Deliver Me

Chapter IV – Free Me

Professor Snape didn’t say a word, as they left him. He walked back inside and glanced at the thoughtless girl in his bed. The color was coming back into her face but she was very still. He went over to her and sat beside her sleeping body just looking at her. He stroked her hair and ran his fingers down her cheek without realizing what he was doing. She looked angelic, innocent and beautiful. The moment his finger touched her lips she stirred and he pulled back immediately.

He hadn’t even realized what had come over him. She was a torn in his side, that was for sure, but his attitude toward her was softening towards her. He didn’t like it.

She gave out a soft moan and he realized she was shivering. He found another quilt and slid it on top of her. He was rather confused, what had he just been doing? What the hell was wrong with him? He decided to take a cold shower and sit down by the fire with the newspaper but he couldn’t stop his eyes from wandering to the sleeping angel on his bed.

“No…No…No! Stop! Draco I’ll kill you!” Her head was tossing and turning, she was having a nightmare.

He ran over to her and tired to wake her. She was cold sweating and screaming. He touched her face and realized she was crying in her sleep. Whatever she was dreaming must be terrible.

“Oh! Stop it! You’re killing him!” she screamed

“Hermione,” Snape said softly shaking her. He went from barely hovering over her to covering the top of her body with his trying to control her movements as she thrashed around the bed.

She let out a scream heaving her chest upwards before she lay still just crying.

“Hermione?” he said softly again.

“Harry?” she let out a ragged whisper.

“No.”

“Ron?” she said opening her eyes barely to see two black gems staring back at her. She opened her mouth to speak but his thumb stopped her, “Shhhh,” he said in the kindest voice she had ever heard him use, “it was just a dream, they are fine.”

The look on her face made him think she didn’t believed him. “Mister Potter and Mister Weasley are up to their normal foolish selves in the Gryffindor common room.”

“Where am I?” she asked under his thumb, which slowly moved aside as her lips moved against it.

“In my chambers Miss Granger. We found you outside in the snow,” he said.

Memories started coming back to her and she struggled from under him, “Lucy, I have to owl my mu-”

“It’s all been taken care of, your cousin Lucy will be fine,” the look in his eyes convinced her this time, but troubled her as well, there was something different in them, something unreadable that she had never seen before. It was like his eyes weren’t just two dark marbles anymore; they looked softer.

“How did you know?” she asked, it was getting harder for her to stay awake.

“Your letter, the headmaster and I have read it and are assessing the situation.”

She closed her eyes then and he got up to leave.

“Professor,” she whispered as she felt him slip away, “please stay, it’s so terribly cold.”

After stirring awake, she was greeted by a warm body next to hers, that gave her some comfort.

“I feel more comfortable when you’re near,” she said softly. “Please?”

He looked at her, and he didn’t know why, but he gave in. He sat atop the covers, propped by a few black silk pillows, and cradled her upper body against his chest.

Severus was almost asleep when he heard her screaming again, “You’ll kill him! Harry! Ron no! Draco leave them alone! Tom! I’ll go, just don’t. Just don’t…don’t…” She was crying again.

“It’s ok,” he whispered to her holding her tighter, trying to move to her head to face his, so that she could see she was safe.

She must have realized where she was, because she put her arm around his chest and cried herself to sleep with her face buried in his neck. He held the hand she placed on his chest, because she kept moving it trying to get closer to him, while the other firmly held her waist.

Hermione was cold again, and he noticed it, he mumbled something and another blanket appeared this time over the two of them.

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Severus Snape had senses like a hawk or better, because the moment Albus Dumbledore walked into his chambers his eye flipped open.

“She was very cold I see,” Dumbledore said thoughtfully. “Or was it the nightmares?”

“You know about the nightmares?” Snape asked.

“I’ve heard, from Misss Patel and Miss Brown. She often wakes up screaming, sweating and crying. Though, lately to my understanding they had subsided,” the headmaster answered. “Odd, though, that they have returned.”

Severus nodded, not quite sure what was going on with Miss Granger.

“Severus, get ready. It’s time to visit her parents.”

