AFTERWARDS

A/N: I invented 'Sanguis Castus' - Sanguis means Blood, Castus means Clean Pure

Hermione was woken by a knock at the door, followed by another. Taking her wand she approached it carefully.

‘It’s me, Harry. I’ve brought some food…and Madame Pomfrey.’ He was speaking quickly. Hermione opened the door and her two visitors entered quietly.

‘My dear girl, look at you.’ Madame Pomfrey took Hermione’s hands in hers and looked her up and down, taking her dishevelled appearance.

‘I’m fine. It’s the Professor we need to worry about.’ Hermione pulled Madame Pomfrey over to where he was sleeping.

‘I cleaned his wound, used dittany for the bleeding and I made enough Sanguis Castus potion for 3 doses. I don’t know if it will be enough. He’s had a sleeping draught too, he was delirious…’ Hermione was wringing her hands, her eyes roaming from Madame Pomfrey’s face back to the Professor’s. Madame Pomfrey examined his neck and took in his calm countenance.

‘Professor Snape is very fortunate to have such an excellent nurse. Sanguis Castus is very hard to make, he will be very proud of you.’ Madame Pomfrey smiled, her eyes shining at Hermione in admiration. She laid a hand on the Professor’s forehead. ‘Poor Severus.’ She murmured.

‘Will he…’ Hermione bit her lip ‘Will the Professor… I mean, he won’t…’ She choked back a sob that had risen suddenly as she looked at his sleeping form.

Madame Pomfrey patted her on her shoulder. ‘You’ve done a marvellous job, but you need to eat. No food and no sleep, no wonder you’re distressed!’ She smiled kindly, unaware she had misconstrued the source of Hermione’s emotional outburst.

Madame Pomfrey turned to Harry. ‘Mr Potter, I have to return to my other patients but I will call again tomorrow. Look after Miss Granger.’

Hermione watched her leave and wrapped her arms tightly around herself.

‘Here, Kreacher made us some food.’ Harry handed her a sandwich and a bottle of Butterbeer. She took them gratefully and perched herself at the end of Snape’s bed while Harry pulled the chair around.
‘How’s Ron?’ She asked through small mouthfuls.

‘Gone home. Fred’s funeral is in two days. They’re burying him in the back meadow, you know, where we played Quidditch.’

Harry’s eyes glazed over and Hermione looked at him as if she had never seen him before. He had aged in the past week and looked like a man. If Hermione had a mirror, she would notice that she had changed too and the teenage awkwardness had been replaced with maturity beyond her years.

‘Are you going?’ She asked him.

‘Of course! Aren’t you?’ Harry stared at her, his eyes wide.

‘It depends. I might need to stay with the Professor, if he needs more potion I mean…’ She avoided his eye. Hermione knew she could make the potion and leave Severus in the capable hands of Madame Pomfrey, but the truth was she didn’t want to leave him, not until she knew for sure he was fully recovered.

‘But Hermione!’ Harry couldn’t believe his ears. ‘It’s Fred! And Ron, well, he needs you! You can’t pretend you don’t know how he feels about you, not after everything…’ He had stood up and started to pace the room.

‘I know, Harry.’ Hermione bit her lip. ‘The thing is… I don’t feel the same and now isn’t the time to tell him, is it?’ She looked up at him, her eyes sad.

She didn’t want to hurt Ron but things were different now. Before, there had been no hope and although she was ashamed to admit it, she had always known Ron was her fallback. But now, she knew that she would never feel for Ron what she felt for Severus and it would be unfair to allow him to think they had a future. Even if there were no chance for Hermione, she wouldn’t lead Ron down the garden path.

‘You don’t? But I thought… you said there was someone, I always thought you meant Ron…’ He looked at her, shock evident on his face.

‘Please, don’t say anything to him Harry. I will tell him, I promise, but not yet. And there is someone, but it’s complicated so please, don’t ask me.’ She stared at him beseechingly.

Harry shrugged. ‘OK.’ He slumped into the chair and they didn’t speak for some time. Unable to bear the silence, Hermione finally spoke.

‘Look, why don’t you go back up to the castle? Ask Kreacher to come if I call him and I’ll let you know if there’s any change. There isn’t space for us both to sleep here and I have to stay. You look exhausted and you need a good nights’ sleep.’

Harry looked at her. She had him totally confused and he realised that in the midst of the fight against Voldermort they hadn’t really got to know each other at all.

‘Fine, Hermione. But if he wakes, let me know, please? I need to talk to him.’

She smiled a small smile, aware that something between them had shifted. ‘Of course. I’ll call Kreacher.’

Harry looked at her as he opened the door to leave. ‘Are you OK?’ He asked her.

‘I will be, I think.’ She smiled gently and turned away as he closed the door.