A/N: I didn't manage to deal with Remus or Draco in this chapter, but it is forthcoming. The muse decided to throw in a different hoop for them to jump through, however. Thank you all for reading and reviewing!
And, I'm excited to have finally caught up with naming all of the chapters.
Bound to Him
Chapter 56
After firmly securing her apron, Hermione took in a calming breath and smoothed out the few creases in the parchment lying on the work bench. She glanced up at the small clock briefly before reading through the entirety of the instructions penned in the familiar spiky script of the Hogwarts Potions Master. When she finally finished a handful of minutes later, she nibbled on her bottom lip.
Well, it definitely isn't any more difficult than the Polyjuice Potion. It certainly doesn't take an entire month to brew. The witch scratched her forehead as she quickly skimmed through it again. Still five hours, though.
"Oh, it's going to be a long night, isn't it?" she sighed mournfully.
"I'm afraid so," Pomfrey murmured, stepping into the small brewing laboratory attached to the infirmary to deliver a basket of sterile glass vials. "But I shall not bother you with anything else unless I absolutely have to."
"Alright," the girl shrugged. "I suppose I should get started then."
"Of course," the nurse smiled. "If you need anything, dear, just give a shout. I shall do the same if I must."
With that, the woman swept out of the room and disappeared from sight.
"Okay, okay, okay, okay," Hermione whispered to herself as she mentally began listing everything she would need to get ready. She was not quite sure why she felt so nervous about brewing the Blood-Replenishing Potion. Even though it would be her first time, she had tackled equally difficult brews with half as much anxiety. Granted, it was a bit nerve-wracking to know that her product would actually be used on injured students or staff members, but that fact had not seemed to bother her at all when working on the Fever Reducer last week. So why am I so nervous now?
You're working yourself up over nothing, Granger. It's going to be alright. It's just one potion.
Not quite believing her own reassurances, the Gryffindor witch eyed the clock again and then set in on the ingredient preparations. It simply would not do to waste time when Severus was taking time out of his schedule to check her eventual progress.
Nearly forty-five minutes later, after she had finished preparing everything – except for the rat spleens, which had thankfully already been minced upon her arrival – and the potion base was cheerily bubbling in the medium-sized iron cauldron, a knock on the door jamb immediately drew her attention. Expecting to see the familiar black robes standing before her, she frowned slightly at the realization that the matron nurse was alone.
"Just thought I'd pop in to see how you were doing," Poppy explained before peering over the lip of the cauldron. "Looks like you aren't having much trouble at all, are you? I shouldn't be surprised, though, seeing as Professor Snape holds your work in such high regard."
"He does?"
"Mmm," Madam Pomfrey nodded. "I mentioned to him just before supper what you would be working on this evening, and he told me that he did not foresee you struggling with it in the least, which is high praise from that man."
"Really?" Hermione's eyes brightened somewhat as she perched on a stool.
The mediwitch smiled at her and then cleared her throat. "He did say he may drop in to take a peek at it, but that's really only because he is quite… particular about brewing, as I'm sure you've noticed."
The girl chuckled softly and ducked her head. "I think 'particular' may be a nice way of phrasing it."
"I certainly thought so, yes," Poppy smirked. "He is a rather, shall we say, intense man."
"He is," Hermione agreed quietly. She paused a moment before daring to add, "But I think he generally does it for the right reasons."
The woman's eyebrows rose in surprise, and she nodded eagerly. "So do I, Miss Granger. So do I."
An odd silence pervaded the room as the two witches were lost to their own thoughts. The sound of charm broke their concentration a few minutes later, and the nurse quickly turned to attend to whomever it was that had entered the infirmary.
"Erm, Madam Pomfrey?"
The witch paused in the doorway and glanced back at her apprentice.
"I just wanted to say that…erm," she swallowed quickly, knowing that the nurse's attention was likely needed elsewhere, "well, despite what he had to do to me, I am well aware that he saved my life that night and several times since. And I want you to know that I do trust him… whole-heartedly."
A small smile appeared on Poppy's face as she dipped her head in acknowledgement. "I'm glad that you do. There aren't enough people that feel the same way."
She looked prepared to say something else, but thought better of it and disappeared into the main room of the Hospital Wing. Hermione briefly pondered what it could have been before the spluttering of the potion demanded her attention. Wrinkling her nose slightly, she reached for the metal pan that held the appropriate number of minced rat spleens and quickly plopped them into the boiling liquid.
Fighting off the urge to gag at the slight stench emanating from the cauldron, she backed away from the table and slid back onto her stool. The brew would need to continue as it was for another half hour, and there was really nothing for her to do in the meantime but observe it for irregularities.
The absolute lack of physical demands meant, of course, that her mind quickly set to wandering. While she spent a few minutes considering Ron, Harry, and Draco, her attention continued to drift toward Severus and the clock. The Potions Master had promised he would be there to provide any assistance she may need – and she suspected he was the one responsible for completing the worst part of the ingredient prep – but so far there had been no sign of him. She had been working for more than an hour already and was beginning to wonder just when it was he was planning on showing himself.
Frowning, Hermione glanced into the cauldron to verify that nothing looked odd and then closed her eyes. She decided it was easy enough to ask him now, lest he was waiting for her signal. She focused on casting the mental patronus and hoped he would recognize that it was not an emergency situation. After she sent it, she took in a deep breath while she waited for his response.
The girl continued to wait for several minutes until she began to doubt whether she had actually performed the charm correctly. As an unexplained fear began to creep in, she quickly repeated the process and then chewed on her lip.
Still no response arrived.
Severus, where are you? Her anxiety level immediately ten-fold, she ran her hands through her hair as she thought about what to do. He was not answering her, and she could not leave her present task to check his office or quarters. She could not exactly call Madam Pomfrey and mention her concerns because she could not exactly explain them in a way that could make sense without true context.
