Hermione moved to stand, but a wave of nausea overwhelmed her, and her legs were wobbly and weak beneath her. She crumpled, but Severus moved forward quickly, sliding his arms under hers, catching her and scooping her up and setting her back gently on the couch. Hermione gripped his wrists tightly, her eyes wide as she took in her small hands, and her slim fingers wrapping around Severus's pale skin.

Severus's brow knit, but he knelt down in front of her and remained silent as Hermione's eyes raked over herself in awe.

She opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again, and said, her voice raspy,

"I'm human?"

Severus let out a soft chuckle.

"Yes, Hermione. You are human."

Her eyebrows rose until they disappeared behind the bushy hair that was spilling over her face, and Severus found himself brushing some of it away and tucking it behind her ear before he caught himself.

Hermione gave him a soft smile, and whispered.

"Thank you so much, Severus."

Severus swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry, and he gave her a small nod.

"You're very welcome."

He met her eyes for a moment, and her smile widened, and as soon as her hands loosened from his wrists, Severus stood and moved away.

"You'll need to readjust to being human again. You'll have to take it slowly for a few days, and remain under supervision to ensure that nothing went wrong in the removal of the curse."

Hermione was sure nothing had, but she was happy that she would get to spend a few more days with Severus. Well, hopefully with Severus. She'd heard what Dumbledore had said. Severus was supposed to get her back to normal, then never talk to her again. She wasn't sure if he'd get away with having her in his quarters.

It seemed that was exactly what Severus intended to do, however, and Hermione was filled with warmth at the thought that what he'd said hadn't just been in the heat of the moment... He had meant it. He wasn't going to let things change, to let Dumbledore manipulate him. He would still want her.

Hermione adjusted herself on the couch, pulling her blanket up over her shoulders, turning sideways and burrowing into the soft cushion beneath her.

She was extremely tired, she realized, and her eyelids felt heavy, and were drooping, and then they were closed, and she was asleep.

Severus returned from the kitchen to find Hermione asleep on the couch. He set down the cup of tea he'd made, casting a quick stasis charm, and sat himself down in his recliner, summoning a text from his quarters that was intent on finishing. He had no where to be right now, nothing to do, a rare occurrence, and he was looking forward to having a quiet moment to himself.

He alternated between reading and looking up over the top of the book at the sleeping witch in front of him. She breathed softly, her chest rising and falling slowly under the blanket that she'd wrapped around herself. Her hair was wild and spilled over the armrest of the couch, and covered most of her face, but Severus found it did not irritate him like it used to. She did not irritate him like she used to. Things had changed so much, but he found that he didn't mind in the least. She was, without a doubt, the best thing that had ever happened to him, and he'd meant what he'd said. He still wanted her friendship, and looking at her now, he couldn't imagine wanting anything else in the world ever again.

The sound of the Floo activating spoiled his rare good mood instantly, and he barely refrained from slamming his book in irritation, if only not to wake Hermione, when Dumbledore strode through his fireplace, brushing a small bit of soot from his shoulder with an air of importance. He turned to Severus, his eyes sparkling, always fucking sparkling, and he gave Severus an encouraging smile.

"How did it go?"

"It went fine." Severus said shortly, returning his attention to the book in front of him. The book soared from his hand and into Albus's, who read the cover, then set it on top of the fireplace.

"Now, Severus. Let's observe niceties, if you will?"

"What do you want, Albus?"

"Well, since you've been so successful with our dear Miss Granger, I think it wise to have you check and for a similar curse. They haven't had an Animagus lesson since Miss Granger here," he gestured towards her sleeping form, "had her incident. I would like to be sure that they were not cursed as well."

Of course the old bat would come and demand that of him during the one time when he had an actual moment to take a break and engage in something similar to what one might call relaxing.

"Of course." Severus replied, barely holding back a snarl, and he rose sharply, gesturing towards the fireplace.

"I'll follow shortly behind you." His eyes were narrowed and hard, and he felt anger rising up in him. If Albus didn't leave right this moment, he swore to Merlin he'd -

"Yes, very well, Severus. Thank you."

Severus let out a growl just as Albus took a handful of Floo Powder and tossed it at his feet, disappearing in an instant.

