Everything I Do, I Do It For You

Chapter 41:- Severus' Realization

Severus lay awake in the infirmary bed that night. It seemed he had underestimated Miss Granger. Oh, he knew that Gryffindors could be courageous and fearless, but having heard Hermione’s full account of what had gone on for the past ten months, he realized just what she had been through.

Healer Jensen had pronounced him fit to leave, but he had made up a story about his sight not fully returning and the dreadful headaches he was experiencing. The Healer had given him a potion for the headaches; however, with the whole story having been fabricated, he had to act as though he was dizzy when he stood up. The Healer had said that he’d better stay for another night. As she pushed him gently back into bed, she told him that she wouldn’t be far if he needed anything.

Severus knew he had nowhere to go. Albus didn’t want him leaving the castle and had told him he could return to his dungeon rooms, as they had remained untouched during his absence. But that wasn’t what he wanted right now. He knew the true nature of his rationale. That was he didn’t want to leave the hospital wing because, to put it simply, he didn’t want to be alone.

He had spent all of his childhood and most of his adulthood by himself, and he realized that he didn’t wish to be alone anymore. He scowled at this revelation and asked himself when he had started to go soft. He could blame it on Miss Granger’s new powers. They had somehow meddled with his mind. That was it.

Severus looked over at the sleeping witch in the next bed. She was snoring lightly, but looked like quite the goddess in the rays of moonlight that were filtering through the window over her head.

It was then that he realized that his respect for Miss Granger had turned into admiration. With all she’d been through, he recognized that she was a powerful witch and also an astonishing person. When had this happened? he asked himself. He had never admired anyone in his life. He appreciated everything that Albus had done for him, that was true, but he had never really approved of his meddling. He had feared the Dark Lord, but held nothing but contempt for his methods. And that’s when it dawned on him. After the Dark Lord fell, he was free to do whatever he wished.

He threw the covers off his body and stood up quickly.

He had to expel this nervous energy that he was feeling, and he could think of no better way than to pace.

His thoughts became clearer, to himself at least, as he took to the floor and started the easy tempo he had spent many a night doing. This would not do, to pine over a woman young enough to be his daughter. Severus Snape did not pine. He brooded, scowled, frowned and generally took a lot of points off Gryffindors. He was the bat of the dungeons, a greasy git who was every student’s worse nightmare, solitary, alone, an enigma too puzzling for anyone to try and figure out. He hadn’t minded his life before now; he had even welcomed the solitude. So what had changed? Nothing, he realized, if he didn’t take into account that now he was truly free to pursue whatever he wanted. He had by no means thought that he would survive the conflict between Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter, so he had never even given any consideration to what he would do with his newfound autonomy.

His brow furrowed as he continued his methodical pacing.

***

Tolmie awoke in the armchair where he had fallen asleep two days previously. His neck was stiff and his mouth was dry. He heard a grumble, and it took him a few seconds before he realized that it was coming from his stomach.

Tolmie felt like he could sleep forever, but he had more important issues at the moment, as he got up and made his way to the lavatory.

Once this task was completed, he went into the kitchen and made a huge sandwich. He fixed himself a glass of orange juice, which he downed in one hefty swallow.

He had to go to Hogwarts today and see if Severus and Miss Granger were alright.

After his meal he tidied himself up and headed for the door. Replacing the wards, he Apparated to the outskirts of Hogwarts’ grounds with the transfigured quill still placed firmly in his pocket.

***

Healer Jensen had learnt early on in her patients’ stay in her infirmary that Miss Granger didn’t like to be touched. She had approached Miss Granger and, without saying a word, had begun to cast a medical charm over her body. She should have realized then her blunder, but instead she had continued onwards and went to place her hands on Miss Granger. Big mistake. Hermione had taken a swing at her, and she had wound up with a black eye for her troubles. Of course Miss Granger had apologised profusely for her reaction, but that didn’t help the Healer’s newfound wariness around her.

Severus had smirked quite openly at this and had made comments such as, “A Healer is meant to put their hands on a patient,” and so forth whenever Healer Jensen was within listening range.

Professor Snape wasn’t much better and would scowl and generally grumble about her technique. These two patients were wearing her thin; she’d just about had enough of them both.

