The Burning Pen

A Looping of the Scales by Ruth Solomon

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence.  Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately.  You are not welcome here.  The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

CHAPTER 64

All recognizable characters belong to JKR. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 64 ~ Meals and Deals

The next morning, Hermione loaded up her books and went straight to the infirmary to see Severus. She hadn’t slept well the night before, the Chimera attack playing and replaying in her head, as well as Snape’s words:

I would die for you.

She entered the infirmary and heard Poppy saying, “Severus, you have to eat in order to heal up properly. Now, open your mouth!”

This was followed by silence, then an exasperated sigh from the mediwitch.

”Severus, you might not have your memories, but this stubbornness is a definite carry-over from your former life. I had difficulty feeding you gruel then as well.”

”I don’t need memories, Madam Pomfrey. It’s instinct that won’t let me open my mouth for that swill again. Self-preservation at its finest.”

”Severus Snape, you open your mouth right now or I swear I’ll use an Unforgivable on you!”

Hermione stopped in front of the privacy curtain.

”Madam Pomfrey,” she called.

Poppy, who was seated next to Snape’s cot waving a spoon full of gray gruel over the tight-lipped wizard, looked at the privacy curtain.

”Who is it?” she asked with irritation.

”Hermione Granger. I was hoping to have a short visit with Severus.”

Poppy scowled at Snape.

”I shouldn’t let you see anyone,” she snapped at him. “You are still the most difficult patient I’ve ever had to deal with, no matter how old you are.”

Snape’s black eyes rested on her stonily. He wasn’t going to eat that gruel without a fight. Poppy sighed.

”Come in, Miss Granger. Perhaps you can get him to eat,” the mediwitch said.

Hermione drew back the curtain as Poppy rose and pushed the bowl of gruel and spoon into her hand.

”Sit down and see what you can do,” Poppy said, frowning slightly.

Hermione set the bowl and spoon on the little stand next to Snape’s cot, took off her knapsack, then picked it up again and sat down near the bed. Snape looked at the bowl in her hand then at her face. Hermione saw the terrible scratches on his face had healed nicely and were only thin, smooth reddish lines now. There wouldn’t be any scarring. That was good.

”I won’t eat that, Hermione. It’s is worse than any potion I’ve ever tasted,” Snape declared.

Hermione shook her head.

”That can’t be true, Severus. There are some potions that are absolutely vile,” she told him. “They taste awful.”

”At least they have a taste. This doesn’t. It just has a—a feel. And a nasty one at that. I want something with flavor. Like a few bangers and toast. Maybe some sliced tomatoes.”

Poppy, who was still standing there, looked absolutely scandalized.

”You can’t eat that kind of food in your condition! You’ll get irritated bowels!” the mediwitch hissed.

“I’m willing to take the chance,” Snape replied.

”Poppy’s right, Severus. You’re still on the mend. She knows what she’s talking about. Now, be reasonable. Eat your gruel.”

”No,” Snape said petulantly.

Hermione looked at Poppy.

”Could—could I talk to him alone, Madam Pomfrey?” she asked the mediwitch.

”If you think you can get him to eat, then yes, I’ll go. I have to restock my stores. I want that gruel gone by the time I come back, Severus—or else!”

Poppy exited the area with a bit of attitude, tossing the black curtain back angrily.

”This isn’t an infirmary. It’s a house of torture,” Snape muttered, then looked at Hermione. “I didn’t expect to see you this morning. Isn’t this little visit cutting into your study time?”

”I wanted to see how you were doing,” Hermione said, dipping the spoon into the bowl.

”You see how I’m doing. I’m being starved to death,” he griped, turning his head slightly as she brought the food closer.

”Severus, I want you to eat this gruel right now. How are you going to get better if you don’t eat?”

”I will eat. Just not that,” he said stubbornly.

Hermione sighed, then brightened. Maybe she could use his words against me.

”Last night, you told me you would die for me,” she said softly. “Surely, you’ll eat a bit of gruel to live for me, won’t you?”

Snape frowned at her, then wrestled himself up on his elbows, Hermione’s expression becoming worried.

