A/N: Just FYI, I know little of medical intricacies. But as I've worked for quite a while under a medical professional (serving him black coffee and arranging his haphazard appointments), I think I can pull this off. Anyway, bear with me for now and I'll give you what you want—a lovely, lovely love story! Enjoy!

Chapter 22: Waiting

"You did what!" Severus barked, coming to a halt in his pacing. His anger rose at Minerva who was sitting opposite the Headmaster, in the old man's office.

"Severus, it was high time that everything came into the light for her," Minerva tried to reason, though she couldn't bring herself to muster much conviction and her tone was laced with worry and regret. "I thought she was ready to know your side of the story, and then when she came to my office, I thought she was ready to know that I had lie to her about the nature of the bond-"

"Ready?" Severus spat. "The girl was bordering on depression!"

"I did not know, Severus," Minerva said quietly and looked away in guilt. Her guilt was understandable for she had been teaching and looking after her students since before Severus himself had started reading. Yet, there was little respect he could show to the woman at this point. "She had managed herself so well while she was at your house, I felt she was ready."

"If only you had cared to talk to her in time before taking that impetuous decision, Minerva!" He snarled. "Did you not tell me yourself that she was behaving abnormally since finding Albus' letter?"

"I had assumed it was because she was kept in the dark. Mr. Potter had been just as upset when the Order had left him out of our doubts about the Prophecy, last year," the witch said. "I thought once she was aware of all that you did, it will be easier for her to accept the situation."

"Yes, and we all have seen how that went, haven't we?" He said acerbically. "The last thread keeping her from committing something of such nature was the burden that her attempt would cause me my life, too! What was the need to reveal anything to her in the first place is beyond me!"

Minerva pursed her lips. "No matter how you deny it, Severus, but you both are bound to live in each other's company for as long as one cares to see. Did you want her to live in the illusion that she was sharing a space, a house with the killer of her parents?"

Severus snorted derisively. "For as long as you care to see? We would be long dead before we share a godforsaken house!"

"That is preposterous of you to voice!" Minerva was stern.

"For I do not cling to bleak hopes or shy away from the reality," he said smoothly. "But the bone of contention is your rash decision, which you clearly did not take the pains of seeing the consequences of."

"Now, Severus," Albus' calmness infuriated the Potions Master, "Minerva did what she felt was best for her student-"

"She could have cared to ask me!" He growled.

"And how approachable have you been whenever I tried to discuss Miss Granger with you?" Minerva said accusingly.

Severus conceded her point. He had remained unapproachable on the subject of Granger with intent. "Who gave you the right to show her my memories, without my consent!"

"She had a right to know the truth!" Minerva said firmly. "And as the Deputy Head of the Order, I did not need your permission."

"Severus, Minerva," Albus called, albeit calmly. "We are establishing nothing. We need to think about how to handle the consequences now."

"Consequences?" The witch asked with clear disapproval.

"What are we supposed to tell the students and the Ministry now," Albus elaborated. "Moreover, what will you tell Tom, Severus?"

Severus' temper escalated dangerously. That girl tried to end her life. They did not know if she would even survive or not. Instead of being bothered about her mental state that was so severely harmed, the Headmaster was more inclined towards strategy. But though angered, Albus' casual indifference towards Granger's needs did not surprise him. The Head of the Order concerned himself with little other the war.

Before he could voice himself, Minerva did. "Albus, that is very thoughtless of you to suggest! We first need to determine that she does not try what she has, again!"

"You misunderstand me, Minerva," Albus said patiently. "Of course, that is imperative. But I believe, Poppy has handled a few as unfortunate cases like Miss Granger's in the past. She will have to remain under Poppy's eyes while she recovers and clears her head."

"And what am I to tell her friends?" Minerva asked. "Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley somehow know that she is in the Hospital Wing. I had to be very strict to restrict them to the Tower until morning. But come morning, they will demand answers."

"We shall tell everyone that Miss Granger had an accident while she was at the Astronomy Tower," Albus said, running his damaged, gloved hand through his beard.

"Is that wise?" The witch questioned.

"For official purposes, yes," Severus was the one to respond. He already had decided not to show the note he had procured from Granger to anyone. "If the Ministry got the wind of it, it will only contribute to Granger's share of tribulations."