Suddenly, she remembered Severus telling her that he had given Dobby instructions to provide her assistance whenever she was in need of it. Without wasting a second, she hissed the elf's name quietly.
The creature appeared with a loud 'pop' and a smile. "Hermione Granger needs Dobby?"
"Yes," she nodded, leaning forward. "I need you to tell me where Professor Snape is, please."
"Dobby will find out!" he beamed before disappearing.
Unable to wait in silence, Hermione began drumming her finger tips on the edge of a table. The seconds dragged into minutes until the familiar crack signaled the house-elf's return.
"Dobby was looking for Master Snape, sir, but he isn't being in any of his rooms," he sighed. "Spitsy tells Dobby that she saw Master Snape, sir leaving the castle right after he was eating his supper. Master Snape, sir wasn't having on any winter cloak, either, and he isn't being back yet."
Hermione's stomach twisted violently as everything came together in her head. He had not kept his appointment with her and was not responding to her calls because he could not at the moment. He had left in a hurry without having prepared himself or given notice. There was only one explanation – Voldemort had summoned him.
"Oh gods," she whispered, wrapping her arms about her waist. He's already been gone an hour. What if he's in trouble? If he was fine, he would have answered me.
"Dobby," the girl stated, drawing in strength as she debated what could have happened, "I need you to go to Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall. Tell them what you've told me and also make sure that they know he isn't responding to me. It's very important that you tell them this because he may need help."
The house-elf's eyes widened in urgency. "Dobby will do everything he can to help Master Snape, sir!"
When the elf disappeared once more, Hermione leaned forward on her stool and covered her face with her hands. Whatever was happening, she knew she needed to pull herself together and quickly.
XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX
"Severus!"
The Potions Master barely had time to recognize that he had arrived in the ballroom of Malfoy Manor before he felt his mind ripped open. The veracity in which the Dark Lord tore through his memories was enough to bring the spy to his knees.
Grimacing at the level of pain, Snape balled his hands into fists and forced himself to pay attention to which images Voldemort was trying to call forth.
Hermione. All of the memories had to with her. Anything truly dangerous regarding her had been painstakingly tucked away behind his shields. There was no threat of those being discovered, but that knowledge was not enough to assuage his fears. What exactly is he looking for?
"So it is true, then!" The tyrant snarled, withdrawing abruptly after witnessing Snape asking the girl if scrubbing bedpans in the infirmary was to blame for her inattention.
"My Lord?" the younger wizard gasped, panting in exertion.
"I had heard a troubling report, Severus," Voldemort hissed, stalking dangerously around his spy. "Your orders were to keep the girl at the brat's side – to distract him and exploit his trust!"
"My Lord – we have been –"
"You allowed her to withdraw from class!" The snake-like man leaned down and shouted in his face. "From Defense! Where the Potter brat fully expects her to be! You were not to arouse suspicion!"
Severus squeezed his eyes shut momentarily and spoke quietly. "My Lord, I can explain. It was not a decision I made lightly –"
"It was not a decision you were permitted to make!"
"Forgive me, my Lord. I did not intend –"
His words died upon his lips as the frenzied mental assault started up again. Knowing now what the Dark Lord was after, though, he shut out the pain as he forced through the string of falsified memories he had prepared in case this very situation were to arise.
"What about Professor Lupin?" Hermione asked, sinking into a chair in his office. When Snape only raised his eyebrow in question, she continued. "He's been watching me."
"Watching you?"
"I-in class…and at meals." She frowned. "It's like he's always concerned that I'm either going to blow up or fall apart. It's rather annoying, actually."
Severus felt a small twinge of relief when the dark wizard latched onto the image with fevered interest and pulled forth the next connected fabrication.
Remus glanced warily in both directions down the empty corridor and then turned back to face the bushy-haired girl. "May I escort you somewhere? Unless you've more to discuss with Professor Dumbledore -"
"No!" she interrupted quickly. "I've had just about enough of him - for today. I mean, I was heading back to Gryffindor Tower. I wouldn't mind company."
The man dipped his head and waited for her to take the lead.
"Have you seen much of Harry?" she asked as they started walking. "I feel like ages have passed since I saw him last. I can't believe it's only been a matter of weeks."
The unkempt wizard gave a mournful smile, and replied upon reaching the stairs. "I have not seen as much of him as I would have liked. He's still hurting, understandably of course, but I think he has come to terms with it, for the most part."
Hermione nodded quickly.
As they waited for the staircases to stop moving, Remus fixed her with a sincere gaze. "You and Harry have had to deal with so much in your few years. You've had to grow up so quickly, and I deeply regret the necessity of it all. I think that you especially, Hermione, have grown into a fine witch."
She swallowed nervously as she stepped onto one of the floating staircases. Her voice quivered slightly as she asked, "Oh?"
"If you're ever in need of someone to talk to - about anything - my door is always open to you."
As Voldemort continued pressing on the line of thought, the staircase nearest Gryffindor Tower melted into the Defense classroom.
"Miss Granger," Remus addressed her, "may I have a moment of your time?"
She nodded slowly and waited silently for the classroom to empty.
The disheveled professor watched Ron and Harry leave before turning back to face Hermione. His countenance melted into one of concern, and he leaned back against his desk. "Are you feeling better? I heard you were quite ill at the Welcoming Feast."
"Er, yeah," she shifted nervously. "I was feeling rather unwell, but it's been taken care of now. I'm better now."
"Good," he smiled. "I am glad Madam Pomfrey could set you to rights."
She closed her eyes and nodded.
"I meant what I said to you that day, Hermione," he said after clearing his throat. "If ever you have the need to talk, my door will always be open to you. Do not hesitate to approach me. Is there anything you wish to discuss now?"
