“beyond wandpoint” 018 by gingerbred

[beyondwandpoint]

“11 08e Saturday - Denial”

Hermione, Poppy, Albus

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Originally Published: 2017-11-21 on AO3
Chapter: 018

Pairing: Hermione Granger / Severus Snape
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con

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Poppy's quite sure she doesn't know what to think. Albus has just spotted Mr. Potter leaving, and is off to speak to her young patient now, and she's still frozen, sitting at her desk in stunned silence for a number of heartbeats. She feels like she's been Confunded. Immobulused and Confunded.

That does not happen often. Poppy is generally quite unflappable.

She's not at all sure how Miss Granger will take what he has to say. Shooting up from her seat at that thought, she rushes from the room and bustles past Albus mumbling something about needing to check on Severus. She disappears into the back room, closing the door behind her.

A wave of her wand renders the wall see-through again from her side, and she turns to watch the Headmaster approaching Miss Granger. She wonders why she finds herself thinking of a predator stalking its prey. She's sure she doesn't know.

She can't hear anything they're saying, and she's reasonably certain even if she had some kind of charm for that, it wouldn't matter because Albus must surely be using a Privacy Charm for this sort of thing. She wonders if her wards will be able to tell if Miss Granger calls for her.

She bloody well hopes so.

They should supersede everything in the Infirmary. But she's not sure how they'll fare against Albus, and particularly not as he's the Headmaster. That really does make a good deal of difference.

Oh, Merlin.

She's in such a state as she watches the two in the next room, she absently sinks to sitting on Severus' bed. There are still two chairs in the little room, and she's taken neither. That's not like her. She just sits there on the bed next to him with Severus at her back, regularly making unconscious 'Oh, dear', 'Poor lamb', 'Merlin help us' and the occasional 'Oh, Severus' noises.

Some or all of that registers with him in some fashion, as a scan would clearly show. Unfortunately, she's too distracted to even think of performing one.

Her hand goes out to close on his arm and she sits there holding it, stroking it as though to console him. To comfort him in the face of... He's probably fortunate to still be unconscious. She snorts at herself in derision. A coma is hardly good fortune, and he can't stay like this forever. He'll wake, and then what? Escape his certain fate? Naturally, because Severus is the soul of luck. She squeezes his arm just at the thought and lets out a few more half sighed 'Oh, Severus's.

That's not a good sign.


He keeps sawing, sawing at her bonds, he never stops... He vanishes the blood, heals her lip, repairs her clothing, but she keeps reappearing over and over again in that chair and safety eludes them...


She can't believe what Albus is suggesting.

Bonding.

It was old-fashioned even when she was a girl, and Poppy feels old as time. Perhaps not quite as old as Albus, but still...

Bonding!

She can't recall ever even having been to a bonding ceremony. That's how rare it is. She's trying to think... Yes, when she was a small girl, she'd known an aged couple in Hogsmeade who were bonded. Merlin. Rare indeed.

She stops to think about how she had let the young woman sit here watching over Severus because he needs more people, more support in his life, and Poppy wonders if she's all that different to Albus. Of course she is. That's hardly on the same level as an irrevocable bond.

But then as he explained it, it's for the witch's protection, too. Poppy had seen the state of her last night. The abrasions. Their locations. The tattered top. It was all too apparent. She was clearly at risk, and yet none of Poppy's thoughts about letting Miss Granger express her gratitude towards Severus had been for the young woman's benefit. Except possibly to assuage her guilt at his current state. That was the extent of it and that hardly counts.

Poppy's concern had been for him. Granted, he warranted it. He was in far worse shape than the woman, and that regularly. But if she thinks about it in that light, Poppy is actually worse than Albus. At least Albus is trying to help them both with this plan.

Merlin, she really doesn't know what to think.

And as he pointed out, only last night she had begged, ordered him to come up with something. And here she now sits doubting. They need to do something. Could this really be the answer?

She just doesn't know...

It's probably a good thing then that she's not one of the people who has to decide.

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Albus puts on a good show. He's got two people to convince. Poppy is as transparent as her wall, there's no chance she isn't watching. He'd thought about asking Miss Granger to take another Oath not to discuss his suggestion, but he couldn't see how to mask the request as benign. Or remotely reasonable.

In view of the Oath she's already taken, he doesn't imagine she'll wish to discuss this with anyone unaware of the events of last night. She'd have no way to explain the danger she's in or the need for the bonding. The only likely candidate for her to speak with is Poppy, and Albus' talk with her sorted that.

Poppy had pleaded with him after all... Well she's now very much in the know and complicit. Or that's how she'll see it after the fact. It was simple, appeal to her concern for Severus and convince her this should keep both of them safe. Poppy will feel guilty that she hadn't been suitably concerned about the little witch. She really is too easy.

