Chapter 14
I felt so tired. My limbs felt as heavy as lead. There was a throbbing pain in my neck that spread out to the rest of my body in waves.
I swallowed and felt relieved when that only hurt a little.
"Miss Granger?" a distorted voice reached my ears.
I wanted to reply- but I was so tired. Cool fingers brushed over my heated forehead, momentarily easing the pain. I sighed in relief and turned my head, trying to increase the contact to that person.
The hand on my forehead stilled for a moment.
"Miss Granger?"
"Hmm?" I mumbled.
A hand pressed into my back, forcing me into a seating position.
"Lemme sleep," I slurred, trying to open my eyes. I got a glimpse of Professor Snape bending over me, before my eyes fell back shut again.
"You need to stay awake so your body can fight off the venom."
Vampires inject a venom when they bite. It induces arousal and can remain in the victim's body for several hours, my brain began to recite.
I groaned and forced to open my eyes, although the movement caused a headache to explode in my brain. My eyes had troubles focusing on anything, they kept rolling around in my ahead.
Professor Snape placed his hands on my cheeks, holding my head in place as he peered into my eyes. The headache faded instantly.
"Can you hear me?" he said seriously.
I managed a weak nod.
"What did I say?"
"What did I say?" I repeated dazedly, having trouble pronouncing the words correctly. My eyes locked with the black eyes gazing into mine and I felt the fuzziness in my head clear.
My memories returned a moment after.
"Did it work?" I whispered, instinctively lifting a hand to my throat. Something had been wrapped around it.
Professor Snape inclined his head slightly. "Not as you had planned, but yes. Your presence is- easier to tolerate now."
I had to smile weakly. "That's good."
The wizard slowly let go of me and helped me sit back against soft pillows. I was in his living room once again, on the couch where I had woken up once before. The moment his hands left my skin, the throbbing continued.
I bent over with a gasp, feeling as if I had suddenly gotten a fever.
Professor Snape bent forward again, gently pressing me back. "Are you in pain?"
I nodded my head, then shook it as the ache in my body subsided.
"It helps," I said tiredly and my head lolled to the side against a pillow.
"What helps?" he questioned me.
"Touch," I mumbled softly, feeling my eyes slide shut.
Professor Snape remained silent, but his hands did not leave my shoulders.
"Your body is naturally reacting to the venom," he said finally, "it makes you want to return to the one who bit you."
Aha. I didn't give a shit. I just wanted to sleep. Preferably without the pain.
I heard Professor Snape sigh. "I apologize, for once again putting you through pain," he said quietly. His hands moved and slid under my body, slowly lifting me up. I barely registered that he kept me in his arms as he took a seat on the couch, so I was pressed against his back.
It felt soothing to be in his arms, and even if I would have had an exam to study for, I wouldn't have left.
Before I fell asleep, my lips curved into a weak smile. It seemed that finally, after weeks, we were back to where we were before the werewolf incident.
Severus' P.O.V.:
Several hours passed before Miss Granger moved again. Several hours, during which I had plenty of time to think.
Once I had tasted her blood, it was as if my brain had been switched off. I had never tasted anything like it before. It was like- liquid gold.
I remembered nothing until I felt Miss Granger's knee hit me between my legs. I had not felt any pain- her blood had blocked everything out- but it had snapped me back to my senses to a point where I was able to let go of her.
Miss Granger's wound stopped bleeding after a simple episkey, but the pain would need longer to fade.
She had been very lucky. If she hadn't-
I groaned and rubbed with a hand over my face.
Miss Granger's plan had worked. The hunger for her blood was still there, but a fragment compared to what it was before. That would make things a lot easier from now on, the question was- how long would this last?
I was not stupid to believe that the vampire inside me would miraculously stop wanting the witch's blood. It was very likely that after a few weeks- everything would be as before.
I leaned my head back against the couch. That would be an interesting conversation. There was no doubt Miss Granger would not be happy upon discovering she was becoming my personal blood tank-
She's surprised you before, a voice said.
That was something I had to agree with.
Miss Granger was, without a doubt, the craziest- and most amazing witch I had ever met. Her Gryffindor courage, her intelligence, her kindness and her cunningness, made her one of the few students who combined all four houses in them.
Said witch stirred slightly. With a content sigh, she snuggled into my arms, pressing her face into the crook of my neck. Her warm breath tickled my skin.
I raised an eyebrow. True, the relationship between Miss Granger and I was more than that the usual between a teacher and an apprentice. We were perhaps something that could be called friends.
But this- was a little too familiar for my taste.
The only reason I remained still was because I knew it was my fault that Miss Granger was in pain. And that was something that bothered me more than I realized.
When Miss Granger awoke, I quickly shifted her in my arms and lifted her off me, placing her beside me on the couch in a seating position. I kept my hand on her shoulder, but made sure to maintain a distance between us.
She yawned, then blinked sleepily at me.
"How do you feel?" I asked seriously.
"Good," said Miss Granger and gave me a tired smile.
I lifted my hand. "And now?"
The witch thought for a moment. "Still good."
I relaxed slightly. My eyes found the white bandage around her neck.
"That can come off later," I said and gestured at it.
Miss Granger slowly lifted a hand to touch it, then nodded. "Thank you."
I exhaled sharply through my nose. "Miss Granger, I should be thanking you. There are not many who would do something as reckless as you did."
