While You Were Sleeping

It felt like I was under water. I could hear the sound of distant voices. Desperately I tried to make out what was being said. My focus was scattered and I seemed unable to pull it together. I was floating along a vast nothingness with no place for me to gain purchase. Light and shadow played across my eye lids. I tried to pool my strength enough to open them. It was of no use. My lids felt like weights had been placed upon them.

Slowly sounds began to increase in volume. It felt like I was moving upwards through the depths of a great ocean. The light was brighter now. Again I tried to focus in on the voices. The sound of one voice in particular seemed to penetrate my fog. It was rich and dark, like chocolate. A silky velvet that seemed to turn up my senses. I knew this voice. Who was it?

“Mmmm…”, I groaned as my eye lids fluttered. The voices ceased.

“Miss Granger? Can you hear me?” The velvet sound washed over me again, causing my fingers to twitch. My lips felt parched so I urged my tongue forth, swiping it across my bottom lip.

“Draco, floo Potter at once”, commanded the voice. With all the strength I could muster I forced my eye lids to open. I was meet with shadows. This was most disconcerting. I blinked once, twice. Suddenly the haze lifted and I inhaled sharply. There, mere inches from my own, were a pair of the most intense black eyes. Familiar eyes.

“Severus?", I exhaled from deep within my chest.

“Hermione…”, his pupils seemed to dilate and blacken further.

It was like time had stopped as we stared. A thought broke through the intensity of the moment. I licked at my dry lips in preparation to speak. His eyes dropped down to gaze upon my actions.

“Where am I?”, croaked out in a voice I obviously had not used in a while. At this the dark wizard before me drew back enough that I could now see his whole face.

“You are safe Miss Granger. You are currently at my flat in London. You have been here for about the last six months. Prior to that you were being cared for at St. Mungo’s.”

“Why I am here? What happened?”. Confusion filled me. Where was Harry and Ron? Was Snape caring for me? Why? What was wrong with me?

The wizard took a seat in a chair that was situated close to the bed. Letting out a tired sigh, he leaned forward, placing his elbows upon his knees.

“Miss Granger, you were hit by a curse in the final battle. Luckily there was no lasting damage. The curse however pushed your body into what I believe muggles would refer to as a ‘coma’. You have been under for the past ten months. For the first four of those months you were being treated a St. Mungo’s. Those dunderheads were content to give up on you as a lost cause. I, however, was not. You have been in my care ever since.”

Shock and more confusion moved through my brain as I tried to put together what I was being told. “Sir, why am I not in the care of my parents?”

At this Severus grew still. Our eyes meet again. I saw something in his eyes that I had never seen before in my dealings with the Professor. Sadness. A sinking sensation grabbed hold of my stomach and I swallowed hard. Severus averted his eyes to a glass on the night table and with a flick of his wand it filled with water. He held it out to me and I slowly sat up and reached for it. The water was a wet, cold relief to my parched mouth.

“I have sent Draco to floo Mister Potter. I expect he will be arriving shortly.” With that the Professor stood and left the room.

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Note:
Short chapter to start. Not sure where this will lead. Will gladly take suggestions. Long time reader, first time writer. Please review.