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"Unanswered Prayers"	By : T-W-O Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 26250 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own HP, nor the characters from it. I don't make squat from the writing of this story. I do lose sleep, tho'...

Chapter List
- 1-"Unanswered Prayers"
- 2-2
- 3-3
- 4-4
- 5-5
- 6-6
- 7-7
- 8-8
- 9-9a
- 10-9b
- 11-9c
- 12-10
- 13-11a
- 14-11b
- 15-11c
- 16-11d
- 17-11e
- 18-11f
- 19-11g
- 20-12
- 21-13
- 22-14
- 23-15
- 24-16
- 25-17
- 26-18
- 27-19
- 28-20
- 7
- 8
- 9
”That’s wonderful! Now go about applying the potions as you did when Severus was unconscious, please.”
In their bedroom, Severus lay in his bed as Hermione daubed small amounts of the healing cream on the worst of his wounds from her seated position at his side. The potions would be massaged onto his wounds next. Albus Dumbledore joined them to observe Hermione’s healing techniques first hand.
“I’m not undressing for your amusement, Albus!”
“Scientific inquiry requires sacrifice, Serverus. I’ll just go visit my portrait at Number 12 while you disrobe.”
Severus glared at Dumbledore as Hermione bit her lower lip to keep in her laughter.
“I’ll be in the kitchen preparing lunch. Call me when you’re… unclothed.”
“Oh you are a common witch, aren’t you Ms. Granger?”
“Forgive me, Professor, but I fell in love with your manly form and I swoon every time you reveal it.”
“You are the soul of wit, Hermione.”
The “t” in “wit” came out so hard she thought he’d spit out a tooth.
“Roast beef and asparagus with Hollandaise for lunch?”
“That will consume the leftovers. What shall I cook for supper?”
“I’ll start a chicken casserole. Professor Dumbledore’s experiment will likely keep you busy; I‘ll handle supper.” she concluded and left for the kitchen.
Muttering as he removed layers of clothing, he punctuated his dissatisfaction with a final comment to the empty room.
“Don’t know why I got dressed this morning…”