Snape eased himself away from her, said a cleansing spell and walked out with Dumbledore into the Muggle World.

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Around half past six that evening, Severus Snape walked back into his chambers after spending the entire day with Muggles and attending a very boring dinner meeting with the staff. He found the house elf Susu reading to a sleeping Hermione Granger.

“She cannot hear you,” he said deprecatingly.

“Susu knows, but Susu also knows Hermione Granger has a favorite book. Susu wants Hermione Granger to get better,” the little elf said.

“You are relieved of your duty. Leave,” Severus remarked dryly. He was exhausted, and highly irritated. The last thing he needed was a cheerful houself dressed in a pastel pink, ruffled with frills dress, to annoy him further.

Susu dropped the book on the table, ran over to the bed, kissed Hermione on her cheek and scurried away from a seemingly annoyed Potions Master.

When she left he put a ward on the room.

Pride and Prejudice, he read the title. What muggle nonsense, the thought throwing it on the dresser.

He changed into his nightclothes, black silk pants, he always slept shirtless, and his night robe of a deep velvet green with silver trimmings. After adding more heat to the fire, nights were always colder, he sat at the other end of his room and finished reading The Daily Prophet.

Around seven o’clock Madame Pomfrey apparated a bowl of soup into the chambers instructing Hermione to take it once she awakened.

He threw the note in the fire and walked over to the bed to wake her. She looked peaceful, no more bad dreams. That was a good sign.

“Hermione,” he said delicately touching her shoulders.

Her eyes slowly opened and a small smile crept from her lips.

“What time is it?” If he didn’t have keen hearing, he wouldn’t have heard her.

“Almost half past seven…at night. Madame Pomfrey sent you some food, and I am to make sure that you consume it,” he said gaining back his parched toned at the end of his sentence.

He placed the bed tray in front of her and watched her sip her soup slowly. The silver spoon caressing her lips as she slowly finished her meal. The second she did, the entire tray disappeared and she started to get up from the bed.

“Where do you think you are going, Miss Granger?”

“Can I walk around-”

“No.”

“I can’t go back to sleep so can you at least let me-”

“No.”

“-stretch… Can you stay up and talk to me?”

His eyes narrowed and he took a seat on a long couch at the other end of the room.

“This…is yours?” she asked referring to his room.

Severus didn’t answer, he only nodded.

“It’s nice…”

“You do not need to flatter me Miss Granger, I can do without patronizing.”

That hurt her, she was trying to be nice and civil to him. He had given up his bed for her, and carried her out of the snow. He had stayed with her and held her.

“No, I mean it. I like it. It’s a bit dark, but it’s lovely.”

He remained expressionless.

“That blanket…the black one, the fur, is that yours?”

“Yes.”

“You covered me that first ni-”

“Yes,” his answers were all short and clipped.

If she didn’t know any better she would have assumed his didn’t wish to speak with her. And her assumptions were probably right, but she continued speaking to him anyway.

“Thank you. It was kind of you.”

“I wasn’t going to have you falling ill under my care Miss Granger, although it seems your carelessness eventually leads to the inevitable.”

“I’m sorry,” she said meekly. Hermione was embarrassed he had seen her so vulnerable, for he was the last person, save Draco Malfoy, she ever wanted to see her that way.

He didn’t answer her.

“Your desk, in your office, where did you find it?”

“It was a gift.”

“Oh, it’s beautiful.”

“I know,” he continued with this clipping remarks.

“Do you know who made it?”

“Yes.”

“Professor?” Hermione asked. She felt as if she was beginning to have a conversation with herself.

“Yes, Miss Granger?”

“Where will you sleep tonight?”

“I was going to sleep here Miss Granger, since my bed is being occupied at the moment.” His tone was callous and sarcastic.

“Can you sleep with me?”

“I beg your pardon?” he spit out the words clearly taken aback.

Even she realized what she meant to say came out the wrong way.

“No, wait. I don’t mean ‘sleep’ with me. I mean ‘sleep’ with me. Platonically, of course, like I do with Harry or Ron when we need a shoulder to lean on,” that was too much information, but it was too late to take it back, his eyes narrowed after that.

