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The Human Cure	By : AppleFiend Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 2827 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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The Human Cure

Chapter 3: The Grand Endeavor

Disclaimer: I don't own anything; Rowling is the master creator.

"Vampires?"

It was the only word Hermione could muster up in that very moment. She knew it would somehow make him think less of her, but she didn't care. Severus knew that it would take a few seconds for her to process everything, and rather than say a snide remark that would more than likely remind her of his unforgiving nature years, he remained silent.

She didn't notice him fix her a plate of food until he set it in front of her. Five minutes ago she was starving, and now she looked at the food as if it were poisoned. It wasn't until he sat down across from her at her small table and began to eat that she felt her vocal chords come back to her.

"I was always under the impression that vampires lived in Romania." She wanted to ask how it was he could eat, but she left it at that.

"That, unfortunately, is another foolish assumption from another foolish book. Not everything in the Hogwart's library can be counted as fact Miss Granger. Besides, there has always been a bias against vampires. We steal innocent girls from their homes, corrupt them, and make them sexual fiends. We are put off by garlic and crosses. We can't see ourselves in a mirror. Many of those old folk tales have long been known to not be true. Vampires do have rights granted thanks to the Ministry, but there are limitations."

"Like the centaurs." Hermione added, still not touching her food.

"Very much like the centaurs. I suggest you eat something Miss Granger. You look absolutely gaunt."

Hermione didn't take his comment personal, but let him continue to speak as she took small bites of food.

"Voldemort knew what I was and he did send me out in hopes of having our kind join his side, and some did for the sheer purpose of getting drunk on blood."

"I don't recall seeing vampires."

"We have the uncanny talent at remaining unseen if we so choose to. I have practically been living with you for the past few months, and you never knew a thing." Severus admitted it all as he looked her dead in the eye.

Disturbed by his confession, Hermione tried to recall how many times she missed him in her everyday life.

"So, I take it you discovered my research by…"

"The University has an abundance of medical journals. I must say, it's rather impressive that you've been published. It's relatively easy to follow another student into the library. I'm not checking anything out per say, so no identification card is necessary."

"What about the detectors? Surely, someone would notice that you didn't belong there."

"I do have my ways Miss Granger."

By looking at him she knew just what he meant.

"I suppose the ability to convince someone that I was never there, or that I did indeed belong there is a quality that vampires do possess. No one was harmed. It was just a simple matter of…

"Obliviate." Hermione whispered.

"Not exactly the same thing, but related." He added.

Left speechless, she wanted to tell him that what he had been doing was wrong and disgusting, but she couldn't speak such things at that moment.

"You looked rather lovely all those times you fell asleep in that secluded corner of the library." Severus silently added.

"Are you screwing with me?" Hermione asked, her heartbeat began to quicken, but she didn't know if it was with fright or pure outrage. "It this some sort of sick joke? You've never bothered to say a word that came close to approaching kindness, and now you're talking about watching me sleep! I'm beginning to doubt if you are even Severus Snape!"

Remaining somewhat docile, he spoke, "No. I'm telling you the truth. I've had a lot of time on my hands."

"Explain this, your condition, to me then. Make me understand."

"Vampires have evolved throughout the ages. We can tolerate food in small quantities, but we do need and crave blood. When I was at Hogwart's, Dumbledore struck up a deal with St. Mungo's to where I would receive fresh blood."

"Like take out?" Hermione inquired, shock in her voice.

"I suppose so. I would occasionally hunt, but only when it was necessary. I don't kill humans. However, there have been exceptions to the rule when the life of someone else may be in jeopardy."

She didn't have to say anything; she knew what Glen's fate was.

"What about now?"

"I have friends who work in hospitals and morgues. I don't ask where the supply comes from. It is there when I need it."

"Are they vampires?"

"I cannot disclose that information."

"You're not a spy anymore. Besides, it's not like I can report such a thing. Obviously you can tolerate sunlight, or else you wouldn't be sitting in this room with an open blind."

"That's what is so nice about England and her weather. She is gloomy on most days, and it's easy to, how do I say this, blend in. However, when the sun is out, I can only tolerate it for a short period of time. Sunglasses are required on those days."

"I have so many questions to ask of you, but I just don't have the energy to really bother with it. I still don't understand why you need my assistance."

"I've been following your research with stem cells and how it could possibly provide a cure for hemophilia. I know it is not truly related to vampirism, but it wouldn't hurt to try. I know such advances in medicine weren't available when I first became what it is that I am, but if anyone can make this condition better, more bearable, it's you."

"You want me to lessen the symptoms of vampirism?"

"Miss Granger…Hermione, I want you to find a cure for me. I want to be human again."

"With all due respect, that's implausible." She paused for a while, trying to find the right words to say.

"I'm not saying there is a cure."

