Angst in the Key of G

Dances with Witches by Pearle

Summary: Severus Snape loses a magical bet. The consequences? The Tango! My answer to the codpiece challenge on Wiktt. HG/SS

Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc. of the Harry Potter series are not mine they belong to J.K. Rowling and Co. I promise to return them when I am through. Well, most of them anyway.

~~~~~ Dances with Witches ~~~~~

Chapter 24 – Angst in the Key of G

Hermione raced into the castle. Several people were gathered at the entrance of the Great Hall. Before she could ask any questions, one of the figures separated from the group and walked towards her.

"Harry! Where is he? Is he all right?" If Harry was here, Hermione could only surmise the others were Aurors, sent by the Ministry.

Her hands clutched his arm with surprising strength. "You heard?"

"Yes. News of the attack is all over Cambridge. I came as soon as I heard. Is Severus all right?" Hermione was frantic with worry.

The story had spread like wildfire. Severus had been shopping in Hogsmeade, when an escaped Death Eater attacked him. The foul man had come up behind him, screamed traitor, and proceeded to cast the Cruciatus Curse on him. Several people contacted the Ministry. Others tried to disarm the madman. Aurors appeared and overtook him.

Rosmerta had contacted Hogwarts when she recognized Severus. Albus arrived seconds before the Aurors. It was at his insistence Severus was brought to Hogwarts and not sent to St. Mungo's. Poppy had ministered to him too many times over the years not to qualify as an expert in the treatment of that particular curse.

Harry guided his friend towards the main stairway. "He's going to be fine. He was hit with the Cruciatus Curse but according to Poppy, he's okay." Harry found himself talking to Hermione's back as she ran up the stairs. "I'll join you as soon as I'm finished here."

Hermione's mind was on Severus. The Cruciatus Curse. One too many attacks with that particular curse was the reason Alice and Frank Longbottom were longtime residents of St. Mungo's. Repeated attacks had a cumulative effect on the human body. It was a curse Voldemort was fond of inflicting on his followers for his own amusement. She knew Severus had been subjected to the curse many times over during his years as a spy.

She was out of breath by the time she rounded the corner to the hospital wing. Her hand resting on the door, she drew a shaky breath before striding purposefully into the ward.

Hermione stopped as she heard his voice echoing through the empty ward.

"Dear god, woman, enough! You drink that vile liquid if you are so intent on someone taking it." Severus's voice could be heard coming from behind a curtain at the back of the ward. Hermione stood still, tears welling in her eyes. Relief flooded her mind upon hearing him. While his voice did not carry its usual tone or force and she could hear a slight waiver as he spoke, she nonetheless was relieved he still sounded like his usual prickly self.

"I have spent enough years putting you back together, young man, not to know the proper medical procedure. You will drink this. And you will drink it now." Poppy's voice booked no room for argument.

"You are heartless, you know that?" A sudden silence filled the room, followed by a string of the worst expletives Hermione had been privileged to hear in a long time. "The Dark Lord didn't finish me off, so you are going to? What are you doing?"

Poppy's sigh was one of long practice. "Oh, do be quiet, you old bat. And hold still. I still have a few more tests to run. You're too mean to die. You will be fine."

"I should like to return to my quarters now." The sound of equipment being moved signaled the end of Poppy's examination.

"You are not going anywhere. You cannot return to your quarters alone." Once again, her tone left no room for argument. She pulled the curtain back with unrestrained annoyance. Poppy noticed Hermione standing to the side. "Good afternoon, dear. Come, he won't bite."

Hermione came around the edge of the curtain. Her breath caught in her throat before she forced herself to smile. "Let me guess, you were bored, right? You could have called me."

Severus turned to face her. His skin was paler than usual. His eyes blood-shot. Various muscle spasms seemed to move arbitrarily across his body. His limbs twitched at irregular intervals. "Hermione." Her name was said through clenched teeth as he rode the wave of pain racking his body.

Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks as she reached for his trembling hand. "What can I do? How can I help you?"

His voice steadied as the pain subsided. His body tensed, waiting for the next round. "You should not have come. I would rather you did not see me like this." His voice lacked its usual authority, the words meaningless without the force of his personality behind them.

"Too proud for your own good." Poppy had moved back to his bedside.

Hermione stood to the side, listening to the two. It was obvious Poppy cared for him. The teasing between them had been a way to deal with the constant torture he suffered over the years.

"Be quiet, you old hag."

"Such flattery. Take this. It will help with the pain. You can complain to the Potions Master here at Hogwarts if you don't like the taste." Poppy helped him drink the offered phial.

Severus scowled at the matron. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"I told you, Severus. I have put you back together too many times to let a little thing like Cruciatus be a problem. Now, be quiet and rest." Poppy smiled at Hermione as she moved away. Hermione heard the door to the wing open on its hinges.

The Headmaster, resplendent in flowing lavender robes, came into view. "Severus, my boy. How are you feeling?"

"Just wonderful, Albus. Will you tell that witch I would like to return to my quarters now?" His tone still lacked its usual bite.

Hermione watched as the Headmaster smiled, his eyes twinkling with delight. "Splendid idea."

Poppy had returned to stand beside Albus. "And you may tell the old bat that he cannot return to his quarters alone."

"Nonsense, Poppy, Severus won't be alone. I'm sure Hermione will stay and see to his care. You can stop in and check his progress." A chorus of voices could be heard.

Severus tried to object. "Albus, I do not think that is the wisest..."

Poppy was having none of it. "Exactly who is the nurse around here?"

Hermione's voice cut through the din. "I would be more than happy to see to his recovery." She turned to Poppy. "What potions does he need to take and how often? What other care will he need?"

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It had taken awhile, but Severus was finally settled into his quarters. Poppy had given Hermione explicit instructions as to when, and what doses of the various potions he should receive, as well as signs to watch for if complications should occur. She had allowed them to leave hospital only after extracting a promise from the young witch. Hermione would Floo her the minute a problem appeared.

There really wasn't much Hermione could do for him. The potions were designed to ease the muscle spasms and lessen the pain inflicted by the curse. Rest and time would affect the only real cure. Poppy had said she would stop by in a few hours to check him.

"Did Albus send for you?" Pain edged his voice as he waited for the latest draught to take effect. He looked deathly pale against the dark green sheets of his bed.

Hermione added 'Talk to Albus' to her mental list of things to do. He bloody well should have owled her the minute Severus was hurt. She intended to insure that mistake did not happen again.

"No. News of your attack was all over Cambridge. There haven't been any Death Eater attacks in the last few years. The Wizarding world is small, so news spreads pretty quickly." Better left unspoken, was the Wizarding world's interest in a spy turned hero spreads even faster. "Would you mind telling what you were doing in Hogsmeade, on a Friday afternoon?"

His jaw tightened as he waited through the pain, the draught finally starting to dull the curse's effect for a time. "I had a free period and decided to pick up a few supplies we needed for tomorrow's trials. I don't suppose anyone was able to save the dragon scales I purchased?"

Hermione laughed. "I'll check, but I don't think I heard anything about any supplies."

She watched his hands shake as another round of spasms hit him. The calming draught was sending him into a deep, drug induced sleep. She reached out and stroked his hand. "I think I might leave you like this. Think how much money I could save on batteries if I used you as a vibrator instead of the one I have."

Severus snorted. His speech a bit slurred from the potion. "You are awfully cocky for someone who is not sure where her next orgasm is coming from."

"I've got a pretty good idea of where, it's just the when that's a little fuzzy." Hermione watched as his eyes drifted close, a small smile on his lips. Her heart ached as the smile quickly dissolved into a grimace as another spasm passed through him.

Severus struggled to fight the effects of the draught. "Hermione, thank you for coming."

