The Power of Pain

Chapter 37

The carriage ride home was blissfully quiet. Hermione had passed out as soon as it took to the air. Her head resting on Severus' shoulder, her arm moving in her sleep to take hold of his. Severus twitched when her fingers curled around his hand and stared down at them for a long time. His breathing tight, he tried to remember the last time anyone had held his hand. He frowned when nothing came to mind.

With great hesitation and a twinge of curiosity, he wrapped his much larger fingers around her own. It felt so small, so frail, but he knew the strength that it held. His cheek was a great testimony of that fact. But more than that and what frightened him more than anything else; was the way it fit perfectly inside his palm.

His dark eyes moved to her face when he took hold, taking note of her long lashes resting against her cheek. She looked completely at peace. It was surreal after the long day they had had and seeing that brow furrowed with deep concentration. Her nose was small but perfectly completed the symmetry of her face. He tilted his head just a bit more taking in her lips.

They looked soft, lightly pink in color, no doubt from her chewing, a soft smile hidden at the very corner. His jaw twitched at the long-forgotten feeling growing in his chest. He felt sort of warm and a bit soft in the head. He blinked to clear his mind turning his head away to watch the clouds pass by through the window.

His hand didn't leave hers.

oOo

The jostle of their landing sprung open Severus' hand like a mouse trap. He felt Hermione take a deep breath before lifting her head. She untangled her arm from his rubbing at her eye.

"We home?"

Home. Snape paused, he supposed it was a home. At least for the time being, though he would never describe the place as his home; to him, it was merely a place to stay until he could move on. He watched her sleepily rub her face trying to re-coordinate her body. She gave him a lazy smile running her hand through her hair.

He gave her a noncommittal hum pulling his satchel around his shoulder before stepping out. He came around the side as she stepped down. She stumbled just a little but held fast to the door to keep from face planting. Hermione saw his offered elbow and took it without comment, pressing her side into his arm as they made the short walk back into the house. Once there, she allowed him to lead her through the kitchen; though as they reached the landing she made a soft noise.

"I'sti'll wanna work..."

He gave her a look, there was no way she was going to be able to be of use with her words slurred like that.

"We have time."

Hermione let out a soft noise but finally relented to his gentle pulling. They made it upstairs without injury and he started to lead her into her room. She made another low whine, trying to put her feet down. She didn't want to sleep, she wanted to work, she didn't want to deal with the persistent nightmares.

"Pleass..." She tried to turn back but he simply caught her and guided her to sit on the bed. Her eyes were no longer open as she mumbled her protests. Snape ignored her, pulling off her shoes, setting them neatly under the edge of the bed. It took little to no effort to push her back, though her hands pulled on his arms weakly, they eventually fell away near her head. The last words from her lips lingering in the room.

Severus paused. Clearly he hadn't heard her correctly. He dropped the blanket over top watching her sigh heavily and roll onto her side. She couldn't have wanted his bed. More so, she couldn't have wanted him to be in bed with her. She was clearly delusional from exhaustion.