She started explaining to him what she really meant, “Not ‘sleeping with me’ it’s more like just staying with me…please…I feel safer when you’re near…my dreams…they have been…” her voice trailed off and she looked down at her hands.

“Yes, I know,” he said more calmly.

“How-”

“I’ve heard your screams.”

“Oh,” her cheeks burned, she was embarrassed again. How much more information did he know, much less what other stupid things would come out of her mouth before she could stop them.

“Miss Granger, Draco Malfoy is a large waste of time, becoming less Slytherin daily. He has nothing on you, so I would hope that that would help you detain yourself from having anymore dreams of Mister Malfoy murdering your friends.” He got up began walking towards her with a small vile in his hand.

“Did I say that much?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t ask for an explanation, but she was going to give him one, she felt she owed it to him, “He harasses me…suggestively. I ignore him of course, but sometimes, when I feel really stressed, he takes advantage and he tell me things or calls me names, and I suppose subconsciously he haunts me.”

“Well, Miss Granger, drink this and I promise you that Mister Malfoy won’t be haunting your dreams tonight.” He handed her the vial that contained a neon pink liquid, almost like the one she brewed the other day with him.

“What is it?”

“You do not recognize your own potion, Miss Granger? That is pathetic.”

“This is not-”

“Yes it is.”

“What does it do?”

“Relaxes the nerves, clears the mind and calms the body. It’s a Calming but Dreamless Draught,” he answered the question before he knew she was going to ask it.

“How did you know, about me then-”

“I didn’t.”

“Thank you,” she drank it and lay the empty vile on the nightstand.

She scooted over on the bed and looked at him.

“What happens in this room, Miss Granger, never should leave,” he didn’t take off his robe, rather he just sat up, propping himself with pillows and lightly put his arm around her.

For some reason, it didn’t feel right address him as ‘Professor’ after all; they were ‘in bed together’.

“Severus?” she asked, wondering what his reaction might be to her addressing him by his first name. “Can call you Severus?”

“Yes, Hermione?” he asked with his eyes closed. “And yes, you may, since we are in my bedroom at the moment. But be aware, that these casual tendencies shall cease outside of these rooms.

“Look at me…please,” she lifted her head so that her face was just inches from his.

“If I open my eyes will you sleep? Or will you continue to talk until the sun rises and deprive us both of some much needed rest?” he drawled out harshly.

“I promise,” she answered.

Opening his eyes, he found her small face to close for his liking. Her warm brown eyes looked at his softly and curiously.

“I know that, well you, you know?” she started. He gave her a curious look.

“No, I mean, well you know? I know you don’t get along with a lot of people,” her words were going all wrong.

“Miss Granger, is there a point to this?” He went back to calling her ‘Miss Granger.’

“I just wanted to thank you again. It means a lot to me,” she said ever so sweetly and she kissed him lightly on the lips, lay her head back on his shoulder and feel asleep.

He sat there stunned, with an expressionless look on his face. She had just kissed him. He doubted she knew what she was doing, for in her right senses she wouldn’t have done so, much less cuddled beside him, holding on to his robes with a death grip.

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Somehow throughout the night Severus’ robe loosened in the front and Hermione ended up on top of him, her head on his bare chest, her body between his thighs and her arms around his waist.

When morning arrived, Severus was too exhausted to get him, and having awakened first, noticed just how their bodies had tangled. The feelings he was getting from being near her and touching her was not professional and he was not ready to deal with them.

He tried to move, but she held on to him, “Not yet,” Hermione whispered. She slid her hand up his chest to his shoulders; he didn’t move.

“No more bad dreams?” he asked dryly, anything to take his mind off of the fact that he was half naked and the Gryffindor princess from hell was holding on to him, and neatly positioned between his legs.

“No,” she said sleepily.

Hermione slid her hand back down his chest and began to trace a single scar he had across him. She heard him make a sharp intake of breath before seizing her hand in its place.

“Don’t do that,” he said raggedly.

“Why not?” she asked curiously.

“Because I said so,” he said firmly, wondering how naïve she really was.