"Where else would I be? Go to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."

He never heard her answer. He had already fallen asleep.

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Severus woke several hours later. The pain seemed to have returned with a fervor. While the duration of the spasms had shortened, the pain had increased. The nerve endings were coming back on-line after being shocked into numbness he supposed.

He looked over to see Hermione asleep, her hand resting on his arm. He marveled at the young woman sleeping next to him. Her devotion to her friends was legendary. It seemed he was now to be included in that circle. He clenched his teeth as another wave of pain washed through him. It was several minutes before his breathing returned to normal. He opened his eyes to see Hermione watching him.

"You've entered the second stage. Why didn't you wake me? Poppy gave me a nerve relaxer for you to take." Hermione sorted through the phials at the side of his bed until she found the one labeled "Nerve Relaxer." She handed him a small phial filled with a bubble-gum pink solution. "Here, drink this."

Severus glared at her. "I am perfectly able to subsist without the use of constant pain potions."

"Your nerves are reacting to the shock of magic that hit you. There is no need to wear yourself out." Hermione held the phial out to him.

"I am not three years old, Miss Granger." He added a scowl to the glare for good measure.

"Good. Then try not to act like it. Take the potion."

Severus reached for the phial as another round of spasms racked his body. The pink liquid sprayed across the coverlet before the phial dropped from his fingers. Severus sank back against the pillows, exhausted.

Hermione quickly cleaned the spilled potion away. She produced another phial and held it to his lips.

He sighed heavily as he swallowed the solution. "I would rather you did not see me like this."

Hermione smiled. "You can't get rid of me that easily."

Severus's dark eyes burned with intensity. His voice was a whisper as his eyelids slowly slipped closed. "Thank god for small favors."

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Hermione looked up from her book. Someone was knocking on his chamber door. She glanced at the clock on the mantle. Poppy had checked him an hour ago. It was too soon for her to return. It couldn't be Albus. He had stopped by just before Poppy.

She eyed the new door, now situated between the loo and the cupboard. While Albus's main concern had been Severus, he did manage to convey his concern for propriety for appearance sake. The door opened onto a guest room in Gryffindor Tower; this would be her room as long as she chose to keep it. He politely requested she be seen leaving and entering that room in the morning. Personally, she thought it was a great shortcut. She could bypass half the castle if she wanted to visit Ginny or run to the library.

The knocking seemed to become more insistent. Hermione carefully slid off the bed, wondering who it could be. Gently closing the bedroom door behind her, she padded to the foyer. She could hear someone speaking on the other side of the door.

"Are you sure this is where his chambers are located?" Ginny asked. The snake tapestry was pulled to the side. Ginny and Harry were left staring at a blank wall.

"It was here last week, Gin," Harry said, totally perplexed.

Hermione brought down the wards. The doorway appeared to Harry and Ginny as Hermione opened the door to greet them. "Hi guys. Come on in."

Harry hugged Hermione. "Are you okay? You look like hell."

"Nice to see you, too. You want tea or something?" Hermione led them to the seating area of the study.

"Tea would be lovely. How is the Professor? Poppy asked me to stop in and do some simple scans. She'll be by herself in an hour or so. "Ginny held her wand and a few other instruments in her hand.

"He's still asleep. I hate to wake him. He's moved into the second stage of the curse. The pain seems to have intensified. The only relief he gets is when the potions knock him out." Hermione's voice cracked, belying the tight hold she had on her already fragile emotions.

Ginny's voice was reassuring. "He will be fine, Hermione. Poppy told me he had been hit worse than this before, during the war."

Hermione nodded. "I know, when he was spying. Do they know who did this, Harry?"

"Yeah, a minor Death Eater who escaped from a lower security prison in Italy. The Ministry has felt for some time that the remaining Death Eaters should be held in Azkaban. There are still a few in other countries. This appears to be an isolated incident, if that helps." He hoped he was right, there was no sense worrying Hermione.