"But you do realize that even if we find something useful, it will take years of testing before we can actually test it on someone, mainly you."

"I think if we combine our two specialties we could find something, and I am willing to be the test subject."

"I can't just stop my studies to help you out. I'm two years away from my PhD. I have a full course load, not to mention the classes I am assigned to teach. What exactly do you expect me to do?"

"I won't make that decision for you; you know what you can and can't handle."

"Do you even have an idea on where to begin with research?"

"Blood." Severus stated it so tersely that she would have missed it if she hadn't been paying attention. "I figured if we look at the properties of my blood that could at least guide us in some sort of direction. Miss Granger, I've tried doing research on my own, but there is something that I'm missing. There is some piece of the puzzle that I can't figure out. You figured out my riddle in your first year at Hogwart's. I'm confident that if we don't find a cure, we can at least make some parts of my condition more bearable."

"What if I refuse?" Hermione asked defiantly.

"You may, but I know you. Your curiosity will get the better of you."

Hermione knew he was right in his assumption of her. As a flood of memories overtook her, she softly whispered, "I can't go back there" as a tear escaped her eye.

Realizing just how delicate her wounds were still, he moved in closer to her. He wanted to place his hand on her shoulder to reassure her, but he decided not to at the last minute.

"I have a flat, albeit small, around Finchley Road. I suppose I could find a space to let in order for us to do some research. I can't go back to Hogwart's for obvious reasons, but we can find a workspace."

"I have to think about this." Hermione stated, her breakfast unfinished and cold.

"Take all the time you need. I do, after all, have plenty of it to squander." There was only a slight tinge of sarcasm in his voice.

"I…I think I need to go lie down for a bit." Hermione stood up from the table, noticing that her former professor stood up and moved towards her. The look she gave him revealed that she didn't want or need his assistance.

As she crawled into her bed, she didn't know what to expect in regards to the offer made. While the challenge was something she was truly intrigued by, she also knew that her other commitments would have to suffer. As soon as she entertained the thought of helping her bastard of a former professor find a cure for vampirism, she chastised herself for even thinking about doing such a thing.

Why should I bother to help him? This is the man, or shall I say, vampire, that made my formative academic career hellish, if anything. He doesn't deserve such kindness on my part.

Still, he was right. Her curiosity was caught off guard. Before she could give Snape's offer any more thought, she was asleep. Her stomach growled a little bit, knowing that she didn't eat enough, but she was too tired to care.

Hours later she could feel his presence in her room. Oddly, she found a weird sense of comfort in it, even though she was sure that he only wanted to make sure that her fever didn't return.

The next day she awoke to find her kitchen immaculate. She felt so refreshed, most signs of her illness faded. Thinking the previous conversation only a dream brought on by her fever, she walked into her study and found Snape reading her book about the Romanov Dynasty.

"So I wasn't dreaming." Hermione blurted out.

"I'm afraid not Miss Granger. Sorry to disappoint you."

Hermione, still wearing what she had on the night before, sat across from her former professor.

He continued, "Interesting people, those royals. Did you know that Rasputin was rumored to be a vampire?"

"I suppose now one could take that story more seriously given your revelation."

"I'm guessing this book is for research. Alexei Nikolaevich suffered from hemophilia, and interestingly enough, his mother sought the help of a man that was thought to possess supernatural qualities." Severus emphasized the last two words of his sentence.

"I know. I've read the book." Hermione replied, hoping her quip would convince him to leave.

"Have you given my proposition any thought?"

"I need you to understand that I can't just drop everything for this mission of yours."

"I know I am asking a lot of you Miss Granger."

"What I am curious about is what if you can't find a cure? Where will the funding for this research will come from? You're right, I am interested in the research, but I don't want to feel as if I am wasting both my time and yours."

"I have the funds. I am willing to compensate you for your time, even if we are to accomplish nothing."

"I have plenty of money, thank you."

He knew that he insulted her by assuming she was one step away from being destitute.

"That's not what I meant Miss Granger. It would be foolish to believe that you could balance both your schoolwork and my little pet project. I'm asking you to sacrifice a lot."

"I've sacrificed enough already; nothing can be worse than what I've already had to give up to be blunt. I don't even know what to call you anymore. Professor? Sir? Snape? Severus?"

"You can call me Severus."

"How long do you intend on staying here?"

"Until I am sure that you are well. You do look a bit more chipper this morning."

"Thanks, I guess." Hermione replied, not sure of what to say.

There was an awkward silence while the two observed surroundings that were already very familiar.

"Shall I make us some tea?" Hermione asked, just to get out of the room that was filled with a stuffy silence.

"I would like that." Severus added before getting back to his reading on the Romanov's. As he heard her move about in the kitchen, he couldn't help but smirk at the knowledge that while she didn't officially say that she would help him, he knew that she was now on board for the grand endeavor.
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The Human Cure