The little witch herself is a good deal more complicated...

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The Headmaster has left Hermione with a great deal to think about. Beyond bonding, what it actually even means, and does she wish to do it. And if so, with... him. Professor Snape.

That's certainly a daunting thought. She chews her lip just thinking about it. Rather a lot. And then some.

She sits there staring into space for a while, unsure what to make of it all.

Sensing just how out of sorts the young witch might be, Poppy appears at her side with two mugs in hand and extends one to her, gently enquiringly, "Tea?"

Hermione takes it with great relief.

It hasn't escaped Poppy that her patient seems to draw some comfort from reassuring herself that Severus is recovering. From the look of her pallor, she could use more comfort than the tea is liable to provide. She offhandedly suggests, "I was going to keep Severus company. Would you care to join me?"

And sure enough, the young woman responds eagerly, "Yes, thank you. I'd like that very much," and rises to follow her back into the private room.

A few flicks of her wand over her shoulder, and Poppy takes advantage of the witch's absence to make and freshen her bed, the coverlet folds together across its foot. There. Much better.

They retake their seats on either side of the still unconscious man. The Matron performs a few charms. Not everything she does has visible results, but Hermione can see she freshens his bedding and makes use of a Refreshing Charm on him, and then they sit, drinking their tea in silence for a time, each chasing her own thoughts. Poppy has decided not to volunteer any opinion on the matter the Headmaster discussed unless Miss Granger asks.

Hermione for her part isn't remotely sure how to speak of it, and doesn't. She feels like the Professor hasn't recovered from his last sacrifice on her behalf, and already a new one is being demanded of him. Or will be as soon as he wakes. That leaves her feeling like she's a burden, and she's far too uncomfortable to talk about it.

Instead, she asks, "You had said I might be able to help you?"

Poppy thinks that's an excellent solution. She's rather concerned about the witch's reaction to her talk with Albus. She's had quite enough shocks this weekend. Poppy intends to keep an eye on her for the next couple of hours. If Miss Granger hadn't come with her to sit by Severus, Poppy would have simply turned the wall see-through again. This is simpler.

She has only the two patients this weekend. Severus has seen to it that the Infirmary is well stocked. She's done inventory, everything is spotless and well organised... There is nothing for her to do but keep an eye on these two, and she plans to do just that and with a vengeance.

"Let's have some lunch first, and then if you'd like, I could show you how to perform a few basic care taking spells?" She asks, confident in the response.

And that's how they spend the next couple of hours. It begins with a General Diagnostic Charm. It doesn't reveal much. Miss Granger isn't a nurse or healer and wouldn't be able to use the spells restricted for their use, but it's a good basic spell, and a solid place to start.

Poppy demonstrates on Severus and permits the younger woman to see the results. By default only the caster and those the caster allows can see them, privacy is an issue after all. It shows the patient's size, weight, and general condition, both magically and physically. In the very broadest terms, it also tells you if they need something, like food, fluids or blood. It can't differentiate between Spattergroit and Dragon Pox, obviously, but it will tell you how ill a patient is.

Poppy is quite sure being able to perform that Charm on Severus will give the young woman great peace of mind. The way she stares at the green glow that indicates his magic is nearly recovered is proof enough.

"He's recovering nicely, Miss Granger." She points out the differences in the results and what to look for, and explains why it's very reassuring. "I think we can expect him to wake in the next couple of days. Maybe even tomorrow, with some luck. Soon he'll be storming about the castle as usual, believe me."

Hermione applies the Charm to herself again and again until she's sure she's mastered it. Then Madam Pomfrey volunteers as a test subject. Almost a little shyly, Hermione swishes her wand as taught and voices the incantation, Discerno. The Matron, it would seem, is in excellent health. The green and blue nimbuses indicating magical and physical wellbeing glow strong and steady, but Hermione can't help raising her eyebrows at the Mediwitch's weight.

Poppy laughs. The young woman really can't disguise a single thought. "I wear it well," she quips.

But the Charm worked as it should, it's showing the results clearly and accurately, and Miss Granger has learned it quite quickly. She's known nursing students who needed a week to master it. Worse, she's worked with some of them.

"Nicely done," she compliments the younger witch's spell work, and then asks, "Would you like to try it on him?"

She needn't have asked.

Poppy knows the minute she leaves the room, Miss Granger is going to cast the spell on him and leave it just as long as she can hold it. Well, if it gives her some kind of comfort, why not? The Charm works as it should, and Hermione finds herself again staring at the results that show the Professor's magic is almost back to normal. The halo is large and a strong, deep green. Hers is a good deal smaller and lighter by comparison. His current physical condition however leaves much to be desired.

