A Working Relationship

A Working Relationship


Disclaimer: All canon characters are the property of JK Rowling and those with whom she has agreed contracts. This story was written for practice not profit.


Complications Arise


The following evening Severus and Hermione followed their standard routine. Hermione went straight down to the Potions Lab after the bell went for the end of classes. As soonSeverus rus had cleared to the classroom they went into his quarters and started work. At around six Hermione concealed herself in the bathroom while a House elf delivered a selection of food. They ate hurriedly and silently, resuming work as soon as possible.

By eight o’clock Severus was an hour and a half into brewing his potion. Hermione had finished the second year essays and was about halfway through the fourth year assignments. She was quite engrossed in her work and did not realise that Professor Snape had stopped his, until his shadow fell across the page she was working on.

She looked up, startled. He stood directly in front of her, one hand clamped over his forearm.

“Miss Granger, I am being summoned,” he said tightly. “I will need to leave you alone here for a time. I would be most grateful if you would floo the Headmaster to let him know that I have gone.”

“Of course Professor. What about your Potion?”

“I have placed it in stasis. As long as I am back within three hours I should be able to resume my work where I have left it. While I am gone I suggest you use the other workbench to start a batch of a bone mending potion. There are details of how to brew it on page one hundred and sixty three of the standard text you have been working from.”

“I thought Madam Pomfrey used Skele-Gro.”

“This is not the time to discuss the matter. Can I rely on you to brew it or not?”

“Yes sir… I was only saying…”

“You have said quite enough for one evening. I suppose I may trust you to remain here unsupervised? ”

“Yes sir.”

“Then I will leave you.” With that he went to his bedroom and emerged carrying a bundle of fabric. Hermione surmised that this must be the uniform mask and cloak worn to preserve anonymity on raids. He saw her watching him, but did not comment as he stuffed the bundle inside his frock coat and made for the door.

As soon as he had gone Hermione went over to the mantelpiece and took a pinch of floo powder. Kneeling down she threw it into the fire and clearly stated, “The Headmaster’s Office.”

Professor Dumbledore saw the flames in his own fireplace flare green and walked ovo ito it.

“What is it, Hermione?” he said.

“Professor Snape’s been called by Voldemort,” she said quickly.

“Just now?”

“He’s just left. He told me to floo you.”

“Well we must wait and see what will happen tonight. Thank you for letting me know. Will you be all right down there until he returns?”

“Yes. He’s given me some work to be getting on with.”

“I suggest you do that then. When he comes back he might be a bit… difficult.”

“More than usual?”

“Yes Hermione, tha than usual. It depends on what has happened. When he goes to a call it might be something as simple as a chat, or it could be something much worse. If he’s injured in any way… try to make sure he doesn’t neglect himself.”

“Shouldn’t I send him to the Infirmary?”

“Madam Pomfrey isn’t a member of the Order Hermione. It isn’t fair to burden her with the knowledge of Severus’ exploits. He’s grown quite adept at caring for himself; once you can persuade him to sit down and do it.”

“He has to treat himself?” she said, shocked.

“It’s his own choice. He’s as capable as Madam Pomfreymanymany respects. Just keep yourself busy and stay there until he returns.”

“I will.”

Frowning, Hermione pulled her head from the flames and dusted the soot off her hair. What might Professor Snape be doing if there was a chance he could come back injured? Did he come back injured often? If he did, it never caused him to miss the following day’s lessons. She leafed through the pages of the large medical textbook until she found the potion Professor Snape had requested and began to brew.

This particular potion required some very specific timing. Consequently Hermione had no chance of avoiding clock watching for Professor Snape. After she had finished it she put it to one side to cool before bottling. There was still no sign of his return so she decided to brew some more of a strong pain relief potion, while she had use of the facilities. She had just got the base prepared and set over a high heat to reduce it, when she heard a noise from the sitting room. It could only be him. The doors were too heavily warded for anyone else gain entry without attracting a great deal of attention.

She walked over to the door and threw it open. The sight she saw made her gasp. Professor Snape had obviously made it back to his quarters by sheer willpower. He was crouching in the corner, with his back against the classroom door. His head was bowed and his hair disheed. ed. He cradled his right wrist and Hermione could see sporadic twitches and tremors running through him.

“Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed. “What happened to you sir?”

“No questions woman!” he ground out, through gritted teeth.

“Just tell me what I can do to help,” she said quietly.

“Something to relieve the pain. In the cabinet… It’s labelled.”

She jumped up to obey. He tried to stand again and succeeded after some effort. He stayed leaning against the wall and Hermione brought the potion to him. He was shaking too much to pour out the dose himself, so she did it for him.

He swallowed it with some difficulty. She stayed standing by him, unsure of what to do next.

“When the potion kicks in properly,” he said. “I’ll be able to mend my hand. I take it you managed to brew the bone mending potion for me?”

“Yes I made it. May I see your hand?”

He let go of his wrist and slowly reached the injured hand towards her.

