A/N: Nothing you recognize is in any way mine. Nor shall it ever be.
All my continued thanks to writeratheart007; Phx-Songbird; bbmetater; Pau-0803; WALIXELA and knitchick for their reviews and to everyone who has been reading and reviewing and helping me along! Hope you all like it!
Enjoy all the Severus and Hermione goodness!
'lenio cranial premo' translates roughly to: relieve cranial squeezing
End transmission
-me
As Severus sat in his office thinking over his relationship with Hermione and knocking back whiskeys he racked his brain for something, anything that could help. He knew there was a team of people out there tracking Weasley, and while he may be an experienced tracker and he was currently having lovely fantasies involving the red-headed, wife-beating son of a bitch, all he truly wanted was to be there for Hermione and help her through this. He had spent half of his life fighting battles, and he had no doubts that Weasley would get what was coming to course if Weasley still hadn't seen justice once Hermione was awake and well then he would think about making his Ron fantasies come true, for now he had more important things to do.
He knew that somewhere in the stack of Potions Journals he subscribed to he had seen an article on the successful trials of a new potion. The author had apparently been searching for a way to relieve men of their inflated egos and had instead stumbled upon a targeted treatment for elevated intracranial pressure; brain swelling. The article itself if he recalled had been written as an anecdote on accidental discoveries in the world of potions. The potion was not something researched and crafted by a Potions Master but was instead something that had been the inadvertent creation of a witch with a potions hobby who was apparently tired of dealing with the James Potter's and Sirius Black's of the world. There wasn't much in the article about the potion itself, but it did state that it had been successfully used to treat the victim of a head injury sustained during a Quidditch match in France. Perhaps if he could track down this potion the odds of her survival would improve.
After an hour scouring potions journals Severus finally found the article he had been looking for. Gilda Glindle had developed the 'lenio cranial premo' potion. It had been used successfully twice by a healer in France to treat brain swelling. It would have been easier to track down either the formulae or a vial of the potion ready made if he knew the maker, but Gilda Glindle was no Potions Mistress, so he decided his best option was to take the article to Hermione's healer and hope he knew who the healer in France might be, and how to contact him.
Severus knew that the longer her brain went without an adequate oxygen supply the higher the likelihood she would suffer brain damage. So, potions journal in hand Severus quickly returned to St. Mungo's in search of Healer Plackett hoping that the potion mentioned might be both useful and attainable.
When Severus returned to Hermione's room at St. Mungo's he found Molly and Arthur Weasley in the chairs by their daughter-in-law's bed, their devastation clear, and George Weasley perched next to the sink on the counter at the near side of the room, apparently having come straight from work if the robes were anything to go by. Though for all Severus knew, he simply preferred the ghastly colors that he associated with Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.
"Arthur, Molly. My condolences. I know that everyone was much anticipating the birth of the child. I am sorry it has come to this; I regret that I did not do something sooner, contact you about your son at the very least. I am deeply remorseful, my sincerest apologies." Severus made it over to the bed side and the pale creature it held. "I think I have found something to help you Hermione, I only wish I had been there sooner, stopped this all before it began, how will you ever forgive me?"
Before either Molly or Arthur could say anything to him George's voice carried across the room. "Just don't Snape. You think you have the market cornered on guilt here. So you knew 'eh. She said you were lunching together on Wednesday's. Didn't really believe her to be honest, I mean, she never said where, and no one I know ever mentioned seeing the two of you out together. But you must have, you're here now, and well, how do I put this delicately? You Snape are not a people person. Yup, that bout sums it up I should think. Yet here you are, whispering in dear 'Mione's ear. Word is you are the one who found her, saved her life. Dad knew, Harry damned well should have, and me. I had lunch with her nearly every day for two years. I ate dinner with them all the time, better than cooking for myself. He was screwing Verity, knew that too, how could I not. I had to ask him to stop coming by to help out because I got more than one complaint from parents about his hand up her skirts. I know how to spot a glamour, and she had them on more often than not. He turned her into a shell of herself, and okay, so maybe he had help in that, none of us came out of the war whole. So just drop it, you did your best to be her friend, you weren't the bastard that beat the shite out of her. She told us all how much you had to go through to get that potion made for her, you ask me you were her personal bloody hero." Everyone in the room was shocked by George's revelations.
