Demise

Neville was as glad of Hermione's return as he was heartsick over her injuries. If he'd not been such a constant idiot in Potions this would never have happened! Because of him, the one person who'd always patiently tried to help him was lying in a hospital bed and no one knew when (or if) she would wake. Having heard that Professor Snape was returned as well, Neville had yet to see him. Headmaster Dumbledore was still teaching all the Potion Master's classes, and while Neville felt calmer under the Headmaster's guidance, he found he still didn't do well in potions. Without Hermione's patient help and Professor Snape's constant vigilance, Neville exploded more cauldrons than ever. He was fast approaching a new school record.

Neville was mortified by what had happened to Hermione on his account; he was terrified by what vengeance Professor Snape would take against him. Neville spent long hours envisioning, with gruesome clarity, any number of dismal fates brought about by an outraged Severus Snape. In his wildest dreams he couldn't possibly imagine the horrifying situation in which he later found himself.

Desperately wanting to see Hermione, Neville considered making a trip to the hospital wing. He wanted to go, even if she was unconscious, but he worried about running into the much-feared Professor. Snape wasn't teaching--was he in his quarters or lurking in the hospital wing? Eventually, his concern overriding his fright, he made his way cautiously to the wing's door with hesitating steps.

The wing seemed deserted. There was a lone occupied bed at the end of the long room. At this time of night, the hall was dimly lit, leaving little wonder that Neville didn't see the dozing midnight creature at Hermione's bedside. Neville crept forward; half-way to the bed he called softly, "Hermione?"

At that quiet sound, Severus' head snapped up from Hermione's lap. His eyes flashed in rage, equine nostrils flaring. "Longbottom!" he thought. "Here is the very reason my joy lies slaughtered!" Trumpeting his fury in a stallion's scream, he charged.

To Neville, it seemed as though a demon from the depths of Hell itself had risen from Hermione's bed. Shrieking in terror, he grabbed his wand and did the first spell that popped into his mind.

Alarmed by the racket, Madame Pomfrey ran from her office to find Neville clinging to the chandelier and the enraged unicorn still lunging up, desperately trying to reach the boy with a wickedly sharp horn. Shouting at Severus to no effect, she returned to her office to floo the Headmaster. In a thrice, Albus, Minerva, and Hagrid burst into the room.

"Severus Snape!" Albus bellowed. "What is the meaning of this outrageous behavior?"

Normally, the rare times that Albus Dumbledore bellowed, anyone within a league would stop what they were doing and pay immediate attention. Severus didn't even hear him. Tired, worried, and quite literally overcome by his animal passions; his mind so focused on reaching the apparent cause of his pain, the rest of the world ceased to exist. Albus was forced to stupefy his rampaging Potions Master, and was not pleased about it.

"Hagrid," Albus said grimly, "throw that mad thing in Poppy's office until we get Mr. Longbottom straightened out."

Hagrid dutifully, but gently, picked up the limp body of the unicorn and shut it in the office. While Albus tried to get his sudden temper in check, Minerva removed Neville from the chandelier. Fussing over the frightened young man a bit, Poppy tousled his hair and sent him off to Gryffindor tower with a dreamless sleep potion to help him get through the night. After Neville was cared for, and Hermione checked on, Albus finally opened Poppy's office door to deal with his unconscious professor.

"Ennervate," Albus intoned in an emotionless voice.

Severus woke confused. He couldn't quite recall what had happened. He remembered seeing Longbottom enter the hospital wing, and being angry, but what happened afterwards was a blur.

"Severus Snape," hissed Albus, "never in my long employment at this fine school have I ever...ever had to stop a teacher from trying to kill a student."

Severus was aghast...he had tried to kill Longbottom?

"Severus, you are both my employee and my friend, but I must say I have never been so furious in my life. Threatening the life of a student! What could possibly have caused you to behave in such a harebrained manner? If you hadn't been through so much already I'd ship you off to Azkaban myself!" By the last line of the speech, Albus was bellowing again.

Severus hung his head in shame. He honestly didn't know what had come over him. Had Albus not been so stunned by his Potions Master's inexplicable behavior, he may have realized Severus' trouble, and avoided a terrible mistake.

"Hagrid," Albus said in a soft voice that was infinitely cold. "If this creature is going to act like a beast, then let him be treated as such. Take him out to the corrals and lock him in."

"Yes, sir," Hagrid said softly. "Will yer please come with me, Professor?"

With a nod of his head, Severus docilely followed Hagrid out to the corral.

