Time as a Healer

Severus walked into the Three Broomsticks and saw Lucius and Draco sitting on a seat in a dark corner near the rear of the bar. He paused briefly to purchase drinks for all of them and walked quickly to where they were sitting.



Draco looked at his old Potions Master with an impassive face. As Severus nodded to him, he noticed that Draco looked paler than usual and very drawn.



‘How are you, Draco?’ He asked him, taking a sip of Firewhisky.



‘Fine.’ He muttered. His Father glared at him and hit him lightly on the leg with his cane.



‘Manners, Draco.’ He turned to Severus and smiled a thin smile. ‘The Dark Lord’s presence in my home is unsettling to everyone, as you can see.’



Severus observed them both and paused a little. ‘It is possible that the Dark Lord is not what he appears.’ He was talking very quietly.



Lucius’s eyes went wide at this news, but Draco snorted and curled his lip.



‘Is that right? Well he still acts the same. He’s a cruel, heartless bastard if you ask me.’



Severus raised an eyebrow at him. ‘Spoken like a Gryffindor, Draco. You must be feeling brave to speak out so openly when you know the walls have ears…’ he murmured.



‘Yeh, well…he nearly messed up my life before. I don’t want it to happen again.’ He hissed quietly and his eyes blazed in anger.



Lucius laid a hand on his arm. ‘Calm yourself, Draco.’ He looked at his son with concern before leaning forward to Severus.



‘Explain…’ he demanded. There was hunger in his eyes; he so desperately wanted to believe that Severus was right.



Severus shook his head. ‘No, Lucius. I cannot share this with you. If I am wrong and the Dark Lord penetrates your mind, you will be lost to us. He will kill you. However, I will take Draco with me until further notice. You can rest assured he will be safe.’



Draco looked from his Father to Severus.



‘Where are you taking me? Why do you need me?’ His eyes narrowed.



‘You’ll see.’ Severus stared at him and he looked away. Draco had felt indebted to Severus ever since he had killed Dumbledore when he had been unable to.



Lucius looked at Severus and nodded. ‘I trust you, old friend.’



‘Draco...’ he turned and looked at his son, ‘do whatever Severus tells you. And stay safe.’ He put a hand on Draco’s shoulder and stood to leave.



‘You too, Father.’ Draco hated the thought of his parents in the Manor with Voldermort and watched him until the door closed behind him.



‘Where now, then?’ He looked at Severus.



‘We have another meeting to attend. And a word of advice Draco. I suggest you listen before you speak. You may learn something.’ He looked at him thoughtfully. ‘Come.’



They walked out into Hogsmede. The light was dimming early, as it does during winter and they wrapped their cloaks around them against the sharp wind. Severus walked quickly to the apparition point and turned to Draco.



‘We will use side along apparition as you do not know our destination. It would be unwise of me to tell you where we are going but when we arrive, Draco, you will be expected to keep the location secret. Should you tell anyone, the Dark Lord is not the person you will need to be scared of.’



Draco looked at him and snorted. ‘I’m not scared of you!’



Severus smirked at him a little. ‘I was referring to Harry Potter.’



He grabbed Draco by the arm and twisted quickly. With a sharp crack, they had gone.



****



Inside Grimmauld Place, Hermione was starting to prepare the kitchen for the meeting. She was humming softly to herself and a small smile played around her lips. Having Severus staying in the house, albeit in the room opposite hers, had made her heart glad and she had the best nights sleep she had had in a long time.



She heard footsteps in the hallway and lifted her head. She recognised his footfall and smiled as he opened the kitchen door. She was about to speak but he shook his head slightly and stepped to one side, revealing Draco behind him.



‘You?’ He stared at her, a sneer on his lips.



Hermione looked at Severus.



‘Well done.’ She murmured.



‘It was simple…’ he said softly and walked to where she was standing, leaving Draco with a puzzled look on his face as he observed them.



