Chapter 12

This story becomes very adult in future chapters. Minors, please do not read.

Thank you, readers, for your kind comments. I really enjoy your reviews.

When Severus became aware many hours later, he felt and smelled Hermione's hair against his cheek. He opened his eyes and realized he was in a chamber not unlike an iron lung used in the early 20th century for polio patients. His pain level was much lower than before; it felt like a large dog...instead of an elephant...was sitting on his chest. He could see his own ghostlike nose, so he was visible; someone was maintaining the spell. He realized that Hermione was asleep, and he was awake. So, another layer of the spell had fallen away during his rescue. He'd been too slow to get out of the way and stupid enough to breathe in. He'd been so scared for Hermione that he'd not given his own safety a thought.

He also realized that the chamber he was encased in was spell driven. He could feel the magic working in his body. He relaxed against the padding that ran under his body. Would he be okay? Had he compromised his lungs so badly that this would be his life from now on?

"Hermione," he whispered. His throat hurt, and his voice barely came out.

Hermione's head shot up, and she stared into his face with wide eyes. "Severus, thank God you're awake."

Her fingers caressed his cheek, and he closed his eyes and just let the feel of her touch soothe his fear. He turned his face so he could kiss her fingers.

She moved and planted kisses ever so gently on his eyelids and then his mouth. He felt tears drip onto his face, and then her fingers gently wiped them off. "Sorry!" she cried.

He smiled at her. "I understand."

"I've been so scared, Severus. Why didn't you just yell? I can move when told to... Why do you keep doing this?" She touched his face. "Can you perform Legilimency on me so you don't have to talk?"

"Legilimens," he whispered. Severus let his thoughts flow into hers. This was easier than trying to speak. "I was afraid you'd ask 'why,' Little Miss-Know-It-All." He smirked at her. "I just reacted; there was no time to yell. I suddenly found myself between you and harm. I'm sorry. What is my prognosis?"

"The Healer thinks you will be fine. I managed to stop the damage. It will heal, but it will take time."

Severus felt his body begin to tremble with the emotion of knowing he would be okay. Tears burned at the corners of his eyes and ran down the sides of his face and into his ears. Hermione cooed and soothed him with her fingers and lips as she kissed the tears away. "There, there, you're going to be okay. Guess what? Another layer of the spell is gone. Obviously, your organs are your own now, but I am no longer tethered to you."

Severus said, "Remember, I do not want to be without you. Freedom to walk to another room or go outside while you teach is all the space I need. I would not know what to do without you, Hermione."

Hermione leaned down to kiss him.

A Healer came at that moment to examine Severus. "Mr. Snape, it's good to see you're awake."

"Barnamais, you're still here." Severus swallowed against the pain.

Hermione stepped back to give the Healer room to peer into Severus' face. He performed a diagnostic spell on Severus, administered a potion that would heal and soothe Severus' throat, and then he stepped away. Hermione moved back in to touch Severus' face.

"Well, you're making progress. We can free you from this oxygen chamber in another 24 hours and try just regular oxygen through your nose. The ducts and passages of your lungs and nasal cavities show there are now openings through to the lungs. They were quite compromised earlier." He came closer to make eye contact. "You have been conversing? How is your memory? Are you experiencing any delayed thought processes?"

Severus shook his head and whispered, "No."

"Excellent, excellent!" the man repeated. "That's a good sign that there was no brain damage. It's a good thing Madam Pomfrey thinks fast on her feet...and Madam Granger." He reached out to give Hermione's arm a comforting squeeze. "Please, you must get some food and some rest. Madam Pomfrey will come back and stay with Severus if you wish it. She knows you will not want him alone for even a moment."

"I'm okay. I don't need to go." She had a determined look on her face.

"Please, Hermione, go and eat. It will do me no good if you faint from hunger. Take a shower, and get some sleep. Poppy will take good care of me," he whispered.

Hermione looked from the Healer to Severus. With a sigh, she nodded; she felt quite grimy. "All right, I will eat and shower, and then I'm coming back. I can sleep here if need be."

Both men noted her determination and nodded.

The Healer said, as he left, "I will Summon Madam Pomfrey. We have arranged for a nurse to take her place while she is here. And some of my staff will maintain your visibility spell so that we can keep an eye on you."

The Healer left, and Hermione bent to shower Severus' face with kisses.

He smirked at her. "I could get used to this...lying around all day and being showered in kisses. It's not a bad way to spend my time."

Hermione said sternly, "I expect you out of this bed as soon as possible. I want some pay back."

"You just bring those lips here, and I will show you what can be done from this bed."

Hermione gave him a beautiful smile and pressed her lips against his. His tongue dueled with hers a bit until he was breathless, which didn't take too long thanks to his compromised lungs.

