Survivor

Chapter 18 - Third Time's the Charm

Severus was a rather light sleeper, years of espionage had forced him into such an unbreakable habit. But even the heaviest of sleepers could not have slept through the cries of Hermione, who lay sweating and panting next to him. He lit the room in an instant, searching immediatley for any danger. There was none. He focussed on Hermione only to see her looking feverish and panicked, her eyes firmly shut.

"No! Please dont." She mumbled, now gripping the sheets and twitching violently.

Shockingly for once in his life, Severus did not know what to do. He wanted to wake her and save her from her mental torment. But he thought that waking Hermione might startle her and frighten her even more. He placed a hand on her cool but moist arm. There was a sheen on her skin but she felt cool. He wanted to smother her in sheets.

Hermione was as rigid as a cadaver, her bones felt as though they may crack if he tried to move her. But her limbs spasmed at random intervals, reminding Severus that she was very much alive. Her chest heaved in unknown panic and he could see her eye balls flitting around under her closed lids.

"Don't touch me." She spat, and Severus jumped away, like he had been stung by a wasp. He didn't take his eyes off her, hoping to God she wouldn't start fitting or foaming at the mouth.

She was a far cry from the peaceful princess who had slept in his bed months ago, looking peaceful in her white gown. Now, Hermione writhed in her sleep, haunted by terrors that Severus could only guess at.

There was a sharp inhale of breath and her mouth opened in a scream. Severus winced for the anticipated auditory assault, but no sound came. A tremor ran through her entire body and then Hermione woke up, panting. Severus recoiled away from her again, whilst Hermione shot up against the headboard, pulling the covers with her. Her eyes were open but it was as though she could not see.

Severus watched intently as the cogs whirred behind Hermione's eyes and she suddenly realized where she was. Severus's room. Severus's bed. Her eyes widened even further, and Hermione threw the covers back. She rather indelicately put a hand between her legs. As if she was satisfied that she was not injured, Hermione sat back, only now noticing Severus next to her.

She looked mortified. "I-I-I...." she begun. Her bottom lip wobbled as her eyes began to fill up.

Fat tears began to leak down her cheek and Severus thought that Hermione had gone from a pale white colour to a rather alarming green. He was rather worried that she may start vomiting. He did what any sane person would have done in the situation and enveloped her with his arms.

"I'm here." He said, not knowing that it was exactly what Hermione wanted to hear, sparking a new tidal wave of tears. He began to rock her gently, holding her close to his chest as he did so.

Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and tried to breath through her sobs. She didn't want him to feel her body shake as she cried into him. Merlin, she felt pathetic, getting upset over a dream. She winced and internally chastised herself. Hermione wanted a hole in the Earths crust to open and swallow her whole.

She knew that Severus had nightmares too, and it made her feel a little better knowing that. But she cursed herself, thinking that Severus had never woken up crying. She felt uneasy in her stomach as the adrenaline pumped, mercilessly.

Severus stroked her hair. "Hermione?" He voiced quietly. If one did not know Severus Snape, one would have argued that he sounded timid.

She shook her head - He felt it rather than saw it. They remained in each others arms, both hesitant to break the moment. Neither of them wanted to be the first to initiate conversation, for fear of ruining it. But Hermione let out a rather large yawn and Severus released her.