After Minerva had excused herself, and Snape had returned his beloved chair to it's original design, the day had dragged onward. Snape felt himself unsure of what exactly to do at with the girl who at present laid against the lounge staring out the window. He knew she couldn't actually see the beautiful front lawn but it did give him some sort of comfort that she was at least looking away from him.

She wasn't strong enough mentally or physically to brave another trip inside her mind, nor to let him go searching himself. It left him at an impasse, he had to wait until she was strong again before he could seek out the demon who threatened her life even now.

After his shower, he'd managed to put himself back to rights, the return of his beloved frock coat had set him a bit at ease as he was able to layer himself back up. The potions sent from Madame Pomfrey aided in his headache and fatigue relief.

He had made them a light lunch of broccoli soup and soft bread. It had been a difficult and trying process to get Hermione to even try it. She had worn his patience thin before finally turning her head towards him and taking a small sip. He'd put her soup in a cup, not wanting to have to spoon feed a blind woman and risk making a mess. She managed a full three sips before she very rudely pushed his hand away turning her head from him. He had growled at her and she snarled back at him. It was a very interesting trade of territory marking.

To which he relented with a deep sigh setting it on a table he'd moved next to her transfigured chair. He promised to try again later to which the witch turned her back on him. It now sat hours cold as he turned a page in the book he was researching, a spark of inspiration having lured him onto a new path.

She seemed deeply lost in her thoughts, until mid afternoon when she expressed her extreme boredom. She had begged him for something to occupy her mind. So there they sat, the sun waning behind the trees. Severus had his research text open on his lap as he softly read to her. It was dry and very technical material but he had watched a soft smile come to her face as she absorbed the information. He had forgone any attempt at small talk when he paused between passages taking down notes. She waited patiently for the scratching of his pen to cease knowing he'd pick up again where he'd left off.

Hermione hadn't meant to be so cold to her care taker. In fact, she was mostly terrified that he'd realized she had slipped into his dream and knew that it was her who stood before him. Her fears kept her from trying to be too friendly to him. Though she very much wanted to hug him tight and swear to him that everything would be okay. That despite this new pit of despair, she was eternally grateful to be out of her former prison. She knew better of it.

She knew such useless words would be wasted on a man of his character. That he didn't need words but actions. She had spent the better part of the day just trying to think on how she could show the man her gratitude. When he had tried to feed her, she hadn't meant to push him away but her stomach had resisted most painfully and she didn't want to throw up all over everything.

Her back had started pulsing softly with a dull pain, from the top of her neck down to her tail bone. It had made it nearly impossible to get comfortable on the chair but she had tried her best, choosing to keep her face away from him so he wouldn't pick up on her discomfort.

Her mind drifted a bit as she felt fatigue wearing at her waking mind She shifted slightly letting out a small sound of pain as her back protested the movement.

The noise instantly caught Severus' attention and he looked over the brim of his book pausing softly before finishing the sentence he was on. His eyes narrowed, she was still faced away from him, the blanket having fallen to her deeply curved waist, the tank top she was wearing showed the top of her back and he didn't miss the ripple of a muscle near her neck that her hair attempted to obscure.

He sat up more straight in his chair watching as she attempted to keep herself from curling up. Strong girl. He thought idly to himself before closing the book.

"Miss Granger." He said deeply, watching as she tried to still herself but her back still rippled with the cramping muscles. She didn't respond to him, too busy holding her tongue. He sighed heavily through his nose and stood walking away from her to the kitchen.

Hermione couldn't resist turning her head trying to follow the sound of his steps as they moved away from her. She let out the breath she'd been holding and a soft whimper as she wiped at her eyes. There was some shuffling before she heard his footsteps again. The lounge she was laying on started to shift causing her to squeak and hold onto the edge as it stretched itself back flat. She turned her head, eyes wide and searching for his form.

What was he doing!? She reached out blindly as a small panic welled inside her. Not being able to see him, even though she knew he meant no harm, was still a very disconcerting circumstance as the man was very limited in his narration.

"You're in pain." He said a bit of an edge to his slowly spoken words. Her hand almost touched him but he side stepped it carefully. "You can't hide from me." He stayed just out of her reach holding a jar of salve.

Hermione whimpered softly at his words and pulled her hand back. "I'm fine." She pushed out turning to stare down at the lounge. She was partially on her side trying to hold herself up on her elbow her legs turned awkwardly.

He took a calming breath as he waited for her to realize what he was planning to do. It was then he heard it again, softly brushing against his shields.

I'm in so much pain.

He swallowed slowly, narrowing his eyes, watching the girl struggle to keep herself propped up. He pushed his own thought back towards her mostly as a test, Roll onto your stomach. Now.

