The Power of Pain

Chapter 27

Severus straightened himself up to his full height, his eyes lit with the fires of hell as his fist shot out quicker than a viper's strike. He took immense satisfaction in the unadulterated terror in the boy's face seconds before it met with his fist. He felt the bones crack in the other's face. Ron pitched sideways into the wall leaving a rather nice hole before he dropped to the floor unconscious.

Severus panted heavily and turned deliberately, shaking out his hand just a bit, he'd surely fractured something but at present, he just couldn't care. His eyes darted between Minerva and Harry before landing fully on Hermione. The girl had obviously been crying but she had gently pushed off Minerva's embrace. She took a shuddering breath before reaching out her hand towards him.

Harry leaned back in complete shock unable to fully understand what he was seeing. His eyes turned immediately to Snape as he took a step towards her. On instinct, he stood to block the man's path but a gentle hand pulled on his wrist.

Minerva had gained her senses and stood to gently pull Harry from Snape's path. The boy looked like he was about to open his mouth before her grip tightened dangerously. Harry swallowed thickly as Snape stepped directly past him without so much as a passing glance.

Hermione's fingers searched him out crawling up his arm. As soon as she felt Snape's hand near her own; she pulled him closer lifting herself up. The man leaned down to her request and she wrapped her arms around his neck without hesitation. His arms wrapped under her legs and around her back automatically as he stood.

"Visiting hours are over." He hissed through his damaged throat. His eyes piercing straight through Harry When he turned, the wall in front of him dissolved as Minerva quickly opened an arch for them to pass through.

Harry broke from his stupor lurching forward to follow and had almost made it before the arch sealed shut, nearly taking off his nose, causing him to pitch back scrambling to keep his footing. His head whipped around toward his former head of house eyes filled with confusion.

"Not a wise choice Mr. Potter." Her voice was solemn guilt falling all over her face. It wasn't the first poor decision that had been made that day. She tucked her wand back up her sleeve turning her sad and tired eyes towards Ron. What had she done?

Snape thumped quickly down the stairs wanting to be as far away as possible from the two imbeciles. The girl in his arms was dreadfully quiet her head hidden in her arms against his chest. He moved to the sitting room taking her over to the lounge.

He felt her arms tighten around him as he leaned to lay her down. She made a disgruntled noise in the back of her throat and pressed up against him. Severus paused before very carefully turning and sitting down with her. He felt her relax and let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

Hermione swallowed as they stilled; her arms slowly slipping down from his shoulders thankful that he hadn't forced her to release him. She could feel his chest still heaving against her; his repressed anger and pain rolling through him but she didn't want to be alone right now, and she suspected, neither did he. Her mind was swirling through so many things at once and she fully believed his control was the only thing keeping her sane in that moment.

Severus felt conflicted. He had sensed so much sadness coming from her when she had spoken with them. Though he knew she needed to see them; what he had feared had come to pass. He tilted his head down to look at her. Noticing just a tiny bit of blood near the entrance of her nose. She had pushed herself way too hard once again. His jaw twitched as he racked his brain for anything even remotely comforting to say.