Title: Quarantined
Rating: T
Genre: humor/ suspense
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Madam Pomfrey, Minerva McGonagall
Summary: All returning "eighth years" are required to assist a professor, It was all going well. When on a average day in potions, disaster struck.
Beta love to my beta who shall remain anonymous until after the reveals
This is a part of an anonymous contest and will remain so until after the contest has been voted on and reveals are finished.
We would like to acknowledge that all of the writers know that the Harry Potter characters, locations and any plot lines used are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Severus Snape glowered at the piece of parchment that was handed to him. His ire was on the rise that he almost missed the newly appointed headmistress address him.
"Severus?" His only reply was to throw a deathly glare at the Scotswoman. She simple shook her head. "I take it you are unhappy with you're specially appointed student assistant?"
"Obviously." He growled.
"Let me conclude the meeting," Severus glances around the table at the annual staff meeting to see mostly happy faces as they stared down at the similar pieces of parchment in their hands. The sound of his blood rushing in his ears made him not hear the dismissal. He did noticed the rustle of fabric and the scent of heather and warm vanilla that he always associated with the elder Gryffindor swirl around him as she sat next to him, and adjusted her tartan robes. "Now that we are alone, you may air your grievances. I suspect though, I can guess them all." Severus, seemingly calmer at the moment gestured for her to continue. "You are angry that SHE was chosen." He nodded. "You are perturbed because of her house." Severus gave no response as she continued "You are exasperated because she is being used to better you reputation. Something I'm sure you feel is unnecessary. And last but not least you are irate that you have to have a TA at all."
"You do realize you used four different adjectives to describe the same emotion." He said tiredly with a slight bit of humor hinted.
"I am aware." She paused for a moment, smirking slightly. "Severus your survival was nothing short of miraculous, your one hundred percent acquittal was unheard of and you being able retain both your job here and your mastery implausible." Severus threw her a knowing look as she done it again, she simply smirked and continued. "There are still a fair number of the population that feels you deserved to be locked up. This pairing was especially chosen because it will help your reputation in the long run. As a Gryffindor, muggleborn and member of the acclaimed Golden Trio it covers everything a follower of HIM would detest. You being able to work side by side with her would be beneficial to changing the rest of the world's nay sayers."
"I don't see why it's necessary to have their approval, I've never sought to be popular before." Minerva smacked his arm playfully.
"It's not about being popular, its about finally being left alone, isn't that what you ultimately want?"
Severus' shoulders slumped, defeated. "Why is she even returning? Didn't they offer some kind of amnesty program for the students whom fought in the final battle?"
"You should know, that Miss Granger wouldn't dare skip out on her education. She wishes to sit her NEWTS, to not be cheated her opportunity to finish her schooling and the reward of taking them simply because of the war." Severus rolled his eyes, as he stood. "You will be agreeable, won't you?" She asked with a hopeful tone.
"I will attempt to be, but I won't be happy about it." He said with a sigh as he walked out of the room.
Xxx
Hermione walked around the second year potion class, observing the students. But all the while her stomach felt like there were butterflies swarming within. She knew he was watching her every move from behind his desk. He may have had his head down looking over the written reports of the current potion the class was attempting to make. But she knew he was observing her, waiting for her to make a mistake. It was quite a shock for her to find out that they wanted her to TA for potions. But, so was the implementation of the TA program for the returning "eighth years".
She, along with Harry were the most vocal in the trials for Severus Snape. She felt that since he survived, he deserved to find a life free of the terrible burden placed on his shoulders. She shuttered at some of the memories they extracted from him and the ones that the late Dumbledore left with the Gringotts Goblins in the hopes to exonerate Snape, should he have survived or at the very least clear his name so that he could be buried as a hero and not a villain.
And while she knew she would never hear any gratitude from the man, she did hope he would be appreciative to her helping him with his course load. Hermione tried not to let her mind wander too much. The second years were still working with volatile ingredients and they didn't need those kinds of accidents, just because she was gathering wool. It was then she was called quietly by a Hufflepuff. She walked over to offer her assistance. She noticed that Professor Snape looked up at the small commotion, annoyed. Hermione wanted to chuckle at his reaction, but bit her tongue. It reminded her of her neighbor's elderly basset hound. That in his early years would jump up at every little sound and bark. But due to his increased age would simply look up and growl.
