The Mud-Blood Princess | Severus x Hermione

16 - Vulnera Senentur

A knock at the door managed to kill the palpable tension in the classroom; Snape quickly wrapped his robes around his body and gave me a sly wink before calling them in. The grey cloak-wearing Professor stood on the other side of the door, pushing it ajar slightly. "Headmaster, what a... pleasant surprise," Snape drawled, his face holding blank expression as he met the white bearded man at the door. I heard some muttering between them, but nothing I could make out. "Miss Granger - leave at once. Same time tomorrow." I stood from my chair and grabbed my bag. Waltzing past the Professors, I gave Snape a discrete smirk before disappearing down the hallway.

Before I could reach the Gryffindor Tower, I heard a ruckus echoing through the corridors. I followed the noise of the crashing and aggressive snapping sounds coming from the Prefect bathroom. I crept along the wall, nearing the doorway when I heard a huge whip sound and a grunt from someone all too familiar. A bunch of hexes were sent between the two people, and it wasn't until I heard the unknown spell that Harry had mentioned the other day that I realised it was him... and Malfoy. I poked my head round the entrance to the bathroom, feeling my heart race in my chest. Harry had his back to me and about 8 metres away stood an exhausted and rather frightened looking Draco. "Sectum Sempra!" Harry exclaimed, shooting the hex at the blond boy, who was sent flying through the air, landing in a pool of water created by the duel. Breathless screams and gasps exited Draco's mouth, and he twitched and juddered on the wet stone.

I gasped as I watched deep lacerations form over Draco's body, his white school shirt now stained with blood. I held my hands over my mouth, not wanting Harry to know I had watched what he had just done to another human being. Before I could react any more, a black figure pushed past me at a rapid pace, shoving me backwards away from the doorway. It was Snape. He threw Harry out of the way by his robes and knelt down beside Draco, giving Harry a violent glare until he turned and ran towards my direction. I quietly dashed into a cranny to avoid being seen by Harry, and waited until he had disappeared. My heart was still racing but I needed to know what the Merlin that spell was! Rushing to where Draco and Snape were, I splashed through the pool of bloody water and knelt on the other side of Draco. "What the hell was that?" I demanded, my body shaking with fear.

"Leave," Snape mumbled, hovering his wand over the boys chest. I just stared at him, dumfounded, my lips slightly parted and my forehead creased with a frown. "LEAVE!" Snape roared, his eyes even blacker than they usually were. I gulped, fear rushing through me; I'd never been spoken to like that before, not by Snape. I rose to my feet, my eyes welling up and took a glance down at the pair. "Vulnera Senentur," Snape sang lowly, closing his eyes and slowly running his wand over Draco's body. Taking a step back, I watched the blood diffused water began to turn clear once more, the dark red blood reentering Draco's body. I stayed silent, so I could hear my heart pounding and my unsteady breaths. "Vulnera Senentur," Snape repeated slowly, his voice like silk.

Once Draco's shirt was back to its original pristine white, I darted out the bathroom, unable to comprehend what I'd just witnessed. I was beyond stunned by Harry's disgusting act, yet impressed by Snape's calmness in handling it and saving a life; granted, it was Draco Malfoy, but nonetheless. I found myself at the common room, pushing through the portrait and searching for Harry. It didn't take long for me to spot him sitting by the fireplace, head in his hands. Ron and Ginny were also there, their faces drenched in worry. "Harry, the book needs to go," I blankly said, "Now." At this moment, I was not asking. I was demanding. The kid nearly killed someone! And to make matters worse, both Professor Snape and Mr Malfoy will be expecting serious action.

Harry looked up at me, his eyes wet and glowing from the fire, and nodded once. The weight that held onto my shoulders so heavily was finally lifted and I felt like I could breathe once more. Ginny took his hand in her own and led him out the common room, not saying a single word. I stood there in silence, watching the door to outside close again and it dawned on me that I was actually alone with Ron after Merlin knows how long. "Why are you wet?" I heard his voice cut through the air, causing me to flinch slightly. I looked down at my clothes which were, in fact, soaked through. "I was there," I whispered, my voice cracking suddenly, "I saw it. Harry... He... Draco!" By now I was sobbing, struggling to speak without spluttering my words.

