Chapter 4

This story becomes very adult in upcoming chapter. Minors, please do not read.

"What?"  She paled and took a step back. "He's been gone for 15 years. Why wouldn't he have let someone else know he was here?"  The woman's voice was high with a touch of hysteria and excitement.

"Please, Poppy, do the spell, and then I will explain if there's nothing in my head creating these scenarios," she begged.

The woman raised an eyebrow at her. Hermione could see she was suddenly thinking there might be something to worry about, but she said no more and raised her wand to begin the spell.  She chanted the words softly, and the colors of a spell flowed from the tip of her wand and created a halo above Hermione's head.  Then it widened and slowly went down the sides of Hermione's head like a scan in a Muggle MRI might.  There were no changes in color.

The woman's eyes widened with the implications, and she pulled up a chair near Hermione's.

Hermione looked at her with frightened eyes.

"What? Did you find something?" she asked in alarm.

Poppy seemed to shake herself out of her thoughts and grabbed Hermione's hand.

"No, I'm sorry, dear.  You're just fine, but that means Severus Snape could really be there.  How's it possible?"

The older woman paled more. Hermione grabbed her arm as she swayed and almost toppled off the chair.

"Poppy, are you okay?  What can I do?" Hermione asked.

Poppy leaned forward and took a deep breath. "That boy was like my son.  He's been here since he was a child, and I held him when he cried and patched him up when Voldemort tortured him.  The things he was put through...you have no conception.  Now you're saying he's been imprisoned for years, alone. Why wouldn't he come and find me?" 

Hermione saw the hurt look on her face. "Well, somehow, we are bonded.  Don't ask me why.  I found his wand in the Shrieking Shack a few days ago in a crack in the floor.  It was nearly impossible to see.  I was just in the right place at the right time."  She saw Poppy look at her strangely.  "I went to pay my respects, and he has no grave," she explained.  "Professor Snape may not have liked me when I was a child, but he was the best teacher I had. And I am stepping into his shoes."

Poppy nodded and smiled at her even though she saw something else in the young woman's eyes.

"He seems tied to the wand," Hermione explained.  "He was trapped there and was only able to come here because I brought the wand.  He told me that he's been mostly unconscious over the last 15 years.  He wasn't even aware of how much time had gone by."  Then she explained the mechanics of the stasis bubble he was trapped in.

"So you're telling me he is free of the hover charm but still trapped in the stasis/invisible spells."  Feeling better now, Poppy got up and paced around the room.  "I've never heard of this.  It has to be dark magic."

Hermione nodded. "At first his voice was so soft I thought it was my imagination, and it nearly scared me half to death."  She didn't share the fact that she'd had such a crush on the man that this whole thing had nearly embarrassed her to death as well."

Poppy smiled. "I imagine he did.  Is he his old nasty self?"

Hermione shook her head. "He tried to be at first, but he no longer has to hide behind his spy persona, and he's really not so bad.  It's hard having him so close and not being able to see him.  He can see me, and..."  She trailed off, not willing to explain about sharing her rooms with an invisible man.

"If he's being crude, tell me, and I will go give him a piece of my mind," Poppy said, standing taller and puffing her chest out with determination.

"No, really, he's being quite a gentleman.  It's me; I have to remember to keep covered up even in my own bed."   She was beginning to feel the need to get back and check on him.

The Healer smiled at her. "Ah." She offered, "I could keep him here if you want."  Poppy smiled to herself as she saw panic pass over Hermione's face.

"No, no... He's fine where he is, and I feel responsible for him. Even now I've been gone too long.  I need to get back."  Hermione gave the older witch a hug.  "I hope Severus won't be furious with me for telling you.  I just needed to talk to someone about him, and even though I mentioned a bit to Hagrid, that first day... but, you know how he is."

"Which 'he'"? she asked, laughing.

Hermione laughed with her. "Both of them.  I'm afraid I let Hagrid think it was my imagination that first day.  I didn't want him to worry about me or to blab it all over the castle."

Poppy laughed, and Hermione saw a new side of the woman.  She'd always been kind but very stern with them when they had landed in her infirmary.  True it had always been because they had been doing stuff they shouldn't have.  This was a genuinely kind woman, and the laugh lines meant she was a happy woman.  She loved her job and loved being of service to people. 

