Hermione awakens in the infirmary at Hogwarts. The first thing she notices is that she is wearing pajamas. The second thing she notices is the moon, round and full, peeking through the window across from her bed. The third thing she notices is Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall making their way quietly over to her from another bed. Hermione's eyesight is fuzzy; the two witches are going in and out as they approach her bed.
McGonagall sits down on the edge of the bed and takes Hermione's hand. "Hermione, dear. How are you feeling?"
That depends. "Is he dead?" she asks. Her voice is hoarse and crackly.
McGonagall turns to Madam Pomfrey. "Why does she sound like that?"
"I didn't realized she had damaged her voice, " replies Madam Pomfrey. "Must have been the screaming." Madam Pomfrey points her wand at Hermione.
"Stop," Hermione croaks. The fog is starting to lift and she is getting agitated. "I am of age and I am revoking permission for you to treat me."
Both McGonagall and Pomfrey just stare at her.
Hermione feels in her pocket and then looks around her hospital bed. "GIVE ME MY WAND, " she says, with as much force as she can muster.
McGonagall nods to Madam Pomfrey who promptly scurries off, looking very upset.
Hermione turns back to McGonagall. "Is he dead?"
McGonagall frowns and won't meet her eyes.
"You can tell me now, Headmistress, or I can force it out of you when I get my wand. The choice is yours."
McGonagall gasps at the threat. Wordlessly, she points to a figure lying prone on a bed a few rows down from Hermione. Madam Pomfrey is scurrying back across the floor of the infirmary, Hermione's wand in hand.
Hermione throws back the covers and sits up, holding out her hand for her wand. Both witches watch her with baited breath when as she wraps her fingers around its familiar shape. Then Hermione stands up and, only wobbling slightly, makes her way over to Snape. He's breathing.
Hermione let's out a sob of relief and sinks to her knees next to his bed. McGonagall is there next to her as she falls to the ground, holding her, and Hermione lets her.
"He hasn't woken up yet, dear, and we don't know when he will. But physically, he's fine."
"How?" asks Hermione.
"Well, we don't know what kind of curse knocked him out, so-"
"It was the Killing Curse," Hermione said.
McGonagall and Pomfrey are stunned into silence. Hermione pulls herself to her feet. "So, we don't really know if he's going to wake up, do we?"
"But how?" asks Madam Pomfrey.
"Severus researched many curses for Voldemort and Dumbledore both. Perhaps he discovered a way to counter the curse," says McGonagall, not really believing it but unable to come up with a more probable explanation.
"How are his vitals?" asks Hermione.
"Fine, dear," says madam Pomfrey. "Physically, there is nothing wrong with him. My plan of treatment is to give him two days to awaken on his own before trying any number of stimulant portions and spells. But for now, I think, it's best for him just to rest."
"And Scabior?" Hermione says, still looking down at Snape. "What became of him?"
There is an awkward silence.
"I will NOT be treated like a child," Hermione says quite forcefully. "Don't make me repeat myself."
"Miss Granger," McGonagall says gently. "Do you not remember what happened?"
"The last thing I remember is Professor Snape stepping in front of the killing curse, and then falling," Hermione says, the horror still fresh in her voice.
"Scabior was killed by more than fifty deep lacerations all over his body, probably the result of 'Sectumsempra.' We assumed it was Severus, given his penchant for that particular curse. But if he was struck down by Scabior's killing curse…"
"Then I must have done it," Hermione says quietly. "And the fat one?"
"The, uh, other attacker also received deadly lacerations."
"Pity," says Hermione. "I would have liked to interrogate them." She takes Snape's beautiful hand in hers, marveling at his long, elegant fingers. "His vitals are being constantly monitored?" she asks, never looking away from him.
"Yes," says Madam Pomfrey. "If they go outside normal parameters I'll know about it."
Hermione nods curtly. "I'm going to stay with him tonight. I'll send my otter if we need anything."
The headmistress and the mediwitch back away from Snape and Hermione, exiting the infirmary quietly.
"Have you ever been spoken to that way by a student before, Headmistress?" asks Madam Pomfrey.
"No," replies McGonagall.