“That mark, did it pain you?”

“All cuts are painful when first inflicted.”

“What is it from?” she continued.

“A knife. Must you talk this much in the morning too?” he asked, wondering if that mouth of hers ever took a rest. That pretty little mouth of her, he could think of a few things he would like to do with it. Those thoughts made him uncomfortable as quickly as he had conjured them in his brain. The little witch was beginning to unnerve him.

“Does it still hurt?” she prodded, touching the scar again.

“Don’t be silly Miss Granger, scars don’t hurt.”

“But you’re dark mark-”

“That is none of your business,” he growled. She felt the remark resonate through his body and jerked slightly.

His chin was resting upon her head, while he stroked her hair. She didn’t want to say anything to make him angry at her, but she was curious as to how long she had to remain in his rooms.

“Professor?” she asked.

“Yes, Miss Granger?” he drawled out in a tone letting her know he was tired.

“When do you think I can get back to my studies?” He let out a deep sigh and came back to a very harsh reality.

“Whenever, Madame Pomfrey feels like releasing the two of us from her strictly-in-bed-watched-at-all-times instructions. Moreso, you than I, be assured of that.”

Hermione laughed.

“Is something funny Miss Granger?”

“I’ve never heard you speak like that, that’s all…its nice.”

“Do not get use to it, I can assure you that you will not be hearing anything similar to it anytime soon,” he got out of bed after that and didn’t turn back to look at her.

No less than five minutes later did Madame Pomfrey send Susu down to keep Hermione’s company and watch over her.

“Susu has an owl for Hermione Granger,” the little elf said handing an envelop to Hermione.

“Thank you, Susu,” Hermione said, tearing the top of the envelop off.


‘Dearest Hermione,

I cannot begin to tell you how relieved I am to hear that you are better. Your father and I have been beside ourselves with worry.

A professor from Hogwarts came to see us a few days ago with your headmaster and someone from the Ministry of Magic, although I cannot remember what department. It all happened so fast. They expressed a keen interest in Lucy’s condition, although I cannot imagine how they even knew.

Darling, I just wanted to inform you that whatever they gave her, Lucy is recovering fast, and soon she should be back home and life should be getting back to normal again. When Spring break comes, we promised that you would visit.

Please thank those men on our behalf, your uncle Luke and aunt Lucinda cannot even begin to sum their praises in words, but I hope that this can.

As soon as Lucy is feeling better, we shall take a portrait of her using that camera you left with us, the one where the pictures move once they are developed.

Much Love,

Mummy’


An immense amount of relief swept over her and she couldn’t wait to see Severus again. He did that, he saved Lucy, he knew and he saved her.

Hermione was still very sick, Madame Pomfrey had come to see her and said she could leave within the week, but to take it easy. She was in no mood to talk to Susu for the entire day and somehow convinced the little elf that she was extremely tired and would have preferred to be alone. After Susu was gone, Hermione got off the bed and went looking for Snape’s bathroom.

It was so masculine and darkly sensual. The walls resembled stone, the sink looked like it was made from jade and the shower curtain was forest green velvet. Not to mention the bathroom was huge. She had no idea, he was so thoughtful in his décor. Though it made perfect sense, considering the sheer size of his bedroom, the large ebony wooded, four-poster kind size bed.

Hermione stood under the showerhead and let the water just bask her in this warmth. She stepped out of the shower and did a spell putting another pair of pajamas on, it was a pair of deep red pants and a matching spaghetti tank top with tiny gold linings at the edges, her Gryffindor colors.

She walked out of the shower anxious to see Severus, she wanted to thank him for taking care of Lucy, it meant so much to her. Even though Lucy was eight years younger than Hermione, from the moment Lucy was born, she relied on Hermione for everything, even though Hermione was miles and miles away. Lucy would owl her often sending her drawing of little things and writing her notes complaining about primary school and how terrible the boys were. Then last year, Lucy fell ill, very ill, with something very rare and very unknown to a lot of doctors. Hermione looked it up in some of her books at Hogwarts and found out that it was part of the Diseases in the Dark Arts, because often or not, Dark wizards would inflict it upon their victims as a slow way of dying because it would cause them a immensely terrible flu with the inflamed sinuses that led into a coma or rather sudden death. There weren’t many ways to cure it. One was a potion and the other way much too complicated for Hermione to even dream about.

