Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Torment Completed	By : Kvarta Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 31716 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling. This story is purely for entertainment purposes, no money is being made from it.

Chapter List
- 78
- 79
- 80
A/N: @BlackRose "what does this mean? Sexual? Young? Slytherins? And Parkinson...really? Is it another of Lucius’ manipulation?" - Lol, it is Parkinson but not Pansy ;) As for Lucius, he did choose carefully but I still can't tell you why. Sorry. ;)
Harry’s head was still reeling from the sheer amount of most bizarre information Hermione dumped on him in just few short moments ago. His brain was running in manic circles. He had a need to shake his head and chase away disturbing and undesired imagery.
Why would she do something like that? He couldn’t understand. Why would she stay up all night holding him in her lap?
What Hermione did went above and beyond her nursing duties. Harry, try as he may, couldn’t understand her. She acted normal lately. It was same old Hermione, self-assured and bossy to the point of annoyance. He tried to stop an onslaught of thoughts and questions focusing on her.
Hermione looked the same, reminding him of the days in the Common room. She was bent over the stack of parchments. From time to time she would tuck loose strand behind her ear. She was slightly frowning at her reading, chewing on her lower lip.
Malfoy, on the other hand, was sitting across her, teetering on the edge his chair. Looking at Hermione as if he expected that she will burst into flames any second now, or grow horns.
Hermione tapped her finger on the passage and glance around. Malfoy jumped from the chair and nearly knock him out. Draco dashed to the work table and returned with quill, ink and new parchments. They both kneel next to the tea table. She was drawing diagrams, writing unfamiliar formulas and scribbling around her drawing.
Nothing changed. Thought Harry, but deep down he knew it did.
The picture in front of him was so surreal, so out of comprehension, that he had to blink few times – just to make sure he’s not seeing things. Hermione and Draco teaming up to work on what appeared to be some kind of project. Harry felt a slight pang of jealousy.
This is wrong.
“Do you think this is it?” Asked Draco, his voice brimming with excitement.
“Well, we have to recheck at least once – just to be absolutely sure – but, yes, I think this is it.” Hermione nodded. She stopped hiccuping and looked excited now. I will never understand girls.
“Ummm, Hermione?” He asked, feeling left out form something that looked big.
“Yes, Harry?” She turned to him.
“What are you…” He started but stopped when she grinned at him happily.
“We found the connection! At least I think we did.”
“Connection? What connection?” Harry was lost.
“Between memories and post-cruciatus tremors.”
“Why would you look for that?”
“Harry,” Hermione sighed, with a familiar look on her face, one that announced a lecture, she stood up. “Look, you know how Crushiatus works. Right?”
He glanced at Malfoy they both shivered. He nodded.
“Right. We all do. We all felt it… Ummm… Feret face?”
“Just go on.” Mumbled Draco avoiding her eyes.
“Right. Anyway, spell attacks nerves causing intense pain.” She started, and he nodded prompting her with the motion of the arm to continue. “Post-cruciatus tremors, you have them an hour or two after you were hit with the curse, it is a normal reaction. Right?”
Harry nodded, wondering if really wanted to know.
“Well, if someone had prolonged exposure to the curse, either for a long time or on multiple occasions…” She stopped, chewing on her lip. Nodded and continued. “In any case, the recurrence of post-cruciatus tremors is well documented. It is a debilitating condition. It repeats until the victim is so damaged that is, in fact, unable to take care of itself.”
“Ok, I’ve heard of that.” He nodded, happy to understand what she was talking about. With Hermione, that wasn’t always the case.
“Fine. But, all mentioning of that tie tremors with nerve damage. They have that potion, which does nothing but relax the muscles. And that is it. Don’t you see, Harry?”
“See what?” He frowned. Did I miss something?
“They don’t know!”
“Hermione, what are you talking about?”
“It isn’t the nerve damage! It’s the memories!” Hermione beamed at him.
“Hermione, you can’t…”
“But I can! I am the only one who can know. With absolute certainty. Harry, every time Severus had an attack – he had a memory of being cursed with Crushiatus. And that got me thinking!”
“Yeah, but still… Hermione…”
“Look, it is not the pain that causes the attacks, it is memory and muscle memory. That is why monitoring spell was always wrong!”
“Wrong?”
“It would show that his reactions – blood pressure, heart rate, - they all react like he is in pain. And pain monitor does not detect pain. Because it is not pain, he… the victim doesn’t feel pain…”
“Ok, Hermione, but the condition does cause damage. How do you explain that?”
