AFTERWARDS

Hermione had just administered the final dose of Sanguis Castus and smoothed the light covers back over the Professor, not noticing him watching her through half-closed eyelids. The potion tasted slightly sweet on his tongue and he was trying to fish in his memory for it. His throat was dry with thirst, he felt weaker than he ever had, even after a night of curses administered by his former Master. He wondered how he had got here and how he came to be in an unknown house with this witch he hadn’t seen in over a year.

Hermione quietly called Kreacher and he appeared immediately. Severus heard her speaking with him and he disappeared and returned within the space of minutes with a water jug and two goblets from the Hogwarts kitchens, along with a selection of bread, cheese and fruit in a large basket.

Awareness started to seep into Severus’s brain and he tried to alert the witch.

Hermione was thanking Kreacher when she heard him speak her name quietly from the bed.

‘Miss Granger…’ he croaked and she rushed over to him, watching as he slowly opened his dark eyes and looked up at her.

‘Thank goodness.’ She closed her eyes with relief then realised he was still looking at her and snapped her eyes open again. ‘How are you feeling, Sir?’ She wanted to throw her arms around him and hold him close but she remained respectful, not knowing how he would react to his situation.

‘Sore… thirsty…’ He croaked out and gave up trying to speak, the effort was tiring him.

Hermione poured water into one of the goblets and walked over to him. She felt awkward now he was awake but concentrated on the task in hand. ‘Sir, I will need to help you to sit up a little to drink this.’

He stared at her, his eyes so dark they were unfathomable, and nodded.

Gently, Hermione put her arm under his and helped him manoeuvre himself up the pillows slightly. She handed him the goblet and he took it, his hands trembling so much the water slopped over the front of his shirt. He closed his eyes in frustration.

‘Don’t worry, Sir, here…let me help.’ Hermione covered his hand with hers and raised the water to his lips and he drank a little before she pulled it away. ‘You need to drink slowly, Sir. You haven’t had water for almost 5 days, you could induce nausea.’ Hermione was forcing herself to think practically and trying to ignore the electricity that ran though her veins as she touched his hand with hers.
She flicked her wand and cast a drying charm over the front of his shirt. He nodded his thanks.

‘It’s not safe…’ He whispered.

‘Sir?’ She looked at him in surprise.

‘The Dark Lord… you here with me. You are not safe.’ He looked at her and she saw the fear in his eyes before she realised, he had no idea what had happened after Nagini had attacked him.

Hermione looked down at him with compassion in her eyes and smiled slowly.

‘Voldermort is dead, Severus.’ She stated simply, testing his name on her tongue. It sounded good.

He looked up into her face. He knew she was telling the truth and was overwhelmed with relief. Finally, Lily was avenged. He closed his eyes and turned his face away from Hermione as two large tears rolled down his cheeks.

Hermione held her hand out to touch his shoulder but she knew without him saying that this would not be well received.

She stepped away from the bed and turned away as he gently cried into the pillow. She felt she was intruding on some private grief. She turned the chair towards the fire and sat staring into the blue flames. She had called him Severus and she felt a flush creep up her face at the memory of it. Although he hadn’t been her Professor for over a year he still had that air of authority and Hermione wondered if she would ever be able to shake the little bit of fear he instilled in her.

She heard him moving on the bed and turned to look at him. ‘Sir!’ She called out in shock to see him sitting with his legs over the side of the bed and jumped up, walking over to him slowly.

She put her hands on her hips and stared at him. ‘Where do you think you’re going?’ She demanded, her voice stern.

He looked up at her through curtains of dark hair. ‘Miss Granger… where I go and what I do are none of your concern, Even if, as you say, the Dark Lord is indeed dead, you are still not safe in my presence. Mr Potter, for one, would surely wish to avenge Professor Dumbledore and you are harbouring a wanted man.’ Severus pushed himself further to the side of the bed. His head was woozy, the room spinning slightly but he knew he had to get away.

Hermione stepped closer to him and put her hand flat on his chest, forcing him to sit back a little. He looked up at her in shock and saw her clearly in the blue light of the fire. Her eyes were large but tired, her cheeks pinched with the look of someone who had not slept well for some time. Her hair was wild, unruly curls tumbling about her shoulders. There was something different. She had changed since he last saw her.

‘Take your hand off me, Miss Granger.’ He hissed at her. She had the nerve to invade his personal space and he didn’t like it one bit.

‘I will as long as you stay there for a moment. There are things you need to know… Sir… and I wont let you go anywhere until you have heard what needs to be said.’

She spoke quietly, her eyes boring into his. He was too weak to argue.

‘Very well.’ He muttered and swung himself back onto the bed.

Instinctively Hermione went to help him with the covers. He grabbed them away from her. ‘I can make my own bed, Miss Granger.’ He snapped.

‘Fine!’ She walked away from him and angrily grabbed the armchair, pulling it roughly to his bedside and dropping into it, her arms crossed. She glared at him.

‘I preferred it when you were delirious…Sir…’ She muttered at him. He raised an eyebrow.

‘Explain, Miss Granger. I am too tired for riddles.’ He snarled at her slightly.

‘Do you have to be so spiky all the time?’ She snapped at him.’ You’re not even my Professor any more…Severus… so threatening me with detention will not work.’

He closed his eyes. She was still feisty, he gave her that. ‘Get on with it, Miss Granger…’ He sighed resignedly.

‘You were almost dead, Harry asked me to help you…he saw your memories…’ She drifted off, realising she was treading on very personal ground.

Severus blinked. He remembered giving Potter his memories, thinking it would be the last thing he ever did and wouldn’t have to account for them or face being exposed by them.

‘And I suppose Potter thought it would be great fun to have a laugh at my expense and share them with his little friends….’ He hissed at her, his voice expressing anger but his eyes betraying the hurt and pain he was feeling.

‘No…it wasn’t like that…’ Hermione sat forward and placed her hand lightly on his. His instinct was to pull away but she increased the pressure. He closed his eyes, it was strangely comforting, and her words were soft and reassuring.

‘Harry told me. But we are the only ones who know everything, I promise you. Harry has told everyone you are a hero, though. Which you are.’ Hermione squeezed his large hand under hers and he looked at her before snorting a little.

‘A hero? I don’t think so, Miss Granger.’ He shook his head slightly.

‘Hermione…. Please, I am not a schoolgirl any more Severus, any more than you are my Professor. Call me by my name.’ She smiled at him and her face lit up with love.

He stared at her and was shocked as he felt it wash over him. He shook his head and laughed under his breath. ‘Don’t be so ridiculous…’ He thought to himself.

‘What’s funny?’ Hermione removed her hand. Was he laughing at her?

‘I was just thinking how typical to nearly die and be rescued by little miss know-it-all…’ His voice was soft and she was surprised. She had expected a smart retort but instead she saw something else in his eyes she hadn’t seen before and couldn’t name.

‘Would you have rather died from snake poisoning?’ She grinned at him.

‘What did you use?’ He asked, his interest was piqued.

‘Sanguis Castus, naturally.’ She looked at him and smiled a smug smile as she registered the surprise on his face.

‘Madame Pomfrey said you would be impressed. Do I get my NEWT, Sir?’ Hermione laughed for the first time in a week and it felt so good she couldn’t stop giggling, tears running down her face.

Severus looked at her. She was certainly a surprising witch and also, he noticed, very pretty, especially when she was laughing. He smirked a little and closed his eyes, listening to her laughter fill the room.

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Finally a little Severus action - please review! thanks!