”Don’t, Severus! You’re going to strain yourself,” she chided him as he slowly sat up, wincing slightly.

”Eating that gruel is worse than death,” he told Hermione, who nearly smirked. “But, I will eat it for a kiss.”

Both of Hermione’s eyebrows rose.

”Severus, how can you think about kissing at a time like this? You’re supposed to be focused on getting well.”

”A kiss will do wonders for my condition, I assure you, Hermione. That’s the only way I’ll eat that—that dreck.”

“Only one kiss and you have to eat the whole bowl,” Hermione bartered.

Snape made a face, but nodded.

“All right,” Hermione said, setting the bowl on the stand, then pursing her lips and leaning forward.

Snape caught the back of her head and kissed her hungrily, his soft lips capturing hers and suckling on them sensually. Hermione felt his desire flow over her. Even injured, Severus was so—so seductive.

”Miss Granger!” a shrill voice exclaimed.

Hermione jerked back from Severus and looked to see Poppy standing inside the privacy curtain with her hands on her hips.

Oh, Merlin. Not again.

“I left my clipboard,” the mediwitch said. “It’s a good thing I came back. Honestly, he’s not up to such—activity.”

Snape tried to look as innocent and guileless as possible.

”He told me he’d eat the entire bowl of gruel for a kiss,” Hermione said, her cheeks bright crimson. “I thought it was a fair exchange. We do want him to eat after all.”

”Did you make that offer, Severus?” Poppy asked him.

Snape shrugged assent.

”Well, I would have kissed you if that’s what it takes to make you eat,” Poppy responded, her eyes twinkling as Snape make a small face and Hermione looked incredulous.

”No offense, but it wouldn’t be the same, Madam Pomfrey,” Snape said. “Believe me.”

Poppy laughed.

”No, I imagine it wouldn’t be,” the mediwitch agreed. “But I witnessed the kiss, and so expect all of that gruel to be finished when I return.”

She picked up a clipboard that rested on the other empty cot and started to leave. She looked back at Hermione.

”You have quite the bedside manner, Miss Granger,” she said with a smirk. “You might want to consider entering the Healing field.

Then she exited, leaving them alone.

Hermione turned back to Snape, who was smirking at her. She purposely picked up the bowl.

“It seems Madam Pomfrey believes you could treat your patients lips-on,” the wizard purred.

Hermione dug the spoon into the gruel and brought it up heaped with the gray, gritty porridge. She leveled it right in front of Snape’s face. He went a little cross-eyed looking at it.

”Open,” Hermione said imperiously.

Snape grimaced, then slowly opened his mouth. Hermione shoved the spoon into it making sure he got every bit of it. He swallowed thickly, disgust on his pale face.

”Can I have some water to force it down with?”

Hermione wore an expression of rather malicious glee at his discomfort. She was going to enjoy this.

”Yes, after you finish. Now, open.”

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“Hi Harry. Hi, Ginny,” Susan called as she and Ron emerged from the dungeons the same time Harry and Ginny walked down the marble staircase.

”Hi Susan,” Ginny said with a smile as all four of them met up.

”Ah, hi Susan,” Harry said, not looking at the witch directly.

”Too bad we can’t all eat breakfast together,” Ron complained. “I think the houses should be allowed to mingle in the Great Hall. Maybe we should start a petition or something.”

”Ron, you aren’t going to change centuries of tradition just because you’re going out with someone from another house. You’re just going to be told to make other arrangements to eat together,” Ginny told her brother as Susan smiled at him.

”It’s a sweet thought, Ron,” she said, and Ron smiled back at her.

”I’m glad someone appreciates my ideas,” he said witheringly to Ginny, who just shook her head.

”Come on, Susan. I’ll walk you to your table,” Ron said, solicitously opening the door to the Great Hall for his girlfriend. Susan said goodbye and walked through. Ginny immediately turned to Harry.

”Harry, what’s wrong with you?” she asked him. “Last night you shot right by me in the common room, saying you had a stomach ache. This morning you’re hardly talking to me or anyone. Are you still sick?”

”No. Not exactly sick, Ginny. Just—just squicked.”

”Squicked? About what?”

”I saw something last night I shouldn’t have seen,” he said quietly.