After helping the student, she made another pass when her worst fear was in progress. She yelled as she ran forward. It all happened in slow motion, she saw Professor Snape react to alarm and in a blur of black ran to the cauldron in question and threw up a shield over it. He hollered at the class to leave, IMMEDIATELY. Hermione ran through the crowd of students running out of the classroom and tripped on the student whose blunder caused all this. In that moment she heard the professor scream at her to protect herself. She looked up at the caldron to see the shield charm break and the noxious gases started to seep out. She quickly threw up a bubble head charm to protect her from breathing in the possibly poisonous gas. She looked over to her professor whom was also protecting himself as he tried to banish away the destroyed potion.
After that was taken care of he went to the door and magically sealed it shut. With both of them trapped in the classroom. Hermione felt a sense of doom float through her. "Professor?" She asked timidly.
"You will tell me what lead to this."
Xxx
Severus was attempting to grade the essays turned at the beginning of class as Miss Granger began monitoring the brew session. He would scowl at any student whom asked for her assistance. But all in all the moral was up and thus the potions were coming out better since she began assisting with his classes. Not that he would ever mention it to her. It was an average day, a simple stomach suppressant. All the instructions were straight forward with very little prep.
He was making his way through another dreadfully written essay when he heard the witch scream "No, Mr Parks! Stop!" Severus jumped up with a flash and ran to the boy in question and threw a containment shield around the now contaminated potion. He quickly observed the color and consistency of the potion, and knew they only a few moments before it would explode.
"EVERYONE OUT! NOOOWW!" He bellowed loudly as the commotion of 25 students departed the classroom. He watched while the foolish witch ran toward the caldron instead of out the door with the younger students. Then saw her trip over Mr. Parks as he hastily made his way to the exit. "Granger, shield yourself!" He yelled as he saw her wave her wand. Then in those few seconds the containment charm popped and the murky orange gas flowed freely from the caldron. Severus quickly tried to banish the contents away. But the damage was done. He ran to the door and sealed it with the magical seal he made to contain these kind of explosions. Then made his way back to the heart of the room, where he heard the worried tone in his TA's voice.
"Professor?"
"You will tell me what lead to this." He started as he pointed to the now empty caldron.
"I observed Mr. Parks pouring in the poinsettia berries whole into his potion, instead of crushing them." She looked down, disappointment obvious in her stance " it was very straightforward. He must not have been paying attention."
He remembered feeling like that when he first starting teaching. That feeling like it was your fault that student screwed up. "Do not trouble yourself, I have firmly believed that potions should not be part of standard curriculum but a elective for third years and above. Because the younger students tend to be too immature to handle the coursework or have too low of attention span to realize the dangers that reside with potion craft."
"Thanks." Hermione responded humbly, as she realized that he was trying to ease her guilt ridden mind. "So how long are we going to have to wait in here for?"
"Well assuming Mr. Parks' potion was going reasonably well and the only real mistake was the berries. And color of the gas, I'm going to assume at least twenty four hours."
"TWENTY FOUR HOURS!" She squealed in aghast.
"Yes, and I would greatly appreciate you not hitting tones that high in here, many of the containers will crack spilling their valuable ingredients."
While completely befuddled over the length of time being isolated with her professor, she did giggle at his joke. In the month and half of being his assistant. She had come to find that Professor Snape had a rather ironic sense of humor, which she appreciated. "Was the gas fatal? Should we be worried about the contamination?"
"Consider the potion we were brewing today and the ingredients. None of them react that violently together. But with that in mind there is a chance for some rather embarrassing side effect, yes."
"Embarrassing side effects? Like what?"
"What was today's potion? What would be the adverse of what is meant to do? What could be the worst case scenario for us?"
It only took Hermione a few moments of complete thought to realize what was to be their fate. She blushed brightly, "Oh dear Merlin, No!"
"Unfortunately yes. It will be terrible before it will be good."
"But, you said there were a chance at it, so there is a chance we won't sustain any symptoms."
His lack of response made her worry until she heard the frantic knocking on the classroom door that drew her attention away from her wayward thoughts. "Severus! Hermione!" The headmistress yelled. "Are you both alright?!"
"Minerva, calm yourself. There was a explosion. But neither of us are hurt and will have to remain in quarantine for the next day or so." Severus said calmly, leaving out major details, Hermione noticed.
"Oh my. Will you requiring any supplies? I can contact Poppy."
"Yes it would be beneficial to speak with her."
