Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Hermione jerked awake, having had an epiphany about how to neutralize the last compound. Jumping from bed, she picked up her wand and summoned her shoes. This was exactly why she had wanted to stay at Severus's house and not the flat she shared with Ron.

Ron roused to a half-awake state. "Huh? Whu?" he mumbled.

"Go back to sleep," she said softly.

"M-kay," he muttered as he rolled back over, pulling the blanket along with him. Almost instantly, he was snoring loudly.

She contemplated him a moment before leaving. What was she doing with him? The euphoria of having survived the war was well past, and she was forced to admit that they really didn't belong together. Harry and Ginny belonged together in a way that she and Ron never would.

Pushing that painful thought from her mind, she returned her attention to the revelation that had just come to her about the toxins and the antivenin. She rushed out of the house.

Once safely ensconced back at the lab, she lost herself in the potions and their ingredients, using the precious remains of the venom to test her theory. She just knew this would work. It had to, because she would not have enough venom remaining for any further tests. Any follow-on testing would have to be done with the samples of Severus's blood, and that would not be nearly as effective.

She lost track of the time as she mixed and percolated ingredients. Her hair was matted to her head by perspiration and her clothing was stained, but she didn't care. She could just feel that the end was nearly here. She could hear Severus's voice in her mind, encouraging her.

In her mind, she imagined how proud he would be and how he would react to finding her at his bedside when he finally awoke. And a part of her reveled in the fact that it would be a Gryffindor who revived him. He truly was a different man from his public persona as a teacher at Hogwarts and she looked forward to finally getting to know the real Severus Snape.

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

For the second time, she conducted the test on the blood sample, and once again all indications were that the poison was neutralized.

Rejoicing in her victory, she ran upstairs, penned a quick letter to Malfoy letting him know she was ready to see Severus again. She rushed to the nearest owl post to send it on its way. She then returned to Spinner's End and began pacing, waiting for him to come and take her to Severus.

As she paced, she realized that she was now referring to him by his first name, and had indeed been doing so for some time. She had no idea exactly when it had happened, but it had. She had long since stopped seeing him as the greasy git he had seemed to be at Hogwarts, but as a trusted colleague, even though they had never actually worked together.

Finally there was a knock at the door and she looked through the peephole before opening it, ensuring that it wasn't Ron who stood there. Seeing that it truly was Malfoy, she let out a deep sigh as she threw open the door. "Let's go," she said quickly.

"You have worked out the antivenin?" he asked.

"I think so. I want to test it out as soon as possible."

He smiled warmly at her and extended his elbow to her. "Of course."

She was so excited at the prospect of reviving Severus that she didn't even mind the normally unpleasant sensation of Side-Along Apparition or the fact that she was standing so close to Malfoy.

Once they arrived, she rushed to Severus's bedside, pulling the phial of antivenin out of her pocket. Only then did she recall that Malfoy was the one who had to reverse the stasis before they... she... could proceed any further. "I'm ready," she announced.

Lucius stood on the opposite side of the bed, turned Severus's head to the side and placed several drops of a blue potion in the unconscious man's ear. At her inquisitive look, he proclaimed with a slightly sardonic note, "As you might imagine, placing liquid in the mouth of one who is unconscious might be rather counterproductive."

It wasn't long before Severus started breathing – and twitching. He was obviously still suffering from the poison. She propped him up on pillows and gently poured the antivenin down his throat. As she waited for results, she found it odd that Malfoy had not questioned her. Having Malfoy trust a Muggle-born so readily still unnerved her.

After a few minutes, Severus's breathing calmed and his eyes fluttered open. He opened his mouth as though to speak, but instead started coughing.

Realizing there was no water in the room, she turned to Lucius. "Can you get him some water?"

Malfoy conjured a pitcher and glass, and she felt foolish that she had in that moment completely forgotten all about magic.

She took the glass and tipped it up to his lips, gently nestling his head against her breast.

"Water will make it better."