Severus for his part had no idea she had told anyone the lengths he went to in order to make the potion for her. He had just assumed everyone knew he made it, and it was costly. Getting the blood from that damned Snow Calf had nearly killed him though, and he may not have survived if Hermione hadn't insisted on turning the trek into the Alps as a learning exercise.
"Miss Granger, I am afraid I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow. I do not have your order ready yet." She was chewing her lip again, and shifting her weight from foot to foot, he could see she was nervous about something, and he had in idea what she may be after. "Is there something else with which you require my assistance Miss Granger, or are you seeking to increase your already sizable order. For I assure you I am not lacking for business and you need not feel charitable towards me, you already order enough to run a clinic."
"No, Professor, I don't need anything. That is to say, I came to ask a favor of you." She cast her gaze to the floor inspecting her shoes.
"A favor you say? And is this favor in junction with or in addition to the trek I am making on your behest at weeks end?" Hermione shyly glanced at him as he quirked his eyebrow at her.
"Well, I suppose you would say it is in junction with, though it shouldn't be of any further burden to you personally. You see, I, I would like to accompany you to the Alps to retrieve the ingredient." He could see the longing in her eyes, though he could see the draw of the opportunity for learning hands on in a case such as this, especially when the results of this particular expedition were so personally significant.
"I see, and what is it you see to gain from joining my on this expedition Miss Granger, for I assure you this is no pleasurable jaunt through the forest. The Fabled Far-Away Frozen Forest is incredibly difficult to reach and is by nature a magical dead zone, so there is no apparating in and out, no warming spells, nothing. It is simply you and nature and whatever tools you bring with you. It is dangerous, treacherous territory and the Snow Calf, though I will admit its beauty, is no mere pony and its viciousness is unrivaled. I do not know how long I shall be gone, though it is a two day hike through the mountains to the forest, and though I hope to come upon the beast on the first night of the full moon, there is no guarantee that I will find what is needed at all. There is a reason Miss Granger why I cannot simply purchase what is required." He could tell his warning was having the opposite effect than what was desired. She seemed intoxicated at the thought of the expedition. Her eyes shone with something he hadn't noticed before, hope, excitement, fear, he wasn't sure, but the caramel color seemed to grow darker and brighter all at once and he found himself contemplating the exact color of her eyes.
Her soft voice brought him out of his contemplations on honey and toffee. "Yes, professor, I realize that. After a year on the run in a tent I am quite used to roughing it. I would however be incredibly grateful for the opportunity to not only see one of the rarest creatures in the world, but to do so with one of the few people in this world from whom I stand to gain the most knowledge on such a trip. I know that 'Gelida Ipomoea Alba', the 'Frozen Moon Flower' growsnear there this time of year, and that the blooms from the flower could be quite useful to you in various potions, and it would certainly be more cost effective to cultivate them yourself, especially if you are already going to be there. I thought perhaps that I could be something of an assistant." Her lip was going to swell even more if she kept biting it that way, sliding it between her teeth. "Please?"
"I suppose you make a valid argument, and I could in fact use the 'Gelida Ipomoea Alba' blooms. You realize that you make it exceedingly difficult to deny you when you have researched your arguments so well before hand. You truly are a know-it-all Miss Granger, I think it suits you." Her blush was lovely. "Though it is summer in England the weather will be quite harsh in the mountains, I expect you to be prepared accordingly. Seven-thirty, Friday morning, I shall meet you here. Seven-thirty Miss Granger I will not wait around for you to finish cleaning up after breakfast."
She simply couldn't help herself; she launched herself at him and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you ever so much Professor. This means so much to me" she whispered in his ear, then she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek and was gone before he even had a chance to understand what had just happened.
"The chit kissed me. I agreed to let her follow me, and she kissed me." Severus was rooted to the spot by shock.
Three days later Hermione appeared in the apothecary dressed for a ski weekend, Severus had never seen a more amusing picture. Here is was the end of July and she walks in looking like some sort of candy, in fact he could swear there was an image of a muggle sweet on her cap. "Miss Granger. Just what are you wearing?"