Severus dressed himself in his typical imposing outfit, slid his wand up his sleeve, took one last look at Hermione, who was still fast asleep, and strode furiously out of his quarters and towards the Headmaster's office.

Potter and Weasley were both seated in front of Albus's desks, the latter wringing his hands nervously, but the former sitting still, completely at ease. He was obviously used to visiting the Headmaster, and was not concerned in the least.

That changed instantly, as they turned to see Severus stride through the thick oak door. He glared at Potter, but continued past him, standing slightly to the side of Albus.

"Now, boys. Professor Snape has reverted the curse that was cast on Miss Granger, causing her to stay in her Animagus form. Therefore, it is in everyone's best interest to have Professor Snape check the two of you for a curse as well."

Potter was looking skeptically at him, and Weasley's face had lit up, and he leaned forward in his seat.

"'Mione's human again? When can we see her? Is she alright?"

Severus remained silent, tilting his head towards Albus, raising an eyebrow expectantly.

"She's absolutely fine. She's resting now, although she should be up for visitors soon." He said, avoiding Severus's eyes. Weasley sunk back into his chair and let out a sigh, running his hand through his long red hair.

"Thank goodness. Eh, Harry?" he said, nudging his best friend and flashing him a shaky smile. Harry merely nodded, giving Ron a brief glance and a small smile before focusing his attention back on Severus. Severus met his eye, his gaze heavy and threatening. He still hadn't forgiven the boy for how he'd hurt Hermione, and being reminded of it caused him to think of how he'd harmed her as well, and that enraged him. Potter looked away after a moment, and Severus glanced down at Albus, who was rubbing his blackened hand absently.

"Where would you like to do this, Professor?" Albus asked, rising slowly from his chair.

"The hospital wing will suffice." He said slowly, moving out of the way so Albus could make his way around his desk. Weasley and Potter were moving to stand as well, but Harry's brow furrowed at his words and he began to argue. Severus smirked.

"Wha- Why? Is it dangerous?"

"Harry-"

"It is not dangerous, Potter, I assure you. I was merely thinking in your best interest. Would you prefer to lie on the floor right here? If you'd rather, then of course I'll cater to your preference." He raised an eyebrow expectantly. Potter sputtered, his face flushing.

"No, no, the hospital wing is fine... sir," he forced out, and Weasley placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"C'mon mate. Let's go." Severus did not miss how tight Weasley's grip was, and how he was the one who turned Potter away and towards the door.

Albus clapped his hands together jovially, and followed behind them. He paused at the door, looking back to where Severus was still standing absolutely still.

"Come, Severus. The sooner you get this over with, the sooner you can return to your patient."

My patient... Severus grumbled to himself, narrowing his eyes at Albus, but he moved forward and passed him roughly, not bothering to keep his cloak from sweeping into him as he strode out of the room. He made himself focus on the satisfying sound of his dragon hide boots slamming into the cobbled floor, ignoring the presence of the old man following behind him.

By the time Severus made it to the Hospital Wing, Albus had gotten left so far behind that he had given up and apparated.

"Lie down on a bed," Severus instructed as he entered the room. It was empty, thankfully, meaning that Madam Pomfrey would not put up much of a fuss. She approached him, however, and was beginning to ask what the meaning of his presence was, when Albus appeared, smiling genially at her.

"It's alright, Poppy. We won't be long."

Severus rolled his eyes and made his way to Weasley, who was looking at him with wide eyes, his face pale.

"Will it hurt?" He asked as Severus pulled his wand out, eyeing it as if it might bite him. Or kill him.

Severus let out a deep sigh of exasperation, and pressed the tip of his wand onto Weasley's head, forcing him to lie back.

"No. Stop being a wuss."

He fell silent, his eyes still wide, and his mouth gaped like a fish for a moment until Severus glared at him, and he closed it with a snap.

"Close your eyes and remain still." He instructed sternly, and the boy was stiff as a board instantly.

"Relax." Severus growled, already becoming frustrated with the boy's incompetence.

Albus made his presence known at this, sidling up to Severus and leaning slightly over Weasley's face to say softly,

"I'm right here, Mr. Weasley. No harm will come of you."