"Hermione, dear. You'll be in good hands. I hope you will be alright for the duration."
"Please, Minerva it's only 24 hours. I believe the young woman can handle herself for that long."
"Well alright, I sent my Patronus for Poppy. I'll be by later for an update."
"Goodbye Headmistress." Hermione said. "I see you kept some tidbits out?" She said to her Professor after the headmistress departed.
"It is unnecessary to give her more to worry about. This has happened in the past will always continue to as long as we are teach students with little respect for the art of making potions. She doesn't need to get worried about what may or may not occur."
It wasn't long before the Matron came to the sealed door. "Severus!"
"Ah Poppy. So we had fun little explosion where poinsettia berries weren't crushed and added to a stomach suppressant. Exposure to the gas was momentarily but still enough to warrant a twenty four hour isolation." He sounded more at ease and less formal with the head of medical wing, then with the headmistress, Hermione observed. Their relationship not simply a working one, if she would gather.
"Oh dear. Things are going to be just frightful soon. I'll send you a supply kit. I'll even add some bananas and biscuits just in case."
"Wait! Soon. You said there was a chance, not a certainty?" Hermione interrupted, paling from the candid comment from mediwitch
Hermione could here laughter from the other side of the door. "You honestly told her there was a chance. You are truly evil, Severus."
"I simply hoped to spare her the embarrassing reality…"
"Until it is coming out from both ends and she mortified! Dear girl, it's going to be hell for you two, but think of it as a bonding experience. And I hope your banishing charm is up to snuff. Because you are going to need it. I'll makes sure there are two of everything in the kit. I'll throw it in the floo in twenty five minutes, and don't worry, I'll erect a barrier and not be in the room when the floo activates."
Professor Snape looked over at the witch, who was looking like she may faint. "Poppy has a very subversive sense of humor. But to be honest, I was trying to spare your feeling. But there is actually very little chance we won't be feeling like we would be wishing for death soon."
It didn't ease her mind any to hear his words but grateful for his honesty. She watched him start to transfigure things in the classroom, turning a piece of fabric, possibly a handkerchief into a privacy curtain and stuck it to the ceiling. Transfigured the front row of tables and benches into small hospital type beds. She watched him work quickly and with purpose. She was grateful for his forthright thinking. "I suspect you can do a banishing charm and a proper silencing charm?"
"I did spend a few months in a tent with boys. I perfected those." She heard Professor Snape chuckle slightly. That was when he made his way over to the floo and activated it. He stepped through and back with a bundle of supplies. Several buckets and basins, a small package of biscuits and bananas. And the most embarrassing part of the kit a large quantity of toilet paper. She walked over and tried to help him separate the care package. She also noticed there were several clean hospitals gowns among the towels she sent over. Which made Hermione blush again. Once the whole kit was separated, Hermione and Snape went to their respective sides of the room and readied their areas for what could only be the worst situation ever.
"I would recommend you change into the gown before your start to feel peakish. You wouldn't want to mess up your clothing." Snape relayed from his side of the curtain.
"Um, yeah. Ok." Was the only eloquent response she could make. Hermione changed quickly and went to work erecting her silencing charm around her space. Then went to find her bag, which she always left in the supply closet. Which was fortunately on her side of classroom. She then transfigured the second row of work benches into a small sitting space. No need to be uncomfortable until they began to feel like they were dying. While she rummaged through her bag, she had noticed that Snape had joined her.
"Miss Granger why didn't you mention you were injured?"
"I'm not…" she started until she saw where he was pointing and saw a rather deep gash in her arm. Just below the sleeve of the gown. "Oh, I hadn't realize. That means my blouse is probably ruined."
He walked over took her arm. "It's quite alright, sir, I'm capable of fixing this." She reached into her charmed book bag and pulled out a piece of flannel, which he snatched up and used aguamenti to dampen it, then pressed it her arm. Which caused her to hiss.
"Hold it there, I'll get some essences Dittany to fix it." He walked to the stores and back. He poured the brown liquid on her arm and she flinched as it started to knit her skin back together. "Since it wasn't taken care of right away, it may leave a small scar."
"What's another one, right?" Hermione said in a mock tone.
"I concur." He noticed the bag and some of the contents she had removed. Noticing that some of it couldn't possibly fit. "Undetectable extension charm?"
