"Unanswered Prayers"

A knock so soft he thought he’d imagined it brought him to his door, scowling. With exams three weeks away, pranking teachers became the main stress relief if tradition held true. Severus impatiently anticipated the June school closing. His own, life-or-death research into the bond dissolution potion lay incomplete and untouched.

Jerking his door open in preparation to flay some young miscreant, Severus startled as Hermione Granger swooned into his arms, burning up with fever.

“Severus… I don’t feel well…”

Without waiting he apparated them to the medical wing.

“Poppy! POPPY!”

“Severus! What’s happened to her!?”

“She collapsed in my doorway. She’s feverish; she’s been sporting bruises over the last three months and I would say she’s lost considerable weight over that period.”

“She has and I’ve noted it to her. She won’t confide in me,” the healer informed him as her wand swished back and forth over Hermione.

“Contact Potter, Severus. He’s her next of kin for medical issues.”

“But she can’t wait!”

“I’ll do what I can until he arrives”

Poppy Pomfrey witnessed a sight few had seen. Snape, the dark wizard and former Death Eater, swung his wand through the air twice and an otter, impish and frisky, leapt from the tip and bound through the 6th story window of the medical wing towards London.

In minutes Harry Potter apparated into the medical facility, running to Hermione’s bedside.

“What’s wrong!?”

“She’s suffering from a number of insults; the most serious is the infection someone —” and Madame Pomfrey looked up at Snape in sympathy, “gave her. Do you grant permission to treat her, Mr. Potter?”

“Yes! Heal her!”

Another crack announced a second visitor — Ron Weasley.

“What’s the problem with my girl?”

Snape spun and marched directly to Ron, followed by a stunned Harry.

“How DARE you come here! Leave, Weasley, while I have the will to keep from killing you!”

Not a word was spoken much above a growled whisper. Ron’s wand flew to his hand, the tip making a small indentation on Severus’ neck.

“Oi! Back up, you pervert! That’s my woman there! I’m her first and only so piss off! All that time alone with her and she wouldn't put out for you, eh? I’m an auror — I could KILL you and the Ministry wouldn't ‘bat’ an eyelid!”

Snape stared and thought. The wand-less, silent Body-Bind curse had Ron shrieking threats at his former teacher.

“Let’s see who’s better at killing, shall we Mr. Weasley?”

“Professor, I don’t understand!” Potter pleaded.

“Severus, take this out in the waiting area,” Poppy commanded, “Ms. Granger requires quiet.”

“Gladly!” 

Snape hissed at Ron, “Imperio!”

A vapid look occupied Ron’s features.

“Professor, you’re not allowed to cast that. I’m supposed to arrest you.”

“And I will surrender to you, Potter, but only after you hear what this lout has done to Hermione Granger! Follow me, Ronald.”