For All The Love In The World

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters in this story; I only own the plot!

Chapter Five
For All The Love In The World

Snape made the potion quickly, and was able to administer it within a couple of hours. But Hermione was still not moving. Nor was she talking. None of her friends could get her to move, and it wasn’t through lack of trying either. It had been eight days since the attack and her meetings with Malfoy had been discovered. Snape sat in the shadows watching Hermione in the peace that weekends often gave. This peace, unfortunately, was soon interrupted.

"Maybe if we tell her she hasn't done her homework. That might work."

"She knows that she is at least two weeks ahead... in everything." Harry smiled fondly at Hermione as he reached her bedside.

"What about making up stuff she is missing?"

"Ron, if she has done the homework she would know what is in the lesson as well! Plus, she reads the books before the end of summer anyway, so she would know if we were making something up."

"What about a school trip she is missing?"

"To where?"

"I don't know."

"Or maybe we could tell her that Snape smiled," Harry snickered.

"She would have a heart attack; that wouldn't make her talk."

"Or maybe that he washed his hair?"

"That might work."

"Not just dreaming about me, boys, but talking about me, too! I must say, I am almost flattered." Snape strode towards the two boys. "You would think that you would learn you should never talk about someone unless you are absolutely certain they are not around to hear what you are saying."

"Yes, sir."

"I'm surprised you didn't notice me, Potter. Professor McGonagall is always harping on about how you always know she is watching or listening, even in cat form.” Snape's lips lifted into a smirk. “Well, actually, it only seems to be when she is in cat form. There has been a noticeable lack of attention in class from you."

"I'm allergic to cats, sir."

"You're what?"

"Cats cause me to have a bad reaction, or they used to. I think I am growing out of it. Anyway, it's like somebody is tickling the inside of my nose or throat when one is around. So I know when Professor McGonagall is there."

"Hmm, be that as it may..."

"Professor...?" A raspy unused voice reached their ears and they all turned to the bed. Hermione was attempting to sit up. "Did someone say you washed your hair? And… and you smiled?" She collapsed back onto the bed, eyes closed.

Snape successfully hid the smile that was fighting to grace his face."If this wasn't a serious situation, I would find that almost ironic."

"What was that, sir?"

"That..." Snape scowled. "What are you two boys doing here, anyway? You are meant to be in class."

Harry and Ron looked at each other, before Harry answered. Even the truth was going to get them in some trouble – it was Snape after all.

"We finished our work so we were allowed to leave early."

"Do you have a note?"

"Yes, sir."

"Hand it over." Snape's annoyance rose as he read the note. "It says you were going to the library to further your research."

"It does?" Ron grabbed at the note without thinking. "We never said that we were going to the library."

"Obviously, Professor Sprout thought that you were going there. She has too much faith in her students." Snape smirked at Ron, who gulped knowing that a smirk was never a good thing, and on Snape it was even worse. "And fifty points from Gryffindor for being rude to your Professor."

"I wasn't rude."

"Ten points for talking back."

"But..."

"Five points for annoying me."

McGonagall, who had, up to that point, been standing outside the Hospital Wing’s door, let her presence be known.

"Severus! You cannot take points from a student just because you deem them to be annoying you." The three of them turned to see a smiling McGonagall. "And I see that, unfortunately, the thought of you smiling caused Miss Granger to leave us again." Snape scowled as McGonagall continued, "What are you two boys doing out of your lessons?"

"We finished our work, so Professor Sprout let us out early."

"To go to the library, and as you can see they are not in the library," Snape jumped in, hating the fact he sounded like a petty school boy.

McGonagall smiled at the boys. "Well, I can understand you wanted to come see your friend, so I will let you off this once."

"I am..." Snape began to protest but McGonagall was too quick.

"Quite capable of dealing with students? I know, but you seem to be quite biased towards my Gryffindors.

Snape glared at McGonagall before he stormed out of the Hospital Wing in a huff.

"Now then, how is Hermione?"

"She woke up when we said that Snape..."

"Professor Snape."

"Yeah, anyway… when we said that he had washed his hair and that he had smiled; she commented and then she fell back to sleep, or whatever it is she’s doing again. Professor Snape said that it would be ironic if this wasn't such a serious situation, but he refused to explain."