"Yes, I learned it fifth year and have used a few times. It's helpful. I have some recreational books in here." She said as she began pulling things out of the bag. And then she chuckled. "And I guess a wizards chess." She looked over to the professor whom was sitting in a rather comfy chair near her own. "I'm not much good at it. But it could help us pass the time before…" she didn't finish the thought. As she handed the box to dark wizard beside her. He set it up, "Professor, May I ask, how many times have you been locked up in this room because of a negligent student?"
"Far too many to count. I've been a teacher for many years now, lots bonehead students. While it has been a few years since one of this magnitude."
"Is this why Madam Pomfrey has a kit like the one she sent us and the floo delivery?"
"Poppy and I have had plenty of experience handling things like this. She is someone I can converse with on a level that is direct and easy. Which makes awkward situations less strenuous." He paused for a moment and then added "That and she has tended to my many physical ailments over the years. There is unspoken respect for one another."
Hermione felt lighter at the thought that while Snape was virtually alone, handling all the things he did. He had a silent partner in the schools Matron.
Xxx
"The key here is to put in as much of your desire to win as you can."
"I still see it as brutal."
"Why? They are pieces of stone that are animated by a spell to make them react. Your timid response, while effective to play the game will never allow you to actually win. Because you are so ardently against doing what needs to be done to win. You are smart enough to take out your opponents, you just chose not to."
Hermione blushed slightly at compliment. He had never referred to her as smart before. She looked down at the board, in her normal mindset she would move her knight to sacrifice for her queen. The more ruthless move would be move her bishop to take out the rook, putting the king in check by her queen. She decided to take the bolder route. "Check." She said proudly.
"Much better." He replied. As he moved his king out of harms way. But only temporarily where in two more strategic moves she managed to smash down the last of Snape's defenses and take the king. "Now, wasn't that more entertaining, then just obliging?"
"Yes, actually." She chuckled slightly. "I guess I could hardly go back to play standard muggle chess."
Snape smirked. "Yes the muggle version does lose it appeal after mastering wizards chess."
"Um, how are you feeling?" Hermione asked meekly.
"Nothing as of yet. But it's only been less than two hours. Are you feeling ill?"
"No, I'm just anxious about all this. I guess I wanted it to happen soon, so that it can be over."
"I can understand that. The waiting is always the worst. This was why I was trying to spare you the nasty particulars."
"No, it's better that I know. I may have hated you for keeping the secret too long. At least now I'm emotionally ready for the torture ahead. And tell me again why making a extra strength version of the potion won't help out in this situation?"
"We have been dosed with a heavy amount of vapor that counters the ingredients of the potion. If we were to consume it, we will feel no more relief because it will become inert. Unless you can come up with a brand new potion not using any of the ingredients in the suppressant that will be equally as effective, then by all means." He said with a bit of his brand of humor mixed in, as he gestured to his store room.
"Sorry. I guess I'm not retaining information because I'm nervous."
"And I wish there was anything I could say to ease the worry. But unfortunately, we will have to deal with this head on. We are as prepared as we can be. I have several vials of pain reliever we can take once we can hold things down a bit and a few nutrient supplements, which will be useful after. And then we will have a slight lengthy stay in the hospital wing after."
She nodded as she took in everything her professor said. And to lighten the foreboding mood. "Would you like to read or something?" Hermione said after pulling out a couple of books from her bag. Snape simply nodded and picked up a random book from the pile. He made a scoffing sound when he saw the title. While British muggle classic, Snape always found this author to be rather barmy. But sat down in his transfigured chair.
They sat in silence for a while, when Snape noticed that his companion was not longer reading, but sitting there fretting with a an open book on her lap.
"What has you so worried?" He asked while smirking when she jumped slightly.
"What isn't there to worry about?" She said with her voice going a bit shrill.
"Yes, but something particular is causing you to fret."
She murmured under breath "damn him and his ever observant eye." Then she looked up at him. "To be honest, it's the impression you'll have of me after. Like you would use this horrible experience to taunt me."
He sat silent for a few moments. "And I'm sure that you'll be glad to run to your friends and share the fact that I had to debase myself in your presence."
"I would never!" She said surely. "I would rather them think we had snogged, rather then the truth." Hermione blushed hard as Snape choked on his saliva.
Then he cleared his throat to change the subject. He began to feel the unsettling feeling in his gut. He looked over at his still embarrassed student and noticed the slight sweat on her brow and the shiver she had. "Damn it's starting." He stood and walked to stand in front of her. "Stand. It's time to run a diagnostic." She stood obediently and he ran the scan. "You have a fever. And I know I'm beginning to feel unwell." The girl look like she was about to cry, but nodded. And went to her side of the room. As he did.
