The Sound Of Silence

The next week saw Steph released from the protective bubble and sitting up. Madam Pomfrey still wouldn\'t let her get out of bed. Her breath still caught in her chest from time to time, but that was becoming more infrequent. She had a table full of sweets from Harry and Ron and all the books she could read thanks to Hermione. Her nose was currently buried in a copy of \"Hogwarts: A History.\"

Hermione smiled when she walked in. \"It looks like you\'re feeling better.\" Steph nodded and put the book aside. Hermione sat on the edge of the bed. \"I thought I\'d come see you between classes. Do you need anymore books?\" Steph shook her head. \"Do you need anything at all?\" Another shake of the head. Hermione smiled. \"I won\'t be able to come back tonight. I have to lead a study group and it\'ll be late before we\'re done. I\'ll come by tomorrow before class. Do you want me to bring Harry and Ron?\" She nodded quickly and smiled. Hermione grinned. \"They like you too. We\'ll stop by. Maybe they\'ll bring you more candy. Maybe even a few jokes from their brothers.\" She stood and kissed her head. \"I\'ll be back tomorrow.\"

That night Steph was reading again when Professor Snape cane to visit. She smiled and put the book aside. She patted the bed. \"I prefer the chair, thank you.\" He sat and picked up his book. \"Shall we continue this one?\" She nodded and patted the bed again. Snape sighed and sat on the bed and started to read.

Hermione\'s study group finished early for a change. She decided to stop and see Steph before bed. She heard his voice and smiled. He was actually being nice. Hermione slid around the screen and bit her lip at the scene.

Snape was lying on the bed, propped against the headboard. A book was balanced on his stomach and one hand was holding it. The other hand was holding Steph as she curled against his side and lay her head on his chest.

Hermione smiled and stood quietly, not wanting to disrupt this scene. She always knew Snape wasn\'t as bad as everyone thought. This only went to prove that point. She stood and listened as he read. His voice made that book sound better than anytime she had ever read it.

Steph looked up and saw Hermione. She smiled and onedoned for her to come sit with her. Snape looked up and quickly extracted himself from her and stood. He lay the book on the table and straightened his robes. He gave Hermione a nod and looked at Steph. \"Rest well little one.\" He walked out of the Infirmary.

Hermione sat on the edge of the bed. \"How are you feeling today?\" Steph nodded and smiled. \"You don\'t need anything do you?\" Steph shook her head. Making sure there was no one around, Hermione handed her a parchment and quill. \"Tell me how you got Professor Snape to cuddle in bed with you.\" Steph took the paper and started writing.

***

Snape sat in front of the fire and stared into the flames. What was it about that slip of a girl that drew him to her? He was reminded of someone every time he looked at her. He shook himself out of the thought and picked up his research again. Finding a mandrake based potion was harder than he first thought. He read a few paragraphs and found his thoughts back with Miss Vance. She had curled up against him without a thought. She practically twisted his arm to get him to lay on the bed and read. A smiled twitched at the corners of his mouth. He had to admit, he actually enjoyed it. Maybe she could stay with him if...he cut that thought off. There was no way she would want to be around him if she was to remain here. He sighed and went back to his book.

Hermione smiled and pulled the blanket around Steph. \"I\'m glad you have a new friend. Harry and Ron will flip when they hear about this.\" Steph grabbed her arm and shook her head. She mouthed the words, \"It\'ll embarrass him.\" Hermione nodded. \"I guess you\'re right. It\'ll be our secret then.\" Steph smiled, curling under the covers. With a whispered \"Nox\", Hermione left the room.

***

The next morning, Steph slid out of bed and over to the window. She leaned against the sill and watched people as they scurried to and from class. She wanted to go sit under that tree by the lake. She just wanted to go outside. She wanted to go back to class with Mommy. She frowned. She really wanted her real Mommy. Maybe she could wish herself back home soon. Professor Dumbledore could answer that. She pulled her lower lip between her teeth and turned around. She was going to go for a walk. She felt better. She started to get dressed, excited for going to explore the castle.

She stood and watched the staircases moving. Mommy was right. This was an amazing place. She started down the steps and watched the portraits watch her. She waved back at each of them. She made her way to the bottom and stopped to catch her breath. There were no sounds of students so she headed towards the Great Hall. She explored every nook and cranny and ended up at the Head Table. With a smile, she sat in Dumbledore\'s chair. She grinned and got up to go somewhere else.

She had her hand on the wall as she went down towards the Dungeons. She had to sit on the bottom step and catch her breath again. Maybe she shouldn\'t have walked up to the Astronomy Tower. Leaning her head against the wall, she sat hoping to cool off. She hated that boy foat hat he did. She was going to tell Mommy when she got home. Everything started to get black. She lay back on the steps and lost consciousness again.

***

That was how Snape found her. He shook hiad aad as he checked her pulse. Such a foolish girl. What was she doing down here? He gently picked her up and noticed how cold she was. He would warm her up, let her come to and then escort her back to Madam Pomfrey.

He looked at the small girl curled on his bed. He had checked her breathing again. Very steady. He sighed and heard the Floo activate. \"Severus?\" He turned to see Dumbledore. \"Miss Vance has wondered away. Have you seen her?\" Snape stepped aside, showing him the bed.

Dumbledore stepped through the Floo and looked at her. \"Where was she?\" Snape pulled the blanket over her. \"She was unconscious on the steps. When did Pomfrey notice she was missing?\"

\"Right after classes this morning. She went to take her breakfast and found her missing. We talked with the Portraits and found that she was taking a tour of the Castle.\" Dumbledore shook his head. \"All the way up to the Astronomy Tower. Her lungs are still not functioning normally. Pomfrey is afraid that she may overexert herself. I see now that she has.\" Snape nodded. \"I\'ll make sure that she gets back.\" Dumbledore stepped into the Floo. \"I\'ll inform Madam Pomfrey\", and was gone.

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A/N: These two chapters were hard to break up. I decided to break my normal posting habits and post them together. They were to short to be on their own! Please read and review.

God Bless!