The coughing soon subsided and he whispered, "Thank you, Hermione. I knew you could do it."

He smiled weakly at her, and she returned the smile. Even with his gaunt appearance, the smile softened his features. She reflected that he didn't look half bad when he smiled, not at all like she remembered him from Hogwarts.

Hermione. He had called her by her first name. True, all his notes had been addressed in that fashion, but she had never actually heard him utter her first name before. She was about to comment on that when she realized that Malfoy was still in the room, calmly observing them. "Would you like some more?"

He tried to raise his hand to hold the glass, but it didn't rise more than a few inches. After

Hermione helped him to take a few more sips of water, he was finally able to croak, "How long?"

"Nearly seven months. It took six months just for your will to pass through probate."

"It only took you a month?"

"About three weeks. It was a challenge I couldn't turn away from." She smiled warmly at him, still stroking his hair. Remembering that she had brought something else to help him, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small flask. "I brought a Reviving Potion. Since you've been... gone for so long, I thought you could use something to help in your recovery." She held it to his lips and slowly poured the elixir into his mouth.

He leaned back against the pillow and closed his eyes. Hermione thought that his breathing sounded a little bit less labored. She looked around the room and noticed that they were alone – Malfoy must have slipped out.

"Always the Gryffindor," he said quietly.

She turned back to face him and could see the playfulness in his eyes. "But you wouldn't want it any other way would you?"

"That is why I chose you. I knew that you would not fail me." His voice was growing stronger moment by moment.

"But why me and not Draco Malfoy. He was just as good at Potions as I was." It pained her to make this admission, but it was the truth.

He tried to sit up and she adjusted the bed for him. "That may be true, but as you have learned, there is more to Potions than following directions. He did not have that spark. I could always see it in you. That was why I pushed you in class. I wanted you to think beyond the instructions, to discover that part of you. And you did so when you would help Longbottom and the others, but I never dreamed at the time that I would need you to save my life.... Besides, I needed someone whom I could trust with my life "

"But how did you know I was the one? I mean, you treated us horribly, treated Gryffindors horribly and everyone thought you were a traitor."

"I knew the truth would be revealed. I had not imagined that Potter would be there to receive my memories, but if he had not, Albus's portrait would have made clear my role in the war and in the years leading up to it, and absolved me of the guilt for his death. And I was counting on the fact that you are Gryffindor to save me. I knew that your sense of honor would compel you to do so."

She laughed softly. "You were right about that. Along with my love of a challenge."

"We are more similar than you might think, Hermione." His eyes locked with hers.

"I learned that from working with your notes." She tried not to fall into the dark pools, but she was finally forced to look away. They sat in awkward silence for a few moments. "So what now? I mean, you are alive, so I guess we have to go to the Ministry and invalidate your will. And we have to decide how to deal with the questions that are going to arise. I mean Malfoy kept your survival secret..."

He interrupted, "Lucius did so at my request and out of necessity. The nature of magical wills makes that abundantly clear."

"But then I knew of your survival, and I kept it secret. What sort of trouble will that cause?"

"I cannot see that it would cause any trouble. Why would anyone care now that I am alive? I am guilty of no crimes."

Considering his words, she replied, "That's true." After a pause, she added, "So what now?"

He pondered a moment. "I think that it would be best for me to continue my recovery in private. The Ministry will have to be informed. I believe that Lucius can help them see to keeping my survival quiet for the time being. I have saved enough gold from my time at Hogwarts that I will have ample time to recover."

"So I noticed. I was forced to make a withdrawal to purchase supplies."

"That is why it was willed to you."

"About the money..." she started tentatively.

"Another time, if you don't mind," he interrupted, his demeanor showing it was an uncomfortable subject. He watched her for a few minutes. "You are wondering how I survived."

"Yes. I mean, you looked dead in the Shrieking Shack. And that venom is incredibly toxic. How did you survive?"

"With the help of Felix Felicis and a house-elf who brought me the stop-gap antidote."

"You used Felix Felicis?" She was shocked that he would resort to such a powerful potion.

