Chapter 18: Saving His Hide

{A/N: Here's another update...It's been a while for this one...}

My Thanks To My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.

The Main Corridor, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

A great burst of wind swept across the darkened corridor of Hogwarts Castle as a badly wounded and nearly unconscious Severus Snape landed in the center of the grounds lacking his usually refined grace and only contributing to the damage his lean pale form sustained as he crashed into the grass and soil tracking some as his beaten and battered body rolled to an unprecedented halt before he was able to grasp for breath feeling every ounce of agony via his broken ribs.

The unceremonious crash had gotten the unwavering attention of a certain young Gryffindor witch as she left the book lined walls of the Hogwarts Library to make her way back toward Gryffindor tower to turn in for the evening. She noted the falling figure cloaked in darkness straight away observing the familiar smoky blackness that surrounded death eater flight before coming to the conclusion that that the flight could only be managed by one so bold enough to reach Hogwarts grounds while Headmaster Dumbledore watched over the school.

"Professor Snape." she said more so to herself than aloud as she raced toward the downed figure caked in blood, soil and tattered fabric from his trademark ebony frock coat and trousers.

Severus Snape had been unconscious since the landing and made no move to get himself to the infirmary. Thinking quickly lest the poor ailing wizard's cover be blown, the amber eyed witch cast a notice me not charm on the two of them and slowly attempted to examine his wounds. She was well verse in minor healing magic, due to her scrapes with Harry and Ron when breaking school rules and taking on monsters only seen in books. It was this knowledge that best served her now as she did her best to stop the Potions Professor's bleeding.

"Just hold on Professor." she urged him softly. "I can get you to Madam Pomfrey and she'll fix you right up."

Upon hearing her voice in close confines, Snape's obsidian orbs opened and he had a most unreadable expression filed across his sallow pale face.

"M-Miss Granger?" he said clearly dazed and utterly confused via the crash.

"Shhhh...it's alright I can take it from here." she said softly. "You just rest...you'll be well taken care of in no time."

Snape attempted to combat her helping hand but due to his weakened condition only managed to let out a low whimper and grazed her cheek with his trembling cold pale fingers. Hermione remained determined to get him to the infirmary, risking a detention from Filch to do so.

From what she could see of him due to the darkness of the night, Voldemort was none to happy with him and decided to voice his displeasure via torture and barely left the ailing wizard alive. She wondered briefly how much worse things would get for him on the other side if the despot found out about what they were plotting in terms of their union to block the other death eaters from having her hand in marriage.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The Infirmary, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

When Hermione entered the infirmary with a levitating Severus Snape, Madam Pomfrey was rather shocked. She was covered in the ailing wizard's blood and had not batted an eyelash in an attempt to shy away from what needed to be done to ensure he survived this most brutal of assaults from the despot.

"My word...Severus." said the old Med-Witch pulling her wand and immediately setting to work.

Snape came to again reaching for the bloodied Hermione as if desperate for any kind of human touch that wouldn't administer pain.

"I'm right here." said Hermione willing herself to be strong for her future husband despite the fear that crept into her. "It'll be alright Sir."

Snape gripped the trembling hand of the witch with his own blood soaked pale hand before passing out once more in the wake of his blood loss.

"It's a good thing you got him here when you did." said Madam Pomfrey grateful for the watchful eyes of the younger witch. "There's no telling what condition he might have been in had you not acted when you had the chance."

"Is he going to be alright?" asked the highly concerned Hermione looking back n forth from the bloodied Potions Professor to the old Med-Witch set to take care of him.

"He is indeed...although he's bound to be a bit grouchy once the healing process begins...he's broken his ribs and from the looks of it his left hand...he'll be unable to brew potions for a few weeks but he can be fit for lighter duty."

Hermione was relieved to know the wizard would fair well following treatment.

"Can...you let me know how he's doing from time to time?" she asked hopeful.

She knew that she wasn't his family, as of yet but she was still quite concerned for him.

"He won't like it...but you did save his hide tonight so it's only fare you are kept in loop as far as his progress goes." replied Madam Pomfrey. "Now run along before Filch get's the inclination to harass you...and take this pass...Professor Snape will be fine in my care...I've patched him up from worse now and then."

"Worse?" asked Hermione looking over at the unconscious bloodied wizard once more.

"He'll be fine girl...now off with you...I have a good bit of work to do yet." muttered Madam Pomfrey shooing Hermione out of the infirmary.

Once she exited the main doors, Hermione found herself given to her increasing fear. The death eaters were clearly a ruthless bunch and the tales of their viciousness didn't do them any justice at least as much as she had known.

The witch made up her mind to know about the haunting organization that her future husband belonged to and the capabilities of such monstrous witches and wizards. She knew that she wanted as little to do with them as possible and found herself eternally grateful to Professor Dumbledore for ensuring that she'd marry Professor Snape instead of one of those blood thirsty cretins.

As she made her way back toward Gryffindor tower, Hermione noted the blood from Snape and quickly glamoured it until she could get to her dormitories and shower before anyone started asking questions. The last thing she needed was to have both Harry and Ron's unwanted attention with it being close to the time she'd have to marry her Potions Professor.