Severus groaned. "Just my luck. I think 'it' works now, and I'm encased in this thing."

Hermione pressed her forehead against his and looked into his eyes and giggled. "Just my luck too," she said with a sigh. "Maybe I'd better back off a bit here. I wouldn't want you to get too uncomfortable in there." She laughed. "I guess that's another good reason to get out of here."

Madam Pomfrey came through the door at that moment, and Hermione blushed a bit.

The Healer saw the blush and smiled. If Severus felt good enough for a round of teasing, then he was better than she expected. She came and stroked his cheek with her fingers and placed a motherly kiss on his forehead.

He smiled. "More kisses. I definitely could get used to this."

Poppy smiled. "I'm glad you are doing better. You're a lucky man, Severus."

"Perhaps," he said drily. "But I'm also foolish. I could have held my breath."

Poppy said, "I guess you had other thoughts at the time." She smiled at Hermione and reached out to slip an arm around her waist and draw her close for a hug. "Now go, my dear. Please get some rest. I will keep a trained eye on our favorite guy here."

Hermione looked at them both and nodded, loath to leave him. She was scared something might happen.

"He looks very good, Hermione, and I doubt there will be any setbacks," Poppy assured her. "Please take care of yourself. You will need your strength when he comes home."

Hermione nodded and kissed Severus again and squeezed Poppy's hand. "I won't be gone long," she promised. She left the room and stood for a moment in the hall just breathing a sigh of relief and letting tears fall down her cheeks again. She had been so scared. She could not lose him now that she was finally getting him back. As she walked through the halls to the Floo, she wondered what had happened to Scorpius. The boy was dangerous. "Will the evils and consequences of the Voldemort's reign ever go away?" she whispered to herself.

She called through the Floo to Minerva's office and got permission to step through. She stepped through, and the emotion of the last hours cascaded over her. She found herself in the old witch's arms crying out her pain, fears, and relief that Severus would be okay.

Minerva held the young witch until her sobs subsided and then pushed her into a chair. She brought her a tiny glass of amber liquid and bid her to drink. The whiskey burned like fire down Hermione's throat, but it helped to settle her nerves and clear her head a bit.

"Scorpius?" she asked.

"Expelled," Minerva said. "He's under house arrest, for now, till there's a hearing. Draco came here; he's different now. He seemed very sorry and apologetic for what happened. He did ask for the house arrest instead of Azkaban. I wasn't sure, but Scorpius is a boy."

Hermione nodded, exhausted. "At least he's not here anymore. Do you think he had help?"

"No, he doesn't have many supporters. I feel sorry for him in a way. His grandfather is still filled with hate for Severus. They were best friends. Scorpius feels betrayed because Severus was his grandfather's 'friend,' yet really spied for the other side. You'd think Lucius would be grateful for Draco's life. There's no doubt he has more influence over the boy than Draco. Draco and his wife work outside of the home to help them all survive, and Scorpius has been raised by Lucius."

Hermione sat her little glass in the edge of Minerva's desk and struggled to her feet. "You'd think... I need to shower and eat."

Minerva nodded and hobbled over to give Hermione a hug. "Poppy assured me that Severus would be alright. Now go get some rest. I will have a house-elf bring you some food. Please sleep at least two hours; I will send an elf to wake you."

"I told them I would come back." Hermione was realizing she was dead on her feet.

"I will send them a message, letting them know I talked you into a nap," Minerva promised.

Hermione nodded and left her office and headed to the dungeon. She found Albus Potter sitting on a hall bench near the doors to the dungeon. "Albus?"

He got to his feet as soon as he saw her and came closer. "Aunt Hermione, will Professor Snape be all right?" His eyes were big and round with concern.

Hermione reached out to squeeze the young man's shoulder, glad that someone else cared for Severus. "I've been assured he will be fine. Thank you for holding on to Scorpius."

The boy relaxed. "It was nothing," he said. "I could kill him myself." His anger was hard and scornful.

Hermione took him by the shoulders and peered into his face. They were nearly the same height. "Albus, Severus understands the hate and pain in Scorpius, and he has such a kind heart now. I understand your anger, but more hate will only breed a new generation of strife. It has to end with you, now. By all means keep your guard up around him, but let your anger go, please. Let it go, and be the better man. Albus Dumbledore was the kindest of men...and very forgiving. You are named for two great men; you need to make them both proud."

Albus nodded. "I'm glad he will be okay."

Hermione smiled warmly at him and gave him a hug. "I will tell him you asked about him. He's very proud to have you named after him, Albus. I hope that in time you will get to know each other better."

"I would like that," the boy said, backing away. "Good night, Aunt Hermione."

