Longing for Lethe

Longing for Lethe

By: pandorabox82

AKA: Steph

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. I am not anywhere near JKR’s writing style because I am not her. I just happen to be borrowing her characters for a little bit so I can get this story out of me. Don’t sue, because I am a typical college student, and have nothing.

Author's Note: Okay, so I have one more chapter in me right now. But this one really is the last for some time. I really love this story, it's just Petunia calls to me right now. There's something about redemption and what I can do with her that speaks to my inner writer. So, here is Chapter 5, in which Severus read Shakespeare to Hermione (for those of you with the "When Love Speaks" cd, it's track #9, the one where Rufus Wainwright sings.), Ginny gets suspicious, Hermione finds out what game the teachers have been playing, Sibyll and Hermione grow closer, and Hermione ends up in a lot of pain. Enjoy chapter 5. Oh, yes, I must congratulate kiwi_pixie in picking up on the "On a Pale Horse" reference in the first chapter. 20 points to your house!

Severus knocked lightly on the infirmary door. 'Maybe if she doesn't hear me, I can just tell Albus that Miss Granger was asleep when I went.' However, Poppy was ready for him to come and opened the door with a smile.

"Good evening, Severus. You can go right in and see her. I must warn you, however, that she's not in the best of moods. She doesn't handle pain very well, and today's session was quite painful."

"Thank you, Poppy," he replied as he glided past her into the infirmary. As he slipped into Hermione's little area, her head popped up from the book she'd been reading. He quickly noticed her puffy, red-rimmed eyes, and the still damp tracks of tears that had run down her face.

"Oh, you came. I'd thought you weren't going to."

"I always keep my promises, Miss Granger."

"I'll remember that, Sir."

"So, what are you reading?"

"I'm trying to translate this passage into English. I hate Latin!"

"What's giving you trouble?"

"This passage right here." She pointed to the paragraph she'd bracketed as she handed him the book.

He took the book from her hands, and sat on the edge of her bed. As he read through the passage, he gave a slight, soft glimmer of a laugh. "Let me guess, this is from Filius, isn't it?"

"Yes, how'd you know?"

"Only he would assign a charm like this. Do you have a piece of parchment, so I can copy it down in English for you?"

She handed him the piece of parchment she'd been writing on, with part of the paragraph translated. "I couldn't get any further than this," she said.

Taking the parchment from her hand, he looked it over, and cocked an eyebrow. "Not bad, Miss Granger. High Latin is very difficult to translate." As he wrote down the paragraph, Hermione pulled out a slim volume, and began to read, watching him write above the top of her book. When he'd finished, he slipped the parchment inside her book and set it on the table by the other things her teachers had brought. "I'll bring some Potions work with me tomorrow that you can work on. What are you reading now?"

"A collection of some of Shakespeare's sonnets. Mum thought I'd enjoy them. Would you read one for me? I've not the voice to read Shakespeare aloud."

"Which one?"

"Sonnet twenty-nine, please," she replied as she handed him the book.

He turned to the twenty-ninth sonnet and began to read. "When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,/I all alone beweep my outcast state,/And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,/And look upon myself and curse my fate,/Wishing me like one more rich in hope,/Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,/Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,/With what I most enjoy contented least,/Yet in these thoughts my self almost despising,/Haply I think on thee, and then my state,/Like to the lark at break of day arising/From sullen earth sings hymns at heaven's gate,/For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,/That then I scorn to change my state with kings."

"Thank you, Professor. I've always wanted to hear that one read."

He gave her a troubled look before asking, "May I borrow this for the evening?"

"Go ahead. I have all my favorites memorised anway."

"We still have fifteen minutes. Is there anything you wish to discuss?"

Hermione thought for a moment before replying. "Well, there is my Transfiguration assignment."

"What about it?"

"Professor McGonagall wants me to turn that thing in the box into a German Schloss, but I have no idea what a Schloss is, and Madam Pomfrey doesn't speak German so she has no idea either."

"She wants you to turn it into a castle, specifically, a German one."

"Oh, right. I'll see if Harry or Ron can't bring me a book on them tomorrow. Well, since I can't think of anything else to say, I release you for the night. I expect to see you tomorrow, with my book in hand."

"I wouldn't dream of missing it, Miss Granger. Before I go, however, there is one more thing I must ask you. Do you remember anything more about the night of your accident?"

Almost at once, the panicked look filled her eyes. "No, I can't say that I do, Sir."

Deciding to leave it at that, though he knew that she knew more than she was saying, he said, "Then I bid you good evening and I will see you around this time tomorrow as well." He swept from the room, and as soon as he was gone from her, she began to cry.

'I can't tell him the truth. He'd never believe me, at least not right now. Maybe when he trusts me more, maybe then,' she thought as sleep descended upon her, blotting out the world around her.