Hermione swallowed heavily at his hopeful expression and shook her head. "No, sir - but I do have to get to History."
A small grunt escaped the Order spy as the pain in his head began building. He could feel the satisfaction radiating from Voldemort as he continued forcing his way through the memories.
"Lupin!" Snape growled angrily, pushing away from his colleague. "Accosting me in the hallway? My, my – old habits do die hard, don't they? Pity neither Potter nor Black are here to give you a pat on the back for your efforts."
"Shut up, Snape!" Remus shouted as he slammed the door shut and cast a silencing spell. "Why didn't you tell me about Hermione Granger?"
Severus narrowed his eyes and folded his arms against his chest. "And just what, pray tell, do you think I have neglected to mention?"
"You didn't say anything about her being injured! You should have told me!"
"What business is it of yours –"
"Don't give me that rubbish! You lied about what happened!"
"I am not the one who made the decision as to what to tell the Order!" Severus shouted back. "Take it up with Dumbledore if your tail is that bent out of shape over it!"
"We should have been told," Remus argued.
"Why? Did you want to be her furry knight in armor – is that it? Lusting after a student, are we?"
The werewolf's face turned red before he smashed his fist against a desk and panted in anger for several seconds. He turned toward the other wizard with a dark look on his face. "Who was it?"
Snape scowled and shook his head. "No."
"Tell me who it was! I know damn well that you know who did it!"
"If I did," he spat, "why would I tell you?"
Rage flared in Lupin's eyes as he grabbed hold of Snape's robes and slammed him against the wall.
Severus winced momentarily as the back of his head cracked against the blackboard, but recovered quickly and unsheathed his wand. Pressing the tip of it firmly into the soft tissue covering the other man's jugular, he glowered dangerously as he knocked Remus's hands away from his chest.
"Touch me again, Lupin, and the Headmaster will have to find himself another Defense instructor!"
The scene in his head jumped violently to the Hogwarts staffroom.
"Severus," Dumbledore called out as the staff meeting dispersed. "If you wouldn't mind, I have some additions for you to make to your lesson plans."
Snape scowled, but hung back from the retreating crowd. When he noticed Lupin approaching the Headmaster, he glared in his direction.
"I wondered if I might have a word with you," Remus said quietly.
"I suppose that would depend upon the word," Albus twinkled.
Remus folded his arms and glanced hesitantly in Snape's direction. "It's about Miss Granger."
"What about Miss Granger?" the Headmaster queried.
He sighed softly and frowned at the floor. "I think perhaps, she may be acting out."
Snape arched his eyebrow and stepped closer. "Is she not playing nicely with the other kiddies? Throwing tantrums in class? Did she piss in your chair perhaps?"
"Severus," Dumbledore admonished before turning back to the werewolf. "If you could perhaps explain what you mean?"
"I meant she may be acting out sexually," he clarified.
Snape adopted a neutral expression while the Headmaster's eyes widened. After the werewolf explained, the former held an accusatory glare. "You're sniffing students now? Surely that has to be breaking at least one of the by-laws!"
"Severus, calm down."
"Calm down?" he shouted, turning to the elder wizard beside him. "I'm not the one snuffling student's backsides as they pass me in the hallway!"
"Severus, I am certain that is not quite what he meant."
"No, it isn't," Remus agreed. "I wasn't smelling her on purpose – it just happened that I…caught a whiff."
"Oh, you caught a whiff," Snape grumbled. "And then you just happened to search the rest of the castle hoping to catch another whiff."
The Defense instructor frowned. "If you're implying again that I acted out of jealousy, you are highly out of line."
"I'm not the one sticking my nose where it doesn't belong."
Maniacal laughter permeated through his conscience, and Snape realized the Dark Lord was highly amused by what he was finding.
"Miss Granger, if you would – I'd like to speak to you for a moment after class."
Hermione cautiously glanced up at Remus as she packed her bag and nodded. "Was there something you needed, sir?"
Lupin narrowed his eyes slightly as he leaned against the edge of his desk. "Hermione, is there something you need to talk about?"
"No." She bit her lip as she shook her head.
The wizard exhaled loudly in response and lowered his chin. "I have tried to keep my distance from you… but I have concerns."
"Concerns?"
His eyes held a saddened glaze within them as he folded his arms against his chest. "What is the nature of the relationship between you and Cormac McLaggen?"
Hermione bristled at the question and fixed him with a pointed stare. "I don't see how that's any of your business, but there isn't one."
"Mr. McLaggen seems to think there is," Remus countered.
"Because he's delusional," she snapped. "And completely incapable of listening."
"It may be difficult for him to hear what you are saying if you are…encouraging him in…other manners."
The witch dropped her jaw in disbelief. "What?"
Remus winced at her reaction and wiped his face with one hand. "Hermione, I did not mean – "
"No, I don't care what you meant," she interrupted, quickly returning to her table. As she snatched up her book bag, she glanced back at him. "Perhaps he'll be discouraged enough then when Harry and I go to Hogsmeade together."
His eyes widened suddenly in surprise. "You and Harry?"
"Yes," she nodded forcefully. "Harry and I. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm certain there's a line of students waiting for your class, Professor."
"Let them wait, then," he responded bitterly. "I am under no obligation to allow them in until their scheduled time. We're still discussing –"
"I would rather not discuss anything further, actually," she said softly. "I'm supposed to meet Harry to work on Potions in the library."
If this paid off, Severus knew he was going to have to thank Hermione for the use of the memories he had borrowed from her during their first session of the term. In the short time he had had to prepare, it was far easier to edit those than it had been to create all of them from scratch.