The witch dared to give me a provoking smile. "I'm the embodiment of recklessness," she said and suppressed a yawn.
"You, the Golden Girl of Gryffindor?" I said, feeling my lips quirk upward.
"You mean Golden Swan of Gryffindor," replied Miss Granger with a giggle. She rubbed her eyes. "How long did I sleep?"
"It's past eight."
"What?" said Miss Granger shocked. Her eyes darted to the dark window. "Harry and Ron will be worried about me- and the moon!"
"Poppy informed your friends that you had a panic attack about an exam question you forgot to answer, and that you will sleep it off in the Hospital Wing," I said smoothly. "As for the moonrise, you have thirty minutes left."
Miss Granger stilled and narrowed her eyes at me. "You're joking, sir," she said sharply.
"On the contrary."
Lifting her finger as if to chastise me, the witch said, "I do not get panic attacks about an unanswered exam question."
I merely raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, maybe a little fit," Miss Granger relented and lowered her hand, "but it's not that bad." She groaned and rubbed over her face. Then she looked back at me.
"When do you need my blood again, sir?" she said bluntly.
Only years of practice kept me from letting surprise cross my face. "So you figured it out," I stated plainly.
Miss Granger nodded. "You said earlier that my presence is 'tolerable', so I'm assuming that in a few weeks that will change again?"
I gave her a curt nod. "You are required to remain at Hogwarts over the summer for your apprenticeship, Miss Granger. And-" it took me a moment to say this, "-I would appreciate it, if-"
A nod from Miss Granger caused me to fall silent. "Of course, sir. That way, we can actually work in the same room." A smirk appeared on her face. "Being your private blood supply is only a small price to pay."
"If it comforts you, your subconscious decided earlier to misuse me as a teddy bear," I said dryly.
As expected, Miss Granger's face turned a bright red. "At least I'm not sucking you dry," she retorted. "I can't imagine what your blood would taste like."
"Surely better than yours," I said smoothly.
Miss Granger grinned and leaned toward me. "Oh? So my blood isn't- enticing anymore?"
My eyes darkened when her scent reached my nose. However, unlike before, it did not stir the urge in me to bite her. Not yet.
"Careful, Miss Granger," I growled in my deep baritone voice. "You don't want what happened earlier to- repeat."
"True," said Miss Granger and straightened back up. "I wouldn't be much of a help in the lab, then." She got up from the couch and I rose with her.
"Thank you for- letting me sleep," she said gratefully and slowly pulled the bandage off her neck. When her hair fell back, I saw two small marks on her neck- where I had bitten her.
"It will take a few days for that to fade," I spoke and waved my hand, casting a non-verbal charm. The marks disappeared instantly.
"Oh," said Miss Granger and turned her head to look at her neck. "Thank you, sir."
I motioned to a door behind her.
"That door will take you outside."
"Okay." She started towards the door and threw a glance at me over her shoulder.
"Er- good night, sir."
I nodded slightly. "Good night, Miss Granger."
Once the door clicked shut, I turned to head to head out of my quarters. I had a conversation with Minerva to finish.
Not bothering to knock, I strode into the Headmistress' office.
"Severus," said the older witch and looked up, her spectacles perched on her nose. "If this is about earlier-"
"I'll do it," I said and turned around to leave.
Minerva leapt up in surprise. "That is wonderful! What on earth changed your mind?"
"Had a bite," I said dryly, knowing fully well she would misinterpret it.
"Well, now that you have a full stomach, we can discuss when you'll be leaving."
Minerva sat back down and motioned for me to do the same.
As we began planning the details, I had to think of my conversation with her this morning.
"The ingredients Miss Granger needs are not found in Britain, nor are they purchasable here," I said and paced back and forth in the large office. "She'll need to put her apprenticeship on hold until she has finished brewing the potion against her- condition."
I ignored the pang in my chest at the thought of her leaving.
"Did you tell her yet?" Minerva asked seriously.
I shook my head. "I wanted to wait until I was sure there was no other option."
Minerva pursed her lips. "Someone needs to accompany her."
"Perhaps Potter," I sneered and turned to leave.
"Or you."
I stopped dead in my tracks. "Excuse me?" I snarled and whirled around.
"You heard me." Minerva calmly took off her glasses and began to polish them, now looking more than ever like a female version of Abus Dumbledore.
"And how do you expect this to work?" I said bitingly. "That I travel the world with my potions laboratory in my suitcase?"
"You can contact Mr. Scamander. I heard he is quite proficient with that spell."
"Minerva- I have a job here!" My eyes narrowed. "You cannot expect me to leave the castle with no competent replacement!"
"Horace Slughorn agreed to temporarily end his retirement." Minerva sighed and put her glassed back on. "He is demanding an outraging salary, but- he is the only one we've got."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "You already planned ahead."
"Of course. I had an inkling this would happen."
"More like you had a conversation with someone," I sneered and glanced at the sleeping Albus Dumbledore in his portrait.
I couldn't do it. I already had enough difficulties walking through the castle with Granger's scent everywhere. How was I supposed to travel with her?
"If you accompany Hermione, you can continue to tutor her," Minerva continued and gazed at me. "Please, think about this Severus."
I scowled at her. "No." With billowing robes, I whirled around and strode out of the office.
I couldn't risk it.
Well, now that wouldn't be a problem anymore.