Chapter 45: Worry And Contentment

{A/N: Here's Another Update..}

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

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

Hermione didn't believe her legs could move fast enough, as she made her way toward the infirmary, careful in her movements not to be spotted by anyone whom would need to question her or her motives to for desperately trying to see the ailing Potions Professor. She could not get the news of what happened to him out of her mind. As she'd found herself privy to the incident via a startled and trembling Harry Potter, whom had the unfortunate experience of witnessing Voldemort's cruelty to his own death eaters in the form of Snape being brutalized in yet another meeting. Harry had been adamant about the despot hissing in his ear and egging him on about his hatred of the Potions Professor, there was even a moment where he encouraged Harry to revel in his hatred. The boy who lived had been determined to ignore the despot's antics from a mental standpoint, but found himself joining in the torment of the already badly beaten wizard. Each slash that came across the exposed pale flesh of the man whom had both intrigued and terrified Hermione Granger-Snape, felt as if was delivered by Harry, himself, as if he had a hand in the brutality as well as a front row seat.

The amber eyed witch attempted to keep her composure, not at all wishing to give away her inner most feelings on the ills that had be fallen her secret husband despite the uproar of the other students and the panic that ensued within the infirmary as Med-Witch Madam Pomfrey attempted to administer treatment to the already hostile, dazed and confused man.

"Severus, do calm down I can't help you if you are acting like a wild animal." huffed the older witch brandishing her wand in a bid to stun the furious and bloodied Snape whom had taken it upon himself to block her spell-work.

The moment Hermione took not of him, the sick coloration of crimson staining his exposed pale flesh as it had been ripped apart via magical whip and other unimaginable elements of torment. The look behind his obsidian eyes had been quite similar to that of a frightened feral animal unsure of what to make of the "help" a human would offer it in it's weakened state. Taking a breath, she approached the relentlessly stressed wizard knowing full well that he wouldn't respond to anything the old med-witch had in store for him before she'd given up and he crawled into a cold darkened corner to lick his all too apparent wounds.

"Is Professor Snape going to be alright?" asked Hermione getting the old Med-Witch's attention for the first time since her initial arrival.

Madam Pomfrey sighed.

"To tell you the truth, he's a real handful." she replied before noting that it had been Hermione Granger of all people here in the infirmary with a wounded Severus Snape in full view of her. "Professor Snape isn't going to like being bothered in his current condition, Miss Granger...I'm afraid you are going to have to leave."

Snape seemed to return to his senses after hearing the rather inquisitive Hermione's voice.

"S-She can stay." he said as though it had been a truly painful en-devour.

Both Hermione and Madam Pomfrey found themselves shocked that he seemed coherent given the display the young witch walked in on.

"Severus..." began Madam Pomfrey with a rather inquisitive expression.

"She's already seen me at my worst." he replied in annoyance. "What's the point of considering my need for privacy as far as she is concerned now?"

Madam Pomfrey sighed before making her way toward her office, muttering about how contemptible Snape had been and how she had half a mind to hex him herself for his antics.

Hermione had not hesitated once the old woman had been well out of sight and ear shot. She rushed over toward her bloodied husband and scrambled to see to his injuries as well as a way to clean the blood from his wounds.

"Severus..." she said doing her best to push back the tears that had formed behind her eyes.

"I'm alright." replied Snape doing his best to reassure his rightfully worried wife.

"Of course you are, with all of the bleeding and bruising accompanied by seared and torn flesh." replied Hermione making it clear that he wasn't going to talk her out of assisting him.

Snape treated her to a rather lazy smile and attempted to ignore the pain in favor of setting his sights on the young woman whom had been his wife for the time being.

Almost immediately, she set to work cleaning him up and mending his wounds as best she could. Snape thought it a curious sight, her moving about and ensuring he not only allowed her to administer care, but Madam Pomfrey as well when she returned.

"How could you be so reckless?" asked Hermione seeing to a wound on the Potions Master's right arm.

"I never acquainted the dark lord's rage with my being reckless before." replied the dour man still with the same lazy smile.

Hermione had been quite annoyed by his cavalier attitude about the whole ordeal, but she knew it was all he could do to keep himself from mentally falling apart in the wake of all that he'd suffered.

Snape for his part had been quite content to let her do as she pleased, despite knowing that he'd possibly come back worse off the next time he was summoned.

Hermione managed to make him look presentable if that could be used to describe the state he had remained in following her work and getting him cleaned and patched up. Standing beside him, her youthful eyes could see just how exhausted he had been given the stress of having nearly lost his life in the span of a few days since last they spoke.

"I've...missed you." said Snape. Not wishing to hide his affection for his wife any longer given his ordeal.

"I've missed you too." she replied despite her annoyance and worry.

Snape took her hand in his, pleased that she had been of the same mind as he about their prolonged separation since the last time she spent the night in his private quarters.

"Perhaps, we could discuss my latest folly...in private." he said meeting her amber eyed gaze.

Hermione had caught his meaning entirely as he saw his way to kissing her hand, before letting it slip from his grasp at the instant of Madam Pomfrey bursting from her office more determined than ever to get him healed.

"So, you've been given to assistance after all." said the elder woman with something of a grateful smile.

"It appears that Miss Granger can be quite persuasive when she wishes to be." replied Snape turning his attention to the old woman after stealing a glance at his now smiling wife.

"All in a bid to see you well, Professor." replied Hermione in a rather meek tone so as not to bring suspicion upon her in the presence of the old med witch.

Seeing that she'd done what had been needed, she dismissed herself knowing full well that she planned to see her husband again, perhaps once she had time and there had been no means to draw suspicion. As for Snape, he'd been more than willing to give the old woman a hard time, right up to the point that he took the floo back to his quarters to await his wife's impending arrival.