Repose

The first of the professors to arrive was McGonagall. Taking one look at the man cuddling with her prize student, she turned livid with rage. "Severus Snape, may I ask what is the meaning of this outrageous behavior? Take your filthy hands off that girl at once!"

Severus' eyes narrowed in anger but his voice came out a silky purr, "Why Minerva, I'm afraid I don't see what's wrong with our behavior. Miss Granger and I always take a nap together at this time of day." He smirked as Minerva puffed up in rage.

"You arrogant libertine! I swear I'll hex your balls off, and then we'll just see if you're able to debauch any more young girls."

This worried Severus, though he didn't show it. Minerva was a powerful witch; he'd no doubt she could do exactly what she threatened. Perhaps he shouldn't have baited her, but he'd been furious that Minerva would even think he would do such a thing. She should know better. Now the enraged witch was going to hex him, and with his arms full of Miss Granger, he'd never be able to block it. Severus did the only thing he could think of--he shouted. "Poppy! Get your bloody arse out here immediately!"

Poppy was still busy in her office--she'd never get there in time. Luckily for Severus (and his balls), as Minerva drew her wand, a bearded wizard chose that moment to rush through the door. Albus took one look at Minerva--a tower of vengeful witch standing with wand drawn and pointing to his wide eyed Potion's Professor--and acted with lightning reflexes. "Expelliarmus," he intoned softly. Professor McGonagall's wand flew gently into his hand.

Turning to the Headmaster with startled eyes, Minerva sputtered, "Albus, give me back my wand...don't you see what this..."

"Minerva," Dumbledore began in a voice that brooked no argument, "I believe you owe Severus an apology. If you were in your right mind, I think you would realize what you were accusing Severus of is rather ridiculous."

The wind abruptly left the sails of Minerva's fury, her face going white. Taking one look at Severus' shuttered expression, Minerva felt absolutely mortified by what she'd accused him of. "Severus, I am so..."

"I don't want to hear it," Severus interrupted in a tight, soft voice.

"But, Severus..."

"I--do not--want--to hear it," he snapped.

The senseless girl in his arms took that as a cue to whimper against Severus' shoulder. His eyes softening abruptly, he looked down at the girl in his arms--gathered her even tighter against his chest--and murmured in the softest of tones, "It's quite all right, Miss Granger. Everything will be fine." The young woman wrapped in his arms grew quiet once more, snuggling her face into the crook of his neck.

Turning serious eyes up to his Headmaster, Severus addressed him in the same soft tones, "Albus, perhaps you could at last get around to figuring out this mess. I do not know how much more of this insufferable situation I can take."

"I will do all in my power, my boy. For now, please continue to keep Miss Granger calm. Is there anything you require?"

"Other than my freedom, which I seem destined to do without for the time being?" Severus sighed. "Perhaps a cup of tea..."

"Minerva," Albus regarded his Transfiguration Professor calmly, "I trust you can make the poor boy a cup of tea without calling his honor into question?"

"Of course, Headmaster," Minerva replied. Turning to Severus, she asked him softly, "Is there anything else I can do for you, Severus?"

"No...thank you, Minerva." Severus' voice was as gentle as her own, though he refused to look at her. "Tea will be sufficient."

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

Two hours and four cups of tea later found Severus in a bit of a predicament. Albus, Minerva, Hagrid, and Poppy were all in the mediwitch's office trying to find out what could be done. Severus still sat in the chair with Hermione, who had yet to awaken. Severus' back was starting to get a bit stiff and Miss Granger's hip was pressed firmly against a bladder which now held an uncomfortable amount of used tea. He tried to ignore it, but he was starting to squirm in discomfort. The next time Minerva came to check on him, she noticed his unease.

"Severus, what is the matter? Can I do something for you? Perhaps you would like more tea?" she asked kindly.

"Absolutely no more tea!" he hissed, trying in vain not to squirm.