Ginny’s eyebrows rose. She knew he had planned to spy on Snape and Hermione. Did he see the Chimera attack? It was all around the school that Snape had fought off three Chimeras trying to save Hermione.

”What? Did you see the bloody attack on Snape?” Ginny asked him.

Harry blinked. “No, I didn’t see it because I didn’t find them. I waited in the Room of Requirement for them to show up, but they didn’t show. Someone else did. And the room wouldn’t let me out because I had instructed it to keep me hidden until whoever entered finished and left.”

”Really?” Ginny said, totally intrigued. “So, who came in if it wasn’t Snape and Hermione?”

”Can we go outside? I need some air,” Harry said, turning slightly green.

”All right.”

Harry and Ginny walked outside and stood on the stone landing. No one else was outside. Harry breathed in deeply, regaining a bit of healthy color.

Ginny watched him for a minute, then said, “All right—who and what did you see in the ROR?”

Harry looked at her miserably.

”Susan and Ron.”

Ginny just blinked at him for a few seconds, then said one word.

”Ew!”

”That about covers it,” Harry agreed.

Ginny continued to stare at him, shaking her head slightly.

”I told you not to spy on Hermione,” she said. “It serves you right.”

Harry looked at her incredulously.

”No one deserves that kind of punishment, Ginny, I’m telling you. It was—disturbing. Worse than disturbing. I got sick, really sick. I had to go to the infirmary and get stomach calmer. Then, when I came back to Gryffindor, Ron told me about it all, in detail. It was like a narration to the pictures in my head. I got sick three more times through the night. I even dreamed about it.”

Harry stuck out his tongue as if he’d tasted something extremely nasty.

Ginny couldn’t help laughing, which didn’t improve Harry’s mood at all.

”It still serves you right. But I have to ask, you didn’t find them shagging at least a little hot?” Ginny pressed him.

Ginny had a bit of voyeur in her. She probably wouldn’t want to see her brother shagging, but still—she wouldn’t mind watching two people going at it.

“No! Maybe if all they did was shag, it could have been kind of hot, but your brother—Ginny—something’s wrong with him,” Harry said, shaking his head. “Terribly wrong.”

”What? Why? What did he do?” Ginny asked Harry, curious now.

”I don’t want to talk about it,” Harry said, greening again.

”Oh come on. You can’t make a statement like that and not tell me why, Harry!”

”No. I want to keep my breakfast down, Ginny.”

”Harry Potter, you tell me what happened and right now.”

”No!”

Harry and Ginny walked back into the school, arguing.

There was no way Harry was going to go through Ron and Susan’s shagging session a third time. Not even for Ginny.

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Snape lay in the infirmary, his body throbbing as it healed. His back was particularly achy and he lay on his side. Poppy had already dosed him with pain potion, but couldn’t give him any more at the moment. If she fed him too much, it would lose its potency and not work at all.

He’d eaten all the gruel, and actually did feel a bit better afterwards. Maybe he could get the recipe and tweak it so it tasted good. Snape wasn’t only good at potions, but he was a good cook. He was great at seasoning things.

“How is our patient, Poppy?” a familiar male voice said.

”Which person are you referring to, Horace.”

”Severus Snape of course,” came the reply.

”He’s healing up nicely.”

”May I pay the boy a bit of a visit?”

”Yes, a short one.”

The privacy curtain drew back and in walked Horace Slughorn. He had a hungry look in his eyes as he looked down on the convalescing wizard.

”Ah Severus, my boy. You are a wonder, a true wonder. Imagine, fighting off three Chimeras in your Animagus form. Extraordinary!” he exclaimed, walking over to the cot and taking a seat. “No one has ever performed such a feat. No doubt it will be recorded in the history books, my boy. You are quite special, quite special indeed.”

”I don’t feel special,” Snape responded quietly.

”Ah, you’re being modest. You are quite exemplary,” Slughorn said, dismissing his comment. The wizard reached out as if to touch the slight marks on Snape’s face, but he drew back, frowning at the round, bald wizard.

Slughorn looked around the room shiftily, then reached inside his robes, pulling out a napkin.