"If Miss Granger, herself, later feels inclined to share the details with her friends, she can, at her own will," Albus added.

"She needs a confidant, clearly," Minerva murmured to herself.

"Severus," Albus said quietly, "Could you not give orders to Miss Granger never to make a similar attempt again? That would prove to be-"

"No," Severus declared firmly. "The accursed bond is the very cause of Miss Granger's current plight. Moreover, it is not my place to command her in any form."

"But a simple order can save her life, my boy," Albus said. "Done in good faith, it will not be considered wrong."

"I will always consider it a sin, whatsoever," he hissed.

Before the Headmaster could counter him, Minerva spoke with evident annoyance, "That is absolutely wretched a way to handle such a delicate situation. I will never condone this madness."

"It was only a suggestion," their employer said with politeness, but Severus longed to see embarrassment on his face for even daring to suggest such an absurd idea.

The Headmaster looked at Severus, "What will you tell Tom? Clearly, the news of Miss Granger's absence from her classes will soon travel to the Death Eaters."

Of that, he was certain. While the girl recovered from her infirmity, she would remain at the Hospital Wing. His Slytherins would question that. "I will narrate the same story to the Dark Lord, as well."

"That will have consequences for you, Severus," Albus said gravely. "For Tom, Miss Granger is currently an asset. The accident could have killed her. He will not take kindly to your lack of care in keeping his asset safe."

"I wonder how kindly he would take to me if I tell him that the girl had deliberately tried to kill herself while I was under the elaborate orders to train her such that she readily did the Dark Lord's bidding," he said sardonically.

"You will bear the brunt in both cases," Minerva muttered, looking at him with the sympathy he despised.

"That I will," he said callously.

"More so in the latter scenario that the former, though," Albus said pensively. "Severus, you are right. Tell Tom the same story that we will tell the others."

He nodded. He would have to make subtle changes to the story, convincing the Dark Lord that he, Severus, would 'punish' the girl soundly for her lack of care. But he already knew that he was in for a nasty round of Cruciatus.

"I must be the one to bear the news before one of the Death Eaters get a chance to," he decided.

"You will go right now?" Minerva looked reluctant at the prospect.

"Yes," he said firmly. "That would be for the best."

"You are right, Severus," Albus seconded him. "Go right away."

As he turned to leave the office, he heard Minerva say, "I wish you luck." He inwardly snorted—luck seldom had a good role to play with him. And yet, a voice countered, luck was all that worked for me today, for even a moment of delay would have bereft the girl of her life and me of...

Of? Granger's death would have bereft him of what?

When Severus passed by Albus' Phoenix, he gave the bird an imperceptible nod. For all his aversion to animals, he would remain eternally grateful to this specific creature.

He would have to erect stronger Shields today to keep his thoughts regarding Granger buried out of the Dark Lord's reach.

UUUUUUU

Severus returned to the school in the early hours of morning. Yet, it was too early for any student to be awake to find him in his current state.

Severus thought of heading to the Hospital Wing, and not just because of the after effects of the Cruciatus that he was experiencing. His mind wandered around the extremely foolish girl who currently resided at the Wing.

But he declined the idea in the light of Poppy's exhaustion. Severus world tend to his own injuries. He would visit the Infirmary when he was in a well enough state to avoid the Medi-witch's incessant fussing.

So he instead headed to his quarters. He took the short route through the first floor instead of venturing into the bowels of the dungeons. At the set location, he tapped his wand in the pattern that made the otherwise concealed door appear before him. He stepped inside.

He removed his heavy robe and stored that into the first drawer in the cabinet of the living room, along with the hideous mask.

He quickly conjured his Patronus and sent the doe to Albus confirming his safe return. He would share the details of the meeting later, as there was nothing time-sensitive, anyway.

Severus sat heavily on a comfortable armchair and put his booted feet on the coffee table without giving a second thought to the mud that was coating the soles. He decided to take the required potions before a muscle spasm could hit him. He summoned the vials from his personal Lab inside his quarters.

When all the vials sat before him, Severus uncorked and downed them one by one, mindful of taking a break of at least twenty seconds between any two potions, or he would be nauseous.

