Pneumonia I
Title: Pneumonia I
Team: Order of the Phoenix
Rating: all ages
Challenge: Common Cold/Sick in Bed Challenge
Characters: Severus, Hermione, Poppy
Word Count: 5 x 100
***HGSS***
The headmaster was approaching his chambers when a fierce bout of coughing echoed through the dungeon corridor. Severus followed the sound to its source and found himself at the doorway of the potions classroom. His deputy sat at the desk that used to be his, grading papers. “Professor Granger,” he said. She looked up. “Are you feeling all right?”
She blinked. “Yes, sir, of course.”
He gave her a look that plainly told her he didn’t believe her, but said nothing other than, “Good night, then.”
“Good night, Professor Snape.”
He left his old classroom and went to his chambers.
*
Two days later, Hermione was not early for their Wednesday morning meeting. At five minutes past their usual time, Severus became concerned. At fifteen past, he began to pace around his office. At twenty-five past, he summoned a house-elf.
The servant returned five minutes later. “Forgive the delay, Headmaster, sir,” the servant said, wringing his hands. “Toddy asked Professor Granger if all was well, but Professor Granger did not speak sense. Toddy went directly to Madam Pomfrey, and Madam Pomfrey is on her way to Professor Granger’s rooms.”
“Thank you, Toddy.” The house-elf disappeared, and Severus bolted for the door.
*
He hastened through the corridors as quickly as he could, without abandoning all decorum. He arrived at the door to his deputy’s suite and knocked.
A worried-looking Poppy opened the door. “Professor Snape,” she said. “Come in.”
He obeyed, following the matron into Hermione’s sitting room. Another door was open, but Severus could only see darkness beyond. “The house-elf told me that she is ill,” he said.
Poppy nodded. “I was just about to send for you, Severus. I believe she has pneumonia. Her fever is high.”
Snape pressed his lips together to hide his concern. “What can I do?”
*
“I need a potion for her, but my stores are running low.”
“Of course,” he replied. “What is it?” She named it, and he retreated to the infirmary. He shuffled through the nurse’s files until he found the formula.
Severus rushed down to the dungeons, where he ransacked Hermione’s private storeroom. He reflected on the irony - she’d raided his cupboard thirty years ago; now he was returning the favour - as he set various components on the counter. His hands shook as he brewed.
He tried not to think about what it meant, that Poppy wasn’t even trying Pepperup on Hermione.
*
Soon there was nothing to do but let the potion mature. It would have to sit undisturbed for twelve hours, before he could finish it.
Severus made his way through the cold, deserted halls to Hermione’s door. He raised his hand to knock again, but then he hesitated. He would have to take over her classes; he really didn’t have time to spend in a place where he could not be useful. Severus laid his hand on her door for a moment, then returned to his old office. He fell asleep reviewing her lesson plans, head pillowed on his arms.
***HGSS***
Pneumonia II
Team: Order of the Phoenix
Rating: all ages
Challenge: Common Cold/Sick in Bed Challenge
Characters: Severus, Hermione, Poppy
Word Count: 5 x 100
***HGSS***
The headmaster was approaching his chambers when a fierce bout of coughing echoed through the dungeon corridor. Severus followed the sound to its source and found himself at the doorway of the potions classroom. His deputy sat at the desk that used to be his, grading papers. “Professor Granger,” he said. She looked up. “Are you feeling all right?”
She blinked. “Yes, sir, of course.”
He gave her a look that plainly told her he didn’t believe her, but said nothing other than, “Good night, then.”
“Good night, Professor Snape.”
He left his old classroom and went to his chambers.
*
Two days later, Hermione was not early for their Wednesday morning meeting. At five minutes past their usual time, Severus became concerned. At fifteen past, he began to pace around his office. At twenty-five past, he summoned a house-elf.
The servant returned five minutes later. “Forgive the delay, Headmaster, sir,” the servant said, wringing his hands. “Toddy asked Professor Granger if all was well, but Professor Granger did not speak sense. Toddy went directly to Madam Pomfrey, and Madam Pomfrey is on her way to Professor Granger’s rooms.”
“Thank you, Toddy.” The house-elf disappeared, and Severus bolted for the door.
*
He hastened through the corridors as quickly as he could, without abandoning all decorum. He arrived at the door to his deputy’s suite and knocked.
A worried-looking Poppy opened the door. “Professor Snape,” she said. “Come in.”
He obeyed, following the matron into Hermione’s sitting room. Another door was open, but Severus could only see darkness beyond. “The house-elf told me that she is ill,” he said.
Poppy nodded. “I was just about to send for you, Severus. I believe she has pneumonia. Her fever is high.”
Snape pressed his lips together to hide his concern. “What can I do?”
*
“I need a potion for her, but my stores are running low.”
“Of course,” he replied. “What is it?” She named it, and he retreated to the infirmary. He shuffled through the nurse’s files until he found the formula.
Severus rushed down to the dungeons, where he ransacked Hermione’s private storeroom. He reflected on the irony - she’d raided his cupboard thirty years ago; now he was returning the favour - as he set various components on the counter. His hands shook as he brewed.
He tried not to think about what it meant, that Poppy wasn’t even trying Pepperup on Hermione.
*
Soon there was nothing to do but let the potion mature. It would have to sit undisturbed for twelve hours, before he could finish it.
Severus made his way through the cold, deserted halls to Hermione’s door. He raised his hand to knock again, but then he hesitated. He would have to take over her classes; he really didn’t have time to spend in a place where he could not be useful. Severus laid his hand on her door for a moment, then returned to his old office. He fell asleep reviewing her lesson plans, head pillowed on his arms.
***HGSS***
Pneumonia II