She made no attempt to touch it. It was badly swollen and bruised.

“Three fingers are broken,” he said, his voice stronger now the potion was beginning to take effect. “I’ll need to re-align the bones before I take your potion. If I do not, there may be permanent damage.”“Why“Why are you shaking like that?”

“After-effects of Crucio. I need to sit down.”

“I think you should lie down.”

“Sitting will suffice for now.”

He walked over to the sofa and sat down gingerly.

“Is there a treatment for the Crucio?”

“Sleep and time will alleviate that,” he said wearily. “I need to sit for a moment and then I’ll do my hand. Carry on with whatever you were doing.”

“I’m reducing the base for a new batch of the strong pain-killer that Madam Pomfrey uses. It will need to boil for at least another half hour. What did you do to your hand?”

“More questions.”

“I’m not stupid. You made me brew a bone mending potion. I know Madam Pomfrey buys one in. You went out tonight expecting to get hurt. What’s going on?”

“Miss Granger, you are a very junior member of the Order. If it were not for your association with Potter, you would not even be that. It is not for you to know about the things I do and the things I see. I report to Albus Dumbledore and him alone.”

“I’m not asking you to report to me. I can see that you’re suffering. I just want to understand why. I promise I won’t tell anyone else.”

“I don’t know what to say to you. Would you be content to know that my injuries are not self-inflicted… at least not directly.”

“I didn’t really think you’d injured yourself.”

“The Dark Lord believes that physical pain is a great motivator. He believes I need motivating regularly. Hence I generally return home with reminders of his displeasure.”

“What did you do to displease him?”

“The Dark Lord did not put me amongst his chosen for my good looks and ready wit. He wanted me for the services I could perform. In view of my true allegiances he is always going to find me wanting.”

“So he wants you to make potions for him and you don’t do it properly?”

“Precisely. I need to do my hand. Are you squeamish?”

“No.”

“I’ll brace my hand on my workbench as I manipulate the bones. They’re quite small so they’ll mend quickly. Come through. You can measure out my dose.”

Snape seemed to be recovering his strength. They went into the lab and Hermione watched in horrified fascination as he worked on his hand. He placed it flat on the workbench and used his left hand to examine it minutely, manipulating the slight displacements of the fractures. Eventually he declared himself satisfied and drank the potion Hermione gave him.

“Does it still hurt?”

“Yes. I’m afraid I’ll not be good for any more work tonight. I’ll stay up for a while longer in order to keep my hand still while the bones knit. You may go… if you wish.”

“I ought to finish this batch if you don’t mind. You know how unstable it is at this stage. I wouldn’t want to put it into stasis.”

“Very well. I suppose I could use the Dicto-quill to finish those assignments.”

Hermione went over to check on her cauldron. The mixture now looked to be the correct consistency. She lowered the heat and turned her attention to the next batch of ingredients to be added.

Severus, meanwhile, got down off his stool. His muscles protested at being forced to start moving again. He limped painfully round his bench and tripped, falling headlong into Hermione’s bench. Her cauldron toppled over, dousing her with the full contents.

Hermione screamed.

“Gelare!” called Severus, immediately freezing the hot liquid. “Get out of those clothes now! It will still burn! Quickly!”

Hermione hared off to the bathroom shedding her robes as she went. Clad only in her underwear she jumped under the shower. She stayed under cold water for several minutes to make sure that any heat had been taken out of her skin. When she could stand no more she turned the water off and set about drying herself. As she did so she inspected her skin for damage. There was a slight redness to the skin of the upper side of her left breast but it didn’t look serious.

She wrapped herself in a large dry bath towel and sidled nervously into the sitting room. Severus was waiting for her, on the sofa, with a look of anxiety on his face.

“Are you hurt?” he asked sharply.

“It’s caught my skin a little,” she admitted, blushing. “I think it will be okay though.”

“Come here!” he ordered. “Let me see!”

Hermione’s eyes widened in horror. “I’m sure it will be fine.”

“Either you let me examine you or I’m going to bring Poppy down here. Which is it to be?”

“It’s nothing…. Honestly.”

“Which is it to be?”

Sighing heavily, she walked over to the sofa and sat down next to him. She adjusted the towel so that part of the affected breast was exposed.

He noted the redness. He extended his uninjured hand towards her, stopping short of touching her.

“May I?” he asked.

Hermione looked at him. His eyes were intense in his pale face but he was not making her afraid. She nodded.

He extended his hand the full distance and rested its coolness on the heat of her breast. He looked her in the eyes and she looked back at him, bathed in the flickering glow of the firelight.

“Mederi,” he whispered. Instantly Hermione felt the warm tight feeling on her skin disappear.

“Better?” he murmured gently.

“Yes… You didn’t use your wand.”

“I don’t always need …..”

“Such a touching scene Severus,” interrupted a third, horribly familiar, voice. They both turned to see the head of Lucius Malfoy in the fireplace. “Does Our Lord know that this is how you spend your time? Seducing Mudbloods when you have work to do?”