Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Lions, Snakes, and Traitors, Oh My.	By : half_blood_princess Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Het - Male/Female Views: 7717 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters therein. I am making no money from this story.

Chapter List
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Hermione tossed and turned all night. When she was finally able to sleep, she did so fitfully.
She awoke at 6 AM and hurriedly dressed, making her way down to the Infirmary. Afraid of what she might find, Hermione slowly pried the heavy door open. Madame Pomfrey was rushing about the room as usual, tidying up from the night before. The screen was still in place around Snape.
“Good morning, Miss Granger. Were you able to sleep?”
“A little. It was difficult.”
Madame Pomfrey nodded in understanding.
“He made it through the night, though his wounds are healing slowly and I suspect he’ll be needing several more doses of the blood-replenishing potion before he’s anywhere near normal. I’ve got to finish cleaning up. Feel free to take a seat next to the professor; I’ve put a comfy chair there for you and a blanket in case you feel the need to nap. It’s going to be a long day, Miss Granger. I don’t expect him to wake at all, but he needs to be monitored. I hope you’ve brought things to study.”
“I have.” Hermione held up her rucksack. Nervous and her heart pounding, she slowly made her way to where Snape was resting. He was covered up with stark white blankets, which looked tan compared to his pale skin and raven black hair. She was happy to see, however, that the color had returned to his lips. She quietly sat her rucksack on the floor and curled up in the plush recliner the nurse had placed for her.
It wasn’t long before she found herself nodding off, despite the sound of the creaky door to the Infirmary opening and closing, and the chattering students. It wasn’t until she heard Snape coughing that she awoke and rose to look at him.
His eyes were still closed, and his breathing was even. He coughed once more and then quieted down. She took a deep breath, and sat back down in the chair.
A little later, she was awoken once more when he groaned. The groaning got louder and his head began to move back and forth, as if he was shaking it to say ‘no’.
She was about to get Madame Pomfrey when she heard him whisper sorrowfully, “Lily”.
Hermione was many things, but she wasn’t an idiot. Things started to click into place, and she realized that he’d probably been in love with Harry’s mum, once upon a time. Was he having nightmares about her?
“Lily, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry!” He cried, not waking.
“Madame Pomfrey? Can you come here for a moment?”
She rushed over.
“I think he’s having a nightmare.”
“Poor dear. I’ll get a calming draught. “
She returned a moment later, and walked to Snape’s side. Taking care not to jostle his head, she popped the potion open and poured it into his open mouth. Reflexively, he swallowed, and the muscles in his face relaxed instantly.
“That should last for a while.” The nurse smiled warmly at Hermione before rushing off to tend to students.
Watching Snape sleep, she noticed how hollow his cheeks were. She’d never taken note of it before, but then she hadn’t spent much time studying the contours of his cheeks before.
What had her father once said? The candle that burns twice as bright lasts half as long? Snape certainly had been wearing himself thin, with the growing tension between the followers of Voldemort and those who were against the dark wizard. He had almost paid the ultimate price.
His nose was broad and slightly hooked at the end. His jet-black brows were furrowed either in pain or anger—not different from the usual.
Hermione wondered if Harry knew anything about a possible relationship between Snape and his mother, but she doubted he did—he wouldn’t have kept something like that from her or Ron.
Suddenly, a hand shot out from the blankets and grasped Hermione’s wrist, squeezing. It wasn’t painful, but it was enough to get her attention. She jumped, and drew her eyes to Snape’s. His skin was burning up.
The unmistakable look of fear penetrated her, and she shivered. She’d never seen Snape this way, and it shook her. He seemed like an impenetrable fortress, and now she was reminded of his humanity.
“Lily, I shouldn’t have betrayed you. I shouldn’t…” He gasped for air, choking back sobs.
Hermione knew she didn’t resemble Lily Potter in any way, shape, or form, but it was likely he was feverish and hallucinating. Not knowing how to respond, she attempted to free her wrist from his grasp. His grip tightened.
Now it was painful.
“Professor, you’re hurting me. I’m Hermione Granger, not Lily Potter.”
Confusion etched across his pallid features.
“Do you know where you are? You’re in the Infirmary—you were attacked. Please, Professor, let me go. I’ll go get Madame Pomfrey; I think you’ve got a fever.”
He didn’t respond, and stared at her for a moment, before releasing her wrist gently.
“Thank you, Professor. I’ll fetch Madame Pomfrey.”
When the two returned, Snape was staring blankly at the ceiling.
“Severus. It’s Poppy. Can you hear me?”
He turned his head slightly, looking at the nurse.
“Severus?”
Groggily, he asked, “What day is it?”
“It’s September the twentieth, Severus. You’ve been asleep for nearly a day. I’m surprised you are awake so early—I thought you’d be out at least a few days.” The experienced nurse placed a dainty hand on the professor’s forehead, and frowned. “You’ve got a fever. I’ll need you to drink a potion. Can you manage?”
