Wandering

Something was not right. The normal pull and pressure of Apparating did not crush the air from ones lungs with such force as this. Severus held tight to Hermione as the world danced in unfamiliar colors and patterns. Soon he had the distinct feeling they were upside-down or perhaps on their side.

Suddenly the earth relented its spinning and they were roughly deposited on the snow-covered earth, each letting out an appropriate groan as the ice bit into their already aching flesh. Hermione shook her head as she rose up on her knees and wiped her hand over her eyes before looking around.

Thick snow drifted in lazy flurries around them as they sat at the edge of a forest. Smooth rolling hills loomed ahead; each lined with low stone walls, and deep in the center, at the peak of the highest hill, stood a cabin of sorts. Her chest tightened and a sob of relief issued forth as a thin plume of smoke languidly twisted into the sky from its stone chimney.

Severus pushed the heel of his palm hard over his chest trying to stifle the pain, and managed to stand. The temperature was biting cold and a harsh wind lashed his hair across his face. He reached for Hermione when her sob reached his ears, fearing they had once again been deposited in a foreign land, but then he saw the cabin and the smoke rising from it and breathed a small sigh of relief. At least Miss Granger would be safe, though he highly doubted his safe passage into the Order’s keep.

Carefully rising to his feet, he attempted to pull her up with him, though his strength was drastically weakened from their recent attack and he stumbled back, hitting the ground hard once again. Hermione whipped around, stooped over him, worrying he was too hurt to walk, and made a bit of a fuss.

“Really Miss Granger that is not necessary.” He whispered as she pulled him up, frowning at his sway and cringing as the wounds between her legs seared. He reached around her shoulders to bring her close to his body and she in turn, slid an arm around his back. Slowly they began the painstaking walk up the snow-covered grass towards the promising smoke. Severus’s body again betrayed him and he began to tremble, feeling more and more unsure about his footing as the last wisps of strength slipped away from him. Halfway up the great hill his legs buckled and terrible pain shot through his chest, he grit his teeth and tried to breathe as he felt the earth and sky bend around him, the sudden impact of the earth surprised him but the white hot pain shooting through his body distracted him quickly from it.

Miss Granger’s voice was muffled and distant; her soft face swam in and out of focus. The sky was grey and dull behind her and her broken face was curtained by her messy curls as she called his name. He worked his lips but no sound came out. One of her tears splashed warm and wet on his cheek before he closed his eyes against the pain.

This was it, Hermione thought to herself, he’s dead…he’s dead and I’ve lost him. Tears poured down her cheeks as she did her best to run up the hill, praying someone inside would help him. She did not stop her sobs as she continually slipped in the snow, crawling back on her hands and knees to get to her feet, only to take a few steps and fall again.

She managed to run a few paces, gaining enough speed to keep herself upright, when her foot caught in a snow-covered branch and she hit the ground hard. She cried out and remained on the ground, dazed as she felt the hot trickle of blood on her forehead. She heard footsteps rushing towards her, crunching in the snow, and reached for her wand. The pocket was empty, Professor Snape still had it. She brought a trembling hand over her face and resolved to her defeat, broken and bleeding without defense in the cold powder.

“Oh my gods Hermione! OH GODS RON RON GET OUT HERE! REMUS! GET OUT HERE NOW!” Harry’s voice sailed firm and strong over her and her heart lifted. She felt his strong arms around her back and knees, lifting her from the snow. Suddenly his warmth flooded over her as she rested her cheek against his chest. She felt him running with her in his arms, painfully her body jerked with his steps.

“Oy Hermione!” Ron’s voice met her ears as the warmth of the cabin surrounded her. She could feel the fire on her side as she was lowered on the hearthrug. Harry’s face loomed over hers and she grabbed his arm suddenly, her eyes widening. “Harry! Harry Professor Snape is out there! Please…please Harry you have to help him.” She watched as the hate and furry that always played across his face at the mention of Snape flashed and her heart sank. The Professor was going to die, might already be dead, someone had to help him.

She caught sight of Remus and thanked Merlin, “Remus please he is dying. Please hurry and I will explain everything. Please, help him.” Remus gave her a nod before racing out of the cabin.

The sun had set in the time Hermione left him on his back in the snow. Remus illuminated his wand, squinting in the circle of light it cast. Grey snow flurries swirled in his line of sight and the bluish light flooded onto the snow covered hill. He followed Hermione’s tracks in the hope of finding Severus quickly, moving a swift pace and hoping he was not too late. Hermione had told him Severus’s story a few months after Dumbledore passed and while he may not entirely trust the dark man, he did have a deep respect for him.

“Merlin.” He whispered, his breath rolling from his lips in curling vapors. Severus lay on his back, finely dusted in snow. His raven hair blew around his face softly with flakes delicately clinging to the dark locks and his long eyelashes. He lived; his breath barely showing in the light but his body shook fiercely. The traveling cloak around his shoulders was far too small for him and what was left of his robes was not much to be said for.

Quickly Remus pulled his own winter cloak off and draped it over Severus.

