Corrupt

Corrupt

Chapter Four

Rivalry and Chivalry

Quietly closing the door to the Hogwart's Hospital Wing, Severus took a rare pause to think about what he had just witnessed. His best student, 17 year old Hermione Granger, drank a potion he knew to be diluted and safe– and collapsed, nearly comatose, onto the floor. A series of thoughts flew through his mind, but he couldn't quite piece them together. He knew she'd been careful, hers was probably the most accurate of all potions created today, since she always tried to one-up her classmates as though it were a competition.

Her screams...fire, she screamed fire...and said she couldn't see. Was that a vision? Had she seen flames and not been able to see through them...or were her eyes burning? He would have to speak to her when she felt up to it- the difference in symptoms meant the difference between real and potential danger, and whether an elixir would save her from this suffering. If she'd seen fire, then it very well could mean the potion worked- and given her level of accuracy, she may have detected a presence in the room of someone whose guilt was such that flames erupted from his image. But if she had felt

fire in her eyes, then this was the work of an interaction that included a spell or charm that had been cast upon her- knowingly or otherwise- that affected her vision. That didn't narrow things down much, but it made his search a bit more specific, targeting incantations that affected images portrayed by others- what she saw of them.

In his very depths, Snape feared for her life. He, Lucious Malfoy, and Draco were death-eaters, side by side with Voldemort, though all at different levels. Each knew the dangers presented to themselves and others, but Lucious was maliciously close to Voldemort- always in agreement and ready and willing to do anything for him. Snape kept tabs on Potter for Voldemort, recruiting death-eaters, but not openly plotting against anyone the way Lucious would. Draco was caught in a web he wouldn't escape until he was older and ready to decide what he would do with his life. Right now, all he could do was watch and obey. Snape knew this, and never pressed Draco as much as he would anyone else. When he expressed concern over Hermione's contact with Harry, he knew exactly what Draco was implying might happen, and the nervous, scared look in the boy's eyes was fresh in his mind.

Snape continued to run the scenario in his mind while he walked back into the classroom. There was a huddled group of girls in tears, a mass of boys dumbfounded and shocked, and then the frozen bodies of Draco and Harry in the center of it all.

"She is recovering with constant supervision, and there is nothing to worry about. Has anyone else felt anything remotely similar to what Miss Granger experienced? A burning sensation? Loss of vision? Temporary dizziness?" Snape needed answers, and the collective opinion of ‘no' spoke volumes. The entire class could not have been that far off with their potions that they all would have missed an image of flames. That relieved the professor somewhat- there was no immediate threat in her, or their, vicinity.

With another Latin murmur, Draco collapsed next to Harry as they broke out of their mold. Both had time to cool off, but Snape wasn't taking any chances. He deducted 10 points from their respective houses for fighting in class; though it should have been more, he recognized that it was on the girl's behalf, and not over a juvenile issue like a date.

Class ended quickly, and the subdued students proceeded to their next classes- except Draco.

"It was an interaction with something. I've read this before, I don't know where but I have- I know it. I can't remember what spell it is exactly that was cast on Hermione, but the book said that if another spell affecting perception was used with it, the result was a burning sensation from the eyes! It doubles the clouded vision, and corrupts eye-sight- I don't remember if it was temporary or permanent, but I know it was severe. Enough for her to pass out anyway," the Slytherin was beginning to panic. He knew Hermione well enough to know she didn't frivolously use potions and the such, which meant someone had done this to her with full intention of harming her. He was praying it was a joke, but when he looked up at his professor, he wasn't met with the comfort he'd hoped for.

"I suspected as much- and I know of several spells that do exactly as you have described. Since she tends to stay mostly in the common room, I want you to observe all the Slytherin students she comes into contact with today and tomorrow. Rumors will circulate, and I want to see if anyone seems particularly concerned, that shouldn't be. Note anything out of sorts, and report it to me immediately. I'll ask Raven-claw and Huffle-puff prefects to do like-wise, not telling them everything, but making them aware that a jokester is in our midst." Snape didn't want to worry Draco any further by implying this was done intentionally, though he had no doubts of his own now that it was.

