The Power of Pain

Chapter 11

Hot! His entire back felt alight with flames he could only have imaged came from hell itself. His scream had died in his raw and pulsing throat as soon as he'd realized he had returned to his own body. Lurching back, he reached behind him to feel his back that felt like it was on fire. More than that, he felt as if he had been laying upon coals.

He panted heavily and ripped his frock coat asunder. Buttons flew everywhere as he threw it carelessly to the side. Reaching back again, he felt the same pulsing heat. His panting left him light headed but the pain that was rippling through him kept his mind sharp. He ripped open his button up next, tossing it away as well, he didn't even pause as he pulled the tank top over his head.

The cool air of the sitting room did nothing for the pain. He fell to his forearms gritting his teeth as he tried to ride it out. It was worse than the cruciatus curse. Worse than anything he'd ever felt. It was as if someone had whipped his back with a razor bladed leather whip laced in flesh eating poison. His forehead thunked onto the floor as he continued to breathe through it.

Then, ever so slowly it started to fade and he daringly reached back to touch his skin. His fingers met smooth skin, he reached further. He couldn't feel his finger tips against his back; only the texture of the skin over the heated flesh where he touched. It was smooth and unopened like he thought it to be. It was residual. The residual magic of whatever had attacked them. He took a shuddering breath pulling his hand back down to support himself. His confirmation was a mild comfort.

He stayed as he was until the pain was nothing but a dull throb reminding him that his 'heroic' actions always ended up in his subsequent punishment. His mind startes to clear from the pain induced fog, his eyes closed as he calmed himself down. His heart was pulsing in his throat. Fear rose up as he conaidered the possibility of damage to his vocal cords. He hadn't even raised his voice since he'd healed himself. He hoped that his scream didn't permanently damage anything.

Hermione felt warm. Not uncomfortably so, it was a gentle warmth. The feeling you got when you were wrapped up in a soft blanket on a cool winter's day; peacefully enjoying the warmth of a fire with a cup of hot chocolate. It was comforting. It was safe. Slowly, sound came to her white world. It was rough and grating against her consciousness. She could hear someone breathing harshly, very near to her. She couldn't feel her body, not fully and though she was aware of her limbs, her actual nerve endings seemed to still be numb. As if she was waking from a deep sleep.

She tried to test her movement; her focus starting to wane as the darkness around her beckoned her to return to it's depths. She didn't want to go, she didn't want to return back to the darkness. A panic started to well in her chest and she tried to move her fingers.

She could feel something soft, against the pads of her finger tips. It took some effort but she tried to take hold of whatever it was. Unfortunately, whatever it was disappeared, leaving her with nothing to focus on. The whiteness that surrounded her started to haze around the edges. She was in the void between the waking world and the world she had known for endless days.

Snape's mind turned over what he'd just experienced. Deep in thought as he kept his breathing slow and steady. It was during his inner cataloging that he felt the lightest of touches against his head. He paused, holding his breath before his eyes slowly opened. The feeling returned more firmly this time, wrapping lightly around the hair at his temples. He turned his head, jerking back just a bit. Fingers. He saw fingers. They moved once more twitching with the effort. His eyes trailed up the arm of their owner.

"Miss Granger...?" His voice was barely that of a whisper and hurt immensely from his efforts. He gritted his teeth as he pulled himself up onto his knees. His back screamed as he shifted, though he managed to push it aside for the moment.