Hermione stood before him, her gaze moistened and pointed at the floor. "Please, sir. I don't want to take his course anymore. If I have to, then I will… but… he scares me, sir."
"You're supposed to be watching Potter," he stated coldly, crossing his arms to his chest. "The Headmaster insists that Lupin is merely looking out for you."
The young witch sighed and shifted on her feet. "By looking out for me, does he mean assailing me in the hallway on my way to supper, shoving me up against a statue, and offering to provide me private instruction?"
"He what?" Severus hissed, snapping his gaze to her forearms where bruises were just beginning to form.
"Harry… he knows," she whimpered. "He was there in the corridor, and saw him grab me. He would understand, sir, if I withdrew… I've never really been good at Defense anyway…"
Severus fell forward onto his elbows as the Dark Lord finally pulled out of his head.
"When was this?"
"N-night… the night before t-term started, my Lord," he gasped in response to the angry bellow. Pulling himself together, the wizard spoke much more confidently as he explained, "She came to me because the bond needed to be renewed. She had been with Potter for so long that it had weakened, which was why I knew nothing of it until she informed me.
"Forgive me, my Lord. I did not think it could wait, so I sent her to Dumbledore to report it. There was a meeting in his office, the wolf was admonished but unfortunately not sacked, and the arrangement with the infirmary was made to ensure the girl's cooperation."
Voldemort glared down at him through red slits. "And what of her Defense training? Surely, the old fool had something to say about that!"
Snape nodded quickly as he pushed back onto his haunches. "He demanded that I give her private lessons on the nights she is not scheduled in the infirmary. I verbally agreed, but will not do so unless it pleases you, my Lord. The girl has been commanded to lie should anyone inquire as to the nature of our meetings."
"Oh, you will train her!" the serpentine man growled as he grabbed hold of his spy's face. "You will turn that little mudblood whore of yours into a formidable opponent that Potter will never see coming. The boy surrounds himself with love – the fool! – and when the time comes, your little pet is going to tear out his heart right before I stop its infuriating beating! Do you understand?"
"Yes, my Lord."
Snorting in disgust, the Dark Lord tossed his subordinate's head to the side and stepped away from him. "And if that dog ever paws at the girl again, you will alert me immediately, and we will PUT HIM DOWN!"
"Yes, my Lord," Severus responded softly, uncertain at first as to whether the excited whisperings that had exploded in response to the tyrant's declaration were real or simply productions of his addled brain. The room was tilting slightly on its axis as he held himself rigidly in place, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to curb the urge to vomit at the dark wizard's pale, bare feet. Knowing full well that the act would be a mistake worse than the transgression he was already being punished for, he cursed the fact that a fortnight had not been long enough to fully heal the brain injury that Lupin had gifted him for his birthday.
His eyes sluggishly followed his dark master's pacing for what seemed like several minutes. When Voldemort finally turned back with a predatory gleam in his eyes, a sense of dread immediately washed over the Potions Master.
"Bellatrix," the reptilian wizard cooed, calling his most loyal follower forward.
So there is an audience, then. Fantastic.
"Yes, my Lord?" the deranged witch sang.
Snape's lip twitched in a grimace when her fingertips briefly caressed his cheek as she sauntered past. The woman's ministrations elicited his gag response on a normal day, and the effect was only heightened now.
"It seems your information was valid."
Though he kept his blurry eyes trained on the uneven hem of her skirts, the professor could practically hear the devilish grin spreading across her face.
"Sevvy's itty, bitty slut-slut wants to play doctor, does she?" Bellatrix leered over her shoulder at the kneeling man, who fought the desire to roll his eyes.
"Well, if she wants to be a Healer," Voldemort smiled, "then it would only be considerate of us to provide her the opportunity to hone her skills, would it not?"
Bellatrix's eyes were wide with pleasure as she chimed in, raising her wand. "Practice does make perfect, my Lord."
XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX
The eerie, foreboding silence that had permeated the small brewing laboratory was suddenly broken by an onslaught of commotion. Hermione had just completed a set of twenty-six spiraling stirs when she heard the sounds of the alerting charm activating as the infirmary doors were thrown open with a bang. A muffled shout told her that Professor McGonagall needed the matron nurse's help with someone.
The potion would remain relatively stable for a few minutes without her complete attention, so the witch set down her cast iron stirring rod and inched toward the doorway. Poking her head out into the short corridor, she caught sight of Madam Pomfrey rushing out of one of the private examination rooms and disappearing into the main room.
"Oh, I had a bad feeling about this, Minerva!"
Hermione narrowed her brow and took one more half step into the hallway. Within a few seconds, she ducked back into the room slightly as the two elder witches accompanied a floating stretcher into the room that the mediwitch had just exited. Due to the positioning of her Head of House, she had been unable to see the injured person's face or body, but the brief glimpse of the dragonhide boots was enough to ascertain his identity.
"Severus," she whispered, clutching onto the door jamb in misery. "No, no, no!"
"Miss Granger!"
The brunette's eyes widened in fear as Poppy stuck her head out of the room.
"Get me the rest of the Blood-Replenishing supply, now! Quickly!"
Nodding, Hermione wordlessly cast a stasis charm on the simmering cauldron before sprinting down the corridor to the storeroom. She grabbed a basket from the wall and rushed immediately to the correct shelf to grab the three vials that were left.
Three? There was twice this many two hours ago. Panicked, the witch began glancing wildly about the room, but spotted no further flasks of the dark-hued potion. With a frustrated groan, she made her way back to the private room as fast as she could.
"Madam Pomfrey, I –" her words died away as soon as she saw McGonagall coaxing one flask's worth of Blood-Replenishing Potion down the Slytherin's throat. The vials aren't missing – they're just not enough!