"But why would he come here?" Hermione's logical mind was trying to come to grips with a horror she thought was long past her.

"He came looking for me. Or Albus. Why else would he be in the vicinity of Hogwarts?" Severus leaned against the doorframe, breathing hard. The effort of walking had cost him more than he was willing to admit.

"Professor, you should be in bed." Ginny noted the beads of sweat on his upper lip and the unhealthy pallor of his skin. Spasms continued to move across his hands, his body randomly twitching. She moved to help him.

"What are you doing up? Back in bed." Hermione rounded the sofa. He allowed her to pull his arm across her shoulders, supporting him as she helped him back to the bed.

Harry knew Voldemort had tortured Snape on a regular basis. He had endured Cruciatus far more times than most and still maintained his mind, a tribute to the man's strength, his single mindedness, and his determination to see Voldemort dead, once and for all. He was not prepared for the sight that greeted his eyes. Snape looked like someone had attached a live wire to him. Harry had suffered the effects of the curse himself for several minutes. He wondered how long the spell had been cast on the Professor to leave him in such a state.

Hermione settled Severus back against the pillows. His breathing was labored; the effort of fighting the pain taking a toll on his already abused body. Ginny moved to his side, reciting an incantation while attaching a small knob to the handle of her wand. It glowed red as she moved the wand back and forth across Severus. She murmured a new incantation and a multi-coloured glow radiated from the Professor himself.

Hermione perched on the edge of the bed. "What do the colours mean?"

Ginny pointed to Severus's hand. The colours rippled as another spasm shook his fingers. "See the change in hue? Green is healthy. Eventually, his entire aura should be green. The shift from red to orange to yellow to green, means the nerves in this part of the hand are still feeling the after affects of the shock. The healing starts deep inside and radiates out."

Hermione could see the colour along the center of his chest was shifting back and forth from yellow to green, other areas of his body radiated the full spectrum of colours. His whole body had twitched when she first saw him.

Ginny smiled. "Actually, Professor, you seem to be doing quite well. Your entire aura was almost red when they brought you in. I would say you are in very capable hands. Another day or two of rest and you will be fine. Poppy said she would be by in a few hours."

"Thank you, Ginevra, but I plan to resume my duties tomorrow. Please tell Poppy her visit will not be necessary."

"Oh no you don't. You are not moving from this bed, even if I have to tie you to it. Ginny, tell Poppy to double the strength of the sleeping draughts and send them to me. If I have to knock him out, he's staying in this bed." Hermione's eyes snapped, daring Severus to contradict her.

"Hermione," his voice held a tone of warning. "Do you know to whom you are speaking?"

"Yes, a very stubborn man, who is recovering from an extremely debilitating curse. Give yourself permission to be human, Severus." Hermione watched his hand clench as a new wave of pain passed through him. "Fine. You're so sure you're well? I challenge you to a duel. You win, I won't say a word. Nothing. You do as you wish. But if I win, you stay in this bed until Monday morning. And I get to tell you I told you so. Repeatedly."

Severus scowled at her. "It would almost be worth the pain, if only to silence you for the weekend." He found he was too tired to argue. He would wait until morning and see how he felt then. "Hermione, I will owl you tomorrow. Potter, would you see that Miss Granger gets back to Cambridge safely?"

"What makes you think I'm leaving? I'm not going anywhere. I stay glued to your side until I'm satisfied your okay." Hermione smiled, he really needed to get off his high horse.

"Hermione, you have a meeting in the morning with your advisor. I will not let you jeopardize your internship because I was foolish enough to follow a megalomaniac in my youth. You will not miss that meeting." He waited, sure the voices in his head were going to berate him for encouraging her to leave him and study with someone else. Silence reigned in his mind. Maybe the curse had rid him of that particular demon once and for all.