"Goodnight, Albus, tell your dad hello for me. Hey," she called, stopping the boy's retreat, "did you Owl a message to your dad about Professor Snape?"

"Yes, I sent an Owl to him right after I asked him that day. I know he will try to come when he gets back," he called over his shoulder, vanishing up the nearby staircase.

Hermione went down to her and Severus' room and warded the door behind her. She found a house-elf already there. The little elf had some steaming stew and some fresh-buttered rolls for her.

"Madam, I ran a hot bath per the Headmistress' orders. She bids me to come wake you in two hours after you fall asleep. Is that being your orders as well ma'am? The headmistress asks you to consider a longer sleeping time." The little elf's huge eyes peered at her, waiting.

Hermione sighed. "Three then, and not a minute longer," she warned the little elf.

He bobbed his head and bowed, backing away. "As you wish, Madam." He grinned in relief and then vanished with a pop.

Hermione ate about half the food, but she was so tired she pushed the rest of it away. She let her clothes fall where they may as she stripped while heading to the bathroom. She slipped with a sigh into the hot water and lay for a moment to let her body relax. She nearly fell asleep, so she washed and used her wand to dry herself before slipping into the thick, warm blankets on the bed. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

******

Severus slept as soon as Hermione left. His face was suddenly lined with exhaustion, and Poppy realized he'd been putting on a show for Hermione's sake.

She ran her own diagnostic. Once she was satisfied it was just fatigue, she settled into a chair and took a book out of her pocket. It was rare that she could sit and read for pleasure. With 673 students, there was always something to do.

Severus woke about 90 minutes later and saw Poppy had moved her chair next to the chamber.

"How are you, really, Severus?" she asked, her stern look forbidding him to lie to her.

"I'm okay. My throat still hurts a little. There's still a lot of pain when I breathe, but I can breathe," he said encouragingly.

Poppy said, "I can ask for more pain meds, if you like."

"Please," he whispered.

Poppy went to the door and summoned a nurse. The pain potion plus another healing potion was brought, and Severus fell back to sleep.

"Stubborn arse." Poppy shook her head and reseated herself, taking up her book again.

He woke about 45 minutes later, and Poppy came to stand over him. "How is it?"

He nodded. "Better." His voice was louder and stronger. "Poppy, you know who did this bubble spell to me, don't you?"

"I have my suspicions," she said, conjuring up a brush and setting about brushing his hair for him.

Severus closed his eyes and enjoyed her attention for a moment, before swearing, "That bloody arse. I could kill him for this. Years of my life wasted. I thought I was dead for Merlin's sake."

Poppy said, "I'd like to take a piece of him, too, but I don't think he realized you would be physically hurt like this."

"But what about my right to finally call the shots in my life? I deserved that after the hell I went through." He was so angry that tears ran down his face. The pain in his chest worsened from his anxiety, and he gasped for breath.

She peered into his face and sternly told him, "Calm down, now! This won't do you or Hermione any good." She waited until he was breathing better. "You know Albus is a romantic at heart. He only sought to place you in a position to get to know an older Hermione. If he hadn't done that, would you have gotten to know her like this? Severus, would you change what's happened in the last weeks for the freedom you could have had years ago...freedom without her?"

Severus closed his eyes and swallowed his anger. He was silent for a long time. His mind ran pictures of her hair in the sunlight, her smiles when she looked at him, the touch of her fingers on his skin, and the love in her eyes.

"No," he finally whispered.

She finished combing his hair and lifted his head to smooth it out under his head.

She placed another motherly kiss on his forehead. "You be grateful for that, then. I'd bet my life that this might have been an easier spell to break down if you would just speak of your feelings and let them surface before you find yourself in a position to be heroic."

"You really think that's all it's been, levels of emotion? That damn fool knows I do not talk about feelings."

"Yes, I think it's all about feelings. He wanted you to have someone to love, Severus. He felt he owed you so much, and he knows you'd be truly happy having someone to love."

"But why would he think Hermione could love me back?" he asked.

"Intellectual equals, her sense of fairness to all creatures... If there were ever a woman alive to do so, Hermione would have been the one to see your good qualities. He had a sixth sense; he may have realized her fantasies about you. You would never have cared about a teen Hermione. Who knows, maybe he heard a prophecy. He was close to Sybil, and she has made some crucial predictions."

Severus nodded; it was a lot to think about. Would I trade a minute of what I'm building with Hermione for a freedom without her? Would I let go of a minute of this pain if it changed the fact that she would not be with me? "I would not change it." he said aloud.

She smoothed his hair back with a smile. "I thought not."

Thank you, Lisa, for the amazing Beta work you have been doing.

Becky, thank you for your comments, help, and encouragement.