"Oh, I believe I begin to understand your problem." Minerva said, biting back a chuckle. "I could get you one of Poppy's contraptions..."

"That is out of the question! Minerva I'm surprised at you. What if Miss Granger was to awaken during the...proceedings?"

"Why Severus, I don't think I've ever seen you blush before." This time Minerva could not stop an amused snort of laughter.

"How kind of you to ridicule me in my torment." Severus may have intended the comment to be disdainful; it came out more embarrassed than anything.

"I'm sorry, Severus," Minerva began in a gentle tone, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving it a soft squeeze, "and I'm awfully sorry about earlier. I know you better than that. I'm afraid you aren't the only professor here with a bit of a temper."

"Find me a way out of my present plight and I'll think about forgiving you," he groused.

"Why don't we see if she'll let me hold her?"

Severus raised his eyebrows in speculation. It was a practical suggestion and if he didn't take a piss soon he was in danger of getting Miss Granger and himself very wet. Why not try it? There was no proof that there was anything special about his person that Miss Granger found comforting. In fact, should the young woman come to her senses to find herself wrapped tight in the arms of her "greasy git" of a Potions master, she would probably go into hysterics. Minerva's idea was quite sensible; Miss Granger was bound to be better off in the arms of her head of house.

"Let's attempt it. It would certainly be much more proper for you to care for Miss Granger in her present condition." Severus stood easily, despite stiff muscles and the weight of the girl in his arms. When Minerva took his place in the chair, Severus gently placed the young witch in her lap. As he drew away, Hermione did not start screaming, but she began to whimper piteously.

"Damn! It's not going to work, Severus. You'd best hurry."

"I'll be as quick as I can," Severus said with a resigned sigh. He took but a moment to stretch his aching back before striding off to Poppy's private bathroom.

Hermione was still whimpering when he returned. Severus wasted no time in retrieving his burden; he simply leaned over and plucked the upset girl off Minerva's lap. As soon as Hermione was once again cradled against Severus' chest, she immediately quieted. Watching Severus look down at the girl he held so gently, Minerva could not believe the tender expression she glimpsed in the man's normally guarded features. By the time she vacated the chair so the burdened man could resume it, Severus had replaced the look with his usual one of bored disdain. Hesitating before she returned to Poppy's office, Minerva waited in front of the chair until Severus had gotten Miss Granger as comfortably arranged as possible. Eventually, he looked up to regard Minerva with a questioning raise of an eyebrow.

"Was there something you wanted?" he asked, looking a bit puzzled.

"I know you do not want to discuss it, Severus, but there is something I would like to say about my behavior earlier."

"I assure you, Minerva, that it is not necessary. You are certainly not the first person to confuse the actor with the role, so to speak. I have gotten rather used to it," he replied in a tone both snide and weary.

"Obviously I do need to explain something, for you misunderstand me. When I walked in here today, I was angered by what I wrongfully assumed to be a professor taking advantage of a student in no shape to express her wishes in the matter. I would have reacted the same way had it been any professor and any student. If it had been Albus himself, he would have had to defend his balls!"

"I would've paid money to see that," Severus said with an amused snort.

"Severus, there is one more thing I would like to make perfectly clear. If I knew that a professor and a student--of legal age--had honest feelings for each other...well...let's just say that in my opinion, Miss Granger would be a very lucky young woman."

Severus had no witty reply to that remark. His eyes opened wide for a moment in disbelief, then they abruptly snapped shut as he bent his head. His curtain of black hair swung down to shadow his face, hiding his discomfort.

With a sigh, Minerva began to return to Poppy's office. She stopped when she heard his soft voice address her. Turning back, Minerva saw that his head was still bowed; she could barely see the glitter of his black eyes from under that mask of hair.

"Minerva," Severus began in a voice nearly as soft as a whisper. "Even if...that professor...had such feelings, he could never act on them, or even acknowledge them. Professors who are supposed to be Death Eaters do not have...affection...for muggle-born witches. It would only put both of them in grave danger."