“I believe so.”
“Do you know what happened to you?”
“I doubt I shall ever forget it.”
Hermione stood behind Madame Pomfrey, watching the exchange. Snape’s eyes darted to her, and he frowned.
Slightly more coherent, he spoke again. “What are you doing here, Miss Granger?” His voice was strained, and she could tell he was having trouble talking without feeling pain.
“I was waiting for you in the Potions classroom to serve detention, but you never showed up. When I was on my way back to my room, I saw you…I saw Hagrid…”
“Bloody hell. Who else knows?”
“Just me—and Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall, of course.”
“That still…doesn’t explain…why you’re here now.”
“Oh, Severus, lighten up.” Poppy snapped. “Miss Granger has been keeping watch over you for the past several hours, out of concern. You should be thankful.”
He rolled his eyes.
While Madame Pomfrey went to retrieve the potion she needed, Hermione was left alone with Snape, unnerved by his steady gaze.
“I’m sorry for what happened—”
“Save your apologies, Miss Granger.” He winced, trying to prop himself up on his pillows.
“Let me help you, please.”
He hesitated, eyes narrowed. Finally, he sighed in resignation.
Hermione took his hand in hers and put her other hand behind his back, for support. He managed to scoot up, and she fluffed the pillows so he would be more comfortable. His head was now upright, his torso as well.
“Is that okay?”
He nodded.
Madame Pomfrey returned a moment later, holding several potions bottles.
“Severus—oh! Are you sure you feel comfortable sitting up like that?”
“I’m fine, Poppy…other than the obvious.”
“I’ve got another blood-replenishing potion for you to drink, as well as a sleeping draught. And, I don’t want to hear any argument. You need to rest and heal. You nearly died!”
Hermione was shocked at how concerned Madame Pomfrey was for Snape, but she remembered he’d been teaching at Hogwarts for a while, and had worked closely with the nurse. Perhaps she had a bit of a thing for him? Then she looked from Madame Pomfrey to Snape and shook her head. Snape didn’t seem the type for Pomfrey—he was much too cold and calculating.
Noticing her head movement, Snape looked past Pomfrey and raised an eyebrow. What was the little know-it-all thinking of now, new ways to torture him?
“I won’t be coddled, Poppy. Just give me the bloody potions. I know what to do.”
“Severus Snape, I’ve had enough of your lip. You’re a patient in my infirmary, and you’ll cooperate if it’s the last thing I do!”
Hermione had rarely seen Pomfrey angry, except for the time when Harry had been brought in missing all the bones in one arm because of Lockhart’s incompetent bone-mending spell, and when students were brought in, Petrified, during her second year…which she had eventually succumbed to, thanks to Voldemort. Seeing the look on Snape’s face snapped her out of her reverie, and she bit her lip to stifle the laughter that threatened to spill out of her mouth.
“Don’t think I don’t see you over there, smirking, Granger.” He winced again, and pain etched across his face.
“Take your medicine, Severus, and quit being a badger.”
Madame Pomfrey opened the stopper to the fever-reducing potion, and held the bottle out to Snape, who took it reluctantly. He downed it in an instant, and grimaced.
“That’s horrid.”
“You made it, Severus. Finally getting a taste of our own medicine, are we?” Madame Pomfrey laughed.
“Oh, very funny, Poppy. Don’t you have something you need to tend to?”
“Someone, actually—well, a few. Apparently, some students ate puking pastilles and they didn’t work out quite as they’d planned. Miss Granger, do be a dear and make sure the professor finishes the potions.” She glanced at Snape, daring him to say something, but he kept his lips tightly shut.
Once she had gone about her business, Snape turned his attentions to Hermione, who shrank back.
“I won’t bite, Miss Granger. Give me the potions. I’ll take them myself.”
She complied, handing them to the professor, who shakily accepted them. He downed the blood-replenishing potion, but set the sleeping draught on the nighttable.
“Professor, aren’t you going to take that sleeping draught? You really do need your rest.”
“Miss Granger, I am well aware of the circumstances that brought me here, but I can determine when I need rest, without interference. And if you make one step towards that blasted nurse to tattle on me, I promise you when I am well, you’ll have more problems than you know. You think detention is hard now? Try scrubbing the floors and cauldrons with naught but a muggle toothbrush.”
Hermione smiled when she remembered Ron’s comment about a student having to do the same thing after rolling their eyes at the Potions master.
“Is something amusing? Do you feel the need to clean my classroom that badly?”
She blushed. “No, Professor. I was just remembering something.”
“I see. Well, Miss Granger, don’t let my condition fool you—I’m more than capable of assigning you detention with another professor until I am well again to resume my duties. As a matter of fact…” He smirked, knowing the Gryffindor would balk to no end at his next comment, “I believe Professor Trelawney needs assistance this week, grading essays and dusting the crystal balls. Report to her and tell her I’ve sent you to help.”
