All the way II: And Even Further

Eileen tangled her fingers in Hermiones hair, asking, "Why isn't she awake yet?"

Severus reached out to hold his wife’s hand, "She used a lot of energy." He said quietly, "She needs to rest."

"Then why are you so worried?" his daughter asked, "If she only needs rest, why are you worried?"

Severus struggled for words; Hermione always dealt with things like this. Emotions. Hermione could explain and understand emotion easily.

He just wanted her to wake up, to hear her voice, to see her moving, to make sure she wasn't leaving him. And that was selfish. He was being selfish, as always. He knew she needed rest, yet he wanted her to wake up so terribly it hurt.

Eileen looked up at him with her large black eyes, "Is mummy dying?"

Severus shook his head at once, "No. She is not dying."

"Daddy, if mummy died before you saved her, who would be my mummy then?"

"What do you mean?" Severus sighed, his thumb running back and forth over the inside of Hermiones wrist.

"Who would look after me?" The little girl asked.

"Me," He rubbed his free hand over his face, "And the Weasleys would probably insist on being around."

"Who would look after you?" Eileen sent him a piercing look he had seen only too often in his mirror.

Severus smirked, "You think your mother looks after me?"

Eileen nodded, "She told me it's like having three children instead of two."

"Did she now?" Severus growled as Eileen covered her mouth to stifle her giggles, "We will see about that when she wakes up."

Severus switched his attention to his wife, as the pulse under his thumb jumped, breaking the steady beat it had been working at since she had been in the hospital wing. Hermiones eye lashes fluttered, but didn't open.

"Hermione?" He asked, hoping, praying.

She kept her eyes closed, but turned towards Eileen, her voice only a thread of sound, "Close your mouth, young lady."

Eileen smiled, "I have to be fair. If I tell you things about daddy, I have to tell him things about you."

Hermione laughed weakly as another figure approached the bed.

"Is she awake?" The blonde asked.

Severus nodded and watched as Hermione opened her eyes slowly. She shifted slightly, as if trying to see how much she could move in her weakened state. When she seemed satisfied, she smiled at Lucius and patted the mattress beside her. As the boy moved to sit by her, Eileen ran round the bed and launched herself into Severus' lap, seeking attention.

Severus sat in silent relief. She was awake. She was alright. In his head, Severus laughed at himself; how had he ever thought that she would have let something as stupid as a building falling on top of her finish her?

""""""""""""""""""""

Lucius sat awkwardly beside Hermione, facing towards the end of the bed. He couldn't look into her loving eyes. Not when he knew he was the cause of her illness.

She put her arm around him and took his hand on the other side of his body.

"How's Annie?" She asked quietly, while her husband and daughter had their own conversation.

"She woke up three days ago." He answered honestly, "She's only being treated for shock. I never knew she hated fire so much."

"Don't blame yourself," Hermione told him, "I know you are, don't deny it. It wasn't your fault that there was a fire and it wasn't your fault the prison collapsed."

"I know, but if I hadn't gone then -"

"No." Hermione cut through his words, "You shouldn't have gone. But you didn't know that was going to happen when you left the school, did you?" Lucius shook his head slowly, "Then it isn't your fault. Annie's fine, I'm fine. What happened happened; there's nothing you can do about it now, so stop blaming yourself. I'm sure Severus would have murdered you by now if he thought it was your fault."

Lucius nodded, "I suppose... You really are ok, then?"

"Of course I am," She smiled. Lucius smiled back.

""""""""""""""""""""

That night, as Poppy went back to her office, Hermione turned to her husband. Finally all the visitors had left and, because Annie was allowed out of bed at last, Lucius had taken her and Eileen down to dinner.

Hermione and Severus were alone.

He leaned forward, put his elbows on his knees and rubbed his hands over his face. Hermione reached out and placed her hand on his arm. Her body still felt as heavy as stone.

Severus took her hand in both of his and sighed, staring at her with tortured eyes.

"I was so worried," He said softly.

Hermione shook her head, "Why? Couldn't you have just imagined I was having a long sleep?"

"Yes, but then I could just have easily imagined that you were never going to wake up." He gave her a sharp look.

She chuckled quietly, "You should write a book with an imagination like that. Come here."

Hermione moved over, giving Severus room to sit beside her. He put his arms around her, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head.

"I love you." She whispered, before letting herself drift into a peaceful sleep.