Hermione's eyes widened and her head jerked towards his general direction. She heard him as clear as if he'd spoken in the air between them. Her white eyes moved around the room as she tried to assess what they'd just done.

You...you can hear me? She thought timidly.

As clear as day. Now, do as I say. Lest you wish for me to help in the endeavor. He smirked to himself as the realization washed over her pale face. Yes, he was not an ignorant man, he had known the little chit had slipped into his dream. Though it wasn't until just recently that he had realized the girl had actually sought him out.

Hermione paused slightly before swallowing. She gritted her teeth before carefully untwisting her legs and shiftes herself onto her stomach. Her arms curled in at her sides, her chin nestled over her fingertips. She heard him move around the side of the lounge and a slight scrapping of wood on wood as he must have moved his chair closer. She squirmed a bit as she felt the ties on her shirt magically wiggling free from their knots. She held her breath as the back of her shirt was pulled away. She felt dreadfully exposed and couldn't help but shiver. She closed her eyes and hid her face into her knuckles.

Severus noted instantly the girl's reaction and realized his own fear and uneasiness of the situation must have been wafting over to her. He took a moment to completely shut down his walls, feeling the little wisp disappear from between them and watched as she relaxed just a bit.

He took a fair amount of muscle relaxant salve, courtesy of Hogwarts Hospital Wing, onto his fingers before leaning over her. He started at her neck pushing away the hairs that had freed themselves from her braid during the day before starting to slowly massage small circles along the curse line.

Hermione's face tried to relax, her breath coming out in soft controlled puffs as the magic tingled along her skin.

It hurts. She thought loudly, hoping to reach out but only found her thought rebounding back at her. She hid her face farther into her hand keeping her jaw set to forbid any sound from escaping.

Severus was completely focused on his task, his eyes watching her breaths raise and fall under his fingers. The bumps of her spine were less visible now but he could still feel them rolling under his fingers as he moved. The muscles had started to slow their movements as he made it to the halfway mark.

He pulled back to retrieve more salve when he looked to her face. A small tear was starting it's way down her cheek but she hastily swiped it away with her fingers burrowing her head down more. He pursed is lips as he carefully opened their connection again.

It hurts, it hurts so much! Why does something that's supposed to help me hurt so much?! Her thoughts were loud enough to echo through his own mind causing his heart to constrict.

He hadn't meant to bring her more pain, he had only sought to relieve it. He had checked the potion himself; it was properly made, by all rights it should have alleviated the pain. He saw it then, faintly against the crease of the scar. A blue spark of magic that sucked everything inward. It was stealing the magic inside the salve and hurting her in the process. His eyes narrowed and he couldn't stop a sneer from gracing his lips as he set the salve aside. He watched the blue sparks stop just where he had with the salve and looked towards her face once more. It was still mostly hidden in her hand and he couldn't help but feel guilt rising up inside him. Everything he'd done to help her, everything the healers had done was doing nothing but feeding the beast that had laid waste inside her.

He couldn't stop himself as he brought the back of his hand down towards her temple. An apologetic look on his features as he silenced their connection once more. He lightly pushed away stray strands trying to coax her face from behind her hand.

"I'm sorry." His voice was so gentle, so soft, anyone who would have heard it would have sworn it's owner to be under the control of the imperious curse. His words carried the weight of those who had gone well before him in her care. His hand continuing to gently glide across her temple.

Hermione had hesitated hearing those words before slowly she pulling her hand away, shifting her face more into his gentle touch. She closed her eyes, her long lashes brushing against his finger tips as he gently wiped away one of her fallen tears. She sniffled just a little before the hand she'd used to shield herself lightly brushed against his palm.

She wanted to hold his hand, it gave her comfort though the reason why she hadn't yet discovered. She hiccuped just a bit as she swallowed down her tears, the pain in her back had started to dissipate if only halfway. His hand started to pull back and she attempted to take hold of it but his fingers slipped through her own as he straightened himself up. He was sorry for so many things, she could feel it but her mind refused to focus on the swirling myriad. She made to shift before a hand kept her down by her shoulder. She felt the draw of clothe over her bare skin and the ties magically being wound together once more. Once that was finished the hand on her shoulder relented.

Hermione slowly turned as she was allowed to move again, her face searching. She reached out in front of her, her hand landing on his knee. It trailed up his thigh just a bit before raising up seeking out his chest. She had a most desperate look upon her face.

Severus couldn't help but watch the agony mirror his own. He didn't know what she wanted from him in that moment; he only watched her hand reach out towards him. Dangerously close to his face.

"Please..." She whispered softly, begging, "Hold me..." She inhaled a shaky breath as she continued to reach for him, a fresh swath of tears welling up in her eyes. For so long she had lived, day after day, feeling nothing but painful curse after painful curse. Her body and mind ravaged beyond recognition. Her mind left to nothingness as she woke to her new nightmare.