"It's what I used to wear skiing. Its warm, and I can move about in it, and it doesn't require charms to keep my temperature up like most wizarding winter robed would. I like it, it's cute!"
"Indeed." He almost managed to stifle a chuckle, though he had to admit that the pink quilted jacket fit her well, even if the color was not the best against her skin and hair. Which only left him to wonder just when he began to think about which color palates went with her skin tone. "Those shoes hardly look appropriate for hiking through the mountain." The white furry lace up boots came nearly up to her knees.
"They are actually snow and ice safe, and have detachable metal spikes for grip in harsh weather and terrain. They offer impeccable ankle support and most of all will keep my toes from frostbite, though currently my cooling charms have to work overtime I think. I realize I don't necessarily look like I am ready for trudging up the mountain side, but these will keep me warm and allow for maximum movement. One of the reasons I love this jacket, if one can forgive the color, after all I didn't chose that, is that the quilting holds more heat than a big puffy jacket ever would, and the fill is one-hundred percent eider down and very fine quality. And the pants are meant for snowboarders really, and have plenty of cargo pockets, that way I can keep my hands free, and have a place for any potions gathering tools and equipment you might need me to carry, as well as anything we collect along the way. It's more than simply 'adequate' sir, though you always did find me lacking where others didn't." Hermione quickly covered her mouth with her hands, she couldn't believe she had said all that, the expose on her clothing sure, she was rather known to go off on her little tirades about everything really, but to comment on his opinions of her spoke to much to her desire to please him left over from her years of ridicule as his student.
He wasn't entirely sure how to respond, he had merely been teasing her, though teasing was not exactly something he was widely known for and he was at a loss as to why he was doing it now. That seemed to happen more and more when she was around. He never knew what to say to the girl, and yet he found himself wanting to say something. "Perhaps Miss Granger, it has occurred to you that I was not able to praise your work in my class; however that is not relevant to the topic at hand. You have to admit, that is a most ridiculous outfit, and what is that on your cap?"
"It's an um, a 'Tootsie-Pop' sir. A muggle candy, was Dumbledore never made aware of them, I am sure they would have been just his thing. And perhaps sir, we could find you a similar ensemble in black, perhaps then it would be more to your liking, and a mite bit warmer than what you are wearing. Oh, and yes, thank you sir, I did actually consider that, about Potion's class, it was silly of me to say anything Professor. Perhaps we should just be on our way sir."
"Yes, I agree, perhaps that would be best. As to my attire, I said to come prepared, not bundled up. We are to be stopping at a small inn at the base of the mountains; it serves as the closest apparation point, and will allow me the opportunity to change." He wanted to laugh. It was rather amusing the way she was starting to speak her mind more with him. He was finding their banter a nice way to fill the usual silence and was coming to really appreciate her wit and thought that she may be one of the few people who on occasion understood his dry humor. "Shall we Madam?" He held his arm out for her to take and once her little hand was snugly fit in the crook of his elbow led her out of the apothecary and down the street to the apparation point. He was too focused on the warmth of her fingers through his lightweight coat to notice the glances the odd couple was receiving from the few people out and about the alley that night.
After a brief stop at the inn as promised he led her into the mountains toward the hidden forest. After nearly two hours of trekking through the mountain side in a companionable silence, with Hermione just a touch ahead Severus caught sight of an interesting fungi and went to point it out to her, only his voice breaking the silence startled her and she lost her footing. Severus reached out and caught her when she fell, easily lifting her up and placing her back on the path. "Sorry, I hadn't intended on startling you, I just thought to show you this fungi here." He rather liked the way her body felt in his arms.
Her giggle was so feminine and reminded him of bells. "No apology necessary Professor. Thank you for catching me. I had been enjoying the peace out here so much, your voice cutting into the quiet of the mountains just caused me to startle is all. I slipped. Rather clumsy of me really. You said something about fungi?" She knew she must be blushing, his chest had felt so strong and solid, yet lean and somehow altogether more comforting than it should have been when his arms had snaked around her to keep her steady on her feet.