“What? You can’t be serious!”
“I’m quite serious, Miss Granger. Are we going to have a problem? I have no qualms about reporting your behavior once more to McGonagall. She may think the world of you, but if she heard you were refusing to comply with the terms of your punishment, don’t think she wouldn’t side with me.”
Hermione was speechless.
“When you have finished helping Trelawney, I should be well enough to resume my classes, and believe me, you’ll be in that Potions classroom scrubbing the floors if you haven’t done as you’re told.”
The Potions master had to know how much he made her feel like an idiotic child. Hermione didn’t doubt that was the point behind all of this. Not wanting to push herself further on Snape’s bad side, she replied “Yes, Professor Snape”.
He must have been feeling better if he was back to berating her mercilessly. It was almost as if he hadn’t nearly died. Those potions were brewed by him…she wasn’t surprised.
She saw the strain that conversation had taken on him, however. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. Not wanting to disturb him if he was falling asleep, Hermione silently backed away from his bedside.
A hand on her shoulder made her jump, however, and an excited “oh” came out of her mouth. Turning around, she saw Dumbledore, smiling down at her.
“Miss Granger. I take it Severus hasn’t been giving you and Madame Pomfrey too much trouble?”
Hermione shook her head.
“Severus, how are you feeling?”
Annoyed, Snape opened his eyes to glare at Dumbledore.
“Like I was mauled by a giant, man-eating snake. And yourself?”
Dumbledore laughed, the mischievous twinkle in his eye more noticeable than usual.
“Well, Severus, you’ll be happy to know that I’ve given your Potions’ students notice that you will be absent from class—the good news is that I’ve gotten a replacement to teach until you are well again.”
“And, pray tell, Headmaster, who have you gotten to take my place?”
“Oh, myself. Granted, they won’t be making seventh-year potions, but they’ll still learn something, I assure you.”
Snape was dumbfounded. What did Dumbledore think he was playing at?
“Surely you jest.”
“No, Severus, I’m quite serious. I wasn’t all that bad at potions in my school days, long ago though they were.” He winked at Hermione, who smiled.
“Gods, kill me now.” He muttered under his breath.
“Professor Dumbledore, have you spoken with Harry and Ron yet?”
“I have, Miss Granger. They are aware of the situation.”
“What about the Order?”
“All adult members are to report to Grimmauld Place—where they will be questioned thoroughly. I’m afraid, Severus, my dear boy, I will be using your stores of Veritaserum. Until we find out who leaked the information, no one is safe. Miss Granger, you are not to repeat this to another soul. It is imperative that this information remains between the three of us. You, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley will stay within the walls of Hogwarts indefinitely. I’m sorry to take away your privileges to Hogsmeade, but I’m afraid it must be done.”
“I understand, Professor.” Hermione sighed. She was really sick of Voldemort ruining everyone’s lives. They couldn’t live in the castle forever…and she knew it was only a matter of time before Voldemort made his move to eliminate Harry and his friends from the equation.
“While you’re here, perhaps you can assist Severus until he heals. He’ll gripe about it, but you’re the only one out of the three of you who has enough gall to stand up to him, given your exchange that resulted in detention.”
Hermione blushed again, embarrassed.
“I’ll leave you to it then, Miss Granger. I’m sure Madame Pomfrey is glad for the help. Though you say he hasn’t given you any trouble, I highly doubt that is the case. I know Severus can be a little cantankerous. Don’t let it get to you.” He whispered, just loud enough for Snape and Hermione to hear.
Before Snape could reply, Dumbledore had taken his leave.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be, Miss Granger?” Snape sneered.
“I do, actually. I have classes and an exam. I’ll stop by later to see if you…uh…need anything.”
“Miss Granger, the only thing I need is for you to stop your incessant chattering and leave me to my rest.” He closed his eyes again and relaxed into the pillows.
‘Git.’ She thought. Not wishing to incur any more of his verbal wrath, Hermione turned on her heel and left without a word.
Snape cracked open an eye and found the Granger girl gone, her form replaced with an irate Madame Pomfrey, tapping her foot.
“Will you drink the sleeping draught, or do I need to force you like a child, Severus? Your choice.”
He rolled his eyes, which Poppy took as admittance of defeat, and handed him the phial. In moments, he had swallowed its contents and was fighting the exhaustion that threatened to devour him.
The last thing he heard before he succumbed to the darkness had been Pomfrey muttering, “was that so bloody hard?”
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A/N: WOW! Here's #4! I was shocked that I finished it so quickly. I hope you enjoyed it, and don't worry...the smut is coming. >.< I promise, it will be well worth the wait--alliteration and all!
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Lions, Snakes, and Traitors, Oh My.