She was so tired of the pain, the ache of loneliness, the feeling of nothing but fire and darkness curling around her flesh. She just wanted something pure, and soothing. Something real.

"Please..." Her voice was barely a whisper as her hand started to fall, a choking sob shaking her frame.

Severus stopped her hand just as she started to pull it back to herself. His hand closing gently around her wrist as he pulled it back towards himself. He leaned down pulling the offered arm up to rest on his shoulder, to which she clung desperately to; her fingers grasping the fabric tightly. He wrapped his arms under her own as he pulled her from the lounge.

She was still rather easy to lift as he pulled her to his lap. Her legs moved a bit awkwardly as she tried to help him. Her arms wrapping around his shoulders easily enough while he adjusted her legs to sit over the arm of the chair, her body resting between his legs pressed lightly to his chest.

She nuzzled her head against his shoulder. She sat low against him, the top of her head resting just below his chin. Her arms had pulled back slightly, one resting in her lap while she clung to the others bicep, pulling it to wrap around her back. She closed her eyes tightly as she listened to his beating heart. Her tears fell silently as she took in his warmth. Even through all his layers of clothing she could feel it radiating from him. She shifted just a little pressing her nose against the seam of his coat, inhaling his scent; memorizing it. He was real. This was real. She told herself over and over.

Severus closed his eyes as he wrapped his arm gently around her. He rest the other lightly on the arm of the chair, his head leaned against the backrest. He watched her carefully unravel. All the pain, from the past five years started to flow through her, it was overwhelming. Flooding his own senses and pushing lightly against his shields. He felt her tears drop onto the hand that held her shoulder.

She made to shift more, pressing her chest more fully against his own. Her arm slipping out to the side resting between his hip and the chair. She clung gently to the front of his jacket having released his arm in the process. She curled her legs into the seat with them, pressing them against the arm and his thigh. She was small enough to fit both of them somewhat comfortably. Her shoulders trembled as she released a heart wrenching sob. No longer able to restrain her grief. He closed his eyes against the sound, his hand coming up to cradle the back of her head.

They stayed that way for a very long time. Nether one breaking the cleansing silence of understanding between them with useless words. Hermione's cries having worn her already weak frame down. Her head laid heavily against him, her arms folded between them in their laps, curled lightly around themselves. Her breathing had evened out to a slow steady rhythm indicative of sleep.

Severus himself had allowed her presence to relax his own reservations regarding their situation. His hand had released the braid he'd made in her hair letting the curls fall down her back. He's massaged the back of her head near the end, hoping to lull her into a much needed rest. With his success he had brought his own arm to dangle lightly at her hip. His other, still on the arm of the chair as he contemplated his next move.

He had no desire to sleep another night in his chair, as much loved as it was. He desperately missed his bed. He tilted his head down looking into her sleep relaxed visage. He was sure she would be out for a long time after the much needed cry and made his choice.

Carefully, he shifted her legs, slipping his arm under the crook of her knees. She did make a small noise shifting her head just a bit but otherwise didn't stir. He gave her a moment before wrapping his arms around her shoulders tucking his hand under her arm against her ribs. He kept her body angled towards him so her head wouldn't fall over his arm and he carefully stood up.

His legs protested the movement and he couldn't help but wince from their lack of circulation. He bent one then the other mindful to her shifting hands. One fell from her lap to dangle in the air in front of them. When she made no other protests, he started towards the stairs. He took them carefully, sighing heavily as he reached the landing with no further issues.

He entered the room he had prepared for her and very carefully laid her out on her side. He had known her back to be problematic from the beginning and didn't dare lay her flat. She made a small noise her hands opening and closing in front of her. He pulled an extra pillow from under her head and carefully placed it between her arms. Instantly, they wrapped around it, holding it tightly. Her legs curling her into a perfect little ball.

He paused just a little longer, to assure that she continued to rest. Once satisfied he pulled the blanket up around her, tucking it gently behind her back to help keep her in position before letting the front rest lightly over her. She let out a soft sigh and turned her head into the pillow relaxing into the softness of the bed.

He took a step back a yawn starting to overcome him. The mere temptation of sleep was already causing his body to prepare itself. He moved towards the door closing it softly. The door to the bathroom was open, it would provide him the perfect position to hear her should she wake, as his bed was far from the entrance door but rather close to the bathroom door. When he entered his room, he made sure to widen the opening to the bathroom door before starting to work off his coat. He divested himself of his layers in no time, pulling on some grey sleeping pants, forgoing a shirt as his meager supply had all been dirtied in the past few days and he'd been unable to wash them. He'd since returned the duvet to his bed and greedily crawled under it's warmth. He laid out on his stomach putting an arm under his pillow. He was out in seconds.