The spell provides her with a sense that he's generally in good shape. She can see the differences as she cast it on each of them, and she's pleased to note her casting of the spell shows the results almost as plainly as the Matron's. It helps that it isn't a complicated Charm. By tomorrow morning, she'll have mastered it to the extent that there's no discernible difference between their readings.

The Professor is nominally in the best shape. She herself is in good condition. The Matron... well she's probably in quite good shape for her age. And then it indicates the current condition absolutely and compared to that baseline. Clearly, he's actually in the worst shape of the three of them, but she hadn't needed a spell to know that. The coma was a bit of a giveaway.

From there they progress to the Charms the Matron had performed on her only that morning. A Cleaning Charm for her clothes, related to the Scourgify, a Cleansing Charm to clean a person, a modification of the Tergeo, and a Dentifricium Charm to clean her teeth. That was completely new. Again, Hermione practises. She doesn't stop until she has a firm grip on all of them. Her gums sting by the time she has the hang of the Dentifricium - she may have performed it a good bit more often in a row than is recommended. But the Matron can't fault the witch's dedication.

When she very clearly has it managed, Poppy nods her head towards Severus and tells her, "Well, go on then." When Hermione hesitates, she prods her again, "Just don't tell anyone." Silently she adds to herself, 'especially not him'. The younger witch can scarcely contain herself, she's practically vibrating with excitement. It amuses Poppy greatly to watch.

Poppy has genuinely enjoyed teaching Miss Granger these things this afternoon. It occurs to her that it's something missing in her dealings with Nurse Wainscott, the woman simply has no desire to learn. In fact, she'd far rather stand around gossiping than improve her skills, and Poppy is forced to acknowledge that her assistant will never be able to take over Poppy's job unless she changes markedly. It's unlikely.

She's trying to decide as she watches Miss Granger work the Charm, where the source of the young witch's pleasure in it lies. Is she that happy to have learnt something new, to help someone, or to help Severus, specifically? Probably, possibly, definitely. And if the latter, which it clearly is, is it helping him that affects her so, or having him at her mercy.

She's not judging. Much. She could certainly understand the impulse. He's usually so imposing. It must make a difference to have him defenceless at the tip of your wand. She asks herself if that isn't a component in her own attentive care of the man when he's unconscious. She prefers to couch that as 'maintenance', catching up on all the things she can't do when he's awake. And his usual irascible self.

A Tempus on her wand chimes and Poppy summons some potions. She hands Miss Granger her Calming Draught and again pours Severus' potions down his throat. Strengthening Potion, a Restorative, an Antispasmodic, Nutritive Potions... Comatose, he's nearly as easy to manage as Miss Granger. "It's gotten rather late," she points out to the young woman. "Would you care to join me for an early supper?" Miss Granger's glance and blush would indicate she's thinking of the Matron's waistline. Cheeky monkey. Poppy gives her a wry smile.

Hermione realises with surprise just how hungry she is. The work had kept her mind off it. That and other things. She readily agrees, and the Matron calls for Polly, a house elf, and asks her to get them two dinner trays. Soon the witches are enjoying their meals. It helps, greatly, that it isn't the usual Infirmary fare, but what the Mediwitch herself eats from the Great Hall.

The Matron asks her how her studies are going. Hermione tells her a little about some of the things she's learning at the moment. It's inconsequential stuff, avoiding the topics in the back of both of their minds.

As they finish their meals, Hermione takes the opportunity thank the Mediwitch again for the clothing she'd provided and compliment her on the beautiful top. It really does suit Hermione nicely. She asks Madam Pomfrey how she managed to tailor it so accurately.

The older witch chuckles and tells her, "It's a variation on the Discerno you were practising earlier. It provides the measurements, from there it's simply a bit of careful Transfigurations work."

She unpins the handkerchief from her apron and demonstrates the technique. It's soon turned into another top. "That's a little rough, you see here," she points to the neckline. Sure enough, Hermione can see that the lace doesn't quite line up like it does in the top she's currently wearing. The fit, however, she can tell just by looking now, would probably be ideal.

The Matron waves her wand again and returns the cloth to its original state. "Now if you take it more slowly," she does it again, more slowly this time, "you can direct the cloth, a bit here, some more there, what's used where, and... voilà!" Five, ten minutes at the most and once again, a beautiful top lies before them. Having spotted the disappointment when she ended the Incantation before, the Matron asks her, "Would you like it?" Hermione's grin answers that. "Well what colour then?"

They experiment a little more and opt for a deep burgundy. "I could show you that, too, if you'd like."

"I'm not keeping you from anything?" Hermione can't believe her luck. The Matron has been incredibly patient, and she's learnt quite a bit today. It's more than just how to perform a spell, Hermione learns those from books often enough, instead the Mediwitch is actually taking the time to explain to her why some things work and others don't. She's enjoying this immensely. She looks at her Professor a little guiltily. If he weren't lying there, in that state, this would have been a very nice afternoon.

