Sleep
“I want to try something,” Hermione said as she opened the door to Professor Snape’s private room at St.Mungos.
“Miss Granger, how many times do I have to tell you to go home?” he asked exasperated.
“Shh..." she said, waving her hand and Severus thought not for the first time that the little witch wouldn't be quite so cheeky with him if he wasn't bedbound since the snake attack.
She pulled a book from a small beaded bag that should not have been able to hold such a large tome.
Severus eyed her incredulously. What was she up to now?
“Hypnosis!“ she blurted out, unable to hold her excitement any longer.
He waited silently knowing the witch would fill in the silence with an explanation.
She approached the bed, shoving the book on his lap.
“I can use this-” she opened her palm, a large gold medallion attached to a chain swung between them. “to put you under hypnosis and you are in a suggestible state, I'll simply instruct you to sleep.”
He could tell by the way she rocked back and forth on her heels and looked at him expectantly that she awaited some kind of praise from him.
“Another quack idea,” he muttered. The healers had tried everything. From potions to muggle sleep medicine to no avail.
It was as if his constant need to be alert during his years as a spy had permanently altered his ability to sleep more than thirty minutes at the time.
Minerva had found him unconscious from exhaust on the floor of his lab three weeks prior and he was admitted to St.Mungos.
The diagnostic charms had indicated that unless he regained the ability to sleep soon, he would be at risk for permanent brain damage.
And of course, his little chit of an apprentice had made it her new mission to find a way to cure him. As if she knew better than an entire team of dedicated healers.
She poked him in the arm with her pointy little finger, not even batting an eye as he glared at her.
"Just lay down, professor. Let me try. What do you have to risk?” she asked, looking at him pointedly.
He grunted, taking the heavy book off his stomach and depositing it on the table by his bedside. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction of admitting it couldn't hurt but he laid his head on the pillow nonetheless.
“Now, follow the medallion with your eyes,” she said, lifting the golden circle so that it would be in front of his face.
With a small movement of her wrist, she moved the chain in a movement akin to a pendulum, swinging it back and forth.
After a moment, the wizard's eyes seemed to become more unfocused and his permanent scowl morphed into a more neutral expression.
Hermione grinned to herself.
The theory behind medical hypnosis was that the patient subconsciously knew what their body needed and only needed to be encouraged to get there.
“You're feeling entirely calm and relaxed. Your body knows what's best for you.”
Her voice was calm as she directed his thoughts in the way the book had suggested.
“You know what you need. Don't fight it.”
The wizard nodded and his lips curled into a small smile.
He seemed more peaceful than Hermione had ever seen him before.
“Yes, very good professor. Now close your eyes and just let it happen.”
Hermione palmed the medallion as she watched Severus close his eyes. She was very busy with her apprenticeship but maybe she could find the time to write a paper about the benefits of medical hypnosis.
Busy thinking about the best way to get published in a medical journal, she missed the hand extending towards her face.
“Oh,” was all she had the time to utter before the wizard pulled her to him, crashing his mouth upon hers.
She felt her professor smile against her lips.
“Not fighting it,” he said in that sleepy voice before releasing her.
Hermione’s fingers pressed against her lips.
The wizard currently sound asleep in front of her had kissed her.
Professor Snape had kissed her!
Professor Snape was asleep!
Hermione pumped her fist in
the air silently proud of herself despite the blush colouring her cheeks.