a lot closer than she had thought. They were inches apart for what seemed like the umpteenth time, and she was searching his eyes again, although his were locked into hers as though they were the most beautiful things in the world to him.
Painfully close. Hermione almost couldn't take it. She felt her heart speed up in anticipation as she waited for something to happen.
But as though he could sense her need for that 'something', Severus withdrew from her almost as quickly as he had been there in the first place, leaving Hermione standing, momentarily shocked. Clearly, she had anticipated something to happen right then.
Severus tried to conceal his smug grin as he turned and picked up the deserted invisibility cloak, stood there, and waited.
Hermione smiled to herself and recomposed herself. She turned around and walked straight up to Severus who was holding the cloak up, ready to cover her with it. She got right up close to him, leaving only the smallest amount of space between the two of them, hoping for the same effect as to what he had just done to her.
Severus only slightly raised an eyebrow nonchalantly as the smug look returned to his face and he raised his arms, placing the cloak back over Hermione, covering her small, curious smile from sight.
He found he immediately wanted to remove it again and take her back into his arms, but hid it well. He would make her want it...prolong it until the point where it could almost drive her mad with desire. Severus knew he would not allow himself to crack and show his weakness, which unfortunately for him, was Hermione, and she was right in front of him; he couldn't escape it.
Hermione followed quietly back to the office, her mind racing with too many thoughts as they walked. She was consumed with thoughts of what Severus had just shared with her; such an amazing creation that she knew he hadn't exactly been flaunting around to people throughout the years but had just showed her. She smiled to that aspect of things...
But the glaring thought in her mind that was screaming at her for attention was still Harry. No matter what she did, she couldn't stop him from entering her thoughts and causing worry.
She felt guilty. That was the big issue at hand. She had escaped and he...well, she didn't really know what happened to him.
When she and Severus returned to the office, she walked in without a word and went into the living quarters, pulling the cloak off as she went along, now deeper in thought about this whole thing.
Severus had immediately noticed a change in her from the moment she became somewhat melancholy back in the garden. He had tried his best to not pry with his mind, but it was glaringly obvious.
It was Potter...he acknowledged it grudgingly, not really wishing to have yet another Potter affecting his feelings for a woman...
But he knew she was worried about him; it was no secret. And the fact remained that he did know Potter's whereabouts and they weren't bad at all.
He sighed and made his way cautiously into the living rooms, unsure of what to find or even what to say to Hermione. He didn't have much experience dealing with women this way, but figured he had come this far with her, he should at least be able to settle her mind on this topic for now.
She was standing at the large bay window at the other side of the room, arms folded and staring off to the world outside, knowing without even trying that there where a million things racing through her mind right then.
Severus cleared his throat; if he was going to do this, he had to do it now before he backed down. Hermione didn't move, but he continued anyways...
"He's alright..." he stated to her back which barely moved when he spoke. It took a few moments, but finally he saw her head shake as if trying to understand what he'd just said.
"What?" She asked, indeed trying to decipher the meaning of his words. Who is ok...she thought, slightly irritated, only wanting to be left to her feelings and not have them diagnosed at that very moment.
"Potter," Severus said. "He's...safe."
Immediately, Hermione snapped to attention and spun to face him, a glaringly questioning expression on her face, as if confirming he wasn't just pulling her leg or anything. But the look in his eyes was true, it was genuine...it was some of the best news she had heard since the end of the summer.
"How do you know," Hermione asked guardedly, knowing that she shouldn't get her hopes up in case it wasn't true...but praying to God that it was.
Severus took her hand and led her over to the couch, sitting down with her, looking to be readying himself to tell a story of sorts. Hermione had the most terrified, yet curious look on her face, telling him that she was torn between wanting to know now and needing to know.
Intently, Hermione watched his face as he tried carefully to find the words to explain what was going on.
"He was captured," Severus finally said very quietly, not looking at Hermione who gasped quietly, her stomach plummeting.
"Then how is he—" she started, wondering where in the world he got off telling her Harry was fine and dandy and then saying Death Eaters had captured him. But Severus put up a surprisingly patient hand to quiet her. She immediately closed her mouth, aching for more news of her friend.
"But," he started again, "a small...battle, if you care to call it such, broke out there where he was being held." He glanced over at Hermione who was wide-eyed, waiting for the next detail, now completely terrified-looking.
"Potter is just fine...he got away," Severus said, seeming to be a little disappointed in his own words but Hermione just ignored it, willing him to go on with her eyes.
"And..." she prompted impatiently when using her facial expressions didn't seem to be working.
"And..." said Severus echoing her. "He is with Weasley's brother and sister-in-law...the Beauxbatons girl, I believe...at their home somewhere off the coast."
Hermione breathed out a heavy breath and looked the other way to blink a few unwanted tears out of her eyes, trying to look like dust had gotten in them or something.
Severus said nothing to this...he had no idea of how to comfort women in this way...how to comfort anyone in this way. He sat there, immobile, as Hermione tried to pretend that she wasn't crying, wondering what in Merlin's name he was supposed to be doing.
But then, as if by an unseen force, his hand reached up almost timidly, (which startled him a bit...he was not a 'timid' person), and placed itself behind her head in what he assumed should be comfort. What drove him to do it, he was at a loss for. But when she felt him do it, Hermione breathed in shortly and then he felt her relax.
It surprised Hermione to feel his comforting hand there, as if supporting her mind, but she almost immediately relaxed under his touch. Sighing quietly, she closed her eyes briefly and turned a little to look at Severus, whose hand moved with her head so it was on her cheek now.
He reached up and brushed a tear away with his thumb, again unsure of what he was doing, although it just seemed...right. Hermione showed a very small smile at his attempt to comfort her. It was working, no denying that, because she had become more relaxed the second he touched her, certainly something neither of them had ever fathomed happening.
Neither of them had words to form in that moment; they sat there in what became companionable silence for a time, Hermione feeling more at ease at least knowing where Harry was...knowing that he was at least safe.