Redemption

52

I spent the next few days fading in and out of consciousness, I had been transferred to a muggle hospital a few days after the incident. Poppy wanted to have something done for my arm and the tearing from the baby's birth. I had lost quite a bit of blood and the infirmary had run out of blood replenishing potions. With the Potions' Master bed-ridden, and his apprentice in hospital, there was no one to make more. I was shipped off to the nearest hospital in Scotland for a series of surgeries and blood transfusions.

I received letter after letter from my students, friends, and various acquaintances. As requested by the Ministry, I would have to make a public appearance as soon as I was cleared. Things like this happened all the time when Fudge was Minister. Kingsley needed to keep the masses calm. If someone could fatally injure the infamous rogue Deatheater and his war hero apprentice, then no one was safe. People were fleeing the country, parents pulling their children out of school, some even threatening to form a mutiny to have the Minister impeached.

I sighed, looking off toward the window. Someone had argued that I get a private room, even if there were extra fees involved. I wasn't sure who had that sort of muggle money, though I was grateful for it all the same. I didn't have any muggle insurance or health care... I was told my affairs were being remotely handled.

The nurse who had been checking on me came in to take my pulse and heart rate, my temperature, and finally to do some exercises with my hand. "How are you feeling, Miss Granger?" She asked kindly, her blue eyes sparkling with life.

I shrugged in response. "As well as I can be, I suppose."

She nodded sadly, ducking her head. She fished around in her apron pocket for something and handed me a crisp ivory envelope. "This came for you today. It was the strangest thing, a bird flew in through the staff window and fell into my breakfast!"

My lips quirked upward for a moment. Blasted Errol. Leave it to the Weasleys to be subtle. I thanked her and tore open the letter, reading Ginny's familiar, messy scrawl.

'Mione,

Merlin, we're all worried sick about you! What on Earth happened? You should hear the rumours. All Ronnikins will tell us is that Ella Mitchell's trial is being held in two weeks time. Will you be attending the conference tomorrow? I certainly hope so. I'm so very worried about you.

Lots of love,

Gin & Mum

My heart warmed. I missed her so much. She had been there for me through everything... And I had kept everything a secret. I hadn't so much as let her know what the devil was going on. I hadn't been a very good friend of late. Against my will, my eyes began to well with tears, slowly rolling down my cheeks. A knock at the door had me wiping them away furiously. I didn't want anyone to see I had been crying again. My head shot up as I heard an ever familiar throat clearing, trying to get my attention. Once, I would have been relieved. I would have immediately calmed when I saw who stood at the door. Now, I merely felt like a fool, like the worst friend in the universe. "Ron," I said, my voice cracking several times, my throat raw.

He offered me a shy smile, walking over to me, sitting in the chair next to the cot. "'Mione... I am so sorry. I should have never let you run off like that. This is all my fault."

I frowned. I didn't understand what he was saying. He had done absolutely nothing regarding Ella and her thirst for vengeance. He continued speaking before I had the chance to ask. "If I had convinced you not to run off to Hogwarts in the first place, none of this would have happened. You would have been safe."

I felt my blood boil at his words, my vision tinting red. "It wasn't for you to make that decision, Ronald. You can't run my life for me."

He shrugged, patting my left hand. I saw him do it, but felt nothing. Even after countless sessions of physiotherapy, I still had not regained any feeling. "I shouldn't have let you run off like that. I only meant to say that if you had stayed at home, with me, you could have avoided getting involved with Snape in the first place. It's my fault you were so confused and ran to him for comfort and approval. He made you change!"

I was about to blow a gasket. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He assumed he could treat me like a marionette. Control my every action, my every decision, without thinking of how I felt consequently. No, as long as Ronald Weasley got what he wanted, nothing else matters. He disgusted me. And I very politely told him so, before having the security guard escort him from the hospital.

By early evening, I had been asked to pack what little I had with me and to change back into my clothes that had been washed and pressed. Someone was coming to bring me home. Trying, with much difficulty, to fasten the buttons on the back of my dress, I felt warm, slender hands glide down my bodice, along my spine. I shivered at the contact, though allowed them to finish buttoning me up. I turned to thank my helper and couldn't help the squeak that escaped me.

Before me, stood none other than Professor Snape. The one person I had been aching to see, yet reluctant to at the same time. Gods, how he'd hurt me. One look at his face and I knew he could read me clear as day. He seemed pained, and not only because of his leg injury. The man appeared tormented, as though he'd been tortured for weeks on end. I smiled shyly. "Sorry, sir, I thought you were my nurse."

The corner of his lips quirked upward, as he offered me his hand. I took it hesitantly, happily surprised when he pressed my fingers to his lips. "You seem to be faring quite well, Miss Granger." The vein in his neck pulsed, and the silvered scars from that damned snake appeared momentarily above his starched collar. "I am here to escort you back to Hogwarts."

I nodded, slipping into my travelling cloak, with his help, of course. "I'm sorry Minerva took you from your rooms for this."

The raven-haired man I adored shook his head, his eyebrows creasing. "Nonsense. It was I who insisted. I wanted to assure you returned safely." My heart melted at his words, he held out his arm, which I took, gripping the crook of it. "Besides, Waverly wanted to see you as soon as you stepped foot in the castle. Now, you see, there was no way I could disappoint my little girl." As he spoke, his eyes sparkled. I caught a glimpse of my Severus in that instance. And oh, he was beautiful. How I had longed for him. How I had ached since his arrival from Azkaban and faced me with that cold demeanour.

I smiled easily, allowing his attempt at light-hearted humour to fill me. "Of course not, sir. Wouldn't want to fall short on a promise made, even considering the circumstances."

He chuckled lightly, using that moment to turn into a dark mist and float out the window.

We landed smoothly just outside the school's gates. The Potion's Master stumbled a little, tightening his grip on the can he held. I leaned into him, straightening him up so that he wouldn't fall. When he was stable, he pulled me into his arms, burying his nose in my curls, inhaling my scent.

I sighed as his warmth surrounded me, filling my lungs with the smell of spices and parchment and freshly mown grass and something so uniquely... him. Gods, I still loved him. I didn't think I could ever feel any differently.

He pressed his lips to the top of my head momentarily. "I am glad you are safe now. As long as I have something to say of it, no one will ever lay a hand on you. I promise it."

I wrapped my arms around his waist tighter, squeezing him. "Thank you." I managed, barely a whisper.

He peeled himself from me and held onto my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine. We walked past the gates and through the old oak doors.

I was home.