Chapter Five

~ Chapter Five ~

Hermione blinked open her eyes, feeling groggy and achy but peaceful. "Severus kept his promise."

"What's that, Hermione?" Narcissa's face came into her view.

"Severus promised to keep the nightmares away, and he did. Where am I?"

"You passed out after the brewing last night. Poppy was alarmed by something in your magical signature and said you shouldn't be moved magically. This was the best place near enough that Lucius could easily carry you."

"Slytherin plot to get me to leave Gryffindor Tower."

"I've no doubt a Slytherin is responsible, but I highly doubt their intention was for you to receive the honor no Muggle-born has ever had and sleep in the Head Girl's room."

"Someone did this to me?"

"There is little question that there is dark magic involved, but we won't learn any more with the two of us chattering on. Can you sit up?" Hermione moved to prop herself up and cried out in pain. "I'll take that as a no. Let's see if you can roll."

With Narcissa's help, she made it to her stomach. "Okay." Her voice was pinched.

Soon, she felt the soothing warmth of the balm relax all of the muscles in her back.

"Now that we've got you settled, I'm calling Poppy."

Hermione turned her head so she could see Narcissa kneeling at the Floo, but she couldn't hear the conversation. A few moments later, Pomfrey and McGonagall came through and made a beeline for her bed.

After helping her to sit up, Pomfrey ran her wand over Hermione, who didn't like the look on her face. "What?"

"Have you had trouble with your spell casting recently?"

"Yeah, but I thought it was just using someone else's wand."

"No, I think it has something to do with you. You say you slept well?"

"Yes."

"But after a good night of sleep, you are magically weaker than you were when I checked last night." She picked up the jar from the nightstand. "I think we need to keep you as isolated from magic as possible until we figure out what's wrong. We'll have to get you a Muggle pain remedy because something is draining your magic away."

Hermione was stunned. "Is it safe for me to stay in the castle?"

"I think the inherent magic in the castle is fine, but you mustn't cast any spells or have any more spells cast on you, including diagnostics or even potions. We'll have to observe you other ways."

"But--"

"But nothing." Pomfrey snatched up the wand from the nightstand. "I'll keep this so you don't accidentally use it."

Hermione didn't know what was worse, being told that something was stealing her magic or knowing that she couldn't use a wand, even Bellatrix's.

"What can I do?"

"You can read, study, but I don't want you helping with Severus' potions, even cutting ingredients, even carrying ingredients. I want you to stay away from situations where your inherent protective magic would activate; so keep out of dangerous situations for once in your life." Pomfrey sighed. "I suppose that was a bit harsh of me. I don't know what the last year has been like for you. Just, rest up. I don't think you should go out in public until we find out when and how this happened."

Hermione felt utterly defeated, but Narcissa put an arm around her shoulders and helped her to the restroom. "Go wash up. You can thank Severus for his help last night before we go in there with the potions, and you can have breakfast with Minerva."

Hermione felt very much like she was a child being left out of things, but the horror of what was happening to her balanced the petty feelings quite well. She walked through the common room and classroom to get to the study instead of using the Floo. Her soggy braid making the back of her robe damp reminded her of all the things, like hair-drying charms, she'd taken for granted.

When the ladies were done laying out supplies on Severus' nightstand, they gave her a few moments. When she was alone with him, she took his hand in both of hers and kissed it. "Severus, thank you for keeping your promise. I slept very well last night. Please be alright, and please remember to call me Hermione." Placing his hand down at his side, she leaned over and gently kissed his cheek.

As they passed each other, Narcissa gave Hermione a knowing smile. Hermione felt helpless as the door closed.

"Severus couldn't be in better hands," McGonagall assured her, guiding her to a chair and seating her with her back to the door. "Now, let's order breakfast. Rilly!" An elf appeared beside the table. "Hermione, this is Rilly. She has been serving Headmaster Snape all year, and she has agreed to serve you whilst you are unable to do magic for yourself."

"Yes, Mistress 'Mione."

Several thoughts at once made her cringe, but she managed a weak smile. "Thanks?"

"Is mistresses wanting breakfast?"

McGonagall made short work of ordering breakfast and gave Hermione a reassuring smile once the elf had popped away. "I know you don't approve of using a house-elf, Hermione, but you need to keep up your reserve. She has been fiercely loyal to Severus all this time and still will not hear of anyone calling him anything but Headmaster. When we asked for someone to serve you, she volunteered, overwrought as she has been these past few days."

The formerly overwrought elf returned with a tray, curtseyed, then disappeared with a nod.

Hermione picked up a piece of toast. "I wonder how long we'll have to wait."

"I wonder when you'd like to take your N.E.W.T.s?"

Thus McGonagall segued into a discussion most likely to keep Hermione's mind occupied. She informed Hermione that the board had planned a tentative review session for the first two weeks of August followed by the week of testing for those wishing to take their N.E.W.T.s.

"Some departments such as the Auror office, magical maintenance, and the Department of Mysteries are offering to integrate a semester of remedial N.E.W.T. studies into their training programs for the incoming year to accommodate those who wish to begin training right away. Acceptance would be based on transcripts of years under Headmaster Dumbledore and some practical demonstrations."