”Here,” he said conspiratorially. “Something other than gruel. Hide it under your pillow.”

Snape took the napkin and opened it slightly. In it were two slices of bread and two sausages. Manna from the kitchens.

”Thank you,” he said, closing the napkin back and putting it under his pillow.

”Do you think you will be healed up by the end of the week?” Slughorn asked him anxiously. “I’m having a little party and I wish for you to attend as you agreed. Many important people will be there. Your study partner, Miss Granger has a standing invitation. Perhaps you can attend together.”

Snape frowned slightly. He knew Hermione didn’t do Slughorn’s parties because she felt they were pompous and a waste of good study time.

”I don’t know if she’ll come,” Snape said.

Slughorn simply smiled.

”Miss Granger is quite a busy young woman, Severus. However, it would be in her best interest to make connections while she is still considered a hero. The furor is going to die down eventually and she’ll become old news. It’s best to strike while the irons are still hot. She’d be wise to think about that. I am simply trying to help her make a place in the wizarding world.”

”I think Hermione has her own plans about that, professor,” Snape said coldly. “She believes hard work will help her find her niche.”

”Tosh,” Slughorn blustered, his mustache blowing upward as he harrumphed. “Getting a leg up requires more than hard work, my boy. At least you will reap a few of the benefits.”

Snape sighed. He wished he had never agreed to attend one of the parties, but he had wanted the creatures for the review. They were so rare. Everyone thought they had been Boggarts, but they weren’t. They were Gobbarts, a close relation to the Boggarts, except they had the ability to appear as what was most feared to multiple individuals. The Riddikulus spell worked on them, of course, but they couldn’t be thwarted by several individuals at once, like their relatives. Boggarts would go into a tizzy when more than one person was facing them, turning into this and that until they were exhausted and fled.

Hermione hadn’t even caught on to it in the ROR, she’d been so distracted.

”I only agreed to come to one of your parties,” Snape said, wincing as a painful throb pulsed through his body.

”That you did, Severus. But I’m hoping you’ll be so impressed by the caliber of the people present, that you’ll decide to return. Only the cream of the crop will be in attendance, I assure you. People it will be good to know. And, you are a person of great interest. The story of your youthening has spread throughout the wizarding world. Minerva has had quite the time maintaining a news blackout. A lot of money has been offered for even one interview with you.”

”I didn’t know that,” Snape said, frowning slightly.

He could always use more money. The headmistress hadn’t told him anything about it.

”Minerva feels you should be protected from the media,” Slughorn replied, also frowning because giving an interview would make him even more famous and as such, an even larger feather in the Slytherin’s cap. “But, you’ll be free to interview with anyone you choose after you leave Hogwarts. It would be an excellent way to get a good second start in life.”

“All right, professor. Severus needs his rest,” Poppy called from her office.

Slughorn frowned, then lifted his bulk out of the folding chair.

”I’m glad to see you are healing nicely, Severus, and look forward to seeing you Saturday night. It is rather formal so dress robes are in order. It begins at nine and lasts until the last person leaves. Those in attendance do not have to worry about curfew. Food and libations will be served.”

Snape nodded slightly, glad Slughorn was leaving. He was starting to ache badly all over now and wanted to sleep through the pain. Perhaps Madam Pomfrey would give him a sleeping draught.

”Could you ask Madam Pomfrey to come here when you leave?” he asked Slughorn

.”Of course, my boy, of course,” Slughorn replied with a smile. “Until Saturday.”

Snape watched as the wizard exited through the privacy curtain, then let out a low groan of pain.

He hoped he would be out of here by the weekend.

Snape closed his eyes and waited for Poppy to come.

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A/N: Ah, Slughorn. Couldn’t forget him. I had to creatively cover up my error in the reviewing chapters. The Boggarts appeared as a different fear to each person at the same time. Someone pointed out to me that Boggarts couldn’t do that. But it was such a cool scenario, I couldn’t bring myself to change it lolol. So, I created Gobbarts. :::shakes head::: I know, I know, that’s cheating. I should have done a rewrite, but just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was watching for an opportunity to clean it up, and found one. It’s AU anyway, so no worries. Thanks for reading.

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