Chapter 2

Disclaimer: See chapter One for standard disclaimer because it's not mine.

A/N: Mucho thanks to GrammarPolice for her beta and SlytherinsHeirx for the Britpicking. Also, thank you to quaffswinegaily for pointing out vein and artery are not synonymous. This non-medico type is very grateful for the assist.

Chapter Two

It felt like he was as weightless like a feather. 'So this is what dying feels like,' Severus Snape thought. He opened his eyes to an ethereal apparition bathed in a halo of light. 'What a gloriously angelic creature.'

"How strange. Heaven looks a lot like a guest room in Malfoy Manor," he said, half to himself.

A low chuckle came from another figure standing in the corner. "Heaven, Severus? Guess again," said Lucius.

Snape groaned. "Okay, so Hell looks a lot like a guest room in Malfoy Manor. I'm guessing that the battle is over?" He started to sit up only to have the angel (or maybe a demon) push him back into the bed.

"Please, Professor. You don't want to try and sit up yet," Hermione said, holding him down. "Let me check you over first." She cast a series of diagnostic spells over him and looked pleased at the results.

"Granger," Snape snapped irritably. "Now I know I'm in Hell."

Lucius laughed, tossing his head back and braying. "I knew there was a reason I liked you, Miss Granger. Anyone who can provoke that reaction from the great stone-faced Snape is my kind of person."

"Lucius, what is going on?" Snape asked. "Why is the Gryffindor Know-It-All here? Shouldn't she have gone in the other direction?"

"You're not dead, my friend," Lucius explained. "Miss Granger and Draco have spent the last six months trying to find a cure for Nagini's bite. And damn me if they didn't do it, too. And with a Muggle method at that."

"Muggle method? What Muggle method?" Snape was getting more confused by the moment.

"I took a small portion of Nagini's venom that we rescued before Professor Slughorn could get to it and injected it into one of Mr Malfoy's Abraxans. Then we took the antibodies that were produced by the Abraxan's blood and made antivenom with them..." Hermione began.

"Yes... yes," Severus said petulantly. "That's standard procedure for making antivenom in either world. How is that a Muggle method?"

"We used a syringe and needle and injected it directly into your bloodstream rather than using magic to get it into your body." Hermione chewed her lower lip anxiously while she waited for the explosion she was certain would be coming from the wizard in the bed.

"Logical," Snape said placidly, startling her with his calm demeanour. "After all, the venom was injected into my bloodstream when the damn snake bit me."

"You mean you're not upset?" Hermione asked. "Mr Malfoy didn't want me to even try at first."

"My dear girl," Lucius purred smoothly. "You have lived in this house for six months at the very least and have been using my library and potions lab. By now we should be on a first name basis. After all, I did allow you to use my prize Abraxans for your Muggle potion."

"Why the Abraxans?" Snape asked peevishly.

"Well," Hermione explained nervously, eying Lucius with trepidation, "since Nagini was a magical snake, I figured we needed a magical creature to make the antibodies. Abraxans are the closest to the Muggle animals listed, so we thought..."

"Miss Granger," Snape snapped suddenly, "where did you get your information on producing antivenin? That is not a subject taught in Potions at Hogwarts, and I am certain you would not have had time last year to learn while you were doing whatever you and Potter were doing to annoy the Dark Lord."

"We went to Muggle London and found some medical texts in a bookstore, Uncle Severus," Draco answered from his chair in the corner. "Fascinating place, Muggle London. I wouldn't mind going back and exploring some more."

"Who's we?"

"Granger and I. Like I said, it's a fascinating place. Some good food, too." He grinned and licked his lips in remembrance of the Chinese restaurant Hermione had taken him to for lunch.

"We found an renervating potion in one of the books in the library here at the Manor," Hermione took up the explanation once more. "Since we didn't know what potions and spells you had used to circumvent the poison, we had to try something else."

"We took some of your blood," Draco continued, "and put it into stasis so we could use it as needed. Then we began experimenting with Nagini's venom to see what would work to neutralize it."

"It took them six months of almost constant experimentation before Miss Granger thought to try this particular idea," Narcissa chimed in, her ice blue eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "I like to think it was the fact I told them you were getting weaker that spurred them on."

"I didn't want to see you die," Hermione admitted. "After the battle, all the students who were at Hogwarts last year said it was as if you had tried to protect them without giving yourself away to the Carrows and Voldemort..." Snape and the three Malfoys flinched at her speaking the name of the Dark Lord, but Hermione didn't seem to notice.