Severus missed Poppy, whose no-nonsense approach he had learnt to deal with. This Healer had seemed unsure of herself and took everything he said to heart. He quite enjoyed ruffling her feathers and had made Miss Granger laugh once or twice, of course after the Healer had left in a huff.

***

Dr. Andrew Lopes was concerned. Not only had he found that his best orderly was now a gibbering wreck who had to be sedated every time he awoke, but there was also the fact that Miss Hermione Granger had missed her last group session and had not shown up for work in the last couple of days.

Her landlady had not seen her either, and Andrew was about ready to go to the police. But what would he tell them? They would probably say not to worry and send him on his way. He couldn’t help but feel that Hermione was in some sort of trouble, and he couldn’t explain that to the police either.

***

Cornelius Fudge was seated at the desk in his office at the Ministry of Magic. He had tried to contact Robert Finn to find out if Miss Granger had been back to Calan Park. So far his scrolls had come back unanswered.

He threw a wary look over to the corner of his office, where Fydles was perched on the bookcase. “Where is he?” he asked the owl, as if it would explain everything.

Fydles just hooted softly and went back to picking at his feathers.

“Stupid bird,” Cornelius half mumbled to himself, staring into the brightly burning fireplace.

He had hired the best assassin in the business and had no doubt that he would bring Miss Granger to him when the opportunity arose. But what was keeping him? Surely he should have procured her by now. It had been two days since Mr Finn’s letter to him, and he was starting to be anxious. He would have to make an appearance at Calan Park - not that he wanted to, but he just didn’t trust anyone else with such an important task.

He sighed to himself as he rested his head in his right hand. He would leave tomorrow morning and find out exactly what was going on.

***

Tolmie Crobobin made his way down to the front steps of Hogwarts. He had a lot on his mind. He looked around in awe at the grounds as he hastily made his way to the school.

Although he knew that classes were in session, he didn’t care. He had to check up on Severus and Miss Granger to put his mind at ease. He had hoped that the Potions Master would be able to hear and see again and that Miss Granger had recovered sufficiently from her ordeal.

As he made his way up the stairs to the entrance of Hogwarts, he was greeted by a kindly-looking elderly wizard in bright blue robes wearing a pointed hat, also in blue, and spectacles. He had a long white beard and very long wavy white hair. Tolmie noticed his eyes next, eyes of the bluest sea, and he smiled gently at the compassionate-looking wizard. It was as though he’d been expecting him. He was about to speak but was beaten to it, as the older wizard opened his mouth and spoke first.

“Ah, Mr Crobobin,” Dumbledore said with a glint of a twinkle in his eye, “how nice to finally meet you.”

Tolmie stopped dead in his tracks, cocking his head to the side with a thoughtful look on his face. He was confused. Had he ever met this wizard before? He thought not. As he continued in his musing, Dumbledore laughed.

“Severus has told me all about you,” he said, still twinkling as he extended his right hand to the younger man.

Tolmie, still in shock, reached out and grabbed the hand, shaking it firmly. He was hit with an onslaught of emotions. Considerate, kind-hearted, devoted and generally good sensations flooded into him as he realised for the first time that he was standing in the presence of Albus Dumbledore. The finest wizard, besides Merlin, who had ever lived. He was struck with awe as their connection was severed, and he stood there gaping at the great wizard with his mouth open.

Albus just laughed at this. “Come on inside,” he said as he motioned to the front doors of Hogwarts.

Tolmie, gathering himself back together, followed the wizard through the large doors. He looked around in wonder at the various portraits that hung on the walls of the castle as they hurried past. All the portraits seemed to be whispering, but Tolmie couldn’t catch a word of what they were saying. The hallways were quiet and Tolmie thought that classes must be in session.

Albus came up short as he placed his hand on the entranceway to the infirmary. He smiled at Tolmie, who gave him a reassuring nod and followed him inside.

Severus was sitting up in bed with his arms firmly planted across his chest when he heard the door to the infirmary open. He scowled as he saw Albus enter, but his scowl quickly changed when he saw his partner closely following. Severus gave a wide grin to Tolmie, who rushed over to Severus’ side.

“It’s so good to see you again,” Tolmie stated. The smile on his face was reaching his eyes as he beamed down at the Potions Master.

