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In Their Hands Complete	By : Desert_Sea Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 19649 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other characters/things/places created by J.K. Rowling. I make no money from my fan-fiction.

Chapter List
- 20
- 21
- 22
A/N: MzPearlz – ‘-exasperated scream- God dammit Shaun, you picked the right fucking time to do it xD’ – hahahah! His timing could certainly do with some improvement. ‘Or he shall be shunned the next review’ – Awww. Let me know if he’s still worthy of shunning after this one. ‘Sometimes the downfall of having dorm rooms is having a roommate who stays in it too long’ – Ain’t that the truth :).

Oracle – ‘Holy sheep shit.’ – I’m so pleased my writing can inspire such unrestrained eloquence ;). ‘This might have been my favorite sex scene so far’ – it’s probably close to mine too, this one and the piano scene. ‘Bathing incident earlier tonight’ – so glad she has recovered. These types of chronic conditions could indicate some sort of underlying issue, you might need to get it looked at ;). ‘He isn't detached, he's right there with her, looking out for her.’ – Yes, I ended up having to rework it a few times to make sure, despite his position relative to her, that the intimacy and care was still evident. ‘Subsequently making the grooves a little deeper with each repetition.’ – I really like that, I think it’s very accurate. ‘But Hermione, in this instance, is not what I would consider a real submissive.’ – I’d have to agree with that too. She is on a journey of discovery and understanding, part of it is to understand the submissive mindset but I don’t think she’s fully embraced it. I think it’s part of a suite of approaches that she is experimenting with and using to broaden her horizons. Clearly the vibrator scene with him demonstrated that she’s more than willing to take the lead also. ‘"NOooooooooo. Who's gonna watch Shaun?"’ – I’m glad you remembered that was Snape’s job!

Chapter 21 – Healing Hands

When Hermione stumbled into the activities room, everyone else was already gathered there, decidedly grim and rumpled from the worrying start to their day. Lynch, in particular, looked like hell as he stared around the group with bloodshot eyes. She suspected he hadn’t slept, and the look he gave her when she entered, not long after Snape, told her that he was still in the grips of the pain that she’d left him with when she’d fled his office.

“As you all know.” His, normally, booming voice was strained. “Shaun’s missing. We need to split up and look for him. I suggest we work in pairs. George and I will take the brooms. The rest of you can go on foot. Let’s start by checking the river . . .

“Wait!”

Everyone turned to Luna, who was regarding the front door with a faraway look in her silvery eyes. “The Thestrals,” she breathed, “they’ve returned.” She kept staring as though trying to decipher something before she took a deep breath and started running for the door. “They’re taking us to Shaun.”

The group followed in single file, keeping up with her fast walk as she rounded the side of the building and continued on toward the rear. But rather than following any of the established paths, she waded directly into a pile of damp leaves that stuck, like papier mache, to her boots and jeans. Unperturbed, she forged on, her gaze focused directly ahead. She continued up a slight hill with George only a step behind, the rest of the group following in anxious silence, their breaths puffing out on the still air like a procession of steam trains. Just then, she turned and homed in on a dark alcove amongst a group of odd trees, huddled together as though in conspiratorial conversation.

Hermione felt a hand on her arm. It was Pomona Sprout. “I think he did it,” she whispered.

Hermione frowned down at the woman who wore an oddly bewildered expression.

“Who did what?” she whispered back.

“Snape. He did it,” Pomona repeated.

Hermione stared at her in confusion. “Professor Snape? What did he do?”

Pomona nodded ahead. “The Glade. That’s where Shaun is. It must have called to him.”

“I’m sorry Pomona, I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.” Hermione could feel the tension beginning to rise.

“Hasn’t he told you?” She looked genuinely shocked.

Hermione shook her head. “I’m really not sure . . . “

Pomona squeezed her arm. “Wait and see, my girl,” she said quietly. “Just wait and see.”

Slowing as she approached the trees, Luna ducked under a twisted vine before proceeding into the relative darkness. The others followed and when Hermione entered she noticed that the vines were knotted together overhead into a natural canopy, blocking out much of the sunlight. Through the gloom she saw that the entire area beyond the trees was bordered by the gentle curve of a sheer rock-face. And at the very centre of this natural enclosure, eerily lit, was a large clearing. A lone figure lay within it, completely still. It was Shaun.

Luna slowly approached him, her thin body silhouetted against the unnatural glow. But just as George pushed forward, ready to reach out to Shaun, Luna grabbed him by the arm. “No,” she whispered. “Leave him. The Thestrals say he’s alright.”

Everyone else fanned out, gazing at the incredible scene before them. The entire clearing was filled with hundreds and hundreds of sunflowers, the heads of which shone like golden lamps, lighting up the lush mat of green grass that rolled out between them. To Hermione, Shaun’s face looked young, almost childlike, in the mystical light from the sunflowers. The lines of tension seemed to have disappeared and the light rise and fall of his chest suggested that he was sleeping.

She could feel the warmth radiating from the flowers and turned to Pomona who clutched at her arm again.

“Isn’t it wonderful?”

“What is this?” Hermione blinked in bewilderment.

“It’s 'The Glade',” replied Pomona proudly.

“But where did it all come from?”

“Rhizomes,” Pomona answered matter-of-factly.

“Rhizomes?”

“Oh, I keep forgetting that you’re into human anatomy, not plant anatomy. Professor Snape magically altered the sunflower seeds to create rhizomes. It enables them to extend runners under the ground and to sprout up, much like ferns. But these ones have been springing up like you wouldn’t believe. He is absolutely brilliant, that man. We found this location on one of our walks and he said the natural quartzite in the surrounding rock creates a type of crucible for magical amplification that could enable just about anything to flourish here. Look over there.” She pointed to a group of plants beyond the clearing. "That’s the calendula, ficklewort, aloe vera and other herbs he uses for Luna’s burns. Over there are the rosehip, soursop and chicory that he brews for her tea. The plants over there, she gestured, he's used to create a tonic for Sarah. Those plants are Dennis’.” She suddenly hid her mouth behind her hand. “Although I think they might be more recreational than medicinal, if you know what I mean. But, boy, is he a more relaxed lad now!”

