The Serpent and the Lioness

Chapter 15

"She's going to kill you."

"I know."

"Why would you even say something like that?"

"It was the only thing I could think of that would open her mouth."

"Are...you sure we should leave them alone?"

"I value my life."

"She was almost assaulted!"

"I know, why do you think we're up here?" Draco rubbed his arm with a frown. "When she realizes what's happened I would very much prefer my bollocks in their proper place."

"That's why you left her with Snape?"

A pregnant pause drifted between the two and both men looked down from the second floor curiously.

After Harry had explained his side, and Draco had explained his side and received a rather strong punch from the woman they had been caring for; Severus' temper had been distracted by Hermione's wandering hand. They each took it as a chance to escape.

Severus had fixed her clothes in a few short wand flicks but when he had finished she had all but taken possession of his arm. A soft giggle bubbling from the back of her throat. It hadn't been a mirthful giggle, it was the sort you got when everything has just gone to shit and you can't process. He hadn't the heart or the processing power to remove his arm. So there he sat.

As time dragged on, Severus had tried to stay focused but the drug was still lingering. He let her pull his arm to her chest and even lightly brushed away the tears that had started to fall, with his captured hand. The physical damage had been averted but some of the mental remained. To put it bluntly, they were high.

Hermione had curled herself around his back. Everything in her mind was hyper-aware. It was that sort of hyper-aware where you felt like you had the answer to every single problem in the universe just not the means to solve them. Her brain had gone from first gear to light year. Her mouth felt fuzzy and her body delightfully numb. She was very certain the only thing keeping her grounded was the arm she kept tight to her chest.

Severus meanwhile, felt completely blank, blissfully so, the potion he had made was a wizard drug of choice and he was reaping the benefits through her. He had no shields, no doors, everything was flowing through his mind like a calm river. He could feel her's pressing against him, as sharp as a tac but he was able to simply bend around it, smoothing its edges.

Severus' mind drifted and he let his head fall back against her stomach. He really couldn't have cared if Voldemort himself suddenly bust through the wall wearing Santa Claus footie pajamas. The image spun into shape in his mind and he couldn't help but snort.

Hermione's eyes shot to his face as a goofy grin caterpillar-ed over his lips.

What?

He pressed the image against her conscious, jumping when she let out a sharp snort of her own hiding her face into his hand to hide her giggles.

That kicked off the start of a rather impressive display of imaginative talents. Each one more outrageous than the last, both of them were snickering softly as they shared their drug-induced illusions. Hermione had shifted closer resting her head in his palm.