Chapter 9

A/N: This chapter took me a while, because it's a bit longer that normal. I had so much more, but I'm going to have to carry it over for another chapter. I really hope you all enjoy it. Thanks so much to RobisonRocket for waving her magic wand and fixing my errors. Grace and the original characters are mine. All others belong to JKR.

Chapter 9

Severus groaned tiredly. It was only two weeks into the new term, and he felt as if he desperately needed a vacation. He was currently in his office, nursing a shot of Firewhiskey and reading his latest issue of Alchemy Today. This was a rare treat for him because he rarely had spare time.

He heard a small cough coming from the doorway of his office. He was not startled; Severus Snape could not be startled. He knew who it was and had known she was there from the moment of her arrival. Still, he continued to read, paying no mind to his visitor.

"Are you just going to ignore me?"

Severus smirked and dropped his magazine. "Has it not occurred to you that I am currently in the middle of something?"

Hermione took off her heels, sauntered over to him and took his magazine out of his hands. She sat on his desk, placing her bare feet on his thighs, and frowned at him. "I'm bored, Severus."

"And, because of this, you believe it necessary to harass me? Don't you have papers to grade or house-elves to free?" Severus asked.

"I've already graded everything, and the house-elf comment was cruel and completely unnecessary. It's Friday night, and now that Brian and Gracie are out of school, we don't have responsibilities to keep us here. Let's go dancing."

Severus ran his hands up her calves and continued up her thighs. "That sounds agreeable. It has been quite some time since I've paraded my little trophy wife around town. Go put on your blue dancing dress that you bought over the summer, and I'll be down in a few minutes."

"Why not come with me now?" Hermione asked with a pout.

Severus scooted closer to her and pulled her into his lap so that she was straddling him. He kissed her softly. He pulled back and moved a stray hair behind her ear.

Hermione wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and leaned in for another kiss. He obliged her willingly with a more forceful and deeper kiss than the previous one.

Moments later, needing oxygen, they pulled away. Their eyes locked in a loving caress. Hermione was the first to speak.

"What were we talking about?" she asked breathlessly.

"I've no idea," Snape said in a whisper and kissed her again.

Severus started placing light kisses down her neck and was beginning to undo the top button of her blouse when Hermione squeaked and pulled fully away from him, redoing the button with trembling fingers. She then removed herself from his lap and stepped away from him, straightening her skirt.

"What's the matter?" Snape asked frowning.

Hermione didn't answer, but Snape followed her gaze to find the source of her sudden shyness.

"Albus, do you have nothing better to do than to spy on us? Don't you have a portrait hanging in Potter's house that you can visit?" Severus asked crossly.

Albus smiled weakly. "Whatever do you mean? I just woke up and planned to engage Dilys in a game of chess. You may carry on."

There was a groan coming from another portrait, and Phineas Nigellus spoke with obvious disapproval. "I would think that, as a Slytherin Headmaster, you would have a bit more respect for your position, sir. But, here you are, cavorting around like some randy teenager."

Dilys Derwent giggled girlishly in her portrait and looked pointedly at Phineas. "Oh, I don't know, Phin. I've been hanging here for quite some time, and I recall another Headmaster who didn't mind cavorting with a certain Astronomy professor at one time. And, if I'm not mistaken, that Headmaster was also a Slytherin. Surely, you haven't forgotten about that."

Phineas scoffed and disappeared – no doubt visiting his portrait at Grimmauld Place, leaving Dilys to break into more giggles.

"Enough!" Severus bellowed. "I am the current Headmaster of this school, and if I want to spend time with my wife in my own office, I shouldn't have to entertain an audience."

Dilys cleared her throat. "Albus, you said something about chess?"

Severus turned back toward Hermione, who was still very red, and smiled. "Now, where were we, wife?"

"I was on my way to our rooms to find my blue dancing dress. I'll only need about half an hour to get ready. I'll see you then," Hermione said with her voice unnaturally high. She slipped back into her shoes, fumbled for the door handle and left quickly.

Severus sighed heavily and returned to his magazine. As he flipped through the pages to relocate the article he had already begun, he spoke aloud to the room at large. "You should all be counting your blessings that your portraits are inflammable. However, I don't believe there has been a charm implemented to save you from being transfigured into Muggle paintings. I would keep that in mind if I were you."

He was pleased to hear a few mutters and a couple gasps of offense.

Twenty minutes later, he heard a noise outside his office door. He peered at the closed door, smirking. He had hoped his wife would return to continue their rendezvous. But, when the door opened, it wasn't Hermione.

Harry Potter stood tall and confident, but there was something in his eyes that Severus recognized as fear. For all the years he'd tried and failed to put that look into the eyes of the son of his childhood nemesis, Severus knew right away there was something wrong.

He jumped from his chair like a madman, striding toward Harry as if he'd had fire in his heels.

Once he'd reached the younger man, he grabbed him by the shirt collar and pushed him against the wall, his wand drawn and at Harry's throat. With his voice quiet and malevolent, he asked, "Where is she?"

