A/N: Firstly, I'd like to apologize for the numerous emails my followers must be getting with chapter update notifications. I'm going back through and correcting only small grammatical mistakes, there is no need to go back and read them again. (Unless you want to of course!) As always, thank you so much for your kind reviews and I hope you enjoy this extra long chapter as my way of saying thank you!
The night went by languidly. The morning bringing a new light upon the humble manor. The light was just starting to filter in when a piercing scream disrupted the tranquil visage.
Hermione was running, as fast as her feet could possibly take her. She dared a look behind her as she wove in and out of the tall bookcases. How she had found herself back inside her prison she hadn't known. She only knew one thing. Escape. She could feel the creature swelling behind her, it's jowls open large and wide as it took great pleasure in the chase. She pushed hard on one of the book cases sending it and all its empty tomes crashing forward before she darted down the row. Shelf after shelf falling like dominoes, crashing loudly sending the darkness swirling away like a smokey plague. It nipped at her heels slowing her movements and masking her path as she pushed through to another row, so like the others. She had found herself lost inside its maze, searching desperately for the door that held her freedom.
Abruptly, the creature appeared directly in front of her, causing her to skid to a stop; her eyes wide as she took in its appearance for the first time. It was large, tightly white skinned, it's skull large devoid of any eyes, ears or nose. It had only a large open mouth filled with sharp curved teeth, a long tongue hung down twisting like a snake as it slowly crawled forward. It stood on four legs, but it had a human like shape. The skin pulled extremely tight outlining its overly defined muscles of its chest and back. Its arms were the size of an average human male's its biceps rippling as it moved its weight. Its back was wide and hunched over. Its back legs spread wide to keep its stance low, its thighs heavily shadowed from the skin pulling against the muscle, no doubt it was built with a great skill for jumping. The end of its legs held large feet with equally large claws that scratched at the stone floor. Its large oversized hands moved even closer to her. It had five fingers, but each one held a long narrow deep black claw that looked like it could tear anything asunder with the smallest of efforts. Hermione could feel the dread inside her swelling to the surface stilling her suddenly heavy feet. Her breaths came out in irregular puffs as her entire being trembled.
"Please..." She begged her hands coming up to clutch at her heart, "Please, just kill me already..." She was so tired, so tired of running from one nightmare to another as she stared down the base of her fears.
The creature seemed to smile wider as it closed the distance between them. It reared up on its back legs standing head and shoulders above her. It's long claws reached forward taking hold of her head with the utmost care. Hermione took one last trembling breath closing her eyes for the insurmountable pain to come. She could feel it's saliva dripping down her chin as she pressed her eyes tighter, tears streaming down her face. Its grip tightened marginally, "Please..." She whispered against the claw that had wrapped around her face pressing directly into the opposite temple. The creature let out a low growl as its grip tightened painfully around her, its claws crisscrossing, digging right into her temples as she let out her cry of unbridled anguish.
Severus had woken instantly, his heart pounding in his chest at the sheer power held in her voice. It was so unlike the other screams. This one was a pure unadulterated terror. His skin grew instantly cold as he all but vaulted out of bed, running with blurred eyes through the bathroom, he didn't pause as he went to her. Her eyes were closed but her mouth still held open from the scream that had run out of air. Her face was red as she didn't take in a new breath. Severus instantly pulled her head up, his other hand going to the center of her chest giving her a rather ungentlemanly like shake. She sucked in the smallest of breaths but didn't inhale fully. He gritted his teeth and pulled his hand back pressing her rib cage trying to get her to kick start her breathing reflex.
"Miss Granger!" His voice was thick with sleep but it was still loud and powerful. "Miss Granger!" When she didn't respond he dropped her back down using his thumbs to open her eyes. He pierced her mind with such force that he had to catch himself as he stood inside her dream. He tumbled forward as he landed, catching himself on a fallen book shelf. He looked up just in time to watch the creature that held her form a loft vanish in a white puff of smoke upon his presence. It had snarled only briefly at him letting him know, that it knew, he was there; before making its dramatic escape. He paid it little attention as he rushed over. He caught Hermione on the way down as her legs instantly collapsed. He wrapped her into his arms holding her tightly to his chest, carefully lowering them down. He cradled the back of her head hiding her face into his neck as she let out a deep sob. The dream started to melt away as he pulled them both from her mind.