“What is that melody, Ms. Granger?”
Hermione leaned over Severus’ naked form working the potion mixture into his wounds.
“Melody? Oh! I must’ve been humming again. It’s called ‘Love Will Never Do Without You’. My mother loved the song.”
“Do you hum it all the time?”
“When I take care of Severus or make his potions, yes. It helps me concentrate.”
“Could you sing the words? —”
“Oh, Merlin, could you NOT!” Snape bellowed.
“Severus…” Albus drawled out as if Snape were a moody adolescent.
“Why do I bother!? Please, by all means — ruin the moment!” Snape groused in defeat.
Hermione smiled indulgently at her mercurial patient, applied a liberal dose of the potion to his wounds and began massaging it in while she sang.
“Our friends think we’re opposites
Falling in and out of love
They all think we wouldn’t last
Still we manage to stay together…”
[“Love Will Never Do” - Janet Jackson]
“What an interesting result! Look at your wounds, Severus.”
Dumbledore’s command riveted Hermione's attention to Snape’s body where the corners of his cursed wounds were closing, with agonizing effort, in real time. Along the still-open injuries a healthier color tinged the edges and the swelling subsided noticeably.
“Merlin’s balls!” Severus swore, unprepared for the change, and Hermione howled in mirth.
“Severus, there’s a lady present…” Albus reminded him.
“I spent a year on the run with Harry and Ron, Professor, I’ve heard worse.”
“Hermione, I think it wise if Severus remains here with me until we determine if the improvement is permanent. Could you serve his lunch in here, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble?”
“Will 15 minutes do for the conversation you don’t want me to hear?”
Both men — corporeal and painted — stared at her, acknowledging the transparency of their deceit.
“I would say 30 will suffice.”
“Thirty it is, then.” and with a throaty chuckle she left, closing the door behind her.
_______________
“Severus, this is serious…”
Both wizards stared at the rapidly healed portions of Severus’ injuries as Severus cast a non-verbal silencing charm.
“How did this happen? Albus, I swear to you — I’ve done nothing!”
“I believe you, Severus, but the proof is written on your body. I suppose it is possible the isolation did this… or that most unusual song… She’s unknowingly created some kind of ‘spell’ that affects your recuperation. And the words in that song… Almost a spell in and of themselves…”
“There has to be something you can do, something you know… I cannot do this to her!”
“Her heart has done this to you both. I understand your recovery now. She’s given you a gift, Severus, much like that Lily gave Harry. She cared for you at your most vulnerable; devoted herself to your well-being for these months. I’m afraid she’s created a magical bond with you”
“But she isn’t in love with me, Albus. I will not use her this way to benefit myself! I can stay here quite comfortably for whatever time remains to me. She should return to the world — I have pleaded with the stubborn witch to do so!”
“I would agree with you, Severus, if you did not love her — and you are in love with her. Minerva and I remarked on it after that wonderful Christmas we all shared.”
“She’s barely 19, Albus!”
“And you are nowhere near your own dotage at 38, Severus. I note you haven’t denied your feelings for her.”
“Merlin forgive me, she’s the first woman to understand me, my love for Lily — but she’s a child!”
“No, Severus. Hermione Granger may never have been a child in the sense that you mean. She’s as responsible for Voldemort’s defeat as Harry. Her maturity causes her pain; she sees that the end is not so close as vanquishing the Dark Lord should have made it. Her friends do not understand this yet. Of all the wizards I’ve known, I doubt that any would understand her — and understand the pain she will carry for some time — better than you, Severus.”
“She’s promised to Weasley. Even a blind skrewt can see she loves him.”
“I think, Severus, that you should focus on her feelings for you. You understand what this means.”
“Either I deepen this bond and let the ancient magic heal me completely —”
“— or you consign yourself and Ms. Granger to death. She will survive you by minutes, maybe a day if Poppy has adequate warning.”
“I cannot do this to her. She cared for me out of kindness. I have no great love for my own life — I will not seduce her for my own benefit. I am neither a cad nor a pervert.”
“I have not suggested such, and I remind you she is two years past the legal age. But she will die from your wounds as surely as if Nagini attacked her.”
“What must I do to protect her!?”
“You must court her. If she gives herself to you freely, you will heal and she will live.”
A quiet knock swiveled Snape’s head as she entered with his food.
“What did I miss?”

“Severus, these look wonderful!”
Two days after the “experiment”, Poppy Pomfrey jabbed a finger into the healing but still tender flesh near the main snake bites.
“They will not continue to do so if you insist on jabbing that skeletal finger of yours into my tender flesh. Have a care, Poppy!”
“Another month, maybe two, and you’ll be ready to return to Hogwarts. Here’s an incentive: Minerva mentioned you for the Defense Against the Dark Arts class now that the Dark Lord’s curse has been lifted. And Ms. Granger —” Poppy added, directing her no-nonsense gaze at Hermione.
Hermione broke away from her cleaning up after Severus’ examination.
“Yes, Madame?”
“Minerva has seen fit to use your spell and potion work with Severus for your N.E.W.Ts — all ‘Outstandings’. You’ll have to complete your exams in Transfiguration, Arithmancy, Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures but when you do, I’d like to offer you an apprenticeship as a Healer. You have talent.”
The healer repacked her bag after removing a small, black sack.
“Ready, Albus?”
“I am, Poppy. Hermione, Severus — thank you for accommodating me.”
“Happy to have you with us, Professor Dumbledore. I’m sure Severus benefited from your knowledge — those wounds are finally making some progress.”
“I wouldn’t assume he ‘benefited' me quite yet.”
Albus and Hermione enjoyed a final laugh together at Severus’ dour expression. He’d reverted to silence and snippy retorts since the success of Dumblledore’s experiment.
“Ms. Granger, your assistance, please.” Madame Pomfrey requested in her stern voice.
After tipping, lifting and shoving, this version of Albus Dumbledore fit neatly into his carrying case.
- 7
- 8
- 9
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"Unanswered Prayers"