Hermione gave Poppy another hug and said, "I'll let you know if he's willing to have you come and visit.  It's possible I might be the only one to hear him, tied together as we are."  Hermione headed for the door, feeling so anxious her skin was crawling. "Gad, it's getting late, and I still have to finish setting up my room for tomorrow and have a conversation with a possibly very angry specter."

Poppy watched the young woman leave and then sat back in the chair with a plop. "Oh, my boy."  Tears ran down her face.

     *****

Hermione opened her door and peered into the room. "Severus?"  She jumped half a foot when he started yelling.

"Where have you been? It's been hours!"   He stood in her way so she could not pass his shield without feeling the biting cold.

Hermione immediately bristled. "I'm not your slave, Severus!  Now get the hell out of my way!"  She blinked away the tears that were burning her eyes.

Severus backed away.  His anger suddenly deflated, but he didn't apologize.  He was silent and watched as she ran and hid in the bathroom for nearly 10 minutes. "Women!" he muttered and went to sit on the couch.  He'd felt okay for about 30 minutes, but he'd started to get anxious after an hour had gone by. Then it felt like ants were biting his skin. And it got worse the longer she was gone. By the time she'd walked back in the door, he'd felt as if he could jump right out of his skin.  Had it been an effect of his fear of being alone again, or was the spell working to make him miserable?

Hermione came from the bathroom, grabbed his wand, and stuffed it inside her sleeve; she didn't say a word but left her rooms and went to the classroom.  She started to make her preparations for the next day's lessons. 

Drawn along, Severus watched in silence as she placed the cauldrons on the stands and carefully measured out ingredients for a simple potion.  She placed a little bottle by each cauldron, went to the board, and began to write the instructions.

She was efficient and exact.  Only dunderheads would not be able to follow her directions.  He assumed she wanted them to have success right off so they would find Potions fun.  The word fun had seldom been in his vocabulary.  Yet he could see the wisdom of it.  Hermione, after all, was not an ugly old Potion's master, turned spy.  She could teach and enjoy her students, as he had never been able to.

He maintained his silence and waited for her to speak. He knew he should be the one to break the ice and apologize, but he could not make himself speak.

He was surprised when she finished, went back into her room, and got ready for bed.  She slipped into the bed and blew out the candle, leaving him standing in the room in silence.

He hastened to slip into the bed.  He did not want to wake up on the floor the next morning.  But Hermione did not fall asleep very quickly.  She tossed and turned for over an hour until he felt so bad he whispered, "Goodnight, Hermione."

"Goodnight, Severus," she choked out. He could see her shoulders shake for a time with silent sobs. Then she finally cried herself to sleep, and his world faded from him.

     *****

Hermione was up early the next morning to get ready. She ignored Severus; she was too nervous to talk to him.

He watched her buzz around the room and was surprised when she tucked his wand into her sleeve as she headed out the door to get to the Great Hall for breakfast.  Being  mid-year, there was no sorting ceremony, so breakfast was pretty normal.

Severus followed along. If he stopped to test the length of his invisible leash, Hermione would go about 15 to 16 feet, and then he was tugged along like a rope being pulled.

Once Hermione stopped to watch two students walk from a hallway toward the hall.  One had his hair done in a Mohawk with purple fringe. The other had her hair dyed pitch black, and she had many rings in her nose. 

Hermione whispered, "Things sure have changed."

"That's for sure," he agreed close to her.

"Severus, not a word from you today in my class, please.  I don't want to appear to be a loon, so don't talk to me unless we are in private," she warned.

"As you wish," he whispered.  He would not make her to cry today, but he knew a whole day of silence would be trying for him...especially if she did something in the classroom he did not like.  He wasn't sure if he would approve of her teaching or not.  That was yet to be seen.

Severus spent the day watching Hermione teach her first classes, and he was surprised that she was very strict and proper but also let the students know that there were times when they could also enjoy their time there and ask as many questions as they wished.  He watched that with a smirk.  She obviously hated the fact that he'd always silenced her inquisitiveness.

As lunch came and the last of the children went out the door, Hermione shut and warded the door with her wand.  She sat at her desk and sighed, putting her face in her hands.