“You too,” Severus replied as he uncrossed his arms from his chest, pushing himself up into a better sitting position.

“I trust you are doing well?” Tolmie enquired.

“As well as can be expected,” Severus countered in a somewhat playful voice. “Whatever became of our little problem?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Ah, that.” Tolmie grinned as he fished around in his robe pocket and pulled out a quill, which he held up in front of Severus.

The younger wizard just nodded his head politely as he took the quill from Tolmie and examined it. “Wonderful transfiguration work,” he said, frowning slightly as he looked at it more closely, turning it around in his nimble fingers.

“Thanks,” Tolmie replied, taking a step backwards away from the wizard’s bed.

Hermione was sitting in her bed, propped up against her pillow, listening to the curious interchange between her Potions professor and this strange man.

She had always thought Professor Snape to be a solitary man, a wizard with no need or want of company. But then she realised that she was just being ridiculous and that everybody needed someone.

She watched the Potions Master in the most relaxed state she had seen him in … well, ever since she had known the introverted wizard. She mused to herself how much nicer his features looked when he smiled. ’What? Did I just think of Professor Snape in a total inappropriate way?’ She figured that at least one part of her anatomy had been intimate with the man’s most cherished possession, her knee of course, and she had to hide with her hand the grin that formed on her face in remembering that little escapade.

Dumbledore was standing near the end of Severus’ bed with an amused look on his face. He had never known the caustic Potions Master to feel so at ease with anyone, even himself.

Severus finally looked up from the quill in his hand as if remembering that Tolmie and he were being watched. He notice the amused look on Albus’ face.

He schooled his features into disinterest as he looked at the grinning old wizard before him.

Severus held out the quill to the Headmaster, who deftly took it from his hands and examined it with a perplexed look on his face. When he looked up to the Potions Master, he noticed that he was grinning at him.

“That problem we were talking about,” was the only answer he received from the wizard sitting before him.

The Headmaster raised both his eyebrows in understanding as he pocketed the quill in his robes.

Hermione was confused by what was going on. She didn’t understand and she creased her brow in a look of concentration. ’What are they talking about?’ she thought to herself as her suspicion deepened. ’Does it have anything to do with me?’ She sincerely hoped not. She cleared her throat quietly.

Everyone in the room turned to look at her. Albus was beaming at her, Severus was glaring, and Tolmie just looked thrilled.

“You must be Miss Granger,” Tolmie said, stepping toward her bed and holding out his hand to her.

Hermione just shrank back into the bed and pulled the covers up under her chin. She shook slightly and just stared at his proffered hand.

Tolmie never stopped smiling as he dropped his hand down to his side.

“I’m glad that you are doing much better, Miss Granger,” Tolmie said. He continued to smile at her as he took a step backward, away from her bedside.

She looked up at him sheepishly, sitting up straighter once he had stepped back. She didn’t know what she was so afraid of - was it human contact? Why didn’t it scare her when Professor Snape touched her? She was broken from her musings as the Headmaster spoke.

“Well, this morning I received confirmation that you are both physically fit to leave the infirmary this evening,” Dumbledore said, giving them both a wide smile.

“Fantastic,” Severus mumbled under his breath, and Dumbledore looked at the irate wizard sitting in the bed.

“Therefore,” Dumbledore continued, “I would like to see all three of you,” he motioned with his eyes at the occupants of the room, “in my office straight after you are released. Until then, I am very busy. I don’t want you leaving the grounds of Hogwarts; is that understood?” he finished, looking solemnly at Severus and Hermione.

They all nodded their heads in assent.

“Excellent,” Albus proclaimed as he clapped his hands together, making Hermione jump, “until then.” He turned around and left the infirmary.

***

A/N: For all of you out there who didn’t get the implication of the number ‘12’ it is simply, 12 people defended Harry Potter in the Final Battle and the number ‘112’ was significant because Hermione was the only one who was unaccounted for out of the 12. Do you understand? Sometimes I even confuse myself.

Stick around for a couple more plot twists that ‘no one’ will guess… He, he, he, I am evil and loving it.

As always big hugs go out to my beta, LariLee. Cheers.

Disclaimer: I don't own the world of Harry Potter because if I did I would be rich and famous, and believe me, I am far from either.