McGonagall chuckled.

"I'm sure that it amused him that the only thing to wake Hermione was saying something about him."

"Do you think she will be okay?" Ron asked, the tips of his ears turning red.

"I'm sure she will. She is a very strong witch." McGonagall glanced at Hermione. 'I just hope she's strong enough'.

There was a crash at the door which caused them to look up.

"Now!" Snape pulled Malfoy by his ear and threw him into the Hospital Wing.

"No." Malfoy tried desperately to struggle out of Snape’s grip.

"Mr Malfoy, if you do not do it now, you will find yourself expelled, and there will be nothing I can do to stop that happening," Snape growled.

"You can't prove anything."

"Am I going to be forced to remove points from my own House?"

"Do what you like; I'm not doing it."

"What would your fellow Housemates say, and how your father would feel if, all of a sudden, Slytherin was in the minuses because of you!"

"My father wouldn't care, he told me..." Malfoy began arrogantly, only to be interrupted by Snape, who sneered at his attitude.

"Oh, I believe he would, being on the Board of Governors; imagine how embarrassed he would be."

"I'm not doing it."

"Malfoy! You will do it now. Do not push me."

"Fine." He turned to Hermione and muttered a few words that no one else could make out.

"NOW GET OUT!" Snape bellowed, hand pointing to the door.

All the yelling and arguing had brought Pomfrey out from her office.

"Now, Severus, you know better than to shout in here."

"I apologise."

Harry and Ron's jaws dropped. Snape, 'greasy git, bat of the dungeons' had just apologised.

"Of course, it was because I was trying to save a student’s life. I hope that is all right with you?"

Ah, there he was. The snarky Potions Master hadn't suddenly transformed into a nice, considerate Professor - and all was well in the world.

"Who?" Pomfrey looked confused.

"Miss Granger. Mr Malfoy had a few charms on her that were activated from the removal of the necklace."

McGonagall looked up at him. "But, Severus, you said..."

"I am well aware of what I said, Minerva, but it needed to be removed, and she would have been in the same condition regardless, because the necklace had the same effect as charms. I did what was right."

"Of course, Severus." McGonagall turned to the boys, who were still staring at Snape like he had just grown great, big, pink bunny ears. "Boys, I believe that dinner is being served."

"Oh, right." Ron's stomach growled.

Harry elbowed him. "It's late. You're gonna have to fix that. We use that to tell the time you know."

"I was too busy being shocked. It's bound to throw it off a bit. It should be fine now," Ron said indignantly. He patted Hermione's hand. "We'll be back soon."

Both boys left without looking back, therefore missing the looks on the faces of their Professors.

They were glaring at each other, although McGonagall had an amused smirk on her lips and was trying desperately not to laugh.

***

Harry sat at the Gryffindor table, and although he piled food onto his plate, he didn’t touch any of it.

Ron looked at his friend, concerned.

“Harry, mate, what’s the matter? You’ve been acting weird ever since we sat down.”

“I’m sorry, it’s just, well, Snape.”

“What about him? He’s not something you usually want to think about too much. The greasiness might be catching.” Ron laughed at his own joke, but Harry remained stony-faced.

“No, it is not about that. I don’t understand why he stormed out and then brought Malfoy back. How did he know? Did he even know before that? Was he just drawing things out so that he could be the saviour? And why would he want to be Hermione’s saviour? Why? I just don’t get it!”

“You think too much.” Ron shovelled a large amount of food into his mouth.

“You don’t understand; there’s something up with the way Snape is acting.”

“Whatever.”

“I don’t need you to act like Hermione; I have her voice in my head. You usually agree with me when it comes to that git!”

“Sorry. I guess you’re right. I just can’t see any reason why he would be hiding anything, or delaying something that could help Herms.”

“You know she hates that nickname?”

“I know; that’s why I like to use it.” Ron smiled. “Now, you should eat before the food disappears; it’s really good today.”

Harry relented and began eating, whilst trying to stop thinking about Snape and his strange behaviour.

Maybe he was just imagining it.

***

AN: Thank you again to my Beta snarkyroxy, who worked hard to get this back to me as soon as she could ;-p

And a big thank you to my reviewers... the more I get - the more guilty I feel if I haven't updated (hint hint) Lol!

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