Severus clenched his jaw at this remark, his hand gripping his wand far too tightly, and he had to take a moment to calm himself, closing his eyes to find equilibrium within himself so that he could perform the intricate task of searching through the weaving, intertwined stands of the boy's magic.

He opened his eyes and began murmuring the words of the spell under his breath, his voice growing louder and speeding up as time passed. He was unaware of Albus scrutinizing him closely, concentrating on his words to decipher if he was using any dark magic, and he had no idea that Harry had sat up on his bed, his mouth parted slightly in awe, or of Poppy shuffling closer to stare in shock at the swirling magic hovering above Weasley's still form.

His focus was entirely on that magic, and those strands, and he was surprised to see how strong the magic flowing through the Weasley boy was. The Weasley's were an old, pureblood family, and his magic reflected that.

He wasn't even close to as powerful as Hermione, it wasn't that sort of strength. It was a strength of a magic that had been passed on from generation to generation, with a sense of unity and an entirely unique essence to it. The Weasley's had a particularly earthy feel to their magic; a warm, close-knit, pure sense that left the feeling of soil in Severus's mouth. If the Weasley magic were a tree, then each Weasley child was connected to it by firm roots. Their magic was all connected, and they were stronger for it. Severus wasn't sure he could have explained it to the boy should he have asked, but it was there. It was impressive.

He searched the strands dutifully, pulling them apart expertly with his words and the soft turn of his wrist, his sharp eyes scanning every inch of the floating, representative image in front of him. It was a hologram of Weasley's veins, where his actual magic resided, and once he pin-pointed the curse, he would be able to remove it from Weasley's body.

But there was no curse.

Severus waved his wand, dismissing the web of colorful stands of magic in front of him, and he ran the back of his hand over his forehead, which he realized absently was dripping with sweat. He turned to Albus.

"No curse." He reported gruffly, his throat and mouth dry.

"Poppy, a glass of water, please?" Albus said, and Poppy bustled off towards her office. Albus returned his attention to Severus, his brow furrowing. "You're -"

"Don't." Severus snapped irritably. Of course he was sure. He hadn't spent the last half hour picking through Weasley's every vein, every strand of magic, to be unsure. Albus held his eyes for a moment, no doubt wanting to express to Severus his disapproval of his sharp tone, but Severus was too tired and too irritated to take notice, or to care.

"You can open you eyes, Weasley." He snarled, lifting a lip in disgust as Weasley sat up quickly, gripping the white bed sheet in his hands as he looked up at Severus.

"So, I'm all good?" He asked, smiling hesitantly. Severus ignored him and swirled on his heel, almost running into Poppy, who was behind him holding a glass of water. He inclined his head, took the glass, and continued past her towards Potter's bed. He wanted to get this over with.

He took a sip from the glass of water before setting it down on the stand beside Potter's head, and he looked down at him, leaning over him with an air of dominance.

"Do I need to knock you out?" Severus whispered, narrowing his eyes. "Or will you trust me and lie still?"

Potter's eyes flickered to Albus, who had also abandoned the Weasley boy and was approaching the bed quickly. He looked back at Severus.

"I'll lie still." Severus narrowed his eyes. "Sir." Potter added, and Severus straightened just as Albus reached them.

"Very well."

He took a deep breath, fully aware that he would be sensing aspects of both James and Lily in the boy's magic, grit his teeth, and went at it.

He made it through, albeit barely. The only thing keeping him from collapsing on the floor from an all-encompassing exhaustion was the fact that Potter was right in front of him. He would, could, never show any form of weakness in front of the boy. He couldn't, wouldn't, show weakness in front of anyone, actually.

Instead, he straightened, ignoring the tickle of sweat down his cheek, and glanced up at Albus, who had seated himself in a chair, legs crossed, hands clasped over his knee. Weasley stood beside him, his eyes wide from watching Harry's magic float through the air. It seemed as if he was in a trance.

Severus flicked his wrist and the swirling strands were gone in an instant. Weasley looked up, surprised, and Severus struggled, but managed, to flash him a mocking smile.

Albus stood, the skin around his eyes wrinkled with concern.

"Severus?" He asked, taking a step forward to grip Harry's wrist with his old, bony hand. Severus raised his eyes slowly to Albus's, feeling as if his energy had been leaking out of his body and pooling on the floor for the past hour, leaving him empty.