Hermione slumped back into her chair. "What if they can't figure out what's wrong in time? What if I become a Squib?"

"Then you can go to a Muggle University, come back years from now, and teach History of Magic."

"I can't imagine leaving. What will happen to my parents?"

"I'm sure they'll be fine."

"Harry said he'd check on their property for me today. I wish we could check on them."

"Hermione, you've never been one to waste time wishing for things. Don't let this change you. We happen to have two of the foremost living experts on the Dark Arts at our disposal. That is, we will very shortly. I'm a little disturbed by something Mrs. Malfoy said this morning."

"What's that?"

"She said something about thanking Severus. First of all, I didn't know you were on a first-name basis with him, and second, how can he have helped when he's been asleep this entire time?

"I can't really explain how he's been helping me, but it's like he's keeping the nightmares away."

"How can that be?"

"I don't really understand it. Lucius said something about us anchoring him when we talk to him. Severus said the same thing in my dream last night. I don't remember most of it, just that he calls me Hermione and I don't have nightmares."

"I see. And have you spoken to any of the Weasleys since the funeral?"

"No. Ron didn't want me to return to the castle, and I couldn't tell him the whole truth."

"Everyone will know soon. In the mean time, I don't think there's any harm in your making new friends, even if they are Slytherins."

Narcissa's aristocratic tones interrupted McGonagall's chuckle. "Thank you for the vote of confidence, Headmistress."

Hermione turned to see Narcissa and stood quickly. "Is he awake? Has he said anything?"

"He's said several things, most of which I will not repeat, but he is asking for both of you."

This earned Hermione another questioning look from McGonagall, but she didn't care, barely remembering to let the older witch go through the door before her. She was relieved to see him sitting up, his eyes open, and his face with some color; but she hung back, not knowing what his real-life reaction to her would be. McGonagall was apologizing over and over for not trusting him, and he was uncomfortably accepting her apology.

Turning to Narcissa, Hermione whispered, "Did he really ask for both of us?"

"I believe what I said, Miss Granger--" His voice didn't sound weak with disuse as she'd imagined it would, but deep with sarcasm in every syllable. "--is that if those two interfering Gryffindor witches were sitting with their ears to the door, then she might as well let them in."

Hermione temporarily forgot her pang at hearing him call her Miss Granger when she caught the smirk on his face. A slight hand motion beckoned her, and as she approached the bed, he raised his hand for her to take. Noticing out of the corner of her eye that Narcissa was leading McGonagall out, she took it in both of hers as she had just under an hour before.

"It's so good to see you Se--" She met his eyes and held them. "Severus."

"I'm very glad to see you with my own two eyes," he answered in a welcoming voice.

"Your hand is nice and warm."

"And I intend to keep it that way for many more years, decades even. May I have it back?"

Hermione blushed and released his hand but didn't get to say anything else because Pomfrey chose that moment to return. "Our patient needs his rest, and so do you--or at least fresh air and sunshine."

Severus spoke gently. "Just one more moment, Poppy." Turning his eyes back to Hermione, he whispered, "Thank you... Hermione."

She returned to find Narcissa having a cup of tea. "The Headmistress had to leave, but she told me that you should get a book to read and go outside."

Hermione wondered for a moment if all of her things had been moved or not. She was about to Summon her bag when she remembered she couldn't. Summoning Rilly instead, she shortly had the bag in her hand. Rummaging around in it, she saw the empty portrait. Removing it, she set it in front of Narcissa. "Severus might enjoy the company."

"There's no one there."

"Not at the moment. Phineas!"

"Do you mean to say--"

"I thought you were done pestering me," the voice from the portrait grumbled.

"I've brought you back to Hogwarts, to the dungeon, and here is a member of your family." Turning to Narcissa, she said, "This portrait used to hang in the house at Grimmauld Place. I'm sure you'll find the most appropriate place for it."

With that, she left the dungeon, heading for the great outdoors.

This time, she wasn't surprised when her feet led her to that particular tree by the lake. Considering all of the subjects she had to study in the next several weeks, she chose Arithmancy and leaned against the tree with the book in her lap. She soon became frustrated with it since even the simplest Arithmantic equations required magic to solve. Deciding she'd had enough of runes and Dark Arts for a while, she settled on History of Magic.

She was considering switching to Hogwarts: A History for diversion when she spotted someone in her periphery. Hermione could see it was a witch by her walk, and said witch was commanding a picnic hamper. Hermione quickly stowed her book and rose to meet Narcissa's greeting.

"Severus thought I'd find you here."

"That scares me a little."

"I think it scares him, too," Narcissa said, but didn't elaborate, instead swishing all of the contents of the hamper into order on a green and white blanket.

"Why is he scared?"

"Oh, he hasn't said it in those words, but he is certainly disconcerted by you. He seemed surprised that you'd told me about the dreams, and I was left with the distinct impression that you left some of it out."

"I truly don't remember them in detail."

"But?"