"Fine," he agreed as he made his way to the door. Turning, he added, "and Professor? I wouldn't ignore Gryffindor either. Potter's naive about Hermione- he thinks the danger she faces is as a muggle, he doesn't equate it as being a muggle in Slytherin that's the real danger." Draco left an amused Snape standing near the curtained window, in the glow of a candle. He knew Malfoy was smart, but sometimes it took him by surprise how cautious he was such matters. Gryffindor would be watched- closely- especially Harry Potter. A muggle that evaded The Dark One, near the only muggle in Slytherin, being protected by the son of the most powerful agents of Voldemort was a powerful brew for trouble- one with worse consequences than even Severus could imagine.

"I believe I've had this pleasure before, Severus."

Snape faced the figure at the door

HG~HG~HG~HG~HG~HG~HG

The iced body of Hermione Granger was enveloped in blankets, and her eyelids were draped in damp cloths. The nurses bustled about the Hospital Wing gathering books and herbs, instruments and water. The trip to this building had been a long one, how long of a lapse between her consumption of the potion and her arrival may have had an impact on how quickly they could revive her- if it could be done at all now.

"Stabilize her temperature. Her eyelids are a blistering red- keep them moist and try to cool them, apply a slight but firm pressure..there now...you'll wake up soon," soothingly commanded a student nurse. The entire nursing staff was known for their attentive nature and calming mannerism towards students- in a place like this, such behavior was greatly necessary and appreciated. She was not concerned with Hermione's condition- her pulse rate was strong, and she believed the shock of losing her vision was what caused her to collapse. She wasn't totally sure, because the girl still wasn't responsive, but she had confidence in her own judgment.

Madam Pomfrey agreed, "she'll be up soon. The redness is fading- we just need to know what food she's eaten, or physical ailments she was experiencing before class, just to be on the safe side. There, there now sweetheart, small sips, tiny sips.." she coaxed, while dripping water onto Hermione's pale, dry lips. She stirred, enough to move her lips and invite the cool liquid into her mouth, where it rolled, welcome, into the back of her parched throat.

Hermione breathed a heavy sigh. Startled, she attempted to get up, but fell back again. She could make out figures in the light, but the images were slurred, and it made her sick to look at them. She closed her eyes again, relieved to be alive and taken care of. She felt safe here, nestled in blankets and away from everything else in the castle.

The nurses continued to keep close tabs on her. She answered their questions as best she could, but it didn't help much. She'd eaten toast and berries, with a bit of pumpkin juice, all of which she had gotten on her own. She felt fine all day- though for the past week she'd been apprehensive about

everything around her. Maybe the increased stress level? But Hermione was always worrying about something- tests, homework, Draco's protectiveness, Harry's protectiveness. She'd wanted to be left alone, and their constant attentions felt harassing. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Rustling was heard outside of the door, signaling the end of classes and the rush to new locations in the building. The nurses were attempting to contact Professor Snape, in hopes that what she had described would help in the creation of an elixir she could drink to regain her vision and strength. They sent a student to his room to retrieve him, but she came back alone, saying he had locked his room. They sent her again to try his office.

"Darling, are you feeling well enough to return to class, or would you prefer to rest here for a while?" It was no secret Hermione would be in a rush to return to classes, but to their surprise, she refused.

"I'm still shaking, I feel- funny. Like a burden has been lifted off of me, but at the same time, I feel like I should be more tense... or perhaps I'm just so weak it feels good to be lying down. I don't know anymore, I just want to sleep and pretend I was home," she responded drowsily.

The nurses curtained off her bed and shook their heads. She felt relieved, and didn't want to be? The shock must not have worn off yet.

"His office was empty, as were his chambers. He has a prep period right now, so he may have just locked the door for privacy," remarked the student, who returned alone- again. They agreed that it wasn't an immediate concern to find Snape, and chose to try again in an hour.