As Severus returned to his own body his arms moved without hesitation wrapping her up into his lap shielding her head against his chest. She took a deep breath her eyes opening of their own accord as she tried to center herself around what had just happened. She could hear something beating loudly in her ears, she wasn't sure if it was her own heart or the one her ear was pressed against. At present, she just couldn't care. She closed her eyes and weakly wrapped her arms around the ones holding so tightly to her.
"I saw it...I saw it.." Her voice shook against his chest.
"I know..." Severus' voice was soft, bordering on consoling as he rested his lips to the crown of her head letting her babble.
Severus closed his eyes as he held her head firmly to him, his lips continuing to rest on the crown of her head as he tried to calm the adrenaline that was running through his system. He could feel his own body trembling from the after effects of his actions. He hadn't moved that fast, in a very long time. He was just glad that he'd acted correctly.
It was as his rush started to abate that he realized he was without a shirt. His scarred skin pressed very tightly against her own as he refused to let her go. He felt a swell prudence as he slowly relaxed his hold to look down.
Hermione had of course taken notice at how warm and soft her Savior felt against her cheek. One of her hands had drifted down slowly to wrap around his exposed waist, her thumb lightly grazing a raised scar. She could smell him even more now as she took in a slow calm breath. Bumps appeared under her cheek as she must have raised goose bumps on his skin. She swallowed slowly too afraid to really move in either direction. The current situation of undress notwithstanding, she didn't want to let him go. Not now, not ever, she was safe. She felt a residual tremble shake her all the way down to her toes and she slowly turned her head pressing her nose into his breastbone.
The fear and dread of the dream were quickly leaving her as she focused on him. His strength and quick actions having saved her once again. She couldn't believe she had almost given up. Given up on him, on this.
As all the morning excitement left his body and his mind started to clear, he lifted his lips from the crown of her head taking his own deep breath to center himself. He slowly reached down pulling her arms from around him gently pressing them to her own chest. She lifted her head her eyes sadly searching his face as he started to shift out from under her. "My apologies, Miss Granger." His voice was deep, filled with something she couldn't identify. She whined softly as he laid her back to rest on her bed. She curled her arms around her stomach too weak to really keep hold of him anyway. It was in that given moment her stomach gave a very riotous growl sending the tension in the room away. She couldn't help but smile and let out the softest of giggles. Severus allowed himself this little reprieve and let a small smile slip over his lips.
He pushed himself to his feet running a hand through is sleep mussed hair. He was thankful that the girl didn't have her sight in that very moment as it was no doubt sticking out at odd angles, disrupting his sour and intimidating presence. "I will return shortly." He said softly as he turned to go back to his rooms.
Hermione just nodded slightly as she closed her eyes, her dream was fading away fast. She focused on the feeling of his warmth fading from her cheek, not wanting it to leave. She made a soft noise in the back of her throat and rubbed her face into her own mass of hair.
Severus grabbed his brush as he passed through, running it through his hair quickly before tossing it to his side table. He opened his closet and pulled out his last button up shirt. It would have to do. He dressed quickly enough not wanting to keep her waiting too long.
When he returned he found her with her arms over her head stretching slowly. Her tank top had ridden up from their little scuffle exposing her stomach to the morning light. It flexed as she stretched. She felt marginally stronger this morning and it showed as her stomach had started to fill out a bit more. The potion's he managed to get into her were doing some bit of good at least. He knew he'd have to get a few more into her, despite the backlash. She'd never recover if they constantly went back and forth with the creature inside. He moved towards her dresser pulling out a normal t-shirt and shorts. He glanced back over his shoulder as she made a soft noise, she had curled herself back up on her side this time. He pulled the clothing from the drawer moving over to the bed. "Do you feel like you can dress yourself?" He asked gently coming to sit on the rocking chair near the edge.
Hermione pursed her lips a bit, somewhat unsure. She did feel stronger and her arms and legs were responding much better than yesterday. She could feel a wave of embarrassment coming from him and decided to give it a try. She nodded her head just a bit reaching out in front of her.
He placed the clothing into her waiting hand and pushed himself back up. "I'm just going to... get some product for your hair. Call out when you've finished." He swallowed down the lump that had formed in his throat and moved back towards the bathroom. He closed the door almost all the way and returned to get his hairbrush. He busied himself with pulling out his own hair from its teeth.