“Severus, open your eyes.” He called softly as he bent to gather the man up. He watched his pale lids flutter and disrupt the snowflakes, “Don’t be alarmed. We have Hermione and I am going to help you.” With that, Remus lifted his body and headed for the cabin.

The fire crackled and a small hearth clock sent out a melodic tick. Severus’s face grimaced and he shifted slightly in his bed, piled high with thick quilts and elevated to help his breathing. Harry was able to fetch Madame Pomfrey the night Hermione and the Potions Master were discovered. It was not a moment to soon either. Terrible sickness wracked his broken body, a high fever had plagued him for days and his lungs crackled thickly with fluid. Poppy had done her best, but he had been sick a long time and the wet stone floors of his cell and the rough treatment he received at the hands of his captors only made him worse. She was also worried for his heart, it was weak and caused him pain and she could not find the cause.

Then there was her dear Hermione, poor girl, who had been so terribly scared and injured in that gruesome attack. She was able to heal her body but desperately feared for her spirit. Hermione did not speak for days, resting her head on Severus’s arm as she sat beside his bed in her constant vigil. Harry and Ron scowled at this but Remus had given them stern warning to be gentle with her, there were things about Snape they did not yet know.

Nights were terrible. Severus’s fever spiked despite the potions Hermione administered via instruction of their healer. His nightmares often shook him so badly that his blankets made it to the ground and woke the rest; the things he would scream made their toes curl. Gradually Harry almost felt sorry for the man and he could tell Ron was thinking the same, though he would never admit it.

Hermione was by his side in the small room they made for him. A fireplace crackled at the foot of his bed and a thin draft floated in through the frosted window. She gladly sank into the plush green material, tucked her legs underneath her, and leaned her weight on his bed. The hour was well past two, Beads of sweat formed on his brow and his dark eyebrows twitched as he mumbled unintelligibly. “Albus…stop…no that’s not…ALBUS NO ALBUS!” His eyes shot open and his palm flew over his heart. Hermione jumped and got to her feet just as he shut his lids tight against the pain.

His breathing ceased, as he pressed harder still into his chest, forming deep lines by his eyes. Hermione became alarmed as his skin grew ashen. “Please Professor breathe, keep breathing it will pass…just breathe…” Slowly he complied, he turned his head to meet her eyes and her heart did a flip, it was his first, conscious recognition of her in days. Something flashed in his eyes and without thinking; she reached up and brushed a lock of his hair away from his face.

Slowly his eyes focused on the warm room around him. His chest felt heavy and raw and his lungs screamed with every inhalation. Quickly his ears noticed the ticking of the clock and he turned his eyes towards it, scowling at its hour. Hermione put a gentle hand on his shoulder and carefully pushed him back against the elevated cushions. He licked his lips and shuddered with a tremor of pain; a cool cloth met his face and he relished the feel of it against his hot skin.

“The hour is…late…you should be…resting.” He whispered to her. She left the cloth draped softly over his forehead and settled back into her chair, apparently oblivious to his objection. He scowled, “Miss Granger you should go and rest…you need to sleep—” but she cut him off before he could finish.

“I can’t sleep away from you alright. Now please stop heckling me, I know it is foolish.” He thought he saw color rise in her cheeks but his eyesight was not to be trusted yet. Her response quieted him and he returned his look to the fire, puzzled by her words. It was one thing for her to cling so desperately to him in the woods when they were lost and alone, but here with her most loved friends? Frankly, he was surprised Potter had not killed him on sight. Slowly the memory of Lupin surfaced and he remembered the kind words of his old enemy.

“How is your pain? Can I give you anything?” Hermione’s quiet voice broke into his thoughts and pulled oddly at his heart. Why was she asking after his health when she had been…attacked…in the worst of ways just yesterday.

“I believe it is your health…Miss Granger…not mine that wants attending.”

Hermione stared at him before realizing he did not know the day. “Professor it has been nearly seven days.”

Seven days? How could it have been seven days? The girl must be ill, had anyone cared for her? “Miss Granger it can not have been…you need rest…and a healer…” Hermione reached beside his bed and grabbed a small vial, then gently took his hand into hers and opened his fingers, pressing the vial into his hand. He scowled and brought it to his face, reading the familiar inscription from Poppy.

‘For Severus Snape, administer three drops QID for chest pains.’ The vial was near empty. He sighed and let his hand fall to the mattress. Again, Hermione’s delicate fingers ghosted over his skin and took the potion from him. She placed it beside his bed and curled into her green chair, drawing her thin blanket up around her shoulders and staring into the fire.

When the clock showed three, their eyes had closed, each breathing a little easier that the other was there. Remus poked his head in the door to check on them, warmed by the sound of deep, rhythmic breathing, and hoped to Merlin they would be all right.

“EXPELLIAMUS!” Harry’s voice screamed in the dark, Remus whirled around with his wand drawn and ran down the hall towards the sound of hexes. Ron flew past him and hit the wall hard, sliding down and looking dumbstruck as a thick line of blood trickled from the corner of his slack mouth.