Fic: Progress (HP, SS/HG, rated G)
Jun. 9th, 2011 08:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
firefly124Title: Progress
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Snape/Hermione
Rating: G
Summary: It can take a long time to heal the aftereffects of a war.
A/N: Written forpsyfic who won this with a very generous donation in the lightning round of the ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
qldfloodauction. I'm so, so sorry it took me this long, and I hope you enjoy it! Thanks to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
laiksmarei for beta-reading and melusin_79 for Brit-picking.
Hermione sifted through the jasmine petals, their fragrance having long since disappeared, a sort of aromatic white noise fading beneath her notice as she plucked out the few that had already started to brown. For this potion to work, only the most unblemished herbs would do. Healing the lingering effects of Unforgivable Curse exposure required a purity of ingredients to counter the evil of the intent that had caused the damage.
It was both blessing and curse that it could only be used once per week.
Something clattered to the floor in the other room. She gave it a moment, then called out, “Are you all right?”
“As much as ever.” Severus' reply was less sharp than shaky.
She returned to her task, throwing away the next browned petal a bit more forcefully than was perhaps necessary.
~*~
Charming the bathwater to just the right temperature was tricky. Too cool, and the water would not extract the necessary elements from the herbal sachet. Too hot, and it would scald Severus' skin. The range between these two options was only a few degrees, and she had to allow for some cooling as she prepared him for the bath. With a careful flick and a twist, it was precisely at the upper limit of that range.
Carefully, she helped Severus out of his dressing gown and into the water. By the time his skin touched it, it was sure to be a full degree cooler than when she'd charmed it. The satisfied sigh that escaped him as she eased him into the bath told her it was just right.
The scent of jasmine dominated the rest of the herbs. Even after hours of working with them all, Hermione could appreciate the scent of the decocting sachet as it filled the room. She soaked the flannel thoroughly in the healing water and set to washing Severus' back, paying extra attention to the scar that ran from neck to shoulder and the sore muscles that framed his shoulder blades.
No longer did she have to stifle the impulse to chatter at him, babbling inanities that came to wishful thinking more than actual observable improvement. Instead, she'd come to find the silence of his baths restful to her as well.
A metallic glint caught her eye as he washed his face, and she held out her hand to his. The sentimental fool darted a sheepish look at her as he slid off his ring. The water needed to reach every bit of him it could, and leaving that one small area covered had led to a week of agony for that finger and hand. She slipped it onto her thumb, and if it looked a bit odd to have both halves of their matched set on one hand, she'd long since got used to it.
He tilted his head back, and she poured the fragrant water over his hair, working it down to his scalp with her fingertips. As he tilted his head first to one side, then the other, she carefully poured a bit into his ears as well. It had taken several trials to find just the right way to manage that, timing and temperature making all the difference there too, but now it was simply part of the routine.
All the basics covered, Hermione helped him ease into a position better suited to a relaxing soak. As she moved to stand, he took hold of her hand and brought her fingers to his lips, brushing over the knuckles lightly. She smiled, dried her hands, and picked up her wand. A flick and a half-twist this time, and the water warmed just a bit. Enough to let him soak comfortably.
Picking up the book she'd set aside for now and opening it to the page she'd marked with a quill, she asked, “Where did we leave off last time?”
“They'd just found the Morlock,” Severus said, eyes drifting closed.
Hermione scanned the page until she found the scene and began to read. Every so often she looked up to check on him. He looked so peaceful as he drowsed, lines of care and pain almost but not quite melting away. Every week seemed a bit better. She dared to hope that meant progress.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Snape/Hermione
Rating: G
Summary: It can take a long time to heal the aftereffects of a war.
A/N: Written for
psyfic who won this with a very generous donation in the lightning round of the qldfloodauction. I'm so, so sorry it took me this long, and I hope you enjoy it! Thanks to laiksmarei for beta-reading and melusin_79 for Brit-picking.Hermione sifted through the jasmine petals, their fragrance having long since disappeared, a sort of aromatic white noise fading beneath her notice as she plucked out the few that had already started to brown. For this potion to work, only the most unblemished herbs would do. Healing the lingering effects of Unforgivable Curse exposure required a purity of ingredients to counter the evil of the intent that had caused the damage.
It was both blessing and curse that it could only be used once per week.
Something clattered to the floor in the other room. She gave it a moment, then called out, “Are you all right?”
“As much as ever.” Severus' reply was less sharp than shaky.
She returned to her task, throwing away the next browned petal a bit more forcefully than was perhaps necessary.
Charming the bathwater to just the right temperature was tricky. Too cool, and the water would not extract the necessary elements from the herbal sachet. Too hot, and it would scald Severus' skin. The range between these two options was only a few degrees, and she had to allow for some cooling as she prepared him for the bath. With a careful flick and a twist, it was precisely at the upper limit of that range.
Carefully, she helped Severus out of his dressing gown and into the water. By the time his skin touched it, it was sure to be a full degree cooler than when she'd charmed it. The satisfied sigh that escaped him as she eased him into the bath told her it was just right.
The scent of jasmine dominated the rest of the herbs. Even after hours of working with them all, Hermione could appreciate the scent of the decocting sachet as it filled the room. She soaked the flannel thoroughly in the healing water and set to washing Severus' back, paying extra attention to the scar that ran from neck to shoulder and the sore muscles that framed his shoulder blades.
No longer did she have to stifle the impulse to chatter at him, babbling inanities that came to wishful thinking more than actual observable improvement. Instead, she'd come to find the silence of his baths restful to her as well.
A metallic glint caught her eye as he washed his face, and she held out her hand to his. The sentimental fool darted a sheepish look at her as he slid off his ring. The water needed to reach every bit of him it could, and leaving that one small area covered had led to a week of agony for that finger and hand. She slipped it onto her thumb, and if it looked a bit odd to have both halves of their matched set on one hand, she'd long since got used to it.
He tilted his head back, and she poured the fragrant water over his hair, working it down to his scalp with her fingertips. As he tilted his head first to one side, then the other, she carefully poured a bit into his ears as well. It had taken several trials to find just the right way to manage that, timing and temperature making all the difference there too, but now it was simply part of the routine.
All the basics covered, Hermione helped him ease into a position better suited to a relaxing soak. As she moved to stand, he took hold of her hand and brought her fingers to his lips, brushing over the knuckles lightly. She smiled, dried her hands, and picked up her wand. A flick and a half-twist this time, and the water warmed just a bit. Enough to let him soak comfortably.
Picking up the book she'd set aside for now and opening it to the page she'd marked with a quill, she asked, “Where did we leave off last time?”
“They'd just found the Morlock,” Severus said, eyes drifting closed.
Hermione scanned the page until she found the scene and began to read. Every so often she looked up to check on him. He looked so peaceful as he drowsed, lines of care and pain almost but not quite melting away. Every week seemed a bit better. She dared to hope that meant progress.
