The Power of Pain

Chapter 38

Snape dropped the knife he'd been preparing to use for their dinner rushing over to kneel down in front of Hermione's folded form. The glass from the vial pressing into his knee as he tried to see her face.

Hermione had never felt such pain, her entire body felt on fire. She held herself tightly around the stomach as a metallic taste filled her mouth. Her stomach lurched and she couldn't stop herself from spitting up blood all over her jeans. She gasped trying to take in air before she heaved again throwing up the potions, their magic tainted with another unnerving amount of blood.

Snape bared his teeth pushing her hair back over her shoulder, he had a faint idea as to what was happening but he saved his theories for later. There was a lot of blood, more than what he expected, he could feel it soaking into his trousers. His hand moved to her back keeping her down. His other parting her legs so her head would rest between them.

"Don't fight it."

She let out a distressed noise before another heave rocked her frame. It was more clear this time, it rolled down and joined the combined mess on the floor. Hiccups started shortly after as she tried desperately to breathe in the cramped position.

Snape vanished the mess wandlessly before helping her to slowly sit up. His hand moved from her back to her head as she managed a few deep gulps of air. Her teary eyes turned to his, filled with confusion and fear.

"It normal." He assured, pulling his handkerchief from his pocket wiping a bit of drool and blood from her chin. "Your natural magic is starting to return." He tucked the clothe away cupping her heated face to keep her steady. "It'll pass..." His voice hypnotic, he watched her pupils dilate to his voice.

Her hands rose, shakily holding onto the crook of his elbow as the pounding in her head started to abate. She blinked at him slowly, oddly, she felt stronger, not weaker. A warmth, like a tiny candle coming to life inside her chest. It made her skin hum with power.

"That's it." He watched a shadow in her eyes start to lift, the color, more beautiful than previous, started to fill in around the edges. He could feel her magical core thumping powerfully against his own. It was, remarkable.

Hermione let her eyes close for a brief moment as she centered in on the new feeling. It felt amazingly powerful, exceptionally raw and untamed. She reopened her eyes taking a final calming breath.

Snape watched her calm down and extracted his hands, hissing a little when he finally noticed his knee. Hermione shifted as he sat back onto the other leg pulling a bit of glass from the bone of his knee cap without so much as a flinch.

Her hand moved of its own accord, like her body knew exactly what it was doing and cupped over it. A soft glowing light left her hand for a brief moment and she pulled back. The cut was completely healed and the cloth mended. She blinked looking at her palm.

Severus too, looked down at her hand. It was a great surprise to him that she'd been able to even focus her magic so quickly after its return, even more amazing, was that it was done silently and without a wand. Never a dull moment with Hermione Granger, he mused.

She gave him a soft sheepish smile like she hadn't just thrown up all over him. "Is that normal?"

Severus himself didn't actually know but for the sake of her ego fitting through the door frame, he gave her a small nod.