Hermione listened to him leave before running her hands over the clothing in her hands. She quickly discerned which was which and staying laid down on the bed started to untie the ties on her tank top. It was an easy enough task. She pulled the top layer away from her tank top and pulled her arms through the shirt, having felt for the tag to make sure it was in the proper direction. The fabric felt new and unused sliding effortlessly up her arms. Getting it over her head was a bit of a challenge, she still didn't possess enough strength to sit herself up without an aid of some sort. So she wiggled on the bed as she pulled it down. Sighing softly as it was over her chest. Not that she had much to cover, she had come to find. She wasn't sure if she ever had anything worth admiring. She pushed that thought away as a more pressing issue of getting her new shorts on took priority. She had untied the sides of her shorts easily enough, coming to find that she wasn't wearing any underwear. She thought back to the awkward man and decided it was all he could manage just to keep her clothed as she was. She didn't hold it against him but perhaps when that woman returned, she could discreetly ask her for more layers. She managed to get one leg in before having to take a small break. Her stomach gave another growl and she refocused her efforts. It took some wiggling and creative pulling but she managed to get the shorts up to their proper place. They were long enough to cover everything important, resting just above her knees. She wouldn't worry much about it.
"Finished." She called out softly as she pushed the blanket against what she supposed to be a wall. She heard his footsteps returning and smiled towards where she believed him to be.
Severus let out a breath thankful that the girl was able to get dressed by herself. It had been difficult enough to do when she was unconscious but now with her thoughts open and free he didn't even want to consider the task.
"Right then." He said having tucked his hair brush into his back pocket. He didn't think she would be able to sit up long enough for him to brush her hair properly so he decided to give it a try after breakfast. "We're going to go downstairs. I'm going to need to pick you up." He said it as if he was asking her permission when clearly he had carried her up while she slept.
Hermione decided not to dwell on the contradiction and slowly raised her arms to let him know she'd aid him in the task as best she could. She smelled him before she felt him, he smelled gently of lavender as he leaned down picking her up under her arms wrapping one arm around her back tucking his hand once more under her armpit taking hold of her rib. She wrapped an arm around his shoulder accidentally pressing against the scar on his neck. He took in a sharp breath as he tried to swallow down the pain. He shrugged his shoulder slightly trying to get her to move her hand.
Hermione felt the pain roll through him and into her, her own neck pulsing slightly. Her eyes widened and she quickly moved her hand to the bone of his shoulder holding on tightly to his coat. She felt him relax against her as he pulled her legs up next. She sent him a soft apology and rest her head against his shoulder as he started to turn.
She sighed softly as he maneuvered them through the door frame. Opening the door with the hand under her legs was an interesting sensation, she felt the cool breeze as it swung open and she curled her toes just a bit. Her throat no longer pulsed, but she made a mental note of being very careful with taking hold of him in the future. A sudden flash, the smell of blood and his rasping last words filtered through her eyes before she forced it back. It was, after all, the only memory she could recall; her mind had gone to it by default upon feeling the pain of his neck go through her. The wave of immense helplessness had come and gone as she tightened her hold on the man that was very clearly right there with her. Her head leaned up; her hand lightly touching his hair, she could almost feel his frown as she allowed her fingers to twist the bottom curl just a bit before she stopped herself. Yes, he was real, he was there, and he was with her.
The stairs felt a bit scary, a bit of vertigo causing her to tighten her hold as he leaned forward just a bit to make sure his foot fell sure. She made no protest as he turned them to the sitting room. Her lounge chair was still flat and he made to lay her out on it. She uncurled her arms from his shoulders as she rested back on the lounge, letting out a soft sigh.
Severus paused as he looked down at her. She looked, unmistakably beautiful. Her eyes were partly closed her legs bent slightly turning her waist just slightly. Her arms were rest gently against her stomach and chest fingers curling in a stray hair that had fallen over her shoulder. The rest of her illustrious mass of hair was splayed out over the edge of the lounge falling in small ringlets. The morning light highlighting the curls making them shine a most beautiful gold. Her sleep tossed hair just appeared more curly and more wild. It wasn't frizzy like it had been in her youth. He had remembered that mass of hair very distinctly through out his teaching. How it had slowly calmed as she brought her magic under control that it no longer sought escape through the tendrils. He took a calming breath and turned to look for his wand, he'd absently used it for a book mark and went to the stack of books. He bent his head as he looked for it. Finding it in a book on the bottom stack. He pulled it out from under the other books carefully, he opened the book to the saved page not taking care to look at the page as he left it open atop the book he'd been reading to her the night before. Once his prize was acquired he turned back to the lounge.