Sometime around seven in the evening Susu reappeared again with Hermione’s dinner. Once she finished, Susu left telling her that Professor Snape was back and should be joining her shortly, or rather, “Severus Snape who is Slytherin and mean is on his way.”

Hermione could hardly contain herself, she so wanted to just tell him how relieved she was and how it was all due to him, so much so she began pacing the room.

She didn’t hear when he came in and warded the room, as he usually did at night.

“You shouldn’t be out of bed,” he hissed.

Hermione turned around and saw him glaring at her in his night robe, she ran over to him, threw her arms around him and kissed his cheeks about ten times before he pulled her away exasperated.

“Miss Granger, what are you doing!” He grabbed her wrists and held her in front of him…at a distance.

“I know what you did,” she said merrily.

He arched an eyebrow, “What did I do?”

“Lucy, thank you,” she was smiling silly at him and he released her walking away from her briskly to avoid her touch.

“How did you find out?”

“My mum, she owled me today. Her and dad send their thanks too.”

“No thanks needed,” he reassured her.

He sat down on his bed breezing over the note her mother sent her; Hermione had left it lying there all day. She came over and sat next to him.

“I can remember it, as though it was yesterday you know,” she said suddenly.

“Remember what, Miss Granger?”

“Remember the day Lucy got sick.”

“You do not need to tell-”

“It’s ok, I want you to know, so maybe you can understand just how much I love you right now…”

“Proceed,” he said nonchalantly to her.

“It was last summer, three days before I was returning to Hogwarts. Lucy was nine, then, and she loved butterflies. My aunt and uncle have a flat in Manchester and a small forest in the back. I took her for a walk to look at nature and listen to her rant and rave about her last year in primary school. On our way back, no more than two feet out of the forest, she fell on the grass and she started coughing. I was with her the whole time, I swear I didn’t see her touch anything poisonous or touch anything dangerous,” Hermione began to cry, slow salty tears.

His heart broke for her then, he didn’t show it, but all he wanted to do was grab her and kiss the pain away. He didn’t know why he felt that way about her, and even so, he hated to see women crying. His mother cried a lot because of his father.

“She wouldn’t stop coughing, and sooner than later she was coughing blood and couldn’t move. They took her to the emergency room and no one knew what was wrong with her. They called in specialists from all across England, but no one helped. When I left for Hogwarts she was getting worse day by day, her consciousness was fading, and soon enough, that night, when Harry, Ron and I went to Hogsmeade and you caught us coming back, remember?”

He nodded.

“I was so stressed and so worried, I needed relief. That’s why we went, before we left I had spent hours in the library researching potions because that morning I had gotten another letter from my mother, her coma was worse than before, and they had officially put her on life support. I needed to solution and I needed one soon, that’s why…that’s why I chose my project, I needed to help her, I had to help her…” Hermione’s tears were flowing down her cheeks and she didn’t bother to wipe them, she grabbed his hands rather, held them to her heart and said, “And then there was you…you saved her… you saved me.”

Her last words fully tore him apart, he grabbed her face and fervently kissed her tears away. His lips brushed hers and he stared into her eyes. She made the first move and barely grazed his lips before he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, fully, long, deep, thrusting kisses.

Severus lay down on the bed holding Hermione atop him intensely ravaging her mouth, when she ran her fingers through his hair returning the kiss just as intensely a sharp point of reality hit him.

He unwillingly pulled away from her and forced her head to rest in the crook of his neck.
They remained that way for a long while, reflecting, panting for air and completely bemused with one another. Once he felt her heart rate slow down, he muttered a few spells, covered them with the sheets, dimmed the candles and kissed her on her forehead, holding her securely against him.

He didn’t say anything after he tore his lips from hers and she thought the better of it by keeping her mouth shut, and simply allowing herself to feel the joy of him. To her, his body felt like hot steel, comforting and amazing hot steel.