The Sound Of Silence

Steph felt all the sensations running through her. She was in pain. Her chest hurt. A lot. It was hard to breath. Something was touching her hair. That hurt! What was wrong with her? Maybe she could open her eyes and find out. Mommy would tell her.

She slowly forced her eyes open, only to close them back again and try to hide her face. It was to bright. She turned head tad to hide against the pillow, but even that hurt her.

Snape mummered a spell to lower the lights. \"Miss Vance. Miss Vance. Can you hear me?\" She nodded. \"I\'ve dimmed the lights. Try to open your eyes now.\" She turned her head and looked at him. \"You put up quite a fight. Mr. Malfoy ans. Ps. Parkinson are exactly where you left them.\" She smiled, then grimaced and looked to him for an explanation. He quickly explained what happened. She looked around the room. \"Miss Granger has yet to come. I am sure that she will be here within minutes of being info of of your situation. Rest now. I\'ll be here.\" She smiled slightly and closed her eyes.

***

Hermione looked up when Professor McGonagall walked into the common room. \"Miss Granger, come with me.\" Hermione put her books down and walked out with her. \"May I whatwhat\'s wrong?\" McGonagall\'s lips went into a thin line. \"Miss Vance was attacked on her way back from her meeting with Pssorssor Snape. She is in the Hospital Wing.\"

Hermione gasped. \"Who attacked her?\" McGonagall shook her head. \"They are for The Headmaster and Professor Snape to punish. I assure you they will be punished.\" They walked into the Infirmary and over to Steph\'s bed. They stepped around the privacy screen.

Professor Snape was sitting beside the bed, reading. He closed the book and looked at Steph with a troubled look on his face. McGonagall cleared her throat. He looked up, schooling his face back into his uncaring mask.looklooked at the bed. \"She\'s been asking for Miss Granger. Don\'t touch her, as her nerve endings are sill over sensitive.\" He left the room in a billow of robes. Hermione frowned and moved to the side of the bed.

Steph opened her eyes and smiled. She grimaced but motioned slightly for Hermione to sit with her. She was there in a moment. \"Feeling pretty crummy?\" Steph nodded. \"Did your meeting go well other than this?\" Steph nodded her head. \"Madam Pomfrey says you\'ll be fine after a few days rest. Do you want me to bring books for you to read?\" Steph nodded as her eyes lit up. Hermione laughed. \"That\'s what I thought. I\'ll bring back several and a few of my favorites.\"

McGonagall cleared her throat again. \"Miss Granger, it\'s after curfew. Miss Vance needs her rest.\" Hermione looked at her then back at Steph. \"I\'ve got to go. I\'ll come back before class and check on you. I\'ll drop off some books for you too.\" She gently touched her hand. Steph flinched away, biting her lip at the pain. \"I\'m sorry. I forgot. I\'ll be back tomorrow, with books.\" She stood and walked away.

Steph lay in bed a fought back her tears. She watched as everyone left her and wished she could ask them to stay. She hated to be alone. She wanted Mommy to stay with her and make her feel better. Maybe Madam Pomfrey would come stay until she went to sleep?

A shadow watched the silent struggle. Snape stepped from the shadows. \"I thought as much. A Gryffindor never likes to be alone. Very well. I\'ll stay until you sleep.\" He sat in the chair, picking up one of her books. She looked at him, then back to the book. He raised an eyebrow. \"Do you want me to read?\" She nodded. He ed aed and began the book at the beginning.

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A/N: Again, thanks to all who are staying with this story. I\'m trying not to draw it out to much, but I think Hermione and Snape have other ideas. A big thanks goes out to my Beta. You\'re great Lily!

Rilla: Wow. You actually read my story! One of my favorite writers and she actually read my story. Thank you so much for your words. Thanks again!

nesscafe: They are mean aren\'t they? They just came out like that. Snape is a good guy, under all those robes.

jenbachand: I\'ll be updating next weekend. Promise!

Deb: Thank you so much! Keep reading!

shemhamforash: Wow. I hope you won\'t be disapointed. I would hate to be a sacrafice. *Jumps away from the monitor* Ok.....consider me motiovated.

Rosmerta: I think that any child of Hermione\'s would have to be intelligent. I\'m sure that he would appreciate intelligence as well. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Red: Thanks baby. I love your thoughts on this story and don\'t know what I would do without you.

ShagsTheDust I\' I\'m glad I\'ve hooked you. I just hope you hang on for the ride. I think that it\'s funny he likes her as well. I have an explination in a later chapter of why he does like her. He didn\'t tell me the whole reason, but maybe it did have something to do with her not speaking!