"I'm going to transfigure the chair from under you. Do you want your legs propped up or left down?" He came around the corner of his own chair as she turned her head towards him. She paused a moment before answering.
"Straight please." She shifted her arms preparing her body for the change in position. Her lower back still screamed in protest, as he'd been unable to administer the salve. It ached most painfully sending little bolts down through her legs making her thigh flex. She tried to push it aside for now as she felt the chair rising up to meet her. She found herself in a nice sitting position and sighed happily letting her head thump back against the ridge.
Severus had taken note of her legs twitching and vowed to do something about it later, once he was finished with the chair he set his wand back into the open book. His arm tingled a bit and he rubbed his sleeve pushing the thought away. He watched Hermione mirror his actions, however, instead of rubbing she scratched absently at the scabs.
"Don't." His tone was short but not hard.
Hermione's fingers stilled, "Why...?" She just wanted to scratch an itch. What could have been so dangerous about that? Her eyes furrowed as she ran the pads of her fingers over the raised letters. Her mouth forming each letter silently as she tried to discern the word, M...U...D or O, B...A hand clamped down over hers halting her progress. She felt him pressing into her mind, Please don't. He asked her so gently, his being filled with a deep sadness, not for himself but for her. It was a new feeling to come from him, and she couldn't stop herself from gently caressing his mind back with a peaceful reassurance to heed his command. Her fingers twitching under his palm. As he slowly pulled back so did she it still itched and she made a face to let him know as much.
"I'll get you some lotion." He said dismissively turning away with a quick glance back to make sure she listened to him, her hand had twitched but she kept it on her chest. He turned to return upstairs thumping up loudly to betray his location. Hermione huffed softly and rubbed vigorously over the place to sate the feeling before crossing her arms over her stomach to pretend as if she hadn't just stuck her hand in the proverbial cookie jar.
Snape returned in no time a small bottle of Muggle lotion in his hand. It didn't have a strong smell but it was good for dry skin. He came back over watching her face with narrowed eyes, knowing instantly that she'd at the very least touched her arm again. Deciding to leave this fight for another time he leaned down pulling one of her folded hands out to place the bottle into her hands. "Use as much as you'd like." He paused straightening, "It's nonmagical, it shouldn't affect you adversely." He added as an after thought. He watched her hand curl around the bottle and a soft thank you passed her lips as she felt along its design.
"I'm going to make some eggs, do you like jam or butter on your toast?" He was being exceptionally accommodating this morning, she noted.
"I'm not sure...both?" She gave him a gentle smile turning her head towards him, her eyes looking somewhere near his stomach.
"Right then, you will eat all that I offer you." He straightened himself up, "Even if it takes you two hours." His tone was deadly serious. He wasn't going to waste his efforts like he had yesterday. She needed to eat, and her body was starting to protest just as much as he was. She nodded sheepishly before putting some lotion into her hands rubbing it slowly through her digits before starting to work it up her arms. He nodded his head with a satisfied look before turning to the kitchen to make his promised meal.
Hermione let the lotion roll over her, she took time to take stock of her body. Her wrist was especially sharp, the bone rolling under her fingers as she massaged the lotion in. Her forearms were just as thin, barely a muscle to be had, she could feel it moving under her fingers as she worked but it was hardly enough. When she had finished with her arms she gently reached up to her neck. It too was very thin, not a single ounce of extra around her jaw nor under her ears. Her shoulders felt equally narrow and hallowed as she dipped her hand down into the crevice. She could only imagine herself to be a walking skeleton and the image made her frown. She leaned carefully over to her legs, carefully pulling them up a bit as she worked the lotion into her knees. Knobby would have been an understatement as she ran her fingers down her shin. The muscle underneath was solid but very small. She flexed her toes lightly feeling it shift. She wagered that it couldn't have been much bigger than her poor excuse for a bicep. She rested back on the chair taking a bit of lotion into her palm she ran her hand under her shirt. Despite her compressed position, her stomach felt barely there. The skin was tight and rough, her fingers grazed over a rather deep indent near her rib tracing it up between her breast bone and back over her shoulder. It felt faded in places but still very present. Another roughness had met her fingers along the center of her breastbone. Scars. She paused before running her finger along its length again, it was a scar, and a rather large one, she wondered if she had a matching one on her back, if that could have been what was causing her discomfort this whole time. She made a bit of a face as she hazarded a guess to what she must have looked like. How ugly and deformed she must have appeared. She bit her lip as she held herself back. She had never thought herself exceptional in the beginning, but as she took full stock of herself she realized, that it was no wonder the man who cared for her was so reluctant to see her, let alone touch her. She wouldn't have wanted to touch her either. She sniffled a bit as she pushed the feeling down. She set the bottle of lotion to the side as she curled her arms around her stomach. Letting the feeling of self-depreciation waft over her, she allowed it to fill her.
