Touchstone

Touchstone

By Gin

Disclaimer: Rowling owns them, and I play with them...oh yes. I only hurt them if they ask, I swear. =D

A/N: This is my first shot at this kiddos, let me know stuff.

"Good morning Miss Granger."

Severus Snape stood nervously beside the bed staring down at the silent and slightly bruised figure lying unmoving. The sunlight was just starting to creep in when he had awoken with a stiff neck. He had rings around his eyes, and for him, he was pale- he was exhausted. And he was at a loss. Talk to her they said. About what? What do you say to an unresponsive person lying in, as far as they knew, a coma? First of all, he didn't just talk to people. And second, what possible good could he do? He made her this way, it was his fault she was like this, why on earth would she listen to him....

****

"NOO!!!"

"Get back you stupid little mudblood!"

*FLASH!!!* Green light lit up the room and a harsh gasp was heard as the body of Ron Weasley collapsed on the floor...

"Hermione! Move!"

"Harry no!" Harry Potter shoved a shocked Hermione out of the way as she desperately grabbed for her fallen friend. He shot off curses at the man, no, he was past that, at the thing that was Lord Voldemort. Severus closed his eyes as his former student had his life taken and stood silently in the shadows hidden, waiting for the right time to strike. As far as everyone knew, he was dead. No need to give it away so soon. Damn Weasley! Why did he have to play the valiant hero now?!....

****

He had sat at her bedside as long as she had been there. Teachers came and went to relieve him, at his orders of course. He was determined to be there when she awoke. He felt responsible. He had to let her know what had happened. Snape was knocked out of his reverie as a polite cough was heard from behind. He whirled to see a grave looking Albus Dumbledore in the doorway. Snape knew the man was old, even if he liked to pretend he wasn't, but...over the past few months Albus, his hero, had aged more than what should be allowed life. He stood still and waited for the Headmaster to speak.

"Thank you Severus for staying with her last night again. I've just spoken to Poppy. She doesn't know quite what to do; she says Hermione has energy levels higher than that of normal catatonic patients, but still no response. It's as if she's....locked herself up inside her mind. And I've no doubt you understand the seriousness of that." The Headmaster sighed and looked sympathetically at the younger man and cast his glance downwards before approaching the bed himself. Snape knew what the outcome could be. If the girl was already in that state, it would take nothing short of a miracle to bring her out of it....and he was afraid he knew no miracles, just as he didn't for his brother all those years ago. Snape also looked at the ground. He was tired. Gods was he tired. He had slept barely a wink since that night. What was it two nights ago? Three? He had lost count, but he didn't care anymore. He was numb; everyone was. The lives lost during the last stand against Voldemort had been tremendous, but they had won. He had seen people he knew, cared for even, die. Old students, Seamus Finnegan, Blaise Zabinni, contrary to popular opinion, Blaise was not a Death Eater, she was on the side of the Light, had always been, and she was a good woman, countless old acquaintances, Filius Flitwick. Losing Filius had been a blow to the whole school. Severus was actually quite fond of the tiny Charms teacher. He had fought bravely beside Dumbledore and lost his life. They all did. And yet he was alive, and standing next to a most likely lost and brilliant girl.

Dumbledore placed his wrinkled hand over Hermione's and stared. "She did not wake any last night I take it?" his eyes searching Severus'.

"No." Snape's face was blank and he looked back at the girl on the bed.

"I see." Dumbledore's eyes shone bright, but this time not his normal twinkle. If one ever wanted to know how Albus Dumbledore was feeling, all one need to do is look at his eyes. Normally twinkling, they were now silent. Instead they filled with tears as he gazed upon his tragic former student. "We haven't much time for her Severus. I'm afraid...." He trailed off. Hermione Granger was one of the most brilliant students Hogwarts had ever seen and she had always held a particular spot in his heart. Moments later Dumbledore straightened his back and looked at his broken friend standing on the other side of the hospital bed. "There may be one chance Severus.......and since, you could be possibly connected-"

"Albus no! I can't! Nothing I could ever do would help. Why would it?" Snape sunk back down into the uncomfortable chair he had been using as his bed for the past few nights. Waiting. He couldn't go inside her and see more pain, he couldn't take it. He'd had all he would endure for the last time. He raised a trembling hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. Another headache. Lovely.

Albus watched him. "Have you slept?" He eyed Snape worriedly.

"What do you think?" Snape sighed and began to massage his temples.

"Perhaps you should go to your rooms, eat something, try to get some rest and recover. See if you might reconsider. It could be our only hope. It can't hurt." He walked over to Snape and placed a warm hand on his shoulder. "We need you Severus. Please, don't give up. I can't bear it-" he bit off his sentence and straightened.

Snape closed his eyes. 'Gods, why me?' He opened them and looked at Hermione. He owed it to her to at least try to bring her back, although it might be kinder to let her go. But was it his decision? Snape slowly got up with one last tired glance at Hermione and left the room wandering down to his room in the dungeons to think.