The next two days carried on in a similar fashion. They would walk on in relative quiet, occasionally stopping to harvest an interesting plant for Severus who found more and more that he didn't mind the role of teacher nearly as much one on one, and with a pupil who showed a real interest and intellect. At night they would find a place to rest, and Severus would light a fire to help both with warmth and to ward off any would be predators and they would try to sleep. Severus found his sleep troubled by thoughts of a firm round bottom in white cargo ski pants and warm flesh that belonged to someone else.
The morning of the third day the approached the Fabled Far-Away Frozen Forest and Hermione thought it lived up to its name. It was a splendor or white cloaked evergreens and shone with the reflections of millions of little ice crystals. "Now we wait." Severus told her. "Did you read the book I gave you? Of course you did what a silly thing to ask. Did Miss Granger read a book, indeed? I should have asked if there was a chance you had not read something. Well, tell me what you have learned of what I must do Miss Granger."
"It is said that one must prove ones self worthy to the Snow Calf, that you must approach as you were made and without weapon to protect yourself. You must prove that you live without fear, if you pass this first test the Snow Calf will approach, a bow of her head signifies a challenge, if you can master the Snow Calf she will find you worthy and make an offering. It said that if she finds you worthy she will tear her flesh with her teeth and give her life's blood as an offering to a worthy master. It doesn't specify much though does it sir?" She knew she gave him the perfunctory book recitation, and had made no attempt to expound, but she wasn't sure if she was prepared to admit that she knew he would have to be nude before she made the offer to accompany him.
"Still spouting facts Miss Granger? Tell me, did you glean an understanding of what that actually meant?" He knew she knew, but he wanted to hear her say it.
"I did sir. You have to, well; you have to ride bare back, while bare, as it were." She was glad she was already pink from the cold because she was sure she had never colored so much in her life. As soon as the words had left her mouth visions of Severus pale naked flesh atop a silvery steed were flashing in her head and she was sure she would have been warm even without the eider down.
"Yes Miss Granger. That is quite simply put. Now, I must prepare, and then we wait." Severus wasted no time, and showed no shame when he started to peel off his layers folding them as he went. He was starting to wonder why he had agreed to such a task, he was certain he had never been as cold in his life as he stepped out of his pants. He noticed Hermione trying to avert her eyes and trying to maintain a cold scientific disposition all at the same time, in the end it had seemed science won out. He couldn't help the chuckle that rose from deep in her chest at the little squeak she made when he pulled his underpants down and added them to his pile. "Oh come now Miss Granger, we are here gathering ingredients so that you may conceive, surely it is all something you have seen before." He was reveling in her reactions to his naked form, and found it a more than adequate way to counter the effects the cold was having on his nether regions. "I must step to the clearing now, hopefully we will not have to wait long, however should I expire, I would be grateful for your assistance in regaining warmth. I think now that it was best to bring you along after all, this may have been entirely all too foolish to attempt alone." He could tell she was cataloging all the ways to warm a body once it succumbs to the cold.
"Of course, Professor."
Severus waited in the clearing for twenty five minutes, fighting the cold that was seeping into his bones when he caught sight of a silvery mane. They truly weren't exaggerating when they described the coloring of the creature, while its coat was a shimmering silvery white, its mane and tail looked like liquid silver, and reminded him of the tiny vile of unicorns blood warded safely in his stores. When the animal stepped into the clearing to appraise his worth he looked into her sharp blue eyes and was awe struck by the power they held. He couldn't look away. It was then he realized that he wasn't just judged on his physical strength, the Snow Calf was performing a sort of legilimancy on him, it was the most gentle probing he had experienced, but there was no mistaking the fact that she was poking about at his memories. He thought for certain he was screwed, how could he be found worthy with all he had done, it wasn't like he could explain, would she understand he was a spy? After she was satisfied with what she saw she stepped back and circled him. After what seemed like an age of judgment to Severus he was greeted with the sight of this Majestic beast bowing her head to him, before she bared her teeth in a show of challenge. Immediately Severus was on the move. He jumped back and around in a seeming dance with the creature before him. He managed to get to her left side and saw an opportunity to mount when she turned around and bared her teeth, taking a chunk of flesh from his inner thigh. Severus fell back into the snow, staining it pink and red with his blood, but he had sustained worse wounds and refused to give up. He lunged himself at the Snow Calf and grabbed a fistful of her mane as he jumped up, throwing his injured leg over her back.