Severus looked into her face for a short moment. ‘I apologise Hermione. Draco will need to remain here, with us. I am sure you would rather he was elsewhere, however, I fear for his safety at the Manor. He is as impetuous as a Gryffindor at present and I think he may do something stupid.’ His jaw tightened as he looked in her eyes. He would have preferred to be on his own with Hermione but it could not be helped.



‘It’s fine, Severus. Of course I understand. Just as long as you are aware however, if he mentions ‘mud blood’ just once, I will hex him into next week.’



Her eyes were flinty as she glared over at Draco, who was looking around himself in disgust. She wasn’t worried about him insulting her, but she was totally pissed off that he would be invading their space. Severus smirked at her.



‘Understood.’ He whispered and she smiled at him before looking back at Draco.



‘We have an hour before the meeting starts. I’ll show you around.’ She stated and walked past Severus quickly.



His eyes followed her approvingly. She wasn’t one to shirk her responsibilities and she faced her challenges head on, he thought to himself. Including facing her pregnancy alone. She was strong. He hadn’t noticed it before.



Hermione looked at Draco. ‘Come on… I’ll show you your room.’



Draco glanced at Severus, who nodded at him.



Hermione took her time showing Draco around the house, explaining to him about the portrait of Sirius’s Mother and eventually leading him to a bedroom on the floor above hers. Draco looked around the room disapprovingly and Hermione turned to him.



‘ I know it’s not what you’re used to, Draco, but if we work as a team, hopefully it will be temporary.’ She offered him a small smile and he shrugged, staring at her.



‘You’re pregnant.’ He stated.



‘Well spotted…’ she murmured.



‘Muggle? Or Wizard?’ He asked her pointedly.



Hermione bristled and her wand hand twitched slightly.



‘Not that it’s any of your business…’ she started ‘but both. The father of my child is an amazing wizard who just happens to be half-blood. And he is the best of men.’ She murmured softly.



Draco raised his eyes slightly. Granger had never struck him as the type to fall in love, but it was obvious to him that she had done just that.



Hermione looked at him and decided she wanted to be as far away from Draco as possible right now.



‘I will leave you to settle in… the meeting is in half an hour.’



Without giving him another glance, Hermione set off down the stairs. As she reached her landing and the door of her own room, Severus was standing in the narrow hallway between their rooms and she stopped with a start.



‘Is everything alright?’ He looked at her. Her hair was hanging loose around her shoulders, her T shirt tight around her full breasts but her face… well, her face was set, her mouth determined and he knew that Draco must have said something.



Hermione took a deep breath. ‘Some people just don’t get it, do they? Explain to me just what is wrong with being a mud blood?’



Severus considered for a moment as he looked at her. He stepped forward a little to see her face more clearly in the half-light and closed the space between them. Hermione’s breath caught in her throat, he was so close to her she could smell him and she closed her eyes, inhaling deeply.



Severus looked at her, her eyes closed and her lips slightly parted. He was tempted to cover her mouth with his…so tempted. Instead, he answered her question.



‘You’re right, Hermione…’ he breathed softly and she opened her eyes as his breath caressed her face softly, ‘some people don’t get it. In my opinion….’ He lifted his hand and gently stroked her soft cheek, ‘there is nothing wrong with you…. nothing at all.’



Hermione looked into his eyes. They had softened slightly as he looked at her, his touch soft on her face. She tipped her face upwards and smiled a little at him, practically begging him to take her lips with his. Severus stared at her and took her hand in his, lightly squeezing it.



‘You are beautiful….’ He sighed softly and took a step back. Hermione looked at him in shock. He hadn’t kissed her and he let go of her hand softly.



‘Severus… I…’ She went to step towards him, her face flushed. She needed to feel his lips on hers, she missed him so much it was painful.



He put his hand up to stop her and shook his head as he held her gaze.



