A/N- Thank you for the reviews last chapter!
A few evenings after they had visited the hospital, Hermione was down in Severus's rooms, going over the symptoms with the potions professor, and brainstorming any and all ideas or ingredients that came to mind. Hermione's hug hadn't been mentioned, and the next day Severus had greeted her as coolly as he always did. Although she felt slighted by the return to professionalism, she was, in a way, grateful for it. She hadn't known what possessed her to hug the professor, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know. He had been unusually kind that day at the hospital, and Hermione chalked the sudden urge to hug Severus up to repaying him for the quiet kindness he had shown her whilst she dealt with the grisly hospital visit.
"Each symptom will have to have a separate ingredient, and from thence we will have to set about finding ingredients that have the properties we are looking for, that also work well together," Severus said musingly as he studied the list of symptoms Hermione had written down. "Any ideas thus far, Granger?"
"A few, but only out of desperation," Hermione said discontentedly. "Potion ingredients that deal with the mind are few already, but to single that down even further, the chances of finding what we need are next to none."
Severus nodded, frowning as he knew Hermione was right. "We'll just have to keep searching. The Minister knows it will take some time, there is no excuse for rushing and being sloppy in our research, we shall have to be meticulous."
Hermione nodded, and stood up, gathering a few pieces of parchment. "I'll be back down tomorrow then," she said as she looked at the sallow faced man.
"No, that won't be necessary," Severus said with a sigh as he handed Hermione the parchment he was holding. "We'll just be going in circles unless one of us finds something new, and it would be time better spent researching, not talking uselessly of what we have already gathered."
Hermione nodded. "Right, as usual," she said with a slight shrug. "I'll come to you if I find anything new."
Severus inclined his head, and watched the witch leave his office. He found himself slightly relieved that she hadn't tried to initiate any sort of physical contact since the brief and unexpected hug she had given him in his rooms. He hadn't been adverse to it, in fact he had found it rather comforting. But he would never have told her that, and it was best they left it at that. Getting up, he stalked out of his office, wondering when he would see Hermione again. They desperately needed some new information, and Hermione would read much faster on her own. He had several books to go through himself, and entered his rooms, intent on reading through at least one that evening.
It had been over a week since they had visited St. Mungo's, and Hermione was still unable to fall asleep. The images of the victims of the curse haunted her relentlessly, crying out for her to help them. Flashes of crying, screaming patients, and people clawing at themselves in anguish flitted across her mind as soon as the lights were off. Hermione didn't know what was wrong; she had seen far worse things than a few people on a sick bed. She had been in a war. She had seen people die in front of her.
Why did that visit shake her so?
Hermione groaned, and rolled over. Reaching for her nightstand, she grabbed her watch. Uttering a quick Lumos, she looked at the time. Almost 2 am. Frustrated, she slammed the watch down.
She got up and padded to her bathroom. She kept a small collection of helpful potions in the cabinet there, and she started searching for anything to help. Pushing vials aside, she found a small one labeled Dreamless Sleep, in her small handwriting. Hermione stood there, turning the bottle over in her hands. She desperately needed sleep, but she knew that Dreamless Sleep could quickly become addicting, and eventually she would become immune to the effects. Frowning, she opened the bottle. Just a small sip, she told herself. Just enough for her to fall asleep for a few hours...
She heaved a sigh, and placed the bottle back on the shelf. No, she couldn't start something she wasn't sure she had the will power to resist. Perhaps she could talk to Snape, and ask him for advice. Hermione smiled wryly. He probably wouldn't help her. Climbing back into bed, she shoved a pillow over her face, willing sleep to come. When it came, it came uneasily, and Hermione spent the remainder of the night tossing and turning feverishly, trying to resist the images that came without abandon to her minds eye.
"Mr. Aubry," Hermione snapped. "You thrust your wand forwards to perform a shield charm, not wave it back and forth like a child."
It was her second class of the day, and she hadn't gotten any sleep during the night. Her bad temper grew with every mistake the students made, and she couldn't stop the annoyance from clouding her voice. Sitting back, she watched the fifth years struggle and fail to produce a strong shield charm. She frowned to herself. Was it that difficult when she had been in her fifth year? She didn't think so, she couldn't recall any members of the old D.A having this much trouble with the spell.
Hermione stood up wearily. "Alright, that's enough for today. Class, homework for today is a foot on the proper techniques for Shield charms, and specific examples for when it would be appropriate to use one, to be handed in to me on Friday. Good day." She watched the students filed out, and thought about what she could do to get some sleep. Taking a sip of Dreamless Sleep would be so easy, and it would grant her a much needed full night's sleep.
She shook her head. No, that was only a temporary solution. What she really needed was to talk to someone about her nightmares, and she knew exactly who she wanted to see. Grabbing a piece of parchment, she scribbled a few words hastily, and went to the window in the classroom, opening it she let out a piercing whistle. She walked back to her desk and sat down to wait. A minute later, a loud flapping noise could be heard, and a beautifully colored Fwooper flew in gracefully, and perched on the edge of the desk.
