I kind of got lost at the end of that last chapter. I'm back on track with this one, I think, even though there's no lemons. The rest of the story is starting to take shape in my warped brain. Hope you like it!
Thanks for reading!
Pulling her through the door, he shut and warded it behind him. "What the hell do you want from me?"
"I thought that was pretty obvious." She frowned at the conflicted man as she took a seat on the sofa.
"Bloody smartass!" Storming over to the armchair next to the sofa, he flopped down and stared into the fire. He wanted her; there was no question of that. But he couldn't risk her safety for his own pleasure. He couldn't risk his own position with the Dark Lord, either. He'd had this same argument with himself over countless glasses of firewhisky during the last five weeks. Making up his mind, he plastered a sneer on his face and looked at her. "What will your little friends think when they hear that you're skulking around the dungeons looking for a good time with the great greasy bat, hm?"
Unaffected by his taunting, she laughed. "Remus was right."
"What?" His shoulders tensed and his face tightened.
Still smiling, she stuck the knife deeper. "'He's not worth it, Mione.' 'He's a bloody arsehole, Mione.' 'He couldn't care for a dog, let alone a woman, Mione,'" she mocked. "I hate that nickname, by the way."
Visibly hurt by the words of his supposed friend, he turned back towards the fire and hid his face behind his hair. "Get out and don't come back."
"No."
Standing, Severus lashed out at her, "I said GET…" Suddenly, he crumpled and grabbed his left forearm.
"Severus!" Concern was evident in her voice.
Slowly regaining his composure, he stood and swept from the room without looking at her.
Staring after him, Hermione heard a soft crack come from the bedroom a few minutes later.
*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*
Arriving at the entrance to Malfoy Manor, Severus took a deep breath and tried to suppress all thoughts of the last few hours. He prayed to whatever gods were listening that he would survive the night.
*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*
The clock struck 3am. The fire was starting to die, but Hermione wasn't paying attention. She hugged her knees closer to her chest and listened carefully for any sound that indicated Severus' return. She had pushed him too far and he was angry when he left. If anything happened to him because he was distracted by her actions, she'd never forgive herself.
Hermione jumped from her seat when she heard the thump on the door. Forgetting that it could be anyone, she yanked the door open to find Severus slumped on the floor.
With a silent Wingardium Leviosa, she carefully directed his body through the sitting room and into his bedroom.
She placed him in the center of the bed and cast Lumos, gasping when she saw his deporable state. It had been dark when she'd gathered him from the doorway, but now she could see the sad state he was in. He was shaking furiously. His face was bruised and blood was leaking from his nose; it looked broken. Though his eyes were open, they were glazed and staring blankly ahead.
Tears beginning to run down her face, she reached into her bag and pulled out bruise-healing paste, calming draught and some blood-replenishing potion. Hermione took a deep breath and wandlessly disrobed the wizard. She cringed. This was going to be a long night.
*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*
Taking a deep breath, Hermione flopped onto the sofa in Severus's sitting room. It had taken her almost 2 hours and despite her not being a healer, Severus was stable and sleeping. She thanked the gods that she had researched so many healing techniques in preparation for the war.
Exhausted, she spoke into the empty room. "Dobby!"
"Mistress Hermione! What can Dobby do for you?" the small elf was wearing what looked like a child's romper, mismatched mittens and a bright pink scarf wrapped around his head like a turban.
Shaking her head, she smiled at the elf. "Coffee, please, Dobby." Her voice sounded terrible, she thought, as the elf popped back out of the room.
Seconds later, Dobby returned with a hot pot of coffee and two mugs. He left before she could tell him she only needed one.
Hermione sighed as she took a sip. It was plain old Hogwarts coffee, but it tasted like heaven to her. She was going to need it to survive the day. Before she could take a second drink, there was a knock at the door. Startled, she set down the mug and grabbed her wand, unsure of whether she should answer.
"Miss Granger," came Dumbledore's voice from the other side, "would you mind opening the door? It's chilly down here and I think a hot coffee would set me right."
Annoyed at his presumption, she walked over and opened the door for the Headmaster.
"Ah, there you are, I was starting to get worried!" Dumbledore swept past her, plopped into one of Severus's armchairs and fixed himself the other mug of coffee.
Grumbling about scheming house elves, Hermione shut the door and sat back down.
"That hits the spot, don't you think, dear?"
"Yes, sir." She waited for the onslaught.
"I'm not going to bite." His eyes twinkled. "How is our Potions master doing?"
"He's…he's stable, sir. He's sleeping now."
"Good…good. And how are your classes going?"
"Uh, well, it's only been a week, but they're going well, I guess…" She was confused; the Headmaster seemed unconcerned with her being in her professor's quarters.
"Most excellent!" he cried, "I'll be off, then. Do keep an eye on Severus for me, we wouldn't want to be short a professor, now would we?"
Hermione glared at the old man as he made his way for the door. His omnipotence was infuriating. Finishing her coffee, she went back to the bedroom to check on her patient.
*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*SH*
Groaning, Severus tried turning his head only to be accosted by a web of brown curls. As he lifted himself up in the bed, he discovered three things: One, he was naked. Two, he was not alone. Three, he felt great. Severus examined his body where he knew there should have been bruises to find that they were gone. Looking around, he saw the empty potion bottles on his nightstand.
The girl had healed him. More than that, she had stayed with him. His punishment last night had not been because of her. The last tip he'd given the Dark Lord had been a setup by the Order. Not to mention another horcrux had found its way into the Potter boy's hands and he knew that it would be destroyed before long.
Voldemort had been furious and Severus had felt his wrath. He had expected to die last night. Lifting the covers up over the girl, he wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes. Perhaps she had been right. He should take what little happiness he could find while he still had the chance.
That took forever to write! More lemons, soon, I promise. Review, please!