"Severus, may I remind you that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will not live forever." With that said, she turned and strode quickly to Poppy's office.

Minerva did not hear Severus' last whispered comment. "True enough...and I have about as much chance of surviving the war as he does."

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

Another hour passed before the professors sequestered in Poppy's office returned to tell Severus of their progress.

"We've got good news, my boy. With Hagrid's help, we've managed to track down a woman in Jamaica who is something of an expert in salamanders. Miss Granger has not been cursed after all; it seems that the salamander she rescued has given her a rather rare gift," explained Albus.

"This does not appear to be much of a gift, if I may say so," replied Severus with a disbelieving snort.

"This woman...she's called a Firewalker...assures us that it is a useful gift indeed. Apparently, Miss Granger's trouble is that she is not schooled in dealing with it yet. The Firewalker said that it can drive the untutored quite mad if they have no assistance."

"Is that what is wrong with Miss Granger? Has she gone...mad?" Severus asked with an uncharacteristic hesitation in his normally confident manner of speech.

"No, my boy, not yet at any rate. The Firewalker said that if she were mad she would not stop screaming for any reason. We were terribly lucky you were about when Miss Granger collapsed, Severus. According to the Firewalker, there are certain people who are naturally calming to those who have received this gift."

"What exactly are we talking about, Albus?" Severus asked, curiosity overcoming his worry about the girl on his lap.

"Miss Granger is now an Empath."

A small intake of breath was the only way that Severus showed his surprise. Empaths were rare indeed--he'd never yet met one. There wasn't much known about them, or the powers they possessed. "Did this...Firewalker...explain how we are to handle this situation?"

"Indeed she did," interrupted Poppy, "seems she's an Empath herself, that's what that 'Firewalker' title implies. She has told us some things that will help Miss Granger until she can come up here. The Firewalker is going to train Miss Granger herself."

"What do you mean by 'until she can come'?" Severus asked with a snarl. "Exactly when is this so called 'Firewalker' arriving?"

"As soon as she finishes up some business at home. She should be arriving in a week or so..." Minerva explained.

"What? A week or so?" Severus' voice rose, as did his ire. The unconscious witch in his arms began to whimper. Severus' tirade broke off abruptly. Looking down at the agitated girl, he held her closer and bent his head to her ear. "It's all right, Miss Granger. Nothing will harm you; you are quite safe," he murmured into her hair. As Hermione once again quieted in his embrace, Severus returned his attention to the professors gathered around him. Though he continued in a soft voice, his eyes blazed daggers. "And exactly what are we expected to do for Miss Granger in the meantime? I certainly hope you are entertaining no insane notions of me continuing this ridiculous...cuddling...any longer than is absolutely necessary."

"Never fear, my boy," Albus continued with a chuckle, "the Firewalker told us some things that will help Miss Granger besides 'cuddling,' as you so aptly put it. If you can continue caring for Miss Granger--perhaps another hour--we will be able to ward a room for her. Apparently, if she's secure in a buffered room, she'll regain consciousness and be on the road to recovery."

"Is that all she needs? A buffered room?" Severus asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Mostly. She will need some company as well. The Firewalker mentioned that it would be almost as bad to leave Miss Granger alone as it has been to be around so many people with no protections. She suggested we find a few people that Hermione feels comfortable around, letting them take turns keeping her company. The emotions of one comforting presence will overpower any outside emotion that seeps through the wards."

Severus nodded to himself. That sounded like it would work well, as far as he was concerned. After all, it was hardly likely Miss Granger would want her abusive Potions Professor around. The sooner he escaped this bittersweet torment, the better off he would be.