Xxx
Hermione laid back on her cot, all her muscles ached. She had a fair amount of sweat covering her body, and she was exhausted from the toll the illness had taken out on her. She picked up a biscuit and nibbled on it, she was tired of dry heaving, deciding it would be better to throw up something instead of nothing.
She sat up, rather begrudgingly, and took a few timid sips of water. But even that felt like a lead ball in her extremely empty stomach. She groaned as she rolled on to her side and pulled her knees to her chest. Then she set her tempus charm. She wanted to time in between feeling sick and the down time. She was desperate to take a fever reducer, as the chills from the spike in her temperature were not helping with her current predicament.
That was when she glanced over to the curtain. She wondered how Professor Snape was holding up. But she couldn't call out to him because of the silencing charms. She closed her eyes in a vain attempt to sleep, but she felt so awful and was worried that the next round of sickness was coming, kept her from resting fully.
"How long has it been since you last threw up?" The deep, tired tone of her professor startled Hermione when she slightly rolled her head up to see him staring down at her. She checked her tempus charm
"Twenty minutes." She said with husky tone from her abused throat.
"Take one of each." Handing her the fever and pain reducing potions. She gladly took them. "You look like hell, Granger."
She looked at him and noticed that his normal pallor was now a chalky white. His hair looked stringy from sweat. "Well, if I look like hell, you look like death."
He laughed tiredly, "I definitely feel as such." She noticed he had a slight sway in his step.
"How are you standing? I can't even move at the moment."
"I've been periodically dropping the charms to check in on you. I noticed it was silent and came to see if you could take something and hold it down. I just happened to be already up."
"How are you fairing at the moment?" She asked as she sat up, feeling light headed and grabbed another biscuit.
"My bouts of sickness have decreased over the last hour. But I still feel rather unsettled."
Hermione extended the sleeve of biscuits at Snape. "Want to nibble? Maybe put something in your stomach while you have the strength." He took the offered foodstuff and carelessly plopped on the foot of her bed.
"I shouldn't have done that. However will I get back up." He said with his deadpan voice, but it was still humorous.
"I'll kick you off, if you think it would help any." She said in mock seriousness.
"Doubtful. Since I don't think you'd have the strength to move me." He struggled a bit but finally got back up, even if he was swaying like a tree in wind.
"It was the thought that count." She said as he staggered back to his side of the curtain. He didn't reply, just threw her a lazy version of his most terrifying stares.
Xxx
It was the longest day that either of them had ever had. The cramps in their stomachs were hard to ignored. Their throats raw from regurgitating. They're bodies ached from the fever and expelling the now nothing from their stomachs.
But when their self imposed isolation was done. Snape broke the seal on the door and they slowly made their way to the Hospital wing for all the proper care the Matron could give. Since the thought of the effects from traveling by floo on their abused stomachs didn't sound at all appealing.
As they were walking to the hospital wing Snape had to ask, "Why didn't you leave with the other students?"
Hermione turned and then looked down, slightly embarrassed. "I suppose I wasn't thinking. I guess I wanted to help, but that was foolish."
"Help, with what?"
"I felt responsible for the blunder and my natural response was to try and help. I've been known to stick my nose in to other people's problems. It's honestly a character flaw on my part." Snape simply made a tsk sound as a response.
"Well I'd have to say you managed to hold your own during this whole ordeal. Take pride in that. You could have been sniveling like a home sick first year."
"Oh no, there was plenty of sniveling on my end, sir. Even called out for my mummy a few times."
This elicited a chuckle from Snape. "Severus."
"I'm sorry, what?" Hermione asked confused.
"I suppose it would be alright to address me less formally when we aren't in the presence of students. I think you earned that bit of comradery after what we've been through."
Hermione smiled weakly, "Thank you, si- Severus."
A collective sigh of relief came from the pair as they strolled into the hospital wing. Severus called out to the matron, whom ran out, ushered them into a bed and began fussing over them. Administering potions to aid with the pains and sleeping. There was sense of security, that someone else was going to be looking out for them, instead of stay on guard for the next horrible bout. And who doesn't like being coddled when ill?
Hermione's last thoughts before the potion induced sleep claimed her was. "I will probably never stay behind when caldron explodes again."
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