Ron rushed over and took me into his embrace, rubbing my back and shushing me. He pulled me onto the couch, my legs over his and my head on his shoulder. I felt calm but it didn't feel right. Somehow - though it felt nice - it didn't feel the same; Snape was all over my mind: His fresh, minty scent, his dark hair and matching dark eyes, his slightly aged skin, his large hands, his strong arms. Before I realised it, I had fallen into a deep sleep.

*

"So how's it going with Professor Slughorn?" I whispered to Harry as we waited for Professor Snape to make a dramatic reentrance as he usually did after dipping out of the lesson to speak with Dumbledore. Harry frowned and glanced up to me, confused. "How do you... Dumbledore," he rolled his eyes and chuckled quietly. "Yes, Dumbledore told me. Any luck?" I asked again, placing my black quill on the desk in front of me. I'd barely used it since Snape gifted me it, too scared to damage it. Harry shook his head, then froze. A grin spread across his face. "Luck!" His eyes filled with joy and purpose. "All I need is a little luck!"

Snape reentered, slamming the door shut behind him. He stood at the door, glaring at the few students who had stopped working, Harry and I included. "I step out for two seconds and you all automatically assume the lesson is over?" He growled, crossing his arms over his chest. Here we go, I groaned internally and picked up my quill once more, dipping it in the ink and continued writing. Harry had stared into space at this point but tactically kept his eyes down at his parchment to avoid being caught. Snape was now pacing around the classroom, his face blank and his eyes darker than the Black Lake. I couldn't help but picture Snape kneeling in the pool of Draco's blood - the way he didn't care about his cloak or shoes getting wet was so sweet and selfless.

I found myself biting my lip, remembering the words he cooed as he healed Draco: Vulnera Senentur. It sounded so... SLAM! I shot upright, dropping my quill in the process. Snape was standing beside me, a copy of that morning's Daily Prophet rolled up in his hand. Did he just hit my desk? Really? "Yes, I did Granger. Now I suggest you finish your work or I'll have Mr Filch string you up from your ears," Snape grumbled and smacked my desk once more before stomping to his desk. Don't threaten me with a good time, Professor. I scoffed as I watched him take a seat and flick through the newspaper.

*

"How do you feel?" I raised an eyebrow as Harry gulped down his vial of Felix Felicis. It took him a moment to respond, but when he did, his eyes lit up and he had rosy cheeks. "Excellent!" He grinned, standing up from the sofa. Ron and I followed suit, staring at him cautiously. "Slughorn should be back from his walk by now. Go to his office," I reminded him, after having watched the Professor all week in order to learn his schedule. "Right," Harry nodded, "I'm going to Hagrid's, I feel like it's the right place to be tonight!" This kid was mad. It was almost nightfall and he was going to explore the grounds on his own? He was about to get into some serious trouble if he got caught! Ron and I glanced at each other in bewilderment, confusion washing over us. Why would he need to go to Hagrid's? Before we could argue, Harry was already gone, along with his jacket.

"Well, that's that then," Ron chuckled, throwing himself on the sofa where Harry once sat. I crossed my arms, scoffing at the red head, "Do you not have homework to do, Ronald? Or at least something to study!" I reached into my bag and pulled out my DADA textbook and sat on an armchair opposite Ron. Ron had fallen asleep almost instantly, while I enjoyed the silence and scent of the fireplace. By the time I'd completed my homework and studies, Ron was just stirring but didn't wake up. I couldn't see him going up to bed so I covered him with a knitted blanket Mrs Weasley had made for the common room.

I tiptoed to up the stairs, holding my breath until I reached my dormitory. I hated sharing a room with Ron's ex girlfriend, hearing her constantly talk about me to Pavarti as though I wasn't there was torturous. Luckily, they were both asleep by the time I'd come up. I slipped out of my uniform and into my pyjamas, tied my hair into a bun and brushed my teeth before clambering into bed and drifting off to sleep.