“Muscle tearing. Microfractures in tissue. They shouldn’t heal the body!”
Harry glared at her. What is she talking about? He glanced at Malfoy, he was also watching her with a deep intake of breath – presumably to contradict her.
“Yes, fine, I know.” Hermione rolled her eyes. “They should heal that too. But not only that! They should heal the victim's mind as well!”
Malfoy nodded in agreement. He was still sitting on the floor, leaning on the table.
“Let’s us assume that you are correct…”
“I am.” She cut him, but he ignored that and just continued.
“…You found out the reason – fine. How to cure it? What are you going to do with your discovery?”
“Hey!” Malfoy complained, insulted.
“Ok, What two of you are going to do with that discovery? It is rather useless without the cure.”
“Useless? Did you lost your mind, Harry?” Hermione snapped at him. “We are going to check everything once more and give our finding to Madam Pomfrey. She can give it to healers at St. Mungo’s and they can find the cure.”
Malfoy agreed with her, supporting her sharp words with an emphatic nod. He sighed, two against one, it wasn’t fair. Then again, he had a feeling that Hermione did simplify things for him. She and Draco spoke the language he couldn’t quite understand.
“I have to go. Feretface, today we will work in Severus’ room. Matron told me that I have to watch over him constantly now.” She briskly walked to the door. “See you later, Harry.”
Hermione let the room leaving him and Draco alone. He turned to Draco. Malfoy looked tired, same as Hermione.
“Did you also…”
“No, the father wouldn’t let us. My mother and me.” Clarified Malfoy. “But I couldn’t sleep after what I saw…”
“What did you see?” Harry felt desperate for information.
“I’d rather not talk about it if it’s all the same to you.” Sighed Draco standing up. “I think I’m going to take a nap, at least a short one. Later, Potter.”
Draco left the room. He was alone, confused and he didn’t like it one bit.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
Hermione knocked on the door. It felt somehow right even if this was her room also. Cautiously opening the door she slipped into the room.
Severus was still sleeping. Mr Malfoy was sitting next to him with an odd expression on his face. She’d swear on Gryffindor’s sword that she could see a trace of tears on Malfoy’s face. But, no! It must be the shade. It simply couldn't be.
Malfoy raised his head. Face turning from soft to tight. He mutely nodded and struggled a bit with getting up. Without a word, Malfoy hobbled out of the room leaving her alone with Severus.
He appeared to be peaceful. He looks drugged. She shook her head, he probably was. On her sofa was a scroll and she unrolled it. Matron left her list of possible reactions with instructions how to handle the patient in those situations. It wasn’t a pleasant read.
Elf popped up and glared at her. Hermione sighed prepared for another row with the stubborn elf. Misty crocked her head at her and huffed with annoyance.
“Missy is not sleep? How is Missy to take care of Master if she can’t stay wake?”
“Misty…” Hermione thought that her own voice sounded tired.
“Missy can’t be good rent-a-elf if she don’t take care of herself. Missy ben wake all night. Missy sleep now.”
“I have to…”
“Master sleep. Missy go to sleep. Misty will watch.” Misty made a shoo motion with her hand, tapping one foot. “Go Missy rent-a-elf, sleep now so you can take care of Master Snape.”
“I…. Thank you, Misty. Wake up if…”
“Misty will. Go. Go.” Elf shooed her in the direction of the bed and Hermione didn’t argue. After everything, she felt tired.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
Hermione blinked, sunlight stabbed her eyes with its brightness. With a huff, she forced herself to sit. The air around her felt dense, sluggishness deeply embedded in her muscles. Why was I sleeping so long? Her eyes still unfocused from drowsiness fell on the bed. Memories start rushing in.
“Misty.” She called
“Missy is awake early. Master sleep. Master Malfoy young one is still sleeping. Missy should sleep.” Grumbled elf.
“I can’t. I’m awake now. Can I just ask you for a mug of strong coffee?”
“Misty will bring.” Elf popped out, the sound of apparition echoed like a gunshot in Hermione’s head.
She slipped off the sofa and approached the bed. He was still in the same position, not moving apart from even rise and fall of his chest. And then his eyes opened.
“Severus…” She called, wanting to say and ask so many things that she wasn’t even sure what to say beside his name.
His eyes flicked around the room, vacant expression in them. They roamed over furniture and her like he is wondering where is he.
“Severus?” She tried again.
He didn’t react. His eyes continued to glance around before they fixed on the sunny sky. She stretched her arm towards him and then pulled it back, not touching him.
“Sever… Professor?”
