Redemption II

Chapter 70

Hermione groaned softly turning her head away from whatever light was pressing against the back of her eyelids. Her body felt weird, strong yet weak at the same time like she was waking from a deep sleep. A soft rustle of fabric caught her ears before a gentle alluring scent of Jasmine filled her nose. Her mind turned slowly, but smoothly. She recognized that scent mixed with his on her shirt the night she was sure Snape had come to her. She hadn't been able to identify it then but she could now.

It's alright, easy now...just open your eyes.

The voice speaking to her didn't come to her ears but rather from inside. A gentle command followed by a deep soothing feeling. She found no reason why she shouldn't follow their instructions and so, did as she told.

The world came into focus gradually but clearly. She could make out a powder blue chair and something or rather someone else peering down at her just at the edge of her vision. She turned her head just enough to make the face come into view; her brow furrowing as she tried to give them a name but nothing in all her memories could provide her with a single syllable. The woman above her smiled gently before moving out of her line of sight again.

Hermione tried to roll her eyes up to see where the woman had gone but someone else more familiar appeared in front of her line of sight and she found she no longer cared about who the mystery woman was. Hermione tried to move her jaw but found her tongue too heavy to make anything more than an inquisitive noise, her face twisting with confusion.

"You'll feel a bit heavy for a short while...It's normal." Snape came closer, though his face was tight.

Hermione turned her eyes up when the woman who had been above her head moved around so she could be seen clearly. Hermione looked between the two of them for a long moment. They were similar in features, too similar. Aside from their eyes, everything about them seemed almost in sync. The way they held themselves, their nose, their lips. There was no way they couldn't have been related in some manner. Like drama masks, they were nearly opposite. A kind disarming smile hidden at the corner of the woman's mouth while Snape held a deep sense of tragedy on his features.

Galia leveled her eyes on Hermione's own, a look that was as equally unsettling as it was assuring before she turned herself from the room. Snape spared her a glance, frowning deeper. He moved over the chair that was facing the fireplace before bringing it over beside the lounge. He looked almost, dare she say, frightened? Hermione blinked slowly letting out a soft noise before she shifted her head down to look at her hands. The feeling in her limbs was slowly returning and she found herself able to lift her hand up to rub the sleep from her eyes. Her tongue followed next and she swallowed dryly a few times before managing to let out a weak whisper.

"How long...have I been asleep?"

"Nearly two days..."

"I always seem to lose track of time when I'm with you..." Her lip curled just a bit at her wry and poorly delivered joke. Her eyes closed as she thought back to how she could have gotten there before her eyes snapped open with fear. She'd kissed him, more than that, he'd kissed her back. What did that mean? How was she still alive? Why did her lips tingle with the memory? Why did she suddenly feel so warm? Wasn't this what she wanted? What happened now?

Snape watched myriad of emotions play over her face while he listened in on the numerous questions rampaging through her mind. He had no true answers for her but found relief that her mind seemed to be working as it should have been. He took a slow breath gathering his own thoughts and pushing out hers. They had so much to discuss.

"Miss Granger...if you would allow me...to explain everything..."

oOo