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

Sliding slowly into consciousness, Hermione was confronted by snippets of memory. She remembered the emotional roller coaster she had been trying to cope with...feeling safe with Harry in the great hall. Good gods! She'd started screaming in Potions! Professor Snape must've been furious! Hermione vaguely wondered if Gryffindor had any points left. But what had happened then? She remembered falling to her knees on the floor, closing her eyes tight, and screaming. Ahh...someone had picked her up. Hermione distinctly remembered strong arms supporting her and a sense of fierce protectiveness washing all the frightening confusion away. Hermione also had fuzzy memories of being held on someone's lap...hearing a comforting voice reassuring her. Harry! It must have been Harry. He was the one who had made her feel safe at dinner after all. He was a good friend, too. She could just see him racing to her rescue.

Where was she? Infirmary? What did it matter...she felt safe and calm. The only emotion she felt at all was a soft concern. It was quite pleasant. Feeling stronger, Hermione opened her eyes. She was in a strange room, quite unfurnished other than the bed she lay in and a large overstuffed chair. Familiar blue eyes regarded her cheerfully.

"Headmaster, am I mad?" Hermione blushed furiously. Why had she blurted that out!

"No, my dear child, you are not mad, nor are you cursed," Dumbledore began. He then explained to Hermione all that the Firewalker had said. "So Miss Granger," he concluded, "now all we need to do is choose some people to keep you company, and you will be quite safe until the Firewalker arrives to start your training."

"I...I think...I'm sorry, sir. It's just so much to take in! I'm an Empath? I guess it makes sense, looking back on all that's happened, but it just seems so odd," Hermione said.

"Like all powers, Hermione, I expect it will take a little time to get used to... as well as a little good old fashioned know-how. I am quite certain you will adjust to it very well, once we get that woman here to help you. Now then, whom do you think might make you feel secure in the meantime?"

"Well...obviously you do, sir. I feel quite at ease at the moment," Hermione said with a little blush of embarrassment.

"Excellent, excellent, I would be honored to help keep you company, my dear."

"Not Ron!" Hermione suddenly blurted, then blushed even more deeply.

Albus only chuckled. "Do not worry my dear, I know he's a good friend of yours, but I also know he's a bit...volatile, shall we say?"

Sighing in relief that the Headmaster understood, Hermione continued. "Professor McGonagall would be lovely, she's always so calm. I'd like to see Neville, but he's just been to see his parents..."

"I understand, Hermione. Mr. Longbottom would be a bit too sad at the moment, I'm afraid. Don't be afraid to be blatantly honest, my child, this isn't a popularity contest, we need to keep you safe."

"Harry! I'd really like Harry."

"Are you sure, Miss Granger?" Albus asked. "Harry is a fine young man, but he has had his moments of uproar, just as Mr. Weasley has."

"Oh no, Harry would be lovely. I was having a terrible time at dinner last evening, and just being near him helped me."

"All right, then. If you are sure."

"Besides, Headmaster, he's the one who carried me out of class, isn't he? I had thought I was going insane until he picked me up. Then suddenly I felt very safe, like nothing could ever harm me again."

"Miss Granger, I'm afraid it was not Harry who carried you out of class earlier today, though I'm certain he would've been willing. It was Professor Snape."

"Professor Snape!" Hermione almost shrieked. "But that can't be right! He doesn't even like me!"

"Miss Granger," Albus said with a sigh, "I think you have been a member of the Order long enough to know that things are not always as they seem. It was indeed Severus who carried you to the hospital wing. Not only did he do that, but when it was discovered you became agitated whenever he put you down, he quite gallantly held you on his lap for four hours while we worked on a plan to help you."

To say that Hermione was shocked by this would be a gross understatement. She did not reply for long moments while she tried to wrap her brain around the odd idea that it was Professor Snape's lap she'd been cuddled in. As she came to grips with that, she remembered that fierce protectiveness that had enveloped her like a suit of armor. Even sitting here with Albus Dumbledore himself didn't feel quite that secure. Well, there was no getting around it...

"Then I suppose I'd better have Professor Snape's help as well, if he will," she said tentatively.

Albus chuckled again. "I do believe that can be arranged."