"Unanswered Prayers"

“Ms. Granger — are you in pain?”

“No, Professor. I’ve overexerted myself. I’m… sore.”

Delivering an update on his own continuing recovery, Snape bumped into her in the hallway outside of the medical wing where she worked part time. . In the weeks since his return his wounds regressed; some had reopened and were seeping unabated. Poppy Pomfrey always scheduled his examinations during Hermione’s days off, at Dumbledore’s request. Limited communications between the potions master and his former nursemaid kept Snape ignorant; today wasn’t Hermione’s work day.

“Let me help you…”

In the warm spring weather that returned with the students, Hermione covered herself with long, loose-fitting pants and a long-sleeved floppy shirt with a hood. Her hair covered her ears but a small section of her neck near her collarbone exhibited discoloration.

She jerked away when she realized where his attention lay.

“Nothing to concern yourself with, Professor. Thank you, though.”

Snape retreated as if burned and watched her make her way gingerly to Madame Pomfrey’s office, every step evoking a sharp intake of breath or a hushed moan.

“I’m available if you need me, Ms. Granger. It is the least I can do.”

__________________________

“Slow down, Albus, for Merlin’s sake! Nothing you say makes any sense! Take me through it again — slower this time. What is the basis for primal magic, ancient magic, whatever you choose to call it? Where does it come from and why does it work?”

“With your encyclopedic knowledge I am quite taken by your ignorance in this area. You never studied this?”

Snape scowled at the mischievous expression on Dumbledore’s face and answered through clenched teeth.

“Not all of us had time break into the Restricted section during our attendance at Hogwarts.”

“But you’ve had access since you were first appointed to our faculty. You’re normally so inquisitive —”

“Albus…” Snape growled.

“Yes. Let’s rectify your knowledge gap. You know, of course, of the theory that all muggles are conceived with magic but that some aspect of their gestation either allows their inherent magic to develop as the baby develops inside its mother or terminates that magical ability in utero.”

“What in Merlin’s balls does this have to do with understanding the bond between Ms. Granger and myself?”

“The theory further states that this difference can be attributed to how a child is loved and nurtured in its mother’s womb. Most mothers love their babies long before the child is born —”

Snape scoffed at this with a grunt.

“As I was saying, most mothers love their babies before birth, but when parents go beyond the expected, when they have a powerful love for that child something special is created and channeled to their yet-to-be-born offspring.”

“With all due respect — you’re daft, Albus. My parents barely tolerated each other and I held my own with Voldemort, one the most powerful legilimens in magical history. His horcrux of a snake did not kill me.”

“Your mother was a witch, a powerful one if I recall. And I am speaking of the creation of the first magical beings. The theory posits that the first magical beings gained their magic from love.”

“Even if I believed that mawkish explanation — which I don’t — it doesn’t explain Her-… Ms. Granger’s bond to me. She doesn’t love me and I am not her infant.”

“Must you be obtuse, Severus? What is your patronus?”

“A doe…”

“A doe. The same as Lily Evans. She loved you as a dear friend.”

“And nothing more…” Snape murmured in painful memory.

“No. Yet she held you close to her heart. Defended you. Spent time with you even though your Death Eater friends treated her abominably. I recall they hurled the term ‘mudblood’ at her during your times together. Were you ever intimate with Lily?”

 “Albus…” Snape pleaded.

“I’ve known you many years, Severus. I’ve never known you to make the same error twice.”

“What has that got to do with —”

“I would recommend focusing your research on identifying the signs that a bond is forming and what it is made of. This may lead you to insights on its weaknesses and strengths.”

Rummaging on his work table, Snape drew a number of texts and scrolls closer and began to work in earnest.

“First rational idea you’ve presented in days, Albus.”