"But, well, when he was keeping the nightmares away, in my dream, I was sitting on his lap, and we kissed."

"Really."

Hermione didn't like the speculative tone in Narcissa's voice. "What did you see when you observed my aura with Ron's?"

"That's something I wanted to talk to you about. You said he's been your boyfriend since last summer?"

"No, really only this week. Or rather, that's when we first kissed, but we've been very close friends. Do you need to know the unpleasant details?"

"No, that was quite revealing enough. I asked Draco to jog my memory, and he said the three of you have always been friends, since your first year."

"We have. But I've never liked Harry that way, and he's had a thing for Ginny since before even he knew it."

"But you've preferred Ron for..."

"It seems like forever. A little third year, and a lot fourth year. I wanted to go to the Yule Ball with him, but he didn't realize I was a girl."

"I don't think even now he fully appreciates your femininity."

"Well, he sure was trying to appreciate it the other day."

"You've desired him for over three years, but that thought makes you uncomfortable."

"It's just--he had a girlfriend last year. He was mad at me and wouldn't talk to me for all that time whilst he was snogging her in the common room. I just needed to know that I meant more to him than that."

"Does he do that often, get mad for a long time?"

"Yeah. Nearly every year he's declared all-out war on either Harry or me."

"But he always comes back."

"Yeah, because it's like we belong together. And then there was Harry. We'd both promised to be with him to the very end."

"And you were."

"Yes. Even Dumbledore seemed to consider the two of us important to his whole scheme."

"This destiny and Dumbledore's plans--they must have weighed heavily on your young shoulders."

"They really did. Ron and I were mixed up in it all from our very first year of school. Ron had heard the stories, and I'd read about Harry in the history books they recommended to Muggle-born students. He was just a kid like us, and then he wasn't. He was our best friend, and then he was a hero. Madam Pomfrey wasn't exaggerating much about our propensity for trouble at school. I wanted to obey the rules, I really did, but the desire to know got me into trouble."

"And there you and Severus are very similar."

"I suppose you're right. Did you observe my aura with him?"

"I almost couldn't avoid it. Your aura had been a little off ever since last night's episode. I'd been keeping an eye on it throughout the morning, and when you entered Severus' room and got within the dim glow of his aura, something about you settled. Later, when he beckoned you in and held out his hand, both of your glows brightened. Just where your hands held, there was a brilliant peridot color where your gold and his green mixed."

"His aura is green? Is that a Slytherin trait?"

"It wasn't by mistake that the founders chose those colors for their houses. Many Slytherins have green auras. Lucius' is a deep, forest green. Severus' is like grass in the middle of summer."

"What color is yours?"

"Royal blue. When Lucius and I cast together, the result is aquamarine."

"What about Ron?"

"His is bright red."

"I suppose Godric Gryffindor had a red aura?"

"No specific documentation exists, but I suspect it was more like McGonagall's: orange, mixing the bold red and the loyal gold."

"Then red and gold are a good combination?"

"They are good traits to find in one person, but they don't always mix well in pairs."

"What does that mean?"

"When I saw your auras, I didn't see you as best friends or lovers. I saw two people who are each constantly trying to have their own way and then placate the other. Your natures conflict. It was like watching two stars, each threatening to consume the other in a violent explosion."

"Isn't a volatile relationship supposed to be hot and passion-filled?"

"Sometimes, but it's dangerous to experiment with volatile ingredients. Even as you shared the same space, in a hug or whilst holding hands, your auras never quite met. Each would in turn reach out to the other one and pull back. You've had to forgive him of much in the past. Do you think that will change easily?"

"We've both grown a lot this year."

"Well, I can't advise you there. I suppose Severus has warned you that I have an ulterior motive."

"He said something to that effect."

"I can't explain exactly when or why I first thought this was a good idea, but I still think it is. Severus can't fathom why, out of all the witches in the world, I'd pick for him someone so young, but he was always older than his years when we were in school. You're the same way. I hope both of you give this a chance to grow."

"I'll be a student again in August, if I haven't totally lost my magic by then."

"It's been twenty years since he last gave a woman a chance to forgive him and see past his faults. He'll wait a couple of months if you give him reason to." Flicking her wand, she oversaw the items neatly stowing themselves in the hamper. "Too much sun will ruin my complexion, but it looks good on yours. The men want to talk to you and try to determine what kind of curse this is."

Hermione was strangely grateful for the abrupt ending to that conversation, and she almost let Narcissa get all the way back to the castle before she remembered one more question. "What did happen to Pansy's things?"

Narcissa blanched. "McGonagall has been very understanding, but on that point she would not waiver. Anyone who actively fought against the school in the final battle will not be welcome back before they've shown true remorse. Pansy, Millicent, Gregory--they will never be students at Hogwarts again."

A/N: Thanks to Lauren for her help, especially with characterization. I know nothing about auras, but I had a lot of fun making up the information in this chapter; no offense is meant. I also must acknowledge "A Heart With No Companion" for lingering in the back of my mind as I wrote it. http://ashwinder.sycophanthex.com/viewstory.php?sid=7032