Senses

Chapter 55

A new dawn was breaking; the golden light filtering in through the high windows casting heavy shadows over the chaos inside. Books, ancient scrolls, transfigured tables in every available space. In the center of the hurricane, laid over one another, were the cause of such disorganization.

Hermione had fallen asleep on her back, her legs still under the small floor table she'd been working at, while her arms laying in her lap, her head laying on the legs of the man who had joined her in the search for answers. Severus was sat in a chair at a higher table, his legs stretched out in front of him while his own head rested on his palm, held up in place over the book he'd been hunched over reading.

A small sliver of light cut across Hermione's face causing her to groan deeply and roll her head away. The awkward position of their sleeping arrangement aggravating more than her present injury. It had been a long while since she'd woken up and felt as though even the hair on her head hurt. All she wanted at that moment was to curl into a deep warm bath and never come out. She had no idea when she'd fallen asleep but she could tell by the weight in her limbs that it wasn't nearly enough.

"Sev...verus?" Her tongue was sticky on her pallet as she rolled her head along his shin to try and blink the dark clothed man into focus. From her angle, he still appeared to be reading but her lack of response told her otherwise. A deep groan pushed her wild hair back from her face and she pulled herself off of his leg where she was sure the seam of his slacks had left an imprint on her face.

For two days they'd been looking into anything and everything they could in regards to the creation, protection, and design of Gringotts. Trying to find a way that was even somewhat possible for getting inside and out without being detected. Thus far, they'd only managed to lose sleep and forget meals.

Another deep groan pulled her up to her feet but the stitch in her side kept her from standing fully. The awkward way she'd fallen asleep had not been kind to her in the slightest and she used the table he was sitting at to brace herself as her sleep-fogged mind came into focus.

"Severus?" Her hand moved to his arm and he jumped, sitting straight-backed though his eyes didn't open straight away, "It's just me..."

Severus sneered but not at her, his own body was strongly protesting his lack of care in the time that had passed. When his eyes managed to open they were heavily reddened and shadowed, "What time is it?"

"Early? I don't know...we need a bath..." Hermione let her hand drag back down onto the table, "I'll run it...you want to clear me a path?"

A low groan brought his hand up to his eyes, rubbing away the thick sleep that sat in the corners. His free hand waved blindly at the mess around them sending it all into neat stacks. Another soft noise pulled his hand from his eyes and he opened them just in time to see her retreating towards the bathroom.

Today was the day that Draco was set to go on his first hunt. His first chance to draw real blood. He had no idea why they had chosen the Lovegoods, perhaps the Dark Lord saw them as an easy target, perhaps Mr. Lovegood had broken his promise to stop printing positive things about Harry Poter. He didn't know.

All he did know was that he had to do something on both sides. He knew Granger would easily best all those in the hunting party, possibly even take their lives. An action, a path that would fully cement her onto the Dark Lord's watch list and raise even more questions on his loyalty.

He believed he had a plan, for both of them. He just hoped it wouldn't kill him before it was time.

A slow breath brought him up to his feet and towards the bathroom. As much as he didn't want to share the bath he knew that even a cauldron filled with potions wouldn't get him moving without it. It also saw to serve him for another purpose. His need to get Granger out of the way for the day. His heart was still torn on the proper path but time had run out and he had to do something.