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The Reckoning	By : Snapeoutofit Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 21947 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: All characters and settings are the creation of JK Rowling. I own nothing of Harry Potter and make no money from this story.

Chapter List
- 1-One
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Four
- 5-Five
- 6-Six
- 7-Seven
- 8-Eight
- 9-Nine
- 10-Ten
- 11-Eleven
- 12-Twelve
- 13-Thirteen
- 14-Fourteen
- 15-Fifteen
- 16-Sixteen
- 17-Seventeen
- 18-Eighteen
- 19-Nineteen
- 20-Twenty
- 21-Twenty One
- 22-Twenty Two
- 23-Twenty Three
- 24-Twenty Four
- 25-Twenty Five
- 26-Twenty Six
- 27-Twenty Seven
- 28-Twenty Eight
- 29-Twenty Nine
- 30-Thirty
- 31-Thirty One
- 32-Thirty Two
- 33-Thirty Three
- 34-Thirty Four
- 18
- 19
- 20
They didn’t have much time for a project before needing to get back to Hogwarts and prepare for Monday, but after breakfast they went to the hardware shop a few blocks south. On the way, Hermione reminded Severus that it was nearly time to brew Lupin’s wolfsbane again. She also said that she planned to have the first years practice different stirring techniques and Severus agreed it was a good time for the lesson since a recent catastrophe involving haphazard stirring had left a shimmering purple stain on his floor. For three days every time Snape entered the classroom and cast a cleansing charm on the too-bright mark he hung his head in disappointment as he waited for the stain to fade.
They purchased several antique glass doorknobs to replace the modern ones throughout the house. The brass knobs simply didn’t match either of their ascetics and the glass replacements brought a subtle element of sophistication to the rooms. Hermione followed Severus with screws as he used an electric screwdriver to quickly remove and replace the knobs.
“Those look so much better,” Hermione said as she leaned back on the sofa in their sitting room and admired the new knobs. She took a sip of her tea.
“Much better,” Severus agreed as he sat beside her. “Well, are you ready to head back and get settled into the week? I know you think it looks distasteful if we miss Sunday dinner.”
“It does,” she said as she placed her cup back on its saucer.
She was about to stand up and tidy a few things before they departed, but was instead startled when she heard a thump at the window. Severus and Hermione both looked up to see his onyx owl, Felix, tapping eagerly against the glass. Severus glanced at Hermione nervously and quickly shot up to open the window for the messenger.
Severus untied the scroll and a hint of panic flashed across his face as his eyes rapidly tracked the words on the parchment.
“What? What is it?” Hermione’s voice was eager as she walked towards him and gave the bird a scratch on the chin. Severus sighed deeply and, holding the letter out for her to take, raked his other hand across his face.
Hermione took the parchment from him and read. Severus noticed that her hand suddenly began to shake and her mouth whispered the words at the bottom of the letter, as if saying it out loud made it real.
“Tripped on the stairs,” she read aloud with the hint of a question in her voice. “How on earth did she do that? She knows how those staircases move better than anyone; I...Severus we need to go.”
She looked at him and he nodded. He had already tossed the overnight bag onto the sofa and was stuffing the last few items they had brought in it. He walked over to a cabinet and placed a small potion bottle in the pocket of his frock coat before he took Hermione’s hand and they quickly apparated to the gates of Hogwarts.
As Severus unfastened the magic lock, Hermione glanced at the letter that was still in her hand. “She’s going to be ok,” Hermione said calmly, and more to reassure herself than anything else. “Madam Pomfrey says that she is unconscious in the hospital wing but that her vital signs are getting stronger. She’s breathing, Severus.”
Hermione looked up at him but Severus didn’t notice. He growled as he stormed through the gate with Hermione following closely behind. They entered the building and went directly to the hospital wing. Hermione nor Severus could not tell you who they passed along the way, but the quiet whispers of students made her aware that they already knew what had happened.
In a billow of black robes, Severus swing open the door to the hospital wing and rounded the corner immediately toward the private room beside Madam Pomfrey’s office. When he and Hermione entered, Madam Pomfrey was resting a compress on the Headmistress’ forehead. She glanced over her shoulder as they came into the small room. Professor Flitwick was sitting on a chair in the corner, but stood when Hermione and Severus entered.
“Professor Snape, Miss Granger. Thank goodness...” Madam Pomfrey began, but Severus interrupted with a kind nod. He removed the bottle from his jacket and handed it to Madam Pomfrey.
“It’s stronger,” he said with a nod towards the potion bottle she was using that was sitting on a metal tray. Pomfrey looked at the bottle and pursed her lips slightly. “I brewed it and it should help. Not immediately, but it will help her come to more quickly than pepper up.”
“What are the side effects,” she asked.
“She will be groggy and possibly nauseous but little else. Trust me, Poppy, it’s the best thing for her,” he explained.
Madam Pomfrey poured some onto a fresh cloth and placed it on Headmistress McGonagall’s forehead. The smell was certainly stronger than what she had been using before. Within minutes, however a smile bloomed across Professor Flitwicks’ face when he saw the Headmistresses’ finger twitch.
“She moved! Poppy did you see it?!” He exclaimed.
Poppy looked to Severus. “How often and how long do I give this to her?” She asked.