"Mmm. There is no curse." He said slowly, his breath deep and desperate, although he managed to control it, to appear as if he were unaffected by the physical tole of performing such complicated magic for so long. Severus didn't give time for Albus to respond. "I'm sure." He insisted, his voice deep, although painfully hoarse. He licked his dry lips and gathered himself up, making himself move with purpose around the end of Potter's bed.

"Will that be all?" He asked, keeping his legs moving underneath him. The only thing carrying him forward now was inertia.

"Yes, Severus, that will be all."

He heard no thanks uttered in his direction, but for once, Severus was genuinely grateful of that. He would not have to stop and nod in acknowledgement.

He made his way to his quarters much slower than he'd made his way to the Hospital Wing. He felt like a sluggish turtle, a corpse being dragged by ropes attached to his extremeties, a boneless, muscle-less mass of hollow flesh, a zombie, legs heavy and dragging underneath him as he walked forward.

Of course, he didn't look like any of those things. If one were not privy to a glance at his sweating, exceptionally sallow face, he would have appeared completely normal. Back ramrod straight, walking forward with his chin high, his long legs reaching out easily underneath his lean body, his cloak trailing behind him, swishing from his body's motion.

Hermione saw the difference immediately, although she no longer had her incredibly acute eyes to use to her advantage.

"Severus?" she murmured from her spot on the couch as she heard the door shut behind him. She pushed her blanket back and pulled herself up into a sitting position so she could look over the back of the couch at him.

"Don't get up," he told her, walking closer, and she caught sight of his face.

"Oh! Severus! What happened?" She asked, alarmed, moving to get up anyway. He raised a hand at her and shook his head.

"I'm fine."

"You are absolutely not fine! Come here!" She instructed, slightly panicked by the complexion of his face.

"No, I -"

"Severus," She said again, a tone of seriousness, and possibly a threat, present as she spoke. Severus was too tired to argue. He was so vulnerable right now, damn Albus, but it was Hermione, and he needed to lie down...

He dropped himself gracelessly on the couch, hardly aware of Hermione grasping him gently and pulling him down into her lap. His eyes were fluttering shut, and she was so comfortable, so warm, and despite his vulnerability, he felt safe in her arms, god, he felt drugged, too, but -

"Severus?"

He opened his eyes slightly, trying to focus on her face.

"Could I use your wand? I don't have mine."

He nodded, not comprehending a word she was saying.

"Severus. Your wand." Hermione was not about to take his wand unless she was entirely certain he knew what she was saying.

"My wand..." he repeated to himself. "Oh, yes, of course... Here..."

He slipped it out of his sleeve and handed it to her. She took it gently, her skin brushing his.

Severus closed his eyes and let sleep overwhelm him.

Hermione summoned everything she needed from her spot on the couch, Severus lying between her legs and the back of the couch, sprawled partially on her chest.

She was unnerved at his condition, but she would let him sleep, then talk to him afterwords. She cast a simple diagnostic charm she'd learned, and was pleased to see that he seemed healthy; he was just utterly exhausted.

She washed his face with a warm washcloth, brushing the hair that was stuck to his forehead back. She unclasped his cloak and folded it, setting it down on the table to her left, and used his wand to untie his shoes, pulling them off his feet with a subtle turn of her wrist.

Next came his jacket, which, god, had so many buttons. She didn't want to use a spell, though, for fear she might rip one off, so she started the tedious task of unbuttoning each one by hand.

Eventually, she finished with the buttons on his wrists, and she shifted him gently as she slid the jacket off, folding it and reaching over to set it on top of his cloak.

His white collared shirt was soaked through the chest, causing Hermione to frown, butterflies fluttering through her stomach. He was ok, yes, but what in the world had happened?

She cast a drying spell on him, then slipped his wand in his trouser pocket just in case he panicked when he woke and searched for it. It wouldn't be good if he didn't find it.

Hermione pulled the blanket from where it was partially stuck under Severus's sleeping form, and draped it over the both of them. She rested her head back and closed her eyes, breathing in the comforting, familiar scent of the man lying in her arms, her hand meeting Severus's, intertwining their fingers. She was asleep before she could feel his slack hand grip her's tightly in response.