"St. Mungo's," Harry said, trying desperately not to sound as terrified as he felt.

"Is she...," Severus' voice trailed off.

"She's alive," Harry said, correctly guessing the question.

Severus was only centimeters from Harry's face as he ground him harder into the wall. "You had better pray to whatever deity you believe in that she stays that way."

"Just go, Professor. Hermione's already on her way. She sent me to fetch you," Harry said. His face was turning red from lack of breath.

Severus didn't respond as he let go of Harry unceremoniously. Harry barely had a moment to regain his balance as he coughed and rubbed his neck.

Severus mumbled an incantation, and Harry knew it was to remove the Apparation wards on the castle. A moment later, he was gone. Harry drew his wand to Disapparate, but the wards had already been reset. Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes.

**********

Severus stormed through the entrance to St. Mungo's and angrily approached the counter in the reception area. There was a small witch speaking softly to the receptionist, who was trying to help her with paper work. Severus crossed his arms and tapped his foot impatiently.

Both women ignored him and continued with their discussion.

Having had enough, Severus finally interrupted them. "I am looking for a patient," he said, trying to keep his agitation in check.

The receptionist gave him a simpering smile, which reminded Severus painfully of the toad-like smile of Dolores Umbridge. She even spoke in a soft, girlish voice. "If you could please wait behind the white line, sir, I will be with you in a moment."

Severus looked around and saw a white line painted on the floor and a sign pointing to it that read: PLEASE WAIT BEHIND THIS LINE.

Furiously, Severus moved to stand behind the line. He stood there for a few seconds until his agitation had reached its limit. He regarded the two witches angrily as he heard them both giggle with one another.

Severus stepped over the line and approached the counter again.

"Sir," the receptionist said politely, "I beg your pardon, but you must stand –"

She didn't have a chance to finish her sentence, as Severus' patience had finally been pushed to the boiling point.

"I don't give a damn about your bloody line," he said with his voice barely above a whisper. "I need to find my daughter. Her name is Grace Weasley Snape, and she is an Auror who was brought here this evening. Tell me where she is... please," he added in mock courtesy.

The receptionist flinched as if she'd been slapped hard. Never the less, she wordlessly nodded her head and looked down at her list.

"She's on... on the Fourth Floor: Spell Damage. You will f-find the nurse's station on your r-right as soon as you exit the elevator."

Severus nodded his head and fled toward the elevator. Once he had arrived on the Fourth Floor, he spotted red hair disappearing around the corner and followed.

The corridor dead-ended into a waiting area, which was full of Weasleys. He knew better than to feel slighted for not being the first person on the scene. The Weasleys had a way of getting the word out quickly when one of their own was in danger.

Arthur Weasley met him in the entry-way of the waiting area with a handshake and a sad smile.

"Severus, we all just got here. Hermione is in with Gracie right now. She told me to send you in as soon as you got here. They will only allow two of us at a time, and we knew you would be here soon, so we waited."

"I appreciate that, Arthur," Severus replied.

He had just turned to go into the room when the elevator stopped, and Harry, Ginny, Devon, and Brian stepped out. Ginny went directly to her mother while Devon and Brian walked tentatively toward Severus. Harry hung back for a moment.

"Dad," Brian said. "I just got back from the Ministry. I need to fill..."

Severus held up his hand to interrupt his son. "Potter, you are not welcome here."

"But, Dad," Brian argued.

"If it weren't for Mr. Potter and his fanciful ideas of being an Auror, your sister would not be lying in there right now," Severus said coldly.

"Dad, you don't know what happened," Brian tried to explain.

"I don't need to know the details, Brian. All I know is that my daughter is lying in a hospital bed, and it's his fault."

Before he could say another word, he nodded at Devon and turned to enter the room.

Brian turned back to Harry. "You didn't tell him?"

"I didn't really have a chance," Harry muttered sadly. "Look, it's alright. I'll just go up to the tea room. If there are any changes, please, come and tell me." With a last withering glance at Ginny, Harry left.

"My dad can be such a git sometimes," Brian said to Devon.

"He's just worried, that's all, we all are. Look, Brian, I need to go and Floo call my mum and dad." Devon gave his future brother-in-law's shoulder a pat and left.

Brian gave him a half-smile, knowing the man just needed something to keep himself busy.

*********

Severus quietly entered the room and took in the sight before him. His wife was sitting in the chair next to the bed that was being occupied by his very pale-faced and unconscious daughter. Hermione sat close with her head lying on the side of Grace's bed. Severus could see that Hermione was holding her hand and stroking her knuckles. On her ring finger, there was a diamond engagement ring that sparkled in the dim light of the hospital room.

Hermione lifted her head and gave Severus a watery smile. His heart fluttered upon seeing her stricken face.

"Come and sit down, Severus," she said quietly.

He noted that her voice cracked with sadness. He picked up the folding chair that was sitting at the end of the bed and placed it next to her. Before he sat down, he placed a kiss on Grace's damp forehead.