Severus was just putting in the toast when he felt her wash over his shields. He frowned deeply as he listened to her inner catalog of her body. He cracked the eggs into the frying pan as he listened to her discover each new blemish or bone. The way her thoughts lingered over the curse that ran across her chest. She had no memory of what she looked like, other than the one on the final day. She had looked unhealthy even then and it gave her no consolation as she took in her current state. He paused in his efforts as she thought about him, and his resistance to touch her. The way he constantly pulled back from her whenever she tried to touch him. How she brought that upon herself and he couldn't help but still his hand pushing out of his safety.
My prudence is in no way a reflection of your form. His words wrapped themselves around her, he could hear her pause in her own thoughts as his words reached her. He felt her turn them over, and weigh each one as he started to mix their eggs. As he felt her start to reject them and he pushed forward again, You're beautiful. He hadn't actually meant to project his image of her from that morning to her, but he felt he couldn't restrain his observation. The way she laid out, the sun in her hair. It had been truly a beautiful sight, if only to him.
Hermione gasped softly as the blackness of her sightless world shift into a projected image, she was awake but she was seeing a memory. His memory. The perspective was higher than what she would have expected, she hadn't really thought about how tall he must have been. She was seeing exactly through his own eyes as he looked down at her. Her hands went to her parted lips as she took in her form through his eyes. She wasn't sure why but it was a most peculiar out of body experience, watching and feeling through another person's perspective. The way he took in every detail of her health, gauging and assessing it for her future care. It wasn't a lecherous stare, no it was a look of someone who cared for the well being of another. She had to agree with him about her hair, it was very beautiful against the morning sun. She couldn't help but smile at that small bit as the image slowly faded away. She ran her hands lightly over her arms, trying to re imagine their structure as she had seen from him.
Severus took a deep breath as her inner turmoil calmed and left his mind. She had an uncanny ability to just jump right over his walls and walk through any door he put in her way. It was heavily distracting and made his chest flutter with senseless things. He pushed a fair amount of eggs onto a plate as the toast popped up from the toaster. He took the bread cutting it in half before spreading out butter and jam. He set her plate aside to cool as he made his own. It was meager, even for him, but he found that he wasn't that hungry this morning anyway. He took both plates into the sitting room looking for a place to set them down. He placed his own in the seat of his chair while he moved over to the lounge.
"The plate is a bit warm." He warned as he brought her hand up to take its side. She wrapped her hands carefully around it resting it in her lap. "Eggs, on the left, toast on the right." He said absently as he picked up his own plate.
"Thank you." Her fingers danced over the edge of the plate before brushing against the spoon he'd provided her. She picked it up slowly turning it the proper way around before going to her plate. She used the fingers of her other hand to carefully scoop up a bit of egg and brought them to her mouth, she chewed slowly before swallowing it down her body approving of the taste and texture. He watched her take the first few bites, making sure she was capable before tucking into his own breakfast. They ate in relative silence the sound of utensils clicking against the china their only accompaniment.
Hermione had managed four full bites of her eggs before deciding to give the toast a try. The jam was sweet against her tongue and she couldn't help but smile. She felt a bit of jam drip down to her chin and stuck her tongue out to get it. Snape had taken that moment to glance over at her and couldn't help but let out a juvenile snort at the sight as she tried to get the little drip. She made a ridiculous face before just using her finger to swipe it into her mouth. She turned her face in his direction feeling his eyes on her and gave him a mirthful giggle.
"It's good." She said after licking her lips, she brought her toast to her mouth taking another bite. Her stomach was starting to roil and it slowed her chewing a bit.
