Kiss of Life
‘It’ll be all right,’ Hermione says wildly. ‘Let’s — look, you go back to the castle, if he’s gone to the Forest we’ll need to think of a new plan —’ [1] She glances at Snape’s body. ‘I’ll — I’ll catch up — I just — I need to make sure we didn’t miss anything. Any — any clue that could help us.’
She shoves her friends back into the tunnel. The shock over what just happened, along with the years of practice obeying Hermione, propel them forward.
Hermione doesn’t wait to see them gone.
On her knees, at his side, cold blood seeps through her jeans. Pure panic washes over her. So much blood. What can she do? Merlin, what can she possibly do? But suddenly she recalls her father’s voice, his calm and reasonable baritone: ‘Every second counts. Broken ribs can heal. Even the effects of a stroke can be treated. But only when the patient is alive to receive that treatment.’
Is he still breathing? Is his heart still beating?
His blood at least is still warm. And there! A pulse. Faltering, faint. The barest wisp of a breath.
She fumbles in her bag. There! The antivenin he gave to her. Didn’t he take any himself? No matter. She pours it into his mouth. But he doesn’t swallow. Oh God, what now? She reaches for his throat. Massages it, the way she’s seen it once on TV. So much blood. She has to staunch the bleeding. Murtlap Essence. Blood-Replenishing Potion. Ohnoohnoohno, that only makes him bleed harder. She rips off her vest, presses it to the wound.
‘Duro. Duro. Anapneo, anapneo,’ she chants. ‘Rennervate.’
But it’s not enough.
His breath fades. His heartbeat fails.
‘No.’
She disregards blood streaked black with venom, silvery threads of spilt memories, and presses her lips to his.
[1] Quoted/paraphrased from Joanne K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter Thirty-Three, The Prince’s Tale.
Juno, this is lovely and heartbreaking at the same time. As usual, Fudge is an incompetent arse, and jockeying for office. I liked that he couldn’t break their wands, and I felt sorry for Kingsley because he had to.
Harry, Ginny, and Luna have proven themselves to be true friends, and Ron is Ron.
At least Hermione and Severus have each other, but seven years exile seems so unfair.
I’m off to Act Two. *in awe*
Beth
I had a lot of fun writing this. Especially Fudge actually coming up with something that is – in theory – right, and getting it all wrong. And of course, not even being man or wizard enough to actually follow it through. *snerk*
Thank you for reading! 🙂 I am happy you enjoy the story so far!