His eyes flicked at her and returned to stare outside. It appeared to her that he did hear her, but she wasn’t sure if he was simply ignoring her or it was far more serious. With a sigh, she walked around the bed to stand in front of him. He didn’t even blink. His eyes were empty. Whatever he was staring at – wasn’t outside. With a sigh, she nodded.
“I understand.”
But, she didn’t, not really. Maybe he just needs time. She went to her sofa and sit on it. Misty appeared giving her a cup of coffee. With a snap of Misty’s fingers, in the corner of the room behind her sofa, the table appeared, two chairs and stack of books.
“Young Master and Missy work here now. Master Malfoy told Misty to provide working space.”
“Thank you, Misty.”
“Master Malfoy tell Misty to call young Master Malfoy. He comes shortly. Work, work now – Misty brings books.”
“Thank you, Misty. Severus is awake but he’s not speaking to me. Can I ask you to check if he’s hungry?”
Misty turned her head, glanced at Severus scrutinizingly and turned to her again – shaking head.
“Master Snape still sleep.”
She looked at Severus, his eyes were still open and staring outside. Hermione frowned and then the pieces clicked together. Jumping from where she was sitting, she shoved the cup into Misty’s hands and dived into her trunk to find Poppy’s instructions. Repeating ‘No, no, no, no’ over and over again.
Finding the scroll, she read through it and frowned again. It could be any number of things, including him ignoring her. The door opened and Draco wandered into the room.
“Did you rest at all, Bucktooth?”
“Shut up, Feretface.” She bit back, but her words lacked the sting and her voice was on the verge of panic “Try to talk to Severus if you want to be useful.”
Malfoy looked at her and ventured deeper into the room, looking at Severus.
“He’s awake.” That was a statement, so she didn’t reply. “Severus. You got me scared for the moment… Severus…” Malfoy’s voice slid from happy to worried, he turned to her. “Why is he ignoring me?”
“I don’t think he is.” She whispered. “I think he’s…broken.”
“He’s not a toy, Granger.” Snapped Draco at her.
“No. But, Matron left me this.” She raised her hand with the instructions. “And she did list this state.”
“Well, how long is he going to be like this?”
“I don’t know.” She whispered.
“Why is he like this?”
“I don’t know.” And that was the truth, she didn’t know. Fear suddenly made the air in the room feel icy cold and hard to breathe.
“Well, why don’t you check? You do have that… what did you call it? Link?” Draco was visibly agitated. She blinked at him and he smirked. “You have no idea what you can do. Do you?”
“What I can do?”
“Yes! Salazar, you are dense! You have access to his mind without Legilimency!”
Her eyes widened. Could I? No, no I can’t! I won’t! Never again – not without his permission.
“No. I won’t violate him like that.”
“As opposed to what you already did?” Smirked Draco at her.
“What I did is in the past, I can’t correct that.” A sharp pain stabbed her gut and her throat. “I won’t do it again.”
“Are you just dense or are you just happy to see him suffer?” Hissed Draco at her.
“Neither. I’m finally learning.” She hissed back. What an idiot.
“Then what? Are you going to leave him like that? Send him to Janus Thickery Award?”
“Neither.” She stated with determination. “I am… we are going to help him.”
“How?”
“Muggle way.” She grinned at Draco’s cringing face. “Can you send an owl to Harry?”
“Yes. But I don’t think that almighty Potter can save the day.”
“Harry won’t be saving anyone. I need to give him the key to my vault, my credit card and list of books he needs to buy.”
“Missy can’t have books on mind magic” Peeped elf with a frown. Hermione jumped a little, she completely forgotten about the elf.
“Those are not mind-magic books. Those are psychology books. Muggle books and I need them.”
“Why? What they can do that magic can’t?” Draco sounded appalled at the idea.
“Muggles deal with trauma issues more efficiently than wizarding world. Here, the problem is solved with magic, potions or not at all. Well, Muggles don’t have magic. They have medicines – but we can’t give him that. They have therapy! They talk about the problem until they solve it. They help those who need help without magic and potions. And most importantly – they are successful in that.”
Draco blinked at her. He had a face like she just told him a fairytale and expected of him to believe in it. The silence stretched as Draco mulled over her words.
“Fine, we’ll try your way. But you won’t tell to my father I agreed to this.” He looked pointedly at Misty, elf shook her head. “And if this fails, you are going to check – even if I have to force you.” He glared at her.
Hermione just smirked. “That would mean proving to me that you are better dueller than I am.”
- 78
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Torment *Completed*

Torment Completed