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Being able to become an Animagus is a rare and wondrous gift. There is good reason why the power is not common. It is both a difficult ability to learn and a dangerous one. Even for an accomplished Animagus there are pitfalls of which to be wary. Severus already found himself mired in one by changing without his wand. He now found himself slipping into the most dangerous threat of all. The power to transform into an animal was never meant to be used long term--while a wizard in his animal form still possesses his human mind, the animal nature of the beast he becomes is an insistent call. This nature is a powerful necessity, for without the instincts that attend the form, no wizard could ever learn to act and move as the animal itself. The danger in staying too long in animal form is, eventually, the strong instincts of the beast supercede the human mind trapped within. This is the reason St. Mungo's has its Animagus wing--the wizards locked away in that ward lost all human sense. They are loved and cared for in respect for the wizards they once were, but they're no more aware than the poor beasts locked in any zoo.

Severus had been trapped in his unicorn form for two days when Neville made his ill-fated trip into the ward. When Severus' unicorn eyes had locked on the perceived threat to his Hermione, the unicorn's protective, wild-stallion blood had taken over his reason. Now he found himself locked in a corral, treated as the beast he looked, ripped callously away from all that was cherished, familiar, and human. The man in his mind was slipping away, and he was too confused and sorrowful to fight it.

I can't believe I attacked a student! What possessed me? I know I amused myself by plotting his demise, but the worst I would've done was hex the foolish boy. I've never hurt a student in my entire teaching career, surely Albus knows that! I've been through hell trying to protect even the most dunderheaded of students. What in Merlin's name came over me? Good gods, maybe Albus is right. Maybe now I am just an animal. I'm bound to be stuck this way, perhaps I should try to get used to it. It's certainly true that I'm no bloody good to Hermione like this...my sweet little one...Gods grant that she recover. The fates cannot be so cruel as to do otherwise. When she recovers, what then? Are you going to let her attach her soul to a bloody useless unicorn? No, of course not. Better to break away now. Better to be the animal I've become than to let her loyal heart be trapped with such an abomination as myself. She is young...she will find another love--in time. I have long known that joy was a changeling emotion and not to be trusted. Oh, my sweet Goddess...

Severus hung his head so low in his distress that his soft nose almost touched the earth. His unicorn's tears, so precious in potion making, ran down his equine cheeks to fall and be wasted, seeping into the unfeeling ground. His sorrow and shame were too great to be born. The simple, calm, nature of the animal was an enticing escape from his pain. Severus' mind began to slip away.

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Hagrid was worried. He'd spent all morning in the coral with Severus, talking to him and trying to keep him company. Severus had acted gentle and amusing--like any unicorn--but not at all like the abrasive Potions Professor. Hagrid had tried again and again to get the usually stubborn man to answer him in some way--a nod of the head...anything at all; but while the unicorn was friendly and attentive...

Severus felt he could listen to the kind man's voice all day long. It was so gentle and musical. He couldn't seem to be bothered to understand what the man was saying, but he liked the sound all the same. The man seemed sad, though. Severus nickered to him and affectionately nibbled at the ends of the man's unruly hair. That seemed a familiar gesture somehow. He snorted and did it again.

With a heavy heart, Hagrid left to talk to the Headmaster; the unicorn placidly watching him from the calm safety of the corral.

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"He what?" Albus was bellowing again.

"He just don' seem ta know who 'e is, Headmaster, sir. It's right pitiful 'e is."

Albus sat down heavily in the chair behind his desk--his legs didn't seem to want to support him. Hagrid was unnerved by the despairing way his Headmaster rested his face in his hands. "Merciful Zeus, Hagrid. What have I done?"

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The kind man with the voice of song was coming back! Severus whinnied a welcome. He hadn't been bored in the man's absence; the sun was warm on his furry flanks, the breeze was a delight as it combed through his mane. He'd been watching the lamb plants caper about, they were quite entertaining. He hoped Song Voice would let him out to play with them, it looked like fun.

But who was this? Song Voice had brought another man with him, a greybeard. At first, the greybeard seemed quite pleasant: he spoke with a warm kindness that echoed the kiss of the sun on his flank. Eventually, the greybeard grew angry, and shouted things at him. Severus didn't like that at all; it seemed to remind him vaguely of a pain better left forgotten. He turned his back on the angry greybeard and went back to watching the green lambs wistfully until the greybeard went away.

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Here were two more men to visit him! Why...they were scarcely older than colts! He didn't like the look of that round eyed fellow...something about him was unpleasantly familiar. That flame-haired boy seemed familiar as well, and in a much nicer way. He seemed to remember Flame Hair being kind to him. When the boys entered the corral, he ignored the round eyes and went eagerly up to Flame Hair to rest his head over the surprised boy's shoulder. The boy stroked his neck in a familiar way...mmmm...he liked that. All too soon the boys seemed to get distressed...and with a last pat on his neck, Flame Hair followed the round eyes back up to the castle.