Severus said, "You did well. What's wrong?"

"I did?" she said, looking around.

"I'm standing in front of you," he told her, and her eyes swung to look at the space.  "Yes, you did well.  Very well."

He saw her blush, and a coy smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. He breathed a sigh of relief.  "I'm sorry about last night."  He explained how he had felt after she'd left him alone.

"Severus, why didn't you tell me?" she said, sadness filling her eyes again.

"Hermione, having to depend on someone is all very new to me.  I have always been indentured, but I had to think on my own feet to survive.  Now I can't even leave a room without you."

"Severus, I can't read your mind. Hell, I can't even read your body language.  All we have are words.  I will try harder not to flare up if you will, and I will not leave you for long unless it's necessary."  She stood. "Now, I have to get some lunch.  Do you want to come with me?" 

"Please, I'm not ready for anymore alone time."

She smiled at him and patted the sleeve of her robe. "My guardian angel," she said, with a giggle.

"Hardly," he replied acidly.

Hermione only giggled more at him as she unlocked her door.

He found himself enjoying her laughter as they moved out of the dungeon.

The rest of the day went about the same, and finally Hermione locked and warded her door.  She knew she still had to bring up her talk with Poppy, and she dreaded the silence that might follow.  Last night had been horrible.

"Severus?" 

"Here?"  His voice came from the corner behind her desk.  "I didn't want anyone to bump into me." 

"You mean you stood back there all afternoon?  I'm sorry. I should have thought to place a chair there for you.  Please sit at my desk whenever I'm not there."

"Thank you.  You did well, Hermione.  It was different from my teaching methods but not any less effective.  Perhaps you will coax more out of your students with your kindness than I ever did with fear."

"High praise coming from the old bat of the dungeons."  Hermione smirked in his direction and then changed her position when she felt his coolness come closer to her right side.

"Old bat, indeed," he said. 

"Back off," she warned with a snicker. His closeness was giving her the shivers. "I need to grade some papers."

"Hermione, may I look over your shoulder?  I'm going stir crazy with inactivity," he begged.

"Alright, I'd appreciate your opinions.  But remember, mine is the last word," she informed him.

They spent several hours grading the papers and testing the potions.  Finally, Hermione went to dinner.  This time Hagrid was missing from the table, so Severus sat in his chair and watched Hermione eat.  She and Minerva had a conversation about her first day, and he saw Hermione look down the table at Madam Pomfrey and shake her head slightly.

Severus watched the old woman's face.  She had aged but was still holding up well.  He had fond memories of her from his childhood.  That woman knew more about him than anyone here.  The things she could tell about him made him light headed.  But she had always kept his secrets. As she watched, he became a bit suspicious.  She was not only looking at Hermione but searching the space around her. 

He eyed Hermione and saw her glance nervously at him.  He came as close as he could and whispered harshly, "You told, Poppy?" 

"Shhhhsh," Hermione warned him,"

McGonagall said, "Oh, was I being too loud?"

Hermione blushed. "No, Minerva.  Sorry, there was a fly."

"A fly, here in Hogwarts?  Unlikely, this time of the year."

"Sorry, maybe it was an errant hair that tickled my forehead."  Hermione felt foolish under the old witch's gaze.

"Yes, well..." she said, pushing back from the table. "I'm going to turn in for the night.  See you all at breakfast."  She said the last words for the entire table to hear.

When Minerva was gone, Hermione also excused herself and quickly left.  She knew there would be a discussion tonight.  She didn't speak until they were back in their rooms and the doors were locked and warded.

"Alright, spit it out.  What did you do, Madam Granger?" he asked in a tight, low voice.

"Whatever are you going on about, Severus?" she asked as she set about lighting the fire with her wand and drawing a warm blanket off the end of the bed so she could sit and relax.  She was starting to feel quite tired from her first day.

"I saw you and Poppy trading looks. You told her didn't you?" he accused.

Hermione felt his coldness settle near her feet on the couch, and she drew her legs closer to herself.

"Yes, Severus. I had to talk to someone," she finally admitted. Then she grimaced, waiting for him to blow up.

Lisa, thank you for your beta work. I really appreciate it.

Becky, thank you for your support.