The Power of Pain

Chapter 24

Minerva stood in the kitchen looking solemnly out the garden window. She felt as if she had said too much. Too personal. She feared her words would threaten to push the man even farther away from both of them. She knew his privacy was his utmost treasure. It was what had kept him alive for so long. She had realized that though the war was finally over, it had never truly left him.

She took a deep breath pursing her lips, "Albus you are a most unbelievably cruel man." She narrowed her eyes at the frame that appeared to be empty. Though she knew, he was there, lurking. She knew he wouldn't deny it but that thought brought her little comfort. She turned her eyes to the counter. What had he been preparing? She made a bit of a face as she realized all the man had left was vegetables from the garden. With a small wave of her wand, she summoned Tinie.

"Yes, Headmistress? How can Tinie be of service?"

"I'd like you to bring me food stock from the kitchens, a good balance of meat and vegetables if you please. Oh, and some pumpkin juice. A small pitcher will do. " She suspected that Hermione had had nothing but water since her wake as the man didn't seem to have anything else left. "Some of my personal tea as well please." The house elf bowed her head popping out.

As she waited for the elf to return she turned her eyes toward the ceiling. He was dreadfully quiet. She hoped that he was resting. He couldn't hide the fatigue in his shoulders though best he tried. She sighed softly and pulled off her layers of teaching robes setting them over the chair. It had been a long while since she had cooked anything by hand. She was quite looking forward to it. A small smile came to her face as she rolled up her sleeves washing her hands.

oOOo

A soft smell wafted through the entire house, a heart warming smell of a meal cooked with love and care. Hermione stirred first, her arms wrapped tight around something, at first her sleep clogged brain thought it to be his head but that had faded out long before she fell back into a thankfully dreamless sleep.

She slowly pushed herself up, using her hand to examine what it was. A teddy bear? She made a bit of a face, she wondered who it belonged to, it wasn't hers, she could tell by the smell, and it most certainly wasn't his. She set it gently on the floor abd she turned carefully to her back stretching herself out. Oh how wonderfully warm she felt.

The fire in the hearth was still going strong and her new clothes added to the layer the blanket over her had provided. It was a nice feeling. She smiled and rolled back onto her side pulling the blanket up to her nose.

"Hermione, dear?"

Footsteps moved slowly toward her and she mumbled not wanting to leave the warmth of her blanket and so, she hid her face down rather childishly. Maybe if she feigned sleep they would go away. Her stomach had other ideas as it let out a traitorous growl making her squirm.

Minerva smiled warmly at the sight. It took her back to those days when she would find the very same girl curled up in an alcove of the library having studied herself into exhaustion.

"I know you've woken. Would you like something to eat? I've managed to make a hardy beef stew with a nice apple bread for desert." Minerva's smile grew as she watched the girl slowly pull back the blanket.

"Would you like to sit in a chair? I can't imagine laying down all day to be all that comfortable."

Hermione paused slightly before nodding her head. She had managed a few meager steps, though to be fair Snape had been holding up most of her weight. Her hand lightly touched the bruise on her bicep.