The next day, right after breakfast, Harry and Ron went to see Hermione. They were soon joined by Neville and Ginny, who'd once more brought flowers. The five sat around talking for an hour about what was going on in school, and getting Hermione caught up on the latest gossip.

"'Mione, did you see Snape last night?"

"Why would you ask, Ron?"

"Well, Harry and I saw him leave dinner early last night, and head for the infirmary. We thought you might have heard something or seen something."

"He was here for a little bit, but left too soon. Ron, Harry, I need a book on German castles. Do you think you could go to the library and find one for me?"

"Sure, 'Mione, we'll bring it tomorrow. What do you need that for, though?"

"McGongall wants me to transfigure whatever is in that box into a German castle. I'm not supposed to open the box until I know what I want it to look like."

Glancing at the time, Ginny exclaimed, "Boys, Professor Snape is not going to be very happy with you! Your Potions class started five minutes ago!" All three looked at her with fear in their eyes.

"Please, say you're joking, Gin!" Ron stammered.

"She's not, look at the time. 'Mione, we have to go now. Ron and I will stop by tomorrow with that book you need." Harry stated. All three trooped out of the room at a fast walk. Hermione and Ginny looked at each other and burst out laughing as soon as the boys were out of earshot.

"Did you see the look on Ron's face when Harry told him I wasn't joking?"

"Yes, that was quite funny wasn't it?"

Just then, Madam Pomfrey popped her head in. "Hermione, Professor Trelawney is here again. Should I send her in?"

"Yes, please do." Ginny threw Hermione a questioning glance to which Hermione smiled.

A few moments later, Sibyll Trelawney glided into the room, the scent of lavender and patchouli heavily in the air. "So, did it go well last night?" was the first thing she asked.

"Yes, it went well. We stayed purely on school topics, but I did get him to read Shakespeare to me."

"Really? What did he read?"

"Sonnet twenty-nine. He has a beautiful voice for Shakespeare."

Ginny felt as though she were caught in the middle of a ball toss, watching the ball travel from one set of hands to another, and then back again. Finally unable to take the suspense, she cried, "Who in the world are you two talking about?"

Both Sibyll and Hermione turned their heads to look at her, but it was Hermione who spoke. "Ginny, we were talking about no one special, don't worry about it. Shouldn't you be going as well? You know Professor McGonagall cannot abide tardiness."

"Right, well, I'll see you later, 'Mione. Bye, Professor Trelawney," Ginny replied, giving Hermione a calculating stare before exiting the room.

Hermione let loose the breath she'd been holding in a sigh. "I've got to be more careful. They can’t know yet that he comes to see me each night."

"Whyever not, m'dear?"

"Well, because it will most likely scare him away. If Ginny found out, Ron would soon know. From Ron, it'd go to Harry, Lavender, and Parvati. Soon, the whole school would know!"

"The whole school will know. Ron and Harry already suspect something's going on with Severus, and now Ginny's suspicious of you. If you had planned on keeping this a secret, you're at the wrong school. Besides, the entire staff knows. Why do you think you've gotten such weird work while you've been here?"

"You mean, the staff is setting us up?"

"Yes, they're encouraging Fate along. Usually not the best thing to do, yet in this case, it seems to be helping. So, how is your Arithmancy class coming? I used to be quite good at it, but I've gotten a little rusty at it. Been a long while since I used it."

"It's going well, but could you help me out with something?"

"Sure, I'm glad to be of service."

They talked away the better part of the morning, and Hermione finished the first assignment off the stack. Soon, it was noon, and Sibyll was leaving to grab a bite to eat before her class started. The next few hours passed quickly, with Hermione getting short visits from everyone she knew. She even received an owl from Mrs Weasley, wishing her a speedy recovery. All too soon, however, came the time for her therapy.

'If it's anything like yesterday, I shall go mad,' Hermione thought as Madam Pomfrey bustled in.

"Today, we're going to get you on your feet," she said as she levitated Hermione over to her side. Setting her down in a chair, Madam Pomfrey proceeded to conjure up a thick fluffy rug for in case Hermione fell. Taking Hermione's hands in hers, Madam Pomfrey pulled her up so her full weight was on her legs.

The pain, though much, was not so great as it had been yesterday. Tears still stung her eyes, but she was determined to make this work. She managed to take a few steps before getting tired, and accio-ing her chair to her, she sat down.

"Now, now, we can't quit just yet."

"I'm not quitting, I'm resting. There's a difference," Hermione grumbled as she struggled to get back to her feet. Slowly, she took two more steps before the pain overwhelmed her, and she collapsed into a heap on the floor. Poppy levitated her into her bed, deciding it was better to let her rest. She was still unconscious was Severus came that evening.