Vanishing the empty phials, he sat back and leaned his head against the chair. He concentrated on his breathing as the potions gradually overtook the pain.

The Dark Lord had been incensed. A fall from Astronomy Tower rarely meant anything but death. But somehow, Severus had managed to convince the dark wizard that the girl would live.

But that did not spare him the angry bouts of Cruciatus. Pettigrew had looked haughty, being the only one to witness Severus' 'punishment'.

Little bastard!

But all in all, he had returned alive. He had to feign furor at the girl's actions, and had given false reassurance to the Dark Lord to 'make the girl pay' once she was free of constant surveillance of the Medi-witch.

Severus had somehow hinted the Dark Lord with subtlety that Granger's injuries would mean Potter spending even more time with her—out of pity. That had seemed to have pleased the lunatic wizard at the end.

Severus closed his eyes to find himself revisiting Granger's prone form, exsanguinating profusely. Her bloodied face and fractured neck. The weak pulse that Severus had found. Poppy was correct—a Muggle would not have been able to survive the fall.

Even Granger wouldn't have, without the aid of phoenix tears. Or if they were a little late in finding her. Potter's infernal map had been of immense help. For all that the accursed artefact was used for by James Potter, this one deed alone absolved it. In fact, the damned band on his finger, too, had been of help when it had glowed warm. He did not want to think what would have happened, had the band not warned him in time. Somebody might have found Granger's body in the morning, beyond help.

He recalled the folded parchment that he had kept with himself for safekeeping. Severus fished into his pocket to find it inside, tugged away. Retrieving, he unfolded it to find it blank.

He frowned. He was almost certain there were meant to be writing on this note. But gradually, the words appeared before his eyes as if an invisible sheet was lifted.

Then he realised—Granger had Wandlessly put a Charm over it so only a certain person could read it, only he could read it. Undoubtably, the note contained classified information. Nobody else could have read it.

The words written with a Muggle pen, and in haste. He was sure that the letter was written in desperation, right before Granger had...

Professor Snape,

The girl had not addressed him with that honorific since the night her parents were murdered. But perhaps after watching his memories, her perspective was changed?

I watched your memories of that night, Sir. I saw everything again, but with your perspective. I witnessed your actions in a different light that I had never imagined. I don't know how can I ever apologise to you for my deplorable behaviour these past months. I had been blinded by rage so much so that I could never see your intentions behind your actions. I have said and done things that are unforgivable. But now, I can only thank you for all that you did for me. Though it pains me to think of it, you did provide my parents a release from their pain... I will forever be grateful to you for looking after their burial while I could not. Thank you for investing your time in teaching me Occlumency. I know your efforts will go into waste now. I'm truly sorry for that.

And for saving my life. But I don't think I have it in me to go on...

All along, I have kept saying that the line of difference that separates me from you is important, but now I know, I can never even dream of becoming anything like you. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me someday.

Just asking for one last favour, Sir. Please ask Professor McGonagall to let Ginerva Weasley take Crookshanks in. And let the Muggle authorities give my parents' property and wealth, my inheritance, into charity.

I wish I had a chance to tell this to you personally—I will forever be indebted you, and as a small repayment, I wish to free you of this bond.

Sincerely,

Hermione Granger

He looked at the note again. It was scribbled in haste, not very well thought out as he was in a habit of reading her scholarly essays. It bore no mentions of the friends she so poured her affection over. But it did mention her cat and her inheritance—as if as a last attempt to prove herself to be responsible.

Severus put the parchment down and closed his eyes again. For some time, he did not know how to process what he had read.

The girl had taken such an outrageous step because she was not only harbouring the feelings of hopelessness, but also intense guilt. He wished he had inquired her more thoroughly when he suspected her of becoming depressed. Perhaps, it could have been avoided.

Now, when she laid unconscious in the Hospital Wing, nobody could even be certain that upon waking, the person to meet them would be the same Hermione Granger or a completely different person altogether, with brain damage and memory loss. Maybe she lost half her vision, or the functioning of her legs. The spinal cord damage could be permanent.