Harry looked puzzled. Hermione merely laughed. "That is Severus's way of saying he was a Death Eater, Harry. Severus, I can Apparate to Cambridge from here. I'm a witch or have you forgotten? I'm sure Albus will be happy to stay with you while I'm gone."

"I do not need a baby sitter!" It was a rather impressive bellow considering his lack of strength.

"And I will not leave you alone!" Hermione was equally impressive as she shouted back.

"Uh, listen, Professor. I have a few questions for you. What if I come round when Hermione leaves? I have to question you in private anyway. I need to hear the details of what happened from you. Anything you can remember, the sequence of events, that kind of thing. I would assume you'd like to have a night of rest to clear your head before discussing what happened. What time are you leaving, Hermione?"

Snape stared at the young man. He had used his title, not just his name. Somewhere along the way, Potter had learned diplomacy. "Fine. Hermione, will you order a tray for us before you leave in the morning?"

Hermione turned grateful eyes on her friend. There was no love lost between Harry and Severus, yet Harry was showing a maturity she would not have thought him capable of. "Yes, of course, Severus. I need to leave at 10:45 a.m., Harry."

A chime sounded by the side of the bed. It was time for another nerve relaxer potion. Knowing what had happened to the last one, Hermione turned to Harry and Ginny, "Let me see you two out. I will be right back with the draught."

Severus closed his eyes. He could hear the low murmur of voice from the other room. He was bone tired. He didn't think he could move if the Dark Lord himself showed up. The bed dipped as Hermione sat next to him. She was stroking his arm, her voice soft as she called his name.

"I am still awake. What vile substance do you want me to consume this time?"

She held the phial to his lips. He drank without ever opening his eyes. "You don't have to stay. I understand. Your education comes first."

"I had my book bag with me when I left Cambridge. I really don't need too much more."

"Ah, the ever present book bag," he said with a chuckle.

"I'll stop by my flat after the meeting, feed Crooks, and grab a few things. I hope you don't mind. I borrowed a pyjama top to wear as a nightshirt."

Severus turned to look at her. She was lying on her side, a textbook open in front of her. The bottom of his black silk pyjama top fell just past her mid-thigh. Her legs seemed to go on forever. His hand still shook as he stroked the smooth skin of her thigh. "It is a crime for you to look that sexy when I am unable to do anything about it at the moment." He was fighting the weight of his eyelids. The nerve relaxer was heavily laced with a sleeping draught that was racing through his blood.

Hermione kissed the back of his hand. "You'll owe me. I guarantee I will collect sometime in the near future. Sleep. I'm not going anywhere."

She watched his breathing even out as he dropped off into a heavy, draught-induced sleep. She reset the timer at the side of the bed. Poppy had been emphatic about taking the nerve relaxer at regular intervals. The next round of potions and draughts included a revitalizer as well. It was a sophisticated potion designed to help repair damaged nerve endings.

She was grateful for her friends and their support. Hogwarts had always been a symbol of security for her. It seemed it was now to become her fortress as well. The world had become a little colder for her today. She had lost her parents during the war. She had no intentions of losing Severus, too.

TBC

A/N: The steps and form of the dance (as well as those that appear in future chapters) are from this web site: Tango tutorial - http://64.70.140.102/ourdance.htm. Challenge rules can be found following chapter one.

My understanding, according to the Lexicon, is that constant Apparating is tiring and difficult. The further the distance, the more difficult Apparition becomes, hence the use of Portkeys. I would equate Apparating to driving. The longer you drive, the more tiring it is. The time and distance driving in a car for 20 hours as opposed to flying and arriving in 3 hours could be compared to Apparating and Portkeys.

A grateful thank you to my beta, Nakhash, for her corrections and suggestions. Another set of eyes is always helpful, the mistakes, however, are still mine

Still to come: The next day: Saturday at Hogwarts, Harry and Ginny, and more. Enjoy. Please review and let me know what you think. I love hearing from you! As always, thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are always welcome.

Regards, Pearle