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Hermione slid into consciousness, hearing soft voices at her bedside. Where was she? What had happened?

"Albus, it does look like she's coming 'round, but I'm telling you--even if she wakes we can't possible move her! Do you want her slipping away from us again?"

"Of course not, Poppy, but...blast it all...she may be his only chance. We've tried to drag him up here...the stubborn man refuses to leave the thrice-damned corral. I'd use magic...but in his present state...hell, Poppy, it would probably make the situation worse. If we can possibly get the girl out to him..."

Are they talking about me? Who was 'him'? Suddenly Hermione's memories came flooding back in a rush. The minotaur--Severus! Why didn't she hear his beloved dusky voice? Where was Severus? Eyes opening suddenly, Hermione fairly shouted, "Severus!"

"My dear, I can't tell you how glad I am to see you back with us," Albus said with a warm smile.

Noticing that the smile didn't touch his serious eyes, Hermione spoke again. "Where is Severus? What's happened to him? Why isn't he here?"

"Ah...my dear...I'm afraid I'm to blame for that," Albus replied.

Albus related the whole tale, how Severus transformed wandless to save her, how for the first two days he never left her side. Finally, he told her the confusing events of the night before, and his disastrous decision.

"Headmaster, how could you? How could you leave him out there alone after the hell he's been through? He would never hurt a student--you of all people should have known there was something amiss!" Hermione was filled with righteous wrath; she would not be denied.

Poppy tried to calm the agitated girl. "Now, sweeting, you really must settle down...you aren't at all recovered enough for so much excitement. Let me get you something to calm you..."

"Recovery be damned," Hermione said shortly. Looking to Albus with grim determination in her eyes, she continued, "You take me to him, Headmaster. You take me to him this instant!"

**********************************

The greybeard was coming back...he didn't like that. He wondered if the man would shout again. But what was this coming with the greybeard? It sat in a chair gliding above the ground next to the man. Why, it's a girl! My...she's a pretty little thing, too. Is she coming to see me? Severus nickered in friendly fashion. The greybeard brought the floating chair right through the gate of his corral and set it on the ground. Look at that mane...it's as wild and free as any mare's. She's such a lovely girl. Lovely...that word seems appropriate somehow. She's talking to me...doesn't she sound sweet as a dove. Why, the little one is crying! Why does she weep? Severus stepped closer to sniff her breath in equine greeting. Wait a minute...what's that smell? What is that divine smell? Like oranges and ginger...I know that smell! Hermione!

The man's mind dragged itself from the depths of the animal nature that had drowned it. Startled, he tried to say Hermione's name and was frightened when it came out a strangled grunt. His eyes rolled, the whites showing. Completely confounded, he started to back away.

"Severus!" Hermione cried, getting out of her chair to try to reach him. She didn't have the strength and began to topple forward. In an instant, Severus was there, planting himself right in front of Hermione, who threw her arms around his neck to steady herself. She held him tightly. "Severus...oh, my Severus..." she whispered into his neck. He nickered softly, rubbing his cheek against her hair. "You can understand me now...can you not?" Hermione leaned back just far enough to regard him steadily.

Severus gave a slow nod.

"Thank the gods," she said, holding him tightly again. "Now you listen to me, you stubborn, insufferable man!" She placed her hands on each side of his furry head, forcing him to look her in the eye. "While they were figuring out how to get me out here, I had a nice talk with Professor Vector. Apparently, I'm a bloody genius. So, don't you think it would be prudent to give me a chance to find an answer to this blasted situation before you go all 'Seabiscuit' on me?"

What in Hades was his sweet angel talking about? What was a Seabiscuit? Maybe he wasn't quite himself yet. At any rate, here was his Hermione, weak still, but amazingly recovered. If she wanted a chance to do something about this, how could he possibly deny her? Making decisions for her when all alone in the dark night was one thing...turning his back on the owner of the warm arms wrapped securely around his neck was beyond his power. Leaning back slightly, he put his nose to her mouth, and with the gentlest of caresses, mouthed lightly at her lips.

"You need a shave," Hermione said, giggling. "That tickles! I believe that I'll take that rather bizarre kiss as a yes, shall I?"

Severus nodded his head, and nuzzled her lips again.

"Then come along, Severus. Let's get you back to your rooms. Potion Masters do not live in corrals!"

Sniggering, Severus gladly followed the floating chair back to the castle.