"I did not wish to die, and I had a feeling that my time in service to the Dark Lord was growing short. It sounds very trite, doesn't it?" He sounded ashamed as he asked that question.

Reaching for his hand, she reassured him. "Not at all. You've been a prisoner your entire life. You knew that with the war, that imprisonment would end. I can't blame anyone for wanting to finally live a life free from those constraints."

Quietly, he said, "Thank you for understanding. Now, I think I would like to rest. I will have Lucius take me home... if that is agreeable to you."

"Of course it is. It's your house." Even though she could hardly bide the house when she had first crossed its threshold, she had over time grown accustomed to it. Now, she actually felt more comfortable there than at her flat, though she wondered if that had something to do with the fact it was a sanctuary from Ron.

"Technically, it is yours until I am declared alive. As such..."

She could tell that it was still difficult for him to ask a favor of her. "I'll be there." Due to the nature of the charms on the house, she would at least have to be there to let him in.

"I hate to ask that of you after having asked so much already. I know that you must be trying to get on with your life after the war, and I have interrupted that."

Once again, she placed her hand on his in a reassuring gesture. "This hasn't been an imposition. It was actually something I needed. It has given me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. I'll see you this evening." Impulsively, she leaned forward and kissed his forehead. As the color flushed her cheeks, she rushed out of the room and found Malfoy waiting for her down the hall. "I'm ready to go now," she said quickly.

"Of course. If you would like, I can keep you apprised of his recovery."

"Actually, he'd like to recover at home; I'll be waiting for him there."

"I see. Then once he is well enough to travel, I shall bring him home to you."

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

After returning to Spinner's End, she went into the house and began to pace the sitting room. Why on earth had she kissed him? Why hadn't she just left it at holding his hand? What must he think of her for having done something so impulsive? Of course she had to be here when Severus arrived, but then what? How strong would he be? Would he need someone here to care for him?

She found a very large part of her hoped that he would, that he would require her further assistance for a very long time. This house had become her home. Ever since she had seen the extensive library, she longed to spend hours exploring the books and learning from them. And now she realized that she wasn't sure she would get that opportunity.

But if Severus needed assistance, she would be here to offer it, and they could spend the days having intelligent conversation about the books. She could also find out why he had collected so many books on the Dark Arts. She would get to know the real Severus Snape, not just the teaching persona he showed to the students. What she had seen of the real Severus in his notes to her, she liked very much.

Then there was the question of what to do about Ron. They had definitely grown apart since the end of the war. But it was probably best not to burn that bridge too soon since she might also not have a place to live much longer. Though she was reasonably sure that Harry would offer her to let her stay at Grimmauld Place until she could make other arrangements. It wasn't ideal, but it was an option. Of course, that might change too if he found out that she had been working on a potion to save Severus and had not seen fit to tell him.

The will had definitely complicated her life in ways she could never have imagined.

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

The hours passed and finally there was a knock at the door. Rushing across the room, she threw the door open. "Ron? What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised to see him and hoping to get rid of him quickly before Severus and Malfoy arrived.

"I think I've been more than patient with you. I've let you do your research or whatever it is you've been doing without asking hardly any questions. The one thing I have asked is

that you do spend at least some time at home with me."

"Doing what? You come home late, ask about dinner and then either go visit Harry or listen to the Quidditch Update on the Wireless. You never ask me how my day was, and you aren't interested in anything that I am interested in, or anything I do. Truthfully, I'm not really all that interested in the same things you are, either."

"What are you saying?" he asked.

"You are thick, aren't you?" This isn't how she had wanted it to happen. She didn't want to break up with him on the doorstep of Snape's house, but he wasn't really giving her much of an option. Before she could say anything else, there was a pop on the street and her heart sank. She hadn't gotten rid of Ron soon enough.

Ron spun to face the new arrivals. The color drained from his face at what he saw. Pointing a finger at Snape, he stammered, "Y-y-you're d-d-dead!"