He could hardly believe it when all at once she stopped moving and lowered herself to the ground. Severus cautiously slipped off and approached her face. With another bow of her head she stood and Severus barely had time to retrieve the vials he had set at the edge of the clearing before she had torn her leg in a near imitation of the injury she had caused him. He limped over to collect the blood she offered and thanked her for her services before turning and limping out of the clearing.
He was barely within sight of Hermione when he succumbed to the cold and blood loss and collapsed in the snow. Hermione saw him fall and ran to his side. "Oh gods Professor, your leg. Oh gods, hold on, I have dittany, and blood replenishers in my pocket, just hold on, please hold on. Oh why did I let you do this, it isn't that important, and oh you could have gotten yourself killed for this. Oh it wasn't worth it, it wasn't worth it." Severus didn't have the energy left to respond as she poured the dittany into the wound on his thigh, and uncorked a vial and held it to his lips. As the cool coppery liquid slipped down his throat he realized that he was still naked, and now situated nearly in her lap as she attended to a wound that was rather precariously placed on his inner thigh, very, very high on his inner thigh, and the warmth of her hands as she applied the healing salves was about to be too much to handle before he could hide any reaction to her soft touch. "Miss Granger, if you are quite through pawing at me, might I get clothed, and warm. We got what we came for, I would like to rest. If you could start a fire I would be grateful."
"Oh, yes, um, yes sir, I, I can manage that I think. Oh, thank you so, so, so much Professor." She managed not to hug him this time, she wasn't sure she could handle hugging a naked Severus Snape and continue to deny the way she was reacting to his body. They spent much of the day in the forest; Hermione took time to explore a bit while Severus took the time to rest and regain his strength. When they had a few hours left of daylight they decided to begin the journey back down the mountain side. They arrived back at the apparition point in Diagon Alley late Tuesday night and with her hand once again on his arm they made their way down the street to the apothecary.
When they arrived Hermione once again threw her arms around the man, and planted a very soft lingering kiss on his cheek. "Thank you so much Professor. You have no idea what this means to me. I am so grateful you let me go with you, and so lucky that you were able to get what you needed to make this potion for me, I don't think anyone else would be able. Thank you" She kissed his cheek once more and fled.
"If she keeps doing that." He wasn't sure what he would do honestly, but he so enjoyed the feel of her soft full lips against his cheek, and it only led to thoughts of those same lips on his own. With a slight groan Severus turned and headed upstairs. He needed a bed.
Severus looked to George wondering if he really know what all had happened on that trip to get the Snow Calf Blood, or if he suspected the feelings that had ignited in Severus. "Yes well, did she mention what I charged her for the potion, or perhaps that I was able to sell the remaining blood to a potions supplier who paid me even more. It was well worth the effort believe me." Severus knew he would never have done it for anyone else, no matter the price; it truly wasn't an easy task, or a pleasant one.
Before anyone could argue his status as hero for his part in Hermione's conception of the child she lost despite the lengths she went to have it the door burst open to revel a rather flushed and out of breath Healer Plackett.
"Oh good Severus, you are already here. I was able to get a hold of a friend of mine, a healer in France. She knew the potion you mentioned, and after some bargaining, and a promise that she could use my vacation home next summer she was able to help me track down the maker and a vial. Let's hope this works." They wasted no time, and didn't bother to explain to the three shocked looking Weasley's in the room before the healer had Severus lift Hermione's head off the bed and tip it back to that he could work the potion down her throat. After a little maneuvering, and patience the whole vial was emptied.
The healer pulled his wand and waived it above Hermione's head running tests. "Oh my, Severus, it's working. The swelling is almost non existent now, but the only way to know the extent of damaged caused by the lack of oxygen to the brain is to wake her up. I have the antidote for the sedative we have been using around here, ah, yes this is the one. One more time if you don't mind, Severus." And so once again Severus assisted the healer in administering a potion.
It was fifteen tense minutes before her eyelids began to flutter and the girl on the bed opened her eyes. "Se-Severus."