"I'm glad you approve." He drawled, "Though perhaps a small break? I don't believe you wish for it to make a reappearance?"
She nodded her head slowly as she set down the half eaten corner of toast. She took a few deep breaths as she waited for her stomach to settle down. She was insatiably hungry but her body had other ideas to her intake.
It had been so nice to see a smile on her face, after so many days of seeing nothing but pure anguish on her features. It made him relax to know that deep down under all that torment she was still there inside under it all. He could recall her laughing so happily with her idiot friends from the high table, watching them interact with each other. He hadn't made a habit of watching them but on the occasions that he had he had always noticed her smile. The light that shone in her eyes as she kept the two boys from certain death. He wasn't certain when the light had fallen from her eyes, nor when her smile had lost its shine. He hadn't seen them during that year, but when he watched her through her eyes in her ever living memory he couldn't feel any joy coming from her. Of course, it would have been ridiculous to smile on that day. But even when they would escape certain death, he'd felt no spark of happiness from her, only the unending sense of doom. He leaned back as he took a bite of his own toast as he tried to pull any memories he could of her and her friends to the surface of his mind. The image he had sent her seemed to work. He pondered the implications of the discovery. If he was able to send her memories, could that possibly help loosen the hold on hers? Could she step into his mind and see his world? He lingered on that thought. See his world...see...his brows rose, would it be possible to give her sight through his own eyes? Even if it was only temporary it would help immensely in his search for the creature. He hadn't seen it, and every time he had searched her mind for its image, it was never to be found. She had said to have seen it this morning when she woke from her dream. Could she identify a picture of it in a text if she were only able to see it? Oh this was most certainly a clever creature. He had a sneaking suspicion that Hermione was never slated to escape from that prison. That the creature had in fact meant for her to stay there until her untimely death. His appearance seemed to have stoked the creatures flames. With the door between worlds open, the creature was more aggressive than ever. What was it searching for? What was it feeding on? He had taken a guess that he was pulling in her magic over the time, but it didn't feel like that was the creatures ultimate goal, if it was, surely it could have just taken the magic and fled. No, it was after something else. Something deeper. He took another bite narrowing his eyes. What on earth was the creature after?
Hermione kept her arms wrapped around her stomach; the nearly finished plate in her lap. The pain radiating through her limbs was starting to become too distracting. Everything felt tight, like a dry rubber band. She feared if she moved just a little out of the allowed range she would seriously tear something. She took a deep breath turning her head towards the window.
"I do believe, I advised you to eat it all." Snape said as he stood to return his plate to the kitchen. He watched her face twitch as she turned her head down to where she knew her plate to be. The mirth had left the corners of her eyes as she fumbled to take hold of the toast she had previously discarded. Her fingers trembled a little as her back twitched. She sneered just a little before slowly bringing the toast to her lips. She took a large bite glancing up towards him with the most mockery she could manage as she made a show of chewing. She was upset, she was in pain. She was grouchy.
Severus couldn't hold back the brow that rose with her temper. He decided to check into it after he took his plate to the sink. He opened their connection and was bombarded with a throbbing pain. It slowed his steps for only a moment before he cut her inner thoughts off. Would it constantly be like this? He pondered, he supposed his bed side manor wasn't the best but the girl could at least use some of that temper to just tell him she was in pain. What on earth was she hiding it for? He opened the box left by the house elf, quickly grabbing a muscle relaxant, a mild pain reliever, the salve from the night before, and a mild sedative. If she remained as tense as she was he was never going to be able to guide her into his mind. He pushed the bottles into his pocket before picking up the jar of salve making his way back into the sitting room.
Hermione had managed to swallow down the rest of her breakfast in a few quick bites, though they were currently threatening to make a reappearance she managed to keep them down. She was half tempted to throw the plate at him, a sudden anger tickling at her senses. She thought better of it and settled for crossing her arms tightly around her stomach.
"Stop it." He growled as he came closer to her taking the plate from her lap and setting it in his chair.
"Stop what?" She inquired with a small raised brow turning her self towards him, "Stop acting like you?" She lifted her nose into the air as the feeling surged between them. Severus was never one to strike out physically and suspected that may have been her influence as his hand twitched before it came up to point right at her nose. His lips twitched before he controlled himself and let his hand drop lest her control over his emotions let loose and he was to do something most regrettable.