"I'm so glad Harry got you here so quickly. I'm also so sorry that I didn't wait for you. I just had to hurry. Oh, Severus, I don't know what to do. This is my baby. I hate not knowing if she's going to be alright. I've been talking to her, but I don't even know if she can hear me or not." Hermione let out a choked sob.

"Shh, I know, darling, I know. So, tell me, what did her Healer say? What was she hit with?" Severus asked.

"I haven't seen her Healer yet. Harry brought her here straight away, but he wanted to get to us as quickly as possible, so he didn't wait around to ask questions. He said that he just gave the emergency staff her name, a brief explanation and left," Hermione said.

"Figures," snarled Snape. "All Potter seems to be good at is causing trouble."

"Severus, that's not fair. I talked to Brian for a few moments while Gracie was being transferred to this room. You haven't the whole story."

Before Hermione could say another word, the door opened, and a nurse appeared.

"Well, I see our patient is resting. I just need to get a quick check of her vitals, and then the Healer in charge will be in here in a few moments. He has given strict instructions that this is a very special patient, and he wants to tend to her himself."

Severus and Hermione shared a confused glance at one another.

The nurse went about her business, checking Grace's pulse and her temperature and making notes on her clipboard. She finished writing and turned to face Severus and Hermione.

"Well, I'll just leave you two now." The old nurse smiled benevolently and left the room.

"She seems cheerful," Hermione said absently.

The door opened again, and a tall gentleman in a white coat hurried into the room with his head down, reading the clipboard that the nurse had just made notes on.

Without seeming to notice Severus and Hermione, he walked straight to Gracie and held her wrist.

"Excuse me," Severus said gently. "Are you the Healer in charge?"

The man stood and turned toward Severus and stuck out his hand. Severus felt his entire being slip into some sort of alternate universe.

"You? You can't be a Healer," Severus said, dumbstruck.

Hermione jumped up and threw her arms around the man's neck. "Neville! I can't believe it's really you. I had no idea you were a Healer. Last I heard you had gone into the Muggle medical field."

Neville Longbottom gave her a gracious smile. "I did, Hermione. I am a Muggle surgeon. I still have an office in Muggle London, but St. Mungo's thought it would be a good idea to have someone on here that was trained as a Doctor as well as a Healer. They needed someone to head the staff for the Spell Damage patients, and they hired me."

Severus sniffed indignantly. "I thought you played with... plants."

Neville smiled at his former terrifying professor. "I still enjoy teetering in my garden, Professor. I mostly grow plants to be used in potions for healing purposes."

Severus regarded him with a bit of contempt for a moment before changing the subject. "What can you tell me about my daughter?" he asked, feeling sure that the dolt he used to teach couldn't tell him anything.

Neville sighed, slightly stricken over Snape's obvious lack of confidence. "I can tell you that she has lost a lot of blood, which has been replenished. I believe Harry and your son can give you the details of what happened, but she was hit with a Severing Charm."

Hermione gasped, and her hand flew to her mouth. "Neville, you can't be serious. Is she going to be alright?"

Neville looked at the groundand then met the blackness of Severus' eyes. He felt something pass between them, if only for a moment, then he looked back at Hermione. "To be honest with you, Hermione, that really depends on how you want her to be healed."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked fearfully.

Neville sighed. "I told you they hired me because they wanted someone who was qualified in Muggle and Magical healing. The fact of the matter is they hired me because I am a surgeon."

Severus balled up his fists. "What are you getting at, Longbottom?"

"You are both familiar with the Muggle world, Professor Snape. The x-rays show that Grace has some internal damage: damage, Professor, which can only be repaired with surgery."

"You are not serious!" Severus snapped. "Grace is not the first patient to ever cross the threshold of St. Mungo's with internal damage. Are you telling me that she's the first to ever need to be cut open?"

"Absolutely not, Professor; unfortunately, most patients who cross the threshold of St. Mungo's with internal damage never cross it again. Sadly, that means that in some cases, the process of magical healing is not effective enough to save their lives. I'm afraid that in Grace's case, she would need immediate attention. I can assure you, sir, I am a fully qualified surgeon. Thank Merlin she wasn't alone when she was hit. Otherwise, she would have gotten the full blow of the curse, and we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Severus set his eyes coolly on Neville, but didn't comment on his last statement.

Neville raised his chin in a moment of childish defiance. His voice softened a bit as he said, "I will give you two a few moments to discuss what you want to do. Grace is in stasis for the time being, so she's not in immediate danger. If you decide that you don't want me to do the surgery, I need to know as quickly as possible so we can start on other means of trying to save her. If you need me or if you have any questions, please inform someone in the nurse's station, and I will be readily available."

"Thank you, Neville," Hermione said.

Neville nodded at the both of them and left the room.

Severus looked at a spot on the ceiling. "This is some kind of punishment. My daughter's life is in the hands of Neville Longbottom."

A/N: I love reviews! They are almost as seductive as Sev's voice.