"Thank you," Poppy murmured half-heartedly as she took the basket and set it atop the counter next to the other two flasks. The doors of a large cupboard on the wall were thrown open, and the girl could see fever reducers, headache relievers, pain killers, Essence of Dittany, strengthening solutions, bone menders, and an entire row of the light blue potion that Snape had needed while suffering the after-effects of the Cruciatus.
"D-do you need anything else?" Hermione mumbled, forcing herself to remain calm on the outside. Internally, however, she was screaming.
"I may," the nurse replied as she began casting her diagnostic charms.
Taking that as an instruction to stay nearby, but out of the way, the young witch stepped into the corner and watched while her newest mentor set to work. Tears were stinging at her eyes as they traced over Severus's silent, unmoving form. The little skin she could see was so pale that it was practically translucent, and most of it was covered in streaks of blood. His nose looked far more crooked than normal, his face was beginning to swell, and there were visible gashes in his robes. He appeared so damaged that if it had not been for the slight rise and fall of his chest, he could have been mistaken for dead.
"Internal bleeding," Pomfrey mumbled, "we'll need to start there before we do anything else."
Biting down on her lip, Hermione sniffled quietly and wrapped her arms about her midsection. When the matron nurse suddenly vanished all of the man's clothing, save for his underpants, the girl failed to curb the horrified squeal that escaped her.
"Miss Granger?" Minerva stated quietly from her position at the head of the bed.
The young witch appeared not to have heard her for a moment, but gradually tore her eyes away from the angry-looking lacerations and purplish contusions that covered the man's torso and legs. She met the Deputy Headmistress's sad gaze and then took in a deep breath.
"Are you alright?" McGonagall murmured while the mediwitch began tending to Snape's abdomen with elaborate spell-work. "If it is too much for you, you do not need to stay."
Hermione willed herself to remain together as she cleared her throat. "No, I'm… I'm okay. I'm… I want to do anything I can to help him."
When Madam Pomfrey nodded her head, the professor motioned the girl to her side. "I have some measure of Healing prowess due to my time in law enforcement, but when it comes to these situations, I merely do whatever it is that Poppy tells me to do. She is by far the most competent Healer that I know, and could run circles about an entire team of specialists at St. Mungo's. If you pay attention to what she is doing and how she goes about it, it will benefit you greatly. Her patients are in the most capable hands, despite what anyone may have said."
The young woman heard a soft snort from the other side of the bed, and glanced over to see the briefest smirk appear on the matron nurse's face.
"Now then," Minerva continued speaking softly. "If you could take over for me for a few moments, I need to contact Professor Dumbledore."
"Alright," Hermione muttered nervously, stepping closer. "What is it I'm doing?"
"Not much of anything, but important nonetheless," the woman replied. "There is little doubt that Professor Snape was subjected to the Cruciatus this evening, and at the moment, we are trying to beat the clock – if you will – in regards to the after effects. Poppy needs to repair as much of the serious damage as she can before they set in, and she must pause everything during them. It could do more damage than not if she continued working through the spasms."
The girl slowly nodded in understanding.
"She cannot tell when an episode is going to begin until it is in full force," McGonagall explained, picking up her student's hand and placing it gently upon Snape's collarbone. "It is up to you to tell her when to stop. Pay attention to what you feel – the spasms will begin with a faint fluttering through the muscles and his heart will beat somewhat erratically. When you notice that, you give warning."
Hermione took in a deep breath, remembering how it had felt the last time when she had grabbed hold of his arm as an episode began. "What about the potion? Didn't that reduce them?"
"It does reduce their strength, yes," the woman responded, "but it brings them on with more rapid succession, and when we need the time to heal him in between…"
"Oh," she sighed. "I didn't know that was how it worked."
Minerva gave a tight smile and nodded. "Will you be alright?"
She gave a muffled sound of affirmation to her Head of House and then fully stepped into the space above Severus's head.
"I will return shortly."
The brunette barely took notice of the woman's leave as she turned her full attention to the unconscious wizard in front of her. Worried that perhaps she may not notice the start of the tremors due to her own racing heartbeat, she touched her other hand to his chest as well and forced herself to focus on what McGonagall had told her. She knew that the woman had meant to calm her down by assuring her that Severus was receiving the best treatment available.
His colorless flesh all but burned beneath her touch, and there was a sheen of sweat covering him. As she stared down at his broken face, she desperately fought the urge to collapse in a fit of sobs against him, but she knew that would only do him further disservice. Glancing up at the mediwitch who was methodically waving her wand about his midsection, Hermione admired how both she and Professor McGonagall could keep such emotional control at the time.
Breathing deeply, the Gryffindor witch told herself that there would be plenty of time to breakdown after Severus was out of danger. Until then, he needed her to remain calm and logical. With a shaky nod, she flexed her hands upon his chest and kept her eyes firmly locked on her mentor, determined to learn anything she could.
For several minutes, the only noise in the room came from the faint sounds of their breathing and the slight rustle of the Healer's robes as she worked. While watching her, Hermione had almost reached the point where she had forgotten that the man beneath her fingertips was dying when she detected a faint ripple. Her gaze suddenly snapped to her hand, and her voice was panicked when she shouted, "Stop!"
Poppy immediately released her spell and stepped back from the man. Frightened that she, too, could harm him, the girl pulled her hands away from his chest.
"What do we do now?" she gasped, watching his shoulders and legs beginning to twitch.
"Wait," the woman shrugged, wiping beads of sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, "and hope the tremors don't ruin anything I've just fixed. If you could, dear, keep a hold on his head. With his recent concussion, he could easily sustain major damage."
Without a second's pause, Hermione placed her hands on either side of his skull. As the muscles of his body quickly erupted in full spasms, she swallowed back a sob and silently willed that he come out of it alright. A minute ticked by before his body gradually slowed back to its resting state.