"Take these." He exhaled heavily through his nose as he spoke he uncorked the muscle relaxant first, "It's going to hurt, I know but you mustn't be deterred." He was gearing himself up, locking down all his walls this time. There was no way he was going to make it through these rounds if he wasn't mentally prepared.
She took the offered bottle, thinking to herself, if she were to get sick, maybe he'd calm down a little and just let her move more slowly. She'd survived five years like she was, what was the sudden rush now? She, of course, hadn't been following his current train of thought from the mornings silent musing session. She swallowed licking her lips before tipping her head back. She decided to take the potion in one big gulp. It proved most dangerous as her stomach rolled and she had to hold her hand over her mouth to keep everything in.
It was slow and quick simultaneously. The potion started to relax her muscles in her back and legs just reaching near her arms when the first bolt hit her. Her head fell back as she held back her scream. It was stronger than before, she suspected because she'd taken it in one big gulp, a decision she was instantly regretting. Her back arched against the lounge and her head fell back baring her teeth as she growled through the pain. Her hands were curled into tight fists, thankfully Minerva had taken the time to trim her nails or there may have been blood. It lasted only about 30 seconds before her entire body released and she took a deep breath. The head rush was a bit exciting as she opened her eyes trying to get the dizzying feeling to subside. The potion started to get to work on its designed task and she could feel the knots in her back releasing. She shook out her head slowly raising to hold her temples.
"This next." His voice was cold, as it needed to be, he was doing everything in his power not to just stop everything and just hold her close to him like she desired. But he couldn't stop now. She needed to be ready for what was to come.
She took a slow breath raising her hand for the vial to be put into. She wasn't going to give up now, she licked her lips just a bit as she leaned back again. With a deep breath, she drank it down in two big gulps. She offered it out accidentally dropping it to the floor. Snape was quick though and stopped the vial from shattering on the floor. He watched her body lurch forward as she dry heaved. Her face contorting once more as she held her own against the blue sparks that rose over her skin. The effects of a pain relieving potion and a pain that she wasn't supposed to feel was most dreadful. Instead of taking away the pain, it centered it and she tried her best to push it aside. Just as before the pain lasted no more than 30 seconds. Her body was in a state of extreme strength and extreme wariness. Her head thumped back even heavier now as she breathed her mouth open as she tried to take in air. How many more did she have to go? She grimaced as he wrapped the third vial into her already trembling fingers. She pressed her eyes tight as she knocked it back in one gulp. The reaction was most violent this time causing her arm to jerk out to the side throwing the bottle towards the hearth smashing it against the stones. Her hands went to her head as a throbbing pain threatened her reality. She could feel herself being torn in between the voids. Her vision shifting and swirling as whatever it was inside her was trying very desperately to call her to it.
"No!" She breathed as she clung desperately to this reality. "I don't want to go!" Tears fell down her face as she played tug of war with her soul.
Severus moved then, his hands covering her own he closed his eyes focusing in on their connection, he called out to her to follow him, to follow his voice. She turned towards him in the swirling vortex, his hand reached out for hers and as soon as he felt those small fingers in his grasp he pulled, hard.
The world around them started to swirl and melt away to a deep blue, Severus had hold of her hand as he pulled her down to her feet. As soon as they landed the girl leaned forward grasping her knees as she took in her thoughts.
"I think..." She breathed, "We've royally pissed it off..." She shuddered a bit slowly straightening her back her head over her heart as she looked up towards him. She blinked as she actually took him in. They weren't in the real world, they were somewhere else entirely. A sense of familiarity washed over her as she turned her head to take in the world around her. Doors. Loads, and loads of doors. They stood in a circle around them layered back as far as she could see. They were all different in design, some looked aged and worn, while others looked matriculate and beautifully detailed. Her breathing calmed down slowly as she turned her eyes back to the man who stood before her. He looked years younger than her mind had seen him in her own memories. There was a softness and fragility to his features. A vulnerability that she knew no one had ever seen. Until now.
"Where...where are we?" She asked timidly wrapping her arms around her stomach.
"You are, "His voice came from all around her, though the visage in front of her didn't speak, "In a most unprecedented place. A place no one has been willingly allowed to enter before." His voice was slow and deep speaking each word very carefully. "You are, Miss Granger, inside my mind, being given unrestricted access to its inner confines."