“Every 2-3 hours, ideally. Until she wakes up. You can also have her inhale it. It’s faster that way but will likely increase the side effects upon waking,” he explained and Madam Pomfrey replied with a nod.
Professor Flitwick took a step toward the door. “Please let me know if things change, Poppy. I will be in my office, but I want to do a few quick rounds to make sure the students are alright.”
When Professor Flitwick left, Hermione moved closer to the woman that was like a mother to her. Seeing the pain on her face, Severus placed his hands on Hermione’s shoulders. “She will be ok,” he whispered and Hermione swallowed a sob as she nodded.
“I will send up some more of that,” Severus said gesturing to the potion.
“Thank you, Severus,” Pomfrey began. “There is one other thing. Will you kindly address the students about this over dinner? So many of them saw her fall and I’m sure they are all talking.”
Severus released an aggravated sigh. “I don’t know what to say, Poppy. I didn’t see what happened.”
“She was just walking normally and a staircase shifted, no differently than usual, and she fell through. Enough students saw what happened that I know they’re all talking. I know the portraits are gossiping about it as well. Please just talk to them and explain that she will be alright and that we will keep them updated but that right now their Headmistress needs rest,” Madam Pomfrey was near pleading and Severus was furrowing his brow in frustration.
“He will,” Hermione interjected. “It’s nearly time for supper anyway and they’ll all be filing in.” She glanced up at him. “Sev, you must.”
He took a steadying breath and then began walking slowly toward the door. He sighed heavily. “Alright, and I’ll send up more of the potion.”
He turned the corner without waiting for a reply. Hermione smiled weakly at Madam Pomfrey before rubbing the Headmistress’ arm lovingly, kissing her hand, and exiting the small room.
Not surprisingly, the great hall was abuzz with gossiping whispers. When Hermione entered through the staff door, she took her usual seat, but Severus headed directly for the podium. He waited momentarily and as the students noticed his presence they began slowly quieting and turning to face him. Within a minute the room was completely silent.
“Students,” he began and his bellowing timber rung out across the hall. His voice carried its typical strong and melodious tone, but Hermione could detect the faint hint of uncertainty lingering behind his confidence. “As most of you are aware by now, Headmistress McGonagall was in an accident today on the staircases. While she is still unconscious from the impact, she is being treated in the hospital wing and is doing better. I expect to have her back shortly.” Severus looked around the room, unsure of what else to say. “If you must pass by the hospital wing it should be in utter silence. Do not disturb her.” He glanced over his shoulder at Hermione, took one more deep breath, and in a swirl of black robes he left to podium to sit in his usual place beside Hermione. The room remained silent for a moment before the students deemed it appropriate to resume eating and talking.
Hermione squeezed Severus’ thigh under the table and caressed it gently. He ate his meal in silence, but Hermione talked with Professor Flitwick. Every so soften Severus would feel her comforting and loving touch beneath the table and it helped him to feel calm.
After dinner, Hermione returned to their chambers and Severus went to check on the Headmistress once more. When he returned he found Hermione curled up on a wing back chair making notes in her planbook. Severus removed his frock coat before coming to sit in the chair beside her.
She placed her planbook on the table to give him her attention.
“She isn’t awake yet, is she?” Hermione carefully read his face and he took a deep sigh.
“No, she isn’t. However she is still improving. I hope by tomorrow morning she will be alright,” he raked his hand across his tired face.
“Does Madam Pomfrey need any help?” Hermione asked.
“She said she doesn’t,” Severus replied. He kicked off his shoes and crossed his feet at the ankles, stretching his long body in the chair. “I will check on them both again in the morning.”
Hermione nodded. She tucked her foot beneath her and they both watched the fire in contemplative silence. Finally, after several long minutes, Severus broke the silence.
“I can’t believe she fell on that bloody staircase. I always told Dumbledore that those stairs were a liability but he just said that nothing could be done and that the castle has a mind of its own,” he spat irritably. “And, of all people, we nearly lost McGonagall to them. I’m going to have a conversation with his portrait tomorrow. I’m sure he’s well aware of what has happened.”
When Hermione didn’t reply he turned to look at her. For the first time he noticed that she had been crying. Quiet tears were welling up behind her eyes as she stared into the fire place.
“Sweetheart,” Severus began gently. “I am so sorry. She will be fine. Come here,” he gestured for her to sit in his lap and she did. His arms held her tightly and rubbed her back soothingly. Hermione took a shuttering breath that carried the end of a sob as she rested her head against his shoulder.
“She has been like a mother to me,” she began in a faint whisper. “All of these years...”
Severus smoothed her hair and kissed the side of her head. He nodded in acknowledgment but said nothing. Hermione shuttered against his again and he held her a little tighter still.
“We will check on her together. In the morning,” he said. He gently raked his fingernails over Hermione’s spine as he held her. He didn’t truthfully know how to comfort a person, and he wasn’t sure if he did it right, but she seemed contented by being close to him. In all honesty, Hermione felt that the best way to calm her worried heart was to listen to the thrumming of his in her own ear. Their contact always steadied her and, as if she had taken a large dose of calming drought, she fell into sleep against him. Severus remained by the fire with her in his arms for quite a long time, caressing each inch of her that he could reach. By the time he carried her to bed the fire had burned down to embers and the time on the clock struck an hour much too late. He decided then that he would call to cancel classes at breakfast in the morning.
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The Reckoning