"No, not at all. This is quite enjoyable. I don't know when I last took the time to make some clothes. I had forgotten what fun it is. Most of the magic I do is about setting things to rights. It's nice to just make something." Hermione can see what she means.

The Matron summons two more pieces of cloth, another handkerchief and what looks like a doily. She gives Hermione the simpler handkerchief and keeps the doily for herself, and demonstrating the technique as she goes, the women spend the next half an hour transfiguring until two more tops are finished. Hermione's is comparatively simple, but after several false starts and with slow and cautious work, she was able to make a perfectly passable result. It had made all the difference having someone with a practiced eye tell her where she was going wrong and why, though.

The top the Matron made is absolutely gorgeous. Thanks largely to the original material, it looks like it was made entirely of Venetian lace, strategically lined of course, and Hermione thinks it will look absolutely stunning on her. It doesn't seem like the sort of thing to wear to Madam Puddifoot's, however. To the enquiry for the colour, in a flash of inspiration, Hermione asks for a dark purple this time, thinking the Muggle-born badge will be less noticeable on the top. It would be a shame to detract from its beauty.

The Matron hands it to her with a simple, "I thought you might find yourself wanting something nice to wear," and suddenly Hermione understands what she must have been thinking. She blushes as her eyes move to the Professor between them, and she only just manages to intelligibly mumble her thanks.

"Well, I should get going." The Matron rises and summons another Calming Draught which she hands the younger witch, Hermione stands to take it, mirroring her. "Take this before you go to bed, and if you need anything else, call for me or Polly."

Hermione still hasn't quite found the courage to ask Madam Pomfrey what she thinks about the bonding, but she does manage to find enough to ask, "Would it be alright if I spent the night keeping watch again."

"You should probably get some sleep..." Poppy begins to object but sees that it's useless. However given Severus is now in a private room, she's really not sure about the seemliness of that. "It's highly irregular, Miss Granger. I'm not sure that it's proper." Which is rubbish. It isn't proper; it might be understandable.

Hermione finally finds the strength to ask, "Do you know what Professor Dumbledore has proposed to have us do?" Poppy simply nods, still firmly biting her tongue on the topic. "Then where's the impropriety in that? As the Headmaster would have it, we're practically betrothed."

"Well, I'm sure Severus will have a thing or two to say about that."

"Oh, I'm sure he'll have plenty to say about it as well. But will any of it make a difference?" Her nervousness is clear, but the woman has a surprisingly good read on the situation. Madam Pomfrey sinks her head slightly at that. The answer, naturally, is 'no'. Albus usually gets his way.

"I'll just watch," the young witch promises her. "I won't even cast any Charms on him without permission."

"The Discerno is perfectly acceptable. It won't affect him in the least," Poppy answers almost automatically. "Fine, if you insist, I guess that would be satisfactory." She thinks about it a little more and decides to assign the young woman a chore, as though she were on duty and here for a reason. Somehow that makes her feel better about it.

"I can show you the Freshening Charm for the bedding." It proves to be a variant on the Cleaning Charm, it cleans the bedding and then tucks the patient in. Hermione soon has that under her belt as well. "You can perform those two Charms at will, the others only under my supervision. We're agreed?"

"Absolutely, Madam Pomfrey," she answers with an eager smile. "Thank you for taking the time to teach me so much today."

"Not at all, Miss Granger. As I said, I quite enjoyed it." She's hesitating, uncertain about something and not quite willing to leave.

Hermione seizes the moment to ask the Matron something that's been puzzling her for a little while. Gesturing at the Professor lying between them and nodding in the direction of the main room, she asks "Why did he put me in that bed?"

He'd crossed the Infirmary and placed her in the second to last bed. She might have understood the last bed, as an instinctive thing, furthest from the door. She'd have understood the first bed, or the one closest to or furthest from the Floo or the Matron's office. Any of those she could have understood, but with all the beds to choose from, not the second to last.

Poppy smiles gently, looks at Severus and then at Miss Granger. She thinks for a moment if she should answer the question honestly or at all. She wouldn't want the witch to read anything into it, especially in light of what the Headmaster is suggesting, and yet... "Maybe it's force of habit. Keep in mind, he wasn't doing all that well after all, but the last bed is his. Has been since he was a student. If he isn't back here, he's there."

And he had placed her next to him. Hermione stands there quietly, blinking as she thinks about it. "Then maybe he won't mind me sitting here keeping watch over him after all."

There's something to it.

With a final nod, the Matron summons the young woman's blanket from the main room, hands it to her and wishes her a good night.