Maybe, the girl considered the brightest in her batch could not even solve a simple Arithmantic equation again. Maybe, she could never memories a simple recipe of a potion again. Maybe, she lost her reflexes to ever be able to defend herself against a hex again.

Maybe, she could never hold her wand steadily again. Her wand that was currently in his possession, which he would not return her until he was satisfied that a repeat was not to happen.

Severus covered his eyes with his hand and massaged his temples. Would he ever meet the same witch again? The one with potential and competence, the one with a bright and organised mind, the one with superior intellect who sought and craved knowledge. The one who was confident enough to stand up even to the Dark Lord. The one who never hesitated in reminding Severus of his unfavourable conduct as a teacher. The one who held so much compassion as to work for a stranger without a pay because the lady was old and needed assistance. The one considerate enough to learn how to cook because the man whom she believed to have killed her parents in cold blood was compelled to eat something distasteful everyday.

He did not know which version of Hermione Granger he would meet next, but he could only hope that the girl was not beyond help.

The idea that she had considered living even with those miserable conditions only because she believed that his life was connected to hers, was unbelievable, taking into consideration how she loathed him. But after spending more than three months getting to know the girl, he could see why she had done that. That was just how the girl was, it seemed. Granger was simply too compassionate.

But he would get nothing by wallowing in guilt and regret for what he could not prevent. He could still help, and he would. Whether that meant tirelessly brewing potions for her recovery or teaching her how to hold a quill and a wand all over again. He would do it. With earnestness.

UUUUUUU

The next morning saw a red-head boy and a black-haired, bespectacled boy sitting by a bed in the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts School ot Witchcraft and Wizardry.

On the bed, laid unconscious a girl with bushy hair. Her once-smooth face was now marked with bruises and closing wounds on the right side. Orange salve was covering most of those wounds on her face and her right hand, that was all that remained visible outside the sling that that fractured arm was tucked in. The rest of her body was covered with a soft duvet, that hid her mangled body beneath. Magically conjured screens were taking her readings and a constant beeping was the evidence that the girl was still very much alive, despite her condition.

The black-haired boy was staring at the girl morosely while the red-head was holding her unbroken hand into his clammy ones.

"I can't believe it..." The red-head hesitated. "Can you believe this, Mate? We walked to classes together just...just hours ago..."

Clearly, tragedy struck with no prior warning.

The other boy, Harry, did not reply instantly. His eyes remained trained on the girl. "Honestly, Ron, I still think someone's going to shout 'April fool' or something, and she'll just wake up."

The boy who went by 'Ron' sighed deeply. "I can't see her like this..."

Harry's eyes traveled to the conjured screens. "I don't think Hermione would just...fall down the Astronomy Tower like that. She is not that...careless, is she?"

"Yeah, she never even let me sit on the parapet there," Ron added.

Harry, too, sighed. "We should have checked on her sooner."

"But what was she even doing there? I thought she had been in the Library or with Pomfrey," Ron said. "We couldn't have known, Mate."

"I think I knew..." Harry whispered.

To a third person, it seemed that they were following different trains of thoughts entirely. And perhaps, they were.

UUUUUUUU

For the next few days, that part of the Hospital Wing where the bushy-haired witch, Hermione, laid, saw many people coming and sitting by, sometimes in pairs, speaking quietly and sometimes alone, in deep contemplations. People wondered about the girl's future, expressed their shock over the situation and dabbed their eyes in pity.

Harry and Ron were very prominent, coming whenever they got a break between classes or after meals, and stayed until the Medi-witch, Poppy Pomfrey, was compelled to throw them out. Sometimes, they talked to the ailing girl, telling her of casual happenings in the castle. But mostly, the friends talked in hushed voices or just sat silently by, in their own thoughts.

Another red-head, who went by Ginny, too, often sat by the bed. Some days, a red-head woman, Molly Weasley, too, visited the girl. She would sit by her bed, gently caressing her hair and talking in a soft tone but the girl remained unconscious.

A stern-looking witch, who was the Gryffindor Head of House and went by Minerva McGonagall visited several times a day to either check on her student herself or take a report from Poppy Pomfrey. She seldom had time to sit by her but she made sure that her student was provided for.