Hermione gave the bird a small smile, and ran her hands through the bird's purple and gold plumage. "Thank you for coming so quickly, Cosette," she said in a kind voice. The bird responded by pushing its head against Hermione's hand affectionately. Hermione tied the note onto Cosette's waiting leg, and carried the bird to the window. "To Draco, please. And don't come back without a reply!" She watched Cosette fly away, her beautiful colors glinting pleasantly in the sunlight. Still smiling, she sat back down at her desk. She remembered when she had received Cosette. Harry had got the bird for Hermione, having acquired a permit for her as well. She raised Cosette from a hatchling, and the silencing charm that Hermione renewed every few months wasn't necessary, as Cosette rarely made a sound. But it was the law that in order to have a Fwooper, she had to place a strong silencing charm on the bird.
Standing up, she waited for the next class to arrive, her mood slightly improved. She knew Draco would understand, and be able to provide some suggestions.
"Really, Severus, working with the Granger girl?" Lucius said, the contempt dripping from his words. "Was there any way to avoid it?"
Severus gave Lucius a resentful look. "No, there was not. Ministry orders," he said in annoyance. He was at the Malfoy Manor, having not seen his old friend Lucius, or his godson, Draco, in a few weeks. "We have made some progress, though. She is not slow, and her ideas are often very illuminating," he said begrudgingly.
Draco smirked. "I've been trying to tell you two fools this for years," he said haughtily. "She isn't what she looks like."
Lucius gave Draco a bored look. "Be that as it may, she is still friends with that Potter boy."
Draco rolled his eyes. "That shouldn't have any effect on how one appreciates ones intelligence."
Severus snorted. "Actually, considering the academic prowess of that boy," he said acerbically, "I'm surprised Granger has managed to retain her astute mental capabilities after being around him for so long."
Lucius gave Severus a surprised look. "Did you just... compliment the girl, Severus?"
Draco turned slowly to look at Snape, a grin spreading over his face. "You did!" he crowed. "You did! You just gave Hermione a compliment!"
Severus looked at his godson icily. "I was not complimenting her, I was stating a fact," he hissed.
Draco wouldn't hear of it, his grin growing the more Severus tried to deny he had said nothing in favor of Granger.
Everyone paused at a harsh tapping on the window. Draco moved to open the window, and a large bird with a brilliant mixture of purple and gold feathers swooped in.
Severus looked at the bird in extreme surprise. "Who does that belong to?" he said curiously. "I was under the impression that Fwoopers were hard to come by."
Lucius looked at him and shrugged, just as clueless as Severus.
Draco took the note off the birds leg, and turned to the two older men, a pleased look on his face. "Cosette belongs to Hermione," he said proudly. Unfolding the note, he stared at it, not noticing the look of jealousy that came over the older Malfoy's face. Pocketing the note, he summoned a piece of parchment and a quill, and hastily wrote a reply. The trio watched the bird gracefully fly away.
"Father, I won't be here for dinner," he said, unable to hide the concern in his voice.
"Why is that, Draco?" the silver haired wizard asked. "I had thought it was your mothers wish that you dine with us tonight, she had been complaining rather incessantly about how she never sees her son these days."
"I have to go help a friend," the boy said vaguely.
"Please, Draco, don't take your father and I for idiots," Severus drawled. "What did Miss Granger need?"
"Advice," came the short reply. "I really must be going. Good bye father, Severus." with that, Draco turned and left.
"Well, that was sudden," Severus observed dryly.
"I wonder what Granger could have possibly said that would have a Malfoy running to her aid," Lucius said disapprovingly.
"I suppose we will find out in due course."
"Indeed. So, Severus, to bring ourselves back to the earlier conversation, how much have you discovered about this new curse?"
"Only the basics, unfortunately," Severus said. "It has its roots in old Dark magic that focused on attacking the victims mind. Other than that, nothing much. We have to find where the spell originated from in order to make more headway."
"I may have some books you would find helpful, if you are searching for ancient magics," Lucius said as he poured himself a glass of Firewhiskey from the decanter on the desk. He glanced at Severus inquiringly. "Care for a glass?"
"No, thank you. I must leave soon, and I would hate to waste any of your fine stock," he said sardonically. "But yes, just send Dilly with the books whenever you decide to send them," he added.
Lucius nodded. "Stop by again soon. Narcissa is going to raise hell if you don't come for dinner later this week."
Severus winced, he knew what Narcissa would do to him if he neglected to accept her invitation. "Of course," he gave Lucius a brief nod, and walked out of the study, apparating once he was past the numerous enchantments and protective spells that were placed on the Malfoy Manor. Reaching the Hogwarts gates, he wondered what could have possibly happened to Hermione to make her call for Draco so suddenly. He had known the two were bosom buddies since their friendship first began, as Draco saw no point in hiding whatever relationships he chose to uphold from his parents eye. Narcissa didn't care particularly, she was just glad Draco had made some friends; friends that wouldn't goad him into doing anything he didn't wish to. Lucius was a bit harder to convince, as old habits die hard, and his prejudice still clouded his judgment sometimes, but he eventually accepted that his son was friends with one of the famed Golden Trio. Severus opened the gates, to see Hemione rushing towards him. "Miss Granger, are you alright?" He asked without preamble.
"Yes, perfectly fine Severus," Hermione said distractedly as she reached him. "I must be going," she said quickly and apparated away.
Severus shook his head, and continued on towards the castle. Whatever it was that had Hermione in a frenzy, it wasn't any concern of his.