A Gift

:: disclaimer fairy flies around:: Yadda Yadda Yadda......anyway, fogive any spelling mistakes, etc.. My computer had to have windows reloaded and all so I don\'t have my spellcheck yet. LOL And since I know I have a few people waiting anxiously for this, here it goes!

Her sleep is broken by a shrill screeching from downstairs. She quickly grabs a dressing robe and opens her door. The sound of voices piques her curiousity and she slowly comes out of her bedroom to hear better.
\"You said he is near the end of the lane?\" Sarah\'s voice floats up to her. \"Then we mustn\'t lose time. You must go back and levitate him here. I will ask Miss Hermione to help me.\"
Hermione runs back to her room, sitting on her bed just in time to see Sarah float through her door. \"What is all the noise about?\"
Sarah, frowning and biting her lip, shakes her head. \"There is no time to explain it all. Suffice it to say that Voldemort is very unhappy with my Grandson yet again. Please come with me. I will need your hands for this.\"
Hermione follows the ghost down to the living area, her mind whirling. Sarah takes her to a small cabinet, telling her which medical supplies to bring to the couch. At the amount of bandages and potions before her, Hermione suddenly realizes in how bad a shape she will find her professor. She Accio\'s a pillow and blanket to her and spreads them out on the couch. Nothing prepares her for the sight of him, however, when the door finally opens.
\"Bloody hell!\" She gasps out, her hand flying to her mouth.
Sarah floats over to him and directs Illiya to the couch. \"I should say.\" Her face grows dark as the limp form of her grandson is lowered onto the couch. \"Voldemort always leaves him this way when he comes here.\"
\"What do you mean?\" Hermione kneels down next to him and begins to remove his outer cloak so she can assess the damage.
She sighs softly. \"I can direct you on how to fix him.\" She floats a few potions to the shaken girl. \"Give him these while I tell you a few things about my grandson.\"

Hours later Hermione leans back in the overstuffed chair, eyes still intent on the silent form of her potions master. \"So he comes here for two weeks every year before start of term and Voldemort cannot reach him?\"
Sarah silently \'paces\' by the fireplace. \"Exactly. I made sure that with my death Severus would have a safe place to come to.\" She smiles sadly. \"There was a reason for Tom to fear me when he was younger. He knew I was strong enough to put him in his grave without thinking twice. I was the only thing protecting Severus from being killed.\" She looks over at the sleeping form. \"And I still am in a way.\"
Hermione sips the tea in her hands. \"But you can never leave here. You can\'t protect him once he is outside of the grounds.\"
\"Maybe not.\" She smiles at the young girl. \"But there are others that can do it for me. I trust Albus and now I have you to help me.\"
\"Not me!\" Hermione sets the cup down, shaking her head ademantly. \"Prof. Snape has never liked me. He\'ll be mad knowing I even touched him, let alone helped him!\"
Sarah laughs softly. \"Then act like nothing has happened! Do the opposite of what he expects.\" She comes closer, grinning down at her. \"He will expect you to try to hover over him and follow him around, so don\'t.\"
\"Oh.\" Hermione frowns for a momnet. Suddenly she understands what Sarah is getting at and she smiles. \"Oh! I see!\"
\"Get rest.\" The ghost floats back over to the couch, watching her grandson affectionately. \"He will sleep the rest of the night.\"
Hermione looks around in shock, not realizing the windows had darkened. \"My god! I didn\'t realize it was so late!\"
\"It is.\" Sarah waves Illiya over to her. \"Illiya will bring you a nice hot supper. You\'ve earned it and a hot bath. Then rest. Tomorrow will come soon enough.\"
Hermione stands, her body protesting to the long hours spent unmoving. She slowly makes her way up the stairs, thinking a long hot bath would do her more good at the moment. When she reaches the door toher room, she stops for a moment, glancing back down the stairs. Part of her wants to stay with the greasy git but antoerh tells her she has done all she can and to take care of herself. She shakes her head and goes inside, wondering why Dumbledore would even consider putting her with the person she hates most in the world. She gathers a few items and heads for the adjoining bathroom. She smiles when she sees the bath already filled with steaming water and bubbles floating on top.
\"Thanks, Illiya.\" She says outloud, knowing the house elf will be near enough to hear her. She tosses her clothes to the floor, piling her hair onto her head so it won\'t get wet. witha grimace, she steps into the hotwater and sinks down into its embrace. She sighs softly, her eyes drifting shut.

A painful pressure suddenly wakes him, the pain of the rest of his body a dull ache to be ignored. HIs eyes open to a darkened room, disorienting him for a moment. he looks around, the sight of the familiar fireplace calming his frazzled nerves. Tossing his legs over the side of the couch, he slowly sits up and looks around the room. The bottles and vials near the couch tell him of the sight he must have been when found. He groans, the need for a bathroom outweighing anything else. Trying to ignore the hammering in his head and the stars dancing before his eyes, he slowly climbs the steps to the bathroom. He curses himself yet again for being stupid enough to agree to the charade as he opens the bathroom door and walks in. He doesn\'t notice the sleeping form in the bathtub at first. It\'s amazing, when he looks back on it, that the sound of of his stumbling in and using the toilet doe not wake the girl.
When he finally sees her in the edges of his vision, his eyes grow wide in shock. His head whips around and he stares at the naked girl in his bath. His face turns a slight shade of red and he quickly finishes and grabs a towel to cover her.
\"MISS GRANGER!\" He growls out at her, tossing the towel over her prone body. \"What the bloody hell are you doing in my bath sleeping!?!\"
Her eyes fly open, her mouth dropping open in a sc. Sh. She grabs the towel, holding it to her naked body. \"Prfoessor! What are you doing in here?! You was asleep on the couch!\"
He scowls at her, arms folding over his chest. \"I believe that was last night and from the looks of it you have been here the entire time.\"
\"Shit!\" She bites her lip, looking up at him in shock. \"Sorry, Professor. I won\'t say it again.\"
\"See that you don\'t.\" He spins on his heel, walking towards the door to his room. \"And find some clothes, girl!\"
As soon as the door closes he sags against it, all strength leaving him. He eyes his bed longingly, knowing he will never make it there. With a soft sigh, he lays down on his side, closing his eyes once again.