Hermione gazed around in wonder at the neat beds of strange and exotic herbs, fungi, ferns, shrubs, flowers and other species that had been segregated within the clearing. “Did you collect all of these yourselves?”

“Oh no, I had a lot of them owled to me. We did find some on our walks but, in reality, absolutely anything will grow here. There’s belladonna, puffapod, gurdyroot and even a small patch of asophdel and snakeweed over in the corner. The best part is that Snape has created a magical illumination system to provide exactly the right wavelength of light, for the perfect duration, to maximise growth. And all this without his wand. I’ve never known a wizard like him.”

Hermione now noticed that each bed was illuminated by, what looked like, small floating lamps of different hues and intensities. As she watched, they seemed to bob and undulate in response to some unseen force.

“So why all the sunflowers?” Hermione regarded the striking sea of shining yellow faces.

“Emotional healing, my dear,” Pomona beamed. “Snape said right from the beginning that the Retreat was most in need of them. In fact, the ones he's grown here are, by far, the most powerful I've ever encountered. I'm almost positive that’s why Shaun was drawn to this place. Sunflower magic calls to those most in need.”

Hermione felt so overwhelmed that her chest was starting to ache. Just then, Ellory pushed gently past her, making her way over to where Shaun lay. As she crouched down, Hermione expected her to attempt to wake Shaun, but instead she lay down beside him, under the warm glow of the flower heads, and closed her eyes.

Next to her, Hermione was dimly aware of Dennis taking Sarah’s hand. He led her to another patch of flowers where they both sat down, reclining together in the soft light. Next, Luna reached out for both of George’s hands, grasping them tightly in hers as she looked up into his face. Hermione could tell from her expression that she was more than aware of George’s sadness. Gently guiding him to a spot on the soft grass, they settled down to lay side by side, elbows touching.

Hermione turned. Snape was standing directly behind her, his arms folded and a finger resting on his upper lip. She looked at him hard and he gave an, almost imperceptible, nod. Then she hooked her arm through Lynch’s and walked with him to a spot away from the others where they crouched down amongst the flowers. He lay on his back and she on her front, propped on her elbows. It was as much for physical as practical reasons. She wouldn’t be sitting comfortably on her bottom for quite a while and she was more than happy about it.

Folding his hands behind his head, he regarded her in weary silence.

“Lynch, you know that Severus and I have had an ‘arrangement’ for some time now?” she murmured quietly.

He stared intently at her, his blue eyes moving slowly over her face, before finally nodding. “He told me as much.”

“You should know that I have feelings for him.”

His mouth twitched and then settled into a line of acceptance. “I thought you might. He’s a good man.”

Hermione blinked rapidly. She hadn’t quite expected that response.

“You’re a good man too. I respect you. I love what you’ve done here and I really want to keep working for you. But . . .” She took a deep breath. “You need help, Lynch. You need to get away from here and receive some proper treatment.”

He sighed, rubbing his head against his hands. “I know it . . . I’ve known it for a long time. But . . . it’s always seemed too hard. I’ve needed to keep this place running—as much for me as for the patients. It’s what’s kept me sane . . . well . . .” He looked away, embarrassed.

Hermione took one of his calloused hands in hers. “You don’t need to worry about the Retreat. George, Simone and I can take care of this place while you’re away. There’s no reason for us to stop treating people. We’ll just have to adjust our intake for the time that you’re gone. It’s much more important that you get well. We need you.”

He closed his eyes. “There may be an extra pair of hands to help out in the future anyway.”

“Really? Who?”

He paused and tilted his head toward the nearest sunflower, soaking up its healing rays.

“I’ve asked Snape to maintain this place—to keep growing therapeutic plants, and brewing potions and salves for the Retreat. We can even sell them to bring in funds for more resources.”

Hermione nearly choked.

“But . . . but he’s going back to Hogwarts.”

“Is he?” Lynch opened his eyes to regard her intently. “Have you asked him?”

Hermione realised that she had never had that conversation with him. It had always seemed too difficult to broach.

“Are you telling me you knew about what he was doing here all along?”

“I discovered it in one of my fly-overs. It was early days, but it’s really taken off since then. The location seems to be the key. And the patients are already benefitting—if Luna’s recovery and Shaun’s attraction to this place are any gauge. This is something we've never been able to offer before—and perhaps now we can.”

“What did he say?” Hermione asked anxiously. “What did Severus say when you offered for him to continue here?”

Lynch’s eyes returned to hers and he squeezed her hand. “He said that the decision was up to you.”

Hermione looked over at the tall dark figure leaning against the shadowy trunk of a tree. Even without seeing his eyes, she knew he was watching her.

After a long pause, she turned to Lynch. “We’ll look after this place for you,” she nodded, before rising and striding away through the swaying sunflowers.

When she reached him she didn’t wait, grasping his face in her hands and pulling him down to her open mouth. His arms slipped around her and he pulled her close as they kissed deeply, passionately, before she took his hand and led him away.

“I think you have a bit of explaining to do,” she said without looking at him. “And I think we should start with an explanation in the shower, followed by an explanation on my desk and, finally, an explanation from behind, with me looking out at the perfect view from my window and you explaining to me what you keep inside your pockets.”

“I believe I can accommodate that.”

His silky voice instantly made her shiver and she quickened her pace.
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In Their Hands *Complete*

In Their Hands Complete