When it had, the nurse quickly cast another scan and then blew out a relieved breath. "Atta boy, Severus. Now, how about we fix those ribs again before they can puncture anything important, hmm?"
The younger witch smiled briefly at the woman's mumblings and quickly returned her hand to Snape's chest. Confident that she would be able to detect tremors with only one hand, she left her other one on his cheek. While she doubted that he would derive any comfort from it, it definitely made her feel better.
"We should have several minutes before the next one hits," Pomfrey stated, glancing at her. "Since he isn't leaking into his abdominal cavity at the moment, it would be good to get another Blood Replenisher in his system. If you could, please?"
Hermione nodded and quickly scampered over to the cabinets.
"And probably an Anti-Swelling, while you're at it. I'm worried about that head of his."
Under Poppy's verbal guidance, the young witch carefully cradled the Slytherin's head into the crook of her arm and administered the suggested potions before she returned to her monitoring duty. Shortly after the second round of convulsions ceased, the door opened and a rather winded Headmaster floated into the room with his deputy on his heels.
"How is he?" Dumbledore asked, while Minerva crept behind him to stand beside her student.
"Well, we aren't out of the woods just yet," Madam Pomfrey stated snippily, "but he's stable for the time being."
"Was he lucid at any point?" he queried, glancing at each of the three women.
Hermione noticed how the matron nurse stiffened, but McGonagall was the only one to speak.
"He only managed two words – 'Don't let…' –before he collapsed at the gate. It doesn't appear he's regained consciousness since then."
As Albus nodded, the Healer cleared her throat. "Minerva, could you fetch Hermione a bottle of Skele-Gro? His right ulna and radius are practically pulverized, and it will be far easier to grow them back."
As the Deputy Headmistress moved to do so, Hermione closed her eyes in despair. She completely understood the mediwtich's frustration with the Headmaster, since it seemed he was more concerned with any information that may have escaped his spy than with healing his injuries.
"You are doing exceptionally well, Miss Granger," the old wizard stated calmly.
As she accepted the brown bottle from her Head of House, the girl glanced toward him and somewhat regretted her initial assessment. There was a definite air of sadness in his blue eyes, and she supposed that he must care for Severus in some regard. Exhaling nervously, she measured out the dosage that Poppy told her to use and then gently coaxed it down the wizard's throat.
Remembering Harry's description of the painful sensations accompanying bone regeneration, she bit down on her lip and kept one hand against the side of his face. For a long moment, she gently stroked her thumb across his cheek, grimacing when she saw the skin of his right forearm beginning to ripple.
Without warning, the man lying on the table shifted. A strange cry escaped his lips, and before the girl could react, a strong hand seized upon her wrist and flung it back against her body. "Don't f-f-fucking t-touch me, you bitch!"
Frightened, Hermione clutched her arm to her chest and stepped away from the bed.
"Severus!" Poppy shouted, grabbing onto his left arm and peering into his eyes. "It's alright. She's only here to help you."
His eyes flicked wildly from side to side, and it was evident to everyone present that he was trying to piece everything together in his head. He made motions to sit up, but was prevented from doing so.
"No," Madam Pomfrey said sternly. "I haven't finished with you, and you had better not cock anything up. Now, do you remember being summoned?"
His breathing was ragged as gave the slightest of nods.
"Minerva found you at the gates and brought you here," the nurse continued explaining. "It's been slightly more than an hour since we started with your repairs, and we still have a ways to go, do you understand?"
A grimace accompanied a second nod.
"Good. I'm going to need your cooperation," Poppy smiled. "Minerva has already fetched Albus. They're both here right now, and Miss Granger is –"
"No," he gasped.
Fully expecting that reaction, the mediwitch shook her head. "Severus, she is assisting me –"
"No!" His voice was exceptionally strained as he ground out, "Get her out of here."
"Severus, be reasonable," she sighed. "She will not run off gossiping about your condition or your knickers. You know that she's contractually bound to keep your privacy."
Though the witch had commented solely in the context of the apprenticeship and all of the paperwork that had accompanied it, Hermione winced when she saw how the statement affected him.
"GET HER OUT!" he roared, lifting his shoulders from the mattress. His face was set hard in pain when another round of spasms tore through his body. "NOW!"
"Miss Granger –"
"It's alright!" The girl interrupted, holding up her hands. "I'll go."
McGonagall gave her shoulder a tight squeeze. "I can assist you, Poppy."
Knowing full well that every pair of eyes were following her, Hermione kept herself together as she quickly strode out of the room. As soon as the door shut behind her, however, she sank against a wall and folded in on herself. Despite her stinging eyes, she did not allow any tears to actually fall. As scared as she was, she knew that she needed to stay in control. She needed to be strong.
How long she sat there in the little corridor, she did not know, but at some point a warm hand on her shoulder pulled her from her thoughts. Glancing up, she saw her Head of House looking down at her with a sympathetic smile.
"Is he…?"
"He'll be alright," Minerva nodded, extending her hand to help pull the girl to her feet. "Only the more minor mendings left to do, and Poppy can handle that on her own."
"Oh," she murmured, following the professor when she gestured toward the matron nurse's office.
Once they were inside, the Deputy Headmistress slipped her hands beneath the young witch's jaw and placed a kiss on her forehead. "You were magnificent, Hermione. And please do not take what he said to heart. Severus was not in the right mind and likely did not know who he was yelling at."
"I know," the brunette whispered shakily. As she met the woman's gaze, she felt as though a dam suddenly broke inside of her head, and everything she had been feeling for the past number of hours came pouring out of her.
"It's okay," Minerva whispered as she wrapped her arms about the sobbing witch.
"I'm sorry."