‘Forgive me. I will not allow you to be unfaithful to your Fiancé, Hermione…at least, not until you are sure he will not return to you. You would never forgive yourself. Nor would you forgive me…’ His eyes were full of regret.



Hermione could feel tears pricking her and put her hand up to her mouth to stop a sob escaping. She should have known he would respond like that and she loved him all the more for it. She nodded at him and turned, putting her hand on the handle of her bedroom door. She turned her head to look at him briefly.



‘I want to kiss you, Severus. Just so we are clear on that.’ She said softly and walked quickly into her room, closing the door behind her.



Severus let out a long breath he was holding. Gods, he wanted to kiss her, too.



****



They were all sitting around the kitchen table, their faces turned towards Draco Malfoy, waiting for him to say something. Harry had just explained to him their theory regarding the fake Voldermort and his eyes had gone dark.



‘Why would someone want to be …. Voldermort?’ He said softly.



Severus watched him closely and allowed himself a small smile. This was the first time he had heard Draco say the Dark Lord’s name, which meant he was conquering his fear. It was a good thing.



Harry looked at him. ‘We don’t know, Draco, but we intend to find out. What worries me is, if it’s not a glamour he’s using, what else could it be?’



Hermione snorted a little. ‘It’s obvious, isn’t it? It must be Polyjuice Potion…’



She was sitting beside Ginny and trying her hardest not to keep catching Severus’s eye. It was impossible because he had taken a seat directly across the table and whenever she tried not to look at him, he was looking directly at her. Severus couldn’t draw his eyes away from her as she spoke and was regretting his decision not to kiss her with every breath in his body.



Harry nodded at her. ‘I thought so too, but how? I helped to bury Voldermort’s body myself. Without a part of Voldermort, the potion would be ineffective and if it is Polyjuice, the person will have to keep replenishing it. Only me and Hagrid know where we put his body and I haven’t told anyone where he is….’



Hermione’s face went white as she stared at Harry. The realisation that Hagrid couldn’t even hold his own piss, especially when drunk, dawned on them both at the same time.



‘Oh shit… you don’t think?’ Harry closed his eyes briefly.



Hermione looked around the table at Draco.



‘Is there a place in the Manor, Draco, where no one else is permitted entry… somewhere cold, probably?’



Draco stared at her. ‘Yes, but how did you know that? Voldermort has the cellar under constant guard, no one is allowed to enter but him.’



Hermione nodded and Severus stared at her. Smart witch.



‘I think I need to talk to Hagrid.’ She stated and Harry nodded.



‘And we need to get into the cellar.’ Harry stated.



‘How is the cellar guarded, Draco?’ Severus asked him.



Draco considered for a moment. ‘Well, he has two Deatheaters on duty there 24 hours a day, plus its warded. No one tries to get down there, anyway, they know he would kill them if they tried.’



Hermione looked across at Severus and spoke to him for the first time.



‘If the others create a diversion, could you get into the cellar? You would need to be careful, Severus… if he catches you….’ She drifted off and Ginny put an unseen hand on her knee. Hermione was giving herself away.



The tone of her comment wasn’t lost on Severus but he spared her embarrassment by looking away and talking to Draco.



‘I will need you with me Draco. Are you prepared?’



Draco looked back at him. ‘I do not want the Dark Lord in my house, fake or not. I’m ready.’



The meeting ended and people stood to leave. Ginny hung back a little and pulled Hermione to one side.



'How are things?' She asked her, pointedly looking across at Severus.



'Fine... awkward... but I like having him here.' Hermione smiled a little.



Ginny hugged her lightly. 'Be careful, Hermione...'



In moments, everyone had gone and Draco had gone up to his room.



Hermione and Severus stood to leave the kitchen at the same time and they paused in the doorway, staring intently at each other. He held his hand out to her and she smiled softly at him. Taking his hand, she allowed him to lead her up the stairs.





*****



OOOhh.... wonder what will happen next??