The Medi-witch, herself, kept a close watch on her patient, feeding her potions, changing her bandages and re-applying salve on her wounds. A house-elf who was a relatively new recruit to the school and did not hold grudges against the witch who tried to give them hats, Karly, was assigned to look after the girl and maintain cleanliness and hygiene around. She, Karly, sat by the girl when nobody else could, keeping her big, yellow eyes open to keep a watch on 'Miss Hermione'.

But when night fell and students were all in their common rooms after curfew and no Professors bothered to remain outside the comfort of their quarters, including the Medi-witch, a certain tall, black-haired man, wearing his customary black robe visited the unconscious girl.

He usually dismissed Karly when he came. The man sat by the witch for hours at end. Usually, he sat there and marked essays when he wished to be silent. Other times, he read a book or a Potions journal and recited the key facts to the girl as if she were listening to him in her state of unconscious.

At times, he recited to her her own details, her name, her hobbies, anecdotes from her own life—in the hopes to reverse any memory loss she might suffer. But when he had moments of realisation that his approach was only little conducive, he stopped and just stared at the girl.

He never held her hand or caress her hair like the other visitors did. Yet, his visits established the most intimacy between them. Though sometimes he did replace Warming Charms on the witch.

House-elf, Karly, always smiled to herself for she felt joyous to see Master Professor Snape caring for his wife, as subtle as he was. They were a blessed pair, Karly could sense. Karly could always sense what the humans couldn't.

But the man left the Hospital Wing before anyone could find him, after assigning Karly to the girl's side again. The house-elf never breathed a word to anyone.

UUUUUUU

On Saturday morning when Severus arrived at the Hospital Wing, it was to find Poppy along with Healer Waters tending to Granger.

The girl was still unconscious, though. Severus could see that the wounds on her face were healed, leaving bruises and scars behind, though. Her arm was still in the sling.

Every night when Severus sat by the girl, he often contemplated how she would react to having survived the fall. But when his thoughts started wandering around the dangerous territory of extensive brain damage that might obscure all memories from the girl, he stopped himself. The extent of any damage could not be determined until Granger woke up.

He nodded to the two witches who returned the gesture.

"Here are the potions you requested for, Poppy," he said, handing a wooden crate to the Medi-witch.

The Healer from St. Mungo's was working on Granger's right eye that had, no doubt, been damaged in the fall.

Poppy must have seen Severus observing the Healer, as she spoke, "We were able to save her vision."

Thank Merlin for that, he thought, relieved. "That is good," he said impassively.

"But she will have to put eye drops for some time because of the damage," Poppy added. "She might even require to wear spectacles for a brief period of time, if she experiences blurry vision until her eye is completely healed."

Some reminder would be good for her to have, leat she tried to attempt something similar again. "Let me know if anymore potions are needed." He did not comment upon Granger's recovery.

"We will need many for the injuries her spinal cord has sustained." Healer Waters spoke, turning to him. "I am afraid, Miss Granger cannot walk until the damage is healed."

"How long could that take?" He inquired. His eyes fell on the duvet that covered her lower half.

"Anywhere around two to three months, I suppose," the Healer said quietly and Poppy sighed heavily. "We will have to be confined to a wizarding counterpart of a Muggle wheelchair. A Charmed-Chair."

"That, we can order from the Diagon Alley," Poppy suggested.

"Yes, I will give you the reference of a couple of stores there," the Healer offered. "Mr. Snape, I will send a list of all the potions Miss Granger will need for her spinal cord and eye, if that is fine by you."

"Of course," he said with a straight face.

"She can wake up anytime now," the Healer glanced at Granger. "Most probably by the end of the day or by tomorrow morning."

"I will let the wards alert me, in that case," Poppy responded. "I hope she doesn't suffer any long term damage, though."

Severus surreptitiously glanced at Granger's motionless form. He repeated in his mind what Poppy had said.

Or it would be another life the Dark Lord ruined.

A/N: Next up: Hermione waking? Long-awaited, super uncomfortable conversation between a bushy-haired witch and a certain Potions Master? Well, you'll see!

Thank you loadsssss for the lovely, amazing reviews! You guys make my day! :)

Waiting for your response with big, hopeful eyes! :)