"Harry then said that your memories showed you to be on the good side with us and that you were a true hero. He also told us about how Dumbledore made you swear you'd kill him when the time came," she said angrily. "I lost all respect for that man when I heard. The nerve of him!" She stamped her foot petulantly.

"Albus Dumbledore did what he thought he had to in order to preserve the Wizarding world," Snape responded with a sigh. "Yes, he was a manipulative bastard. Yes, he could have told Potter the truth about his scar, but Albus felt everything had to be done his way. After all, he was the one to defeat Grindelwald and he knew Riddle best."

"I think we need to let you rest," Narcissa said in an attempt to defuse the tenseness in the room. "I'll have a house-elf bring you some broth and then you should sleep."

"Miss Granger..." Snape was hesitant. "Does anyone else know I've survived?"

"Harry does," she replied and hurried to explain. "He took a wand oath that he wouldn't tell anyone, not even Kingsley, until he was able to get a full pardon for you."

"What would Kingsley Shacklebolt have to do with a pardon?"

"He's the new Minister of Magic," Draco smirked, "and Potter is their fair-haired boy. We've saved all the Daily Prophets since last May so you could see what's been happening while you were unconscious."

"Good. I'll read them now."

"You'll read them when I say you're able," Narcissa scolded, helping him to sit up while a house-elf brought a tray to the bedside. "Right now, you haven't the strength of a newborn wizard. We need to get you well again. Then we can discuss what comes next.

"Don't argue with me, Severus Tobias Snape," she snapped at him when he started to speak. "Right now, Miss Granger and I are your nurses, and we will make sure you get on your feet as soon as possible. You just have to do what you're told and relax."

"I won't tell Harry that you're awake until you're ready, sir," Hermione assured him. "He only knows that Draco and I are trying to find answers, not what we've done so far."

"What day is it, anyway?" Snape asked. "I feel like I should be doing something."

"It's the 10th of November, 1998" Narcissa said. "You've been unconscious for almost six and a half months. Now, drink your broth."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, somewhat in awe of this unknown facet of Narcissa's personality.

* * *

...Two days later...

"I know my own strength, Miss Granger, and I am strong enough to get out of this bed without your help," he snapped at his not-quite-so-bushy-haired nemesis who hovered over him constantly, or so it seemed.

Hermione sighed in frustration. "All right. If you want to end up on your arse on the floor, be my guest." She stepped away and left him to rise on his own.

Severus sat up on the edge of the bed and took a deep breath. He hated to admit that the Know-It-All was right, but it was all he could manage just to sit there. Placing both hands on the mattress next to his hips, he shoved off and managed to stand for all of two seconds before he felt himself falling forward.

"Levicorpus," Hermione said, waving her wand, and he found himself floating upright a few inches from the floor. "If you want, I can help you this way until you get some more strength in your legs. I found a book in London..."

"Of course you did."

"I found a book in London," she huffed, ignoring his sarcasm, "that tells how to do physical therapy for injured people who have spent a lot of time in bed like yourself and need to regain their strength and stamina. Draco was quite interested in the theories, and he's willing to work with you if Mrs Malfoy and I don't meet with your approval as therapists. Besides, he's got the upper body strength to help you with some of the exercises that neither of us can."

"Draco will be quite acceptable," Severus sighed in embarrassment as he bobbed like a balloon. "Now, if you would be so good as to guide me to the loo and back..."

Hermione blushed, but helped him to the toilet and stood behind the door while he did his business. She then guided him back to the bed and, ending the spell, set him down just as the house-elf came in with his lunch.

"Ah," he said, rubbing his hands in pleasure when he saw a bowl of chocolate mousse on the tray along with the ubiquitous bowl of broth and cup of tea. "I see I'm allowed some slightly more solid food today."

"Yes, Master Snape," the house-elf said, placing the tray across Severus' knees. "Mistress said you are doing well and could have some more soft foods. Netty is to take good care of you."

"Thank you, Netty. This looks most enjoyable." He picked up his spoon and turned to Hermione, who was leaving the room. "Oh, by the way, Miss Granger."

"Yes, sir?" She turned at the door.

"When you get a chance, would you ask Draco to bring the texts and notes the two of you have been using? I should like to see what you have done with your research."

"Yes, Professor." She grinned. "I'll help him bring everything upstairs after you finish your lunch."

He looked at the tray sitting on his lap. "That shouldn't take long," he sighed.

* * *