Addicted to You

XII

Hermione was snapped out of her snooze. After she had managed to get Snape back to bed again, she had hoped the exhaustion of the whole day would make him drift off to sleep soon and she might be able to catch a wink too. But the withdrawal process had also hit him with insomnia, or perhaps it was the uncomfortable feeling of running a mild fever that left him unable to retire in a peaceful slumber. She had stayed up most of the night in the chaise close to his bed, checking his forehead every now and then, as a result of which she was only able to take a nap in the early hours of morning.

From that too, she was rudely awakened by Snape, who was still finding it hard to get into a position that was comfortable enough for his complaining body. The whole night he had tossed and turned, pulling on the blanket and throwing it off since at times he was too hot and at times too cold. His whole body was so aggravated that every little sound vexed him, but when he saw Hermione's sleeping face, he had to fight the urge to tell her off. He was pushed to the extreme when even her respiration sounded like the striking of a hammer in his head and he couldn't help but voice his annoyance.

"Can you stop...breathing?"

"Air goes in, air goes out. That's normal." She sat up to stretch and yawn. Her back was sore from the upholstered perch but she tried and kept the irritation out of her voice. "Isn't that how it's supposed to happen?"

"Yes, but I can practically hear your nose whistling."

Hermione thought about retorting, but then stopped herself.

"I'm sorry." he sheepishly said, "Not that I...want you to stop breathing."

She smiled. "It's okay. You're supposed to feel like crap. You're doing great, considering..."

"What? My usual crappy nature?" He rolled his eyes.

"Opioid dependency can make you think you have more pain than you really have." she reassured, "You're going to be okay."

"You're telling me what I want to hear. With no evidence."

"I'm telling you what I believe to be true."

"With no evidence."

"You're hardly the most unbiased observer."

"Neither are you." He suddenly raised his head to look at her, as if just now having a realization himself. "Did you happen to have a little chat with your old head of the house?"

Hermione looked up puzzled, but he believed he had struck the right cord.

"At the wedding? You talked to Minerva about me, didn't you? She might have told you she needs better staff for her precious school and a neat little idea popped into your head. You are here protecting her asset. Oh, how very altruistic of you..."

She frowned. "Is that why you think I'm here?"

"That is why you're here." he insisted. "You're trying to get me all better to make me go back to my job at the school. That's why you're lying to me-"

"I'm not." She got up annoyed. "Look, I don't have the will nor the energy to argue with you first thing in the morning, but I can tell you something- I haven't ever lied to you. Not about this, nor about anything else."

He snorted condescendingly, "Sure you have...All those times of you and your friends strutting about the castle, breaking the rules. I remember you crossing paths with me on more than one occasion. You must have lied your way through some sticky situation that I was unable to figure out at the time-"

"I haven't ever lied to you." She repeated more firmly. "Ever. Not to you."

His mockery was cut short by the intensity with which she stared at him. She was steadfast in her assertion and he could say nothing more in disparagement. His derision had made her indignant and she decided to leave the room.