"Unanswered Prayers"

“Professor?”

“Ms. Granger! What do you need?”

Still clothed head to heel as she’d been two weeks ago, Hermione made her way to his classroom lab looking thin and tired.

“I’m… I’m having some pain. Madame Pomfrey’s draughts don’t seem to get on top of it and I have N.E.W.Ts to prepare for. Do you have anything… stronger?”

“Sit, please. When did this begin?”

“Shortly after our arrival here.”

“Do the nightmares accompany the pain — are they a trigger?”

“No — your potion handles them quite well. Thank you.”

“What triggers the pain?”

Hermione’s eyes left his, staring at the floor.

“Any unexpected or prolonged exertion,” she whispered.

“Then the solution sits before you. Avoid such actions.”

“You told me to live my life. Life involves exertion… at least mine does.”

Snape’s curved index finger lifted her chin. He hadn’t touched her this intimately since their return from Flatley.

“I also told you that if you are uncomfortable or unwilling, it is your right to say ‘NO’.”

“I’ve read where some… exertions… take time to adjust to… before the pain stops. I’ve been told it gets better…”

Snape stepped away and swirled his wand at an angry pace around an empty cauldron. Ingredients slammed audibly into the sides of the vessel and blended themselves. Heat from an unseen source produced bubbles and steam in the pot. When he’d finished, a rosy pearlescent liquid swirled gently in the cauldron, giving off the scent of strawberry — her favorite flavor.

“Are you with child?”

“No. He takes care of that…” she answered in relief.

“One sip will alleviate your pain; two will send you into a dreamless sleep. Do not take more than 12 doses in a day.”

“Thank you, Prof —”

“We’re alone, Hermione.”

“Thank you, Severus. I’m sorry to trouble you with this…”

“Do try to remember —” he hesitated, unsure of his role.

“What?”

“Love should not hurt.”

 

---

 

“Severus! That’s not a bond potion — it’s a life suspension potion!”

Continuing his careful movements, Severus refused to look up and deny Dumbledore’s declaration.

“It works. My trials on myself yielded the expected results.”

Albus remained silent.

“The bond-breaking potion isn’t coming fast enough! She needs to be free of me now — not in the ten years it will take for me get it right without killing both of us!”

“When will you take it?”

“After her N.E.W.Ts. When she returns to that hovel Arthur and Molly live in.”

“I see… Well, as you’ve made up your mind, I’ll alert Minerva to prepare a place for you. You’ll be looked after until her death.”

“Thank you, Albus.”

“Severus?…” Albus prodded tenderly.

The potion master's quiet tears falling into the potion prompted Dumbledore’s inquiry.

“He’s hurting her, Albus…”

“Yes; I feared he would…”