"No, don't be," the Gryffindor Head replied, holding her tighter. "We've all been there, and it does help to let it out."
Sagging against the woman, Hermione continued her weeping for several minutes until she finally felt as though she had nothing left in her to weep. When she pulled away, sniffling, McGonagall guided her onto a small sofa that had been transfigured from a chair.
"Why?" the girl asked breathlessly, searching the other witch's face.
Minerva shrugged and shook her head. "I don't know. He and the Headmaster generally do not speak about his summonings unless they are alone."
The young woman dipped her head in understanding and then wiped her nose with her sleeve. "How often does… this happen?"
"I honestly don't know," the Gryffindor Head sighed. "I think it is rare that he returns in such a state – at least I've only assisted a few times – but as for how often he comes back injured… I suppose anyone's guess is as good as mine. I know that he tries to heal himself on his own as much as possible, but even I do not know how many times he seeks out Poppy's help. That is something only she could tell you."
As though she had been called by the mention of her own name, the door was suddenly yanked open by an irate mediwitch.
"Oh, that man!" Poppy snapped, dropping into her desk chair with a shake of her head. "The nerve to suggest that I look like I could use a rest, when I know damn well he's going to keep him up and talking far longer than he should."
"Well, it may be that he holds time sensitive information –"
"I know that, Minerva!" the Healer frowned, crossing her arms. "But the point is he doesn't need to treat me like I don't! I do not care for his patronizing display of concern for my welfare. Ugh! Well, Miss Granger, I do apologize for your rather rude introduction into wartime Healing."
"It's alright… not your fault," the girl mumbled, rubbing her hands along her arms. "How is Se—Professor Snape?"
Madam Pomfrey sighed and rubbed her temples. "He'll be alright come Monday – though, undoubtedly in one of his fouler moods. He'll have to stay here through tomorrow, which of course, he'll protest until he passes out – which really shouldn't be long in his current state— but those bones won't be done regrowing until the morning. Besides that, I still have to get that bloody fever down and finish mending a few lacerations, but I think I should wait for tomorrow to deal with those. His body is already severely taxed as it is."
"Oh."
The nurse gave a sharp nod and then reached behind her to open up a small cupboard. There was a clinking of glass as she withdrew a bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey and three tumblers. After pouring out a measure of the amber liquid into each glass, she held one out to Minerva and then one to her apprentice.
Hermione stared at the proffered drink and then flicked an uncertain gaze toward her Head of House.
"It's been a trying night, Granger," Poppy smirked, pressing the glass into her hand. "A situation such as this calls for something stronger than tea."
"I certainly won't tell anyone," McGonagall snorted. "You've more than earned it, I'd say."
Hesitantly, the young witch accepted the glass and, after watching the other two for a moment, took a small sip of hers. She coughed in surprise at the sudden burning sensation that followed the liquid down her throat and blushed lightly when her both of her mentors glanced at her with slight amusement.
After a moment, she felt a delightful warmth spreading through her system; it was similar to the calming effects of the tea that McGonagall had given her the day after the binding ceremony, but stronger. When she dared enough, she took another sip, smiling to herself when the booze again produced the burn. As the minutes passed, she felt increasingly relaxed and sank quietly into the sofa cushions.
Severus is going to be alright. I'm going to be al—
The sound of a large explosion interrupted their silent tranquility. Sloshing the remainder of her drink down her front, Hermione startled off of the sofa and hurried after the two witches.
"What the hell was that?" Minerva called as they rushed across the main room of the infirmary to the small corridor where Dumbledore and Snape – still in naught but his undershorts – had emerged from the private examination room with their wands drawn.
Though she was disconcerted by the current physical appearance of the Slytherin Head – his right arm hung limply at his side while sizeable bruises and a few cuts still dotted his flesh – Hermione's heart sank even further at the sight of smoke tendrils spilling out of the brewing room at the end of the hall.
"Oh, gods - the potion!" she cried, rushing past each of her professors. Bursting into the room, she let out a groan of frustration. The iron cauldron had split into two halves, and globs of thick, brown sludge were splattered all over the room. The young witch covered her face with both hands and stared at the mess in horror. "Oh, shite."
"Well, the house-elves certainly have their work cut out for them tonight, don't they?" Poppy murmured while glancing about the room.
"I'm so sorry," the girl gasped, running her hands through her hair as she turned toward them. "I completely forgot about it, but I know I put it under stasis, so I don't understand –"
"Miss Granger, it's alright," McGonagall interrupted calmly. "It isn't that big of a deal."
Dumbledore gave her a small smile. "I assure you that you are not the only one in this room who has ever blown up a cauldron."
Snape let out a pained grunt as he leaned his weight against the doorway. "I take it from the color that you had already added the spleens, but not yet the pumpkin seeds when you… were interrupted."
Hermione narrowed her eyes slightly as she took in his quiet statement. Uncertain as to why that should matter, she quickly ran through the instructions in her head. A whimper escaped her lips as she glanced up at him and grimaced. "It wasn't stable. You noted that on the sheet, but I forgot! Oh, my gods – I'm sorry!"
"Well, you'll just have to fix it tomorrow is all," Madame Pomfrey said, patting her on the shoulder. She then fixed her hawklike gaze on the nearly naked Potions Master. "You, young man, will get your indecent, pale arse back in that bed and not rise again until the sun does, do you hear me?"
As if suddenly realizing his current state of undress, Severus grimaced in discomfort and slunk behind the Headmaster as he limped back to the room. There was a slam of the door followed shortly by a muffled shout. "Woman! Where the fucking hell did you put my clothes?"
As Minerva snorted loudly, Poppy muttered under her breath and pushed out of the room. "You'll get clothes when I'm well and ready to give them back to you, and not before then!"
XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX
Sunday morning found Hermione unable to concentrate on anything but the absences of the Potions Master and the matron nurse at the Head Table during breakfast. Despite the assurances of the staff members who were present the night before, she still felt painfully embarrassed about her dismal brewing performance. Because of that, she knew well enough that she would not be able to make it until after supper to fix her mistake. So it was that she decided to go back to the infirmary shortly after breakfast and grab a late lunch in the kitchens whenever she was done with the correctly prepared Blood Replenishing potion.
"I had a feeling you'd be back early," Madam Pomfrey chuckled as she stepped out of her office. "The lab is good as new, so don't fret. I've just owled off an order for a new cauldron, but in the meantime, Professor Snape has given permission to use his. The elves just delivered it an hour ago."
"I suppose I had better not blow that one up, too," the girl smirked.
The mediwitch laughed and nodded her head. "Not unless you wish to give him a stroke."
"Absolutely not." Hermione shook her head. "Is he, erm, doing alright? He didn't reinjure anything when the potion exploded, did he?"
"Undoubtedly, it got his heart pumping a bit, but no, it did not cause him any further harm. Except, perhaps, the embarrassment at having stood around in his skivvies in front of a student." Poppy smiled lightly and adjusted her apron. "He's been sleeping surprisingly soundly, so I haven't disturbed him yet, but I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before he tries sneaking out."
Giggling softly, Hermione promised to try not to wake him up on her way past and then set off for the laboratory. She let out a relieved sigh at seeing the brewing space in its original pristine condition and immediately set about to preparing her ingredients. A touch of anxiety returned, however, upon discovering that the hospital's supply of rat spleens was one organ short of the required number.
After a search of the infirmary storeroom yielded no further spleens, the witch looked about for the school nurse only to realize that Madam Pomfrey was in the room with Snape. Not wishing to bother either of them, she decided to check Snape's private storeroom since it was only a few corridors away.
As she crept toward the room, though, she could not help but feel like an errant student. After five and a half years at Hogwarts, the fear of being swooped down upon by the dreaded Potions Master was deeply ingrained within her. Upon reaching the door, the girl had to take in a deep breath to steady her nerves because it felt as though there was a heavy energy flowing through her.
He isn't going to pop out of nowhere since he's still recovering in the Hospital Wing, you know. Besides, it isn't like you're stealing anything for nefarious purposes. You're brewing hospital stock, and it's only one stupid rat spleen. Just one! He won't kill you for that.
With that thought in mind, Hermione yanked the door open and slipped into the narrow room. In spite of her reasons for being there, she did not wish to spend much more time than necessary in the storeroom. Scanning the neatly organized shelves, she quickly found the desired jar of preserved rat spleens and transferred what she needed into the small container she had brought with her. After returning everything to its rightful place, the witch rushed out of the room and made her way back to the infirmary brewing lab as fast as she could.
A few hours later, when the potion was well on its way, the girl glanced up to see Madam Pomfrey stepping into the room.
"How is everything going?"
"It's going, erm, well," Hermione smiled, shifting slightly. After a moment of feeling as though she were under the nurse's scrutiny, she grimaced and confessed to having borrowed an ingredient from the Potions Master's supplies.
"His private storeroom?" Poppy repeated; an eyebrow raised.
"Well, it's just around the corner practically, and I didn't want to bother you."
"I'm not angry, Miss Granger," she sighed. "Just surprised. I mean, he gave you his password?"
The girl's eyes widened in surprise. "P-password?"
"Yes," the nurse nodded. "Ever since that Polyjuice debacle with Alastor and the nasty Crouch boy, Professor Snape has maintained tight security on his stores. He keeps it quite heavily warded against intruders, you know."
It was an energy I was feeling. But why did the wards let me in? The young witch let out a slow breath and shrugged. "I don't know what to say – the door just opened for me."
The woman narrowed her eyes slightly before shaking her head. "Well, perhaps that's where he was when he was summoned. He may have forgotten to reset them."
"Perhaps," Hermione mumbled, though she knew otherwise.
XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX
After watching the girl go about her work for a while, Poppy Pomfrey stepped back into the corridor and closed the door behind her. She paused there for several minutes as she tried to organize her thoughts into something coherent. Crossing her arms, she glanced back in the direction of the laboratory and then toward the examination room that she had, over time, come to think of as Severus Snape's second bedroom.
Try as she might, the witch could not fully dismiss the notion that had been tugging at her mind overnight. Briefly, she considered letting it be for the moment, but when the exam room door opened to reveal the Slytherin Head clad in a set of hospital-issued pajamas as he peered out toward the main infirmary, she decided otherwise.
"Severus," she snapped.
The wizard let out an irritated huff and rested his head against the door jamb.
"Planning an extravagant escape, were you?" Poppy questioned, moving to stand in front of him. "When you know I have yet to officially release you?"
"For Merlin's sake, woman," he growled, stepping back across the threshold. "You're not a warden. I'm perfectly capable of getting on without you kissing my boo-boos."
"You should only be so lucky," she snorted as she followed him into the room. "Besides, I'm nearly ready to send you on your merry way. There's just one thing left for me to see to."
"Returning my clothes?" Snape suggested, folding his arms against his chest.
Madame Pomfrey shook her head and closed the door. "Really, they were in no condition to be mended this time."
The man sighed and rolled his eyes. "How long am I to go without apparition, then?"
"I'd say at least a week," she smirked, pulling out a stool.
Severus eyed her in confusion when she took a seat. "What else is there to discuss?"
"What else, indeed," Poppy stated boldly, leaning against the cabinets. "Shall we begin with the topic of Miss Granger?"
"Miss Granger?"
"Yes," she nodded. "For instance, perhaps we could discuss the nature of your relationship with her."